It’s should be a surprise to no one that The Who tops my list.It was 9 years ago this very day that I got to see them for the first time, and it was one of the greatest nights of my life.
That spring, my brother called me to tell me The Who would be playing Hershey that summer, and if I’d like to go, he’d get us all tickets.Of course I said yes, and we made plans to meet in Hershey the day of the show.They have a deal where if you have event tickets for that night, you can ride the rides for half-price that day, and we planned to take advantage of the offer.
I have now seen The Who twice.The second time was as indoor show at the GiantCenter in Hershey in November of 2006 when they were touring in support of The Endless Wire (which is a really good album, btw).That was a phenomenal show too, but it’s that first show that tops my list.
Your first time is always special, of course, but it was more than that.It was an outdoor show on a blisteringly hot and muggy night, and since they weren’t touring new material, that left room for more of my old favorites.They did 3 from Quadrophenia, (Sea & Sand, 5:15, and Love Reign O’er Me) my favorite Who album
It was also a relief that we were able to see them at all.Bassist John Entwistle died that June (In a Vegas Hotel room with Strippers and blow—a rock and roller to the end).In addition to feeling sad that a tremendous talent and an integral part of my favorite band was forever gone, I feared that I would never get to see the Who live.They’ve always been regarded as one of the world’s best live acts, and I felt like my life wouldn’t be complete until I saw them for myself.
The Who took a couple days to mourn and figure out what to do, but in the end, they decided the show must go on.So they called noted session player Pino Palladino, and he stepped in for The Ox.It’s not like they went outside the family to find a substitute, either; Pino played on some of Pete Townsend’s solo albums, and also at Roger’s Daltrey’s 50th Birthday bash at Carnegie Hall.And as disappointed as I was that 50% of my favorite band was gone, I knew this was the right choice.Still, when they got to the bass solo in My Generation I remember holding my breath, thinking, “If he can’t pull this off, they might was well hang it up and call it a career.”But he nailed it, to thunderous applause from the crowd.
Who Are You, Eminence Front, and The Relay all sounded amazing.When they got to Won’t Get Fooled Again, well, let’s just way it’s a good thing this was an outdoor show, because Roger’s scream would have blown the roof off the place, if it had one.It was just electrifying.Then they came back a medley from Tommy for the curtain call, with Pinball Wizard flowing into Sparks/Amazing Journey and See Me, Feel Me.It was an amazing dénouement to a show that left me speechless.
When the Who plays live, they sell a board mix of the show and give the proceeds to charity.I bought my copy of that show as soon as it was available, and I listen to it often.It’s nice to have the soundtrack to one of the greatest nights of my life available any time I want.
It’s been a very sad weekend in the Urban household.Our cat, Damien died.He seemed fine on Thursday, and Friday, he was gone.
Damien first came into my life in August of 2001.Someone gave him to me and said that if I didn’t take him, he was going to the shelter.Well, after he was in my house for about a half an hour, it became pretty clear to both of us that he found a home.
I’ll never forget his first time with takeout food.He stuck his head in the bag, and came out with a quarter-pounder between his teeth, carrying it as if it were his kitten.That burger was bigger than he was.Then he’s steal fries, lick all the salt off, chew on them a little, and bat them on the floor for my dog Max.Poor old Max never seemed to mind getting the soggy, saltless fries.
In the nearly 8 years we had together, there were a lot of changes in my life.Different jobs, different homes, but Damien, like Max, was a constant—something I could count on.And now he’s gone.
I meant to write this over the weekend and post it Monday, but discovered I just didn’t feel like it.So here it is today.
2)Page & Plant at the Civic Arena
This was the show when they came to the ‘Burgh on the Walking Into Clarksdale tour.This time, unlike the first time I saw them, they played as a four-piece band—no orchestra, no Hurdy Gurdy solo, just the closest thing you could get to a Led Zeppelin show without it actually being Zep.
For this show, we got the full radio-guy VIP treatment.I was the program director at another station in town, and Atlantic Records invited me and the Music Director (Chris Prospero, they guy who used to host middays on The Bus before he got promoted and I took over) to see the show.
Of course, when you’re invited to a thing like this, the labels always have an agenda.After the label rep treated us to a nice dinner and drinks on the company gold card, he drove us over to the show.And what do you know, he just happened to have an advance CD of this new artist they were trying to establish, and would we mind listening and maybe could we pledge some early support and airplay on our station?Turns out the artist was Kid Rock, and we did pledge our support and played him on the station, which was how we scored an interview and show at Crowbar just Kid Rock was starting to pop.I even got to hang out on his bus before the show.I’d say things worked out well for all concerned.
When I say VIP treatment, I mean it.Our seats were right up front, and next to us was the afternoon jock from WDVE and his wife.The seats next to them were empty, but during the show, they would fill up with these beautiful women in tight clothing.Then, the seats would empty as roadies led those women backstage.Next thing you know, more model types were filling the seats.
The opening act was a woman named Lilly.She was an alternative rock artist who played the violin.Rumor had it that she was romantically involved with Robert Plant at the time.After her set, we got to go backstage for a meet & greet with Lilly, but no one, not even the guy from their record label, would get an audience with Misters Page and Plant.
The Page/Plant set was just awesome.They opened with Custard Pie, and just never let up.Did a great Gallows Pole and No Quarter, too.As I recall, the show was almost all Zeppelin; they might have done 3 or 4 tracks from Walking into Clarksdale, but those songs were very Zeppelin-esque, so that was cool.And like I said before, no Hurdy-Gurdy solo, and just an amazing set.
Periodically during their set, Lilly would come out to watch a song or two.She was just a tiny thing, and Chris and I were happy to make some room for her so that she could see, and still have buffers between her and the rest of the crowd.When she came out near the end of the show, she brought us a couple of beers to thank us for our kindness.So there it is, our brush with greatness:We drank some of Led Zeppelin’s backstage beer.
These days, it’s known as the Post Gazette Pavilion, but this is going back a few years.
Rush is another one of those bands I’ve seen a couple of times, and they’re always a good show, but I have to give this one the nod.My first Rush show was indoors at the Civic Arena, but as I’ve said before, I generally prefer outdoor concerts.It’s nice to be able to stake out your own little area on the lawn, and not be packed in as tightly as you would be for an indoor show.
What especially made this show pop was the fact that instead of an opening act, they played 2112, start to finish.They sounded fantastic, as expected, and they played all my favorite Rush songs.How these guys aren’t yet in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I’ll never know.
3)Metallica at the BryceJordanCenter
I’ve seen ‘em twice.The first time was on the tour for the Black Album, at the Civic in Pittsburgh.It was loud, sweaty, and there was lots of fist pumping and head banging.And we were close enough so that when the set of some of the pyro during One, it felt like my contacts melted to my eyes.
My second Metallica show was when they came to town on the Re-Load tour, and I was fortunate enough to see it from a sky-box.This was the show with all out pyro and special effects.At the show’s climax, it seemed like everything was on fire, including a stage hand who then fell to the stage from a rope ladder.There was an unforgettable moment just before curtain call, when people were looking around, wondering and asking what they had just seen was real, or part of the show.Incredible.
I’ve loved Iron Maiden since I was in high school, and the Frank Gehry designed Merriweather Post Pavilion is a storied venue.It’s the only place where The Who and Led Zeppelin ever shared a bill.The Grateful Dead were banned from the place.And the sound is great.In fact, this is where Jackson Brown recorded both Runnin’ On Empty and The Load Out/Stay, and where The Kinks recorded some of Live:The Road.
Maiden played all the songs you’d expect at a Maiden show—Hallowed be thy Name, Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Fear of the Dark, The Trooper, and the list goes on.They played loud, and they played well.The venue is supposed to hold about 19,000 people, and if that show wasn’t at capacity, it was pretty close.
We had a nice area on the lawn, closer to the back, but dead center.Great sound, and a good view of the big screens.The crowd was into it, too, which always makes for a better concert experience.Also, one of the beers available at the concession stands was Stella Artois—icing on the cake.
I’m back from my really long weekend.Dija miss me?Thanks to Tony for covering for me and Jason Lord for covering for him.
We made a trip to Atlantic City.Spent some time in the casinos, on the boardwalk, and at the beach.The water was a little cold, but it was still a good time.
I think there was only one casino where I came out with more money then I had when I went in.It was the Tropicana, where I was playing “Deuces Wild” on a video poker machine.I managed to draw five-of-a-kind on one hand, and turned $100 into $140.So that was the high point, but overall, I lost about $60 gambling.To me, though,that’s a victory.I spend that much at Wal-Mart without having nearly as much fun.
This, BTW, is my favorite picture from Atlantic City.
And no, that’s not my vomit.I will say this about A/C…Compared to Vegas, they’re a lot tighter with the free drinks.
I’ll have more of my “Favorite Concerts Countdown” coming up next week.In the meantime, here are a few concert memories that listeners were kind enough to email to me.If you’ve got concert stories to share, I’d love to hear them.
Carole/Penn State
Me, my sister Rachel and her now husband Lester and my sister Beth went to see it. It was awesome. The fire, the blood, the screaming. Then we actually got to the concert. … We had really crappy seats on the side of the stage. My brother in law (HUGE KISS FAN) had to leave before it was over to go to work. After it was over we told him, too bad you didn’t stay because our section got singled out to go up on stage and sing Rock and Roll All Night. His face fell. Then we started to laugh. Oh well. We had him for a minute, anyway.
Russ/State College
I was in Philly for Live-Aid back in ’85.The Hooters Rule!
Stacey/Bellefonte
Best show I ever saw was Billy Joel & Elton John
Bill/State College
My favorite all time show was Stone Temple Pilots at the BJC.We had pretty good seats, and their unplugged set in the middle of the show was amazing.(Pat responds:I was at that show too, and if I was listing my top 11 that would be on the list)
Anonymous
Saw the Dead 17 Times.Details are a little fuzzy, but I dug ‘em all.Probably the best was when I went “Truckin” to Buffalo to see them.
Just and FYI—I’m taking a long weekend.Look out Atlantic City.Tony will be sitting in for me on Monday and Tuesday (Be Nice!) and I’ll return Wednesday with the usual stuff on the air, and more of my favorite concerts countdown on my blog.Till then…
Jackyl is another one of those bands I’ve seen a handful of times, and they were all great shows.I saw them open for Aerosmith in both Hershey and Pittsburgh, and I saw them on their own at the War Memorial in Johnstown, but it was the Crowbar show that really stands out in my memory.
Prior to the Crowbar show, I got to spend a good deal of the day with singer Jesse James Dupree.He drove into town on his own, and I picked him up at the airport, after he dropped off his rental car.I took him to the station, where he kindly agreed to spend some of his afternoon as a guest DJ.We turned him loose in the studio, and gave him access to our wall of CDs, and let him do his thing.He was just great.He played some cool songs, not just his own material, took calls from listeners and fans, and even gave away tickets to the show.
Afterwards, I drove him downtown for soundcheck, and got to hang on the bus for awhile and meet the rest of the band.I even got to bring a few of my friends, who were also going to the show that night, on board. There’s a stereotype that Southerners are very gracious people, and fantastic hosts.If Jesse is any indication, that stereotype is absolutely true.
And then there was the show.There was a terrific crowd on hand that was really into it, and the band delivered a tight, energetic performance, right down to the chainsaw solo.As with the Kenny Wayne Shepherd show I mentioned in an earlier posting, there is something to be said for seeing such a great band in such an intimate setting.They even covered Live Wire, one of my favorite AC/DC songs.
I never heard a show that was that loud, and yet had such a clean sound.Usually at that volume, things sound muddy and distorted, but not this time.Just as crisp and you could want.
Flash ahead a few years, when they fired me from that radio job (officially, my position was eliminated).When news of my dismissal hit the radio trade publications, Jesse was one of the first people to call me to offer support.He even put me in touch with a station in Georgia that was looking for someone.He said if I came down that way, he’d have me over to his place for a couple of Pabst Blue Ribbons.I managed to find work that didn’t require relocating, but still, how cool is it that he would do that for a guy he spent an afternoon with about a few years prior?
If you grab a copy of Choice Cuts, the greatest hits collection Jackyl released in 1997, read the liner notes.I was one of the many people the band thanked for my support. You're welcome.
This was another one of those bands where I thought, “I have to see them while they are still around.”I was afraid that they were going to call it a career after the Steal Wheels Tour, so when they announced Voodoo Lounge a few of us decided we have to go.
This was the first show of the tour, and it was at RFK stadium.Unless it’s raining, I always prefer the outdoor shows.They just sound better.Sometimes, the first shows on a tour aren’t the best, as bands need time to work out the kinks and refine the set list.But other times, the early shows are awesome, since the band is fresher and less road-weary.Fortunately, this was the latter.
Stones tickets are expensive, but I’ll say this:They put out.Big stage, big sound, big screens, big lights, and all the hits.Satisfaction, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Gimme Shelter, Start Me Up, you name it.And just a few songs of the new album, so you have time to go to the concession stand.The Stones—see ‘em while you still can.
I’d love to hear stories and reviews from some of your favorite concerts.If you have one to share, shoot me an email, and I’ll post some of them later on in the week.
