As they can be one of those "big deal" memorable experiences for most of us, here's a thread to post memories about concerts or music performances you attended.  Who you saw, when, if you liked or disliked the concert, who you attended with, anything memorable about the show (including things about the venue or audience) all are game.

https://www.castlefarms.com/blog/castle-farms-music-theater-2/

https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/article-7162-northern-michigans-woodstock/

This is in the town where I work and I have always lived within 30 miles.

For a long time This was the only place to see concerts in northern Michigan, until gambling became legalized in the late 90s and casino concerts started popping up all over. Before that the only other choice was to drive 4 or 5 hours downstate.

I was able to see one there before it closed. Metallica in 92 I think. My cousins stayed out all night to get tickets so they bought 9 on the 6th row and took a bunch of us. But I have many other good memories of people talking about it, hearing bands play from my house, hearing about stars that would show up in local businesses and seeing the memorabilia on the wall. Like when Rod Stewart stopped at the local Irish pub in the 80s.

What’s ironic is the reasons so many locals hated it are the same things happening today that they endorse. Floods of rude tourists all summer and fall. Jaywalking is the norm. Traffic backed up for miles. Hotels booked solid continuously. Stores sold out of things. The only difference is the people gridlocking the town today have money. Oh well.

Last time I went to one was on February 10th 2007, at the Cerritos Center for Performing Arts.

There were four featured music acts, all of whom were doo-wop performers. The Penguins, The Duprees, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, and Diamond Dave Sommerville.

I went with my parents and my maternal grandma. We all enjoyed the show!

Over the years I have attended many a concert, the majority being classical, mainly with Beethoven on the program.

For pop concerts I have only been to two, one was for mid-1970s pop concert to raise funds for a friends film to be made for an amateur movie club, the night made a loss, and I cannot recall the name of the band. (When lockdown ends, I promised myself to go back to my home town for many reasons and that being one of them. The other concert was in 1979, live on stage John Denver, there is footage of the concert on YouTube, but recorded on a different night I attended.

By the way, I have seen many live musicals on stage.

^ I, too, have attended at least one classical concert. I had to do so when I took a Music Appreciation class in community college, 20 years ago. The featured performers (names unknown and/or irrelevant) performed various pieces by classical/Baroque composers. :)

The only concert I have ever attended was in 2008. I saw Hanson perform live at a place called Lupo's in Providence. They were touring for their album "The Walk", and before the live performance, my sister and I met them at a meet and greet. We had the chance to ask them questions and we even had some pictures taken with them! They were very nice to us.  :)

I’ve been to so many small concerts I’ve lost track. But the tightest sounding, most polished band I’ve seen was Collin Raye.

It will be nice when we get a viable treatment for covid then we can start having concerts again. I had tickets for Bon Jovi and Little Texas. Bon Jovi cancelled, Little Texas is postponed for now.

Over the years I have attended many a concert, the majority being classical, mainly with Beethoven on the program.

For pop concerts I have only been to two, one was for mid-1970s pop concert to raise funds for a friends film to be made for an amateur movie club, the night made a loss, and I cannot recall the name of the band. (When lockdown ends, I promised myself to go back to my home town for many reasons and that being one of them. The other concert was in 1979, live on stage John Denver, there is footage of the concert on YouTube, but recorded on a different night I attended.

By the way, I have seen many live musicals on stage.
I have been sorting and clearing out, and today I re-found my programme for the John Denver concert, and interestingly the musicians on stage with him were:

Glen D. Hardin, (Piano and Electric Piano)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Hardin

Jim Horn, (Flute, Piccolo, Bass Recorder and Alto Sax)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Horn

James Burton, Electric and Acoustic Guitars)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Burton

Renee Armand-Horn, (With James, Jim and John, Background Vocals)
Married to Jim Horn

Emery Gordy Jnr., (Bass Guitar)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emory_Gordy_Jr.

Hal Blaine, (Drums and Percussion)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Blaine

Danny Wheetman, (Mandolin, Harmonica and Fiddle)

Herb Pedersen, (Banjo, Electric and Acoustic Guitars)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Pedersen

Denny Brooks, (Acoustic Guitar)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Brooks

The first concert I went to was Showaddywaddy at Leicester De Montfort Hall. The band were from
Leicester, in fact my dad worked with the lead singer’s dad. I went with my dad, we went a couple of times, as they always played a concert in December.

The next concert I went to was also in Leicester. I went with a friend from school to see Duran Duran. I wasn’t a big fan, but my friend was and needed someone to go with.

I also saw a bunch of bands at the local university. I can’t recall every one but they included Toyah , King, The Cramps, Gary Glitter, Soft Cell (or possibly just Marc Almond), The Stranglers, The Damned, Doctor and the Medics (actually saw these twice once in Leicester and once in my home town). I also saw The Damned twice, once locally and once in London as part of their tenth birthday celebrations.

At some point I went to a big indoor arena to see Depeche Mode. I also saw Michael Jackson when I was on holiday in France. We saw tickets advertised for the concert the next day so bought some. The place was only about half full!

A similar thing happened when Dai and I were in the US looking at houses shortly before moving out there. Dai saw an advert for The Police, who were playing at the local stadium in a couple of days time. Somehow we arranged to meet someone at the stadium and buy some tickets from him. It was a kind of low-key concert to promote the band that Sting’s son had formed.

We also saw U2 when we lived in the US, plus we should have gone to see Tom Jones, but he was ill.

More recently I’ve seen Kaiser Chiefs, The Script, Disturbed and Avenge Sevenfold, Royal Blood and, at a local festival thing UB40, Sam Bailey and The Real Thing.

Not mentioned here are the local bands I saw in various back rooms of pubs, smaller rooms at the university, at summer evening concerts when we lived in the US, etc, etc. And I’m sure I’ve forgotten at least one big concert as well

Over the years I have attended many a concert, the majority being classical, mainly with Beethoven on the program.

For pop concerts I have only been to two, one was for mid-1970s pop concert to raise funds for a friends film to be made for an amateur movie club, the night made a loss, and I cannot recall the name of the band. (When lockdown ends, I promised myself to go back to my home town for many reasons and that being one of them. The other concert was in 1979, live on stage John Denver, there is footage of the concert on YouTube, but recorded on a different night I attended.

By the way, I have seen many live musicals on stage.



^ I, too, have attended at least one classical concert. I had to do so when I took a Music Appreciation class in community college, 20 years ago. The featured performers (names unknown and/or irrelevant) performed various pieces by classical/Baroque composers. :)


That sounds interesting and fun! I've never been to a classical music concert. They don't really come to Rhode Island.

That sounds interesting and fun! I've never been to a classical music concert. They don't really come to Rhode Island.

You should go sometime. I found it relaxing, in a sense. :)

I should also add that I once went to a jazz concert, as a requirement for a Intro to Jazz class that I took during my first semester at CSU Northridge. It was on a Friday night, mid-semester, in one of the performance halls at the campus, so that was convenient.

You should go sometime. I found it relaxing, in a sense. :)

I should also add that I once went to a jazz concert, as a requirement for a Intro to Jazz class that I took during my first semester at CSU Northridge. It was on a Friday night, mid-semester, in one of the performance halls at the campus, so that was convenient.


I went to see Marcus Miller and some other jazz musicians last summer. But I got hit with West Nile fever and had to leave before it started. I’ve seen Booker T Jones. Another one which couldn’t really be classified was Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I went to see Victor Wooten as he was bass player of the year. And sat right up front.

I went to see Marcus Miller and some other jazz musicians last summer. But I got hit with West Nile fever and had to leave before it started. I’ve seen Booker T Jones. Another one which couldn’t really be classified was Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. I went to see Victor Wooten as he was bass player of the year. And sat right up front.


West Nile - Oh No!!!  :o

West Nile - Oh No!!!  :o


About 3 days after getting bit up by mosquitoes. It felt like a really sudden and horrible flu but in August. With the addition of a stiff sore neck as meningitis was starting to develop but thankfully my body kicked that part first.

About 3 days after getting bit up by mosquitoes. It felt like a really sudden and horrible flu but in August. With the addition of a stiff sore neck as meningitis was starting to develop but thankfully my body kicked that part first.


O0 Glad you made it OK through that awful disease.

In 1995, I was a big CCM fan.  Having obtained their first CD via record club, I became interested in the new CCM Reggae group Christafari.  As I learned the group would be performing in my neighborhood, I jumped at the chance to go.  Unfortunately none of my friends could go - so I went solo.

I was taken aback when I saw the venue - tiny, like "my den" tiny, half of it stage, a few small tables at one side and the rest open.  Setting up, I think the band may have been taken aback too.  If 30 were in the audience, I'd be surprised.  Since I was inclined to dance, I parked in a nice quiet corner.  The band, out promoting their second album, played wonderfully, and I danced through the show.  They played a bulk of their new album's tunes and a few from the first album.  But one I hoped to hear wasn't played.  Afterwards, as the band members were in the lobby selling their CDs, I approached the extremely friendly Mark Mohr, one of the main vocalists, to tell him I loved the show.  When I mentioned which of the first album songs I was disappointed to not hear, he immediately launched into a couple verses from it to give me a private thrill!  I never forgot that.  :)

In 1995, I was a big CCM fan.  Having obtained their first CD via record club, I became interested in the new CCM Reggae group Christafari.  As I learned the group would be performing in my neighborhood, I jumped at the chance to go.  Unfortunately none of my friends could go - so I went solo.

I was taken aback when I saw the venue - tiny, like "my den" tiny, half of it stage, a few small tables at one side and the rest open.  Setting up, I think the band may have been taken aback too.  If 30 were in the audience, I'd be surprised.  Since I was inclined to dance, I parked in a nice quiet corner.  The band, out promoting their second album, played wonderfully, and I danced through the show.  They played a bulk of their new album's tunes and a few from the first album.  But one I hoped to hear wasn't played.  Afterwards, as the band members were in the lobby selling their CDs, I approached the extremely friendly Mark Mohr, one of the main vocalists, to tell him I loved the show.  When I mentioned which of the first album songs I was disappointed to not hear, he immediately launched into a couple verses from it to give me a private thrill!  I never forgot that.  :)


You mention CCM which reminds me. In the early 90s my best friends were heavily into CCM so I was into it too. We got invited to set help set up for White Heart when they came to Rogers City. And of course free tickets. I learned some things and it was a lot of fun. I was new on bass at the time so I was really looking forward to meeting Anthony Sallee. But he had a sub that night so I was kinda bummed.

I have seen:

-The Cowsills
-BJ Thomas/Debby Boone
-Blue Oyster Cult
-Loverboy/The Hooters
-Bob Dylan
-Meatloaf
-Jethro Tull
-The Rascals (they dropped the Young because they were no longer young. lol)*
-BJ Thomas/Billy Joe Royal*
-Loving Spoonfuls/Rick Derringer*
-1964 (Beatles tribute band)-twice.*
-Bryan Adams
-Pat Banatar/REO Speedwagon
-Woods Tea Company (local group who I have seen numerous times).


I THINK that is all of them. I may have forgotten one or two.

*Fundraisers for the firefighters. 


Cat

I have seen:

-The Cowsills
-BJ Thomas/Debby Boone
-Blue Oyster Cult
-Loverboy/The Hooters
-Bob Dylan
-Meatloaf
-Jethro Tull
-The Rascals (they dropped the Young because they were no longer young. lol)*
-BJ Thomas/Billy Joe Royal*
-Loving Spoonfuls/Rick Derringer*
-1964 (Beatles tribute band)-twice.*
-Bryan Adams
-Pat Banatar/REO Speedwagon
-Woods Tea Company (local group who I have seen numerous times).


I THINK that is all of them. I may have forgotten one or two.

*Fundraisers for the firefighters. 


Cat


Cool list!  It looks like several were fundraisers - were the performances in a close timeframe?

I have seen (hope I remember them all). This does not include local bands. Mostly chronological order.

White Heart
Metallica / Metal Church
Kathy Mattea / Lee Roy Parnell
Trace Adkins / Collin Raye
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Toby Keith
Montgomery Gentry / Hank Williams Jr
Pure Prairie League
Janet Harms (organist)
Spinners
Gary Allan
Beach Boys / Wilson Phillips
Restless Heart
Loverboy
Booker T Jones
Indigo Girls
Mollie B (but she didn’t play anything  :( )
Fall Out Boy
Bow Wow Wow / Limahl (Kajagoogoo) / Tony Lewis (Outfield) / Modern English / ABC / Belinda Carlisle
Jefferson Starship
Mark Chesnutt
Pam Tillis

I have seen (hope I remember them all). This does not include local bands. Mostly chronological order.

White Heart
Metallica / Metal Church
Kathy Mattea / Lee Roy Parnell
Trace Adkins / Collin Raye
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Toby Keith
Montgomery Gentry / Hank Williams Jr
Pure Prairie League
Janet Harms (organist)
Spinners
Gary Allan
Beach Boys / Wilson Phillips
Restless Heart
Loverboy
Booker T Jones
Mollie B (but she didn’t play anything  :( )
Bow Wow Wow / Limahl (Kajagoogoo) / Tony Lewis (Outfield) / Modern English / ABC / Belinda Carlisle
Jefferson Starship
Mark Chesnutt
Pam Tillis


If I can ask, WHICH Jefferson Starship did you see? I am a HUGE Paul Kantner fan, and he resurrected the band and the name in 1992 and toured as Jefferson Starship (often with Marty Balin) until he died. Now they are both deceased. He did all his great material. But concurrently, that god-awful shrieker Mickey Thomas was out there with his own so-called "Starship" singing those ghastly songs like the universally hated "We Built This City", "Sara" and the like, which, in truth, had nothing to do with the real heart and soul of the Paul Kantner-founded Jefferson Starship. I HOPE you saw the real one and not screaming banshee Mickey Thomas.

If I can ask, WHICH Jefferson Starship did you see? I am a HUGE Paul Kantner fan, and he resurrected the band and the name in 1992 and toured as Jefferson Starship (often with Marty Balin) until he died. Now they are both deceased. He did all his great material. But concurrently, that god-awful shrieker Mickey Thomas was out there with his own so-called "Starship" singing those ghastly songs like the universally hated "We Built This City", "Sara" and the like, which, in truth, had nothing to do with the real heart and soul of the Paul Kantner-founded Jefferson Starship. I HOPE you saw the real one and not screaming banshee Mickey Thomas.


It was almost exactly a year ago. They came to the neighboring town.

They did a mix of songs from all 3 eras and it was a great show. But being an 80s kid, I kinda hoped to see Mickey Thomas. His Starship band came to my town for a free concert in the park in 2015 and I was looking forward to it but I got sidetracked and missed it. Kicked myself for awhile for that. I also like his work with Elvin Bishop.

It was almost exactly a year ago. They came to the neighboring town.

They did a mix of songs from all 3 eras and it was a great show. But being an 80s kid, I kinda hoped to see Mickey Thomas. His Starship band came to my town for a free concert in the park in 2015 and I was looking forward to it but I got sidetracked and missed it. Kicked myself for awhile for that. I also like his work with Elvin Bishop.


Yes, what you saw was the Paul Kantner founded Jefferson Starship who carried on after his passing. It includes David Freiberg who was in the original Jeferson Starship. They still do some of Paul and Marty's songs.

Yes, what you saw was the Paul Kantner founded Jefferson Starship who carried on after his passing. It includes David Freiberg who was in the original Jeferson Starship. They still do some of Paul and Marty's songs.


I do love the Marty Balin era too. Very mellow. Along with his solo song Hearts.

Cool list!  It looks like several were fundraisers - were the performances in a close timeframe?


Yeah, they had a concert every year. The firefighters would call me and they were always a delight to talk to. One year the guy I was talking to was making sure that he had my info correct (name, address, etc.). He asked me, "Miss? Mrs? Queen?" I told him, "Goddess." I was floored that when the tickets came, they were addressed to "Goddess 'Catwoman'.  Every year since then, the tickets ALWAYS came address to Goddess.  :D ;D ;D ;D


I don't know why they stopped. Those concerts were fun.


Cat

I knew I had forgotten some. Reading Cat’s list reminded me that I also saw the Bootleg Beatles and the Strolling Bones at the local university in the eighties and then just the Bootleg Beatles sometime in the nineties in Nottingham. At the same Nottingham venue I saw Lindisfarne - Dai was a fan of them, and we possibly went with friends from work or something.

Also a bit more recently we saw Jools Holland in concert. That was a birthday present for Dai and the first proper concert my children went to.

...I also saw the Bootleg Beatles...


Were they a good cover band?  How about the "Strolling Bones"?


... a bit more recently we saw Jools Holland in concert...


How was Jools Holland?  I've enjoyed him via YouTube on a live 80's TV performance (branded "on The Tube") but he was playing in support of another artist, Thomas Dolby.  Good stuff!  (If you're at all curious, the youtube is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBFjVln9YO8.)

I forgot one. Back in 1966, I'm sure I saw Pete Seeger. My parents worked at a local theatre and Pete was invited to come and preformed. I have a copy of the letter that was sent to Pete thanking him for agreeing to preform for free. It was in my father's papers. I wonder how he got it since his name wasn't on the letter.


Cat

I forgot one. Back in 1966, I'm sure I saw Pete Seeger. My parents worked at a local theatre and Pete was invited to come and preformed. I have a copy of the letter that was sent to Pete thanking him for agreeing to preform for free. It was in my father's papers. I wonder how he got it since his name wasn't on the letter.


Cat


Pete Seeger?  Sounds nice.  Do you remember much?

Pete Seeger?  Sounds nice.  Do you remember much?


That concert, no. But, I feel like Pete was a family friend. We have ran into him many times. Every time we met up with him, he always acted as if we were old friends-whether he remembered us or not. He used to come to my high school (there is a pic of him in my yearbook). And I'm sure I posted this pic before. Pete & my step-father I think it was taken around 1978-79 or so.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49640888283_610682ce50.jpg


Cat

Were they a good cover band?  How about the "Strolling Bones"?



The Bootleg Beatles are highly rated as a cover band. They start out in the collarless grey suits, with the slim ties and change costumes a couple of times to match the era of music, ending up with St Pepper suits. “John Lennon” comments on getting his glasses.

I don’t remember much about the Strolling Bones, they were the support act to the Beatles.



How was Jools Holland?  I've enjoyed him via YouTube on a live 80's TV performance (branded "on The Tube") but he was playing in support of another artist, Thomas Dolby.  Good stuff!  (If you're at all curious, the youtube is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBFjVln9YO8.)




Jools Holland was ok - not quite my cup of tea. Roland Gift from Fine Young Cannibals had a guest spot and he was really good.

The YouTube videos will be from an eighties tv show called The Tube. Jools Holland and Paula Yates were the presenters. It was a live music show broadcast on Channel 4 in the U.K. on Friday early evening. Lots of new acts launched on there. They did a late night special to show the video to Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood I remember.

...The YouTube videos will be from an eighties tv show called The Tube. Jools Holland and Paula Yates were the presenters.  It was a live music show broadcast on Channel 4 in the U.K. on Friday early evening...


Suffice it to say, then, that Jools Holland was on the show continuously, something I didn't know.  BTW I enjoy that YouTube that I referenced, only the sound engineer(s) overmixed the backup singer (keyboardist) microphone; his mike was much too loud.

The Bootleg Beatles are highly rated as a cover band. They start out in the collarless grey suits, with the slim ties and change costumes a couple of times to match the era of music, ending up with St Pepper suits. “John Lennon” comments on getting his glasses.




1964 was a good cover band. There were times watching them that I had to remind myself that they were NOT the Beatles. (I have some pics from the concert.)

Here is a list of all many of the Beatles cover bands: https://www.guitarandbeyond.com/beatles-tribute-bands/

Oh, and my SIL did see the Beatles in the '60s. When she told me, I looked at her and said, "I'm jealous."


Cat

1964 was a good cover band. There were times watching them that I had to remind myself that they were NOT the Beatles. (I have some pics from the concert.)

Here is a list of all many of the Beatles cover bands: https://www.guitarandbeyond.com/beatles-tribute-bands/

Oh, and my SIL did see the Beatles in the '60s. When she told me, I looked at her and said, "I'm jealous."


Cat


Cool link - they also mention the Chicagoland cover band I've seen many times, American English.  Good band - although I liked their earlier incarnation even better (before they replaced "John")

I'm jealous of your sister in law, too!  :)

In July 2007 hubby and me had the opportunity to go to a Chicagoland venue called "Ravinia" and see the Doobie Brothers.  Regarding Ravinia, it's a picturesque outdoor park-like venue having a covered pavilion with theater seating, the back of which contains the stage, surrounded by a large lawn seating area, suitable for family picnics and romantic dinners.  The venue is lush with trees, and remote speakers are scattered about the lawn for added musical enjoyment.  One thing to know about the summer of 2007 - it was year that the "17 year" crop of cicadas (insects) reappeared in Chicagoland.

As expected, the crowd for the show was extreme.  Even though we arrived in good time, it took us quite a while to find a lawn spot to set up for the show.  To our great delight we stumbled onto a nice shady tree that was relatively near the stage.  We set up our blanket and chairs, unbagged our sandwiches and settled in for a long night of entertainment.  To our dismay, within a few minutes, we discovered why the shady tree was still open when we got to it.  Cicadas, which were all over the tree, decided they didn't mind crawling on our chairs, our blanket, our bags, even on us - and some were even dropping out of the tree!  Oh boy!  So we bolted down our food quickly and sealed up our bags, and after some deliberation decided these cicadas weren't that horrible - there were just a lot of them.  So we leaned back and enjoyed the Doobie Brothers - who put on a good show - every once in a while flicking a cicada off of our arms or legs.  We decided to laugh about it.  Who knows - maybe between us and the Doobies, we gave those 17 year cicadas a thrill, too!  :)

I should also add that I went to the Orange County Fair with my parents a few times during the 1990s, and most of those times we saw a concert there. Those were my only experiences with outdoor concerts.

When we went there in 1999 (on this date, July 21st), it was to see Weird Al! (He performed two shows that evening...and even though we actually attended the second show, we also got to hear his first show because we were standing outside the gates of the amphitheater (along with other attendees wishing to attend the first show) while he was performing.) He performed songs from his then-recent album, as well as classics. At the time, I was getting acquainted with his music and parodies, and I even had some of his music albums.

...When we went there in 1999 (on this date, July 21st), it was to see Weird Al!...


It would've been a blast to see Weird Al!    :D

It would've been a blast to see Weird Al!    :D

And I was excited to see him perform 21 years ago on this day. :D
He performed both parodies and original songs.

I should also add that each time we went to the Orange County Fair, we went with my mom's cousin (and his wife) who lived in the area at the time. We always had a good time getting together to do this.

... hubby and me had the opportunity to go to a Chicagoland venue called "Ravinia" ... it's a picturesque outdoor park-like venue having a covered pavilion with theater seating, the back of which contains the stage, surrounded by a large lawn seating area, suitable for family picnics and romantic dinners.  The venue is lush with trees, and remote speakers are scattered about the lawn for added musical enjoyment...

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/whartonclubchicago/pages/1552/attachments/original/1562949627/ravinia.jpg?1562949627

The two of us have been to Ravinia a number of times.  On this occasion, we went to see Steely Dan in 2011.


... As expected, the crowd for the show was extreme ... it took us quite a while to find a lawn spot to set up for the show...


The crowd for Steely Dan was extreme indeed.  The best we could find was a "postage stamp" sized area far from the pavilion that nearly encroached on several other parties' blankets.  We wondered if we would be comfortable in such a cramped condition for the whole night.  We enjoyed the warm-up act (a pleasant instrumental jazz band) and finished our food etc. at that time.  Steely Dan came on afterward and we were trying to enjoy them despite the crowds.  Their performance was excellent, but hard to fully enjoy in that condition.  Around the fourth (?) song of their set, the sky suddenly opened and it started pouring buckets!  We were drenched instantly.  We had brought heavy duty ponchos (one orange, one blue) and plastic, and we deliberated whether to don those or just leave.  We looked up and noticed a major crowd exodus - probably 70% of the lawn crowd headed out quickly.  Suddenly we were no longer cramped - merely wet.  So we put on those ponchos and stayed.  What a difference in our enjoyment!  I could finally walk to the pavilion and get a look at the band as they performed.  I could walk around.  And I could dance!  We stayed for the whole rest of the show, it was wonderful.  Hubby says I was quite the sight, dancing to my fave Steely Dan tunes in the rain wearing a bright orange poncho.  But did I care?  Nope!  :D

The two of us have been to Ravinia a number of times.  On this occasion, we went to see Steely Dan in 2011.

The crowd for Steely Dan was extreme indeed.  The best we could find was a "postage stamp" sized area far from the pavilion that nearly encroached on several other parties' blankets.  We wondered if we would be comfortable in such a cramped condition for the whole night.  We enjoyed the warm-up act (a pleasant instrumental jazz band) and finished our food etc. at that time.  Steely Dan came on afterward and we were trying to enjoy them despite the crowds.  Their performance was excellent, but hard to fully enjoy in that condition.  Around the fourth (?) song of their set, the sky suddenly opened and it started pouring buckets!  We were drenched instantly.  We had brought heavy duty ponchos (one orange, one blue) and plastic, and we deliberated whether to don those or just leave.  We looked up and noticed a major crowd exodus - probably 70% of the lawn crowd headed out quickly.  Suddenly we were no longer cramped - merely wet.  So we put on those ponchos and stayed.  What a difference in our enjoyment!  I could finally walk to the pavilion and get a look at the band as they performed.  I could walk around.  And I could dance!  We stayed for the whole rest of the show, it was wonderful.  Hubby says I was quite the sight, dancing to my fave Steely Dan tunes in the rain wearing a bright orange poncho.  But did I care?  Nope!  :D


Ever wonder about the origin of the name "Steely Dan"?

Fans of Beat Generation literature, Fagen and Becker named the band after a "revolutionary" steam-powered dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel "Naked Lunch".
-Wikipedia

Ever wonder about the origin of the name "Steely Dan"?

Fans of Beat Generation literature, Fagen and Becker named the band after a "revolutionary" steam-powered dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel "Naked Lunch".
-Wikipedia


O0 I had heard this before - but don't mind the reminder...

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/whartonclubchicago/pages/1552/attachments/original/1562949627/ravinia.jpg?1562949627

The two of us have been to Ravinia a number of times.  On this occasion, we went to see Steely Dan in 2011.

The crowd for Steely Dan was extreme indeed.  The best we could find was a "postage stamp" sized area far from the pavilion that nearly encroached on several other parties' blankets.  We wondered if we would be comfortable in such a cramped condition for the whole night.  We enjoyed the warm-up act (a pleasant instrumental jazz band) and finished our food etc. at that time.  Steely Dan came on afterward and we were trying to enjoy them despite the crowds.  Their performance was excellent, but hard to fully enjoy in that condition.  Around the fourth (?) song of their set, the sky suddenly opened and it started pouring buckets!  We were drenched instantly.  We had brought heavy duty ponchos (one orange, one blue) and plastic, and we deliberated whether to don those or just leave.  We looked up and noticed a major crowd exodus - probably 70% of the lawn crowd headed out quickly.  Suddenly we were no longer cramped - merely wet.  So we put on those ponchos and stayed.  What a difference in our enjoyment!  I could finally walk to the pavilion and get a look at the band as they performed.  I could walk around.  And I could dance!  We stayed for the whole rest of the show, it was wonderful.  Hubby says I was quite the sight, dancing to my fave Steely Dan tunes in the rain wearing a bright orange poncho.  But did I care?  Nope!  :D



What a great story.


Cat

Back in the early 2000s, I went to a waterfront festival in a neighbouring city and the Reggae artist Snow was performing.  He is best known for the 1993 hit Informer which was a #1 hit in the US and often (incorrectly) billed as a one hit wonder.  At the time in Canada, he was on the verge of a comeback with an album called Mind On The Moon that was really popular, and I didn't really realize just how popular until I saw that concert.  When he sang Informer, the crowd went crazy, but when he sang a hit from the year 2000 he had called The Plumb Song, the crowd went even wilder.

I mentioned in a previous post about seeing Blue Oyster Cult. The thing is, I was never really a fan. In fact, at the time of the concert, I couldn't tell you ONE song they sang. So why did I go to the concert? Believe it or not, it was because I left my clock radio on one night. lol. I know that sounds so bizarre. Usually, I would set my radio to turn off after so long but I forgot to set it that night.

All night long they kept playing commercials announcing the concert and it just slipped into my subconsciousness. The next morning when I woke up (the day of the concert) I said, "I want to go to that concert." So, I called a friend of mine who lived a couple of blocks from the stadium about going. She called the stadium and of course they were sold out and they only had standing room only. I didn't want to stand the entire time. So, I thought my idea of going was kaput. But, my friend's brother knew someone who had a couple of tickets they would sell us. My friend decided she didn't want to go but her brother would go with me. So, we bought our tickets about a half hour before the concert and we 10 rows from the stage.

Ok, a bit of a background about my friend and her brother. I have known their whole family ALL OF MY LIFE. I remember going to her 4th birthday party-and she is OLDER than I am (not by much). My mother and their mother were best friends and their mother is my godmother. If it was with another other friend, I don't think my parents would have let me but they knew I would be spending the night there after the concert-because it was within walking distance from their house. I always thought her brother was a pest but then somewhere along the lines, he wasn't a pest anymore.

It was the first rock concert I had been to and didn't realized there was a warm up act. I guess my friend's brother didn't know either because after the warm up act he asked me, "Now what?" I didn't know. Toward the end of the concert, people started going up to the stage. We went. I was right up against the stage. I thought my friend's brother was using it as an excuse to put his arms around me but little did I know at the time (but he told me later) he had each arm around me but held on to the stage to hold people back so I didn't get squashed. I also remember he had a hat and asked me if he should throw it on stage. I said if he wanted to. So he did, and one of the band members threw out into the audience so, he lost his hat and looked at me as if to say, "Oh well."

What I wasn't excepting about going to this concert was that things would be VERY muffled for days after. I recall seeing these HUGE speakers on stage. I wondered if I would ever get my hearing back to normal. After about three days or so, it popped back.


So, that was my spontaneous concert going adventure. Last minute and we had great seats. Can't beat it.


Cat

BTW, I should have mentioned that ^ happened when I was 17.


Cat

I mentioned in a previous post about seeing Blue Oyster Cult. The thing is, I was never really a fan. In fact, at the time of the concert, I couldn't tell you ONE song they sang. So why did I go to the concert? Believe it or not, it was because I left my clock radio on one night. lol. I know that sounds so bizarre. Usually, I would set my radio to turn off after so long but I forgot to set it that night.

All night long they kept playing commercials announcing the concert and it just slipped into my subconsciousness. The next morning when I woke up (the day of the concert) I said, "I want to go to that concert." So, I called a friend of mine who lived a couple of blocks from the stadium about going. She called the stadium and of course they were sold out and they only had standing room only. I didn't want to stand the entire time. So, I thought my idea of going was kaput. But, my friend's brother knew someone who had a couple of tickets they would sell us. My friend decided she didn't want to go but her brother would go with me. So, we bought our tickets about a half hour before the concert and we 10 rows from the stage.

Ok, a bit of a background about my friend and her brother. I have known their whole family ALL OF MY LIFE. I remember going to her 4th birthday party-and she is OLDER than I am (not by much). My mother and their mother were best friends and their mother is my godmother. If it was with another other friend, I don't think my parents would have let me but they knew I would be spending the night there after the concert-because it was within walking distance from their house. I always thought her brother was a pest but then somewhere along the lines, he wasn't a pest anymore.

It was the first rock concert I had been to and didn't realized there was a warm up act. I guess my friend's brother didn't know either because after the warm up act he asked me, "Now what?" I didn't know. Toward the end of the concert, people started going up to the stage. We went. I was right up against the stage. I thought my friend's brother was using it as an excuse to put his arms around me but little did I know at the time (but he told me later) he had each arm around me but held on to the stage to hold people back so I didn't get squashed. I also remember he had a hat and asked me if he should throw it on stage. I said if he wanted to. So he did, and one of the band members threw out into the audience so, he lost his hat and looked at me as if to say, "Oh well."

What I wasn't excepting about going to this concert was that things would be VERY muffled for days after. I recall seeing these HUGE speakers on stage. I wondered if I would ever get my hearing back to normal. After about three days or so, it popped back.

So, that was my spontaneous concert going adventure. Last minute and we had great seats. Can't beat it.

Cat



BTW, I should have mentioned that ^ happened when I was 17.

Cat


O0 Love this story!

Couple questions - one, did your relationship with your friend's brother change at all, and two, when they played "Don't Fear The Reaper" was there enough cowbell?  :D

O0 Love this story!

Couple questions - one, did your relationship with your friend's brother change at all, and two, when they played "Don't Fear The Reaper" was there enough cowbell?  :D


Every time I have seen him (I haven't seen him since his sister's wedding about 30 years ago or so), I had to keep reminding myself that he wasn't that pest he used to be way back when. The fact that I did enjoy myself with him at the concert should have told me otherwise but some things die hard. He was probably about 15 years old or so when we went to the concert. I'm sure if I had been around him more than just a few times over the years, I would have forgotten the pesty brat that annoyed me so.

As for the cowbell, I really don't remember. Like I said, I didn't know any of their songs before the concert but when they started to play Godzilla, I was like, "Oh, I KNOW this one! So, they are the ones who sing it." lol.

Yup, went to a concert because I forgot to turn off my radio one night. lol.


Cat

...As for the cowbell, I really don't remember...

Cat


Oh, I'm sure they would've had the cowbell all worked out by the time they started touring, observe:

More Cowbell, Please  ;D  :D  ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVsQLlk-T0s