A Great Idea Lost, and Our First Concert Experiences
Yesterday, while driving, I came up with a great topic for an update. I remember feeling excited, and amazed that I’d never thought of it before. It was perfect! A natural.
And now it’s all gone. I have no idea what that topic was, and it’s making me crazy. I’ve been thinking about it all morning, and just can’t pull it up. Dammit! I hate that, so much. And it happens all the time… I used to be really good about keeping notes, but I’m so scattered now it’s becoming a problem.
So, I’ll just write about my first concerts again. I don’t remember it specifically, but I’m sure I’ve covered this subject a few times during the past eleven years. Oh well. I’m burned-out, so I hope you guys will cut me a little slack.
My first three concerts were each very different from one another, and all need to be mentioned when we’re talking about firsts.
The first EVER “concert” I attended was Steve Martin at the Huntington Civic Center. This was at the height of his “wild and crazy guy” white suit arrow-through-the-head popularity, and he was playing giant arenas around the country. I was in Junior High, I believe, and thought the show was utterly hilarious.
Two things stick out in my mind. I remember he did something special for the folks sitting all the way in the back section — roughly a half-mile from the stage – a little thing he called “the dime trick.” I thought that was a riot.
Also, at one point there were a million strobe lights going off, and Steve Martin was standing there with his hands sticking out to one side, just slowly opening and closing the space between his middle and ring fingers. It’s hard to explain… But it was just some simple hand gesture, while this massive rock concert light show kicked-up. It was completely ridiculous, and funny as hell.
My first music concert was Billy Joel, at the same venue, a few months after Steve Martin. His new album at the time was 52nd Street, and the song “Big Shot” was the highlight. That’s the only time, I think, he got up from the piano and moved around the stage. It was a good show, but not exactly raucous.
52nd Street came out in 1978, so I was 15 when I attended my first music show. It seems kinda late… plus, it was freaking Billy Joel. Fairly embarrassing.
But my next concert made up for it: Cheap Trick at the old Charleston Civic Center. Man, that blew me away…
For one thing, Cheap Trick wasn’t exactly a superstar act at the time. The Budokan album had just been released, but hadn’t caught on yet. Eventually it became a billion-selling phenomenon, but none of that had happened when I first saw them. So, the place was half-empty.
And the people who were there were… scary-ass. It was just a bunch of drunken hicks — all tendons and blotchy facial hair — and it felt like our general safety was in question. I remember one guy had a baseball cap with the bill flipped up, and metal stick-on letters that spelled CHEAP TRICK underneath. He looked like he’d been huffing gasoline all afternoon.
The show was insane, and impossibly loud. There was a stepladder on the stage for some reason, and Rick Nielsen kept balancing guitars on top, and allowing them to crash down the steps. The noise was deafening. The whole thing was just wild and over-the-top and one of the loudest things I’ve ever experienced.
My ears were ringing for days afterward, and I couldn’t stop talking about that show. I saw them several more times, but they were more straight-forward affairs. That first time was crazy. It was one of the most memorable shows of my life. They were literally a few days away from blowing up and becoming world famous, and were running wide-open.
Since then, I’ve been to hundreds and hundreds of shows. But those were the ones that got me started. What about you? What was your first concert? Or concerts, if you need to put them into categories like me? Use the comments link below.
And I’ll be back on Monday. Maybe I’ll remember that golden topic that popped into my head yesterday? That would be cool, but I think it’s gone forever.
Have a great weekend, boys and girls.
Now playing in the bunker
Buy Jeff a beer, he requires a beer
Filed under: Daily
1st? KISS, also fairly embarrassing.
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WB in OH Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
After a little research it was January 9, 1983, I was 15.
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I wasn’t allowed to go to rock concerts. In another dimension, though, I’m sure my first concert would have been U2, provided U2 existed in the parallel universe.
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m Reply:
August 20th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
My husband was never allowed to do such things, either. When we were engaged, and he was 21, he went to see James Taylor with me, at my urging. According to his parents, I was “dragging him to hell.”
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Gretchen Reply:
August 20th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
For me it wasn’t a matter of my folks concerned that I’d be going to hell. Rather they embraced the idea that girls should be under lock and key. Meanwhile my brother was allowed to run wild with no curfew. He attended many a concert while I had to make due with the radio. Am I still bitter about that? Yeah, you might say so.
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First? After reading the whole update.
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Third is close enough. My first concert was the Beach Boys at the Farm Show Arena. I was in 8th grade.
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Deep Purplse opened by Nazareth 1976(?) at the arena in Maryland that has been torn down (around Laurel… mebbe? Tons of drugs being passed around and, yes loud. Oh, what an era.
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Susan Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
My typing indicates I’m a bit spent like a dead match……sorry.
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Rod Stewart and Faces with Charlie Daniels opening. Back when Rod Stewart actually did not suck. Yes there was a time when that was true.
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Jeff Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Wow. I would love to have seen the Faces. Their box set “Five Guys Walk Into a Bar” is one of the best box sets ever released. They were a great band.
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Uncle_Wedgie Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Also Charlie Daniels was touring the Fire on the Mountain album which rocked. Check it out. I KNOW you have it around there someplace.
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The Hooters , at the now defunct Rocky Glen Park.
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
But, did you see a concert as well?
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Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood as “The New Barbarians” at Madison Square Garden I think in 1979. I think that’s the only ticket stub to a concet I DON’T have – Ive saved every other.
I don’t go to many concerts nowadays because the ticket prices are fucking sky high. Even crappy “lawn seats” for ZZ Topp are around $39 apiece. So, $80 to sit 14 miles away (because the peferred seating starts at about $75 apiece) just seems ludicrous.
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First concert- Sonny and Cher (with the parents). They brought the little freak Chaz (formerly Chastity) out on stage. They doted over her so much. Sonny would have shot himself in the head by now had the tree while skiing had not did him in.
Nest, Elvis, with parents (i Know they seem cool, but they were not).
After that, Cars and Cheap Trick in Ohio at some festival. AC/DC and a Jefferson Starship concert that I took a South Charleston cheerleader to that JK and Bill also went to.
Best recent concerts, Linkin Park and Green Day.
Best in the past- AC/DC and (two bands that should never be mentioned in the same sentence) ELO- they had the spaceship and shit. It was undeniably cool then.
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Yup, we were there (with HARV, I think). The Jefferson Starship concert was the last one in the old Civic Center (1980). I remember very little of it, other than Grace Slick being stoned out of her goard.
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First concert was probably the Beatles in February 1964 – yes, I’m that old.
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Kimistry Reply:
August 20th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Yikes. Me too. I was 12.
Biggest crowd I’d ever seen.
Avoiding crowds ever since
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Brittney Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 6:04 am
You are certainly not old, you are amazing. I envy you so much for being able to see the Beatles as a quartet and not as a duet (Ringo and Paul). As if they ever play together anyway. You are so lucky to have been able to experience that. My dad was at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 65′ and all I can do is watch videos and pretend.
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Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in Parkersburg City Park Pavilion. Man, that is going way back in the alley.
Then many years later I saw Zeppelin in Charleston. Very loud and a great 2.5 hour show. We weren’t very far back and right behind the guy running the board so the sound was incredible. I should really count this one as the first.
I saw Cactus open for Grand Funk in Morgantown…Cactus was so much better than GFR. Although that isn’t saying much.
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Chuck in Belpre Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
OK…the Zeppelin concert was April 2, 1970. I can’t believe that info was available 40 years later.
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Here’s a great Cheap Trick video from the era when I first saw them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BA91Qlu41A
It captures some of the wildness.
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Chuck in Belpre Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Thanks. I’ve always liked Cheap Trick. Even today.
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Journey, Montrose, and Van Halen – 04/20/78, Ruby Diamond Auditorium, Tallahassee, FL
I had just turned 13. First time I ever smelled marajuana. Lots of it, as I recall.
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James Brown – 1966, Jimi Hendricks – 1967, Meatloaf – 2007 – that’s a weird combination of memories.
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First – Paul Kantner/Grace Slick-Jefferson Starship performing “Blows Against the Empire” at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Second- Gordon Lightfoot, with Kate Taylor opening, in Portland, Maine. Most recent – Emmylou Harris, with The Civil Wars opening, at the State Theater in Portland. She rocked it for two hours without taking a break.
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squawvalleyskip Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
I would have loved to have seen the “Blows Against the Empire” concert. I always thought that was the only Starship album that could hold a candle to any of the Jefferson Airplane material.
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My very first concert was The Little River Band. They played at the IUP Field House. So I would have been in high school around that time.
My second concert wasn’t until the late 80′s. George Michael. Before he was ever caught in a men’s room spanking it.
My third concert was Bruce Springsteen, “Tunnel of Love” Tour. Outstanding. In fact I think he’s still playing. They’re trying to demolish the Civic Arena, so he’d better get off the stage soon.
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Bikerchick, I was at the same Springsteen show in PGH that year. Definitely one of the better concerts I’ve ever seen.
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bikerchick Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Bill: Of all the concerts that I’ve seen…not only was it my first “big name” concert it was one of my most memorable. One of my favorite songs of all time is Springsteen’s “Glory Days”. Maybe because it rings so true.
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madz1962 Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
I saw “The Tunnel of Love” tour at Madison Square Garden.
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Malcolm Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Tunnel of Love was the only Springsteen tour I ever missed – since 1976. Something on the order of 20 shows, all great.
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Not a big fan of sprawling, out-of-control crowds, so haven’t really hit any major current-star concerts. I went to a lot of bluegrass festivals with my dad, and managed to see most of the leading lights of that genre: Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Jim and Jesse, etc. I also saw the Monkees on their 1986 reunion tour (at the Pontiac Silverdome; horrible sound) and a number of oldies package shows. Del Shannon’s performance at one circa 1983 was probably the most memorable; he did all his hits and threw in a bunch of vintage country and rock-and-roll covers, ran over his allotted time, and essentially blew the rest of the has-beens and doo-wop ringers off the stage. Lesley Gore’s headlining set was pretty much anti-climactic. Also saw Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino. The Killer glared at his band members the whole show and messed up his lyrics, and Fats constantly berated the sound man and stomped off the stage twice.
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m Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
I love Bluegrass. We got to go to see the Down From the Mountain tour. Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Ralph Stanley, and several others. It was amazing. The best part? Ralph Stanley “lining out” Amazing Grace with the entire audience responding.
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Well, you guys are gonna laugh your asses off, but my first concert was the goddamn STATLER BROTHERS. A friend of mine’s parents had tickets, somebody backed out, so I went in their place. Joint hits to “Flowers On The Wall” was a site to be seen for my 12 year old eyes. I remember telling my buddy’s dad that it smelled like somebody started a brush fire in there. First notable concert attended was Boston in ’78. I loved that band back then.
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Jeff Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
I also saw the Statler Brothers in Charleston, with my parents. It was kinda fun.
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Starcher’s parents dragged us to it. I can’t remember if they had an opening act or not. Probably Ferlin Husky or some shit like that. LMAO!
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Jeff Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Maybe it was the Ramones?
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Crazier acts have been paired together. Didn’t Hendrix open up for The Monkees back in the 60′s?
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My mom took me to see Chuck Berry at Springfield (MA) Symphony Hall in 1970 or so – around the time of “My Ding-A-Ling”.
He put on quite a show, he even did the duck walk. I was about 10.
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Squeeze/The Smithereens at City Island, Harrisburg, PA. I was 14 years old.
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Jeff Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Very cool.
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My first concert was probably the most embarrassing of any I have seen on here today……..1977…Blood Sweat and Tears. The last concert I went to was Steely Dan at the Ntelos Pavillian in Portsmouth Virgina, two weeks ago. Great show, but Becker went on a 10 minute jag about the Navy, in a Navy town……..I thought he was going to get his ass kicked.
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
I think I saw BS&T at the Regatta one year. Last concert(s) I attended were Jackson Browne and James Taylor (separately) this year. Both very small venues. I wanted to see JB and she loves James Taylor.
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Oh, BTW, was at Jackson Browne with you guys !!
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Jerry in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
That was a great concert. Better than I expected.
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Black Oak Arkansas in PHS fieldhouse. They were much better musically than they were ever given credit for. Their hits didn’t really show their abilities. Or maybe I was high during that time.
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Joe Walsh, Spirit, Brownsville Station at the State Fair Coliseum in Indy around Christmas ’73.
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re: bunker cam — Andy’s?
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Alice in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
you may have started a trend.
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WB in OH Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Instead of planking…
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bikerchick Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
“re: bunker cam — Andy’s?”……….feet or turds…?
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I have a more embarrasing first concert, Rick Springfield. To be fair we were 14 year old General Hospital fanatics.
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Jeff Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
I saw Rick Springfield in concert. It had something to do with hormones and a girl. Opening band: Sparks.
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Gretchen Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
At least Sparks had to be a little awesome.
Patty: My husband’s first concert was Sha Na Na, if that makes you feel any better.
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WB in OH Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I’ve been thinking about Sha Na Na, I feel like I’ve repressed a memory of Mom dragging me to Hara Arena to see them, it may have been my first concert.
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Gretchen Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
My husband’s from Urbana, Ohio. Maybe you guys went to the same concert. He was dragged by family members too (so he says).
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Gretchen Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Check that. He said he saw Sha Na Na at a fair. But he did go to the Hara Arena several times for other shows, most notably Run DMC, Jane’s Addiction, and Henry Rollins. He informs me the place is/was a dive.
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WB in OH Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Calling the place a dive is putting it kindly.
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Seems like yesterday we (or most of us) were complaining about the impending doom to society because of the dumbing down of Ahmurika. I stumbled onto this moments ago, further evidence…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44195054/ns/us_news-weird_news/t/drivers-see-baby-truck-bed-call-police/?gt1=43001
Be sure to read towards the end where she tries to explain…
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Gretchen Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Alas, there is no handbook for common sense.
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I remember a Guns N Roses concert during their heyday and Axl Rose came in on a cable from behind us wearing a read leather jock-strap. His ass was clearly visable. And the concert was insaine.
One time I went to a small country music concert in order to get some tail. We saw Reba McEntire and some guy nobody had ever heard of “Garth Brooks” opened up for her. When he was done and she came out everyone went fucking crazy and she actually cut her act short so he could come back out perform some more. A year or two later he was making more money than God and forgiving people of their sins. Crazy.
Yeah, well, I’m gonna finish my Wendy’s frosty and slit my fucking wrist. This week has been shitappaloosa.
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WB in OH Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Ditto on the bad week, to top it off I was just told to stick around for a conference call at 4, I’ll be lucky if it’s over by 6…fuckers.
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Jason Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Cocksuckers. The accounting bitch left at 11:00 this morning and happily said, “Have a great weekend!” while I have to sit here until God knows when. She leaves early and chirps for me to have a great weekend? She probably went out and danced in front of a paraplegic, the inconsiderate cunt.
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WB in OH Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Worst part is we had the same meeting yesterday. Client didn’t like the answers, so they’re bringing in higher ups who can yell louder. Nine women can’t have a baby in a month, it’ll be done when it’s done.
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My first ever concert was also Steve Martin in Huntington.
1977- 8 or somewhere in that neighborhood.
Wasn’t Eddie Rabbit the opening act?
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Jeff Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
I don’t remember, but you could be right.
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Sammy Hagar and Quarterflash. Dallas Reunion arena. 1982
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Ha! Saw Quarterflash at King’s Island on Sr. Night in 1981. What a stonefest that was. Not QF, just 90% of the high school seniors in attendance.
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Jeff Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Didn’t the Michael Stanley Band play at that fiasco, too? They were carting drunken teenagers out of that place on WWII stretchers.
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Stompin Tom at the local Fair. I think it counts as a concert. Just happened to be there to watch some dirt track races and hung around to see what was coming up next.
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C&C Music Factory mother fo’s!
Bought a new laptop yesterday. The girl’s reaction – why?
Why? Because watching youporn on a Droid sucks. Unless it was an actual droid. I’d undress hologram princess leia with my eyes, don’t judge me.
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Not sure if this’ll work but here is a picture from the Leo Pub Prowl last night.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2380985687357&set=a.1122992638317.131691.1332131335&type=1&theater
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Do amputees ever say “I put my pants on one leg at a time just like you do.”?
And if so I’d like them to follow it up with “…and then I tie the end of my pant leg into a knot.”.
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Bill in WV Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
One armed man giving applause to this post.
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15 isn’t to bad, my daughter who is way to pretty for her own good will not be going to concerts ’till she is at least 21!!! And I am big enough, mean enough, and have enough conections at the local sheriff’s dept. to make sure of that!!!
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Uncle_Wedgie Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Your a mean Daddy.
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Red Sovine at Camp Virgle Tate.
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Tim Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Or perhaps The Statler Brothers. And I mean Harold, Lew, Phil & Don. This was before the Jimmy years. I never cared for that booger eater Jimmy.
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I think my first concert was Loggins and Messina at Tanglewood in 1976, when I was 17 or 18, a man of advanced years. Second was sometime during the cold weather of the 76/77 school year when Emerson, Lake and Palmer played the hockey arena at college. Tickets cost $8.00 – umbleeble.
After that I kind of lost track.
.
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Black Sabbath & Black Oak Arkansas in some venue in Charleston. First time our parents let us go on a road trip (we drove all the way from Bridgeport!!!!. ) either fall 75 or spring 76.
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chill Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Charleston South Carolina and Bridgeport Connecticut? That’s a hell of a hike!
.
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My first concert was 7 Mary 3 in 1996 at some summerfest in WI. The next summer I saw Dave Matthews at that same festival.
I have had a few favorite concerts: Reel Big Fish at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, Disturbed (my husband and I got the tickets as our Christmas presents to each other). Over the summer we saw Poison at Def Leppard. They are getting a bit old, but a great show.
Next up is Foo Fighters next month.
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chill Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Wow, Poison. My only knowledge of them comes from my two trips to Iceland, which were about a month apart in the summer of 1991. First trip, everyone was abuzz because FUCKING POISON! was coming to town. Second trip, people were all pissed off because FUCKING POISON! was a no-show – they just blew off their scheduled concert date.
.
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Toto at the Scranton CYC in 1978. 16 years old and full of Miller High Life. Hold the Line alright.
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Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, spring of 1983, Memorial Hall in JoMo, 14 years old. It was all general admission so we got there something ridiculous like 5 hours early. There was already an unorganized ‘line’ of seasoned concert goers drinking beer and smoking something smelly I later learned was POT! Wow – real pot being smoked just right there out in the open! All decked out in concert tees, jean jackets, long hair, Chuck Taylors, and attitude. The whole affair scared the crap out of me. Couldn’t wait till it was over and I could go home. Buuuut, I got older and maybe wiser and perhaps even cooler but certainly drunker and saw a bunch more…some I don’t remember so well.
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Saw U2 (with BB King) in the mid 80′s at Sun Devil Stadium and saw Bruce Springsteen at 3 Rivers Stadium sometime in the 80′s as well. Too far away to really enjoy Bruce concert but was on the field for U2.
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First was Bob Seger at the Milwaukee Arena – I won tickets (the only time I’ve ever won anything, as far as I recall) on the same day I’d planned a special anniversary dinner for my mom since my dad was out of town.
I was at the Alpine Valley show of that Steve Martin tour. The dime trick had me in hysterics. Also, there was the short film “The Absent-Minded Waiter” which stuck with me for years.
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The first concert I remember was Bill haley and the Comets, sometime around ’69 or ’70. The next concert was Emersson, Lake & Palmer on the Brain Salad Surgery tour at The Boston Garden. Couldn’t hear for days. In the ’70s I managed to get to quite a few shows, mostly established bands. CSN&Y at the Capitol Center in Maryland back around ’74, Stills by himself many times, Clapton many many times. The Who when lasers were considered cutting edge light shows, and none of us were expecting the red and green beams while the acid was kicking in. New Riders of the Purpla Sage, Commander Cody, the list goes on. Then I pretty much stopped as I got older. last concert was J.J. Cale a couple years ago, in Fresno. Excellent show, small venue and he has always been one of my favorites.
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chill Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Commander Cody aka John Tichy was a professor of mechanical engineering. Not my major, so I never encountered him. But still.
.
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squawvalleyskip Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Actually George Frayne was the Commander. Tichy was one of the guitarists. Frayne was an art instructor in the upper midwest. Tichy was the head of the Department of Mechanical,Aerospace, and Nuclear engineering at Rensaleer Polytechnic Institute in New York. Bill Kirchen (lead guitar) still Had an active band in the Bay Area a couple years back.
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Jethro Tull at Reunion Arena in Dallas, circa 1982. Ian was throwing a big weather balloon up into the nosebleed section at one point.
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My first ever concert was the band Alabama playing Bryant-Denny Stadium for UA’s homecoming. Alabama at Alabama, pretty cool. I went with my grandparents, I was in elementary school. My first concert without an adult was REM in Macon, GA, the last stop on their Green tour. I went with my boyfriend. It was an amazing show. Since then, I’ve been to many concerts, but my tastes have changed. I’ve seen James Taylor in concert twice, and I enjoyed both immensely. The best show I’ve ever seen? The Chieftans. I also got to see Bob Dylan when he played UA’s homecoming, and I didn’t understand a damn word the whole time. And some old hippies danced the entire time, blocking my view of the stage.
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m Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Oops, I forgot that my grandmother took me to see Donny and Marie when I was in kindergarten. I guess it didn’t make much of an impression.
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I got you all beat… hands down – Shaun Cassidy! No shit! Damn I was gay as a little kid. I think I was 10.
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First concert- Menudo. With my friends Kippy, Chip, and Tad.
Just kidding.
The first I remember was when my folks took me to see George Thorogood and the Delaware Dstroyers when I was about 10. I caught a contact high. Unfortunately, the gateway opened and I was a full-fledged speed freak by age 12.
He had a killer sax player.
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doctorright Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Taht shuld have red “Destroyers.”
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Flock you, Jeff, if you think Billy Joel is considered a bad first concert.
Also at 15 you somehow expect to have belted major concerts by then?
My first REAL concert was a Monkees Reunion Tour.
Your Cheap Trick is equal to my Guns and Roses.
NO ONE knew who they were when we saw them and I would not trade
that bragging right. Was NICE to love them
early and wach them grow.
Much like you and ur site for me
Looking fwd to my signed copy
TY for opening it up again.
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Jethro Tull and Robin Trower @ Shea Stadium. Probably 1975 or 1976. I was around 14, my friends Mom drove us and waited in the car, and the girl I was with threw up on the people in front of us. My friends Mom asked “who threw up” on the way home. Good times.
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I was at the Steve Martin show in San Jose, CA. Nezrite, I almost coughed up my coffee when I read the “Absent Minded Waiter” comment. Totally forgot about that! HA! Saw Jesse Colin Young in the same venue a couple of weeks after with John Sebastian opening. Pretty sure those were my first.
Happy Saturday, Surfers!
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1st concert: Styx at Tri-State College in Angola Indiana in 1974. Lady had just become a hit they rocked! Saw them many times after that…
Greatest timing: Watching Bob Seger play Fire Lake while seeing the sun set over the lake at the west end of the Orange Bowl in Tampa. 1979?
Most wasted: Tripping at the Toledo Speedway Jam. Started off the morning @ 6am drinking Jack and Coke and driving to Toledo. Finished the day setting along a country road because we were laughing too hard to drive. What a day, glad I don’t do that anymore. Great show, Heart, Eddie Money and 3 other bands. It was so hot they had water trucks in the infield spraying everyone down. 1977?
Hottest Concert: John Fogerty and John Mellencamp in Charlotte. It was 106 actual temp when we got to the show. They ran out of water halfway through Mellencamp so we left. He wasn’t doing well in the heat anyway.
Cool Moment: Mellencamp pulling a fan up on stage and letting him sing “Jack and Diane”! The guy did a great job and the whole crowd was singing so loud you could hear it over the mics! Who doesn’t have that dream?
Cool moment 2: Aerosmith at Deer Creek in Indy. They had a small stage set up in the lawn area and came up and played 3 songs for the lawn crowd! We headed over there as soon as we saw it coming and got right next to the stage while they played “Big Ten Inch”. It worked because the gf couldn’t wait till we got home so I stopped at a rest area on I-69 and we crawled in the back of my van for some fun!
Memorable concerts: Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Embassy Theater in Ft. Wayne. Any of the old Mellencamp concerts, he was always moving and dancing and put on a hell of a show. Fleetwood Mac in Indy. Jimmy Buffett in Indy at a small venue, Jimmy opening for the Eagles in Orlando 1979. Listening to Tommy Shaw play a 12 string. Black Sabbath in the day, there were people having sex in the floor, girls topless on their boyfriends shoulders, empty liquor bottles and smoke so thick you hardly see the stage, great times!
Of course, Rush, REO Speedwagon, Tom Petty, the Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Kansas, Duke Tumato were all great shows.
Concerts I regret never seeing: Supertramp. Still my favorite musicians. Pink Floyd.
Haven’t been to many shows lately but I am going to try to go see Steve Martin play banjo with the the Steep Canyon Rangers in Brevard next month.
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fryguy Reply:
August 20th, 2011 at 8:55 am
and I forgot: Cheap Trick a few years ago at the Murat Theater in Indy. Still LOUD as fuck but was front row with a bunch of other mid-life professional teenagers! Still have the guitar pick from that show!
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Brittney Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 6:07 am
Fucking. Awesome. Just awesome!
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I also saw some great shows (Styx. Rush, Gary Wright) at the Fairgrounds in Indy, My thoughts are with those who were affected by the tragedy there last week. One was a friend of a family member, just horrible.
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saw Richie Havens open for Jimi Hendrix in the Westchester Co. Coliseum NY .It was billed as a black concert – both were pretty unknown at the time .maybe 1968.Jimi had a wall of 24 Marshall amps -blew the place away as no one had seen or heard anything like it !
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Let me just say that I beat you all. My first (and only) concert was when I was 11 & the act was….wait for it…wait for it: MARKY MARK & THE FUNKY BUNCH.
That’s right, bitches. Feel the vibration.
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doctorright Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 1:21 am
OMG Donnie D’s brother??!!!?
details!!!
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johnthebasket Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 1:33 am
Melissa…
I can understand the need for the vibrator.
jtb
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doctorright Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 2:29 am
I bet you do.
HAHAhahahahaha
don’t fuckin kill me
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My first concert: The Monkees. 1998 in Indiana. Mike Nesmith was not there. Davy Jones threw me a rose, which I still have.
Second: Paul McCartney at United Center in 2002. Shed a single tear when he walked out on stage.
Concerts to follow…
Phish – 11 shows
Dave Matthews Band-7 shows
Keller Williams – 3 shows
Primus – 2 shows
Disco Biscuits – 5 shows
Moe. – 5 shows
Yonder Mountain – 2 Shows
Widespread Panic – 1 show
By the way…I posted a video of me playing some Beatles tunes on my guitar. Unfortunately, I’m pretty rusty because this was the first time I’d picked up a guitar in over a year, but anyway….I start with a quick ‘Dear Prudence’ and end with ‘Blackbird’.
http://youtu.be/EdmDz1035MY
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Ed Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Pretty cool, Britt!
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Greg Reply:
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Thanks, Britt! I enjoyed hearing you play!!
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I saw a bunch of country stars when I was a kid with Dad and Mom. Ernest Tubb Hank Snow I forget the rest. MY first concert was Foghat at the Igloo in the ‘burgh around 76-77? blew my hillbilly ass away.
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No no no NO! Not the dog turds again!
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johnthebasket Reply:
August 21st, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Ah, I remember her well. She was fetching, and I didn’t even know how to sit or roll over.
jtb
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Good morning, everyone. I feel like 10 miles of bad road today. I’m hoping for a funny update to help lift me. Or some of you could say some really funny shit. Sometimes the depression kicks the mania’s ass.
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madz1962 Reply:
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:25 am
“Funny shit” – are you laughing yet?
I’m also in a bit of a pissy mood today and need some laughs. If not, they may be calling Security on me because I can easily slap the shit out of someone.
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Chuck in Belpre Reply:
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:41 am
I’ll hold them and you knee them in the kidneys.
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madz1962 Reply:
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:14 am
Thanks, Chuck! I’m feeling better already just conjuring up that image!
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first concert was the JudyBats during 8th grade at an all ages show at the Metro in Chicago, then my first illegal “bar beer” after that at the Gingerman Bar next door. (older brother and friends snuck me in)
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