In concert
Inspired by Pioneer Woman (I have to thank Annika for linking me there once upon a time), who asks "What concerts have you been to?"
I have been to many concerts in my day (why, yes, I am old, thanks so much for asking!), so I think I will just stick with two that stand out in my memory. Okay, maybe three.
The first concert I ever attended was Loggins and Messina at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California. I was 16 years old and I thought that when Kenny Loggins, sans shirt, came to the edge of the stage, I would die from the hotness. The bearded, hippy hotness (this was long before Footloose). The Greek is an outdoor arena, modelled (as one might guess) on the Greek amphitheatres of old. We sat on stone (concrete) seats and sweated as the sun poured down on us. I have been to many other concerts at the Greek, but this one was the first and thus, worthy of memory.
Another concert at the Greek was the Indigo Girls. I remember this one clearly because it was when Bill Clinton was running for president. Emily wore a Clinton/Gore bumper sticker on the thigh of her jeans and when she sang the lyric "Well the world seems spent and the president has no good idea who the masses are", we screamed our agreement. Let it be me, indeed. The world was full of hope, the sun was hot, the womyn of Berkeley were half nekkid and the men were enlightened and we all rocked our asses off.
The best concert I have ever been to was Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet performing The Juliet Letters at the San Francisco Symphony Concert Hall. If you haven't heard this album, I strongly recommend it. It is Elvis at his lyrical best and the influence of the Brodsky makes for a profound musical experience. In concert, Elvis and the Brodsky played the album in order, as a concert piece. It was brillant- Costello was in perfect voice and the power of the live performance resonated in a way a recording simply cannot.
The only mar in a perfect performance was the woman behind us. We came to call her "the dying swan" because she consistently honked out her pleasure with moans of "Elllllllllllllvisssssssssssssssss!" Her enthusiasm became even more heightened when The Juliet Letters ended, and Costello performed some of his other songs. Her pleas for certain songs soared over the audience in loud volumes. We shook our heads and sighed. But even with swan lady, it was the best concert ever.
So, tell me about a concert that you remember, for better or worse.
I have been to many concerts in my day (why, yes, I am old, thanks so much for asking!), so I think I will just stick with two that stand out in my memory. Okay, maybe three.
The first concert I ever attended was Loggins and Messina at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California. I was 16 years old and I thought that when Kenny Loggins, sans shirt, came to the edge of the stage, I would die from the hotness. The bearded, hippy hotness (this was long before Footloose). The Greek is an outdoor arena, modelled (as one might guess) on the Greek amphitheatres of old. We sat on stone (concrete) seats and sweated as the sun poured down on us. I have been to many other concerts at the Greek, but this one was the first and thus, worthy of memory.
Another concert at the Greek was the Indigo Girls. I remember this one clearly because it was when Bill Clinton was running for president. Emily wore a Clinton/Gore bumper sticker on the thigh of her jeans and when she sang the lyric "Well the world seems spent and the president has no good idea who the masses are", we screamed our agreement. Let it be me, indeed. The world was full of hope, the sun was hot, the womyn of Berkeley were half nekkid and the men were enlightened and we all rocked our asses off.
The best concert I have ever been to was Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet performing The Juliet Letters at the San Francisco Symphony Concert Hall. If you haven't heard this album, I strongly recommend it. It is Elvis at his lyrical best and the influence of the Brodsky makes for a profound musical experience. In concert, Elvis and the Brodsky played the album in order, as a concert piece. It was brillant- Costello was in perfect voice and the power of the live performance resonated in a way a recording simply cannot.
The only mar in a perfect performance was the woman behind us. We came to call her "the dying swan" because she consistently honked out her pleasure with moans of "Elllllllllllllvisssssssssssssssss!" Her enthusiasm became even more heightened when The Juliet Letters ended, and Costello performed some of his other songs. Her pleas for certain songs soared over the audience in loud volumes. We shook our heads and sighed. But even with swan lady, it was the best concert ever.
So, tell me about a concert that you remember, for better or worse.
Labels: Musical meanderings, Past Imperfect
posted by allison | 8:44 PM
3 Comments:
I just can't beat the dying swan. And I know it's not a contest, but really. Your story is too good.
My favourite concert was at the Manchester Academy and I saw Ben Folds and The Divine Comedy, who were doing a double-header tour. I'd not heard any of Ben Folds's stuff, but I'm a big Divine Comedy fan. Folds was awesome, thankfully, and The Divine Comedy were great too!
I too saw the Indigo Girls at Interlochen about 8 years ago. I laughed my ass off at Mikey because with all the lesbians about, he was worried about being the only straight guy in the whole arena.
Best concert? Friday nights at Tyrone's OC in Athens, GA before REM was famous. $1.50 got you in the door and we danced ourselves into oblivion as Michael Stipe slung sweat into the audience from his long auburn bangs. Yes, he used to have hair and lots of it.
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