Missed opportunities

[Goober McTuber]

I got to thinking recently about shows I thought about going to, but decided not to, and what did I miss? In 1977 I was getting sick of stadium concerts and I was busy that day anyway, so I skipped Pink Floyd at Milwaukee County Stadium during their “Animals” tour. Damn.

But a couple of missed concerts kind of stand out, both of them Grateful Dead shows. During my freshman year in college I was just getting weaned off of pop music and hadn’t yet gained a great affection for the Dead. So I skipped their show in Madison. This was a tour where the opening band was New Riders of the Purple Sage and Garcia regularly sat in with them on pedal steel. Here’s the Dead setlist:

03/14/71
Camp Randall Field House, U. Of Wi. - Madison, WI

Set 1:
Truckin'
Me And My Uncle
It Hurts Me Too
Bertha
Me And Bobby McGee
Hard To Handle
Loser
Good Lovin'
Drums
Good Lovin'

Set 2:
Casey Jones
Sugar Magnolia
Wharf Rat
Greatest Story Ever Told
Johnny B. Goode
Uncle John's Band

Damn. Damn. Damn.


The last time I even considered going to a stadium concert was during a conversation with an old college roommate, also a Deadhead. We thought about driving to Chicago to catch one of the Dead’s shows there, but life got in our way. Turns out it would be their penultimate performance. Here’s the setlist:

07/08/95
Soldier Field - Chicago, IL

Set 1:
Jack Straw
Sugaree
Wang Dang Doodle
Althea
Queen Jane Approximately
Tennessee Jed
Eternity
Don't Ease Me In

Set 2:
China Cat Sunflower
I Know You Rider
It's All Too Much
Saint Of Circumstance
Terrapin Station
Drums
Space
The Other One
Visions Of Johanna
One More Saturday Night
Encore:
U.S. Blues

From everything I’ve read, we didn’t miss a great show as Garcia was far from his best, but it would have been my last chance to see them. Perhaps it’s better to remember some of their better shows that I’ve seen.

Anyone else have missed opportunities?

[Dinsdale]

Plenty.

But I didn't miss the Dead sows about a week or so before the final Chicago shows. First shows in Portland in almost 20 years. They were at the horse track, which is a shitty place for shows... seen Metallica there a couple of times (nothing like an outdoor show when it's 105, although my temperature record was at a Dead show, at 107... lots of Deadheads passing out) , and I'm not sure if you could pay me to see another there.

Too bad Jerry was ill, because that's one hell of a set 2 list.

I think the last (or one of) tune I heard during the encore was This Could Be The Last Time. There was a weird vibe about it... I soon knew why.


Greatest live band ever, bar none.

[BSmack]

I got to thinking recently about shows I thought about going to, but decided not to, and what did I miss? In 1977 I was getting sick of stadium concerts and I was busy that day anyway, so I skipped Pink Floyd at Milwaukee County Stadium during their “Animals” tour. Damn.

The irony just pervades that paragraph. Not only were you sick of stadium shows, so was Roger Waters. Have you ever heard his meltdown in Montreal during that tour? Absolutely classic stuff.

I passed up a chance to see the Kinks in favor of studying for a midterm that I probably would have aced anyway. That was a BIG fucking mistake.

I wish I had known that Stevie Ray Vaughn was playing in a hole in the wall bar the next town over from me. Fortunately I made up for that by seeing Stevie before it was too late.

And, in the regrets you have for doing something department, an even bigger mistake was paying 75 bucks to see The Who absolutely butcher Quadrophenia in 1997. I liken that experience to watching ones grandmother fall down the stairs. I mean how do you process that one of your favorite bands of all time is simply too old and too out of it to properly function on stage? The upside was that it turned me against seeing any more reunion tours.

And last, a show I am still proud I passed on. The Rolling Stones circa 1990 at the Carrier Dome.

[War Wagon]

In 1977 I was getting sick of stadium concerts and I was busy that day anyway, so I skipped Pink Floyd at Milwaukee County Stadium during their “Animals” tour. Damn.

Fess up Goobs. You were "busy" that day stoned out of your mind.

They came to KC that year but I was only 15 at the time and I was probably stoned out of my mind as well.

Anyone else have missed opportunities?

Sure, but I don't think we can or should regret the concerts we didn't get to. Much better to remember the great ones you did get to.

A short list of the good ones I can remember off the top of my head, in no particular order:

Rolling Stones "Miss You" tour in 1981 in Boulder, CO. Remarkable in the fact that George Thoroughgood was the warm up band and kicked ass. Way better than the Stones.

Stevie Ray Vaughn - Twice
Bachman Turner Overdrive
Foghat

Yep, that's a short list. Seen many others and what you would call bigger tickets, but those stood out for sheer enjoyment at that time. There's a really long list of bands I've seen who were a huge disappointment.

Ted Nugent (feedback, ruptured eardrums, anyone?)
ZZ Top (gag me with a spoon)
REO Speedwagon (zzzzzzzzzz)
Greg Allman (plays like a statue, but so did Stevie)
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (washed up by then)
The Police (there's a special place in hell for Sting)

Ok, there is one concert I really wish that I been able to attend but couldn't because I had to be out of town unexpectedly that week. Even had tickets and had to give them away. :mad:

Yes in 1978

I console myself saying they probably would have disappointed too.

[Dinsdale]

Don' worry Wags -- a lot of guys missed Yes shows... because they were too busy shopping for new purses at the mall.


Great show I saw in the last couplefew years was Death Cab opening for TMBG. Balls-out wasted, hot as fuck that evening, I think I pissed off at least 1000 people, and met a bunch of chicks.

For $5.


RACK my town... even though they jacked up the summer festival prices to $8 last year.

[War Wagon]

a lot of guys missed Yes shows... because they were too busy shopping for new purses at the mall.

I laffed.

But still, they had some pretty good music... err, Yes?

Ok, I missed Queen when they came to town during that same time frame. Freddy Mercury is the only reason I don't advocate shooting fags on site.

[Goober McTuber]

Freddy Mercury is the only reason I don't advocate shooting fags on site.

I can’t decide which reply to use here:


1. You prefer taking them off-site first?

or,

2. You’ll be voting for Hillary before you know it.

[War Wagon]

I can’t decide which reply to use here:

You could've cited me for something, officer Goobs.

Btw, I remember another concert that I had high expectations for that absolutely sucked.

Add Aerosmith to that list.

[Goober McTuber]

You could've cited me for something, officer Goobs.

Well, let me see what I can come up with.

Btw, I remember another concert that I had high expectations for that absolutely sucked.

Add Aerosmith to that list.

OK, I’ll cite you for stupidity. This thread is about concerts you wish you hadn’t skipped, not those that you wish you had.

Satisfied?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Aerosmith

had high expectations

Thanks for the laugh.

[Dinsdale]

Aerosmith

had high expectations

Thanks for the laugh.

No shit.


If Aerosmith had died in a fiery plane crash after Rocks, they'd be an all-time band.

Unfortunately, they didn't.

To this day, I hate on Jamie for not putting that gun to good use and busting a cap in Steven Tyler and Two Licks Perry.


Just like if the Rolling Stones had been stillborn, the world would be a better place. They're like the official band of people who hate talent and musical ability. They have two freaking licks that they've turned into 500 songs in 45 years. Horrid. You've made this grown man cry... every time you foul my radio.

[BSmack]

Dins,

No love for Draw The Line?

I will agree that the world would be an infintely better place without the last nine Aerosmith albums. They are the poster children for why bands should never give up drugs.

[War Wagon]

Rocks

Draw the Line

Both fine albums, but 'Toys in the Attic' was my fav.

And their live cover version of "Train Kept a Rollin" does not suck.

[smackaholic]

The stones and aerosmith are without a doubt, 2 two best examples of bands that hung on wayyyyyy too long. Especially the stones. They used up whatever cred they earned in the 60/70s by about '83.

And I agree about the drug use thing. Heroin might fukk you up badly, but, there has been an awful lot of good music made on the stuff. I think it greases the creative rails in some folks minds. I remember watching "Ray". The movie ends with Ray's finally getting over the heroin habit. Wonder if the fact that he didn't do much new material afterwards is a coincidence. He still performed and was one of the best ever, but, he wasn't cranking out new stuff.

As for reunion gigs, they can be very good. I saw the eagles in nashville in about 95-96. They were awsome.