As requested by Otto, my top 10 favorite concert experiences, no particular order. I will point out that all my tickets are in a box at home so my dates may be off slightly. Enjoy!
1...Fugazi @ Memorial Hall, Summer of '93...To my knowledge it was the last show they played in KC. The lights went off and all hell broke lose. Watching everyone jump over the rails to the floor at once was like a swarm of bees attacking. Security threw the houselights on for a majority of the shows, pissing off Ian in a bad, bad way. When he finally got the lights off again, they killed their stage lights as well and played 2 or 3 songs in the dark. At the time, Ian said they would never play KC again.
2...Rush in Topeka, KS, November '91...Otto and I were in the car that couldn't survive the blizzard. The guy sitting shotgun was leaning out the window and helping the windshield wipers. We arrived at the concert right as they were going on. Our seats were in the 5th and 7th rows and everyone had to stand on the chairs to see. I vividly remember being that close to the man who inspired me to play bass guitar. You can make fun of Geddy Lee or Rush all you want, but imagine being a teenager and being that close to your idol. Not so funny, eh?
3...Phish @ Memorial Hall, June 13, 1994...I remember the date specifically because I totaled my car the night before. Otto and I bought the tickets the preceding Friday and there was no way I was going to pay and not go. The painkillers made the show entertaining and may have been a gateway drug. Who knows?
4...Phish in Columbia, MO, Fall '96...Our friend at MU somehow got us front freaking row seats at this concert. Incredible. This was my first experience with an indoor concert that you couldn't smoke in, so everyone went outside between sets to light up.
5...The Dandy Warhols @ The El Rey, Los Angeles, Jan/Feb '01...I finally saw one of my favorite bands kick ass on stage. Otto and my boss at eToys accompanied me. I realized I was too old to stand through and entire show and that strobe lights were now the most irritating thing ever. My greatest memory was the band stopping because they wanted a cigarette. They stopped the show, invited the audience to network because we live in LA and that's what we do, and sat down on the drum podium to have a smoke. When they finished, they continued with the set. Brilliant.
6...U2's ZooTV tour, Spring '92 @ Arrowhead Stadium, KC...The only time I have seen U2 and my first experience with a large, expensive show. Amazing. I really need to see them again, that's all I'll say. Oh yeah, also the one and only time I have seen Bjork live. The Sugarcubes opened.
7...Bar-BQ-Mitzvah (STP, Butthole Surfers and The Flaming Lips), summer '94 @ Memorial Hall...Otto, Bruce and I had great seats for this show. Some drunk guy kept spilling his beer on Bruce. I sat down and nodded off during Butthole Surfers. I woke up to Gibby lighting alcohol on fire in a cymbal and hitting it.
8...Sting @ Riverside Amphitheatre, St. Louis, Summer '93...It was a great caravan road trip to St. Louis to see my first Sting show. I've been to a few others since then and like Otto said, he always brings the right energy to his show.
9...Ben Folds Five @ Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS, Spring '97...The band rocks live in small venues. As I've mentioned before, I met the guys after the show and they are so down to earth and cool.
10...Tricky @ The Granada, Lawrence, KS, Winter '96-'97...There were varying points where I thought the bass was going to blow my skinny ass out of the club. I've always been a huge Tricky fan, especially when Martina was still with him. I have this lasting image of her sitting on the stage, writing and drawing during some of the songs. The contrast of her sitting peacefully and Tricky shaking his head 50,000 mph while singing, it was just one of those moments that the drugs make beautiful.
Man, is that 10 already? I feel like I could go on and on about another dozen concerts at least. Maybe I will. Post your comments or blog your own concert experiences.
