My Top 5 Concerts
Here’s mine. What’s yours?
5. MTV Video Music Awards – September 9, 1992 – Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
Where else could you see The Black Crowes, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Guns N Roses, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all on one stage? Sure we had to endure Bobby Brown and Bryan Adams as well, but this was perhaps MTV’s last great moment.
4. Rage Against the Machine – January 23, 1993 – Hollywood Palladium
I had never heard of them before i saw them play at this Rock for Choice benefit. When i asked someone in the audience what they sounded like, they said a cross between Nine Inch Nails and the Beastie Boys. Maybe not, but i have yet to see someone play with the same unbridled energy they had that night.
3. Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band – April 4, 2000 – Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA
Bruce was back with the E-Street Band, just as nature intended. Finally getting to hear Thunder Road and Born to Run live almost made up for this. If he had played Backstreets, i could have died a happy man.
2. Guns ‘N Roses & The Rolling Stones – October 22, 1989 – Los Angeles Coliseum
My first real concert. No substitute for getting to see G ‘N R at their peak and The Stones being…well, The Stones, even if i did have to share it with 100,000 of my closest friends.
1. Pearl Jam – The Forum, Los Angeles, CA- July 9 2006 / Key Arena, Seattle Wa – November 2, 2000
Pearl Jam probably could have occupied every slot on this list, but i singled these two out. Seattle because i have never been part of an audience like that one – i thought they were going to bring the stadium down during the encore breaks. And the band fed off of it and gave one of their best performances. LA because…well, because I got to sit front row center. And i feel about front row seats like Ferris Bueller feels about driving a Ferrari – if you ever get the chance, i highly recommend doing it.
Honorable Mention:
U2 – April 15, 1992 – San Diego Sports Arena
This probably would have cracked the Top 5 if it wasn’t for the scary looking man in the row ahead of us threatening me with bodily injury because he (mistakenly) thought i had inappropriately touched his girlfriend. It is hard to fully enjoy a show when you fear for your life. And John, i am still convinced that you sold me out to him to save your own skin…
Counting Crows – October, 1994 – Greek Theatre
A great show soured by the fact that when i saw them three years later they put on one of the worst concerts i have ever seen. You have to be consistent to crack the Top 5.
I think 5 may be the total number of concerts I’ve been to in my life. Def Leppard, The Cranberries, Oingo Boingo, whoever the hell I saw at Lollapalooza or whatever that was, and Stevie Wonder and Kenny Logins when I was a kid. So maybe that’s 6. I could be missing something.
in no particular order and remembered more for personal reasons rather than a great show:
Morrissey – Pauley Pavilion – for the concert that barely happened. 5 songs in, the brooding singer decides to call it quits after too many people jumped on stage. A riot on campus ensues.
Depeche Mode – San Diego Sports Arena – 1st concert ever and a suprsie to boot. Seats sucked, though.
Pearl Jam – Empire Polo Club – my 1st concert for my all time favorite band. I remember suffering through too many opening acts and the opening cord of “RELEASE.” I was in heaven and then I fell down and got trampled a bit in the mosh pit.
Cure – Rose Bowl – fun concert with friends and family. Also because everytime i asked my sister what album this song was from she would say STANDING ON THE BEACH!