I'll stick with Rock n Roll shows to keep it manageable. There are lots of big name events that are memorable for the hype, but sticking to the actual concert experience, here are five favorites that quickly come to mind:
Nov, 1971 Genesis at the Bergen Couny Community College gymnasium. They were a little known cult band at the time and Peter Gabriel had barely started to get attention for his art-rock sensibilities. This was my first full-blown theatrical rock production, and it was in a tiny gym set with folding chairs. At 14 years old, this was as good as life gets.
John Hiatt touring behind Perfectly Good Guitar at Irving Plaza. Hiatt ditches the singer/songwriter thing and goes full-on rock n roll with a smokin band. An unknown Cheryl Crow (on I believe her first ever tour) does a great opening set.
Fleetwood Mac at the Staples Center touring behind Say You Will. My zillionth Mac show, but first arena concert in 10+ years. Chris McVie is gone and the guitars take over. The hardest rocking FM show since Peter Green hung it up.
Led Zep (1975ish) at Madison Square Garden touring behind ZoSo. A friend got us into the first ten rows and four high school kids get blown away by the band at its peak.
The last one is awful tough, but that slew of great, post-punk, small venue shows in the 80s and 90s deserves one mention.
I'll go with The Bongos reunion show at The Bottom Line in NYC. Richard Barone and James Mastro got together again and tore the roof off the place.
Nov, 1971 Genesis at the Bergen Couny Community College gymnasium. They were a little known cult band at the time and Peter Gabriel had barely started to get attention for his art-rock sensibilities. This was my first full-blown theatrical rock production, and it was in a tiny gym set with folding chairs. At 14 years old, this was as good as life gets.
John Hiatt touring behind Perfectly Good Guitar at Irving Plaza. Hiatt ditches the singer/songwriter thing and goes full-on rock n roll with a smokin band. An unknown Cheryl Crow (on I believe her first ever tour) does a great opening set.
Fleetwood Mac at the Staples Center touring behind Say You Will. My zillionth Mac show, but first arena concert in 10+ years. Chris McVie is gone and the guitars take over. The hardest rocking FM show since Peter Green hung it up.
Led Zep (1975ish) at Madison Square Garden touring behind ZoSo. A friend got us into the first ten rows and four high school kids get blown away by the band at its peak.
The last one is awful tough, but that slew of great, post-punk, small venue shows in the 80s and 90s deserves one mention.
I'll go with The Bongos reunion show at The Bottom Line in NYC. Richard Barone and James Mastro got together again and tore the roof off the place.