It is the Holiday season with the usual going on, wars, terrorism, (too close to home in my case), Donald Trump, etc. So, it is a time for memories. We have been playing and listening to a lot of older music which made me think of all of the concerts I have been to "in my life."
So.
I want to list all of the concerts I have been to in my lifetime, and some of the memories that came with them. Most of them came in the Sixties and Seventies, when I was a young adult. My wife and I still go to concerts occasionally.
By importance, and most memorable: (my memory will be assisted by Wikipedia, YouTube, etc.)
1. The Beatles,
Tokyo, Japan, Nippon Budokan, 2 July 1966
Third to last Beatles' concert as a group ever. (not counting the "Let It Be" rooftop concert on 30 January 1969)
My family was living in Japan because my Navy man father was stationed at Atsugi Naval Air base at the time. My sister is a long-time fanatic, (she recently went to a Paul McCartney concert)
She had a bought a ticket for herself. I was going to college in Tokyo. (another story, I discussed in another blog). She also wanted to go back to the US for summer. She did decide to go back with my mother, so she gave me the ticket. We had gone to some rock concerts in Tokyo, already, so I thought it would be fun. I had also, been to Nippon Budokan to watch a friend at a Judo tournament which was its main function. The Beatles playing there caused quite a stir.
The concert was memorable because obviously, it was one of the last ones by them. The other was how amazing an experience it was. I was one of a few American males in the audience of thousands of screaming Japanese girls. The scene was surreal, since Tokyo police officers came down every aisle and sat on the steps of each row of the whole stadium, and when a girl would stand up and scream, the officer would shove them down, Of course, I could not hear the music, but luckily the Beatles played for about a half an hour and left. It was probably the shortest concert I had ever been to. (including jazz, classical, pop, local concerts)
YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S3kttyy0Ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqQyCyrS5U0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz71Xrt-smE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz71Xrt-smE
2. Rolling Stones,
Altamont Speedway Free Festival - December 6, 1969
From fun and frivolous, to where the fantasy met the real world, and the real world won.
I was in the Air Force stationed at an Air base in Sacramento in 1969. My friends and I had been going to rock concerts in San Francisco and Sacramento, and we partied on the weekends together at different places. We all got together to go to the "free" concert, which it was not on many levels. Everyone paid, with "Sympathy from the Devil." It was considered the end of Peace and Love and Hippies.
From fun and frivolous, to where the fantasy met the real world, and the real world won.
I was in the Air Force stationed at an Air base in Sacramento in 1969. My friends and I had been going to rock concerts in San Francisco and Sacramento, and we partied on the weekends together at different places. We all got together to go to the "free" concert, which it was not on many levels. Everyone paid, with "Sympathy from the Devil." It was considered the end of Peace and Love and Hippies.
Gimme Shelter-movie, I have the VHS of it. (I saw the movie when it came out and saw a friend in it. She was at the stage, when all hell broke out. She said she did make it to the front, but we did not believe her because of the amount of people and chaos. She had disappeared from our group.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qTKsylrpsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQzNtYsf5D4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qTKsylrpsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQzNtYsf5D4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamont_Free_Concert
3. Led Zeppelin
3. Led Zeppelin
6 November 1969-Winterland Ballroom - San Francisco, California
A friend and I traveled from Sacramento to San Francisco to stay the weekend and go to a concert. We had to choose between the Rolling Stones who were playing in Oakland with Ike and Tina Turner, or the new group, Led Zeppelin at Winterland in San Francisco. We decided on Led Zep since their music was more popular at the time and new to us. Very memorable show, but as the old saying goes, if you remember it, you probably were not there. I just remember my friend disappeared, and all I saw was a lot of hair.
5 April 1970-Baltimore Civic Center (Royal Farms Arena)
My sister and I were staying with friends in DC, and we heard that Led Zep was playing in Baltimore. We borrowed a car and drove to the concert and checked out Baltimore.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=led+zeppelin+live+concerts
A friend and I traveled from Sacramento to San Francisco to stay the weekend and go to a concert. We had to choose between the Rolling Stones who were playing in Oakland with Ike and Tina Turner, or the new group, Led Zeppelin at Winterland in San Francisco. We decided on Led Zep since their music was more popular at the time and new to us. Very memorable show, but as the old saying goes, if you remember it, you probably were not there. I just remember my friend disappeared, and all I saw was a lot of hair.
5 April 1970-Baltimore Civic Center (Royal Farms Arena)
My sister and I were staying with friends in DC, and we heard that Led Zep was playing in Baltimore. We borrowed a car and drove to the concert and checked out Baltimore.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=led+zeppelin+live+concerts
4. Janis Joplin-Big Brother and the Holding Co. Many times-
| July 7,1968-Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA |
|
5. Cream- Monday, 20 May 1968-Exhibit Hall-San Diego
6. The Who-Exhibit Hall-San Diego
7. The Byrds-Exhibit Hall-San Diego
8. Simon and Garfunkel-Exhibit Hall-San Diego
9. Return to Forever- -Chick Correa-San Diego
Exhibit Hall-San Diego
8. Simon and Garfunkel-Exhibit Hall-San Diego
9. Return to Forever- -Chick Correa-San Diego
Exhibit Hall-San Diego
10. Grateful Dead-many times:
2/27/1969- Fillmore West-San Francisco w/Pentangle
9/22/1968-Festival Del Mar, CA
2/27/1969- Fillmore West-San Francisco w/Pentangle
9/22/1968-Festival Del Mar, CA
12/11/1972-Winterland-San Francisco, CA
11. Procol Harem-Robin Trower ((Robin Trower played at a local pub a few years ago-great show)
12. Quicksilver Messenger Service - three times-Fillmore West-San Francisco, San Diego-Del Mar
13. Love with Arthur Lee-Whiskey Ago-go-Jimmy Hendrix was in the club-he walked right by
14. Doug Kershaw-Las Vegas-see my blog regarding my name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekGPH_aHeHY
https://rockandrollroadmap.com/places/where-they-played/other-rock-music-venues/lake-amador-gold-rush-festival/
All-day rock "Autumn Equinox" festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, in Del Mar, CA, near San Diego, held on Sunday, September 22, 1968:
Quicksilver Messenger Service/Grateful Dead/Buddy Miles Express (formerly The Electric Flag)/Youngbloods/Taj Mahal/Mother Earth/Sons of Champlin/Ace of Cups/Phoenix/Curly Cooke's Hurdy Gurdy Band,
I do not remember a lot about this festival other than it was very nice day at Del Mar. That I was surprised to see all of these San Francisco bands in one place, That the Grateful Dead played an awful long set which caused Quicksilver to play a very short set due to Curfew rules. Quicksilver was and remains one of my favorite San Francisco bands. So, I remember being somewhat upset with the Grateful Dead.
http://rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2010/12/september-22-1968-del-mar-fairgrounds.html
Santana-many times- Glen Helen, San Bernardino,
13. Love with Arthur Lee-Whiskey Ago-go-Jimmy Hendrix was in the club-he walked right by
14. Doug Kershaw-Las Vegas-see my blog regarding my name
Lake Amador -Gold Rush Music Festival - 10/4/1969 - near Sacramento
Santana, Ike and Tina Turner, Taj Mahal, Bo Diddley, Albert Collins, Sons of Champlin, Cold Blood,
This was a really nice festival at a lake in the Sierra Foothills. It was more like Woodstock than Altamont-ironically, they all were close together. I went with friends from Sacramento. But we got separated, so I ended up hitch hiking back, and actually "got stuck in Lodi."
https://rockandrollroadmap.com/places/where-they-played/other-rock-music-venues/lake-amador-gold-rush-festival/
All-day rock "Autumn Equinox" festival at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, in Del Mar, CA, near San Diego, held on Sunday, September 22, 1968:
Quicksilver Messenger Service/Grateful Dead/Buddy Miles Express (formerly The Electric Flag)/Youngbloods/Taj Mahal/Mother Earth/Sons of Champlin/Ace of Cups/Phoenix/Curly Cooke's Hurdy Gurdy Band,
I do not remember a lot about this festival other than it was very nice day at Del Mar. That I was surprised to see all of these San Francisco bands in one place, That the Grateful Dead played an awful long set which caused Quicksilver to play a very short set due to Curfew rules. Quicksilver was and remains one of my favorite San Francisco bands. So, I remember being somewhat upset with the Grateful Dead.
http://rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2010/12/september-22-1968-del-mar-fairgrounds.html
| 08 August 1969 | Family Dog on The Beach, San Francisco, CA Country Joe and The Fish, Goshen Mustang Light Company, Kevin, Steve Fisher, Tongue and Groove, Tyrannosaurus Rex (Marc Bolin) |
Culture Club-Greek Theatre-7/2015
Los Lonely Boys-Indio-Fantasy Springs Casino-July 30, 2011
Los Lobos-Indio-Fantasy Springs Casino-July 30, 2011
Caifanes-San Manuel Casino, San Bernardino-5/28/2015
War-San Manuel Casino, San Bernardino-
Malo, Tierra, El Chicano-San Manuel Casino, San Bernardino-
Los Lonely Boys-Indio-Fantasy Springs Casino-July 30, 2011
Los Lobos-Indio-Fantasy Springs Casino-July 30, 2011
Caifanes-San Manuel Casino, San Bernardino-5/28/2015
War-San Manuel Casino, San Bernardino-
Malo, Tierra, El Chicano-San Manuel Casino, San Bernardino-
Smothers Brothers-San Manuel Casino, San Bernardino
San Manuel Casino is only a few minutes from our home, so we go there often. The above concerts were in a concert hall setting. In late 2016, the casino made some changes, one being they put in a large restaurant, concert venue call Rock n Brews," which is a franchise owned partly by KISS members. Every night, they presented a live band, mostly tribute bands, My wife and went to a number of them.
Credence CCR tribute band-2/23/2017
ZZ Top tribute band-5/25/2017
Rolling Stones tribute band-7/7/2017
Blues band-7/18/2017
Levi Platero-Indian rock and blues band-7/26/2017
Simon and Garfunkel-Exhibit Hall-San Diego
Deep Purple-San Diego
Chicago-Fabulous Forum-Inglewood
Jefferson Airplane-Altamont, Fillmore West
Ike and Tina Turner-twice
Judy Collins
Peter and Gordon-Japan
Dick Dale-National City-early 60's
Flying Burrito Bros.
Black Sabbath-Seattle
Bronze Hog- House band at Inn of the Beginning-Cotati, California
John Lee Hooker-Inn of the Beginning-Cotati, California
I went to Sonoma State University, and the coolest place was the Inn.
History:
http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2010/07/8201-old-redwood-highway-cotati-ca-inn.html
Clover-(I do not remember if Huey Lewis was a member, then) Uncle Sam's-Guerneville, CA-another cool place in the same area
Herbie Hancock-San Rafael, California-1973
Sun Ra-Sacramento
Albert Collins-Seattle
Sly and the Family Stone-Sacramento
Lee Michaels-Sacramento
Joe Cocker-Leon Russell, etc.-24 April1970- Greatest show on Earth-Winterland-San Francisco
Simon and Garfunkel-Exhibit Hall-San Diego
Deep Purple-San Diego
Chicago-Fabulous Forum-Inglewood
Jefferson Airplane-Altamont, Fillmore West
Ike and Tina Turner-twice
Judy Collins
Peter and Gordon-Japan
Dick Dale-National City-early 60's
Flying Burrito Bros.
Black Sabbath-Seattle
Bronze Hog- House band at Inn of the Beginning-Cotati, California
John Lee Hooker-Inn of the Beginning-Cotati, California
I went to Sonoma State University, and the coolest place was the Inn.
History:
http://lostlivedead.blogspot.com/2010/07/8201-old-redwood-highway-cotati-ca-inn.html
Clover-(I do not remember if Huey Lewis was a member, then) Uncle Sam's-Guerneville, CA-another cool place in the same area
Herbie Hancock-San Rafael, California-1973
Sun Ra-Sacramento
Albert Collins-Seattle
Sly and the Family Stone-Sacramento
Lee Michaels-Sacramento
Joe Cocker-Leon Russell, etc.-24 April1970- Greatest show on Earth-Winterland-San Francisco
Leon Russell, Fillmore Weat
Ten Years After-Fillmore West
Miles Davis-Berkeley Jazz Festival-1973
Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass etc.-Concord Jazz Festival -1973
Etta James-House of Blues Club-Sunset
Bobby Blue Bland-Las Vegas
Astrud Gilberto-Hollywood
Shakira, etc.-Rock en Español festival- San Bernardino
Bean Brothers-Sunset strip
Pandora's Box-Sunset-before the riots
General Public-UCLA
Dave Wakeling- English Beat-General Public-Santa Monica
Blodwyn Pig-Fillmore West
Fairport Convention-Fillmore West
Pentangle/with Grateful Dead-Fillmore West
Cold Blood-Fillmore West
Isaac Hayes-Winterland
Curtis Mayfield-Superfly days-27 January 1973-Winterland
Van Morrison-26 May 1972-Winterland
Spirit-San Diego
Sting-LA-Hollywood Bowl
Gipsy Kings-LA-Greek Theatre
Sonora Santanera-Mexico City
Front Porch Ministry-LA-private party - club in Hollywood
Freakdaddy-LA-Private Party
Betty Blowtorch-Hollywood
El Ves-Hollywood
Another Elvis-Costa Mesa
Gato Barbieri-Costa Mesa
Rashan Roland Kirk-Berkeley-1973
November 4th and 5th 2017
We went to Ozzfest meets Knotfest at Glen Helen over the weekend. We saw
Ozzy Osborne, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and other Metal groups with 60,000 of our closest friends. It was a lot of fun. We have not been to a festival concert for many years. I was very impressed with the younger concert crowd. Everyone was nice and friendly, and just wanted to have fun. There were a number of people of course who were somewhere else, but I saw no malice or bad vibes at all. Everyone was there to listen to the noise and have fun.
http://www.sbsun.com/2017/11/05/5-of-the-most-memorable-moments-from-ozzfest-2017/
http://www.sbsun.com/2017/11/06/marilyn-manson-goes-for-a-shock-while-rob-zombie-stone-sour-rock-at-knotfest-2017/
The Cruel World Festival is an annual music festival held at the Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. It was founded in 2020, and is organized by Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of AEG Presents. The festival revolves around the new wave, post-punk, gothic rock and alternative rock genres. In the park, several stages continuously host live music.
Cruel World Festival showcases popular and established musical artists as well as reunited groups. The first edition on May 14 and 15, 2022, featured Morrissey, Bauhaus and Blondie among more than 25 artists. We attendedx it on May 14. It was great.
Santana at the House of Blues, Las Vegas, May 22,2022
Danny Elfman, October 29, 2922 Hollywood Bowl
