How many records has Elvis Costello made by now? Even Elvis himself has lost count, and it seems he wasn't too successful in his promise to retire from making them. His latest, "Momofuku," was up for discussion this week.
Also, the Musicheads weighed in on the new one from Mates of State, "Re-Arrange Us," and an interesting side project from Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and The Rascals' Miles Kane, dubbed The Last Shadow Puppets.
Plus, the cast anwered the question, "What show do you brag about having gone to?" Guests were Barb Abney and The Current's Assistant Music Director David Safar.
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Comments: 45
Hammer of the Gods (Led Zeppelin) and Cygnus and the Seamonsters (Rush)
Neal Morse w/ Spock's Beard
Chris Maitland w/ Porcupine Tree
ELP
Collective Unconscious doing all of "Abbey Road"
maybe the 2 biggest are
dredg performing on back-2-back nights in Santa Cruz, CA playing both "Leitmotif" the 1st night and "El Cielo" the 2nd night, both albums in their entirety.
all 3, but specifically the 1st
2.5 hour Pain of Salvation concert in the US at the innaugural ProgPower USA in the Chicago area in February 2001. The greatest concert of my life. The band has not played in the US since 2004.
August 9th 2003 Tori Amos and Ben Folds at the Northrup
This show was bragworthy for one reason: Tori Amos sang a song to me. That's right. In concert.
I had been working the morning shift at my coffee shop job when I was surprised to see Tori Amos sipping on a single shot mocha I had just made. We chatted for a bit and she mentioned she was playing a show and she'd love to have us (my coworker and I) come see her play with Ben Folds later that evening. One of her entourage scribbled our names down on a pad of paper and we got free tickets!
About halfway through Tori's set, she starting improvising a little song. Basically, it was about her having a fight with her "future husband" in Minneapolis and going for a walk. On her walk she discovered a coffee shop and fell in love. She then ended the song by singing about how her favorite coffee was the name of the shop where I worked.
I'm not sure if any concerts could beat that for me. :) I mean, she had to have been thinking of me, right? Right?
Just to prove it, here's a link to a few show reviews that mention it - http://thedent.com/more.php?id=844_0_1_0_M
Thanks for checkin' in soundscapem n., Jill, Chuck & Tim M!
I brag about my cruise that Garrison Keillor hosted, which included BeauSoleil as musical guests. I don't think many here will be all that impressed, but just imagine spending an entire week in close proximity with your favorite band. Attending nightly performances, whale watching with them, talking to them in the gym/spa. In general, hanging out. Nothing beats that in my mind. :-D
(All you R.E.M. fans will know what an awesome combination of things are in that sentence).
It was about a year and a half ago, around the time they were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. There was a benefit show (I forget the cause) in which some local Athens bands were going to play covers of R.E.M. songs. My wife and I were in grad school at UGA at the time, and decided to check it out. I think we paid like a $10 cover charge. There was no mention that R.E.M. was going to be there, but being a huge R.E.M. fan, any chance to hear their music was good enough for me. So, the lights go down, and four guys nonchalantly walk out onto the stage...they played Begin the Begin and So. Central Rain.
Throughout the night one or more of them would get on stage to play with the other bands.
I don't really have a cool tour to brag about, other than - maybe - the Paul McCartney tour that included Ames. Must have been....1990? 1991? It was the kind of thing where you pick the best part of the story:
*A handful of us spent the night outside for tickets, but the record store didn't open on time the morning of the sale and ended up paying for our (now nosebleed) tickets as well as comp'd us merchandise. Special thanks to the news crews that showed up when I called them that weird, no news Saturday morning.
* We couldn't get lodging close by and ended up at some hotel that was hosting a Jimmie Dean sales convention. This still inexplicably strikes me as funny.
*All I remember of the entire experience was feeling that we were young, in love with music, and a gang who put forward a lot of effort to see one of the Beatles. Live.
Frick, I'm sorry to have missed lots of concerts. Too many to name.
As for an individual show, most of you might cringe at my selection for this. It was the best show I've ever been to, because it was the perfect storm of factors that make concerts so great. It was Linkin Park at the Quest Club in 2003.
I'm not the biggest fan of theirs anymore, but it was after their "Hybrid Theory" album came out. In 2003 they did a fan club show in preparation for the release of their next album. The concert sold out really fast, pretty much with all fan club members in attendance. So what made the show so great?
1) The band played with a ton of energy that night...
2) The crowd was predominantly fan club members of the group, so they were really into seeing them and were really rowdy.
3) The venue was a jam-packed Quest Club, which made the overall atmosphere of the show electric!
So those 3 factors made this show probably the best, most craziest I've ever been to. Eventhough I don't care for their music much anymore, I definately bragg about being there on that night.
Lately, funny enough, I actually brag about seeing the very first live performance ever of Joss Stone. It was at a tiny little bar in Miami. I had never heard of her and was amazed to find out she was only 17. Right after that she started doing appearance on Late Night, etc.
-Janes Addictions first show in Hollywood for their "Nothing's Shocking" tour at a tiny little place.
-Black Sabbath's first reunion tour. got to check that megaband of my list.
the great bragging part comes in on the next day. i was in hollywood on melrose in a shop. looking around i noticed someone outside looking in the window. i told my girlfriend i would be right back. i went out side an stood next to the person windowshopping. he looked at me and i said. "Robert Plant?" he said "Yes"... and i proceeded to shake his hand a have a chat and a great moment in my little life.
In chatting with others after, they were *pissed* because they got repeatedly shut out. I really think it was one of those right place-right time events.
The show was amazing, and is the one show I usually brag about being able to go to. The f'n Pixies, man... first show in 12 years... yeah, that's worth bragging about.
Since people are sharing personal stories of interactions with artists- I saw Peter Gabriel in 2002 at the Target Center. After one of the songs, he introduced the band. His daughter Melanie was a back up singer, and after he introduced her (without saying her last name or making any reference to her being his offspring whatsoever), I yelled out, "I love you Melanie!". He replied immediately, "Shhh... her father's listening." It got a chuckle from the audience and in my mind I had a brief moment of dialogue with Peter Gabriel. But it gets better- a DVD came out called "Growing Up Live- A Family Portrait", and he makes reference to this incident. They show him outside the arena, his breath fogging as he's breathing (it was November). He's talking about Melanie and he says, "...and someone tonight yelled 'I love you Melanie!" Melanie then enters the picture and, due to his comment in the show, chides him for, "cramping my style". When I saw this for the first time, I was so excited. It was a really cool moment for me.
But a few all time favorites were right here - - Bobby "Blue" Bland at First Ave. and Kevin Welch at Fine Line.
1975, me and me two best mates were escorted by my dad to London's Wembley Arena to see Rod Stewart ('Atlantic Crossing' era megastardom period!). We jostled our way down to the front and me mate managed to grab one of Carmine Appice's drum sticks when he threw it into the crowd, we were ecstatic it was an amazing and very very rockin' show!!
Then as we filed out of the massive stadium, a limo brushed slowly passed us and we bent to look into the window. There was Rod sitting on the back seat with Swedish film star Britt Ekland!!
About 6 years later, on my first ever visit to NYC, I was sitting in a restaurant in the Village and thought I saw him walking down the street!! I dashed out and ran up to him calling out "Rod!" Of course he turned around a little startled and I froze, had no idea what to say, but held out my hand and just said "I love you man". Then turned and walked back into the restaurant safe in the knowledge that one day I would have a good story to tell!
Glad to hear that George Clinton is still bringin da fonk Tim!
Andy, I saw that Pixies reunion show as well. It was pretty GREAT!
Another show that I like to mention: Saw REM perform at First Avenue in 1982. There was nobody there, the tickets were $4 & Michael Stipe had a whole bunch of hair!
Next to that was perhaps Don McLean at the Troubadour in LA. Lots of great shows at the Troubadour. Harry Chapin opening for Carly Simon, after which we all looked at each other and said "Carly who?" And Peter Yarrow, when he was suffering from laryngitis or some stupid thing, asked the audience to give him a few minutes to drink a cup of hot tea, and sat down next to me. Not so much a great show as a great thrill.
Trip Shakespeare at the Iron Horse back before their first album. Bonus: Matt and John drank beers with us.
The first show Garbage did at 7th Street Entry.
Foo Fighter's first First Avenue concert as well as their most recent First Avenue concert AND the Weezer/Foo Fighter's concert at Xcel Center (yeah, I like FF - so sue me).
A number of GWAR concerts - good for "date night".
Prince at First Avenue.
One of the BEST was Bowie's "Reality Tour", right before his heart attack.
There arre others but I'm old and my mind fails me at times.
:)
Tom Waits in the mid '90s at the Paramount Theater in Denver, CO
and
In 1990, The Pixies, Love and Rockets and The Cure at Fiddler's Green (Denver)
The Ramones - First Ave., 1980 (my left ear has never been the same)
The Cars - Midway Stadium, 1978 (they opened for the Doobie Bros, but I went to see them. I was 3 feet away from Ric!)
The Who - St. Paul Civic Center, 1981 (for free!! an ex-bf was taking tickets at the door and he snuck my bf and me in)
I'm tewtally showing my age, aren't I?
Right up there: U2 at First Ave during the October tour!
For all you jazz guitarists: Tal Farlow, Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis all on the same stage at the Dakota. They didn't sell enough tickets for the second show so we got to stay for free!
Great meetings: John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin at the Cabooze. My brother Jerry and I got to meet him after the show and I gave him a copy of my band's CD which at the time was called Judy Garland's Ghost. John Paul's comment was, "Egad, I received a lot of albumns in my day but never one from Judy Garlands ghost!" A member of Led Zeppelin has my CD in his collection!
Jealous much?
I would have been at that Peter Gabriel concert, as it's the 1 and only show he's ever played in town here believe it or not, but it was the same evening as the 2nd Pain of Salvation concert i had tickets for (long before Gabriel even announced his tour dates) in the Atlanta, GA area at ProgPowerUSA. A friend of mine went and mentioned something similar about standing up and interacting with Gabriel. I'll have to pass your story along to him. I really wish I could have been there, although I understand since it was the 1st night of the tour, they had sound problems. Damnit Peter, COMEBACK!
Ted Bob G did I see you at that U2 show? That was actually my 1st First Avenue show. I still remember U2 knew so few songs that they played "I Will Follow" twice that night.
I got to see the legendary guitarist Link Wray play when he was 69 years old. We got to go backstage and meet him and his wife Olive backstage. That was a trip! (and definitely a post unto itself).
Amnesty International in 1986 (or was it '85) was pretty cool. Joan Baez, The Police (somewhat of a reunion tour) U2, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Neville Bros. That was a pretty cool show for arena rock.
And, I once saw the Replacements when the lead singer Paul Westerberg was drunk out of his mind and had to sit down to perform the rest of the set. Then I saw them years later when he cleaned up his act. Totally different show ... and much better!
One of the cool things about that U2 show at First Ave was, they had heard Southern Man by Neal Young on the radio on their way to sound check. Then during the show they decided to play it but didn't know the words and asked a volunteer to come up on stage and sing it with them, was that you?
Cool show, everyone was standing on tables and chairs and dancing the whole show.
During that same 6 months did you happen to catch The Ramones with opening band, The Replacements dong Hank Williams and Beach Boys covers?
The Stranglers doing The Raven tour with openers, The Hypsters?
Some of the best shows ever at First Ave:
Terrance Trent D'arby during the Vibrator tour!
Frankie Goes to Hollywood had the best sound system ever!
Steel Pulse, switched to a funked out reggae groove, flipped on a strobe light and had all of their children come out dancing on the stage in slow motion, then snapped back into the original song, freaky.
Tears for Fears covering Radio Head's I'm a Freak!
Who would believe, Lena Lovich at First Ave! Wow, great show.
And on and on...
This is like asking which kid you like better. It's just not fair.
Any Suburbs, Replacements or Wallets show in the 80's.
I saw UB40 at Duffy's in '84 I think? and met two guys form the band and partied with them, Mojo Nixon, Clapton, Husker Du, REM Opening for the Suburbs, BUT the one I brag about,
The Cure, 1st Ave, 1984 again I think. They played Caterpillar as a new song.
But talk about showing your age - how about:
R.E.M. promoting their new album, Murmur, with their producer, Mitch Easter's underappreciated band Let's Active opening. Ian Dury and the Blockheads at a club in London. The Waterboys on the Fisherman's Blues tour. Los Lobos and John Hiatt several times in small LA clubs. Willie Dixon, B.B. King, Dr. John and John Lee Hooker.
Little Feat at the Roxy club in L.A., sitting at Lowell's feet (feat?) next to the stage. Later at a larger venue, with Eric Clapton sitting in on "Apolitical Blues". Robert Palmer at the Roxy.
The up and coming Robin Trower, Wishbone Ash and ZZ TOP on one bill for $5 in a small theatre in Berdoo one hot summer night! There were about 200 people there.
Zeppelin on the LZ4/Zoso tour. The Who on the Who's Next tour. Pink FLoyd doing The Wall, which was only presented in London, NY, and L.A., building the huge wall onstage in the first half of the concert and demolishing it at the end.
Bowie on his first 3 American tours - The Diamond Dogs show at the then outdoors and small Universal Amphitheatre in L.A. Queen on their first several US tours.
Bowie and Tin Machine at the Roxy club on the Sunset Strip, standing next to and chatting with Doug Feiger, formerly of the Knack. Bowie singing about 10 feet away!
Split Enz twice, Crowded House about 8 times, the first 4 or so in small clubs, once with (producer) Mitchell Froom sitting in on keys at the Whiskey, another time playing with Roger McGuinn on his opening set (an EP was released of that). Sheryl Crow opening for Crowded House at the Warfield in S.F.
Talking Heads at the Roxy. Rick Derringer at the Whiskey. Both of Deaf School's sets at the Whiskey one night, and chatting with Bette Bright (don't know them? Check 'em out!) Be Bop Delux opening for the new sensation, Tom Petty, at the Santa Monica civic. Yes twice, ELP, Gentle Giant.
Acoustic At McCabe's guitar shop in L.A. (on separate occasions), Difford and Tilbrook, Robyn Hitchcock (incredible!), and Peter Holsapple of the dB's (such an overlooked songwriter!)
New Year's eve with Cheap Trick at the Limelight club in NY in the 80's. Deep Purple opening for Rod and the Faces, doing the whole In Rock album plus most of Fireball (not to mention headlining over Uriah Heep on the Machine Head tour)! The reformed Mach 2 DP at the Brixton Acedemy in London in the 80's.
Jellyfish on both tours (in a small club in Long Beach, Ca on the first tour).
I've got to stop, but I count my blessings and think back on all this incredible music, and just feel so happy! Thanks so much for asking!!
Another one would be from the same year at the Hollywood Bowl. Opening acts were Captain Beyond and Jo Jo Gunne. The headliner was Alice Cooper. This was the Schools Out tour and if you remember the album, it came with a pair of paper panties inside. During the show a helicopter flew over the venue and dropped thousands of pairs of paper panties on the crowd. Unbelievable.
In 1974 I also saw Santana open for Eric Clapton in Seattle and during Clapton's encore Carlos joined him onstage for a guitar duel. They traded licks back and forth until Clapton just smoked it and Santana gave up.
Your Clapton/Santana story reminds me of seeing John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana live at the Berserkely Community Theater about 1973 after they did that album together. McLaughlin made Santana look like a beginner...
This may be another discussion but "What show/artist do you regret having passed on?"
For me, Stevie Ray Vaughn touring with Jeff Beck.
I told my friend, "I'll catch him next time."
Never again to happen.
Another: James Brown at First Avenue. What was I thinking?
TB