Do you Know Where You Are? You’re In Middle Age, Baby. And You’re Gonna Die
Posted on November 25, 2006 Posted by John Scalzi 78 Comments
So, a friend said to me: Hey, I got tickets to Guns N’ Roses. You want to come? And I said, I wouldn’t miss a chance to see Axl Rose implode live! Mind you, if we actually get to see him onstage at all; he can be capricious that way. And so I’m off to Detroit for the G’n’R concert, and I think I can say with some confidence that if Axl and his pals don’t take the stage, there will be a riot. But inasmuch much as most of the Gun’s fans are now my age, the riot will be brief, and then all the rioters will have to crouch with their hands on their knees and take an oxygen break before the second wave of carnage. Or maybe they’ll take it in shifts. Who can say. I can guarantee I won’t riot, however. I’m not the rioting type, I’m more of the “I’ll watch other people riot and then write something snarky about it on my blog” type. Yes, that seems the route to go.
Anyway, I’m off. You kids try not to riot here while I’m away. To keep you all busy, consider this an open thread with the following topic: Bands from your misspent youth you’ve not seen live, but really wish you could. Go!
PINK FLOYD & LED ZEPPLIN !!!!!
PINK FLOYD & LED ZEPPLIN !!!!!
Hey, Scalzi, you ever been to a concert at the Palace (of Auburn Hills)? Lemme tell you, theres nothing like it. Red Hot Chili Peppers, I sat three rows from the top, and it was still possibly the best concert I’ve ever been too. So, you’ll enjoy it. Seriously. Its just an awesome venue. And, hey, its G’n’R. How could it be bad? (Well, as long as they show up.)
Hey, Scalzi, you ever been to a concert at the Palace (of Auburn Hills)? Lemme tell you, theres nothing like it. Red Hot Chili Peppers, I sat three rows from the top, and it was still possibly the best concert I’ve ever been too. So, you’ll enjoy it. Seriously. Its just an awesome venue. And, hey, its G’n’R. How could it be bad? (Well, as long as they show up.)
Dude.
Cabaret Voltaire.
Ultravox (Foxx or Ure, I don’t care)
X
Devo
The Police
Rolling Stones 1972 tour: I was the biggest Stones freak ever back then, and I was ready to run away from home so I could see them, but the “friend” who said she had a place for us to stay had to admit she was lying.
Grateful Dead 1996: A co-worker had tickets, couldn’t use them, offered them to me. But I wasn’t a Dead fan, knew nothing about their legendary 3-hour plus concerts, and certainly didn’t know that Jerry Garcia was going to die soon thereafter. So I said no, thanks.
Bands that I didn’t see? Nope. I saw (and continue to see) them all.
Bands that I didn’t see? Nope. I saw (and continue to see) them all.
AC/DC for me, although by now they’re starting to get downright geriatric, so I’m not sure just how viable that wish might still be. I mean, the last time I saw the Stones (on tv – I don’t actually care for their music enough to pay for the privilege), Mick was downright scary in those leathers. It looked like Grampa’s Alzheimer’s went south on him and he plundered the gay cousin’s suitcase at Thanksgiving. *shudder*
Heather – I’ve seen Pink Floyd (Division Bell) and it was, indeed, remarkably cool. Although I think I was one of maybe five people in the place who hadn’t been doing drugs for at least 6 weeks in preparation. Which is cool since, to straight people, stoned folks are mighty entertaining in their own right, especially en masse.
The funniest bit was the fact that the route to the concessions and bathrooms was up a seriously steep hill (the concert was in a football stadium) and watching people who had trouble staying on the planet while seated trying to climb this hill, clutching the orange mesh construction fencing the whole way, was just hilarious.
The coolest bit of the whole concert, though, happened afterward, as we were all leaving. The idjits in charge of crowd control created one (yes, one!) single exit point out of the entire stadium, which created a seriously tight jam as we approached it. Since this was the same time as all those crowd-crushing deaths were happening (mid-90’s?), I was starting to get seriously claustrophobic as the masses were pushed closer and closer together around me. Then I heard a weird, moaning sound coming from up ahead. Then I heard it again. As our group got closer to the bottleneck (and pushed tighter together), the sound became clear – it was mooing!
In a mob mentality sort of spontaneous collaboration, folks were starting to moo as they got pushed into the final approach of the “chute” exit, and were joined by others doing their own moo thing as they got there, then gradually fading out as they passed through and dispersed, which created a very realistic “herd of cows” sound effect that stabilized around the chute. Of course, we joined in as we approached and passed though, passing it on to those behind us. It was so funny, and immediately relieved the stress of the crowding – it became a funny, cool group collaboration instead of the panicky crush it had been moments before. You could just feel that everyone was hyper-aware of the potential for danger and were taking it slowly and with humor rather than getting pushy.
Of course, 6 weeks of preparatory acid probably contributed to the process, but there you are.
AC/DC for me, although by now they’re starting to get downright geriatric, so I’m not sure just how viable that wish might still be. I mean, the last time I saw the Stones (on tv – I don’t actually care for their music enough to pay for the privilege), Mick was downright scary in those leathers. It looked like Grampa’s Alzheimer’s went south on him and he plundered the gay cousin’s suitcase at Thanksgiving. *shudder*
Heather – I’ve seen Pink Floyd (Division Bell) and it was, indeed, remarkably cool. Although I think I was one of maybe five people in the place who hadn’t been doing drugs for at least 6 weeks in preparation. Which is cool since, to straight people, stoned folks are mighty entertaining in their own right, especially en masse.
The funniest bit was the fact that the route to the concessions and bathrooms was up a seriously steep hill (the concert was in a football stadium) and watching people who had trouble staying on the planet while seated trying to climb this hill, clutching the orange mesh construction fencing the whole way, was just hilarious.
The coolest bit of the whole concert, though, happened afterward, as we were all leaving. The idjits in charge of crowd control created one (yes, one!) single exit point out of the entire stadium, which created a seriously tight jam as we approached it. Since this was the same time as all those crowd-crushing deaths were happening (mid-90’s?), I was starting to get seriously claustrophobic as the masses were pushed closer and closer together around me. Then I heard a weird, moaning sound coming from up ahead. Then I heard it again. As our group got closer to the bottleneck (and pushed tighter together), the sound became clear – it was mooing!
In a mob mentality sort of spontaneous collaboration, folks were starting to moo as they got pushed into the final approach of the “chute” exit, and were joined by others doing their own moo thing as they got there, then gradually fading out as they passed through and dispersed, which created a very realistic “herd of cows” sound effect that stabilized around the chute. Of course, we joined in as we approached and passed though, passing it on to those behind us. It was so funny, and immediately relieved the stress of the crowding – it became a funny, cool group collaboration instead of the panicky crush it had been moments before. You could just feel that everyone was hyper-aware of the potential for danger and were taking it slowly and with humor rather than getting pushy.
Of course, 6 weeks of preparatory acid probably contributed to the process, but there you are.
Hmmm, I did get to see The Moody Blues and Chicago, so that covered two of my favorite bands.
I think the Beatles would have been great to see in concert, and I have to mention Pink Floyd who I discovered later in life. I wish I could have seen their Wall show. The sad thing is that I could have, they appeared in Minneapolis, but I hadn’t ‘discovered’ them yet and didn’t know what I was missing.
I think ‘Air Supply’ would have been funny in concert. Yeah.
The Police are easily the top of the list for me.
The Stones and the Who would have been fantastic in the day, but I have no interest in seeing the current incarnations.
More recently, Soul Coughing and Morphine.
Middle aged rioters are more dangerous. The young, they think “lets rock this baby until it comes down.” Middle-aged rioters think, “hey, if I remove this bolt this sucker’ll collapse like house made of cheap nails.” Wile and craft will always defeat youth and enthusiasm.
Middle aged rioters are more dangerous. The young, they think “lets rock this baby until it comes down.” Middle-aged rioters think, “hey, if I remove this bolt this sucker’ll collapse like house made of cheap nails.” Wile and craft will always defeat youth and enthusiasm.
GNR? But I thought Velvet Revolver was between projects right now.
Oh. You mean that gang of posers Axl hired. Sorry.
(Seriously, anyone who gets upset because James Hetfield upstaged him by waltzing into a magnesium flare on stage deserves to walk into a magnesium flare on stage.)
GNR? But I thought Velvet Revolver was between projects right now.
Oh. You mean that gang of posers Axl hired. Sorry.
(Seriously, anyone who gets upset because James Hetfield upstaged him by waltzing into a magnesium flare on stage deserves to walk into a magnesium flare on stage.)
Great story, Soni. It’s reminiscent of the WWI soldiers that would start baa-ing as they marched to certain slaughter by German machine guns. Uh, except you had a happy ending.
I wish I could’ve seen those early Lollapalooza tours, but I was a few years too young, and not nearly cool enough.
I have this bad habit of not taking advantage of opportunities and then missing out big time.
When I was living in Boston, a friend called and asked if I wanted to go see Little Feet that night in Providence, R.I. I was too lazy to bother and Lowell George died a couple of days later.
I also said “thanks, but no thanks” to a ticket to see the Red Sox play in Yankee Stadium on the 4th of July in 1983. Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter that day.
D’OH!
On the plus side, the first concert I ever saw was Eric Clapton. A band I’d never heard of opened for him…..Santana! And then they played like five encores together. That kind of spoiled a lot of concerts for me that I saw after that.
I have this bad habit of not taking advantage of opportunities and then missing out big time.
When I was living in Boston, a friend called and asked if I wanted to go see Little Feet that night in Providence, R.I. I was too lazy to bother and Lowell George died a couple of days later.
I also said “thanks, but no thanks” to a ticket to see the Red Sox play in Yankee Stadium on the 4th of July in 1983. Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter that day.
D’OH!
On the plus side, the first concert I ever saw was Eric Clapton. A band I’d never heard of opened for him…..Santana! And then they played like five encores together. That kind of spoiled a lot of concerts for me that I saw after that.
I caught the first three Lollapaloozas – but I missed out on Led Zep. I saw Plant back in the mid-80’s with the Honeydrippers, but it just wasn’t the same…
I caught the first three Lollapaloozas – but I missed out on Led Zep. I saw Plant back in the mid-80’s with the Honeydrippers, but it just wasn’t the same…
Well, I’m off to see the Stones tonight for the first time, and they’re a band I missed in my misspent youth (along with everyone else on earth except Stray Cats and Neil Young – it’s bad enough to misspend your youth, much worse to have nothing to show for it).
XTC.
I recently saw Alice in Chains. It was incredible. The new singer can hold his own vocally and really knows how to play his guitar. The best part though, was that the singer didn’t try to do a Layne Staley impression. He just let it rip naturally.
Other bands missed that I’ll probably never get a chance to see include Soundgarden, White Zombie (not Rob Zombie), STP, and Pink Floyd.
I recently saw Alice in Chains. It was incredible. The new singer can hold his own vocally and really knows how to play his guitar. The best part though, was that the singer didn’t try to do a Layne Staley impression. He just let it rip naturally.
Other bands missed that I’ll probably never get a chance to see include Soundgarden, White Zombie (not Rob Zombie), STP, and Pink Floyd.
The Beatles and Led Zappelin.
Always wanted to see Rush or Queen (oh Freddy Mercury, we miss you) live. Would have loved to see Pink Floyd’s “Animals” live as well. My first concert was Simon and Garfunkel live at the Rubber Bowl in Akron. Paul simon had to hush us so he could play “Late Great Johnny Ace” for the first time. Drove up from Canton in the back seat of a Trans-Am (yes, I’m over 6 foot tall), had to fit in there with my girlfriend, that was also fun.
Zeppelin and Floyd and Ozzy, most especially. Seen G & R, Maiden, Scorps, Aerosmith, and a ton o’others. Luckily G & R never did one of their implosions at a concert I was at, though Skid Row opened for them in Alpine Meadows, WI, and Sebastian Back grabbed his own crotch more than Michael Jackson ever thought about. Saw Ratt as an opener once too. Sounded like Mickey Mouse Stoned.
Di
Zeppelin and Floyd and Ozzy, most especially. Seen G & R, Maiden, Scorps, Aerosmith, and a ton o’others. Luckily G & R never did one of their implosions at a concert I was at, though Skid Row opened for them in Alpine Meadows, WI, and Sebastian Back grabbed his own crotch more than Michael Jackson ever thought about. Saw Ratt as an opener once too. Sounded like Mickey Mouse Stoned.
Di
I was just reminded of this when I saw a bunch of teenagers camped out 12 hours before midnight at Fred Meyer waiting for their Wii. When I was 12, my sister and I camped out for a few hours early in the am to get…Rick Springfield!!!…tickets. We got second row center. The seats alone made it one of the best times I had at a concert. He got within three feet of me once and I swear I could catch some of his sweat. (Gross, I know…but he was HOT!).
I wished I would have seen Fleetwood Mac back in the 70’s, but I was too young. G n R, the real G n R in the late 80’s would have been cool. Stoned headbangers alone would have been entertaining. Also, I got a chance to go see Tina Turner’s farewell tour and couldn’t make it. That would have been good, too. Lilith fair might have been good to see.
I did make a couple of Lollapalooza’s though.
cisko, I’ll let you know in greater detail tomorrow, but anyone who would have enjoyed the Stones ‘back in the day’ would probably enjoy them now. They may not be putting out the same sort of quality in the studio, but the boys know how to play live. I’ve been to every tour since about 1978, and their live sound has actually improved since about 1985.
Wish I could have seen Nirvana and the Beatles…
But I have seen a number of my favorites over the years: Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins (who played a 3+ hour show). Garbage was supposed to open for SP, but due to illness or drugs, that didn’t happen.
I did take my wife to see the Billy Joel/Elton John tour before BJ went into rehab. That concert was well over four hours long and they played a great cover of “Here Comes the Sun” as a tribute to George who had just passed away.
Wish I could have seen Nirvana and the Beatles…
But I have seen a number of my favorites over the years: Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins (who played a 3+ hour show). Garbage was supposed to open for SP, but due to illness or drugs, that didn’t happen.
I did take my wife to see the Billy Joel/Elton John tour before BJ went into rehab. That concert was well over four hours long and they played a great cover of “Here Comes the Sun” as a tribute to George who had just passed away.
There aren’t many bands I regret not seeing when I had a chance to see them at their best. I really would’ve liked to see the Stones in concert at their peak, but they passed the peak some time before I started going to rock concerts, so it’s not that big a regret. Similarly, the Beatles broke up before I was born.
I never saw the Grateful Dead, though I would’ve liked to see them mostly to be able to say that I saw them. I’ve listened to enough Dead concert bootlegs (my sister was a big Deadhead in college) that I don’t really think it would’ve been a transcendent musical experience– they were a great band when they played songs, but I could do without the improvised noodling around.
I haven’t seen Springsteen with the E Street Band, and I’d definitely like to see that. He’s still going pretty strong, though– the Seeger Sessions show I saw back in June was terrific– so there’s still a chance for that one.
Other than that, I’ve seen most of the big acts I would’ve liked to see live. I saw Guns ‘n’ Roses on the “Use Your Illusion” tour, the summer before the albums came out (I’m potentially a part of the crowd noise on “Get in the Ring”). I saw Pink Floyd on the Division Bell tour (got free tickets from a cousin who was a DJ– we were twenty-odd rows from the stage). I’ve seen Bob Dylan twice (once very good, once very bad), and I saw the Afghan Whigs at the 9:30 club.
Does it count if I’m still in the process of misspending my youth?
My music collection consists of Tanglefoot, Leslie Fish, one Cranberries CD, James Galway, the Buffy TVS soundtrack, and some Tibetan chants. Oh, and a boyband CD I got when I was ten. I still don’t know the difference between rock and alternative.
I’d love to see Garbage live, though. I’ve enjoyed all the songs of theirs that I’ve heard.
AC/DC defintely, but they never come near enough to my neck of the woods. In the Maritimes GnR came twice, in the 80’s, as supporting acts! Once for the Cult, and another time for Maiden. By the way, Maiden has started the North American leg of their world tours in the Maritimes two times (Halifax ’84, Moncton NB.’88), but I digress. Axl had/has a voice that was just so perfect a statement for U.S. rock, but of course such an edgy persona on stage. You know, the chicks like that sort of thing. However if AC/DC was to perform within a 3 hour radius of my very settled and quite domesticated present life, it would be like believing in Santa all over again – fuhghetabahhtit.
AC/DC defintely, but they never come near enough to my neck of the woods. In the Maritimes GnR came twice, in the 80’s, as supporting acts! Once for the Cult, and another time for Maiden. By the way, Maiden has started the North American leg of their world tours in the Maritimes two times (Halifax ’84, Moncton NB.’88), but I digress. Axl had/has a voice that was just so perfect a statement for U.S. rock, but of course such an edgy persona on stage. You know, the chicks like that sort of thing. However if AC/DC was to perform within a 3 hour radius of my very settled and quite domesticated present life, it would be like believing in Santa all over again – fuhghetabahhtit.
I worked at the Coliseum outside Cleveland in the late ’70’s so I saw plenty of shows that I didn’t want to see. But I did enjoy Rod Stewart’s non-disco set on his tour, and saw Springsteen at least 3 times, Bob Seegar (great show) and the Moody Blues. I wish I’d seen Elton John, and I was too young for the Beatles, but I’d settle for Ringo or Paul.
I’m hoping one of my kids will want to go see OK Go, so I can justify going myself.
What? No one’s waiting for the NKOTB Reunion tour?
Seeing as how I misspent my youth listening to bubblegum pop that I now know for the dreck it was, there’s no band from that era I’d like to see live. In that case, nostalgia would only carry me for the first note or two before I would have to run screaming.
What? No one’s waiting for the NKOTB Reunion tour?
Seeing as how I misspent my youth listening to bubblegum pop that I now know for the dreck it was, there’s no band from that era I’d like to see live. In that case, nostalgia would only carry me for the first note or two before I would have to run screaming.
I saw Pink Floyd in ’87 or ’88 when they were touring in support of A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. They did an awesome rendition of Echos to start the show. The inflatable pig never quite got airborne that night, though.
Never saw Zeppelin, they were a bit before my time, but if it were possible to go back in time and see a concert, they would be on my short list.
Looking the other direction, I’m taking my son to see Juke Kartel next week. EVS!
I saw Pink Floyd in ’87 or ’88 when they were touring in support of A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. They did an awesome rendition of Echos to start the show. The inflatable pig never quite got airborne that night, though.
Never saw Zeppelin, they were a bit before my time, but if it were possible to go back in time and see a concert, they would be on my short list.
Looking the other direction, I’m taking my son to see Juke Kartel next week. EVS!
wish i could have seen:
pink floyd
the dead (just once, to see what the hype was about)
funny, GnR was my first concert ever (opened for The Stones, no less) in 1989.
glad i got to see Midnight Oil before they broke up
Journey…and oh my god, did I just date myself that far back!?!?!
(seriously, best concert I ever went too was Meatloaf. You have NEVER seen a 300 pound man work so hard on stage to amuse you).
I just got in (still drunk, excuse spelling) from a night in Whistle Binkies where there were two bands, each of which did a cover of a G’n’R song with the original words in the male perspective even though both singers were female, and they were both great. Those songs still have it. I hope it was as good as I imagine.
There’s only one band I’ve ever truly wanted to see live and that’s Echobelly. I’ll get there some day.
I just got in (still drunk, excuse spelling) from a night in Whistle Binkies where there were two bands, each of which did a cover of a G’n’R song with the original words in the male perspective even though both singers were female, and they were both great. Those songs still have it. I hope it was as good as I imagine.
There’s only one band I’ve ever truly wanted to see live and that’s Echobelly. I’ll get there some day.
I never really got into going to concerts. The music’s too loud, there are too many jackasses in the audience, and why on Earth must I buy a seat if everyone STANDS the minute the house lights go down?
I’m not middle aged, baby. I’m simply OLD, and always have been.
But my favorite concert ever (of the five or so that I did go to) was Rush, back in the `80’s.
Husker Du. Unfortunately, they were all but broken up by the time I picked up “Candy Apple Grey,” but anyway…
I really wanted to go see “Faith no more” back when they were touring with Metalica and Guns N roses. Of course since they broke up and well that set of bands in the same tour won’t ever happen again I guess I’m screwed…
However since the singer from Faith no More keeps forming strange bands like Peepingtom maybe I’ll at least be able to see him.
Oh and I sort of want to see the “Cars” or “Oingo Boingo” but I’m not sure if either are still touring around.
-Diana
I really wanted to go see “Faith no more” back when they were touring with Metalica and Guns N roses. Of course since they broke up and well that set of bands in the same tour won’t ever happen again I guess I’m screwed…
However since the singer from Faith no More keeps forming strange bands like Peepingtom maybe I’ll at least be able to see him.
Oh and I sort of want to see the “Cars” or “Oingo Boingo” but I’m not sure if either are still touring around.
-Diana
The following is a list of bands I would happily sacrifice small animals or fairly unlikeable humans in order to see.
(1) HUSKER DU – FLIP YOUR WIG/WAREHOUSE SONGS AND STORIES
(2) THE POLICE – SYNCHRONICITY
(3) TALKING HEADS – REMAIN IN LIGHT
(4) MUCOUS MEMBRANE – VENUS OF THE HARD SELL
(5) GUNS AND ROSES – USE YOUR ILLUSION I & II
(6) THE CLASH – COMBAT ROCK
(7) U2 – JOSHUA TREE
(8) NIRVANA – IN UTERO/NEVERMIND
(9) PINK FLOYD – WISH YOU WERE HERE/DARK SIDE OF THE MOON/THE WALL
(10) ROY ORBISON – THE BLUE VELVET SOUNDTRACK.
In my time thus far, however, I have managed multiple THROWING MUSES, PIXIES, SUGAR, BOB MOULD SOLO, PJ HARVEY, SHINS AND KRISTIN HERSH SOLO GIGS and I suppose that’s something.
Favorite shows I have been to include:
THE PIXIES at The Greek Theater in Berkeley and THE PIXIES, THROWING MUSES and SUGAR all playing one bill at The Palladium in Hollywood.
Too Much Fun.
Nuff said?
– D
Doselle Sensei, your list is most admirable.
I like how this has turned into (mostly) bands that are no more. A list of musical regrets, in other words.
And to add to mine, though I hve seen Kraftwerk in 1998, I wish I’d seen them on the Computer World tour.
Also Autechre on the Tri Repetae tour.
My wife Anne who is a couple of years older than I grew up in the city and got to see Hendrix,the Airplane,Janis Joplin,the Dead and a lot of other bands I missed.While I’m sorry I missed out,there is the fact that she’s a little deaf now.LOL.
Acts I wish I’d seen include the original Allman Brothers,the Flying burrito Brothers,the Doors.
Newer acts that I missed and wish I hadn’t:The Clash,Sublime,Phish.
The Stones played here a few weeks ago and we could have gone.I just don’t like the crowds anymore.Don’t drink,don’t smoke,don’t get high.
It never occurred to me I could have written something snarky afterward.
The Clash. Zep, Floyd, Ramones (people *claim* I was there, but well…nevermind), Kinks are definite wished I’da. A short-lived boston band Human Sexual Response that should have gone somewhere but they fell apart too soon.
I saw the Police in 82 in Hartford. The weird part is I STILL run into new people that were at that concert and we all go “yeahhhhhhh”.
The Clash. Zep, Floyd, Ramones (people *claim* I was there, but well…nevermind), Kinks are definite wished I’da. A short-lived boston band Human Sexual Response that should have gone somewhere but they fell apart too soon.
I saw the Police in 82 in Hartford. The weird part is I STILL run into new people that were at that concert and we all go “yeahhhhhhh”.
A few years ago, the Beastie Boys and Rage Against The Machine were touring together. I don’t go to many concerts, and I really wanted to go to that one. Before they got to my neck of the woods, the tour fell apart. There were rumors of rescheduled dates, but they came to naught. Later, Tom Morello said the following in an interview, and I’ll never forget it: “Well, the Beastie Boys want to do the tour, and I want to do the tour, and [drummer] Tim [Wilk] wants to do the tour, and [bassist] Brad [Commerford] wants to do the tour…but some people don’t want to do the tour!” Not long after that, Rage broke up forever. By the power of elimination, damn you, Zach de la Rocha.
I’m not much for live performances- I guess most bands just sound indistinguishable from a cover band to me. Half the time, their these little people on a stage far away, and music is coing over speakers, anyway.
However, the most interesting concert experience was the Lollapalooza held at the Michigan Speedway. It’s in the middle of nowhere near Jackson, MI. It was super hot, and the choice was to try and share the one, count it, one drinking fountain with thousands of other people, or shell out five bucks for a bottle of water. The local fire department came out and started spraying pond water on us because of the alarming rate of heat exhaustion victims at the first aid tent. So we’re all standing around smelling like the Swamp Thing, and this near-tornado storm shoots through, we all get soaked to the bone and it went from 95 and sunny to 60 and cloudy in five minutes. We spent the rest of the show fighting off hypothermia.
I’d scoff at you, Scalzi, but as it happens G’n’R on the Use Your Illusion tour in Philadelphia was hands-down the best live show I’ve seen in my entire life, so I’ll just cross my fingers and hope for your sake that Axl still has a little of the old magic left. (But I’m not optimistic.)
Shows that I wish I’d seen in my youth? I actually got to a lot of the good ones (Nirvana, the Breeders, Tad, Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains, Helmet, Metallica, buncha others), but two big misses stand out: I turned down a chance to go see the first Lollapalooza tour (oops), and I never got the see the Pixies back in the day. Oh well.
(Second-best show, and a strong contender for coolest: Nine Inch Nails and Meat Beat Manifesto at the Drexel University Student Center, a venue that held about 300 on a good day. My ears rang for a solid week afterward: an amazing show and it tought me the virtue of ear protection while I was still young enough to avoid permanent hearing loss!)
Djscman– yeah, but at least now we have Audioslave, which is basically Soundgarden with a better lead guitarist and Rage Against The Machine without the atrocious Maoist politics, so it’s a win all around.
(…or at least it will be, if they ever release an album that’s more than a few cuts above mediocore. I’m still hopin’.)
The Clash, The Ramones,the Sex Pistols and Bruce Springsteen. I’ve been lucky enough to see most of the other acts.
The Clash, The Ramones,the Sex Pistols and Bruce Springsteen. I’ve been lucky enough to see most of the other acts.
(3) TALKING HEADS – REMAIN IN LIGHT
I’ve missed a lot of great shows, but I was at the Heatwave Festival just north of Toronto in 1980 when the Heads debuted their new sound. I was right up front, *this* close to the stage. Awesome.
After reading the notes, one show that I missed did occur to me…
I was offered a ticket to see Stevie Ray Vaughan open for Eric Clapton. For whatever foolish reason, I turned it down. I’ve since seen Clapton several times, but not long after that show Vaughan died in a helicopter crash.
That’s one that I truly regret.
Genesis – in the classic line-up with Peter Gabriel on vocals.
I saw them once with Phil Collins and again with Ray Wilson when they tried to re-invent themselves after Collins’ departure. It would be nice to complete the collection and experience them all!
Genesis – in the classic line-up with Peter Gabriel on vocals.
I saw them once with Phil Collins and again with Ray Wilson when they tried to re-invent themselves after Collins’ departure. It would be nice to complete the collection and experience them all!
Burns!, Jeezus, you had a ticket to see Stevie Ray and you *passed*? Placed a pick on SRV’s grave when I worked in Dallas. And as an opener for Slow Hand?
One band I would like to see that’s playing now is Fountains of Wayne (most popular song, but not their best, “Stacy’s Mom”). Yeah, it’s pop, but it’s really good pop. “Supercollider,” “Maureen,” “Little Red Light,” “I’ll do the driving,” and a cover of ELO’s “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” that kicks, bubble-gum in habenaro flavor.
Burns!, Jeezus, you had a ticket to see Stevie Ray and you *passed*? Placed a pick on SRV’s grave when I worked in Dallas. And as an opener for Slow Hand?
One band I would like to see that’s playing now is Fountains of Wayne (most popular song, but not their best, “Stacy’s Mom”). Yeah, it’s pop, but it’s really good pop. “Supercollider,” “Maureen,” “Little Red Light,” “I’ll do the driving,” and a cover of ELO’s “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” that kicks, bubble-gum in habenaro flavor.
Oddly enough, I was playing YouTube videos of Axl and GnR last night for my boyfriend….
I had an opportunity, when I was MUCH younger to see the Ramones, and couldn’t get the time off. (In retrospect, I was too young to know I should have called in sick to work.)
Bands from MY misspent youth I would like to see: The Pet Shop Boys (the tickets were out of my 14 year old price range), Erasure, U2, Gene Loves Jezebel, the Dead Kennedys, Front Line Assembly, Front 242, New Order/Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nine Inch Nails (circa Pretty Hate Machine) and….Morrissey. (BTW, the SF MOMA had this GREAT exhibit recently where Phil Collins filmed a bunch of kids in Turkey performing Morrissey songs at karaoke nights. Eet was Teh Awesome, and almost trumped the Matthew Barney exhibit I was there to see.)
Bands from MY parent’s misspent youth I would like to see: The Moody Blues, Simon and Garfunkle, Pink Floyd, naturlich.
Bands from my misspent youth which I did see: Depeche Mode (3 times now), The Cure (3.5 times, if the .5 counts as the HSFest where half the attendees got heatstroke), Sting (1), They Might Be Giants (2 times, and each time the most fun concert experience EVAR), Garbage (1), Bauhaus with Peter Murphy intact but still complete high on SOMETHING (twice), and Nick Cave (1).
Recent shows: The Living End and their opening act, I Hate Kate (1, with ticket for two weeks from now), The Aquabats (OK, haven’t seen them yet, but I have tickets for the day after The Living End), Jello Biafra (1), Calexico (1), Snake Oil Medicine Show (1), Pretty Girls Make Graves (1), and this year’s Coachella which included The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Depeche Mode, Ladytron, She Wants Revenge, Mogwai, Oakenfold, The Go Team, some Madonna person, and special bonus, ImaRobot (private party at Frank Sinatra Estate, pre-Coachella.) I slept through Tool. (I had to–I was the designated driver for the long trip home.) The Pixies were at Coachella two years prior, along with the Cure, but I missed that one. :(
Oddly enough, I was playing YouTube videos of Axl and GnR last night for my boyfriend….
I had an opportunity, when I was MUCH younger to see the Ramones, and couldn’t get the time off. (In retrospect, I was too young to know I should have called in sick to work.)
Bands from MY misspent youth I would like to see: The Pet Shop Boys (the tickets were out of my 14 year old price range), Erasure, U2, Gene Loves Jezebel, the Dead Kennedys, Front Line Assembly, Front 242, New Order/Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nine Inch Nails (circa Pretty Hate Machine) and….Morrissey. (BTW, the SF MOMA had this GREAT exhibit recently where Phil Collins filmed a bunch of kids in Turkey performing Morrissey songs at karaoke nights. Eet was Teh Awesome, and almost trumped the Matthew Barney exhibit I was there to see.)
Bands from MY parent’s misspent youth I would like to see: The Moody Blues, Simon and Garfunkle, Pink Floyd, naturlich.
Bands from my misspent youth which I did see: Depeche Mode (3 times now), The Cure (3.5 times, if the .5 counts as the HSFest where half the attendees got heatstroke), Sting (1), They Might Be Giants (2 times, and each time the most fun concert experience EVAR), Garbage (1), Bauhaus with Peter Murphy intact but still complete high on SOMETHING (twice), and Nick Cave (1).
Recent shows: The Living End and their opening act, I Hate Kate (1, with ticket for two weeks from now), The Aquabats (OK, haven’t seen them yet, but I have tickets for the day after The Living End), Jello Biafra (1), Calexico (1), Snake Oil Medicine Show (1), Pretty Girls Make Graves (1), and this year’s Coachella which included The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Depeche Mode, Ladytron, She Wants Revenge, Mogwai, Oakenfold, The Go Team, some Madonna person, and special bonus, ImaRobot (private party at Frank Sinatra Estate, pre-Coachella.) I slept through Tool. (I had to–I was the designated driver for the long trip home.) The Pixies were at Coachella two years prior, along with the Cure, but I missed that one. :(
AXL and G’n’R V.3x were supposed to play here in Portland, ME. Axl bailed two and a half hours before showtime because they couldn’t bring alcohol on stage. Wussies. They left alot of angry fans behind.
Woodstock, not the reincarnations, but the original. Of course, it’s not a a misspent youth kind of thing because I was too young to go – i wasn’t even a teen. How can you wish you’d done, or seen something that you had no possible chance in Hell to?
Anyhow, I guess I’d like to have had the chance to really have spent a year to two misspending my youth, as I think the folks that actually made it to Woodstock did. I may try to catch, “Buring Man,” just to see if I can approximate the experience, but I bet it won’t be the same.
Woodstock, not the reincarnations, but the original. Of course, it’s not a a misspent youth kind of thing because I was too young to go – i wasn’t even a teen. How can you wish you’d done, or seen something that you had no possible chance in Hell to?
Anyhow, I guess I’d like to have had the chance to really have spent a year to two misspending my youth, as I think the folks that actually made it to Woodstock did. I may try to catch, “Buring Man,” just to see if I can approximate the experience, but I bet it won’t be the same.
I was actually able to see Pearl Jam last September. That was by far the band I wanted to see live before I shuffled off this mortal coil. Other than that, I was able to see an incarnation of The Moody Blues, which I got tickets for my parents to go to for their anniversary. That was fun. Only other band I’d like to see live would have been The Who, but maybe in their Tommy days, or something. They were here a month or two ago, with a friend’s band opening for them. The show was supposed to have been good, but I didn’t have the cash to go.
I saw NKOTB when I was about 11 or so – there was so much screaming you couldn’t hear the band. Whatever – the tickets were free. That, and I’ve also seen Metallica a couple of times, Nickelback a couple of times. Danko Jones is a great live show. U2 would be a great concert to see.
I was actually able to see Pearl Jam last September. That was by far the band I wanted to see live before I shuffled off this mortal coil. Other than that, I was able to see an incarnation of The Moody Blues, which I got tickets for my parents to go to for their anniversary. That was fun. Only other band I’d like to see live would have been The Who, but maybe in their Tommy days, or something. They were here a month or two ago, with a friend’s band opening for them. The show was supposed to have been good, but I didn’t have the cash to go.
I saw NKOTB when I was about 11 or so – there was so much screaming you couldn’t hear the band. Whatever – the tickets were free. That, and I’ve also seen Metallica a couple of times, Nickelback a couple of times. Danko Jones is a great live show. U2 would be a great concert to see.
I saw most of the bands from my youth (most of who are mentioned above) – only American bands didn’t come over here in those days and I really think I might have sold my soul to see Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick, why haven’t you got my number?). One I missed – but Cathie didn’t (rot her socks) were The Beatles. Not even seeing Zepplin in their absolute pomp can make up for that (and Zepplin weren’t just better and heavier than you think they were, the were better and heavier than you can imagine they were!)
I was working in an arts centre one Friday night and the duty manager wondered if I wanted to go downstairs and see the band. I was tired, so I didn’t, and so didn’t see The Stranglers in a 20×20 club.
The first rock gig I went to was ELP (so I’m into pomp and prog, I don’t have to apologise for being young) Support was a band nobody had ever heard of, Yes – when they were good.
They were showing the recent Electric Prom by the Who last night – is THAT any way to treat an expensive musical instrument Townsend? Too old to rock, too young to die, perhaps, but when I closed my eyes I could almost imagine I was back in Leeds listening to Moon and the Ox, the nastiest rythym section of them all, from the front of the balcony 6 feet from speakers big enough to be heard in orbit, except for the volume, of course. I still have a tv so it couldn’t possibly be as loud as they were live.
Its a good game, but there is absolutely nothing like live music. Even when its bad its still a hell of a way to spend the time.
Okay, I’ve been away on vacation for a while but I’ll come late to this thread anyway.
The band I really really wish I’d seen but never got a chance to is Fields of the Nephilim (the original five-guy lineup, not the one-guy “reformed” band (the new band ain’t bad, but it ain’t the original either)). Those guys blew me away the first time I heard “Preacher Man”.
XTC would have been good, too. Same with Pink Floyd before Roger left. I would have loved to see The Doors but I was, like, nine and there was no way my parents were gonna let me go.
I’m weighing late here (on the road, giving lectures this week, Joy). But the best damn concert I ever saw was Harry Chapin at Michigan State around about ’79 or so (sorry, dates are getting a little fuzzy these days). I’ve never seen anybody that had a hold on the audience the way Chapin did, the world is a much sadder place without him. A very close second was Tina Turner in the 2000 year old Roman amphitheater in Malga, Spain. Steamy Windows, man I loved that concert, she was absolutely fantastic. People were just going apeshit. The energy was unbelievable. No giant screens, no flash pots, no techno razzle dazzle, just that incredible energy, and legs, did I mentions legs? Sorry to be a sexist pig, but man, seriously.
I’m weighing late here (on the road, giving lectures this week, Joy). But the best damn concert I ever saw was Harry Chapin at Michigan State around about ’79 or so (sorry, dates are getting a little fuzzy these days). I’ve never seen anybody that had a hold on the audience the way Chapin did, the world is a much sadder place without him. A very close second was Tina Turner in the 2000 year old Roman amphitheater in Malga, Spain. Steamy Windows, man I loved that concert, she was absolutely fantastic. People were just going apeshit. The energy was unbelievable. No giant screens, no flash pots, no techno razzle dazzle, just that incredible energy, and legs, did I mentions legs? Sorry to be a sexist pig, but man, seriously.