A Dilettante’s Rock-n-Roll Concert Journal
For fun, I went back and researched the concerts of my youth... these were the great artists and entertainers I saw during a golden age of music.
Woodstock, Friday, August 15, 1969
Richie Havens, Sweetwater, Bert Sommer, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie Safka, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez. I was almost seven years old and we had to sleep in our car because of the rain and mud.
Richie Havens, Sweetwater, Bert Sommer, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie Safka, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez. I was almost seven years old and we had to sleep in our car because of the rain and mud.
Max’s Kansas City, New York City.
Parents brought me here often to eat throughout 1960s, but I can’t remember anyone we saw perform. I think we were there primarily for the food, though we did end up getting our beloved dog, Pushkin, there.
Parents brought me here often to eat throughout 1960s, but I can’t remember anyone we saw perform. I think we were there primarily for the food, though we did end up getting our beloved dog, Pushkin, there.
The Jackson 5 (their second concert ever), June 19, 1970; The Cow Palace (Daly City, CA)
In an interview, Michael Jackson told Soul Magazine about the tour: “In San Francisco and Los Angeles, it looked like the walls were falling, the way hundreds of them, the girls, came at the stage all together.” According to my father, we sat near Rev. Cecil Williams. I must have listened to the album ABC about a hundred times when I was eight.
Song list
In an interview, Michael Jackson told Soul Magazine about the tour: “In San Francisco and Los Angeles, it looked like the walls were falling, the way hundreds of them, the girls, came at the stage all together.” According to my father, we sat near Rev. Cecil Williams. I must have listened to the album ABC about a hundred times when I was eight.
Song list
- "Stand!"
- "I Want You Back"
- "ABC"
- "Feelin' Alright" (cover of the Three Dog Night version)
- "Who's Lovin' You"
- "I'll Be There"
- "Mama's Pearl"
- "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"
- "Yesterday"
- "Can You Remember?"
- "There Was a Time"
- "It's Your Thing"
- "I Found That Girl"
- "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"
- "Walk On"
- "The Love You Save"
The Beach Boys, America, Elvin Bishop, John Sebastian, Day On The Green: July 2, 1976); Oakland Coliseum, CA.
This tour marked Brian Wilson’s first public performances with The Beach Boys in several years. I remember he came out in a bathrobe or something and started singing a different song from what the band was playing. He was having a hard time.
The Beach Boys, December 15, 1976; Oakland Stadium, CA.
Not 100% sure where/when, but pretty sure, cos it was indoors. Set List from around that time:
This tour marked Brian Wilson’s first public performances with The Beach Boys in several years. I remember he came out in a bathrobe or something and started singing a different song from what the band was playing. He was having a hard time.
The Beach Boys, December 15, 1976; Oakland Stadium, CA.
Not 100% sure where/when, but pretty sure, cos it was indoors. Set List from around that time:
- California Girls
- Susie Cincinnati
- Darlin'
- Little Deuce Coupe
- Catch a Wave
- I Get Around
- Palisades Park
- It's OK
- God Only Knows
- A Casual Look
- Surfer Girl
- Heroes and Villains
- Sail On, Sailor
- California Saga: California
- Be True to Your School
- Surfin' U.S.A.
- In My Room
- Back Home
- Sloop John B
- Help Me, Rhonda
- Wouldn't It Be Nice
- Good Vibrations
The Dead Kennedys & Penelope and the Avengers; early/mid 1977; somewhere in San Francisco.
I believe it was a benefit for the punk fanzine Search and Destroy. Later the name of the first band was shortened to The Avengers, but pretty sure they were introduced as “Penelope and the Avengers” at the time, cos that’s the way I remember it. Jello Biafra, lead singer for the Dead Kennedys, was mesmerizing… I became a huge fan on the spot.
Steve Martin, December 3, 1977. Berkeley Community Theater, CA.
Okay, not exactly a concert, but he did play the banjo, if I remember correctly.
The Go-Go’s: February 16 or 17, 1979; Mabuhay Gardens, SF, CA.
According to Wikipedia, they made history as the first, and to date only, all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts.
The Dead Kennedys, throughout 1978, 1979, most of 1980
Lots of shows at the Fab Mab, the Mabuhay Gardens, SF, CA. This is where I spent most time going to concerts during high school. There were always other bands playing before and after them, but I can’t remember them. According to the Internet: The Mabuhay Gardens was a San Francisco nightclub located on the street best known for its strip clubs. Many early punk and new wave bands performed there, like Angry Samoans, Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Black Flag, The Dictators, The Offs, The Mutants, The Avengers, Anti-Matter, Butthole Surfers, Patti Smith, The Damned, Devo, Iggy Pop, Samhain, The Ramones, Hüsker Dü, D.O.A., The Cramps, The Mau Mau’s, Repeat Offenders, The Screamers, Minutemen, DRI, Redd Kross, JFA, Chrome, SVT, and Metallica made early appearances at the venue. Standard DK Set List, from spring 1980:
I believe it was a benefit for the punk fanzine Search and Destroy. Later the name of the first band was shortened to The Avengers, but pretty sure they were introduced as “Penelope and the Avengers” at the time, cos that’s the way I remember it. Jello Biafra, lead singer for the Dead Kennedys, was mesmerizing… I became a huge fan on the spot.
Steve Martin, December 3, 1977. Berkeley Community Theater, CA.
Okay, not exactly a concert, but he did play the banjo, if I remember correctly.
The Go-Go’s: February 16 or 17, 1979; Mabuhay Gardens, SF, CA.
According to Wikipedia, they made history as the first, and to date only, all-female band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts.
The Dead Kennedys, throughout 1978, 1979, most of 1980
Lots of shows at the Fab Mab, the Mabuhay Gardens, SF, CA. This is where I spent most time going to concerts during high school. There were always other bands playing before and after them, but I can’t remember them. According to the Internet: The Mabuhay Gardens was a San Francisco nightclub located on the street best known for its strip clubs. Many early punk and new wave bands performed there, like Angry Samoans, Dead Kennedys, Flipper, Black Flag, The Dictators, The Offs, The Mutants, The Avengers, Anti-Matter, Butthole Surfers, Patti Smith, The Damned, Devo, Iggy Pop, Samhain, The Ramones, Hüsker Dü, D.O.A., The Cramps, The Mau Mau’s, Repeat Offenders, The Screamers, Minutemen, DRI, Redd Kross, JFA, Chrome, SVT, and Metallica made early appearances at the venue. Standard DK Set List, from spring 1980:
Gang of Four at Irving Plaza.
At the Keystone Club in Berkeley, where I lived, I saw various acts in late 1970s: Psychotic Pineapples, The Plasmatics, et al. The Plasmatics were famous for chain-sawing guitars in half.
The Knack, July 14, 1979. Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA.
They were not so good.
Blondie & Nick Lowe, August 12, 1979, Oakland Auditorium, CA.
Very excited to see Blondie, great show.
Gang of Four, September 11, 1979, People’s Temple (on Geary), San Francisco.
Pretty sure, but I believe Busta Cherry Jones was playing bass… but memory plays tricks on us all. At any rate, it was a fantastic concert. I was always telling people how great these guys were. Typical set list:
The Knack, July 14, 1979. Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley, CA.
They were not so good.
Blondie & Nick Lowe, August 12, 1979, Oakland Auditorium, CA.
Very excited to see Blondie, great show.
Gang of Four, September 11, 1979, People’s Temple (on Geary), San Francisco.
Pretty sure, but I believe Busta Cherry Jones was playing bass… but memory plays tricks on us all. At any rate, it was a fantastic concert. I was always telling people how great these guys were. Typical set list:
The B-52’s, September 22, 1979, Pauley Ballroom, Berkeley.
There were only about 50 people inside the Student Union Bldg.; I had to talk a friend into going because no one had heard of them. One of the greatest concerts ever—everyone was dancing. The stage was only about 10 inches off the ground. Only set list I could find:
Manic performance.
Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, December 1, 1979; Fab Mab, SF.
More great punk rock.
There were only about 50 people inside the Student Union Bldg.; I had to talk a friend into going because no one had heard of them. One of the greatest concerts ever—everyone was dancing. The stage was only about 10 inches off the ground. Only set list I could find:
- 52 Girls
- 6060-842
- Lava
- Private Idaho
- Devil in My Car
- Dance This Mess Around
- Runnin' Around
- Rock Lobster
- Strobe Light
Manic performance.
Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, December 1, 1979; Fab Mab, SF.
More great punk rock.
The Clash, March 1, 1980; Warfield Theater, San Francisco.
My brother and I had cheap seats in the balcony, but then we snuck down and were able to stand right by the stage in front of a huge wall of amplifiers—incredible. "You don't understand, mate. You just can't leave those chairs there." Joe Strummer, the Clash's lead singer and rhythm guitarist, is really wound up. He takes another puff off his cigarette and moves closer to the manager of San Francisco's Warfield Theater. "Don't you see," Strummer continues in an urgent, guttural whisper, "people will fuckin' destroy those chairs, rip 'em right out. They come here to dance, and that's what they're gonna do. I don't wanna see kids smashed up against the stage in front of me just because there's not enough room to dance." In a few hours, the Clash are supposed to be onstage at this 2,200-seat Art-Deco palace in the first date of a nine-shows-in-ten-days blitz of the U.S. www.rollingstone.com. Set list:
My brother and I had cheap seats in the balcony, but then we snuck down and were able to stand right by the stage in front of a huge wall of amplifiers—incredible. "You don't understand, mate. You just can't leave those chairs there." Joe Strummer, the Clash's lead singer and rhythm guitarist, is really wound up. He takes another puff off his cigarette and moves closer to the manager of San Francisco's Warfield Theater. "Don't you see," Strummer continues in an urgent, guttural whisper, "people will fuckin' destroy those chairs, rip 'em right out. They come here to dance, and that's what they're gonna do. I don't wanna see kids smashed up against the stage in front of me just because there's not enough room to dance." In a few hours, the Clash are supposed to be onstage at this 2,200-seat Art-Deco palace in the first date of a nine-shows-in-ten-days blitz of the U.S. www.rollingstone.com. Set list:
Queen, July 13 or 14, 1980, Oakland Coliseum.
I was lucky; a friend had free tickets and we were in something like the third row. I wasn’t a Queen fan, but went anyway and was very, very impressed.
I was lucky; a friend had free tickets and we were in something like the third row. I wasn’t a Queen fan, but went anyway and was very, very impressed.
- Jailhouse Rock
- We Will Rock You (fast)
- Let Me Entertain You
- Play The Game
- Mustapha
- Death On Two Legs
- Killer Queen
- I'm In Love With My Car
- Get Down Make Love
- You're My Best Friend
- Save Me
- Now I'm Here
- Dragon Attack
- Now I'm Here (reprise)
- Love Of My Life
- Keep Yourself Alive
- Drum/Guitar Solo
- Brighton Rock (finale)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love
- Bohemian Rhapsody
- Tie Your Mother Down
- Encore
- Another One Bites The Dust
- Sheer Heart Attack
- Encore
- We Will Rock You
- We Are the Champions
- God Save the Queen
The Blues Brothers (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd); July 17, 1980; The Concord Pavillion, CA.
Talked my way into this one. It was sold out, but my brother and I went anyway and posed as guests of well-known radio DJ who had comped us tickets. Tickets weren’t there of course, but they let us sit on the grass/good seats!
The B-52’s, November 8 or 9, 1980, Beacon Theater, NYC.
I started living in NYC in 1980, going to college, so saw concerts there throughout early 1980s.
The Pretenders, circa 1980-81, NYC
Can’t pinpoint details but Chrissie Hynde was observed that people weren’t allowed to dance cos of stadium seating and security--and was justly irritated by policy.
CBGBs; I went there once or twice, but can’t remember bands.
U2, December 6, 1980; The Ritz, NY.
First United States appearance of U2. Internet says: The Ritz was founded in 1980 in the historic Webster Hall ballroom and concert space on 11th Street between Third and Park Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. The address was 119 East 11th Street. The Ritz focused primarily on live performances, often of newer acts, but also featured dancing. The Ritz was one of the first clubs to incorporate video screens into the club experience with a 30' screen and a projector which cost $120,000. MTV made its debut at The Ritz. Note: I got my middle finger crushed by the U2 bassist or guitarist; not sure. But I provoked him.
Adam and the Ants, April 8, 1981, The Ritz, NYC.
Yikes. Concert not good.
The Dead Kennedys, April 24, 1981, Irving Plaza, New York, NY.
Seeing punk rock in NYC more dangerous than in SF.
Cab Calloway, sometime in 1981, at The Blue Note, Greenwich Village, NY.
I couldn’t believe Cab was there; it was a small audience, maybe 35 people, tops. Great show.
Joe Jackson, July 27 or 28, 1981, Jumpin’ Jive Tour, SF, CA.
Ok.
The Psychedelic Furs, September 6, 1981; Warfield, SF.
Blah.
Bow Wow Wow, Fall 1981, SF, CA
Their first tour. It was some small club on Market Street or thereabouts. Two giant drum kits. A good show.
Siouxsie and the Banshees, October 13, 1981; The I-Beam, SF, CA
Juju Tour, so-so.
Talked my way into this one. It was sold out, but my brother and I went anyway and posed as guests of well-known radio DJ who had comped us tickets. Tickets weren’t there of course, but they let us sit on the grass/good seats!
The B-52’s, November 8 or 9, 1980, Beacon Theater, NYC.
I started living in NYC in 1980, going to college, so saw concerts there throughout early 1980s.
The Pretenders, circa 1980-81, NYC
Can’t pinpoint details but Chrissie Hynde was observed that people weren’t allowed to dance cos of stadium seating and security--and was justly irritated by policy.
CBGBs; I went there once or twice, but can’t remember bands.
U2, December 6, 1980; The Ritz, NY.
First United States appearance of U2. Internet says: The Ritz was founded in 1980 in the historic Webster Hall ballroom and concert space on 11th Street between Third and Park Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. The address was 119 East 11th Street. The Ritz focused primarily on live performances, often of newer acts, but also featured dancing. The Ritz was one of the first clubs to incorporate video screens into the club experience with a 30' screen and a projector which cost $120,000. MTV made its debut at The Ritz. Note: I got my middle finger crushed by the U2 bassist or guitarist; not sure. But I provoked him.
Adam and the Ants, April 8, 1981, The Ritz, NYC.
Yikes. Concert not good.
The Dead Kennedys, April 24, 1981, Irving Plaza, New York, NY.
Seeing punk rock in NYC more dangerous than in SF.
Cab Calloway, sometime in 1981, at The Blue Note, Greenwich Village, NY.
I couldn’t believe Cab was there; it was a small audience, maybe 35 people, tops. Great show.
Joe Jackson, July 27 or 28, 1981, Jumpin’ Jive Tour, SF, CA.
Ok.
The Psychedelic Furs, September 6, 1981; Warfield, SF.
Blah.
Bow Wow Wow, Fall 1981, SF, CA
Their first tour. It was some small club on Market Street or thereabouts. Two giant drum kits. A good show.
Siouxsie and the Banshees, October 13, 1981; The I-Beam, SF, CA
Juju Tour, so-so.
The Rolling Stones, Oct 17 or 18, 1981; Candlestick Park, CA
Bill Graham, friend of the family, promoted the show. The New York Times wrote of Keith Richards that, "He looks healthy, he is playing brilliantly and his backup vocals are often so lusty that they drown out Mr. Jagger, who is working harder to hold up his end of things as result." This was the last tour to feature Ian Steward on piano and the last tour that did not feature extensive backup musicians and singers onstage. The tour's elaborate and colorful stage was the work of Japanese designer Kazuhide Yamazaki. Most shows later in the tour featured a cherry picker (in SF, yes) and the release of hundreds of balloons at the show's end. Opening band for our show was The J Geils Band. We were standing/sitting on the grass for hours before they played. It was kind of an ordeal. The usual set list was:
Can’t find exact location or date; maybe around Nov. 14, 1980, as they played Club 57 then; but could have been July 1982, as I believe it was warm and July would make more sense. Pretty sure Sara Lee was playing bass.
Bill Graham, friend of the family, promoted the show. The New York Times wrote of Keith Richards that, "He looks healthy, he is playing brilliantly and his backup vocals are often so lusty that they drown out Mr. Jagger, who is working harder to hold up his end of things as result." This was the last tour to feature Ian Steward on piano and the last tour that did not feature extensive backup musicians and singers onstage. The tour's elaborate and colorful stage was the work of Japanese designer Kazuhide Yamazaki. Most shows later in the tour featured a cherry picker (in SF, yes) and the release of hundreds of balloons at the show's end. Opening band for our show was The J Geils Band. We were standing/sitting on the grass for hours before they played. It was kind of an ordeal. The usual set list was:
- "Under My Thumb"
- "When the Whip Comes Down"
- "Let's Spend the Night Together"
- "Shattered"
- "Neighbours"
- "Black Limousine"
- "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"
- "Twenty-Flight Rock"
- "Let Me Go"
- "Time Is on My Side"
- "Beast of Burden"
- "Waiting on a Friend"
- "Let It Bleed"
- "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
- "Little T&A"
- "Tumbling Dice"
- "She's So Cold"
- "Hang Fire"
- "Miss You"
- "Honky Tonk Women"
- "Brown Sugar"
- "Start Me Up"
- "Jumpin' Jack Flash"
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Can’t find exact location or date; maybe around Nov. 14, 1980, as they played Club 57 then; but could have been July 1982, as I believe it was warm and July would make more sense. Pretty sure Sara Lee was playing bass.
Stray Cats, August 17, 1982; Old Waldorf, San Francisco (on Battery St.)
Small club, great show! No stage, intimate, and they went wild, all out. Very charismatic.
Small club, great show! No stage, intimate, and they went wild, all out. Very charismatic.
The Ramones, March 18 or 19, 1983, The Brooklyn Zoo, NYC.
Got to meet Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Richie back stage, introduced by my roommate Johnny Angel. This was an incredible show; everyone was dancing. I hadn’t been too aware of them until then, but was a fan forever more.
B. B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn, June 12, 1983; the Concord Pavilion, CA
Glad I got to see the King once.
Got to meet Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Richie back stage, introduced by my roommate Johnny Angel. This was an incredible show; everyone was dancing. I hadn’t been too aware of them until then, but was a fan forever more.
- Durango 95
- Teenage Lobotomy
- Psycho Therapy
- Blitzkrieg Bop
- Do You Remember Rock 'N' Roll Radio?
- All's Quiet on the Eastern Front
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment - Rock 'N' Roll High School
- I Wanna Be Sedated
- Beat on the Brat
- The KKK Took My Baby Away
- Go Mental
- Outsider
Suzy Is a Headbanger - Let's Dance
- I'm Affected
- Little Bit O' Soul
- Chinese Rocks
- In the Park
- Rockaway Beach
- Surfin' Bird
- Cretin Hop
- California Sun
- Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World
- Pinhead
- 53rd & 3rd
- Highest Trails Above
- Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
- Time Has Come Today
- I Just Want to Have Something to Do
- We're a Happy Family
B. B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn, June 12, 1983; the Concord Pavilion, CA
Glad I got to see the King once.
The Talking Heads; September 2, 1983, Stop Making Sense Tour; the Greek Theater, Berkeley
This was another incredible show. 1983 was the year of the big suit, they say. At the time, no one thought it would be their final big tour... They made a concert doc based on this tour directed by Jonathan Demme.
The Police, The Fixx, Madness, Oingo Boingo, and The Thompson Twins, Day on the Green, September 10, 1983; Oakland Coliseum, CA.
I had back stage pass and sat around not saying anything with Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane and Sting.
This was another incredible show. 1983 was the year of the big suit, they say. At the time, no one thought it would be their final big tour... They made a concert doc based on this tour directed by Jonathan Demme.
- Psycho Killer
- Heaven
- Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
- Love-> Building on Fire
- The Book I Read
- Slippery People
- Cities
- Big Blue Plymouth (Eyes Wide Open)
- Burning Down the House
- Life During Wartime
- Making Flippy Floppy
- Swamp
- What a Day That Was
- This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
- Once in a Lifetime
- Big Business
- I Zimbra
- Houses in Motion
- Genius of Love
- Girlfriend Is Better
- Take Me to the River
- Crosseyed and Painless
- Burning Down the House
The Police, The Fixx, Madness, Oingo Boingo, and The Thompson Twins, Day on the Green, September 10, 1983; Oakland Coliseum, CA.
I had back stage pass and sat around not saying anything with Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane and Sting.
James Brown, circa 1983/1984
Not sure exactly when, but sure it was at the Fairmont Hotel, SF, CA. My brother and I went and everyone sat at tables with a two-drink minimum—and James Brown didn’t have a stage if I remember correctly. It was during a lull in his career, but he went all-out and was incredible and sweat like mad. Our table was only about 10 feet from him and the band. He did his thing with the cape. I was ignorant and was blown away. Approx. set list:
Stevie Wonder, June 21, 1986. Oakland Coliseum; In Square Circle Tour.
Another great show.
Note: From 1987 onward I didn’t go see many more acts, because my first daughter was born that year, and… I was growing up, too, went to work, etc.
Not sure exactly when, but sure it was at the Fairmont Hotel, SF, CA. My brother and I went and everyone sat at tables with a two-drink minimum—and James Brown didn’t have a stage if I remember correctly. It was during a lull in his career, but he went all-out and was incredible and sweat like mad. Our table was only about 10 feet from him and the band. He did his thing with the cape. I was ignorant and was blown away. Approx. set list:
- We Came to Play
- Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses?)
- It's Too Funky In Here
- Doing It to Death
- Try Me
- Get on the Good Foot
- Prisoner of Love
- I'll Go Crazy
- Bring It on... Bring It On
- I Got the Feelin'
- There Was a Time
- Hot Pants
- Cold Sweat
- Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
- I Got You (I Feel Good)
- Please, Please, Please
- Jam
- Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
Stevie Wonder, June 21, 1986. Oakland Coliseum; In Square Circle Tour.
Another great show.
Note: From 1987 onward I didn’t go see many more acts, because my first daughter was born that year, and… I was growing up, too, went to work, etc.
We were way back with binoculars--he looked more like a large ant to us.
Paul McCartney, March 31 or April 1, 1990; Memorial Stadium (Cal football stadium), Berkeley, California
The Paul McCartney World Tour. It was McCartney's first major tour outing in ten years, since Wings UK Tour 1979, and his first appearances in North America in thirteen years, since the 1976 Wings Over America Tour. It was also his first tour under his name. We had seats a long ways away, but it was a great concert with everyone singing.
The Ramones, The Tom Tom Club, Debbie Harry & Jerry Harrison; August 11, 1990; The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
The Escape From New York Tour--another great show.
Gipsy Kings, 1990, Greek Theater
Ok.
The Ramones, May 5 or 6, 1992; Élysée Montmartre, Paris, France.
Got kicked in the head here; Europeans were actually much more violent than USA crowds.
Foo Fighters, May 1999; Whiskey A Go Go, Los Angeles, CA
This was a private concert for big video game party, E3 that year.
Blink-182, May 12, 2000. Great Western Forum, Inglewood, CA
Went because of free tickets, honestly; I had no idea who they were and had backstage pass for daughter and self, so she got their autographs.
The Paul McCartney World Tour. It was McCartney's first major tour outing in ten years, since Wings UK Tour 1979, and his first appearances in North America in thirteen years, since the 1976 Wings Over America Tour. It was also his first tour under his name. We had seats a long ways away, but it was a great concert with everyone singing.
- Figure of Eight
- Jet
- Rough Ride
- Got to getinto you my life
- Band on the Run
- Ebony and Ivory
- We Got Married
- Maybe I’m Amazed
- The Long and Winding Road
- Fool on the Hill
- Sgt Pepper and reprise
- Good Day Sunshine
- Can’t buy me love
- Put it there/hello goddbye
- Things we sai today
- Eleanor Rigby
- This one
- My Brave Face
- Back in the USSR
- I saw Her Standing There
- Coming up
- Let It Be
- Aint That a Shame
- Live and Let Die
- Hey Jude
- Yesterday
- Get Back
- Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
The Ramones, The Tom Tom Club, Debbie Harry & Jerry Harrison; August 11, 1990; The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA
The Escape From New York Tour--another great show.
Gipsy Kings, 1990, Greek Theater
Ok.
The Ramones, May 5 or 6, 1992; Élysée Montmartre, Paris, France.
Got kicked in the head here; Europeans were actually much more violent than USA crowds.
Foo Fighters, May 1999; Whiskey A Go Go, Los Angeles, CA
This was a private concert for big video game party, E3 that year.
Blink-182, May 12, 2000. Great Western Forum, Inglewood, CA
Went because of free tickets, honestly; I had no idea who they were and had backstage pass for daughter and self, so she got their autographs.
Bob Dylan, Oct. 12, 2002; Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA
Never Ending Tour, The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988. Note: When Dylan was starting out in NYC in the early 1960s, he’d come over to our apartment (I was a baby) and my mother would make him fried chicken, cos he was hungry all the time. My father, Alan, was the first to publish the words to his songs in the Young Folk Song Book, I believe (click on book cover to read his recollections; cousin Ralph Rinzler was in The Greenbriar Boys). So I'm pretty sure I saw him in the 1970s at some point, can't remember when. Went in 2002 so my older daughter could see him.
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, August 3, 2010, Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA
Great show. From here on, I was trying to take my younger daughter to see as many as the great artists of the previous generations—before the whole generation disappears. At one point people took it for granted that fabulous songs would come out every month. Now it’s a vanishing movement.
Brian Wilson, August 24, 2011; Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA.
Another great show from one of the era’s giants. Inspiring!
Bruce Springsteen, Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA. November 30, 2012. Wrecking Ball Tour.
Had terrible seats but it was a good show.
Never Ending Tour, The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan's endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988. Note: When Dylan was starting out in NYC in the early 1960s, he’d come over to our apartment (I was a baby) and my mother would make him fried chicken, cos he was hungry all the time. My father, Alan, was the first to publish the words to his songs in the Young Folk Song Book, I believe (click on book cover to read his recollections; cousin Ralph Rinzler was in The Greenbriar Boys). So I'm pretty sure I saw him in the 1970s at some point, can't remember when. Went in 2002 so my older daughter could see him.
- Maggie's Farm
- Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You
- Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again
- Accidentally Like a Martyr
- Tangled Up in Blue
- Brown Sugar
- Every Grain of Sand
- It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)
- Forever Young
- Drifter's Escape
- Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
- Old Man
- Lonesome Day Blues
- Blowin' in the Wind
- High Water (For Charley Patton)
- Mutineer
- Moonlight
- Summer Days
- Encore:
- Like a Rolling Stone
- Knockin' on Heaven's Door
- All Along the Watchtower
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, August 3, 2010, Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA
Great show. From here on, I was trying to take my younger daughter to see as many as the great artists of the previous generations—before the whole generation disappears. At one point people took it for granted that fabulous songs would come out every month. Now it’s a vanishing movement.
Brian Wilson, August 24, 2011; Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA.
Another great show from one of the era’s giants. Inspiring!
Bruce Springsteen, Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA. November 30, 2012. Wrecking Ball Tour.
Had terrible seats but it was a good show.
The Who, February 1, 2013, Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA. Quadrophenia and More Tour.
Transormative show. 7th row; will never forget. I “discovered” The Who late, but now believe that Tommy is one of the great works of art of 20th Century. For the entire album of Quardrophenia they didn't address the crowd; but then they played their great standards, a few of them. I've never seen anyone play like Pete Townshend. Incredible.
Transormative show. 7th row; will never forget. I “discovered” The Who late, but now believe that Tommy is one of the great works of art of 20th Century. For the entire album of Quardrophenia they didn't address the crowd; but then they played their great standards, a few of them. I've never seen anyone play like Pete Townshend. Incredible.
- I Am the Sea
- The Real Me
- Quadrophenia
- Cut My Hair
- The Punk and the Godfather
- I'm One
- The Dirty Jobs
- Helpless Dancer
- Is It in My Head?
- I've Had Enough
- 5:15
- Sea and Sand
- Drowned
- Bell Boy
- Doctor Jimmy
- The Rock
- Love, Reign O'er Me
- Encore:
- Who Are You
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Pinball Wizard
- Baba O'Riley
- Won't Get Fooled Again
- Tea & Theatre
Aretha Franklin, August 10, 2015, Oakland Coliseum, CA
This was an amazing concert. As one journalist wrote, “So many things fall short of expectations. Finally seeing Aretha Franklin in concert was definitely not one of them. The legendary Queen of Soul was even better than expected during her first concert in the Bay Area in nearly 40 years. She sounded dynamite as she charmed 8,000-plus fans -- many of whom were surely seeing Franklin for the first time -- at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Monday. Franklin's previous Bay Area outing was in 1976 at the old Circle Star Theater in San Carlos. And she hadn't performed in Oakland since the late '50s.
Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group: Yet, Franklin certainly made up for lost time, delivering a sharp 100-minute set of classic cuts and other material that brightly underscored why so many consider her to be one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Following an opening set by Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, the Queen of Soul took the stage to an avalanche of applause. "Hello, Oakland," the 73-year-old Memphis native said. "We are going to have a good time tonight." She had no problem carrying through on that promise, opening the show with her terrific cover of the Jackie Wilson staple "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" and jumping to the chart-topping R&B hit "Jump to It." She followed with an escalating take on "Ain't No Way," from 1968's epic "Lady Soul," then hit the accelerator for "Think," which many remember from Franklin's performance in the 1980 film "The Blues Brothers."The singer looked terrific, shinning bright under the stage lights in her dramatic, sparkling long formal gown. She was accompanied by a sturdy, full orchestra, which was propelled by a 10-piece horn section and some sensational backup vocalists. It was a classy setting befitting a Queen.
Following a groovy version of "Chain of Fools," Franklin left the stage for roughly a dozen minutes, catching her breathe while the musicians noodled around.
Fans seemed amazed by Franklin's vocals, which have lost very little power or range over the decades. The Queen wowed her loyal subjects in many ways, scatting through jazzy passages, delivering some powerful gospel and sounding in other moments as soulful as ever.
She also played a bit of piano, during an uplifting run through the beloved Simon & Garfunkel treat "Bridge Over Troubled Water." She finished that number in memorable fashion, moving from the lyrics to her own experience and crooning about how her faith helped get her through a tough time.
She closed the main set with her 1985 smash single, "Freeway of Love," before returning for her encores -- where she would sock it to us, sock it to us, sock it to us with a little "Respect."
"I just want to say what a treat it's been for me to come back to Oakland after all these years," Franklin told the crowd. "What a wonderful time we had tonight."
Setlist
This was an amazing concert. As one journalist wrote, “So many things fall short of expectations. Finally seeing Aretha Franklin in concert was definitely not one of them. The legendary Queen of Soul was even better than expected during her first concert in the Bay Area in nearly 40 years. She sounded dynamite as she charmed 8,000-plus fans -- many of whom were surely seeing Franklin for the first time -- at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Monday. Franklin's previous Bay Area outing was in 1976 at the old Circle Star Theater in San Carlos. And she hadn't performed in Oakland since the late '50s.
Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group: Yet, Franklin certainly made up for lost time, delivering a sharp 100-minute set of classic cuts and other material that brightly underscored why so many consider her to be one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Following an opening set by Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, the Queen of Soul took the stage to an avalanche of applause. "Hello, Oakland," the 73-year-old Memphis native said. "We are going to have a good time tonight." She had no problem carrying through on that promise, opening the show with her terrific cover of the Jackie Wilson staple "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" and jumping to the chart-topping R&B hit "Jump to It." She followed with an escalating take on "Ain't No Way," from 1968's epic "Lady Soul," then hit the accelerator for "Think," which many remember from Franklin's performance in the 1980 film "The Blues Brothers."The singer looked terrific, shinning bright under the stage lights in her dramatic, sparkling long formal gown. She was accompanied by a sturdy, full orchestra, which was propelled by a 10-piece horn section and some sensational backup vocalists. It was a classy setting befitting a Queen.
Following a groovy version of "Chain of Fools," Franklin left the stage for roughly a dozen minutes, catching her breathe while the musicians noodled around.
Fans seemed amazed by Franklin's vocals, which have lost very little power or range over the decades. The Queen wowed her loyal subjects in many ways, scatting through jazzy passages, delivering some powerful gospel and sounding in other moments as soulful as ever.
She also played a bit of piano, during an uplifting run through the beloved Simon & Garfunkel treat "Bridge Over Troubled Water." She finished that number in memorable fashion, moving from the lyrics to her own experience and crooning about how her faith helped get her through a tough time.
She closed the main set with her 1985 smash single, "Freeway of Love," before returning for her encores -- where she would sock it to us, sock it to us, sock it to us with a little "Respect."
"I just want to say what a treat it's been for me to come back to Oakland after all these years," Franklin told the crowd. "What a wonderful time we had tonight."
Setlist
- Your Love Keeps Lifting Me higher and higher
- Jump to It
- Ain’t No Way
- Think
- Angel
- Chain of Fools
- Band instrumental
- Old Landmark
- I Will Survive
- Bridge Over Troubled Water
- Freeway of Love
- Encore: Believe in Yourself
- Respect
Bruce Springsteen, Oakland Coliseum, March 13, 2016; The River tour, CA
Was able to be in the section where you stand all the way through—that’s the place to be. He was very, very good. Possessed, is the easy way to describe it. Was like two complete shows: The River and then his greatest hits. Took days to recover. So glad my daughter got to see one of the all-time greats. And a poet.
Was able to be in the section where you stand all the way through—that’s the place to be. He was very, very good. Possessed, is the easy way to describe it. Was like two complete shows: The River and then his greatest hits. Took days to recover. So glad my daughter got to see one of the all-time greats. And a poet.
- Meet Me In The City
- The Ties That Bind
- Sherry Darling
- Jackson Cage
- Two Hearts ( It Takes Two ending )
- Independence Day
- Hungry Heart
- Out In The Street
- Crush On You
- You Can Look ( But You Better Not Touch )
- I Wanna Marry You ( Here She Comes intro )
- The River
- Point Blank
- Cadillac Ranch
- I’m A Rocker
- Fade Away
- Stolen Car
- Ramrod
- The Price You Pay
- Drive All Night ( with Dream Baby Dream )
- Wreck On The Highway
- Badlands
- Prove It All Night
- Lonesome Day
- Candy’s Room
- Because The Night
- She’s The One
- The Rising
- Thunder Road
- Growin’ Up
- Born To Run
- Dancing In The Dark
- Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
- Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
- Shout
The Who, Oracle Arena, May 19, 2016, Oakland, CA
The Who Turn 50 Tour.
his was another great show! In terms of rock-and-roll, there is no one like Pete Townshend. I was mesmerized again by two old men. Brought my younger daughter again and we had great seats again. So much better if you can get close. Ears still ringing...
The Who Turn 50 Tour.
his was another great show! In terms of rock-and-roll, there is no one like Pete Townshend. I was mesmerized again by two old men. Brought my younger daughter again and we had great seats again. So much better if you can get close. Ears still ringing...
- Who Are You
- The Seeker
- The Kids Are Alright
- I Can See for Miles
- My Generation
- Squeeze Box
- Behind Blue Eyes
- Bargain
- Join Together
- You Better You Bet
- I’m One
- The Rock
- Love, Reign O’er Me
- Eminence Front
- Amazing Journey
- Sparks
- The Acid Queen
- Pinpall Wizard
- See Me, Feel Me
- Baba O’Riley
- Won’t Get Fooled Again
Of course I've been to many classical concerts and operas, but unique to our era will be these live performances of the great, great blues, R&B, swing, Big Band, rock-and-roll, and jazz artists. I wish I could've seen many more. May they be remembered and celebrated--always.
