Good grief, I can't believe I forgot the incredible Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. I saw them a handful of times, but the best was the first, at Dancin' In The District in Nashville. I was a fan forever after that one.

 

Also, the Drive-By Truckers have been outstanding each time I've seen them. Best probably was the first time at Southgate House on the "Decoration Day" tour.

 

Another great one I forgot was Guided By Voices at either Jammin' On Main or Taste Of Cincinnati (not sure which) during the "Mag Earwhig!" era.

 

And, lest I forget, the amazing Afghan Whigs at any one of their shows. The surprise shows they used to play at Sudsy's under a pseudonym were fantastic.

That would be awesome!

 

It was pretty darned cool, to be sure. He played what seemed like just about everything in his catalogue.

Stevie Nicks at Colorado's Red Rocks amphitheatre in 1987. Peter Frampton showed up for an encore of "Edge of Seventeen," as did a bunch of white-winged doves that someone released from the audience.

Goose Creek Symphony at Goose on the Lake the last two years. They've been together forever and really put on a show, especially there. The after party that goes on is pretty cool too, you'll see members of Goose still up by the fire at 6 a.m. picking with various members from all the bands there.

 

Justin Townes Earle/Jessica Lea Mayfield a few weeks back at Headliners. It was the night after the Radio, Radio incident and right before rehab. I've seen him multiple times but the emotion he showed and his demeanor that night made it a very good one. Also Jessica Lea Mayfield BLEW me away. Can't wait to see her again.

 

Ryan Adams at The Palace a couple of years ago. It was one of his last few shows before his "retirement" and he was actual interactive with the crowd and played several encores. I heard his show at the Ryman the night before was even more amazing and later found out that I had a free ticket waiting on me for it. Either way, it was an excellent show.

 

Wanda Jackson at Goose on the Lake last year. Man, I had no clue what to expect from Wanda and had never heard her music before. She came out and flat out rocked for two hours...great show and hell with her energy level and voice you'd have never realized she was completely exhausted.

 

I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting but those are the first few that come to mind. A couple of local favorite I always like are The Ladybirds and Johnny Berry, neither have disappointed me when I've went to see them.

 

They came to Morehead when I was a student in the 70s. I liked them a lot then, and still do.

Good grief, I can't believe I forgot the incredible Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies. I saw them a handful of times, but the best was the first, at Dancin' In The District in Nashville. I was a fan forever after that one.

 

Also, the Drive-By Truckers have been outstanding each time I've seen them. Best probably was the first time at Southgate House on the "Decoration Day" tour.

 

Another great one I forgot was Guided By Voices at either Jammin' On Main or Taste Of Cincinnati (not sure which) during the "Mag Earwhig!" era.

 

And, lest I forget, the amazing Afghan Whigs at any one of their shows. The surprise shows they used to play at Sudsy's under a pseudonym were fantastic.

 

Ahhhhh Sudsy's...:cry:

 

I got to see Modest Mouse play there way back...one of my brothers actually caught a Smashing Pumpkins show there. That would have blown my head off.

As long as Broadway shows don't count (and I'm assuming we're not calling them concerts), I'll go with two.

 

First concert I attended - The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt in Landover, Maryland.

 

Jackson Browne and America (they actually rocked in concert) at Merriweather Post Pavilion) a couple of weeks before I went off to college.

Ahhhhh Sudsy's...:cry:

 

I got to see Modest Mouse play there way back...one of my brothers actually caught a Smashing Pumpkins show there. That would have blown my head off.

 

Is Sudsy's a thing of the past? I've not been on Short Vine in years.

Is Sudsy's a thing of the past? I've not been on Short Vine in years.

 

Yeah, it's been closed for two or three years maybe. The building's sitting vacant. Short Vine has gone from being an interesting little culture and arts district to a pretty solid dump. I think Sudsy's changed hands once or twice in the years prior to closing, which lead to the decline in decent acts booking shows there and its eventual demise. Bogart's might have one or two shows that are borderline worth seeing each year (thanks to the misguided management of LiveNation), and Top Cats/Fat Cat's has turned into more of a plain old bar with a stage in recent years - although I did see Muse perform there in '04. I think pretty much everyone there had their faces melted off seeing them play in a venue that small. My ears rang for like three days...literally. I don't think Top Cats has paid for an act to play their place since some time around that show though. I think the only places that are still kicking up there are Mike's Music and The Cupboard.

 

If you want to go see a decent show around greater Cincinnati nowadays, you're best off focusing your attention on the Southgate House, The Madison Theatre, The Mad Hatter/Radiodown, or the 20th Century Theatre in Oakley. (Or Louisville, Columbus, or Indianapolis.)

^ That Muse concert was awesome, especially since you can't see them in a venue like that anymore.

Saw

perform at Top Cats years ago too. It was pretty rocking...and they hung around and shook everyone's hands at the door as they left. It was pretty awesome.

Tie between Elton John at Middle Tenn University when he introduced Good Bye Yellow Brick Road, such a great begining in dark with "funeral foe a friend", lights gradually came up to a layer of fog even with the keyboard, looked like he was suspended in the fog. The other was Jackson Browne, someone had previously mentioned. Also at MTSU, he played thru intermission while his band took break. Said he was booed off stage years before in Tenn and was going to make it up. He did.

A couple of years ago I went to see the Fabulous Thunderbirds at the Taft. Their opening act was Junior Brown. I am not a country music fan by any stretch, but Junior Brown on the double neck guitar was amazing. I saw Leo Kottke at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington and Eric Clapton at Riverfront Coliseum. I would rate Junior the most entertaining guitar player of the three.

DMB (talented)

ACDC (unreal energy)

Garth Brooks (first big show he put on a great show and the crowd was very involved)

Pearl Jam (camped right by the outdoor theatre so it was a great time)

Black Crowes (had very low expectations because they bombed when my friends saw them but they were great on that night)

Buffett (fun because all the different generations and atmosphere)

I've seen a bunch but those were the 1st that came to mind. Tesla was good but the lead singer fell off his bar stool and passed out right in the middle of it. It was the 5 man acoustical jam tour.

Springsteen at Rupp, Tunnel of Love tour.

 

I've seen a lot of good ones, still waiting for one to top this.

My favorite was either DMB/My Morning Jacket/Ben Harper in Dayton on the Vote for Change tour or Rage Against the Machine with Queens of the Stone Age opening for them in Alpine Valley a few years ago. Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots would be close behind.

 

I'm headed to the Voodoo Festival next weekend in New Orleans, pretty stoked about this trip. Great music for 3 days and Halloween on Bourbon Street. Not to mention the Sunday night game is the Steelers @ New Orleans. It's gonna be one crazy weekend.