What is your favorite concert memory?

monsterbass · #1 02-19-2008, 01:50 AM

I attended my first concert when I was 16 in 1977. 2 friends and I saw Rush at the Fitchburg Civic Center in Mass. I believe a band called STARZ opened for them. Anyway, we got there early and were lucky enough to strike up a conversation with the Rush sound guys who were in the "pit". they let us come up there and check out all the boards and other cool stuff. Since Rush was and still is my favorite band, I was in heaven. I think one of the guys was their manager but they were real cool and answered all our questions. As for the concert, we were 5 rows back from center stage. Alex got hit in the hand from a bottle someone threw and Geddy threatened to stop the show. I think security caught the guy and there were no more problems after that. As for the Band STARZ, um, well, they aren't around anymore and I can't remember a single song they did that night!

Dave Siff · #2 02-19-2008, 04:11 AM

I was at a Rush concert in the early 90s, can't remember exactly what year, but Mr. Big was the opener. When Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert did their dueling solos with electric mixers, Gilbert got it caught it his hair and had to be helped off the stage.

JimK · #3 02-19-2008, 04:30 AM

My 1st-ever concert was the Edgar Winter Group w/ Rick Derringer...The James Gang were the opening act (Tommy Bolin-era).
First tune was "Ride The Wind"...before Kenner could utter the 1st syllable, some uber-hot blonde in a white Summer dress hikes herself onto the stage; basically, her & Kenner do "it" (w/ clothes still on) for the ENTIRE tune. After the song (the band continued on as an instrumental), she is escorted off by the bouncer-stagehands...
Yeah, this is what I wanted to do!

Phalex · #4 02-19-2008, 06:44 AM

My favorite concert memory was chemically induced. It included ZZ Top, a buttload of "Lazors", Cheap Sunglasses, and an entire 4 way windowpane all to myself.

dancehallclasher · #5 02-19-2008, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Siff

I was at a Rush concert in the early 90s, can't remember exactly what year, but Mr. Big was the opener. When Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert did their dueling solos with electric mixers, Gilbert got it caught it his hair and had to be helped off the stage.

mixers... you mean like the kitchen appliance? A blender? I can't picture what you're talking about but it sounds hilarious anyway.

Wesley R · #6 02-19-2008, 06:55 AM

Mason Proffit - spring of '72
Iron Butterfly -spring of '69
Steppenwolf fall of '70

buzzbass · #7 02-19-2008, 07:10 AM

Led Zepp in 77, my 1st concert. Everything else since then just hasn't measured up. Except for possibly Metallica.

Dave Siff · #8 02-19-2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

mixers... you mean like the kitchen appliance? A blender? I can't picture what you're talking about but it sounds hilarious anyway.

You know what? I got it wrong. I thought it was electric beaters, like the kitchen appliance, but now that I think more about it, it was electric drills. They put picks on the end of the bits and tried to out-solo each other.
Here's a bit from Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk0jx...eature=related

matrok · #9 02-19-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monsterbass

I attended my first concert when I was 16 in 1977. 2 friends and I saw Rush at the Fitchburg Civic Center in Mass. I believe a band called STARZ opened for them. Anyway, we got there early and were lucky enough to strike up a conversation with the Rush sound guys who were in the "pit". they let us come up there and check out all the boards and other cool stuff. Since Rush was and still is my favorite band, I was in heaven. I think one of the guys was their manager but they were real cool and answered all our questions. As for the concert, we were 5 rows back from center stage. Alex got hit in the hand from a bottle someone threw and Geddy threatened to stop the show. I think security caught the guy and there were no more problems after that. As for the Band STARZ, um, well, they aren't around anymore and I can't remember a single song they did that night!

I saw that tour as well, my first time seeing Rush. Can't remember a single song by Starz either, or even if I thought they were any good.

I saw lots of great concerts back in the days of cheap tickets, now I hardly go to any.

Dave Siff · #10 02-19-2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matrok

I saw lots of great concerts back in the days of cheap tickets, now I hardly go to any.

I hear you on that. My first Rush concert in 1986, I think the tickets were $18 apiece. This tour, I paid $92 the first time and $89 for upcoming show. And, those prices pale in comparison to some of the other big acts. It's worth it to me for Rush, but no one else.

Barkless Dog · #11 02-19-2008, 07:56 AM

Theatrically-
Pink Floyd Animals tour at Cleveland stadium

Musically -

Tony Williams Lifetime-Believe it Tour with Allen Holdworth

Billy Cobham Magic Tour with Randy Jackson

The Dregs with Andy West

Brand X -

UK tour with Holdsworth

Bill Bruford with Jeff Berlin & Allan Holdworth

Perrier Morlin's Gong

matrok · #12 02-19-2008, 08:01 AM

I have stubs for $11 main floor seats, Alice Cooper in 1977. I just can't pay the big bucks. I did cough up quite a bit to take my wife to see Bob Seger on his last tour though. She's a big fan and it was worth it to me to make her happy.

matrok · #13 02-19-2008, 08:02 AM

UK tour with Holdsworth!!! I wish I had seen either line up.

Chad Michael · #14 02-19-2008, 08:17 AM

Spyro Gyra in the Spokane Opera House (80's era).

With Oscar Cartaya on bass, Dave Samuels on vibes / marimba. All players had brilliant, tasteful solos... Oscar's bass solo brought the whole crowd to their feet.

They had Turbosound PA speakers (don't know which models). The combination of musicianship, sound engineering, and fantastic acoustics were total ear-candy (dare I say, ear heroin? Never used the stuff but the description seems fitting).

zazz · #15 02-19-2008, 08:29 AM

since this thread is sort of rush esque ........i did see them a couple of time at the hammersmith odeon 2112 and permanent waves ......not bad.....and the odeon is a great venue.

but ive seen a hell of a lot and to try and say the favourite is pretty much impossible.

Warfrat73 · #16 02-19-2008, 08:40 AM

When The Dead broke into Morning Dew from The Other One/Space at Alpine Valley in 2004... post Jerry I know, but still transcendent. I saw them with Jerry a few times in high school, but was too caught up in being a teenager to really dig it.

FuturePrimitive · #17 02-19-2008, 08:41 AM

Let's see, probably the first show I ever saw ranks right up there. It was just a local original band (Oedipus Scream) playing the auditorium at the Jewish Community Center. It was my first concert/show, I had never seen live music before so it was really exciting. Another highlight would be seeing my favorite band from the 80's, another local act, Hunger Artist. (Man, Rochester had a great music scene back then!!)

And of course the first time I saw Rush, '96ish so must have been the Test For Echo tour.

Warfrat73 · #18 02-19-2008, 08:45 AM

Do you remember the Skycoasters, my first guitar teacher was in that band?

FuturePrimitive · #19 02-19-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warfrat73

Do you remember the Skycoasters, my first guitar teacher was in that band?

Oh yea, they're still around although I have to admit I don't think I've ever seen them play.

Actually... I think I did see them play at Hotshots once, indoor beach volleyball court with a bar and small stage. They were too big for that place and I still can't believe they played it, must have been a favor to somebody!

Warfrat73 · #20 02-19-2008, 08:57 AM

Yeah, you weren't missing much, slick party band, mostly covers.