The A.R.M.S. Concert held in Los Angeles in 1983. It was a benefit for Multiple Sclerosis in honor of Ronnie Lane and the lineup included Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, Paul Rodgers, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman and Kenny Jones. Seeing Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page on stage together performing “Layla” was priceless. |
@shtinkydog This has been a great thread because many people have listed the cream of their crop and others listed shows they found to be great (but not the greatest). I'm guilty of having a long list of great shows I've been to, for various reasons as I stated, but I can't decide if there is just one show that was the best of them all. I If I were to narrow it down, based on the infrequency of a band touring the States and whether or not a particular band even bothers to tour my city, I'd say that the top 3 are The The, Skinny Puppy, and Massive Attack. They tour(ed) the States infrequently or had limited dates when they did, and I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. I was inspired by this thread that I started a list of acts I've seen over the years and I keep remembering more. |
Bob Dylan: The Best, and the Worst. The Worst He is so inconsistent. I left the Beacon once so mad, I swore I would tell him in front of Macy’s on Thanksgiving Day that He SUCKED! I re-named them: ‘Dylan and the Distorters’ the entire rack of equipment was full on red lights, sound was god-awful. He was standing weird, singing awful, and playing some damn keyboard. So bad I distinctly remember it. (Ani DiFranco has an album named ‘Living in Clip’) This was right after Merle Haggard and his shittttkickers performed, (only 2 remarkable musicians among them) Merle says, “We’re a Bar Band, we’ve been doing this for 40 years” You think they would have improved, some ….. I should admit, 'Hicks with Hats' are not for me. Happily, Amos Lee opened the show, just 3 people, excellent musicians, sound, voice, songwriting, I became a big fan, so thanks for that Bob. ////////////////////////// Once, I took a group of friends to see him at the Beacon, NYC. I had a few great seats on the floor, and the rest 1st row mezzanine. We alternated every once in a while who sat downstairs (or stood, because they stand up in front of you). So bad, so bad, we got laughing. There was once an idea to have a Game Show: ‘What did Bob Dylan Say?’ This was, ‘What Song Was That?’ I’m not kidding. I noticed some vacancies near my nieces who had the floor seats, there was a guy passed out. He had vomited and cleared out the surrounding area. I told my niece, watch, he’ll wake up and say what a great show it was. Shure enough, music stops, he staggers awake, you know the rest. ///////////////////////////////// I almost forgot, only 2 people have made me get up and scream curses at my TV. Richard Nixon, and dear old Bob. I recorded Woodstock 25th Reunion. Dylan and the two guys I called the Blue Magoos were there. He’s playing something, I leap up “Goddddddammmmit, now you can’t even play the harmonica” I was beside myself. One of the Blue Magoos turns his head and says something, Bob pulls back, turns his Harmonica over, he had it in backwards and didn’t even know it. I’m not makin this up. ////////////////////////////// Oh yeah, Bob and Van Morrison, together, the Paramount, the smaller theater under Madison Square Garden Van was in a Fowl Mood, totally grumpy, no love lost between them, and Bob said he had a bad cold (how would you know some days?) //////////////////////////////////////////////// I’m hungry, I’ll get to two of his best performances soon. Great Memories. |
