OT: The Music Thread Part Six

[GordonHowe]

Thirty years ago tonight I attended (actually ushered) a Bruce rehearsal show at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank NJ.

I had stayed home sick with a sinus infection. A friend called and said Bruce is playing tonight at Count Basie and the theater manager (a friend of hers) was looking for ushers.

Tickets for the show were announced in the classified section of the paper that day.

It rained like crazy but I jumped in the car and drove to Jersey.

We volunteered to guard the first row, where people would be upgraded from the balcony.

This is a photo of me (far left) and Bruce.
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And Bruce climbing around the stage.
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And my friend Mon getting my Nebraska signed.
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And here’s Bruce singing Achy Breaky Heart. Sort of.


I will never forget that night!!

I don't see anyone in the first picture but Bruce. Where are you?

Like Darkness On the Edge of Town, Nebraska (1982) is a dark ride.

Sandwiched between The River, a double album that sold well and produced a hit or two ("Hungry Heart," anyone?) and the cultural and commercial phenomena Born in the USA, Nebraska was that most hackneyed of pop cliches, the "transitional album."

In a way, it was. As those who have heard it know, it's a largely acoustic affair that, if memory serves, Bruce recorded at home on a reel to reel. (In his kitchen? His bedroom? I forget).

A spooky record,

 

[Blowfish]

Loving this band!!!

 

[Raleighfern]

Loving this band!!!

love this band as well!

 

[StrBender]

I was at this show 15 years ago:

(NSFW)


And they always close it with a cover

Who would have thought that Lee would become a big-time Attorney in Boston? And Dave is a successful producer and studio owner?

 

[RoccoF14]

........ I went backward in their discography from there, though I never bought or heard Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash.

Well then we will have to fix that....



Filmed live in '81 at the 7th St Entry. This was the secondary stage of the legendary First Avenue concert venue in Minneapolis. Seen a few shows here........A 14 year old Tommy Stinson on bass.

 

[RoccoF14]

Loving this band!!!

I'm a big fan as well. If you are just getting into them, check out their live album Light Fuse, Get Away. Its one of my favorite records. The song Space Wrangler is always in the rotation for my workout playlist.....

 

[jgatie]

Who would have thought that Lee would become a big-time Attorney in Boston? And Dave is a successful producer and studio owner?

Yep, and they could still rock even in their 50s. I saw them at The Beachcomber, both Quincy and Wellfleet, not their normal venues, and what amazed me the most is the people who'd never seen them before were slackjawed, they were that stunned that this band was playing small clubs.

 

[GordonHowe]

Neil Young, Responding To The Cure Ticketmaster Fiasco, Says Touring Is Broken

The Cure’s Robert Smith has been the latest star musician raising the alarm about Ticketmaster and the deeply dysfunctional system related to the sale and purchase of concert tickets in America. And although Smith got Ticketmaster to issue small refunds to Cure fans in light of their “unduly...

www.stereogum.com

 

[Raleighfern]

I'm a big fan as well. If you are just getting into them, check out their live album Light Fuse, Get Away. Its one of my favorite records. The song Space Wrangler is always in the rotation for my workout playlist.....

its a great live record. branford marsalis plays on a cut. very nice.

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

So I guess a lot of people have known for like 23 years that this album is amazing. I just found out

 

[Blowfish]

Neil Young, Responding To The Cure Ticketmaster Fiasco, Says Touring Is Broken

The Cure’s Robert Smith has been the latest star musician raising the alarm about Ticketmaster and the deeply dysfunctional system related to the sale and purchase of concert tickets in America. And although Smith got Ticketmaster to issue small refunds to Cure fans in light of their “unduly...

www.stereogum.com

Darn it...any chance you can summarize?

 

[GordonHowe]

Darn it...any chance you can summarize?

Sorry if the link I didn't work. Basically Neil's just saying that the whole concert industry is a mess, and it's over. The whole Ticketmaster thing, and the fact that they take 30% in fees, o the Taylor Swift thing, been saying, etc etc etc. It's a dirty f****** business music unfortunately has always been a very dirty businesses But as with movies and other entertainment, post-covid
So I don't know. Those of you who enjoy concerts you want to go to that Bruce Springsteen concert etc. Good for you. But you will have to negotiate the treacherous shoals of a mutating, dying, music venue business. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that s***.

Good luck,

M

 

[JAD]

Nazareth

Love Hurts

 

[Orr Fourever]

Habs surrender to the B's...

 

[aguineapig]

Bertuzzi

"Watch out for the gun, snake on the run, hide in my hair"
"I'm a battery louse,a superstar mouse, I don't care"

 

[StrBender]

Yep, and they could still rock even in their 50s. I saw them at The Beachcomber, both Quincy and Wellfleet, not their normal venues, and what amazed me the most is the people who'd never seen them before were slackjawed, they were that stunned that this band was playing small clubs.

To this day they're one of my favorite bands. When they needed to add a second guitarist I begged Dave for the spot. But I didn't get it! Glad they didn't stay as a 4 piece for long.

 

[Number8]

Saw Bruce on Monday night at the Garden. As always, just an amazing show. Been to dozens of concerts, but no one comes close for me.

Sorry for short and crappy clip -- but size wouldn't let me load properly. Wanted everyone to know that the Boss digs what's happening in the Garden these days....

 

[EvilDead]

 

[Blowfish]

Sorry if the link I didn't work. Basically Neil's just saying that the whole concert industry is a mess, and it's over. The whole Ticketmaster thing, and the fact that they take 30% in fees, o the Taylor Swift thing, been saying, etc etc etc. It's a dirty f****** business music unfortunately has always been a very dirty businesses But as with movies and other entertainment, post-covid
So I don't know. Those of you who enjoy concerts you want to go to that Bruce Springsteen concert etc. Good for you. But you will have to negotiate the treacherous shoals of a mutating, dying, music venue business. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that s***.

Good luck,

M

A friend of mine continues to attend large music venues (Bruce S last night). No way I'm paying that money to see large venue concert.

I prefer much smaller bar scene venues. Could be a local band or a venue that has a capacity up to approximately 500. Something smaller.

 

[Blowfish]

Three bands I hope to see perform live before I move on in the galaxy (hopefully smaller venues)....

 

[Number8]

A friend of mine continues to attend large music venues (Bruce S last night). No way I'm paying that money to see large venue concert.

I prefer much smaller bar scene venues. Could be a local band or a venue that has a capacity up to approximately 500. Something smaller.

I agree and almost always avoid big venues.

My only exception is Bruce (went this Monday) now and in the past. Saw him in early 80's in Garden, Worcester Centrum, then over years at Great Woods, in New York, etc. If I could have somehow been able to see him at the Stone Pony good lord I would have maybe sold my soul.

I've seen dozens and dozens of some really great bands (live shows have always been my major passion) and for me (music and any art is totally subjective -- love what you love) he is by far the best show out there. By a long shot. So my rule of thumb with him has been if I can get tickets, I'd see him in a cave or in the middle of an ocean. Particularly as time goes on, nothing is guaranteed that you'll get another shot.

Outside of that, I prefer (like you) to see bands in places like the 9:30 Club (DC) and Paradise (Boston), etc.

 

[Blowfish]

I agree and almost always avoid big venues.

My only exception is Bruce (went this Monday) now and in the past. Saw him in early 80's in Garden, Worcester Centrum, then over years at Great Woods, in New York, etc. If I could have somehow been able to see him at the Stone Pony good lord I would have maybe sold my soul.

I've seen dozens and dozens of some really great bands (live shows have always been my major passion) and for me (music and any art is totally subjective -- love what you love) he is by far the best show out there. By a long shot. So my rule of thumb with him has been if I can get tickets, I'd see him in a cave or in the middle of an ocean. Particularly as time goes on, nothing is guaranteed that you'll get another shot.

Outside of that, I prefer (like you) to see bands in places like the 9:30 Club (DC) and Paradise (Boston), etc.

Bruce is the one artist I would spend $$$. Only because I missed out when the ticket prices were more favourable. Grrrr

Yup music so subjective. I love the range of music shared in our forum. Excellent! Learned some great new stuff.

 

[jgatie]

I agree and almost always avoid big venues.

My only exception is Bruce (went this Monday) now and in the past. Saw him in early 80's in Garden, Worcester Centrum, then over years at Great Woods, in New York, etc. If I could have somehow been able to see him at the Stone Pony good lord I would have maybe sold my soul.

My sister was racing horses out of Freehold back in the late 70's. Aerosmith was doing a few small shows to warm up for a national tour, and they played the Stone Pony. My sister got tickets, and Bruce got up with them to do the encores.

I never get that lucky. I missed a couple impromptu appearances, one by The Beastie Boys at Axis, and then Prince at The Metro, both because "There's nothing going on there tonight." I also famously passed on seeing this:



Because "They're just another California hair band." I know, I'm an idiot.

 

[Number8]

Bruce is the one artist I would spend $$$. Only because I missed out when the ticket prices were more favourable. Grrrr

Yup music so subjective. I love the range of music shared in our forum. Excellent! Learned some great new stuff.

I'm with you. So many bands I was juuuuust a bit too late on in terms of that. Some I hit really well and had the joy of seeing early days. Not sure my batting record is going to win me any awards though.

I'm with you. I love this Music Forum Thread. Awesome stuff and I learn a great deal.

Sometimes I get a bit jealous though. For example every once in a while someone will talk about seeing someone like The Clash live. What was I thinking??? Had to have been some way I could have scrounged up a ticket. And sadly, that ship has sailed.

My sister was racing horses out of Freehold back in the late 70's. Aerosmith was doing a few small shows to warm up for a national tour, and they played the Stone Pony. My sister got tickets, and Bruce got up with them to do the encores.

I never get that lucky. I missed a couple impromptu appearances, one by The Beastie Boys at Axis, and then Prince at The Metro, both because "There's nothing going on there tonight." I also famously passed on seeing this:



Because "They're just another California hair band." I know, I'm an idiot.

I feel for you. I have a few of those "Oh my god, I'm such an idiot" moments.

And I suspect we are not alone. The old "Naah, I don't feel like it tonight" has bit me several of us in the ass once or twice, is my guess.

 

[BourqueFromORRk4277]

Coolskie.

I was a lead singer in a high school band and later, GB bands, years ago. Attended Berklee as a voice major but could not crack Harmony 1-4. Transferred to NU/English, then MA/Journalism from NU as well.

I would love to learn the drums. As with the Harmony classes, I have no head for playing guitar. I suspect a moderate case of childhood dyslexia is responsible. I have no idea how musicians who play rhythm guitar, never mind lead guitar, can do so and sing at the same time. Completely beyond my ken.

PS: Saw the Replacements at the then decrepit Opera House in '89, Don't Tell a Soul tour. Their last.

Never liked that album, as it appeared plain to me that it represented a "sell out" of sorts, and a last gasp attempt at commercial success -- the very thing Paul Westerberg always pretended the band was above,



By this time, of course, Westerberg & Co. exchanged their "street cred" for a (failed attempt) at a radio hit, via a... music video.

And that, as they say, was that.

PPS Even so, big fan of their swan song, which is essentially Westerberg's solo debut, the beautifully ramshackle, exhausted All Shook Down (1990),

All Shook Down - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Paul joins Joanie,

I loved Don't Tell a Soul back in High School. Of course, it was the first Mats album I bought. I had only seen the "Bastards of Young" music video on 120 minutes before that.

The Neighborhoods are also great. I didn't know about them until some time in the 90s, but this is probably one of my favorite Youtube videos:




edit: Just found this Mtv Mats interview from 89.