A friend and I were comparing live concerts we’d seen. It seems that everyone loves talking about concerts. No matter the generation. My grandson told me about some he’s seen and I had no clue who he was talking about. But the enthusiasm was there.
My top concert happened in 1969. It took place in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Events Building of University of Michigan. I went with Husband No.1 who was a DJ at a small radio station in Ann Arbor, where he made a big $50 a week.
We went to see James Cotton Blues Band, a guy so incredible on the blues harmonica that he got 10 ovations. The crowd wouldn’t let him off the stage. My voice was almost gone from shouting, “More! More!”
During the break, Husband and I went backstage so he could interview James Cotton. I remember Cotton being super nice and open.
When it came time for the headliner, to go on, I was standing right against the stage, looking up at a raggedy-haired young woman with a large backup band. I’d never heard of the singer. Turns out it was Janis Joplin. I didn’t know her music and had never heard of Big Brother and the Holding Company.
Standing there, I watched Janis Joplin prance around the stage in high heel fluffy bedroom slippers. I think they were pink. She swigged out of a bottle of Southern Comfort. I was mesmerized by her. Couldn’t understand how one person could have so much wild energy. It was quite a shock!
That was my first ever concert. Hard to beat that.
My friend’s favorite concert was at the LA Coliseum; Monsters of Rock with Van Halen, the Scorpions and others. I had to do a YouTube search on them. I jumped as I remembered Van Halen’s music and slightly remembered Scorpions but didn’t like the Scorpions, even though I’m a double Scorpio.
I saw The Rolling Stones play at Candlestick Park October 18, 1981. George Thorogood (“Bad to the Bone”) opened for him. Fantastic performer, crazy with his guitar.
I went with several friends and my teenage daughter and her friends in a camper. We each held on to our own tickets. My and my daughter’s seats were near the left of the U-shaped stage. I didn’t know where the others ended up, except somehow they had the water.
The music of Thorogood and the Stones was enough to send me to outer space! Lucy in the sky!
Somewhere in the middle of the concert I was parched from singing and shouting, and I had no water. I wasn’t going to miss a beat of the Stones to go out and get something to drink, but I did notice that a guy four seats to the right of me had plenty of water. Fortunately he shared it with us.
When the end of the show came, a fireworks display lit up the universe. I was on my seat jumping up and down. My daughter’s arms wrapped around my neck. We spent the remainder of the show and fireworks, jumping on the seats, screaming and crying. Like two teenagers.
Many years later I went to see The Rolling Stones again, with a writer friend. Some how she didn’t budge an inch during the entire show. Not when they sang “Satisfaction,” or “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” or “Start me Up.” Nothing. Nada.
Her deadened reaction curbed mine, so I can’t count that concert in my top concerts.
I also can’t count the small venue concert of Maria Muldaur, whose “Midnight at the Oasis” was my favorite, because Husband No.1 tried hitting on her after the show. Right in front of me. Class act.
Bob Dylan in concert was a bit mellow compared to The Rolling Stones. I don’t want to say he was boring, but the thing I remember the most about his concert back then was how thick with smoke the auditorium was. A lot of somebodies were smoking a lot of pot!
Los Lobos on the other hand were spectacular! I went with a friend of the group and after the concert we went with Los Lobos to see Dr. John. Pretty awesome to be a groupie for the night.
No, not a sex groupie. Come on people!
In our initial conversation, my friend saw No Doubt with Gwen Stephani in 2009. “I was blown away,” he said.
And that’s what we concert-goers want!
What’s a girl to do?…look for local concerts, no need for big venues at this point – unless someone irresistible comes to Santa Rosa or Ukiah.
Lucy Llewellyn Byard welcomes comments and shares. To contact her, email lucywgtd@gmail.com
