# Concerts nobody else here has seen

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** music\
**Created:** [July 28, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899 "2024-07-28T16:32:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 22

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**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/421 "2024-08-09T00:50:13Z")

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Probably no one here saw Phish this week with surprise set with Billy Strings.

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/422 "2024-08-09T01:13:32Z")

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Did you know he almost joined Van Halen?

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/423 "2024-08-09T01:14:56Z")

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I remember reading somewhere about a Doors parody band called “Jimbo And The Lizard Kings.” Never seen any other references to them, but I love the idea.

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**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/424 "2024-08-09T16:58:09Z")

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The discussion of Styx and Kansas in the “Well regarded bands you don’t like” thread reminds me that I saw the last\* show that Steve Walsh played with Kansas. They were scheduled to play at the University of Kansas during that tour but the show was canceled when someone in the band was sick, so they tacked it on to the end of the tour. Then Steve Walsh went solo.

\* Then a few years later he came crawling back when his solo career fizzled.

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**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/425 "2024-08-09T18:35:12Z")

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I saw Donovan at the Viper Room in 1995. Might have been my first concert once I’d moved to L.A., but I’m not sure. He had just released a record produced by Rick Rubin; it was around that time that Rubin had resuscitated Johnny Cash’s career but his platinum touch didn’t work with every act. It was an odd show: all the classics sounded amazing (especially “Catch the Wind” and “Season of the Witch” the latter of which was used effectively in the film _To Die For_ within a month or so of this concert). But every new song, so about half the set, was terrible, like a parody of fey hippie blatherings. And they all began with “And it goes…a little something…like this…” A mixed bag overall.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/426 "2024-08-09T23:31:44Z")

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> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> Did you know he almost joined Van Halen?

I don’t think that would have worked. At least I can’t wrap my head around it.

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/427 "2024-08-09T23:42:33Z")

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[Patty Smyth](https://www.vhnd.com/2020/07/26/patty-smyth-regrets-turning-down-offer-to-join-van-halen/) was Eddie Van Halen’s original choice to replace David Lee Roth.

ETA: I’m not sure how I would have felt about that. I love her as a singer, but I’m not sure that would have been a good fit, given their musical library at the time. It’s hard to imagine her singing _Hot for Teacher_, for example.

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/428 "2024-08-09T23:47:25Z")

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> [@veryfrank](#):
>
> I saw Donovan at the Viper Room in 1995.

Did his introduction to “Hurdy Gurdy Man” include his pompous story about how he taught George Harrison how to write songs.

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**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/429 "2024-08-10T00:16:22Z")

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> [@Maserschmidt](#):
>
> I suppose I should mention The Go-Go’s,

Saw them multiple times, all after they reunited.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/430 "2024-08-10T00:24:23Z")

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Michelle Lee gave a concert for military folks way-y-y-y back in the 60s. I saw her when she was mostly a singer with aspirations to be an actor.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/431 "2024-08-10T01:28:00Z")

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> [@silenus](#):
>
> The shrimp truly lived up to its name.

Indeed! It was a favorite splurge (kinda pricy for me at the time) when I was down yonder.

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**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/432 "2024-08-10T14:13:54Z")

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Well, I saw _Bill Bruford’s Earthworks_ back in December 2000. Not really the same, though!

And I saw Donovan maybe 5 years ago and really enjoyed the show; I didn’t bother going to see him play very locally in the mid-70s and kind of regretted it ever since. Did take me around 40 years to correct my mistake though!

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**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/433 "2024-08-10T16:30:15Z")

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I saw KC & the Sunshine Band at a festival in Schaumburg several years ago.

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**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/434 "2024-08-10T16:37:10Z")

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> [@dirtball](#):
>
> Pretty sure I’m the only one who has mentioned Gong (so far).

Well, I saw Gong in 1973. Looking them up in Wiki, it appears Steve Hillage is from the same London Borough as me. Interesting.

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**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/435 "2024-08-10T17:44:35Z")

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I saw them (KC & the Sunshine Band) at a casino in Arizona. Great show!

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**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/436 "2024-08-10T17:59:47Z")

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Yeah, I was dragged to see KC & The Sunshine Band at a county fair a few years ago. As much as I tried not to, I enjoyed the show.

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/437 "2024-08-10T18:33:22Z")

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Don’t think anyone has mentioned seeing The Clash yet. '82, I think. Drove from Champaign up to the Aragon Brawlroom in Chicago and back the same night. General admission. My buddy said, “We can get right up to the front of the stage.” Pretty much fought our way up there, but couldn’t stand it for more than a song.

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**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/438 "2024-08-10T19:29:32Z")

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> [@eburacum45](#):
>
> > [@dirtball](#):
> >
> > Pretty sure I’m the only one who has mentioned Gong (so far).
> 
> Well, I saw Gong in 1973. Looking them up in Wiki, it appears Steve Hillage is from the same London Borough as me. Interesting.

1979 for me. I’m pretty sure it was officially one of the off periods in the band’s tumultuous and tangled on-again, off-again history, but I’m also pretty sure they were billed straight-up as Gong by the promoters for this event. They were headlining an all-day festival, and the other bands included Mother Gong.

We also have tickets for an upcoming show in October (with, of course, a completely different lineup).

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/439 "2024-08-10T22:26:13Z")

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Patty Smyth is now married to John McEnroe. Her first husband was punk rocker Richard Hell, nee’ Lester Myers, of the Voidoids. The thing I remember about it was that they met at a record industry function and married a few months later - and neither of them had ever heard of the other! She had never followed the punk scene, and he didn’t watch MTV or listen to Top 40 radio.

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerts-nobody-else-here-has-seen/1004899/440 "2024-08-10T22:41:17Z")

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> [@nearwildheaven](#):
>
> Patty Smyth is now married to John McEnroe.

For some reason, whenever I see this factoid - person named Patti married to pro tennis player from my youth, I think of Patti McQuire - who is married to Jimmy Connors.

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