Greatest shows you never saw/Greatest shows you ever saw!

[The Internet]

Bee, the guy I'm talking about, was one of those over promise under deliver types, but you just couldn't stay mad at him for long. He was from Mississippi, had that Southern charm thing down pat, and used it to his advantage. Especially with the girls.

But back on topic. Living in Houston back in the early 80's I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn three times at a funky old blues bar in The Heights. That's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Houston, for those that don't know that. The last time was not long before Texas Flood was released. So I'm sitting there and in walks Steve Perry and two of his band mates. Next thing I know Perry is up on the stage, belting out the blues with Stevie Ray. Was never a big Journey fan, but Perry was a pretty darn good blues singer.

Bugman, that's an amazing story! On more than one level! Congratulations! I'm not a Journey fan at all, but I'd defintely be interested in hearing Perry sing the blues, WITH Stevie Ray. Pre-Texas Flood!

 

[The Internet]

Ok, here's one more of mine.

When I was in college, I worked at this theatre. And one day, I see on the call board that Elvis Costello is coming to the theatre, solo acoustic. (this was right after "Spike", which I think is his last great album). I see this on the call sheet? I sign up for the entire job: from load in at 6 in the morning....till load out after the show, as long as it takes, could be midnight, could be 3 in the morning. But he's only playing solo acoutsic. How bad can the load in and load out be, right?

Wrong. TWO trucks, filled with lighting equipment, props, piano, road cases, the whole bit. Because I didn't want to miss anything, I didn't even schedule in a lunch break, breakfast break, nothing. I never worked so hard in my life, for a solo acoustic show, lol

Around 2:00 or so, Elvis comes in with Nick Lowe and Cait O'Rioridan. He goes outside and invites in about 10 kids who are waiting outside the stage door. He invites whomever is out there to watch the soundcheck. He proceeds to play an hour and ten minute set for these kids..........and the best part? He doesn't repeat a single song in the show that night. I got to basically see two Elvis shows in a day. His voice never let up. He did songs I never heard him play, like "Hoover Factor" and "New Amsterdam". It was amazing.

An interesting end to the whole show. I'm backstage watching the show. The audience is going crazy. Elvis is waving goodbye to the crowd and he's beaming. It's been a great show. He's smiling this big broad smile and walks offstage........but the SECOND he gets past the curtain, the second he gets into the wings, and the audience can't seem him anymore.........the smile immediately vanishes and is replaced by a stern, determined, disgusted walk to his dressing room, lol. It was all an act.

It was all an act......but a fantastic show.

(I actually have another Elvis Costello show story that's pretty funny, another day, though!).

 

[bethaknee]

Bee, the guy I'm talking about, was one of those over promise under deliver types, but you just couldn't stay mad at him for long. He was from Mississippi, had that Southern charm thing down pat, and used it to his advantage. Especially with the girls.

But back on topic. Living in Houston back in the early 80's I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn three times at a funky old blues bar in The Heights. That's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Houston, for those that don't know that. The last time was not long before Texas Flood was released. So I'm sitting there and in walks Steve Perry and two of his band mates. Next thing I know Perry is up on the stage, belting out the blues with Stevie Ray. Was never a big Journey fan, but Perry was a pretty darn good blues singer.

Southern charm...figures, lol. 😛

Damn, that is pretty amazing. I am jealous! Sounds like that would have been a great time.

 

[shippyshippy]

I'm going to see KISS later this month and I'll probably be listing the show under the "best" category.

 

[The Internet]

I'm going to see KISS later this month and I'll probably be listing the show under the "best" category.

Best Kiss lyric: "I'm the king of the night time world!" lol! Right on! Have fun! Makeup or no makeup?

 

[milagros317]

I found what I most wished to have seen back in 1964: Lesley Gore on the TAMI show.

 

[Bugman]

Bugman, that's an amazing story! On more than one level! Congratulations! I'm not a Journey fan at all, but I'd defintely be interested in hearing Perry sing the blues, WITH Stevie Ray. Pre-Texas Flood!

Just one of those being in the right place at the right moment things I guess. And I was actually about to hit the door when Perry walked in. Figured things might get interesting then.

That's quite a story about Costello. Wonder if what you saw was normal for him or if something happened that got his shorts in a wad.

 

[Bugman]

Southern charm...figures, lol. 😛

Damn, that is pretty amazing. I am jealous! Sounds like that would have been a great time.

It really was something, and I just lucked into it.

I also saw the late great Albert Collins, the Master of the Telecaster, three times, at a bar called Rockefeller's on Washington Ave. It was in a great old bank building (imagine that) and what great shows those were. His signature move was to walk off the stage, stroll down the center aisle, and stand out on the sidewalk, never missing a beat. Most of the audience would follow him out the door and party on.

Just a bit of trivia here, Howard Hughes and some of his family are buried at Glenwood Cemetery, just down the street from where the bar was.

 

[Bugman]

Best Kiss lyric: "I'm the king of the night time world!" lol! Right on! Have fun! Makeup or no makeup?

I saw KISS back in the 70's, with the makeup, pyrotechnics, the whole thing. And only because they opened for Tull. Why I don't know. With all due respect to KISS fans, I could have passed on that myself.

 

[The Internet]

It really was something, and I just lucked into it.

I also saw the late great Albert Collins, the Master of the Telecaster, three times, at a bar called Rockefeller's on Washington Ave. It was in a great old bank building (imagine that) and what great shows those were. His signature move was to walk off the stage, stroll down the center aisle, and stand out on the sidewalk, never missing a beat. Most of the audience would follow him out the door and party on.

Just a bit of trivia here, Howard Hughes and some of his family are buried at Glenwood Cemetery, just down the street from where the bar was.

Jeezus! Three times! I saw Collins, but not in a little bar! Love Albert Collins. Icepick! Damn, Bugman, so jealous!

I saw KISS back in the 70's, with the makeup, pyrotechnics, the whole thing. And only because they opened for Tull. Why I don't know. With all due respect to KISS fans, I could have passed on that myself.

Ha. (I'm actually not particularly a Kiss fan either; that said, I do love that line "I'm the king of the night time world", lol.)

But Kiss and Tull? Never Kiss and Tull! lol. Seriously, what year was that? So you saw Tull twice? I know the Todd/Trower/Tull show was, like, '78 right? "Heavy Horses" tour. So that means you saw them earlier? Now my mouth is watering!

I always have wished I could have seen the "Passion Play" tour, my uncle followed Tull all around the country, and told me that that was the greatest show he'd ever been to, the "Passion Play" tour of '73.

 

[Bugman]

Jeezus! Three times! I saw Collins, but not in a little bar! Love Albert Collins. Icepick! Damn, Bugman, so jealous!



Ha. (I'm actually not particularly a Kiss fan either; that said, I do love that line "I'm the king of the night time world", lol.)

But Kiss and Tull? Never Kiss and Tull! lol. Seriously, what year was that? So you saw Tull twice? I know the Todd/Trower/Tull show was, like, '78 right? "Heavy Horses" tour. So that means you saw them earlier? Now my mouth is watering!

I always have wished I could have seen the "Passion Play" tour, my uncle followed Tull all around the country, and told me that that was the greatest show he'd ever been to, the "Passion Play" tour of '73.

That show must have been 1975? As I remember KISS was just beginning to hit the big time around then, maybe that's how they landed on the bill. But it was an odd pairing, to say the least. May have been a one time thing on that tour.

You know Bob Willis, so I'm sure you know Leon McAuiffe. I saw Leon live in 1983. He was playing at the Texas State Chili Championship in San Marcos, about 30 miles south of Austin. Don't remember who the supporting cast was, probably some local guys. Not that it mattered. For that brief hour I was so focused on Leon the rest of the world didn't exist.

 

[The Internet]

That show must have been 1975? As I remember KISS was just beginning to hit the big time around then, maybe that's how they landed on the bill. But it was an odd pairing, to say the least. May have been a one time thing on that tour.

You know Bob Willis, so I'm sure you know Leon McAuiffe. I saw Leon live in 1983. He was playing at the Texas State Chili Championship in San Marcos, about 30 miles south of Austin. Don't remember who the supporting cast was, probably some local guys. Not that it mattered. For that brief hour I was so focused on Leon the rest of the world didn't exist.

Holy moly! Bugman! Leon McAullife! I gotta tell my buddy this story! I just have to leave out how I know you! lol. At a Chil Championship! With just some local guys, awesome! Wow. Was the crowd even aware of who he was?

 

[Bugman]

Holy moly! Bugman! Leon McAullife! I gotta tell my buddy this story! I just have to leave out how I know you! lol. At a Chil Championship! With just some local guys, awesome! Wow. Was the crowd even aware of who he was?

Oh yeah, just about everybody knew who Leon was. He did a series of shows, all sold old, and mostly an older crowd. I lucked into a ticket, don't remember how.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

Bee, the guy I'm talking about, was one of those over promise under deliver types, but you just couldn't stay mad at him for long. He was from Mississippi, had that Southern charm thing down pat, and used it to his advantage. Especially with the girls.

But back on topic. Living in Houston back in the early 80's I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn three times at a funky old blues bar in The Heights. That's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Houston, for those that don't know that. The last time was not long before Texas Flood was released. So I'm sitting there and in walks Steve Perry and two of his band mates. Next thing I know Perry is up on the stage, belting out the blues with Stevie Ray. Was never a big Journey fan, but Perry was a pretty darn good blues singer.

I also agree that must've been pretty wild seeing Mr "Don't Stop Believin" Perry singing blues, with the fantastic Stevie Ray Vaughan no less!!

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

Well, two concerts that I didn't make it to back in the late 80s and early 90s that must've shocked a bunch of people. The first took place at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT...a relatively famous little club, anyway it was a regular Saturday night scheduled dance party there when an announcement was made out of the blue that the club would be having a band come up for a rehearsal concert. The band, The Rolling Stones, then showed up and played a seven song set, in preparation for a tour that was getting under way soon. I imagine a few of the patrons of the club stayed around for the show.

The other show, again at Toad's Place, was Bob Dylan in 1990. This was already sold-out and special for Bob to be playing such a small venue. What the audience wasn't expecting was the set list, Bob and his band played a maybe a 70 minute set, then took a break and played another, then took a break and played another!!! I think I remember it turned out to be six sets from 8pm to almost after 2am!! And he played obscure songs, weird covers(Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark!), requests(he played "Joey"!!), and most of the big hits.This made the front page of The New Haven Register the next morning and included the set list. Again, wasn't there but eventually got to hear the show on three 90 minute bootleg cassettes which I no longer own because of my wonderful generosity.

 

[The Internet]

Well, two concerts that I didn't make it to back in the late 80s and early 90s that must've shocked a bunch of people. The first took place at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT...a relatively famous little club, anyway it was a regular Saturday night scheduled dance party there when an announcement was made out of the blue that the club would be having a band come up for a rehearsal concert. The band, The Rolling Stones, then showed up and played a seven song set, in preparation for a tour that was getting under way soon. I imagine a few of the patrons of the club stayed around for the show.

The other show, again at Toad's Place, was Bob Dylan in 1990. This was already sold-out and special for Bob to be playing such a small venue. What the audience wasn't expecting was the set list, Bob and his band played a maybe a 70 minute set, then took a break and played another, then took a break and played another!!! I think I remember it turned out to be six sets from 8pm to almost after 2am!! And he played obscure songs, weird covers(Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark!), requests(he played "Joey"!!), and most of the big hits.This made the front page of The New Haven Register the next morning and included the set list. Again, wasn't there but eventually got to hear the show on three 90 minute bootleg cassettes which I no longer own because of my wonderful generosity.

I've played Toad's Place! Can't say with who! But I remember seeing pictures of those two shows on the walls!

That's hilarious he did "Dancing In The Dark" (which definitely has a beautiful melody, I can see him doing that!). And "Joey"! Ha! Jerry Garcia was the one who got him playing that song again. Dylan's quote is something like: "You know who got me playing that song again? Garcia! He said it was the greatest song ever written. Coming from him, I didn't know how to take it." LOL.

Sorry you lost the tapes, but here's the Stones show!:


And here's Bob doing "Dancing In The Dark" at Toad's Place!


🙂

 

[Bugman]

Well, two concerts that I didn't make it to back in the late 80s and early 90s that must've shocked a bunch of people. The first took place at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT...a relatively famous little club, anyway it was a regular Saturday night scheduled dance party there when an announcement was made out of the blue that the club would be having a band come up for a rehearsal concert. The band, The Rolling Stones, then showed up and played a seven song set, in preparation for a tour that was getting under way soon. I imagine a few of the patrons of the club stayed around for the show.

The other show, again at Toad's Place, was Bob Dylan in 1990. This was already sold-out and special for Bob to be playing such a small venue. What the audience wasn't expecting was the set list, Bob and his band played a maybe a 70 minute set, then took a break and played another, then took a break and played another!!! I think I remember it turned out to be six sets from 8pm to almost after 2am!! And he played obscure songs, weird covers(Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark!), requests(he played "Joey"!!), and most of the big hits.This made the front page of The New Haven Register the next morning and included the set list. Again, wasn't there but eventually got to hear the show on three 90 minute bootleg cassettes which I no longer own because of my wonderful generosity.

Damn, that would have been a pair of shows to see in person. I've heard of Toad's Place, maybe as a result of those shows.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

That's awesome you were able to find those two clips, Internet. I saw Dylan the year before at Lake Compounce in Bristol. Steve Earle opened the show, and it poured outside for both shows but no one left. Dylan had a 4 piece band including Saturday Night Live guitarist G.E. Smith. They turned "Gotta Serve Somebody" into a blues rock song with some great soloing from G.E.

Toad's Place was legendary(not sure if they're still in business) Saw so many greats there: BB King, Alvin Lee, Robin Trower, Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, Ron Wood, Albert Collins, Lou Ann Barton and Angela Streghi, and a ton of acts who went on to greater things....or not: Lone Justice, Blackfoot, The London Quireboys, Masters of Reality, The Cult, Kentucky Headhunters, etc.

 

[The Internet]

That's awesome you were able to find those two clips, Internet. I saw Dylan the year before at Lake Compounce in Bristol. Steve Earle opened the show, and it poured outside for both shows but no one left. Dylan had a 4 piece band including Saturday Night Live guitarist G.E. Smith. They turned "Gotta Serve Somebody" into a blues rock song with some great soloing from G.E.

Toad's Place was legendary(not sure if they're still in business) Saw so many greats there: BB King, Alvin Lee, Robin Trower, Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, Ron Wood, Albert Collins, Lou Ann Barton and Angela Streghi, and a ton of acts who went on to greater things....or not: Lone Justice, Blackfoot, The London Quireboys, Masters of Reality, The Cult, Kentucky Headhunters, etc.

That's great you got to see a good Dylan show! Most of the ones I've seen have been spotty. Though the last time I saw him, he was playing alot of lead guitar! (????!!!!). A double bill with Santana, weird bill!

*****************

Not to monopolize this thread with just older stuff, here's a more recent show: I saw an amazing show at Northsix in Williamsburg in the early 2000s. the bill was (in order of appearance) Thurston Moore, Wolf Eyes, Deerhoof, and Lightning Bolt.

The place was packed. This was before Williamsburg was the joke it is now, it was before it totally blew up. Deerhoof did a typically beautiful, crazy, wild set......now instead of what normally happens, which is a band finishes, and then the next band sets up and plays 20 minutes later....Lightning Bolt was instead set up in the audience. So when Deerhoof did their encore, Satomi is bopping around doing her thing, and suddenly she throws her arm back and grandly says "....and now here's Lightning Bolt!"

At that, the stage lights went out, and a spotlight went on in the middle of the crowd and the show was seamlessly passed off to Lightning Bolt, where a rumble of distorted bass and manic drum erupted like a volcano. Mayhem ensued, immediate tangle of writhing people, moshing and jiving....people were actually shimmying up the beams of the club.....one of them was nude. I was walking around the periphery of the melee....and a guy goes whizzing by me on a skateboard. In my mind, it's like a smokey mist....but that can't be true. All I know is....at one point, Im walking along the periphery of the crowd to get a good vantage point, when walking towards me is Thurston Moore. Our eyes met, and we both had the same look on our face....amazement.....shaking our heads at each other with a big smile that said...."This is rock and roll....and it's happening right now. Not yesterday, not on a screen, but right here, right now......" Wild show, a definite moment in time.

 

[Barbershopman]

One of the more memorable shows I saw was Heart in Kansas City. What was so memorable about it was the opening act who was billed as an up-and-coming singer-songwriter for people like Cher. The artist was Michael Bolton.

Barbershopman

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

We just saw guitarist Joe Bonamassa this past May, he was unbelieveable!! Played his ass off nonstop for over 2 hours. He did a mix of his originals and blues covers by BB, Freddy, and Albert King.

 

[Bugman]

That's awesome you were able to find those two clips, Internet. I saw Dylan the year before at Lake Compounce in Bristol. Steve Earle opened the show, and it poured outside for both shows but no one left. Dylan had a 4 piece band including Saturday Night Live guitarist G.E. Smith. They turned "Gotta Serve Somebody" into a blues rock song with some great soloing from G.E.

Toad's Place was legendary(not sure if they're still in business) Saw so many greats there: BB King, Alvin Lee, Robin Trower, Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan, Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, Ron Wood, Albert Collins, Lou Ann Barton and Angela Streghi, and a ton of acts who went on to greater things....or not: Lone Justice, Blackfoot, The London Quireboys, Masters of Reality, The Cult, Kentucky Headhunters, etc.

That's an impressive roster of shows. I saw Roy Buchanan in Houston. The venue was a bland, cavernous bar and the acoustics left a lot do be desired but it was worth it to see Roy.

One of the more memorable shows I saw was Heart in Kansas City. What was so memorable about it was the opening act who was billed as an up-and-coming singer-songwriter for people like Cher. The artist was Michael Bolton.

Barbershopman

Did you happen to see the Heart/Frampton show at the old Municipal Stadium? That had to be 1976 I think.

 

[The Internet]

That's an impressive roster of shows. I saw Roy Buchanan in Houston. The venue was a bland, cavernous bar and the acoustics left a lot do be desired but it was worth it to see Roy.

I love Roy, but i too saw him in a crappy restaurant in Long Island and he wasnt at his best, I must say. It was almost traumatic to see him not in good shape.

 

[Bugman]

He seemed to be in pretty good shape the night I saw him but yeah, a very sad ending for such a talented artist. He could not leave the demon rum alone, and paid a heavy price.

 

[The Internet]

Thinking about "if you could go back in time and see someone play"......

Buddy Bolden, never recorded. We have no idea what he sounded like!

Robert Johnson....he did record......but he never recorded any of his harp playing! Apparently he was great on that, also! So I'd love to see Robert Johnson, of course, and I'd pick a night where he played some harp. 😉

Blind Lemon Jefferson.....he did record....and he did record some slide guitar.....once! Lol. And it's very crackly! So...I wouldn't mean going back in time to one of the all-night parties where Lemon would play all-night long, non-stop. Would love to have seen Charley Patton, also, in the same setting.

(Of course, I 'd need a cloaking device because not only would a white guy stand out, but you could get yourself thrown in jail! Alan Lomax got thrown in jail for hanging with Son House, who himself was roughed up over the incident) Even in the 60s, when The Band went to see Sonny Boy Williamson at his home, the police came and chased them away. So....it would be tricky....going back in time might be the easy part! lol.)

In more modern times.....I had tickets to the first Lollapalooza and ended up not going because of frickin' girlfriend drama!!!!! Ugh!!!!!