QotD: Thanks for the Memories
What are the 10 most memorable music performances you've seen? (Remember, "memorable" may not be good.)
Submitted by Bill.
1. Tito Puente, Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, 1998. Wow. Best.concert.ever. I thought the entire place was going to explode from all of the energy. Best moment:
"This next piece is a little song that was recorded by a group you might have heard of - Santana (loud screams). One day, I get a letter saying 'We are going to record one of your songs and list you as the songwriter'. I said, I'm no f**king songwriter. Then the royalty checks started coming in. I said 'I'm a f**king songwriter!'" Then he launched in Oyo Coma Va (sp) and the crowd went nuts. Fabulous.
2. Barenaked Ladies, Tempe Music Fest, 2004, $20 ticket, last of three bands I saw. Locals Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers was also in the lineup (formerly the Refreshments). These guys know how to put on a great show.
3. Flogging Molly, Mesa. This year's St. Paddy's Day show. Ska, punk, Celtic folk tunes. What more could you want, really?
4. Cincinnatti Youth Orchestra, Rhapsody in Blue, at Albion College 1987. My introduction to Gershwin. It changed my life.
5. Cheap Trick, Michigan State Fair, Detroit, 1988.
6. All the bands at the Telluride Blues & Brews festival, 2004. I can't remember you all because, well, there was beer. I do remember BB King and that other guy who headlined the night before. He was great. Joe Cocker. Yeah, he rocked.
7. If we count my own performances, anytime I charged into Spartan Stadium with 73,000+ screaming football fans was as big a rush as I've ever had. Marching band was the best thing I did in college, followed only by playing in the band for basketball and hockey games.
Also, when my wind symphony played "Russian Christmas Music" this past holiday season, I got goosebumps and was almost moved to tears.
Comments
I've never heard Rhapsody in Blue performed live, but it's always been a favorite. My own little superstition always had me playing that song on my portable cd player right after takeoff on airline flights. Finally I broke the habit (it's a pain to travel with those cd players!) and the plane didn't crash. Yay for reason and logic!
Reason and logic can be overrated. But I love that habit! You should still do it, just because.
I've seen a lot of other concerts with big names (Paul Simon, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, etc.) but it's the smaller venues I enjoy the most.
When I saw Clapton back in 1992, I thought paying $25 for the ticket was outlandish. And that was for 13th row. Boy, how I miss those days.
I'd love to see Paul Simon, we had the opportunity to see him down at the Garden a few years ago, I'm still kicking myself for not going.
I'm cheap, too. I want to make sure I'm getting a good show for the money, which is why I like the festival set up with a lot of bands/acts. All the big names I've seen in the past few years (Elton John/Billy Joel, Eagles, Paul McCartney) were courtesy of my former company and being able to score extra tickets to the arena suite. Woo hoo!
I love the cartoon for Rhapsody in the new(er) Fantasia. Saw it in imax a few years ago--that was cool.
And Russian Christmas Music always gives me goosebumps too, because we played it for contest one year in high school, and we didn't have an english horn, so I played those solos on oboe. Go me :-)
I've never seen anyone go through as many guitar picks as Rick Nielsen, he'd let loose ten or more at a time. We went up to the front of the auditorium after and the floor was just littered with them - I think everyone who wanted one got one. They were so cute, they had a little drawing of his face on each one. :-)
Yay, you! I'm sure you were fantastic. We had a contrabass clarinet and when it played during the low part introducing the closing section, you could feel it more than you heard it. The stage vibrated and we felt the sound in your chest. That was too cool. During our dress rehearsal on stage, the director stopped us because even he was in awe. I love playing. I'm not great, but it's a wonderful thrill. Plus, the band has wonderful talent and rehearsal is a lot of fun.
And I'm guessing Cheap Trick just might have the record for the most 'first concerts' for people. They are so much fun.