concerts

I am amazed at how many concerts I have had the good fortune to see over the years.  Concerts are special things to me, just because I purely LOVE music so much.  The costs for attending shows today are VERY exorbitant in my humble opinion, and that's just to keep the wallets of the ticket agencies full more than anything.  But, most concerts I've been to (even if I've paid a monumental price for a ticket) have been WELL WORTH IT!  I have a list of all the shows I've been to but that would be a long, tedious thing to write about (all those concerts that I still remember but are well, deep in my memory bank by now).  As a sampling, I will list artists from many genres that I have seen.  I'll try.

I think I can list ALL of them.  But, trust me, these names and years won't be in order.

Willie Nelson                    2002

The Charlie Daniels Band  2003

The Allman Brothers (twice) 2004 & 2007

Eric Clapton (twice) (2006 world tour with a STELLAR band featuring Doyle Bramhall II. on guitar, Tim Carmon & Chris Stainton on keys, Derek Trucks on slide guitar, Steve Jordan on drums, and Willie Weeks on bass).  Clapton 2006 & 2009

Steve Winwood (twice)  (opened for Tom Petty in 2008 and played with Eric Clapton in 2009, revisiting their days in the band Blind Faith).  2008 & 2009 

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 2008

Roger Waters from Pink Floyd 2007

ZZ Top 2005

Steely Dan 2009 & 2011

Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal  2009

The Black Crowes 2008 & 2009

Gov't Mule 2009

Jackson Browne 2009

Lynyrd Skynyrd w/Hank Williams Jr. 2007

Vince Gill w/Amy Grant & The Del McCoury Band  2007

B.B. King w/Etta James & Al Green 2007

Buddy Guy w/Jonny Lang & Big Head Todd & The Monsters 2008

BoDeans w/Big Head Todd & The Monsters 2010

Rush 2010

Stanley Clarke 2011

Return To Forever & Zappa Plays Zappa 2011

Tony Hymas (keyboardist with Jeff Beck for a while) 2010

The Gear Daddies (local Minnesota alt. country/country rock band) 2005

Steve Miller Band 2006

Alan Jackson 2006

Jimi Hendrix Experience (a multi artist tribute to Jimi Hendrix) 2010  For this concert and for their current 2011 tour refer to www.experiencehendrix.com.  There were MANY great guitarists on the bill that night.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 2007 & 2008

The Moody Blues 2007

Vince Gill w/Amy Grant & The Del McCoury Band  2007

Johnny Winter 2007

Gin Blossoms 2008

Eagles 2008

Coldplay 2008

The Black Keys (opening act for The Black Crowes: 2008 & featured artist: 2011)

John Mayer 2010

Jackson Browne 2009

Booker T. & the MG's w/Eddie Floyd  2010

Kansas, Foreigner & Styx  2010

Walter Trout  2011

OK, I've made the point.  But, concerts are things that I REALLY enjoy.  There is just something cool about the experience of seeing bands in person, especially if you know their music entirely or even if you don't.  I don't go to shows to party.  Rather, I am there to LISTEN 100% to the music, whether I know it or not.  I try my best (as has been seen in this blog), to fairly, honestly and succinctly review a number of the shows I see.  Should have started writing this a while ago.  Oh well.  Readers will get my point.  Live shows are just plain fun.  Go see live music!