RUSH

With the recent passing of the GREAT Neil Peart... it prompted me to log my sightings of RUSH.  First off.. I was introduced to the band by a friend in high school which got me to buy their 1st LP...on 8 track tape. Next (I believe) I purchased 2112. At this point, my friend typed out the full lyrics for me. Typewriter ...no computer/printer!

On to the show...

None of my other friends were familiar with the band (yet ...as this is 1977) so I went and saw them on their FAREWELL TO KINGS tour in my home town at the TOMORROW CLUB which was downtown (see link for history). Sat in the balcony-center stage.  The opening act was a band called Rex, which I don't remember anything about but was fronted by Rex Smith.

 December 5, 1977

Though a little later...they sounded like:






REX  circa 1977:



Next show (I believe) I attended was the PERMANENT WAVES tour.  Feb. 18, 1980 at the Richfield Coliseum outside of Cleveland.

Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds

Got to see Kid Congo in action in downtown Phoenix. I've been a fan of Congo Powers since his stint with The Cramps & The Gun Club. This was the first time I saw him live. The band played their "Dracula Boots" LP in its entirely. Since Congo's guitar style is open tuning..I presented him with a cigar box guitar I made (for him). He was quite happy! 

Slim Cessna's Auto Club was the co-headliner & played 2nd in line. I've heard of them before, but never their music. An interesting performance that drew most of the attendees that night.

 Phoenix's The Rebel Set opened the show & (for me) was the highlight of the night! Great '60s influence garage with mind melting Farfisa organ. I will start gathering some of their music & hopefully get a chance to see them again!!

The Valley Bar is in the basement of an older building with an entrance in the back--down an alley. A slight challenge to find if you've never been there. A good place to see a show.

Shonen Knife

I first heard of the Japanese girl group Shonen Knife in the early '90's. After just moving to Arizona...I found an A.M. radio station that played alternative/punk. KUKQ opened my ears to several new bands. They played Shonen Knife's "Tomato Head" off their Rock Animals release. I went out & picked up the cd. Fast forward 25 years & dozens of albums later...I heard the band was doing a 2018 tour of the US...stopping in Tempe & playing the YUCCA TAP room (a small dive). This was a show I wasn't gonna miss. The girls were great & opening acts (I saw) were both from AZ-- The Pubes & Shovel. Both put on a great set.

QUEEN

I attended two QUEEN concerts, both at the Richfield Coliseum. Out of high school, I was drawn to the guitar work of Brian May. His homemade "Red Special' had a different sound than other bands I listened to.
I believe the first show I attended was for the "News Of The World" tour on November 25, 1978:

a ticket from the show:









The second show was on September 21,1980 and DAKOTA opened:

TED NUGENT with J.GEILS BAND

The Motor City Madman rolled into Cleveland on December 17, 1982 and I was there. The venue was the Richfield Coliseum. Opening act was REX (REX SMITH) followed by J.GEILS BAND. Ted was LOUD. My seat was on the floor about 3/4 back. I remember somebody throwing a firecracker on stage....which got Ted agitated. He stopped in a middle of a song and wanted someone to bring the a$*H@&& up onstage...

Although a mild fan of J. Geils (owned a few LPs),I don't remember much their set...I'm sure I enjoyed it.

an ad for the show:

what Ted sounded like....

THE DEAD MILKMEN

On September 24th 1986 The Dead Milkmen played Cedars Lounge in downtown Youngstown. Cedars was THE place in Y-town for alternative/punk bands. This is where you could find me most weekends. Before Cedars started hosting bands in the early '80s...it was a stop for my friends & I prior to going to a show at the Agora (Tomorrow) Club...just around the corner. Cedars had bands from all around the valley as well as some national and even international. It has since closed and moved to the west side of town.

The Dead Milkmen got some play on early MTV. I think I heard "Bitchin Camaro" and got hooked!

what they sounded like:

RAMONES

I've been lucky enough to see the Ramones live 3 times. The first show was in my hometown which by the way is the first city outside of NY that the band ever played!

From Wikipedia:    At the band's first major performance outside of New York, a June date in Youngstown, Ohio, approximately ten people showed up.

The first show I saw them at was on October 4 1981.  I stood up front near the stage...which led to me not hearing well out of my right ear for 4-days!

 newspaper ad for the show:

my ticket stub:



The next show was on July 21, 1986 and was at the Phantasy night club in Cleveland. I bought a tour shirt (long gone!) and an autographed B&W promo photo. This was the ANIMAL BOY tour.

a flyer for the show:

  the photo:

The last I attended was at Kent State University. This was November 15, 1986. The thing I remember most about the show was seeing Stiv Bators in the parking lot & heading into the building.

an ad for the show:

my ticket stub:

what they sounded like in 1981....this performance is 22 days after I saw them: