Category Classic Concerts
CLASSIC CONCERT: The Ramones @ CBGB / New York, NY / September 11, 1976
OK. Yes, I can brag that I saw the original Ramones at CBGB, their birthplace in the Bowery of Lower Manhattan. I only wish that I could remember more about it. My Ramones story starts the same way it did with New York City’s other seminal Punk band, The New York Dolls. At first, I […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: 10cc @ Beacon Theatre / New York, NY / October 25, 1975
I took a break from reading Liam Newton’s outstandingly thorough and fascinating 10cc biography, 10cc: The Worst Band in the World to reflect on when I saw this remarkably talented band live. Like many who lived in the New York area, I first became familiar with this band from Manchester UK courtesy of radio WNEW-FM […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band @ Seton Hall University (Walsh Gym) / South Orange, NJ / December 11, 1975
Having grown up in Jersey, it pains me to think of all the times I could have seen Bruce Springsteen live before the September 1975 night when I was finally won over at The Bottom Line. However, none of my misses trouble me more than the one I made in 1974 when he played the […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: Buster Poindexter & His Banshees of Blue @ Tramps / New York NY / September 21, 1984
Labelled by its progenitor as a show that was meant to only play New York City, David Johansen first brought his musical alter ego, Buster Poindexter, to his city’s attention at Tramps. This 150-seat music club on 15th Street would later become a vital venue for larger shows after moving to a much bigger space […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: Al Stewart @ The Bluebird Cafe / Nashville TN / June 16, 2003
The fact that we waited outside well past the door opening time should have clued us in that the extended sound check meant we were about to see and hear something special. Maybe the feint sound of the saxophone we heard should have tipped us off. But, none of us were keen enough to know […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: The Jam @ CBGB / New York, NY / October 15, 1977 (Early Show)
I never much liked going to CBGB. It was fitting that this dump was in the Bowery which back in the late 70s was far from what it looks like today. But, not only was CBs dirty and overcrowded, it wasn’t a friendly vibe. Patrons were more intent on looking and acting cool and being […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: Rod Stewart & the Faces and Peter Frampton @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum / Uniondale, Long Island / October 12, 1975
This was near the end of what would be the last tour by Rod Stewart and the Faces! Not only did I, nor anyone else for that matter, know this at the time, but I also didn’t know until I did some research before reminiscing about this great night out on the Island. Despite being […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: Firefall @ The Other End / New York, NY / June 4, 1975
In the middle of the 70s, my Jethro Tull and Black Sabbath posters were replaced with ones more reflective of my move towards what we then called country rock. And, while I delighted in hearing new music, I had a deep love for earlier records by Poco, The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers. While […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: The Knack @ Hurrah / New York, NY / May 19, 1979
My first notice of The Knack was seeing a picture in the NME British weekly of Bruce Springsteen joining the band on stage at a Los Angeles night club (October 17, 1978 at the Troubadour). They seemed to be making a splash on the West Coast, and Bruce reportedly was giving them one of his […]
CLASSIC CONCERT: John Lee Hooker @ Seton Hall University Student Lounge / South Orange, NJ / October 16, 1973
I was once a young college student on an often easily-distracted quest for knowledge. Courtesy of my school’s Student Programming Board budget, I was also offered the opportunity for some additional free non-accredited independent study in music. While the school did bring in some big touring acts to its big gym which cost a few […]
Music City Mike 