Grateful Dead

Among the best concerts I've ever seen and I've seen thousands, heres the short list..... Zappa: 26-Feb 1988, Royal Oak Theater, Detroit, MI 1-Mar 1988, Frauenthal Auditorium, Muskegon, MI John McLaughlin/Trilok Gurtu/Jonas Hellborg: Detroit Montreaux Jazz Festival September '88 Chick Corea Electric Band: Club Eastbrook, Grand Rapids, Michigan '88 Al Dimeola/Lyle Mays/Airto: State Theatre, Kalamazoo, Michigan '83 Alvin Lee: Top Of The Rock, Walker, Michigan '83 Johnny Winter/Roy Buchanan: Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois '88 Steve Vai: St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, '99 House Of Blues, Chicago 4/13/05 Mike Keneally: May 17 2001 - Martyr's, Chicago, IL September 27 2006 - Motor City Guitar, Waterford MI ....and others whos dates I don't remember off the top of my head including: Stanley Clarke Jean-Luc Ponty Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Stevie Ray Vaughan Jeff Beck Trio Featuring-Dimeola/Clarke/Ponty Trio Featuring-Fleck/Clarke/Ponty James Brown '98 Buddy Guy & Junior Wells '88 ........and many many many many many many many many more........

Prine had a 3 piece not 4 piece band. I made up the drummer...... Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) Walt Whitman-Song of Myself

I recently saw John Prine, one of our greatest living songwriters. He played for hours and had a tight 4 piece band. Wonderful show. Don't miss this man. Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) Walt Whitman-Song of Myself

II have also seen and met Arlo Guthrie twice. Seen and met Robbie Steinhardt of Kansas. Saw Los Lobos. Seen Alice Cooper twice. CSN twice. ELP. The Who twice (one show they did the entire Tommy then a another whole concert. Greg Allman. Robert Cray open for Clapton. Thin Lizzy open for Satriani open for Deep Purple. The Guess Who. Charlie Daniels. Jethro Tull. Chicago. Indigo Girls. Fleetwood Mac. Dave Mason, Buffalo Springfield Revisited. Lita Ford, Cheap Trick. Nitty Gritty Dirtband, REO, Edgra Winter, Bob Dylan, G.E. Smith, AC/DC, Areosmith, Beach Boys, and the list runs on. Those are just some of the big ones. Oh, and James Taylor was really good, as was Christopher Cross. Oh yeah, and Jesus Christ Superstar twice. That's enough for now.

I went to see the show at the Sunken Gardens Theatre in San Antonio, Texas back in 1985. That was my first psychedelic show and I have been in line with that ever since. Ronnie Montrose opened up and the feeling from each show was out of this world. I guess you could say that was one of the defining moments that put the acid spin on life and really opened up a new world. I have never taken acid, but people who have and read my poetry or seen my drawings are sure I did and just forgot LOL. Santana and Eric Johnson on stage at the same time comes pretty close. They were at the Sunken Gardens as well. Love ya, Uncle DeadHead.

couldn't begin to tell you all the GREAT shows that i have seen- after of 1000's of live shows (i use to work in radio so for a five year period i must have averaged 4 shows a week- every type of music imaginable- add this to an early love of concerts- my first at twelve years old= a lot of music) let's try Butthole Surfers Toronto 1987- two drummers, gibby setting stuff on fire, Terressa the toothless toppless dancer, the upside down sex change operation, as well as other 16mm films, smoke and mayhem for a continuous 90 min.- one of my favourite bootlegs i have made- the flaming lips opened but they were backlit and covered up with a smoke machine so they were heard and not seen- both band ripped through a cover of R.E.M.'s this one goes out to the one i love- just ripped the humour out of them. 1988/1989 were good also R.E.M. back in 1985? This is when they rocked- a whole encore set made up of requests from the crowd Phish N.Y.E. in Worcester Mass?- the one with the Giant clam. The Art designer from the Residents had something to do with it... very fun N.Y.E. in Florida 1999/2000 What can you say bad about a band that plays ALL night- the trip was unforgettable- my wife was seven months pregnent- we left a cold snap in Canada- drove down and left with a ton of memories. Ornette Coleman- playing the Victoriaville musique d'actualle festival - standing on the pulpit of a Cathlic Church in small town R.C. Quebec- free jazz blow out- Same festival i saw Fred Frith play Three times- one of the best music festivals in the world and it is in a town of a couple thousand french canadiens. Los Lobos 1983 Toronto at the 'Junkie' bar 'Larry's Hideaway'- took my girl friend to see King Crismon that night(Three of a Perfect pair tour) and ended up at a tiny bar dancing on tables, with hardcore punkers, greasers, rockabilly babes, hispanics, and other outsiders- i had their first E.P. but Los lobos blew everyone aawy!! it was like being at the best wedding reception in the world- love, laughter, acceptance and fun. This is why next to the Dead, Dylan, Phish i have seen Los Lobos the most.- i get to see them in 10 day's at the Bluesfest in Ottawa. (Dylan, Van Morrison, Moe) Acid mother Temple and the U.f.O. Paradisio- i saw them about two months ago- if after all these years i can still be amazed- and walk out of a show thinking that i just saw something i had never seen before you knows its good. From japan, AMT has been turned away at the border twice, the third time was a charm. Killdozer 1989? in toronto at the Drake- Just me and my friends- got really drunk with them after this show in a van in the rain, trying to interview them... they inject humour with the intellect not being cheated. Slow, Loud, Funny. Bongwater- Montreal 1992? same week i saw Nirvana, Mudhoney, and Overkill. Kramer played a Hofner Bass with his head, while Ann Magneson wore lingerie, and belted out tunes. Talking Heads at the second Ploice Picnic in Toronto, along with the English Beat, they stole the show- made the ploice look like punks onstage. The Talking Heads were doing the Remain in Light Tour- Busta Jones- Adrian Belew- and 9? others on stage. Maybe 1980? Joe strummer weeks before he died at a industry party- reminded me of why i was so angry growing up- and seeing the Clash (twice) Dylan- one shows was great i'm sure. Dead- i really enjoyed the Hamilton run of shows- i didn't have to cross the border- and could twist all my friends arms that never wanted to travel to see them- but really i have too many shows to narrow it down. This is just some- Honourable mentions Residents- the history of music in three parts tour, Lou Reed - New York City Tour with half japanese Planet Drum- in Vermont- Left the Air at my Radio gig- drove from Ottawa to Stowe and back again in the same night. Tortoise- one show in Toronto at Lee's Palace- was exceptional Red Hot Chili Peppers with their original guitarist, T.S.O.L., and Thelonious Monster played for all twelve of us in Barrymore's Ottawa. Elvis Costello- with or without the Attractions. Henry Rollins/Jesus Lizard/Rage Against the Machine/ Sonic Youth/Fugazi JOHNNY FUnKin' Cash and the June Carter Family- We had to steal a friends parents car (i was sixteen) to go see them- they played on a revolving stage at Ontario Place for $5 - they opened with Ring Of Fire- played the whole night- it was so cool- not so cool was explaining why we took their car to a concert... but it was Johnny Cash man!!! They were pissed but thirty years later i live next to them, and had them over to dinner- i explained why we did it and all these years later they found it as funny as we do. what's so funny about peace love and understanding.?!

Bromberg is a great showman. I recomend checking him out. He is touringagin with his band.

Has anyone seen the Goosecreek Symphony? Someone recently turned me on to them but I have not seen them live. They are descibed as sounding like the Grateful Dead if they were from Kentucky rather than California or if Jimi Hendrix and Bill Monroe were in the same band. They went defunct in the 1970s and have recently reformed. I'd be interested to hear any experiences seeing this group.

I've recently been getting into Wilco in a very big way. Saw my 1st show at Merriweather on 6/21/07. Would love it if some folks could recommend other shows that are traded on btree.org, etc.

This year's Bonnaroo "Super Jam", featuring John Paul Jones (Zeppelin) on bass, QuestLove Thompson (Roots) on drums and Ben Harper on guitar was the sickest, most disgusting, face melting, psychedelic experience I've had in a long while (since Phil's Vegoose 2006 marathon, in fact). The Flaming Lips @ this year's Bonnaroo was also one of the best shows I've ever seen. Now that they have a full time drummer, their music has gotten back to professional levels. They always put on a great show and Wayne Coyne is probably the most personable rock star in history. They did "War Pigs" for a sound check an hour before they actually started the show that was incredible! The whole show was a magical mix of music and imagery finishing with The Rolling Stones, "Moonlight Mile" for an encore. A very psychedelic show in many regards. DSO @ The Funk Box in Baltimore, MD. 2003 & 2004 were two of the best shows I've ever seen, period! ABB @ Bonnaroo 2003 with Herring, Trucks and Haynes - incredible! Dave & Friends Cruise 2006 - "Private Island" concert featuring Trey on guitar was off the hook! World Party's US tour last year. I saw three shows (Bonnaroo, Ram's Head on Stage and The Recher Theatre) and all were good. Bonnaroo featured Ian Dury (Blockheads) on guitar which gave it a special groove but this current version of Karl Wallinger's band hit their stride at the Ram's Head on Stage show, IMO. Karl shares the most personable rock star status with Wayne Coyne. Please come back to the US, World Party!!!! Metalica, Summer Sanitarium Tour in 1998 (Baltimore, MD.). Peter Gabriel during his last US tour @ The MCI Center (now the Verizon Center) in DC. Last year's Bonnaroo "Super Jam", featuring Trey, Mike Gordon and the Benevento and Russo Duo was also killer. Trey's 70 Volt Parade @ Ohio's Veteran's Theater in 2005(?) was a great show and performance. Most every Particle show I've seen has been magical. I haven't seen them since Charlie Hitchcock left the band, though. CSN&Y 2001(?) @ MCI Center (now the Verizon Center). Neil Young broke every string on his guitar playing the last song "Cinnamon Girl", then used the dangling strings like a drum on the body of the guitar and frets, leaving it on stage practically smouldering under a spot light. I saw why he was considered the grandfather of grunge, on that particular night anyway. "That nug really tied the room together, did it not?"