Eddie Vedder and his mirror in Edmonton
I had a lot of comments on last weeks love but instead of putting them up here I will direct you to last weeks blog at the bottom. You can read them there.
Donna and I went to see Pearl Jam on Monday. As Eddie was completely blowing me away, I was thinking that it has been a long time since I have seen a concert this good. Not every show is a winner.
I like lists, I like to rate things and put them in lists. For example I have the top five times I have been the most cold (three of them here in Canada), top ten wrestling matches I have ever seen (number one is Macho Man vs. Ricky Steamboat at WM three), and top five places I have ever eaten (most of which are in Wisconsin). Of course I also have the top 10 concerts that I have seen. Now as much as concerts cost now a days it is important to see shows that you really want to see. On the same note not every show you see will make the top ten. You just can't do that.
Up until now, it has been a mental list. As I said the Pearl Jam concert was pretty amazing. So I had to make an adjustment on my list. Pearl Jam made it to the top five. So I thought it would be a good idea to put the list out there for all you you to see and compare to your list, if you have one. Oh and if you have a list, and I know some of you do, send it to me with reasons for each show and I will share it with the group. That would be interesting. I also added a couple of other lists at the bottom just for fun so here we go, the top 10 and maybe more, concerts that I have ever seen.
1. Run DMC/DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Paramount Theater - Seattle, WA
I know a lot of you will look at this list and say, "What the hell is Run DMC doing at the top?" Well there are a few reasons. This was back in 1987 in Seattle. This was before the 'ticket lottery' that they make you run through now if you get in line. This was also well before the internet and the way it has ruined the ticket buying experience. Bill Gates and Ticketmaster are satan.
I got in line about 4 hours before the box opened at Tower Records, just down the street from the Experience Music Project. It wasn't there then but it is a reference point. It was a rainy miserable day and I was first in line. The box office opened and I got my duckets. Front Row Center. Man was I stoked. Needless to say a person will never get that today without winning a contest or paying scalpers, they like to call themselves brokers, billions of dollars. I hate scaplers.
I took a friend of mine from Bailie Broadcast School, now defunct, and we saw Will Smith before he was Will Smith and the greatest Rap act EVER, hands down, Run DMC. We almost had to fight for our seats because someone decided that they would sit in them for us. Security took care of that. The show was amazing. They did not rap 'over' their record like so many rappers do today, Jam Master Jay, RIP, cut the records right there on the turntables. Incredible. I was rapping right along with DJ Run and DMC. They pointed at me several times. Man was that awesome. I was one of the few white guys in the building but it did not matter to Run.
After the show I almost got the crap beat out of me in a psuedo riot out front but I wont go into too much detail. My homeboy Whitney, a black man, called them off for me and the kids chose not to kill the white guy for bumping into a black guy. For that, among other things it is my best show ever.
2. Bikini Kill - Minot Punk Club - Minot ND
I saw this great Punk band in my later years at Minot State University. I wish I could describe the place better but it was basically was a store downtown that had no stage but was still converted into a all ages club. You had to be a member and it cost about $10 for a year and that was your ticket to every show. Bikini Kill is an all girl band who are credited for starting the 'Riot Grrl' movement in the early nineties. They are known also for being the band that every major label wanted to sign but they refused to do it. They could have made millions. They were critcs darlings and they hated it. They did not want to sell out. Kathleen Hanna was the lead singer and she was very talented.
The room was jammed with about 60 alterna-kids, and two old guys. Me and Brent Braniff. We had everyone in the place doubled in age. Brent and I took pictures of the show, mine sucked, his didn't. We just jumped and rocked out. I later sent the pics to Kathleen and she wrote me back and thanked me, even though they sucked.
This night will forever be in my mind as the way punk rock needs to be done. Not for money, but for the feeling of making a room full of kids and two old guys bounce. The music just saturated the room and hung in the air even after the show was over. We soaked it up and I listened to their CD over and over for the rest of the month. The room that they played is probably now a yarn or antique shop but for that night it was the center of the punk world. I can only imagine that is what it felt like to see the Clash or Black Flag back in the day.
3. Pearl Jam - Rexall Place - Edmonton Alberta
What can I say about Eddie Vedder that hasn't already been written. He is truly a intense idividual. The band is solid, and there is only one new member, Ben Cameron formerly of Soundgarden, the rest of the guys are original members. Mike C I hope you took note. They did all the hits plus some of the more obscure tracks. They also did a Neil Young tune called Why do I keep Fuc#ing Up. Killer tune. They play a different set list every night so each show is different. If you want to see what they play go to their website and check it out. PLUS if you want to purchase the show from any of the tourstops, drop 10 bones and download it. Now that is killer. I wish I could have a copy of all the other shows on my top ten list. I would rather buy a copy of the show instead of a t shirt. Man what a great show. No cheap pops, no parents taking their kids, no sing alongs, and my faith in the rock concert goer is restored. While they were playing BetterMan I saw all the lighters come out, NO cellphones. It was awesome. I went home happy Monday night.
4. Tragically Hip - Ryans Ballroom, Kimberly WI
I saw this show in a bar with about 20 Americans and about 150 Canadians who made the trip down from the great white north for the show. You see, in Canada this band does not play bars. Arenas are about all they do because they are sooo huge up here. I saw them last year at a sold out Rexall Place. They were great but it just wasn't the same. Gord Downie has got to be one of the weirdest guys ever but he is compelling in a live concert setting. I was about 5 feet from him as he sang about New Orleans sinking and the hundredth Meridian. This was on the Phantom Power tour. Unbelievable concert. I could not believe how lucky I was. I have told many a Canadian about this show and they agree that I am lucky. I am not sure if they are referring to the fact that Donna married me or the fact that I saw a show they would kill to see.
5. Violent Femmes - Cowles Fieldhouse Des Moines IA
Donna and I saw this band in a junior college basketball gym in Iowa. I really did not know a lot about the Femmes at this time except Blister in the Sun and that when I was at a NDSU college orientation in 1986 these girls that John Krause and I were trying to pick up on LOVED the Violent Femmes. Needless to say we did not pick up the girls but those girls were right. The Femmes rule. I especially loved the Milwuakee Tools flag that the drummer had hanging on the front of his xylophone. Thats right a xylophone. When they broke into Dance MotherFu##er Dance the roof on the place just about blew off. I swear. Donna still remembers to this day that stuff was falling off the cieling onto the kids on the floor. The show was a great one and until this week in the top four.
6. Wilco Summerteeth Tour - Barrymoore Theater Madison WI
This show up until this week was in the top five. Johnny H, Ryan Popkey, and I decided to go see this one on a whim. It was on a Thursday. We took a half day from work and drove down to Mad City and took in one of the best alt country rock bands ever. I think this was one of the first shows on the Summerteeth tour. The band was soo good that I was considering taking up smoking because the guitarist looked so cool smoking and rocking all at the same time. After the show we went down to Washington street and had gyros at this legendary Greek Joint that Ryan loved. Awesome. The trip home in the middle of the night was also eventful because I hit a skunk with Johnny H's car and I swear the car exploded. Piece of crap. I am not sure if the Skunk survived but Johnny H's car sure stunk the next day. Great Road trip.
7. Blink 182 - Telus Field Edmonton Alberta
The guys in Blink are pure entertainment. More stand up comedy almost than rocking. Plus they had a flaming word behind them. If you wered to have one word in flames behind you what would it be? Thats right, FU#K. Pure rock and roll that your momma should be worried about seeing. On a stupid kid at a concert note, one kid took the dare to jump from the seats in this baseball stadium on to the back stop net. He did it and ripped to shreds. I believe he was feeling the jump the next day, I swear his arms had to almost have been ripped out of their socket. Kids are stupid.
8. Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock/U Krew - Nez Pierce Fairgrounds, Lewiston Idaho
Two Rappers in the top 10? Wow. This show was held at a fairgrounds in a big quanset hut. As you can guess the acoustics were not great, but, do rappers really need acoustics? Rob Base came out and rocked all the hits. DJ EZ Rock is also of the school that you cut the songs on the turntables not rap over your record. He was also very talented at cuttin' and scratchin'. The best part of this evening was the after party at a bar in Lewiston. In Idaho I made the grandfather clause in the 21 and over drinking age so I was 18 and able to go to bars. Cool. We went to the club and hung out with all the crew and took pics with everyone. The woman who sang the chorus on 'It takes Two' asked me to dance and I had to tell her that I was VERY white and would not fare too well. Oh well, I live and I learn. As you can see in the picture I totally rocked the Peace sign and the Adidas. I am soo def or dope, whatever I was saying to be cool back then.
9. Foo Fighters - SummerFest Milwuakee WI
The summerfest show was when Pat Smear was still with the band. In fact I think within weeks after this show he announced on the MTV Video Music Awards that he was quitting. This was a great show. Pat Smear was a show himself. I could watch him play guitar for hours. The Foo Fighters are truly one of the best bands going right now. If you have a chance to see them you should. I have seen them twice. Solid. On the second time I saw them at Summersault they came out and did about nine or ten songs and upstaged everyone else on the bill. Including the Smashing Pumpkins. This was just before Billy Corgan broke up the band. It was obvious that they had no chemistry on the stage. Anyway the Foos kicked ass that day also.
10. Soul Asylum/Tina and the B sides/TPOH - Detroit Lakes Freedom Fest
This was one of those two day festival shows that Donna and I took in. We only saw the second day of the fest but it was well worth it. It was our first introduction to Tina and the B sides. She is amazing. I have since seen her about three more times. She and her sister sing in this bluesy rock band. This is one band that needs to bee seen live, their albums do not do them justice. They have since broke up. Too bad, because Tina has one hell of a voice. The Pursuit of Happiness is a Canadian band that had a big hit back in the 80's called "I'm an Adult now". They were a great compliment to Soul Asylum and Tina. Soul Asylum had just had their big Grave Dancers Album and were really hot right at this time. The thing that makes this show so great was not only the fact that Dave Pirner and the boys are one of the great live acts ever and the fact that there was this amazing thunderstorm during the show that seemed to be programmed by the lighting guys. Almost everytime Dave hit a big note on his guitar lighting seemed to cut across the sky. It truly was an amazing show.
On a side 'some fans are stupid' note, I am not sure how a person can mosh and crowd surf to Runaway Train, but there were some idiots who did it. Oh and I saw these two guys who were moshing. They caught each others attention and put their heads down and ran full boar at each other and hit. They both dropped like flies, got up, looked at each other, hugged, high fived, and went on their moshing way. Amazing how stupid a day of hard drinking can make you stupid. Did I just say stupid twice, yeah I did.
Okay since we have seen the top ten best we need to see the 5 Worst Shows I have ever been to...
1. Vanilla Ice - Bismarck Civic Center
Before you jump all over me for even being in the same area code as this guy, I will tell you the tickets were free. There, now shut up. Plus before the show I happened to be in the area where this poser rolled up in his limo before the show and got out. He looked right at me and I gave him the finger. No really, I did. You should have seen the look on his face. It was awesome. I resented the fact that the first rapper to play in North Dakota was Vanilla Ice. The second was Hammer. Who I also saw and he wasn't half bad. Boys to Men opened, not a bad show. Just not good enough to make any lists. Vanilla Ice is doing a show here in Edmonton in the next week or so and strangely enough I am interested to see it. I am a glutton for punishment.
2. Def Leppard - Bismarck Civic Center
Another show that was free to me. I had friends in kinda high places at KHIT in Minot. Char Sorum always hooked me up. RIP Char, I miss you and think of you everytime I hear bad pop music. Anyway, we went to the show and had good seats. It was in the round. It wasn't the Hysteria tour it was the next tour. I can't think of what the name of it was but it sucked anyway. The laser show was pretty cool but I don't go to rock shows to see lasers. I swear most of this show was lip synched. I actually heard during the set up for the trendy 'acoustic' section in the middle the roadie turn on a mic. POP! Plus this was one of the first shows where I looked around and said, man I am old. Nothing but kids and their parents. I would never take my mom to see Def Leppard. Too bad because this band used to rock.
3. Shania Twain - Grey Cup Halftime Edmonton AB
We were forced to endure two crappy Shania Twain songs at halftime of the Grey Cup. Not only were they bad songs they were lip synched. One of the funniest things ever was the bass player pretending to play his bass with big gloves on. You suck Shania.
4. Tiffany - Tacoma Dome, Tacoma WA
Yes I have made some big mistakes in my life, and this is one of the biggest. Tiffany was making her 'Non Mall Debut' and it was after a indoor soccer game. Thats right I saw soccer and Tiffany in one night. I am an idiot.
5. Toss Up - Billy Ocean or Kool and the Gang - Paramount Theater Seattle WA or Stryper at the Bismarck Civic Center.
Billy Ocean and Kool and the Gang were two concerts that, again, I got free, but still attended. I was really geeked to see Kool but found out after about three songs in that JT the lead singer was not with the band anymore. I was pissed. I sat right up front for this one too. Karyn White opened for Billy and she was great, but Billy sucked so bad it still is on the worst list. As for Stryper, this was a show that I thought was cool at the time, but just did not hold out over time. White Lion did not show up, I don't know if they even had a replacement. They had all the black and yellow spandex and played all their power ballads, but it just sucked. Oh well, I paid for that show.
I also have a list of Best Concert I had tickets for but did not go...
1. Lollapalooza 92, Minneapolis MN
Long story short, Robby got me this ticket and I had every intention to go but ran out of money (ie bounced too many checks) and could not make the trip from Minot to Minneapolis. Sucked because the Peppers, Pearl Jam, Rage, and the Beasties were on the bill. I think Ministry was also there. Man I really regret this one. I should have just got out the card and gone. Well, I guess that I would have paid that card off in 2005 instead of 2004.
2. Page Plant/Tragically Hip - Hiltonhead Center Ames IA
Donna and I bought the tickets because we wanted to see the Hip. As far as we concerned Page and Plant were just following the Hip. We got there and found out the band did not make it because one of the members just had a kid. We went to the box office and got our money back. No lie. I hear Ticketmaster does not EVER do that. Well they did once.
3. Men Without Hats - Parkers, Seattle WA
Notice the Must be 21 to attend on the ticket? Well I wasn't, so I did not go. Bummer. I wanted to see if they would have that midget dancing around on Safety Dance.
Okay I need to list the Concerts I still want to see....
1. Paul Westerberg
2. Beastie Boys
3. Martin Zellar(Gear Daddies)
4. U2
5. Bob Dylan
And finally the shows that are impossible to see because the band has broke up or someone is dead, or both. These are my top five Dream Shows...
1. Nirvana
2. Replacements
3. Clash
4. Elvis - Not skinny Elvis, Fat powder blue jumpsuit Elvis
5. Rage Against the Machine
Hon Mention = Prince (singing all the dirty songs)
Hole
So there you have it. Again I have proven to all who read this that I have WAY too much time on my hands. If you want to send me your lists. I would love to read them. Thanks again, and
GET BACK TO WORK!!!!
Chewbacca Rocks
