Only 3?!
I won’t include The Beatles at The Cow Palace in S. San Francisco in ’65, ’cause though a historic thing to experience, even at the time I was not very impressed with them as a live band.
And though I liked them at the time, the Cream, Hendrix, and Who shows I attended in ’67, ’68, and ’69 now pale in comparison with what was to follow. Including:
The Kinks at The Fillmore in 1970. Unbelievably loud (topped only by The Ramones), and so much fun!
Big Joe Turner backed by The Blasters at Club Lingerie in the mid-90’s. One of my favorite male singers (what a man!) and Rock ’n’ Roll bands (whose members that night included Lee Allen---a member of Little Richard’s 50’s band!---on tenor sax).
NRBQ at The Roxy, sometime in the 90’s. Just about the coolest band I’ve seen live. Bassist Joey Spampinato (one of my favorites on the instrument) can seen playing in the band Keith Richards hand-picked for the concert at the end of the Chuck Berry documentary he made, "Hail, Hail, Rock ’n’ Roll." Joey was offered the bass chair in The Stones when Bill Wyman left, and turned it down. Why join "The Best Rock ’n’ Roll Band In The World" when you’re already in the best Rock ’n’ Roll band in the world? ;-)
Rockpile at The Country Club in Reseda, CA, 1980. Three nights in a row, Moon Martin opening. 100 proof Rock ’n’ Roll! THE Rock ’n’ Roll Super Group, comprised of Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner, and Terry Williams.
Dave Edmunds at The Ritz in NYC, 1983. My favorite Rock ’n’ Roller; a great guitarist, singer, and producer. My ex-wife’s all-time favorite live show. This night he had the dearly-departed Mickey Gee on second guitar, and UK madman Geraint Watkins on piano.
Iris Dement at The Troubadour in the mid-90’s. My favorite female singer, a great songwriter, and an absolute angel.
Little Village on a soundstage in Burbank, CA, at the time of the release of their sole album (if you ignore their collaboration on John Hiatt’s Bring The Family, their first time playing together). Though the LV album was a relatively mediocre disappointment, live they were astonishingly great. Being comprised of John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner, that’s not surprising, ay?
The Lyres at Club Lingerie, late-80’s. My favorite modern Garage Band, led by singer/Vox organist Monoman (Jeff Conolly).
Foster & Lloyd at The Roxy, late 80’s. A Country guy and a Pop guy who made great music together. They had a KILLER band too.
Last but not least, The Band at The Berkeley Community Theater in 1970. The Band are the best self-contained ensemble (songwriting, singing, musicianship) Rock ’n’ Roll has yet produced. IMO, of course.
