I was never a frequent attendee at live shows, and I never saw any stadium shows at all. I did enjoy seeing artists in theatre-sized rooms, and occasionally in smaller venues like the Cleveland Agora or Beachland Ballroom. I started making a list a while back as a memory exercise, and it's beginning to feel about as complete as I'm ever going to achieve. I'm going to try to be chronological as best I can. Hopefully I'll get the decade right. I did a list of my favorites here if you want to check it out. So here goes:
The Rolling Stones 1966 Cleveland Arena. My older brother's date got sick last minute and my mom made him take me. It's the only time I saw the Stones, and I don't remember much, but I can see the stage in my mind from where we sat. I was 11.
Lemon Pipers, Rotary Connection 1968 Cleveland Music Hall. My brother played bass. I went with my parents. I fell in love with Rotary Connection, and the amazing voice of Minnie Ripperton.
Chambers Brothers 1968-69? Cleveland Music Hall. I loved the Chambers Brothers. They were really good live, very energetic. I think my mom took me.
The Band 1970 Cleveland Music Hall. One of my most memorable concerts. They were outstanding, doing two hours with an intermission and no opener.
Jethro Tull, Lee Michaels, Clouds 1970 Allen Theatre. Michaels was doing the stuff from his eponymous record with just him on B3 and Frosty on drums. They were killer, and very loud. Tull was good too. The weird bit where Ian Anderson wrapped his leg around the mic stand was wacky.
Little Richard, New York Rock Ensemble, several other bands, Cleveland Public Hall 1970. I got too high at this show, and the New York Rock Ensemble got me through the worst of it and saved me from a visit to the ER. They were one hot band.
Fanny, James Gang, Glass Harp, New York Rock Ensemble, some others 1972? Edgewater Park. So I'm very shaky on this, and it may have been two different shows a year apart. Fanny was great live, and everything amazing you've heard about James Gang is true. I absolutely loved New York Rock Ensemble.
Bruce Springsteen 1975 John Carrol Fieldhouse. A top ten show. Before Born To Run was released, and they were, well, early live Springsteen when he was the only guitarist. They did lots of The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle.
Sons of Champlin, The Tubes 1975 San Diego. I loved and still love the Sons of Champlin. I had no idea they were in town. I was in a record store and bought their new self-released album. The guy at the register asked if I was going that night to see them, and he sold me tickets. Terry Haggerty is one of my favorite guitarists ever. I liked the Tubes more than I thought I would.
Various 70s shows: Loggins and Messina/Little River Band Cleveland Music Hall (Little River band were really good), Average White Band Music Hall, Beach Boys Blossom, Jimmy Buffett (at least three times) Music Hall, Blossom, Stevie Ray Vaughn (and I think B B King on the same bill) Blossom, Boz Scaggs/Melissa Manchester John Carrol Field House, Barnstorm/Todd Rundgren, Starstruck, Kinks (on a bad night) Music Hall, Van Morrison (also a bad night) Music Hall, two bands I absolutely love, and both put on disappointing shows. Morrison was going through some kind of stage fright stage and had his back to the audience most of the night. Ray Davies was just too drunk.
Rockpile/Carlene Carter Cleveland Music Hall 1978. Rockpile were so special, with Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner, and Terry Williams. As much talent as any other four guys. Carlene was dating or maybe married to Nick, and she was great with them behind her.
Elvis Costello/The Rubinoos The Agora 1979. Costello and The Attractions were just one of the most tight ensembles ever to plow their music into your ears. And the Rubinoos were a blast. Another of the top ten.
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