Continuing the week of lists -
1 - The entirety of the Austin City Limits Festival
A little R.E.M., a wave from John Earl Keen and a whole lotta twang. What's not to love?
2 - Lucinda Williams at the Bowery Ballroom
Lucinda's "surprise" show at my favorite NYC venue was something to cherish if only for the fact that it's the only time I've seen her when she didn't lose her cool for one reason or another. It also was a great show with her amazing touring band.
3 - Elvis Costello & The Imposters at Live By Request
Okay, so it wasn't a concert in the strictest sense. It was, however, a great live performance. What you missed by watching it on TV was monumental. The most dynamic Costello show I've seen in many years.
4 - Steve Earle & The Dukes at Irving Plaza
A weird but long setlist highlighted by cramming into the front row and making new friends.
5 - Rhett Miller at Fez
Very different than seeing Rhett and the Old 97's at the ACL. Just Rhett, a guitar and a grand batch of songs.
Honorable Mention - The Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden
No stadium show will ever be a true favorite. However, this was a great show (immortalized by HBO) and I saw the Stones for the first time.
Shows I can't believe I missed Dandy Warhols at Bowery Ballroom, Gillian Welch at Bowery Ballroom, Fountains of Wayne at Housing Works, Emmylou Harris at Carnegie Hall, Ralph Stanley at Town Hall and many others...
Posted by mikewolf at December 11, 2003 11:12 AMFirst time I saw the Stones was in Madison Square Garden. The Sticky Fingers tour. I guess it was around '72, or '73. This was in the days of ticket raffles. You sent your entry into I think WNEW, or maybe WPLJ and took your chances at 4 tickets.
A friend scored. We had amazing seats, second row box, stage left. Fantastic sight lines. The sound, well, who cared. It was the Stones, at the apex. My ears were ringing well into the next day.
Jack Daniels bottles on each Marshall stack - they appeared to be getting pretty lit up. We, in the audience, were burning the herb. The cops busted only the most flagrant users.
The opener was... Stevie Wonder. Now that was a rock show!
Posted by: deano on December 11, 2003 11:34 AM