My favorite concerts…
Dr. Gene Edward Veith, at his Cranach blog, asks, “Do you have any notable concerts as milestones in your life?”
- 1970’s
- Todd Rundgren’s Utopia tour
- Peter Frampton
- Bruce Springsteen
- Pablo Cruise/Eagles/Boz Scaggs
- Dan Fogelberg
- Hall and Oates
- Electric Light Orchestra
- Cheap Trick
- Poco
My “I’m a born-again Christian” years:
- Amy Grant
- Scott Wesley Brown
- Second Chapter of Acts
- River
In past ten years:
- James Taylor - what a legendary talent!
- Styx - amazing, Tommy Shaw is also a legend. Years of clean living shows on his face.
- REO Speedwagon - good, but scary to see what years of partying truly makes you look like.
- Little Memphis Blues Orchestra with Taylor Hicks, Elliot Yamin, Ace Young and Bucky Covington - this concert started at midnight and went to 2am, good loud music in a small bar. It remains one of my favorites.
Concerts I took my kids to:
- N’Sync - took my 10 year old. Actually a very good show!
- Christina Aguillera - when she was still a sweet teen pop star
- Aaron Carter - not too good, lots of screaming tweeners though
Upcoming concert memory:
40th anniversary tribute concert for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album in its entirety. Big names singing their own hits and the album:* Todd Rundgren
* Lou Gramm of Foreigner
* Bo Bice
* Christopher Cross
* Denny Laine of The Moody Blues/WingsTaylor Hicks was supposed to perform, but has bowed out for his Broadway commitment as Teen Angel in Grease. I most likely will not be going because my daughter’s opening worship service for college is that same weekend. I just stare at the tickets and imagine being there. Actually, I’ve misplaced the tickets and hope to find them. If I do, they are up for grabs for anyone in the Washington DC area on August 23rd.
Then there’s every single choir, orchestra and band concert my children have participated in. Those concerts are true works of beauty and effort with no expectation of monetary reward. I don’t believe any of my above listed concerts evoked a tear. These concerts did many. My favorite: the Christmas concert at our church’s school. All 200 children , from distracted preschoolers to slightly bored or embarrassed 8th graders, loudly proclaiming God’s truths. True catechism, set to music, aimed at all ages of hearts. That is my favorite concert and I get to attend every year!What’s your favorite concert memory?
Gosh, I went to so many concerts when I was young. Whatever came to Pittsburgh, I was there. Of course, that was when tickets were a measely $15 each. I remember Tom Petty being a great concert. Lots of good music and no fancy stage show. Eagles were good too. Styx had a great show and the music was good too. Oh and Kenny Loggins….I still listen to all that music.
My girls aren’t into any music in particular. I don’t even know if they listen to the radio. My youngest likes whatever I have on my ipod, so I haven’t taken them to any concerts….nothing recent.
WOW. I saw LiMBO in Denver, when it was Ace’s home concert. It was awesome!!! Loved, loved, loved it!
Do I know you??
Well, I don’t know for sure. I live in Minneapolis. I hung out at GrayCharles for nearly its entire run. I’ve been to two Taylor Hicks concerts in the Twin Cities (his only two that I’m aware of) and have all his music (and a couple of autographs). Do you have the LiMBO DVD, Live at the WorkPlay? It is awesome! Thanks for stopping by! Do you keep a blog?
River is cool! Oh, and didn’t they get started at a Lutheran Church in Minneapolis? I’ll have to give my friend an e-mail to see, but do ya really put a Lutheran Band in the born again category?
Huey Lewis & the News @ Pine Knob (MI) - 1985 — the first & best concert.
Liz,
River got its start at my old ELCA mega-church, if I’m remembering correctly. Or maybe it’s just one of their leader singers; he used to be the praise band worship leader there. Sure they are a great band, but you can’t deny their evangelical bent. My old Lutheran church is about as Lutheran as…well, it’s just not.
I didn’t mean that I don’t like their music! Two of my favorite artists, Fernando Ortega and Sara Groves are Baptists. Most of their music is fantastic and they are excellent examples of pursuing their God-given gifts to a high level of excellence.
Glen,
I LOVE Huey Lewis and the News. I never saw them in concert, but I would have like to.
HLN are one of those groups that are better live than recorded. I’ve seen them 3 times - ‘85 (the Sports tour), ‘88 (the Small World tour), and ‘01 (the Plan B tour).
I’ve been a fan ever since I first heard them sometime in 1981 - i.e., before they blew up bigtime, became cool, and then even cooler to make fun of as uncool. For me, though, the show in ‘01 (and the live album released in ‘05) wasn’t as good as the previous shows because original lead guitarist Chris Hayes retired/left the band in ‘01 & original bassist Mario Cipollina left in ‘95. Hayes’ departure especially left a significant sonic change in its wake, one that made a difference for me. Well, that and I was 16 years older… ;^)
three years ago I took my daughter to see Crosby Stills and Nash, It was unbelievable, I wish Neil young would have showed up. I also saw James Taylor 3 row center, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for a week!