Indulge me here...
After writing about the shafting I got from Ticketmaster (see below), I got to thinking about all of the concerts I have been to in my not so short, yet not so long, life. Stuck in traffic I began listing singers, bands, and artists I have seen over the years. With the help of my wife who reminded me of whom we had seen together, and after racking my brains going back to the seventies, I compiled a list of the popular, the obscure, the what exactly was I thinking, and the people I am glad to have seen before they faded from sight or from life. I should point out that the very first concert I saw was in 1969. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. I believe that tickets were about $6.50 which sounds about right. Here they are in vague and hazy somewhat chronological order. One hit wonders and all timers. See how many you recognize:
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition The Beach Boys Don McLean Crosby Stills and Nash Argent 10CC's The Grassroots Steve Miller Band Seals & Croft Rare Earth The Moody Blues Chicago Chase The James Gang Blood, Sweat, and Tears Jesse Colin Young Yes Jethro Tull Emerson, Lake, and Palmer OC Smith Santana The Byrds Atlanta Rythym Section James Taylor The Who The Rolling Stones J Geils Band Blue Oyster Cult The Outlaws Molly Hatchet Robin Trower Lee Michaels Bachman Turner Overdrive America Loggins & Messina Poco Pure Prarie League The Eagles Linda Ronstadt Jackson Browne Sammy Hagar Quarterflash Karla Bonoff Warren Zevon Roxy Music Elton John Norton Buffalo Sonny Rollins Herbie Mann King Crimson Neil Young Hall & Oates The Doobie Brothers Cheap Trick Fleetwood Mac Graham Parker Randy Newman Paul Simon Orleans Emmylou Harris Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Nick Lowe Josie Cotton George Thorogood Joe Jackson Elvis Costello Stevie Ray Vaughan Jimmy Buffett Tommy Tutone Split Enz Robert Cray Dire Straits Peter Gabriel The Romantics Rachel Sweet The Go Go's The Rockets Joan Armatrading Husker Du Phranc Genesis The Golden Palominos The Stranglers Ultravox Howard Jones Echo and the BunnyMen Johnny Cougar The Motels Camper Van Beethoven The Lemonheads James REM Ricki Lee Jones Bruce Hornsby Los Lobos Lou Reed Townes Van Zant Maria McKee Ry Cooder Lyle Lovett Toni Childs The Cowboy Junkies Chris Isaak The Indigo Girls Dinosaur Jr Janes Addiction Counting Crows Natalie Merchant X Nanci Griffith Matthew Sweet Paula Cole Joan Osbourne The Bo Deans Son Volt Was Not Was Social Distortion Shawn Colvin Nirvana Pearl Jam Red Hot Chili Peppers Beck Green Day Diana Krall The Roots Sevendust Jimmy Eat World Blink-182 Unwritten Law The Distillers Sum 41 Garbage No Doubt Sugar Cult The Crystal Method Cassandra Wilson and...Tool
I know I'm missing some, but, what the hell. Those that I regret I never saw were the Lowell George-led Little Feat, For Squirrels, the Refreshments, the Posies, Badfinger, Harry Nillson, Steve Goodman, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Helmet, the Stone Roses, and Harry Chapin.
That was my exercise in self indulgence. Thank you for your attention...