If you could, what live performances would you enjoy re-living?


I have interest in hearing about yours.   I can think of some great concerts over the years in many great buildings, from Hancher in Iowa City, to Fisher Hall in New York, to some bars in Copenhagen. 

Something I have noticed....performers have times they are more "on" just like us, and it can make their concerts be perceived at different levels.   I know the three times I saw Jackson Browne, each was much different and most of that was his intent.  Having a good sized group with very talented back up singers to the time I saw him solo....all great, but very different.  He is a better guitar player than he may be given credit for. 

The live Jazz I have been to in NYC is near the top.  Sweet Basil and the Blue Note through the years have been very good to me, but in a much different vein, the lakefront festivals in Milwaukee are a somewhat unknown to most of America. 

I did see a few artists before their success and fame, saw a famous British singer at a bar in Rapid City many years ago..and he has done well since. 

Take care,

whatjd
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band opened for by It's a Beautiful Day, circa 1971 at the (abandoned) Fox West Coast Theater in Long Beach, California.

The Mothers at the Phoenix Star Theater, circa 1968 (shortly after the release of "Freak Out"). Rotating stage and a "theater in the round" format.

Another was Jethro Tull at the Phoenix College Gym somewhere around 1969. Open seating on the floor.

I also have extremely fond memories of Blodwyn Pig at the Splinter Brothers and Sisters Warehouse (yet another abandoned building) in Phoenix, also circa 1969. Open floor standing/seating.

Another music venue I really do miss are the 1960s "underground radio" stations (e.g., KCAC and KDKB in Phoenix). Free-form and whatever the DJ was in the mood for playing. No commercials. Hours long sessions. No interruptions. No excessive gabbing. Interesting goings on in the broadcast rooms when the microphones were off and the music was playing. Concert warnings, "Don't come bust-able or you're going to get burned" and so on and on.
Jethro Tull playing all of Aqualung at the Schaefer Music Festival/Wollman Rink/Central Park/NYC in August 1970. That was a Monday night show at 8 PM - in fact the first show Tull played that day was at 2 PM! I believe this was before Aqualung was released for sale! I and the audience sat with rapt attention in drizzling rain!
Linda Ronstadt as a surprise addition to Little Feat's show at Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, '73 or '74.
Robert Fripp, lecture/demonstration, Frippertronics tour, Stony Brook University. March 11, 1983.
You know, I was in a Jazz/somewhat Pop mindset and did not mention classical greats. 

I am lucky enough to have seen many greats in my life, from New York to Chicago to many a college campus.

I and my mate attended a performance by the Chicago classical music orchestra and they had singers with them.  The first chair Cello player and his mate stayed with my mate and I and we did some biking on the Sugar River Trail South of Madison, Wi.  Very, very nice and bright people.