A few years ago my daughter asked me exactly how many concerts that I have seen.
I had no idea .
So I started a list. And, because it’s me:
It’s an alphabetical list.
I still don’t know how many concerts I have attended. Who have I seen the most often –
(Well, you just knew that given the chance, mt was going to go all Abbott and Costello on us…)
Actually, that would be:
John Fogerty,
Elton John,
John Mellencamp,
And Sting.
Some of them were, and still are, favorites. Others were favorites at the time, but not so much anymore. Some were opening acts that I might not have chosen, but thoroughly enjoyed.
A few were opening acts that I suffered through.
Some of them were not favorites of mine, but were favorites of people that I love. Some were at festivals with tons of other bands.
Some I would have waited in line in the rain to see all by themselves (I don’t remember this ever happening, but I would have).
I have not kept track of bands that I have seen multiple times (and there are several of those). Since I started this list thirty-odd years after the first concert that I attended, I am positive that I have forgotten several.
So! Get your tickets ready, and join me – alphabetically, of course – for…
A – Aerosmith, Gary Allan, Allman Brothers Band, Ambrosia, Avenged Sevenfold, AWOLNATION
B – Joan Baez, Be Your Own Pet, Jeff Beck, Pat Benatar, Elvin Bishop, Bon Jovi, Breaking Benjamin, Jimmy Buffett, Bullet for My Valentine
C – Cage the Elephant, Ray Charles, Cher, Chicago, Chicano Batman, Eric Clapton, Coin, Alice Cooper, Robert Cray, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The Cult
D – Charlie Daniels Band, John Denver, Def Leppard, Disturbed, Doobie Brothers, Dr. Hook, Dropkick Murphys, Bob Dylan
E – Eagles… and the and band that I was most surprised by?
Earth, Wind, and Fire.
F – Fitz and the Tantrums, Dan Fogelberg, John Fogerty, Peter Frampton…
and my most recent concert? The Flaming Lips in 2023.
G – Lou Gramm, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy
H – Halestorm, Hall and Oates, Don Henley, Susanna Hoffs, Hootie and the Blowfish
I – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Innocence Mission, Iron Maiden, Chris Isaak
J – Jane’s Addiction, Joan Jett, Billy Joel, Elton John
K– Katrina and the Waves, Myles Kennedy, Kiss, Alison Krauss
L – Gordon Lightfoot, Living Colour, and the Opening Act that I wasn’t familiar with previously, who became a favorite? Larkin Poe. And the band that gave me the most “street cred” while teaching high school? Led Zeppelin.
M – Taj Mahal, Marshall Tucker Band, Dave Matthews, Edwin McCain, Paul McCartney, JD McPherson, Megadeth, John Mellencamp, Metallica, Steve Miller Band, Keb’ Mo’, Eddie Money, Motionless in White, Molly Hatchet
N – Tash Neal, New Kids on the Block, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
O – One Republic, Orleans
P – Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Robert Plant, Pop Evil, Poppy, Portugal. The Man, John Prine, Prophets of Rage, Pure Prairie League
Q – Quarterflash
R – Bonnie Raitt, Rancid, Replacements, Paul Rodgers, Rolling Stones, and First concert? REO Speedwagon opening for Aerosmith circa 1976.
S – Santana, Bob Seger, Paul Simon, Skid Row, Slash, Smashing Pumpkins, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Steely Dan, Steppenwolf, Rod Stewart, Sting, Styx, Survivor
T – James Taylor, Tears for Fears, Tesla, Tina Turner, Robin Trower
U – U2, Keith Urban
V – Vampire Weekend, Phil Vassar
W – Wakrat, Warrant, Jack White, The Who, Steve Winwood, Lucinda Williams
X – King’s X
Y – Weird Al Yankovic, Young the Giant
Z – Rob Zombie
And what about you?
Do you also compulsively alphabetize things?
If not, what compulsion do you have?
Do you have an “alphabetical” concert list?
Tell us about it in the comments!
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Wow! That’s a lot of shows, and a diverse lineup of performers, all right.
I may have to go through the memory bank and see if I can figure out how many letters I can claim … surely not as many as you did.
I’ve gotta know, though: Did you really want to see Quarterflash, or did you say this was your chance to get a Q?
Quarterflash opened for Tom Petty on one of the tours that I saw, way before I started this list. But I have been grateful for them ever since I started it. Come to think of it, Tom Petty should have been on my list of those I have seen the most often.
That is an ASTOUNDING list! That’s a lot of shows. I think I’m most jealous of the Weird Al Yankovic concert. I would love to see him. Here’s my list.
Elvis Presley (June 1974)
Ben Vereen
Bob McGrath
-1980s-
Donna Summer
Neil Diamond
Maynard Ferguson
Genesis
Doc Severinsen
Maynard Ferguson – Billy Cobham
The Oak Ridge Boys
Night Ranger – Kansas
Restless Heart – Steve Warniner – Lee Greenwood
Southern Pacific – The Judds
-1990s-
Paul McCartney
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Dixie Dregs
Chicago
-2000s-
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (aka Mormon Tabernacle Choir)
-2010s-
Steely Dan
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Basia
The Musical Box (Genesis tribute band)
-2020s-
Herb Alpert (September 2022)
So we have three in common. Neil Diamond (who I had left off my list, thanks for the reminder), Paul McCartney, and Steely Dan. The one that I most envy of yours is Elvis Presley. I can’t say that I was a huge fan, but he was a legend.
Not at all related to your original topic, but I had a dream last night with an amusing pun: someone was chanting “Donald Fagen for President!”
I’d vote for him.
“I.G.Y.” reads like a campaign speech he could make.
I have only the faintest memories of attending the Elvis concert. I was about to turn 4 years old.
Because of my dad being such a big fan and because Elvis records were like a security blanket for me at that age, my parents said that that I complained that he was singing the songs out of order and I fell asleep half-way through the concert.
Basia! Saw her at an outdoor venue, Poplar Creek, when she was touring The Sweetest Illusion. It was an amazing show. Spyro Gyra opened for her and their sax player joined her on “The Yearning”, which was transcendent.
I loved her concert. She still sounded good all these years later, and her band was great. I almost saw Spiro Gyra back in the late 80s, and have always regretted not getting to go. Sounds like it was great.
Seriously, the one I’m most jealous of on your list is Bob McGrath. I legit wore this LP out as a kid:
https://youtu.be/v8IdhZEF4Pg?feature=shared
Ha! Yeah, I was a big Sesame Street fan as a kid, but I didn’t have that record. (I had a few others, and have 4 Sesame Street CDs in my collection). I barely remember this concert at Clowes Hall on Butler University’s campus.
Some great names there. Crazy that you got to see Ray Charles!
Which shows were your favorites?
Here is my own list, minus some opening bands I can’t remember, classical concerts, and a whole slew of DJs from various rave events:
!!!
A Tribe Called Quest
Afrika Baambaataa
Animal Collective
Antony & the Johnsons
Atari Teenage Riot
Autechre
Battles
Bauhaus (’98 reunion)
Be Your Own Pet
Andrew Bird
David Bowie
David Byrne
John Cale
Caribou
Clinic
Cradle of Filth
The Cramps
Creatures
Danielson Familie
Deerhoof
Delta 9
Descendents
Electric Hellfire Club
Darren Emerson
The Flaming Lips
Franz Ferdinand
Fugazi
Groovie Ghoulies
Guitar Wolf
Heidnik
Joe Hisaishi
Angelique Kidjo
The Knife
Femi Kuti
Le1f
Limp Bizkit
M.I.A
Magnetic Fields
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Modest Mouse (x2)
Mogwai
Juana Molina
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult (x3)
Nashville Pussy
Nostrum
Paul Oakenfold
Pansy Division
Prefuse 73
The Queers
Radiohead
The Raveonettes
Red House Painters
Jimmy Scott
Roni Size & Reprazent
The Shins
Shizuo
Shonen Knife
Skeleton Key
Patti Smith (x2)
Social Distortion
Solar Year
Sonic Youth
Sparklehorse
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
Stereolab
Suicide Machines
Tomahawk
Tool
TV on the Radio
James Ward
Amy Winehouse
Patrick Wolf (x3)
Yamantaka Sonic Titan
Zwan
Biggest could-have-and-should-have gone regrets: Nina Simone, Dave Brubeck, Television, Aphex Twin
My biggest regret is probably David Bowie.
Did do and shouldn’t have bothered regret; The Verve.
A Storm In Heaven and A Northern Soul were two of my favourite albums of the time. By the time I saw them headlining V98 festival they’d made it big but Nick McCabe had left and it was one of their last shows before they split completely, for the second time.
It was monumentally dull. The whole set was devoid of any momentum, one slowed down, elongated drag of a song after another. Could have been watching Underworld or James Brown on another stage.
On the plus side, we’d turned up without tickets and got in thanks to slipping £10 each to a steward earning himself a little extra on the side. Shouldn’t really complain I guess given that it was way less than buying a ticket.
Did do and shouldn’t have bothered regret: Limp Bizkit. But they were playing at Warped Tour, it was hot out, and I didn’t feel like walking to the main stage.
Mine were: Prince, Nirvana, and Fleetwood Mac (at full power). A friend bought me a Nirvana ticket, but they were co-headlining with Red Hot Chili Peppers, and I had just seen them, so I declined. So dumb….
We have a small overlap, with Be Your Own Pet and The Flaming Lips.
Just remembered that I did see Ray Charles, but not exactly in a concert setting. He played Georgia on My Mind the Georgia capitol building when I happened to be working there. At least, that’s what my brain tells me, but it’s an unreliable narrator.
This is very much within my wheelhouse of music. Now I feel compelled to write up my own list.
Jealous of Sparklehorse. They played Leeds back in their early days when Mark was still performing in a wheelchair. I couldn’t persuade anyone to go with me and didn’t go.
Saw Stereolab supported by Yo La Tengo. Was in the pub before the gig, had no idea what Stereolab looked like at that point. We looked over at a group of people on another table and said, they look like they’re going to the gig. One of them came over to ask for a light, we didn’t smoke so couldn’t help them.
Imagine our surprise when they got on stage and turned out to have actually been Stereoloab.
My sister had a similar experience in a diner before seeing KISS, but wasn’t sure it was them as they were sans makeup. Could have been four random guys with long hair.
I was seated very close to Amy Winehouse in a restaurant a few hours before going to her show. I recognized her (she’s hard not to notice), but I didn’t bother her.
Favorite would be too hard. I could probably narrow it down to a top 10. Led Zeppelin, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and the second Tom Petty show that I saw would be in it.
If you don’t count club dates my list is embarrassingly short. I did see lots and lots of bands in college (in Athens, GA) in clubs in the early 80s, but not too many concerts. My list starts with one I’m not proud of (but hey, they could make show):
I was going to see The Police when they came to Athens on their first US tour, but decided not to go. Two weeks later Roxanne was booming from every open dorm window on campus. That’s my biggest concert regret. (Well, being too young to see the Beatles . . .)
I was also too young for The Beatles, but I have seen two who are still living, individually. Not the same, but as close as I could get.
I would love to have seen X, because that is the only letter where I had to cheat a bit. Also, it would have been a great show.
Might not be a big list but impressively diverse!
I don’t think I can remember all the shows I’ve seen, especially if I include all the local and unsigned bands, so here’s a list of one per letter. I will say, however, that out of the ten best concerts I’ve seen, five were The Who.
Wow, compared you, I haven’t seen Diddley…
Ba-dum-TSH!
Saw Ben Folds minus the Five. He was one of the best acts I’ve seen for entertaining the crowd between songs, quite the raconteur. Spent nearly as much time telling stories as playing.
Our overlap is KISS, Taj Mahal, and The Who. I think that you and I were at one of the same Who shows. Were you at the Bridgestone when they did Quadrophenia in its entirety?
Sure was. Here’s a video I took that night.
https://youtu.be/H0_ixirnL1c?si=kc15VTNSP-kmtuM_
I absolutely loved that show and the fact that it was in Nashville that Roger met the musicians/technicians who made it possible.
Really? I didn’t know that!
Yes, apparently, Pete and Roger had always wanted to tour Quadrophenia in totality, but they couldn’t get the effects, etc. they way they wanted them, so they scrapped their plans.
Fast forward 40 or so years and Roger was in Nashville doing some solo stuff, hanging out in studios, and he met some musicians who could make it happen. Called up Pete, and they put it together.
I don’t have any independent verification, and I’m basing this on memory of an old interview that I heard. If it’s not true, I don’t want to know.
Les Paul. Dang I wish.
Twice! Got his autograph but he insisted the lovely Ms. Virgindog stand near him while he signed. He held her hand while we talked. He was a lovely man.
Impressive list. A lot of legends mixed with some diverse choices. Seeing the likes of Ray Charles, Led Zeppelin, the Stones, I wasn’t expecting New Kids On The Block to appear!
I don’t have an alphabetical list, I’m chronologically compulsive as per this one I prepared earlier; https://tnocs.com/this-is-how-i-remind-me/
First gig; Paul Weller
Act seen most; Belle And Sebastian
Pulling together an A to Z out of my list;
Arrested Development
Bjork
Chemical Brothers
Bob Dylan
Elbow
Flight Of The Conchords
Gorillaz
The Hold Steady
Iggy & The Stooges
The Julie Ruin
Kaiser Chiefs
Lucid Dream
Madness
The National
Oasis
Pulp
Q – sadly lacking but I have seen Ride whose bass player is Steve Queralt
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Spoon
Thee Oh Sees
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Vampire Weekend
White Stripes
The XX
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Jay-Z – if you’re being formal you’d call him Mr Z right??
I’m envious that you’ve seen both Bjork and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and will have to go look up Thee Oh Sees and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. I’m not familiar with either. Good list!
There’s plenty to get into with Thee Oh Sees, 28 studio albums since 2003. Too much for me, I lost track of them years ago.
Plus they keep changing their name. They’re currently Osees but don’t count on them staying that way for long. So far they’ve gone through these variations;
Orinoka Crash Suite, OCS, Orange County Sound, The Ohsees, The Oh Sees, Thee Oh Sees, Oh Sees, and Osees
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever are much more reliable with an easy to digest release schedule one of favourite gigs of the last 5 years.
Of course, he would be Mr. Z. I had to cheat a bit with X, still hoping to see a show that fits better.
New Kids on the Block is one of those that I saw for someone I love. I took my nieces to see them as a joint birthday present the year that they were 11 and 14. I wore a Rolling Stones shirt to the concert, just so no one would be confused as to where my taste really lies.
Our overlap is Bob Dylan and Vampire Weekend. And half an overlap with Jack White, who I saw as a solo act, instead of with Meg as the White Stripes.
We’ve a few more that overlap; also got Paul McCartney, The Who, Slash and Jack White solo.
I’d forgotten that I’d seen The XX til I looked through my own list. Didn’t think I’d have anyone to fill that slot. Now that I know I’m missing a Q and a proper Z I feel the need to complete the alphabet.
Stellar article that facilitated an inventory and dented work productivity. I’ve seen some fantastic concerts, as have you and the other commentators. Still working to complete the alphabet. Cheers!
a-ha, Air Supply, American Music Club, Art Garfunkel
Bananarama, Barry Manilow, Ben Folds, Bette Midler, Billy Bragg, Blue Nile, Blur, Blondie, Boo Radleys,
Carmel, Celine Dion, Chaka Khan, Chita Rivera (and she dished!), Chris Isaak, Cranberries, Creatures, Crowded House, Cyndi Lauper
Devo, Diana Krall, Don McLean (just in time for the abuse allegations!)
Echo & the Bunnymen, Elvis Costello, Elton John, English Beat, Everything But The Girl
Fleet Foxes, Foreigner
Jake Bugg
Kate Bush (FAVORITE CONCERT..EVAH!!!), k.d. lang
Local Natives
Melissa Manchester, Morrissey
National, New Order
Olivia Newton-John (ONJ+Melissa Manchester…y’all should have known!)
Pet Shop Boys, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Pink Martini
Rick Springfield, Robert Forster, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Rodriguez, Rolling Stones, Rufus Wainwright
Saint Etienne, Shuggie Otis, Sigur Ros, Squeeze, Steve Miller, Sufjan Stevens
Vampire Weekend, Victory Boyd
Immediate, DOH! Belle & Sebastian and Stromae!
I like your E’s and S’s. Good list!
Nice to see Boo Radleys there. I spotted Bjork on my list and used her for my B about half a second before them.
Was Kate Bush on her 1979 tour or the 2014 Hammersmith dates?
I don’t go to that many arena shows but Pet Shop Boys really showed how to do it with lots going on visually and sounded incredible.
The Boo’s were 1993 at the Astoria and it was one of the best concerts. The Kate Bush was the 2014 milestone event. Best wedding gift.ever from my friend who lives in the UK. We caught one of the later dates and Kate seemed to thoroughly enjoy performing almost as much as the audience was enthralled at, well, everything. I think the PSB put on innovative shows; however, there is a disconnect with the PSB putting such thought into visuals, lighting, choreography and having that ignored by most of the crowd, who are simply there to party. Bjork is on the bucket list, as are so many others.
We have quite a bit of overlap. Chris Isaak, Elton John, Steve Miller, Rolling Stones, and Vampire Weekend. And a half with Foreigner. Never saw the band, but did see Lou Gramm solo.
The Rolling Stones was 1981 and the Rockford, IL radio station, WZOK, had one of the first “let’s get ooms of signatures to entice “band” to play our city” campaigns. And the Stones did come to Rockford…but did not perform an encore, which I thought was a snub. Perhaps a “we’re to good to be playing this hole” or perhaps Jagger and Richards were having a row. Happy that I can say I saw them, which is about all I can remember.
Elton John, Air Supply, The Go-Go’s, a-ha, Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, They Might Be Giants, Timbuk 3, George Michael, INXS, MC Hammer, Depeche Mode(twice), Bad Religion, Aimee Mann, John Fogerty, The Shins(Jessica Dobson of Deep Sea Diver), The Cure, Ricki Lee Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Valerie June, Elvis Costello, New Order, U2/Pearl Jam, Bill Maher(Eddie Vedder cameo), Roger McGuinn, Brian Wilson, Kacey Musgraves, Rhye, Sting, Miguel, Jack Johnson, Fiona Apple, Natalie Merchant.
Would have loved to see John Prine and Be Your Own Pet.
There was a 35%-40% chance of seeing Bruce Springsteen in December, now zero, of course. Get well, Boss.
A lot of people were staring me down at the Bad Religion concert, but my friend insists it’s because I was wearing an aloha shirt and slacks.
Best concert experience: New Order.
Wish I had seen George Michael. We have some overlap, Elton John, John Fogerty, U2, Pearl Jam, and Sting. I didn’t count it, but I saw Steve Cropper when he performed a couple of songs with Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder seems to be happy to share stage time.
Good grief. How can I forget Otoboke Beaver? Also, Bob Dylan(twice), Dinosaur Jr. and Colleen Green.
What I learned about Dylan the second time around: I saw him again after the renaissance(Time Out of Mind). It doesn’t matter if he’s “washed-up”(I guess he was supporting Under the Red Sky. I was still in my indie rock silo. The only song I remember is “All Along the Watchtower”.) or in vogue, his stage persona doesn’t change in the slightest bit.
We had to wait six months to see U2. Somebody in The Edge’s family was ill. Bono was the size of an ant, but still memorable.
John Fogerty was incredibly loud. About midway through, I checked my phone to see how old he was.
Favorite moment: Sarah McLachlan’s long spoken word intro to “Adia”. We learned that the song was an apology to her best friend. And she told the audience: “You won’t tell anybody, right? I can trust you.”
I love that Air Supply is on multiple lists here; so far yours and mine. I saw Air Supply when they played my hometown of Rockford, IL. The concert was more notable for Graham Russell of AIr Supply, as he met his second wife there. The article says Chicago, but the fact that the article later mentions Rockford validates the buzz around the city.
Sadly, we did not get to see the Go-Betweens. I did see Robert in 1994 and hope to again someday.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/06/08/Guitarist-lyricist-Graham-Russell-of-the-Australian-rock-group-Air/8010485582879/
Still waiting for Air Supply: Live in Hawaii to get its long overdue Blu Ray release. I will always, always, always, have a soft spot for the kings of soft rock. My mom took me.
In 2008, Air Supply returned. They revamped their sound. It was given an arena rock sheen. Not quite metal, but there was a guitar solo during “All Out of Love”. I don’t think Air Supply understood who their audience was. My mom was disappointed. I was annoyed. Nobody was happy.
“Lost in Love” is timeless. It was recently given the Bill Callahan seal of approval.
Air Supply deep tracks exist, or in some cases, songs that underperformed: I like “Chances” better than “Sweet Dreams”. I also like “She Never Heard Me Call”. “Young Love” just died hard at #38. “Two Less Lonely People in the World”, uncannily, died at #38, too.
And then I discovered R.E.M.
I like R.E.M. better than Air Supply.
But Air Supply songs remind me of my maternal grandparents.
I went to see Cradle of Filth in a baby blue polo shirt and khakis.
I know I’m still missing a bunch here, but… from memory (and Google):
Alice In Chains
Ambulance LTD
Amon Tobin
Amy Winehouse
Ani DiFranco
Arctic Monkeys
A Tribe Called Quest
Bauhaus
Barbra Streisand
Barry Manilow
B.B. King
Beastie Boys
Beck
Beirut
Ben Folds Five
Benny Benassi
Berlin
Bettie Serveert
Björk
Blink-182
Blues Traveler
Bob Dylan
Brazilian Girls
Café Tacvba
Cage the Elephant
Chris Isaak
Coldplay
Crowded House
Crystal Castles
David Bowie
Death Cab for Cutie
DJ Shadow
Duncan Shiek
Electric Six
Elton John
Elvis Costello
Fever Ray
Foo Fighters
Four Tet
Franz Ferdinand
Garbage
George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars
Giant Drag
Girl Talk
Gnarls Barkley
Gogol Bordello
Green Day
Guns N Roses
Hot Chip
Howie Day
Ice-T & Body Count
Interpol
Jackson Browne
Jane’s Addiction
Jellyfish
Juana Molina
Junior Senior
Keane
Kinky
LCD Soundsystem
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Cohen
Living Colour
Los Campesinos!
Lou Reed
Lush
M83
Madonna
Massive Attack
Matisyahu
Metric
M.I.A.
Ministry
Minus the Bear
Mogwai
My Bloody Valentine
New Order
Nickel Creek
Nine Inch Nails
Noisettes
Of Montreal
Oingo Boingo
Orbital
Paul McCartney
Peaches
Pearl Jam
Peter Gabriel
Phoenix
Pink Floyd
Pixies
P.M. Dawn
Radiohead
R.E.M.
Rufus Wainwright
Sarah McLachlan
Scissor Sisters
Sheila Chandra
Sigur Ros
Silversun Pickups
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Sleater-Kinney
Snow Patrol
Sonic Youth
Soundgarden
Spoon
stellastarr*
Stephen Marley featuring Jr. Gong
Stereolab
Sting
Stone Temple Pilots
Sufjan Stevens
Tenacious D
Terence Trent D’Arby
The Airborne Toxic Event
The Beach Boys
The Black Keys
The Breeders
The Chemical Brothers
The Crystal Method
The Flaming Lips
The Grateful Dead
The Go! Team
The Go-Go’s
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The La’s
The Lemonheads
The Magic Numbers
The National
The Offspring
The Orb
The Police
The Rapture
The Raveonettes
The Rolling Stones
The Secret Machines
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Sounds
The Stills
The The
The Ting Tings
The Violent Femmes
The White Stripes
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tool
U2
U.N.K.L.E.
We Are Scientists
Weezer
Wilco
Wolf Parade
X
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Zwan
Zero 7
Oh, yeah, and:
Alanis Morrissette
A Perfect Circle
Arcade Fire
Badly Drawn Boy
Band Of Horses
Broken Social Scene
Catherine Wheel
Chvrches
Dead Can Dance
Doves
El Ten Eleven
Fiona Apple
Lamb
Live
Love Jones
Mew
Minus The Bear
Moby
Mumford And Sons
Muse
My Morning Jacket
Pete Yorn
Pinback
Porno For Pyros
Prodigy
Rage Against The Machine
Ryan Adams
Seal
Silverchair
Sloan
Spiritualized
Tori Amos
Underworld
Wild Colonials
Yo La Tango
Oh wow. You definitely win. So many here I have never heard of…..
The The, The La’s; both, wow.
Weezer cancelled because Rivers Cuomo went to Harvard. I read about it in Spin. I missed the chance to hear, probably, Pinkerton, in its entirety. At the time, they were a two-album band. Both “Across the Sea” and “Pink Triangle” sound like cries for help. I really missed out.
Oh, wow. I think you win. So many here I wish I had seen.
The Beatles – (nah- just playin…)
Bad Company
Barry Manilow
BB King
Beatlemania
Weather Report
Jean-Luc Ponty
Manhattan Transfer
Hey Nineteen
The Stompers
Bee Gees
Bonnie Pointer
Bruce Springsteen
Chuck Berry
D Train
Dave Brubeck
Doobie Brothers
Edgar Winter Group
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Fifth Dimension
Fleet Foxes
Gary’s Gang
Heatwave
John Sebastian
Kenny Loggins
Kool and The Gang
Larry Carlton
Mahavishnu Orchestra
Michael McDonald
Peaches and Herb
Pink Floyd
Ray Goodman and Brown
Simon and Garfunkel
Sister Sledge
The Weathergirls
Steely Dan
Steve Martin
Stevie Wonder
The B-52s
The Fab Faux
The Fray
The Seeger Sessions Band
The Smithereens
Al Stewart
Wings
Yes
Ravi Coltrane
Chris Botti
Boz Scaggs
Biggest regret? Missing out on the Clang Thwack “Cacophony 2015” tour.
I saw Beatlemania on an 8th grade class trip organized by our music teacher.
We were all blown away by it. I only learned recently that it was unauthorized and the actual Beatles were pissed about it.
Tell me about Mahavishnu. What era was that?
It was 1973, and they were touring and promoting the Birds Of Fire album. This, incidentally, was my very first concert/
One highlight: a thoroughly cranky Jan Hammer, kicking at his Mellotron when it malfunctioned. Three times that night.
What a list, concept!!! Most impressive!
My first concert: White Lion opening for AC/DC (first day freshman year of high school)
Band I saw the most: Archers of Loaf (at least 5 or 6 times),
Also saw Leftover Salmon and Crooked Fingers 3 times each…
Proudest moment: clasping hands with Chuck D at a Public Enemy show in 1993 at the Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill (the old one, before it moved to Carrboro). Or maybe front row for Sonic Youth in 1992, same venue.
Rarest: I’m wondering if anybody (except maybe cappie) has heard of Picasso Trigger. Local Raleigh-area band from the 90’s, I had kind of a crush on lead singer Kathy Poindexter. Saw them two or three times as well…
https://trouserpress.com/reviews/picasso-trigger/
Concert where I lost my hearing: Circus Lupus. I was right in front of the stack and the treble off the lead guitars was insane. Thanks jackholes! (TBH, many concerts contributed, but this one was the first one that made me think I honestly would not recover what I lost that night.)
Honestly, if I could conceivably make a list, most of the bands would be obscure even for this crowd — I was a very indie, very local music connoisseur in my college days.
I remember Chapel Hill-is-the-next-Seattle hype.
Small 23’s “True Zero Hook” was an inspired Archers of Loaf-knockoff. They, too, were stuck on Alias. Both bands should have been on Merge. Or at the very least, Mammoth. How did they end up in California? Alias had no identity. Their roster was way too eclectic.
Eric Bachmann, truly underrated. His solo effort “Carolina” sounds great.
Perhaps I am the only one that has seen Engelbert Humperdinck? (Parents took me to a family friendly show as a kid.)
I am a late bloomer in seeing some “cooler” artists but I still try to see a couple of concerts a year now. Here is my list:
Alabama
Bangles
Beck
Boston
Chicago
Charley Crockett
Edgar Cruz
Mac DeMarco
Flaming Lips
Fleet Foxes
Foo Fighters
Engelbert Humperdinck
Chris “Kingfish” Ingram
Kraftwerk
Barry Manilow
Monkees
Night Ranger
Petra
Phoenix
Rush
Bruce Springsteen
Red Steagall
Stryper
Steve Taylor
U2
Vampire Weekend
Jack White
First “big” concert: Springsteen at the Cotton Bowl, Summer 1985
Best opening act: Night Ranger (to my surprise, they were much better than ever expected! That was about 4 years ago.)
You are not the only one. When I was quite young, Arlington Park racetrack had a concert series and Engelbert Humperdinck was one of the acts. I think my whole family went to see him. I have very little memory of it, other than the person introducing did so by singing a song about him. Weird thing to remember.
And aside from Engelbert, the only other name on your list that I have seen is Petra, in a high school gymnasium in the early 80s.
OK … I knew I had a list somewhere (though it wasn’t alphabetized) … Updated now and following your lead. No D’s, I’s, N-O’s, Q’s, U’s or X-Z’s.
Alabama, Bryan Adams
Bon Jovi, Boy George, Tony Bennett
Judy Collins, Cheap Trick, Robert Cray Band, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Ray Charles, Regina Carter, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Gary Chapman
Eagles, ELO
Lisa Fischer, Ruthie Foster, Michael Franks
Genesis, Amy Grant, Eve Gallagher
Hall and Oates, Emmylou Harris, Hot Sardines
Journey, Elton John, Billy Joel, Al Jarreau, Jack Jones
Katrina and the Waves, Bill Kirchen
k.d. lang, Patti LuPone, Huey Lewis and the News, Cyndi Lauper
Barbara Mandrell, Manhattan Transfer, Johnny Mathis, Melba Moore, Richard Marx, Kathy Mattea
Pointer Sisters, Poco, Mandy Patinkin
Helen Reddy
Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Squeeze, Michael W. Smith, Swell Season, the Spinners
.38 Special
Luther Vandross
Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick
Fun list, and I see some CCM names sprinkled in. I saw Gary Chapman and Amy Grant perform together at a Charismatic Catholic Youth Conference in Steubenville, OH in 1982, just after they had gotten married.
I wish I had the time/patience/memory to to do a complete list so random thoughts will have to do.
Most – Elton John, Little River Band, John Mellencamp – 4 times each.
First – Little River Band opened for The Doobie Brothers – Being my first concert and not really knowing what to expect, LRB cold opened with “Happy Anniversary” right as the lights hit the stage. I jumped out of my skin.
Best – Oldies festival – Mama’s and the Papa’s, Peter, Paul & Mary, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Tommy James, The Turtles.
Worst – Peter Gabriel – not sure why. Either he was or off, or I was. It was probably me, could not wait to leave.
Most recent – America
70’s Supergroups – Journey, Boston, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Bob Seger,
Biggest regret – I have not yet seen The Rolling Stones. Maybe someday, still hoping, but not holding breath.
Dad of the Year – Twice! Took the kids to see N’Sync and Britney Spears.
Go Figure – I love, love disco but never went to see a disco group until I saw Nile Rogers a couple of years ago.
Little River Band with the Doobies back in the day would have been amazing!
Saw them at the Ft Wayne, IN Coliseum, mid 70’s. I fell in love with LRB that night on their first note.
Well LTC, I must say that your list is so enviable.
I’ve never seen a concert and it is really embarrassing, but in 2012 Coca Cola broadcasted online the Paul McCartney concert in Mexico City, does it count?
We need a road trip to join Edith for a concert.
I’ll pack some sandwiches.
Yeah! 👍
It counts if you want it to. At TNOCS, we do what we want!
I remember our friend @irishbeartx also saying he had never been to a concert. Some people just didn’t go as kids and never got in the habit. Some don’t like the crowds. I’ll admit that I’ve gone to a lot fewer concerts than many folks here. It’s all ok. (But you should try to go to at least one!) 🙂
I’m not a big live show person myself. If it weren’t for the many Christian concerts I went to in the late 80s/early 90s, mostly organized by friends, I wouldn’t have a lot on my list. I actually prefer listening to studio recordings, and even then, I didn’t buy a lot of records back in the day. I’ve only just started to catch up with streaming. We’re all here because we love music, and that love manifests in different ways.
Alphabetizing your list of shows is such a fun idea and it’s quite the list! My list of shows would not be anywhere near as long. I doesn’t appear that anyone else has commented on King’s X so I will. At one time, they were probably my favorite band. I loved that you listed them under X and they got to win the letter. I saw them with a good friend and my one and only piano student, at the Metro in Chicago around the time Ear Candy had come out, so probably ’96. They were really great, but Doug Pinnick seemed to be struggling and in a difficult place. At one point, he broke down and started crying and couldn’t sing the lyrics to one of the songs. He also tackled a security guard who was trying to clear some people off the stage. What was most memorable about that night is that it was my piano student’s first ever concert, something I hadn’t known when I invited him. He still talks about it, as he would go on to see many, many shows after that.
Fortunately, they didn’t have any evident problems when I saw them. They opened for Pearl Jam.
My concertgoing experience has been sporadic and scattershot over the years, so this list is going to be a bit strange and I wasn’t going to post it. A lot of CCM on here, because in my prime years of going to concerts, that was my scene. Here is what I remember right now-
2nd Chapter of Acts
Susan Ashton
Grażyna Auguścik (amazing jazz vocalist)
Basia
Bass Desires (jazz fusion)
Tony Bennett
Michael Card
The Choir
Mark Farner (of Grand Funk Railroad)
Fischerspooner
Gin Blossoms
Edyta Górniak (Polish pop star)
Amy Grant
The Grass Roots
Al Green
Engelbert Humperdinck
The Ides of March
Al Jarreau
John Paul Jones
Jumpin’ the Saddle Band
Phil Keaggy
The Kind
King’s X
Mylon Lefevre and Broken Heart
Chuck Mangione
John Mayer
The Moody Blues
Rich Mullins
Out of the Grey
Twila Paris
Petra
Resurrection Band
Buddy Rich
Servant
Sal Solo
Spyro Gyra
Russ Taff
White Heart
Oh and I also saw a pretty spot on ABBA tribute band at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto some years ago.
Wow! Basia is our only common artist. Good one, though!
I like King’s X. I bought Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. Doug Pinnick is still an active artist. He covered “The Unforgiven”. He did a better job of covering Metallica than Rivers Cuomo.
Yes, through so much he’s been through, Doug never stops. And King’s X released an album last year. I’ve not heard it yet.
Listening now. Doug (dUg?) Pinnick’s voice is a bit different, but they haven’t lost a step at all, after numerous serious health scares and all.
Here is a not-complete list of concerts I’ve been to, as I’ve definitely forgotten some into the mists of time. Some of these are in festivals. I used to document these on an iLike app on FB, which I imagine was shut down because of its similarity to some other apps (no idea which it could be…)
NEVER MIND – it’s too long, but I was excited I had the X and Z’s covered…but then I don’t have a “U”!!
Any suggestions?
U2! I’ve seen them twice and they were great both times!
Here’s my paltry list:
“Weird Al” Yankovic (Clearwater, 2013 & 2015… the latter had a meet-and-greet after the show)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Tampa, 2009 & 2010)
John Mellencamp (Tampa, 1999)
Sugarland (Tampa, 2008?) (opening acts were Luke Bryan and Matt Nathanson)
Also, a couple of local radio station festivals at Vinoy Park in St. Pete. I can’t remember all of the acts who played, aside from the headliners (Third Eye Blind in 1998 and Smash Mouth in 1999).
Had tickets to see Stevie Nicks in Gainesville in 1989, but she cancelled due to illness.
I had tickets to see Yes back in the late 80s, but they cancelled. Bummer.
I was invited by a friend to see Yes in the early 80s and blew him off and lied about it. In retrospect, I think I would have loved the show, so I lost out more than anyone on that one. It took me around 25 years to realize just how bad of a friend I was, but I eventually came clean.
Oops, one more I just remembered (and it’s actually the most recent)… Matthew West (with opening act Jordan Feliz) in 2017. This was about a year after I’d gotten heavily into CCM.
If John Mellencamp was the only concert I ever attended, I would be okay with that. I saw John Mellencamp’s drummer, Kenny Aronoff. He was in John Fogerty’s band.
My sister’s neighbor and good friend ended up marrying John Fogerty. It was a whole thing.
Kenny is fabulous.
I saw TSO about 15 years ago. I totally forgot to put it on my list.
Criminy… I’ve actually seen Weird Al three times, the first was in 2011 (as I was reminded by a recent Facebook memory).
First time here on tncos.
I have a full alphabetized list (minus whatever few I’ve forgotten), but it is somewhere north of 400 names so I will just play the A to Z game.
Against Me!
Bane
Chevelle
Dismemberment Plan, The
Eyedea & Abilities
Flag of Democracy (F.O.D.)
Girls Against Boys
Happy Hollows, The
Isis
J Roddy Walston and the Business
Karate
Leo, Ted & The Pharmacists
Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The (Probably winner for the most times seen. 11, I think.)
Notwist, The
Ozomatli
Priests
Queers, The
Rosetta
Samiam
Turner, Frank (My favorite show ever. Look up Frank Turner Titan House on YouTube if you care to see.)
Unrest
Vaux
World/Inferno Friendship Society
xbxrx
Young Fathers
Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer
Great list – and good welcome to you, @ThinkMusicPhilly !
Impressive list. And welcome to TNOCS! You’re going to love it here.
Welcome, ThinkMusicPhilly! I played a couple shows with F.O.D. in the 80s, one in Boston, one in Philly. Great guys! It’s good to see their name here.
And yes, Frank Turner puts on an excellent show. I tell everyone I know when he comes to town.
F.O.D. is still going too. I didn’t know them until a friend’s band played one of their shows around 2007 or so. Blew me away.
That’s great! My old band is still together, too, 40+ years later, but there’s only the one original member left. If you see the F.O.D. guys soon, tell them Bill Normal from Psycho says hi.