Thursday, January 11, 2007

concerts, concerts, concerts

Ain't they grand? I've been to such a wide variety, from legendary to supercommercial to a bit obscure.
My first concert ever was R.E.M. in 1998, when I was 7. I was a bit young, but I remember being disappointed that Michael Stipe, the frontman, hadn't worn a skirt, as he was occasionally known to do.

Then I saw k-os in 2005. If you're not Canadian, you probably haven't heard of him, though he's a bit of a cult figure in the States. It was outdoors and so crowded, they hadn't anticipated so many people. Older people in the crowd were telling me and my friend to try to get out of their because they were worried we would be crushed (or perhaps they wanted us to leave so they'd have more room...)

Then I saw the Black Eyed Peas also in the summer of 2005. A bit of an odd choice, I know, but, though I like the Black Eyed Peas, I probably wouldn't have gone if Talib Kweli hadn't been opening for them.
Talib Kweli was at the time my favorite rapper and so I ended getting front-row tickets and I loved the whole show. The Black Eyed Peas didn't seem like they'd be very good live from when I'd seen them perform at awards shows and whatnot, but they were incredible. I'm very glad I went.


Then that same summer I saw...and I feel like I should be whispering here...Bob Dylan. Oh God of all Godliness. He didn't saw a word to the crowd, didn't introduce any of the songs, didn't say "Hello" or "Thank You", though he did at one point introduce his band. He played my favorite Dylan song "Ballad of a Thin Man" and for the encore did an incredible performance of "All Along the Watchtower".


And now I have tickets to see Arlo Guthrie, my precious Arlo Guthrie, in April. I'm beee-yond excited!

What's the best/worst concert you've ever been to?

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I went to see Avril Lavigne when I was 11 and I was thrilled then, now I regret paying. The best 2 concerts I've ever been to were to see Feist and Bedouin Soundclash. I met them BOTH Feist and Bedouin Soundclash, I also met the bass player of Sam Roberts Band. Have you ever met any of the performers?

Robert Vandenbego said...

Great! REM...delicious!
Regards! ;0)

Robert Vandenbego
Madrid, Spain

Anonymous said...

ohhh, I've been to several guilty pleasure concerts, a couple old school, and over 100 indie/underground band concerts. My fave was a huge concert called Augustives featuring 8 up-and-coming underground rock bands from all over the US.

It was an all day concert on a huge camping ground in the middle of know where.
I seriously felt like I was in the 70s, and it was awe-mazing :]

I'm SO JEALOUS you're seeing Arlo!!!!

alluretone said...

you saw bob dylan in concert? wow, what was that like? that's so weird how he didn't talk at all. anyways i'd kill to see jimmy page someday.. and somehow bring john bonham back from the dead so they can have a reunion.. that would be the happiest day of my life. i'd also kill to see a guns n' roses reunion tour or something.. okay now i'm just fanticising the impossible.

anyways most exciting concert would be happening this upcomming march for me- i'm seeing my favorite band ever, next to zeppelin, BRAND NEW!

Emily said...

i have only ever seen one concert it was sissor sisters and it was AMAZAZING! nd lily allen opened the show for them who u problably haven't heard of if u r not english but she is tres kl xxx

S. said...

People were warning you to leave the K-OS show? That's odd, how old are you?

I was dragged by a boyfriend to see Dylan at Ontario Place, boring! While crossing the street to get there, the Stones slowly cruised by in their limo with the windows down! I still kick myself every time I remember this missed opportunity!! Why didn't I ask them for a lift to their show?!

Fear not Molly, you will have the perfect shoes one day.

And, I love that Faithful bio! Transports you to an amazing time and life.

maya said...

you saw bob dylan?
i envy you so much
my first ever concert was britney when i was 7
rem is abit cooler
xxx

Eddie said...

Holy Crapoly!! You're sixteen years old?? I had no effing clue!! You come off as a mature NON-sixteen year old...

Amazing. You are without a doubt one of the most put together 16 year olds I've come across. Kudos to you darling.

Stewart Sternberg (half of L.P. Styles) said...

Molly, I've gone to a lot of concerts.. The Moody Blues, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, The Animals, Etta James, Big Mama Thorton, BB King, Tragically Hip, Sinead O Connor, Iron Maiden, Harry Chapin, Arlo Guthrie, Frankie Vali and the Four Seasons, REM, Meatloaf, Ozzi Osborne, Guns and Roses, Faith No More, Metallica, David Bowie, Paul Simon, Leon Russell, Ike and Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, Joe Cocker, Jethro Tull, Chicago, Montrose, Bob Seger, George Benson, The Jackson Five (dont ask), Motorhead, Kenny G, Josh White, Crosby Stills and Nash....but the best concert????That's easy. ALICE COOPER. I urge you to rent Alice Cooper's Live at Montreaux (the most recent concert dvd he's done) or the recently rereleased dvd The Nightmare Returns...filmed in the eighties in Detroit. Next to Cooper...Meatloaf. I don't know what to tell you, but those two performers are astonishing live. I say that, with the list I have above. David Bowie wasn't too bad either.