Live music is my passion. It can be extraordinary to experience great music, hang with nice people, enjoy the scenery and live in the moment. If you hit the right show, it could truly be a euphoric moment.
My objective is not to push my unique tastes upon others but, rather, to create an exchange of recommendations. My motto has always been the greatest music you've ever heard is the music you've yet to hear ... so I enjoy being turned on to new artists, bands, genres, songs and venues. I used to be a musician myself, have played in many bands, like to pursue the history of music and I'm always hungry for more. Since I'm a guitarist, I like my music organic. Synthesized, computerized, overproduced, formulaic stuff is not my thing. It's not that my tastes are any better than anybody else, it's just that I want art...genuine art. I need the artist to shoot for the stars. I don't mind if they horribly fail since at least they made the effort. Give me something a lot more than what may come out of a headphone or car speaker.
That is why I usually have disdain for nostalgia acts. I mean, how any times can you hear the same song?! I liken live music to porn... I want to be entertained by virile artists, not somebody in their 80's trying to emulate a teenager. My baby boomer brethren has really screwed things up since some are paying top dollar to see some of these nostalgia acts...which is insane! Experiencing pop music should not be akin to going to the opera. It's the everyday fans that made the artists not the elite. Paying thousands to see acts from the 60's and 70's is absurd. In my experience, the real magic takes place either at a music festival or at a small venue. Arenas can be like going to the movies, it's hard to experience something extraordinary if you are relegated to your seat. Live music should involve some dancing and gyrating, roaming around, a bit of imbibing and should not take place in a sterile environment (the Hard Rock in Hollywood is awful). Some great local venues are Crazy Uncle Mikes, The Funky Biscuit and Sunset Cove in Boca Raton, The Culture Room and Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale and The Pompano Beach Amphitheater.
Here is a list of my memorable shows. In that I see well over 100 live acts a year and I'm definitely a music snob, these distinguishable performances were, indeed, something special. Remember, I put up this post because I'd like feedback from you concerning what was a special live show for you. I need to keep on adding to my arsenal.
Brandi Carlile at Red Rocks- She is the consummate professional that covers all bases. Immensely talented, her songs touch many genres and her band is virtuostic and energetic. However, what makes her truly special is that her concerts create a poignant, kumbaya environment where she can bring anybody to tears of joy. Prior to this show and unknown to her, rainbow-colored cray paper was passed out for the audience to attach to the light on their phone upon her playing the standard "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". Once this occurred (she had no idea that it would take place) she was quite affected since 10,000 fans created an electrified rainbow facing the performer. She closed her show with an empowering cover of Queen's " We Are the Champions". It was my favorite show of the year.
Deanstock- "Dean" is my son's father-in-law and possibly a bigger music fanatic than me. To celebrate his wedding anniversary, he hired members of some national touring bands to perform in his back yard which is situated on a lake. This occurred right after the passing of The Band's Robbie Robertson so the set list had lots of Band songs along with Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead tunes. It was all jam band baby. Add in a swimming pool, barbecue stations, tons of booze and food and lots of happy-hippie patrons, this was a party like no other. It was an exceptional musical experience.
Jason Ricci at Crazy Uncle Mikes- Jason Ricci is a blues harmonica player. He blows that harp like it is a saxophone or trombone. He does things on his instrument that I have never seen anybody else do. He is among one of the most unique musicians I've ever encountered...he can segue from a blues scale into Beethoven within the same song. He played at Crazy Uncle Mikes...the most fun place in South Florida (it's a brewery, restaurant, sports bar and music venue). He's not only an amazing virtuoso musician but also a terrific entertainer and showman. If you ever get a chance to see him (he's playing at the Funky Biscuit on January 18th, 2023) go, he is simply amazing.
The Smile at The Knight Center- The Smile is an offshoot of the iconic band Radiohead comprising of that band's vocalist Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood... along with a jazz drummer. There were no hits played, it wasn't that energetic and at times it was pretty challenging to listen to. However, this was truly adventurous and creative music...they were making art. It was kind of like watching a Stanley Kubrick film where you have to re-watch in order to fully understand what was going on. While I was at the show, I did enjoy it yet wasn't overwhelmed . But then after the show, I started to think about it, re-listen to some of the songs and discuss the show with other concert goers. In hindsight, this was a very serious effort to create something new and to take the guitar, bass and vocals into uncharted territories. This was the most artistic and bold show that I've probably had ever seen.
Billy Strings at Red Rocks- Billy Strings is the Jimi Hendrix of bluegrass guitar yet his talents are not limited to that genre. He grew up playing heavy metal, is a huge fan of the Grateful Dead and easily segues into different genres. As a guitarist he does something quite extraordinary, within the same song he employs different styles going from bluegrass picking to jazz scales to heavy metal runs. Red Rocks holds approximately 10,000 people where he played a three night run there, and then afterwords at another arena in Denver. To say that he is popular would be an understatement. When I was there, Denver was being inundated with rain however the music Gods parted the sky when Billy took the stage. In an impromptu manner, he sang the Johnny Nash, 70's pop standard " I Can See Clearly Now ( the rain will fall) It was the perfect song for the scenario! The Billy Strings fans are the most exuberant I've ever seen, there was more dancing, partying and crazy antics than I've ever seen anywhere. This was a wild show.
String Cheese Incident- at the Hulaween Music Festival - Hulaween is a music festival in Live Oak, Florida at the incredible "Spirit of the Suwanee Park". It focuses on cutting edge acts, EDM and jam bands. Long time jam band, "The String Cheese Incident" is the host of the three day event. One of their sets was a Halloween-themed set made up of all cover songs. In a selection out of left field, but the ideal song for the moment, they played the 70's King Harvest, bubble gum song "Dancing in the Moonlight"... while a huge full moon was illuminating the park and 20,000 fans ... were dancing in the moonlight.
Avett Brothers - Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheater. If the Ramones played folk music, they would sound like the Avett Brothers. They play acoustic music real loud. They are... absolutely... one of the top-tiered live acts out there. This Outlaw Music Festival primarily aimed themselves at country music fans and the bulk of the crowd was there for Willie Nelson. It was obvious that the Avett Brothers intended to grab some new fans so they took the stage going 100 mph. They were so amazing that none of the other acts even deserved to be in the same vicinity as them. The Avett Brothers always deliver a 10/10 performance but, somehow, they took it up a notch.
Margo Price at the Ryman Auditorium- Margo Price has lived a difficult life; she lost a child during childbirth which triggered significant drug and alcohol issues. After wallowing in sorrow, she then decided to turn it all around. I first saw her last year at the Hulaween festival where she was the only country performer . She may have been categorized as "country", but at that festival , she came to rock... I mean she was melting faces all over the place. After seeing her do a limited, one hour festival performance, I had a desire for more so I went to Nashville to see her. Wow did she work her butt off! She first harmonized and sang backup for the two opening acts, and then played for over two hours for her own set. She ended her show by covering Paul McCartney's "Let Me Roll It", went into the audience and never returned to the stage as she escorted the audience out the door. She was a force of nature.
Some special mentions should go to The Mavericks at the Parker Play House, Wilco and Father John Misty at the Sky Blue Sky festival in Riviera la Playa, Mexicio, Samantha Fish at The Funky Biscuit and Jennifer Hartswick at Hulaween. Lastly, Grateful Dead tribute band "Crazy Fingers" playing at Tarpon River Brewery in Fort Lauderdale is more fun than 95% of what you may see at an arena...and it is free.
What musical performances excited you this year?
Have a great holiday, may you be victorious in your professional endeavors and ROCK ON!
17 comments:
One word. Springsteen. Three words. Springsteen Estreet Band.
End of subject.
The show in Rome was off the charts amazing. And he raised the roof at Madison Square Garden. They wouldn’t let him leave and he didn’t want to.
wow, great list thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Boomers!
I saw Jimmy Buffett in the Olympia Theater in Dublin. Small intimate venue. Amazing. There wasn't a bad seat in the house. It was like having a personal conversation with him. And since it was in Ireland, and almost all of the fans were US fans who traveled there for the show, there was an even greater sense of community than usual at a Buffett show.
I saw Tito Puente play at the House of Blues in New Orleans. All I can say is WOW.
Woodstock 94. I was in high school. My divorced dad thought it would be great for us to go. He subsidized my older "cool" 20-something cousin and some of his friends to come. We camped out. I smoked pot for the first time. Mud was everywhere. I barely remember the music, but it was an amazing adventure.
In the realm of wild jury selection processes, here's one laid out from the 1st DCA in a recent Florida Supreme Court opinion:
"The parties were to select six jurors and two alternates from a venire, but the trial court had the parties address ten randomly selected venirepersons at a time. The first six randomly selected from the venire would be put “in the box” as a panel of presumptive principal jurors. The next two would be a panel of presumptive alternates. And the final two would be “on deck.” To pick the principal jurors, for-cause and peremptory strikes would be exercised just on those six venirepersons “in the box” at the time. When a party would strike a presumptive juror from this principal panel, a venireperson from the alternate panel would move in, and the resulting empty slot on the alternate panel would be filled by someone from the “on-deck” panel. . . . This process . . . would continue until the parties have no further for-cause challenges and each has either exhausted the allotted three peremptory challenges or tendered the principal panel as acceptable. At this point, the parties would turn to the presumptive alternates, and each party could move to strike only from the alternate panel, based on cause, or use the single peremptory challenge the party is allowed by rule for this part of the process. If one of the parties strikes a presumptive alternate from the panel, then each venireperson behind that stricken alternate juror would move up to fill the vacated spot to the left. . . . Once the parties have exhausted their alternate strikes, or tendered the alternates as acceptable, the presumptive principal jurors [and alternates] would be sworn in. The trial then would commence."
https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/1351203/opinion/Opinion_SC2022-0984.pdf
I could care less about music. It is for idiots.
My top ten all time 1968-78
Can, Cologne 1968
Velvet Underground, Max's 1969
Grateful Dead, Fillmore West 1970
Led Zeppelin, Pembroke Pines 1971
Bowie, Santa Monica 1972
New York Dolls, Mercer Arts Center 1973
Dylan and the Band LA Forum 1974
Talking Heads, CBGB, 1975
Sex Pistols, 100 Club, 1976
Kate Bush, Rose of Lee 1977
Parliment-Funkadelic, Cobo Arena 1978
bruce is so overrated rump
When I wasn’t busy not prepping my files…
Easy choice.
Metallica. Citrus Bowl. 2 hours of the best hard rock music you have ever heard.
I first saw Billy Strings with Billy and the Kids (Dead drummer Bill Kreutzman) and he stole the show. He was only 28 at the time and had just won his first Bluegrass Performer of the Year award. He totally stole the show and I’ve seen him several times since and you subconsciously can’t stop moving your feet and whooping it up. He does a wide range of genres and can play so many different kinds of instruments and guitars it’s nothing less than mind-blowing.
Red Rocks is the most unique venues in the world and a great vibe. I’ll go see people I never heard of because I live here and have always left inspired!
PS Great blog!
I grew up in the 80's. I like rock, but never really got into Springsteen. U2 for me. Just saw them in Vegas in The Sphere. That was a show.
Garett Pearson- the welsh tornado acoustic guitarist at a tiny venue on the south side of Tallahassee. Astounding musician selling guitar picks between sets. Unbelievable
Start with brick is red by the pixies. Then listen to youth are getting restless by sublime. Pirates by Brazilian girls. History lesson by minutemen. End with the collaboration by frank sinatra and biggie smalls. Merry Xmas
Blue Oyster Cult at My Father’s Place in Roslyn, N.Y.
Bruce Springsteen at Cornell University
Grateful Dead at Cornell
Jethro Tull at Syracuse War Memorial (first row seats)
Bonnie Raitt at a small club in Upstate New York
Elvis Costello in London Emporium
Meatloaf at Hempstead, L.I. Amphitheater
Not this year,but I have to mention a Few of My Many Amazing Concert Experiences:
1)London, England, May 11, 1991: Lenny Kravitz.
I was on a book tour with Bob Marley’s mother. While at a Sushi Restaurant, a good looking guy with a knit tam stopped at our table . He introduced himself as “Lenny Kravitz”. He invited us to his concert in memory of the 10th anniversary of Bob Marley’s passing. He not only gave us back stage passes but had us sitting on stage- off to the side but still on stage. It was amazing.
2)Rome, Italy, June of 1991. Ziggy Marley.
A month later, in memory of the 10th Anniversary of Bob Marley’s passing, I was in Rome for this concert. Italians are crazy about Bob Marley and they went all out. They transformed the Villa Borghese -Rome’s version of Central Park-into a Jamaican beach with sand and palm trees. It was a glorious night with a long list of talented artists from all over Europe and South America.
3)Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia , February 6th, 2005. Africa Unite Concert. I was invited to attend Bob Marley’s 60th Birthday Celebration in Addis Ababa. Concert was filmed live and made into a documentary. Amazing artists such as Lauryn Hill and Angelique Kidjo performed.
4) Midnight Rambles: Levon Helm, Woodstock, N.Y.
Before he died in 2012, I was fortunate enough to attend many Rambles at Levon Helm’s barn & studio at his home compound in Woodstock. A very intimate setting with a fireplace, never more than 150-175 people. Always a pot luck supper before the concert began. So many fabulous musicians, including keyboard player Brian Mitchell and guitarist Larry Campbell. Still gives me chills thinking of those nights. Spent several New Year’s Eve celebrations there.
Not this year. But memory lane.
In no particular order....may be off by a year or two in my recollection.
Barenaked Ladies at Churchill's 1991
Bonnie Raitt at a No Nukes concert in Colorado Springs 1983
George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers with a special appearance by Johnny Winter at the University of Rhode Island @ 1986
J. Geils band New Haven 1981
Eagles/Heart/Little River Band Yale Bowl 1980
The Who in Shea Stadium - Farewell tour - 1982
Gloria Estefan at Joe Robbie Stadium after Andrew
Grateful Dead x 12, in lots of places 1979-1986
U2 Providence Civic Center 1984?
DJ Le Spam and the Spam All Stars, every night possible, at Hoy Como Ayer on Calle Ocho
Tedeschi Trucks, at Steve Chaykin's celebration
B.B. King - late in the day, at the Arsht Center
The Three Tenors - Vienna December 23, 1999 (Ok this is number 1. For a lot of reasons.)
If I didn't say it already, thank you for the great post Scott!
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