- 12/01 Concert flashback #152: Tracy Chapman, Gary Clark, Jr., Jimmie Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Beth Hart & Bonnie Raitt honoring Buddy Guy and Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz and Heart honoring Led Zeppelin at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012.
- 12/02 Concert flashback #153: Kronos Quartet, Jeff Tweedy, Robert Glasper with Bilal and Black Thought, Gaby Moreno, Bon Iver, Margo Price & Tank & the Bangas for NPR Music Turns 10 at the 9:30 Club in 2017.
- 12/03 Concert flashback #154: Tenacious D at the Patriot Center in 2006.
- 12/04 Concert flashback #155: Garbage & Hole at the Patriot Center for the HFSMas Nutcracker in 1998. The 1998 show isn’t online, so enjoy Garbage there in 1995.
- 12/07 Concert flashback #156: emmet swimming, Sebadoh, The Lemonheads, Jewel, Bloodhound Gang, Social Distortion, The Wallflowers & Sheryl Crow at the Patriot Center for the HFSMas Nutcracker in 1996.
- 12/08 Concert flashback #157: Bruce Springsteen at Constitution Hall in 1995. Only time I’ve seen him solo.
- 12/09 Concert flashback #158: Zwan (Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin’s post The Smashing Pumpkins band) at MCI Center for the HFSMas Nutcracker in 2002. Too bad the James Brown set with the Pietasters as his backing band has never surfaced.
- 12/10 Concert flashback #159: Robbie Schaefer with Bernie Muller-Thym at Jammin’ Java in 2002.
- 12/11 Concert flashback #160: Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Constitution Hall in 2000. My first time seeing them, and I recall the smoke pouring over the edge of the stage into the seats.
- 12/14 Concert flashback #161: Getaway Car at Jammin’ Java in 2005. The holiday show that evolved into the Santa Clausterf*%k.
- 12/15 Concert flashback #162: Santa Clausterf*%k at Jammin’ Java in 2007.
Category: ConcertFlashback
November concert flashbacks
- 11/04 Concert flashback #136: Declassified: Ben Folds Presents Regina Spektor & Caleb Teicher at the Kennedy Center in 2018.
- 11/05 Concert flashback #137: Dead and Company at Verizon Center in 2015.
- 11/06 Concert flashback #138: Toto at Warner Theatre in 2018.
- 11/09 Concert flashback #139: Bruce Springsteen, The Black Keys, Rihanna, Eminem, Zac Brown Band, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood, Metallica, Dave Grohl, and Jessie J. at the Concert for Valor on the National Mall in 2014.
- 11/10 Concert flashback #140: Live at the WUST Radio Hall in 1994. Fun fact: Weezer opened with what was nearly identical to their headlining set the next spring.
- 11/11 Concert flashback #141: Tony Bennett, Boyz II Men, Gavin DeGraw, Josh Groban, Natalie Maines, John Mellencamp and LeAnn Rimes for the Gershwin Prize for Billy Joel at Constitution Hall in 2014. Always fun being on TV – thanks to my friend Hannah.
- 11/12 Concert flashback #142: Letters to Cleo at Union Stage in 2019.
- 11/13 Concert flashback #143: The New Pornographers at the 9:30 Club in 2014. Very SFW.
- 11/16 Concert flashback #144: O.A.R. at the 9:30 Club in 2002. An amazing show with Matt Nathanson opening and guest Junior Marvin (from the Wailers) playing Marley songs. I insisted Jill go the next night, but that show was only meh.
- 11/17 Concert flashback #145: Neko Case, Ledisi, Graham Nash, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds at Stand with Standing Rock benefit at Constitution Hall in 2016.
- 11/18 Concert flashback #146: Dave Matthews Band at The Bayou in 1993. My first DMB show, thanks to my sister insisting this band she’d seen at UVA was awesome. I remember playing the live tapes she had on my Dad’s stereo before we went. The show was sold out and we waited under the Whitehurst Freeway on a rainy night for people to leave, but finally got in during the second set and the show blew my mind. Coincidentally, the tape that survives is mostly the second set.
- 11/19 Concert flashback #147: Barenaked Ladies at MCI Center in 2000. Guster opened.
- 11/20 Concert flashback #148: The Excentrics at Jammin’ Java in 2013. So glad this reunion happened, and not just because drummer Spy passed recently.
- 11/23 Concert flashback #149: Stephen Kellogg at the Barns at Wolf Trap in 2014.
- 11/24 Concert flashback #150: Everclear & Save Ferris at the HFSmas Nutcracker at Patriot Center in 1997.
- 11/30 Concert flashback #151: Rush at Capital Centre in 1987.
October concert flashbacks
- 10/01 Concert flashback #114: Them Crooked Vultures at Stubb’s (in Austin TX) in 2009. Saw them three times that month (also only seen John Paul Jones three times).
- 10/02 Concert flashback #115: Van Halen at Wachovia Center in 2007. I would have missed their appearance in DC due to the Edhead cruise, and didn’t want to miss their reunion with David Lee Roth, so went up to Philly to see them (and got my “Geno’s Whiz wit”). In honor of listening to the show today, I had a cheesesteak and some chips with Geno’s flavoring for lunch.
- 10/05 Concert flashback #116: The String Cheese Incident at Patriot Center in 2003. I believe this was my first concert with Stuart as my concert buddy.
- 10/06 Concert flashback #117: Phish at Patriot Center in 1994. My first Phish show, and a good one.
- 10/07 Concert flashback #118: Paul Simon at the National Mall in 2000 for the Web MD Rock N Race. Decided to bring my camera, hoping I wouldn’t get busted.
- 10/08 Concert flashback #119: Lindsey Buckingham at State Theatre in 2006. Link has a hint to the next day’s flashback too.
- 10/09 Concert flashback #120: Eric Clapton at Verizon Center in 2006 with Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II playing a number of Derek and the Dominos songs.
- 10/12 Concert flashback #121: Grateful Dead at US Air Arena in 1994. My first and last Jerry show.
- 10/13 Concert flashback #122: Vote for Change at MCI Center in 2004. My review here.
- 10/14 Concert flashback #123: Foo Fighters at The Anthem in 2017.
- 10/15 Concert flashback #124: Chris Cornell at Strathmore in 2015.
- 10/16 Concert flashback #125: Peter Gabriel at Patriot Center in 2012. Got an official release too.
- 10/19 Concert flashback #126: Dave Matthews at The Paramount in 2001. The full story of why I flew across the country for one song.
- 10/20 Concert flashback #127: Roger Waters at Constitution Hall in 2015 for MusiCorps.
- 10/21 Concert flashback #128: Queen + Paul Rodgers at Continental Airlines Arena in 2005.
- 10/22 Concert flashback #129: Girlyman at The Birchmere in 2008.
- 10/23 Concert flashback #130: U2 at MCI Center in 2005.
- 10/26 Concert flashback #131: Backstreet Boys, Huey Lewis and the News, James Brown, Usher, Carole King, Al Green, Pink, Bette Midler, Aerosmith, America, P. Diddy, NSYNC, Destiny’s Child, Rod Stewart, Goo Goo Dolls, Train & Mariah Carey for United We Stand at RFK Stadium in 2001. Michael Jackson performed last, but the concert had been going on for 12 hours and I’d waited over an hour between Train & Mariah Carey and I was beat and left during Mariah. I regret that now. Accurate review here.
- 10/27 Concert flashback #132: Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle & Milk Carton Kids for Lampedusa at Lisner Auditorium in 2016.
- 10/28 Concert flashback #133: The Jayhawks at Paramount Theater in 2011. Nina’s 4th concert.
- 10/29 Concert flashback #134: Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin (with Annie Lennox & Lenny Kravitz), Jeff Beck (with Sting, Buddy Guy & Billy Gibbons), Metallica (with Lou Reed, Ozzy Osbourne & Ray Davies) & U2 (with Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Black Eyed Peas & Mick Jagger) for the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts at Madison Square Garden in 2009.
- 10/30 Concert flashback #135: Jukebox the Ghost at the 9:30 Club in 2019 for their HalloQueen show.
September concert flashbacks
- 9/07 Concert flashback #96: Aretha Franklin, Good Charlotte, Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears & Aerosmith at The National Mall for the NFL Kickoff in 2003.
- 9/08 Concert flashback #97: Alanis Morissette at Wolf Trap in 2018.
- 9/09 Concert flashback #98: Bill Evans’ Soulgrass (with Tony Trischka) at Herndon Labor Day Jazz & Wine Festival in 2009.
- 9/10 Concert flashback #99: Sting at Wolf Trap in 2017.
- 9/11 Concert flashback #100: Mandy Barnett, Susan Tedeschi, Deana Carter, Steve Earle and the Dukes, Trisha Yearwood, Keb’ Mo’, Barenaked Ladies, Dave Matthews Band, John Mellencamp, Neil Young & Willie Nelson at Nissan Pavilion for Farm Aid in 1999.
- 9/14 Concert flashback #101: Eagles at RFK Stadium in 1994. Nothing but classic rock this week.
- 9/15 Concert flashback #102: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at FedEx Field in 2003.
- 9/16 Concert flashback #103: Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin & Rick Wakeman at Wolf Trap in 2017.
- 9/17 Concert flashback #104: Dennis DeYoung (from Styx) at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in 2017.
- 9/18 Concert flashback #105: Electric Light Orchestra at Radio City Music Hall in 2016.
- 9/21 Concert flashback #106: Arlo Guthrie, Alan Jackson, Barenaked Ladies, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young & Willie Nelson at Nissan Pavilion for Farm Aid in 2000.
- 9/22 Concert flashback #107: Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band & Joe Walsh at EagleBank Arena in 2017 for VetsAid.
- 9/23 Concert flashback #108: The Avett Brothers & Vampire Weekend at Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2013 for Virgin Mobile Freefest.
- 9/24 Concert flashback #109: Chvrches & The Weeknd in Las Vegas in 2018 for Life is Beautiful.
- 9/25 Concert flashback #110: Queen + Adam Lambert at Park Theater in 2018.
- 9/28 Concert flashback #111: Def Leppard at Fleet Center for MixFest 2002 and a decidedly un-debaucherous bachelor party.
- 9/29 Concert flashback #112: Porcupine Tree at Radio City Music Hall in 2010 for their last US show.
- 9/30 Concert flashback #113: Rush at Capital Centre in 1984 for my very first concert.
August concert flashbacks
- 8/03 Concert flashback #76: Counting Crows at Merriweather Post Pavilion in 1997.
- 8/04 Concert flashback #77: Rush at Nissan Pavilion in 2004 for their R30 show.
- 8/05 Concert flashback #78: Tinted Windows at Black Cat in 2009, my only time seeing any members of the pop supergroup outside their respective bands. Then I went to see Extreme at Jaxx later that night.
- 8/06 Concert flashback #79: Widespread Panic at Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2000.
- 8/07 Concert flashback #80: The Smashing Pumpkins at Lollapalooza in WV in 1994.
- 8/10 Concert flashback #81: Barenaked Ladies at Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2004.
- 8/10 Bonus video concert flashback #1: I’ve been a long time collector of concerts I’ve been to. After I moved to Herndon in 1999 I bought a JVC miniDV camcorder to start recording my own concerts, and recorded from 2000 to 2009. By that time I’d purchased a 2nd JVC unit that had a IEEE 1394 output so I could make DVDs with my DVD recorder, but it developed a “condensation error” and stopped working. By that time I had a Flip video recorder and soon acquired a Sony digital camera that shot video as well. But I still had 4 boxes of miniDV tapes, the majority of which I had not converted. 3 years ago my dad gave me a Panasonic miniDV camcorder he got at a yard sale and I managed to convert about 15 more shows (part way through 2003) before it gave out. This year with listening to all these concerts I’ve been to before, I decided to see if there was a way to fix my camera, and Google was my friend as taking it apart, cleaning a sensor and resetting the camera did it. Now I’ve finally finished the first box of videos, and this week I’m going to share some of them, starting with this: Everclear – Wonderful at Celebrate Fairfax in 2003
- 8/11 Concert flashback #82: Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ at Iota in 2011. Last concert before Nina was born.
- 8/11 Bonus video concert flashback #2: Da Vinci’s Notebook – I Wish I Were at Royal Lake Park in 2003
- 8/12 Concert flashback #83: Sheryl Crow at Woodstock ’94. Full Woodstock ’94 report here.
- 8/12 Bonus video concert flashback #3: Eddie From Ohio – Eyes Of A Painter (Kate Wolf cover) at Maury Stadium in 2003 and Eddie From Ohio – America The Beautiful at Maury Stadium in 2003
- 8/13 Concert flashback #84: Nine Inch Nails, Metallica & Aerosmith at Woodstock ’94. Still pound for pound one of the best back to back lineups ever.
- 8/13 Bonus video concert flashback #4: Da Vinci’s Notebook – Another Irish Drinking Song at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003 and Da Vinci’s Notebook – Jump In The Line (Harry Belafonte cover) at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003
- 8/14 Concert flashback #85: BandHouse Gigs Tribute to the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock at Strathmore featuring eddie from ohio, Bill Danoff, Patty Reese, Naked Blue & The Wall of Jo(h)n.
- 8/14 Bonus video concert flashback #5: Eddie From Ohio – Woman Of Faith at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003
- 8/17 Concert flashback #86: The Dead with Warren Haynes at Nissan Pavilion in 2004.
- 8/17 Bonus video concert flashback #6: Dar Williams – I Saw A Bird Fly Away at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003 and Dar Williams – Iowa at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003
- 8/18 Concert flashback #87: Phish at Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2009. Fun fact: at this show and the one the next year at the same place, they ended with a cover of “Good Times Bad Times”.
- 8/18 Bonus video concert flashback #7: Eddie From Ohio – Operator at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003 (with Da Vinci’s Notebook, The Kennedys, Nerissa & Katryna Nields)
- 8/19 Concert flashback #88: Tori Amos at Wolf Trap in 1996. My second Tori show, and out of the 12 times I’ve seen her, 5 have been in August.
- 8/19 Bonus video concert flashback #8: Da Vinci’s Notebook -The Captain’s Wife’s Lament at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003 and Da Vinci’s Notebook – Three Little Words at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003 and Da Vinci’s Notebook – Enormous P*nis with ASL at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003
- 8/20 Concert flashback #89: Angie Aparo at Jammin’ Java in 2006.
- 8/20 Bonus video concert flashback #9: Eddie From Ohio – Hole Hearted (Extreme cover) at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2003
- 8/21 Concert flashback #90: Roger Waters at Baltimore Arena in 1999.
- 8/21 Bonus video concert flashback #10: Meat Loaf – I’d Do Anything For Love at Wolf Trap in 2003
- 8/24 Concert flashback #91: Rage Against The Machine at Patriot Center in 1996. House lights up for the entire show as the entire floor was GA and absolutely nuts.
- 8/25 Concert flashback #92: Dave Matthews Band at Nissan Pavilion in 1998. Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters opened and guested on several songs.
- 8/25 Bonus video concert flashback #11: Robbie Schaefer – Feels Like Rain (John Hiatt cover) at Jammin’ Java in 2003
- 8/26 Concert flashback #93: Joseph, Shovels & Rope and Dawes at Wolf Trap in 2018.
- 8/26 Bonus video concert flashback #12: Getaway Car – Big Time Lullabye in 2003 and Getaway Car – She Said She Said in 2003 – The Beatles cover
- 8/27 Concert flashback #94: Yes at Wolf Trap in 2001.
- 8/27 Bonus video concert flashback #13: Da Vinci’s Notebook – F*ck You (original song) at Jammin’ Java in 2003
- 8/28 Concert flashback #95: Weezer at Virgin Mobile FreeFest in 2009.
- 8/28 Bonus video concert flashback #14: emmet swimming – The Dance at Clarendon Day in 2003
July concert flashbacks
- 7/01 Concert flashback #53: Live 8 in Philly in 2005. Very crowded, and we only stayed for the first half, but worth it just for Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff getting everyone to sing along to the theme from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
- 7/02 Concert flashback #54: Live Aid in 1985. The only concert I’ve listened to so far I haven’t been to, but I was drawn to it after Live 8 yesterday. I remember being physically pulled away from the TV because we had to go somewhere, and turning it on again the second we got back.
- 7/05 Concert flashback #55: the Foo Fighters 20th anniversary festival in 2015 with Gary Clark, Jr., Heart, LL Cool J, & Buddy Guy at RFK Stadium on 7/04, 2015.
- 7/06 Concert flashback #56: Page & Plant at MCI Center in 1998 (aka the closest I’m getting to a Led Zep reunion).
- 7/07 Concert flashback #57: Live Earth at Giants Stadium in 2007. Bon Jovi\The Smashing Pumpkins\Roger Waters\The Police still one of the best back to back lineups I’ve seen.
- 7/08 Concert flashback #58: Rush at Nissan Pavilion in 2002. First show for me after the break. Great set.
- 7/09 Concert flashback #59: Pink Floyd at RFK in 1994. My first time seeing them and so amazing I went back the next night (Ok, I was going anyway but cool to see how the disco ball came out when no one was looking).
- 7/10 Concert flashback #60: What better way to follow the finest moment of a Roger-less Pink Floyd than with Roger Waters’s finest post Floyd show, namely The Wall tour in 2012?
- 7/13 Concert flashback #61: Weird Al at Wolf Trap last year for Nina’s 1st time and my 8th. The symphony really took it to the next level.
- 7/14 Concert flashback #62: Pat McGee Band at Wolf Trap in 2000. Classic lineup joined by Michael Ghegan on sax, plus a nice cover of “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”.
- 7/15 Concert flashback #63: The Police at Hersheypark in 2007. And we won the tickets!
- 7/16 Concert flashback #64: Veruca Salt at the Black Cat in 2014. I was always sad I never got to see them do songs from “Eight Arms to Hold You”, and I got over half of them.
- 7/17 Concert flashback #65: Brandi Carlile at Wolf Trap in 2015.
- 7/20 Concert flashback #66: The Rolling In The Aisles workshop at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2005 with Paul & Storm and The Arrogant Worms.
- 7/21 Concert flashback #67: Queen + Adam Lambert at Mohegan Sun Arena in 2017. With a capacity less than 4000, the most intimate show with them.
- 7/22 Concert flashback #68: Eddie From Ohio at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2005. With Paul & Storm!
- 7/23 Concert flashback #69: Red Molly at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2008.
- 7/24 Concert flashback #70: Our Native Daughters at the National Museum of African American History & Culture last year.
- 7/27 Concert flashback #71: Crooked Still at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2008.
- 7/28 Concert flashback #72: The Songs of Paul Simon at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2009.
- 7/29 Concert flashback #73: Dave Matthews Band at Classic Amphitheater in 1995. A charming show, and now it’s not all FRFF this week.
- 7/30 Concert flashback #74: Dar Williams at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2007.
- 7/31 Concert flashback #75: The Shantytowne fireside jam at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2017. This is the one that really hurts to miss.
June concert flashbacks
- 6/01 #31: Fastball Live at the Herndon Festival in 2008. One of my favorite 90s bands so close to home.
- 6/02 #32: Garbage at HFStival in 1996 plus Queens of the Stone Age at the 9:30 Club in 2002 with L’il Davie Grohl on drums.
- 6/03 #33: Double shot of Herndon Festival – Brindley Brothers in 2005 and Girlyman in 2006.
- 6/04 #34: Double shot of last time I saw artists: Lowen & Navarro at The Birchmere in 2009 and Mudcrutch (with Tom Petty) at the 9:30 Club in 2016.
- 6/05 #35: The Excentrics at Friday Night Live. Remember when they didn’t just have cover bands?
- 6/08 #36: Celebrate Fairfax doubleshot – Gin Blossoms and Sister Hazel, both from 2002.
- 6/11 #37: Tom Petty with Trey Anastasio at Nissan Pavilion. All the hits, plus songs by Phish, Bo Diddley, Fleetwood Mac, Traveling Wilburys, Them [Van Morrison], and Stevie Nicks with a special appearance by Stevie Nicks? Just an amazing show.
- 6/12 #38: One more trip to Celebrate Fairfax, this time for a double shot of Rick Springfield from 2005 and They Might Be Giants from 1999 (bonus points if you can spot me in the latter).
- 6/13 #39: Da Vinci’s Notebook’s last show at Crystal City Street Fair in 2005. Still the most distractable band in the land.
- 6/14 #40: The Pat McGee Band at the Alexandria Waterfront Festival in 1999. Notable for being the first time I saw them and Eddie From Ohio. Don’t have efo’s set, but Bob McNichols promises he’ll find it for me someday…
- 6/15 #41: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss at Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2008. I really enjoyed them together.
- 6/18 #42: A special number for a special show – the Tibetan Freedom Concert at RFK Stadium in 1998. Day 1 was cut short due to someone getting hit by lightning, but day 2 was super packed: Sonic Youth, Radiohead, Wyclef Jean, Blues Traveler, The Wallflowers, Luscious Jackson, Jungle Brothers, R.E.M., A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, and Pearl Jam (who snuck in Red Hot Chili Peppers to finish their set, but we left during Pearl Jam).
- 6/19 #43: U2 at MCI Center in 2001. My first time seeing them and what a fantastic setlist.
- 6/20 #44: Dave Matthews Band at Nissan Pavilion in 1997. Béla Fleck & The Flecktones opened and Béla Fleck sat in for quite a while. One of my favorite Dave shows.
- 6/21 #45: The Beach Boys at Merriweather Post Pavilion with my dad in 2012.
- 6/22 #46: The much missed 4 Way Street (Philly songwriters) at Jammin’ Java in 2004.
- 6/23 #47: Guns N’ Roses at the Capital Centre in 1991. My first time seeing them, and as usual they started late.
- 6/24 #48: Norah Jones at Wolf Trap in 2003. Good show, and she ended with an AC/DC cover. This one’s from a different show, but you get the idea.
- 6/25 #49: Sting & Peter Gabriel at Verizon Center in 2016. Nice selection of hits, and I love it when the good double bills actually play together.
- 6/27 #50: Counting Crows with The Wallflowers at Wolf Trap in 2013. Very nice career spanning sets from both bands – this is a good review.
- 6/29 #51: Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie at Wolf Trap in 2017. A nice mix of their great album and Mac tunes.
- 6/30 #52: Extreme at Bank Of America Pavilion in 2006. All the hits, all the members, plus half of Boston (the band).
May concert flashbacks
- 5/01 #10: Equality Rocks concert at RFK Stadium in 2000. Also, the only time I’ve seen Garth Brooks or George Michael.
- 5/04 #11: Blues Traveler at the 9:30 Club in 2001. I had to repost without the link to the audio that day, because the post was banned on Facebook (most links to archive.org were banned).
5/05 #12: Robbie Schaefer at Jammin’ Java in 2003. I posted it late in the day because I discovered I’d never uploaded the show, and it features one of my favorite Eddie From Ohio moments. He mentioned both “Irish Dream” and the then new “Baltimore” were written from the viewpoint of an Irish female, and then completely lost it when starting “Baltimore”. - 5/06 #13: The Replacements at Echostage in 2015. My first time seeing them and apparently the last. Bonus show: Metallica MTV Icon.
- 5/07 #14: Morphine at the Black Cat in 1995. Has it really been 25 years since I first heard the magic of “Pulled Over The Car”?
- 5/08 #15: Prince in Baltimore May 2015. The only time I saw him and a great show. Scrubbed off the internet even though the first hour was streamed live on Tidal; I can offer some Foo Fighters from the very nice tribute show recently.
- 5/11 #16: Nine Inch Nails at Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2000. I’m disappointed that I can’t even find a setlist for A Perfect Circle (who opened). Bonus: Trent Reznor & Peter Murphy – Live Radio Shows 2006.
- 5/12 #17: David Byrne at The Anthem. Basically the same show he brought to Broadway, and my favorite one of 2018.
- 5/13 #18: Coldplay at HFStival in Baltimore in 2005. No trace of it on the net now, so imagine it.
- 5/14 #19: Dear Jerry: Celebrating The Music of Jerry Garcia. 5 years ago exactly. Amazing show, last one with the Jewells.
- 5/15 #20: Eddie From Ohio on the 2nd Edhead Cruise, and our first cruise. Also Jill’s first real efo show.
- 5/18 #21: Sons of Apollo (2 ex Dream Theater members) at Howard Theatre May 20, 2018. Not on the net (I taped but haven’t distributed), so here’s their new song.
- 5/19 #22: Trey Anastasio in Baltimore at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
- 5/20 #23: Bangles at The State Theatre in 2009. Nice review here.
- 5/21 #24: The Cars at the 9:30 Club in 2011. Only time I saw Ric, so worth it.
- 5/22 #25: Paul Simon accepts the first Gershwin Prize at Warner Theatre in May 2007. Stunning show, and as a huge Graceland fan I had always hoped to see him perform with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It didn’t disappoint.
- 5/24 #26: emmet swimming at the Herndon Festival in 2003. And brand new, as HCTV just broadcast it this week and I hadn’t seen it before. Somewhere I have a DV tape of it too, but I know that has even more wind noise. At the time I was excited to record my first emmet swimming show, but I’ve had many more, but still excited to get a soundboard of this.
- 5/26 #27: Double festival feature: Jane’s Addiction at HFStival at RFK in 2003 and Green Day at WBCN River Rave in 2001.
- 5/27 #28: Velvet Revolver at the 9:30 Club in 2004. That was a fun supergroup, and being willing to play their old songs was a bonus.
- 5/28 #29: Rush at Jiffy Lube Live 5 years ago. My last Rush show and Nina’s first and last.
- 5/29 #30: Gotta end May the way we almost always do, with a trip to the Herndon Festival. Today a double shot of Pat McGee from 2015 and Carbon Leaf from 2002.
April concert flashbacks
After a month in quarantine I decided if I can’t go out to see live music, I’m going to start listening to my collection. A concert a day from this week in the past.
- 4/20 #1: Earth Day 1995
- 4/21 #2: Earth Day 2000. Carole King was joined by David Crosby and James Taylor for “You’ve Got A Friend”, but the most WTF moment was Clint Black covering Monty Python’s “Galaxy Song”.
- 4/22 #3: Earth Day 2008. Umphrey’s McGee brought the crowds, but Warren Haynes was the highlight for me with some choice covers, worth braving the rain.
- 4/23 #4: Earth Day 2010. Probably the most star studded of the 4 I’ve been to, as Passion Pit and Jimmy Cliff opened, then The Roots took over and did a set, then brought out guest stars (including Mavis Staples, Booker T. Jones & Bob Weir), and a set with John Legend before backing up Sting.
- 4/24 #5: Alan Doyle and Fortunate Ones at The Hamilton in 2018.
- 4/27 #6: Extreme at M3 Rock Festival 2014. Bonus flashback later: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.
- 4/28 #7: Hootie & the Blowfish at Reston Town Center 2003 for the Jack Diamond Morning Show. Bonus flashback later: VH1 Honors April 1996.
- 4/29 #8: Rush at US Air Arena for the Counterparts tour 2004. And “Winken, Blinken, Nod” is a great name for a bootleg. And as a bonus, my only published review of a Rush concert.
- 4/30 #9: Steven Wilson at the 9:30 Club 2 years ago. Bonus content: Porcupine Tree at House of Blues Orlando 10 years ago.
25 years since Woodstock ’94
In the summer of 1994 I had just left my first software developer job after two years as the company was sold. Burned out by 80 hour weeks of working on tax software and nursing a case of carpal tunnel, I took advantage of a deal to stay on and write a data exporter for the new company and walked away with some nice compensation, most of which I sunk into Digital Exchange, a used CD store in Springfield, VA. It had been started the previous year by three of my fraternity brothers from Sigma Phi Epsilon at Randolph Macon College. John (aka Rusty) wanted to get back to the corporate world full time, so I bought him out.
I was a long time fan of music, but I hadn’t gone to a lot of concerts yet. My first show was in 1984, but I’d only seen a couple of shows a year after that. I started getting more into it in 1993, but with my exit from the 9 to 5 world, came a new goal: I would see 100 bands in 1994. I was making good progress by summer, especially going to my first two festivals: HFStival and Lollapalooza. But the announcement of Woodstock ’94 had me salivating: amazing lineups and the connection with the legendary original. By that time I was at the store full time, and my buddy Eric was interested in going as well, so we bought tickets when they went on sale in June. We convinced John to come back that weekend in August and help out Steve, and got on the road Friday morning August the 12th (after seeing Nine Inch Nails at the Patriot Center the night before).
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With 250,000 people expected, the festival organizers had us drive to a parking lot to take a shuttle bus to the festival. While things had gone well for us, this is where the problems started as we had at least a four hour wait for an orange bus (and I had my one and only experience with Goldschlager). By the time we actually got to Woodstock ’94, it was dark and Sheryl Crow was playing. We caught some of her set, but it was late and we needed to set up camp. We could see tents all around, so we kept going past the North Stage where she was playing, then the South Stage, still not finding any empty space. We ended up setting up our tent on a hillside past there.
We were woken Saturday morning to light rain starting to fall, but our tent was partly shielded by the trees. We got food and walked over to the North Stage where Joe Cocker kicked things off. He was followed by Blind Melon, Cypress Hill and Rollins Band before we took a break (and missed Melissa Etheridge covering Janis Joplin as well as Crosby, Stills & Nash).
We were back at the South Stage in time to see The Band featuring Hot Tuna, Bruce Hornsby, Roger McGuinn, Rob Wasserman, and Bob Weir (and that turned out to be the one and only time I saw them) as well as Primus before the main event. Sure, we’d seen Nine Inch Nails two days earlier, but they embraced the mud to put on a legendary performance.
Metallica was up next and took on the challenge. As the only act there with pyrotechnics, they had an added fuel to their ferocious show.
Aerosmith was more than willing to top that at their show, which started after midnight. It was epic, and ended with a fireworks display at 3:30am (and one of our neighbors offering me a hit from a Coke Can bong was the perfect last time I had any).
Saturday was epic, but it was a festival that was later nicknamed Mudstock for a reason. It got harder and harder to walk around, the porta potties couldn’t get serviced, and they started to run out of food. Knowing that the later we waited the harder it would be to get back to the car, we only caught Traffic that day before heading for the buses and home (I loved the two bootleg t-shirts I got there to death). Oh, and I hit my goal: 127 bands just in 1994.