I’ve seen more operas than rock concerts.
Nowadays, that’s not surreal but pretty freakin’ bizarre. But it’s what I got. 
Third Eye Blind onboard NAS Pensacola - concert was outdoors on a landing apron alongside the intracoastal waterway. 'twas a stormy night in P’cola, but it was not raining at NAS. There was lightning all around and when it would get ‘active’ the band would slow down, get somewhat quiet but kept playing (it was a benefit for the military, Navy folks), one memorable part was when there was pink lightning appearing to circle above the Naval Air Station.
After the band finished, on our way back to the car the bottom fell out of the storm - big drops, very fast.
In 1994 a friend and I were in Barcelona walking down the street when we saw a small poster on a building.
“Hey!”, said my friend, “Pink Floyd is playing tonight! We are going!”
I didn’t know much about music at that point and I basically said, “Pink Floyd? Who are they? Uhh… ya, ok, I guess I’ll go. Whatever.”
We walked two blocks to a city kiosk and wouldn’t you know it, they still had tickets.
We got to the show, which was general admission, and simply walked up to the very front, the very centre. The show was held in the same stadium where the Olympics were held and there were about 60,000 there.
This was my first concert with more than, say, 200 people in attendance, and it was Pink Floyd’s “Pulse”, front row-centre.
So, needless to say, my mind was completely blown.
Not mine, but my wife’s:
A friend dragged her to a KISS concert in the mid 70s. The crowd was mostly junior-high-schoolers with their parents. Wife felt they needed a Proper Rock Concert Experience to get their money’s worth so she stood in a corner of the stairwell offering “Ludes, acid, speed,” and whatever else came to mind. Parents were shocked, kids were pushed away from the scary lady, and Wife had fun.
FTR, “They put on a helluva show.”
I saw Rage Against the Machine in the early 90’s right when their first album came out. It was one of their first shows at a mid-level venue and I went to see it because I’d liked Zack’s (singer) earlier bands and I liked their new album a little. The intensity was great, the rock was awesome…but I had to go with my dad! Look, I love my dad, but no show is ever good if your parents are there with you.
After the show was over, I’m walking out with my pops who finally breaks the silence to say: “They sure said the f-word alot, didn’t they?”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I think I mumbled, “uh yeah…”
My first real rock show was hosted by the Siegel-Schwall Blues Band. They were one of the greatest bar bands ever and difficult to follow up on. However, after blowing off such crappy local bands as Cheap Trick for the shit they were, I was tripping for an outdoor concert featuring them, but also featuring some models from the Art Department who got into the sun-bathing swing of things.
I also met a fellow’s pet owl who could almost out-stare me with its wicked yellow eyes, but I realized that my condition gave me an unfair advantage that might blow the tiny mind of a dumb animal, so I broke it off. :rolleyes:
I slept well that night.
Is there anyone else who went to the Weely* Festival in '71?
*Not a typo.
Wally!
If you weren’t there you won’t get it.
A long, long time ago, some friends and I were going to see Marilyn Manson in an opening slot for Danzig. The opener for the show was Korn, who was relatively unknown at the time. They had just released their first album only a month or two earlier. While waiting in line, we were bullshitting with a lot of the people around us and met some pretty cool people. We finally got inside and the lights went down. Korn filed out onstage and …wait a second … isn’t that the guy that was in line behind us? He’s playing bass with Korn.
Why did he wait in line for his own show? I still don’t know.
Way back in the 70s, I was at a concert in Houston at the old Sam Houston Coliseum. I can’t remember exactly who was playing, but I think it was Suzi Quatro, Elvin Bishop and Uriah Heep.
Anyway, there was this guy with his girlfriend on his shoulders boogieing (to maintain the theme) away, when he slipped. She went down like a sack of potatoes and her head hit the concrete floor with an audible crack.
I thought she must be dead, but she jumped right up and continued to dance as if nothing had happened. All I could think was: I’ll have what she’s having.
Even without it, that sounds like an excellent concert.
Your story solidifies it. :eek: