What’s your fond memory of an intimate show by a famous act?

[J. PUPSTER]

I know some of you out there must have some real doozies to report, so please feel free to describe in great detail – I promise I won’t tell

Here is one of my tamer entries:

Some time in the mid to late 80’s or early 90’s I saw a Ronnie Montrose Trio (Guitar, Keyboards & Drums) at a small bar called The El Dorado Saloon in Carmichael Ca. (no longer there.) I remember only about 100 showed up, but it was a great show. I had a seat about 10 feet from the band. He was there to audition some new material, that sounded very similar to what Jeff Beck was doing on his “There and Back” album (which also happens to be my favorite Beck album.) At the end of the show Ronnie asked the crowd, encouraging personal responses from the audience, what they thought of it. Everyone was highly enthusiastic by the show (albeit it was a bar.) He may have gone on to incorporate some of that music into his Gamma band; which is a band I still need to get familiar with.

 

[JerseyEd]

There was one show by a girl named Lola (or maybe LuLu) where she... oh, wait... that's not the kind of INTIMATE SHOW you were referring to. LOL.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

There was one show by a girl named Lola (or maybe LuLu) where she... oh, wait... that's not the kind of INTIMATE SHOW you were referring to. LOL.

Must've been famous for something right?

 

[4-earredwonder]

Not really a show, per se, but when I attended a Catholic Day Camp we went on a cruise around Manhattan Island and a [really] sexy inebriated female passenger grabbed onto one of the poles and did an exotic pole dance at which time our counselors whisked us away from the scene. Lady Liberty never looked so good!

 

[JonUrban]

I went to the Iron Horse in Northampton Mass, which is a little hole in the wall place, to see James Taylor's brother Livingston. This is the kind of place he plays, very laid back, almost a coffee house vibe. He usually just shows up and plays. He's very entertaining, but that's not why I'm posting.

He rarely has an opening act, but this time there was one, some artist I'd never heard of. She had sort of a jazz group with her. Played a handful of tunes, very nice, and just before the last tune announced that she had a CD coming out on Bluenote the following summer. I thought "Bluenote, that's pretty good!". Turns out she was Norah Jones, and she pretty much played her entire first album.

Don't think she's played many Iron Horses since then!

Found this quote: “I remember we played at this club called the Iron Horse, in Massachusetts, opening for Livingston Taylor. He sold it out two nights in a row. Three hundred people. I remember thinking, ‘What a great career!’ “– Norah Jones

 

[J. PUPSTER]

I went to the Iron Horse in Northampton Mass, which is a little hole in the wall place, to see James Taylor's brother Livingston. This is the kind of place he plays, very laid back, almost a coffee house vibe. He usually just shows up and plays. He's very entertaining, but that's not why I'm posting.

He rarely has an opening act, but this time there was one, some artist I'd never heard of. She had sort of a jazz group with her. Played a handful of tunes, very nice, and just before the last tune announced that she had a CD coming out on Bluenote the following summer. I thought "Bluenote, that's pretty good!". Turns out she was Norah Jones, and she pretty much played her entire first album.

Don't think she's played many Iron Horses since then!

Love Norah Jones, I've only seen her on a few videos like Austin City Limits etc.; and I wonder how many people know she is the daughter of famous sitar player Ravi Shankar.

 

[H.A.L.]

Robert Fripp in, oh, 1978 or 9 or so. He was touring his Frippertronics equipment and doing solo shows, and I heard him in an Austin record shop (remember those?). A mesmerizing half hour or so, and he signed albums afterwards.

 

[John Svensson]

I can't say it was intimate but the crowd was smallish, how about Tiny Tim at a BBQ Festival in Georgetown, DC. I'll never forget his version of Bad Moon Rising. At same event were remains of Badfinger, got Joey's auto on the program, Dennis Yost, the Beau Brummels and a couple others. Had a short talk with Tiny after it was over and he greeted folks.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

I can't say it was intimate but the crowd was smallish, how about Tiny Tim at a BBQ Festival in Georgetown, DC. I'll never forget his version of Bad Moon Rising. At same event were remains of Badfinger, got Joey's auto on the program, Dennis Yost, the Beau Brummels and a couple others. Had a short talk with Tiny after it was over and he greeted folks.

Tiny Tim and Bad Moon Rising - I love that!

 

[4-earredwonder]

I can't say it was intimate but the crowd was smallish, how about Tiny Tim at a BBQ Festival in Georgetown, DC. I'll never forget his version of Bad Moon Rising. At same event were remains of Badfinger, got Joey's auto on the program, Dennis Yost, the Beau Brummels and a couple others. Had a short talk with Tiny after it was over and he greeted folks.

Speaking of TT, my friend Pam brought him to our college campus one night [1968 or '69] and he proceeded to sit right across from me in the school cafeteria and sang, accompanied by his ukulele, "Tip Toe Through The Tulips" and other 'ditties' from his eponymous album. He actually had an incredible falsetto voice and referred to me as Mr. Ralph and my beautiful blue eyed, blond haired friend Pam as Miss Pam. A really sweet man, IMO.

A candidate for the 5.1 surround treatment?

 

[4-earredwonder]

I also heard Don McLean sing American Pie in its entirety in a very small intimate bar in upstate New York along with then current hits 'Vincent" and "I Love You So.' Simply gorgeous!

Boy, JP, this thread you started really does churn up memories..........

Drove My Chevy to the Levee.........

 

[4-earredwonder]

I was at my local used record shop one evening and the proprietor told me about a FREE mini concert [a sound check?] which was 'happening' at our local Capitol Theater* in Port Chester, New York. He closed down the store and we went to hear the mystery guest:

It was none other than DAVID BOWIE!

*This was prior to the Capitol Theater being sold for the amazing concert venue it has become today. Back in the early 70's it played host to the Jefferson Airplane, Joplin, Zappa, the Dead, Eric Clapton and other top acts of the day and then fell into ruin until 5 or so years ago.

The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY back in the 70's

The Capitol Theater TODAY:

 

[jsulzinger]

I saw Tony Williams at a drum clinic just before he tragically passed. He was amazing and stayed to sign autographs for everyone. The clinic was in San Jose, CA with Gregg Bissonette opening.

 

[musicmemorabiliashoppellc]

I’ve seen many club shows all over North America mostly in Toronto which is where I’m originally from

Here comes my list

Rolling Stones at the El Mocombo
And other warm up gigs for other tours as well

Bon Jovi also at the El Mocombo and RPM club as well

Judas Priest at the El Macombo

SRV at the El Macombo

U2 at the Maple Leaf Ballroom

KISS at Victory Burlesque as well as at the Phoenix Club unmasked

Triumph at the Picadilly Tube on Young Street early 70’s

Talking Heads at the New Yorker Cinema on Young Street

Ramones at the New Yorker

Steppenwolf at the Danforth Music Hall

Rush at Gasworks

Metallica at the Masonic Temple (formerly known as the Rock Pile) for Ride The Lightening Tour

Billy Squire at the Masonic Temple (formerly known as the Rock Pile)

Depeche Mode at the Masonic Temple (formerly known as the Rock Pile)

Faster Pussy at at Rock N Roll Heaven

Black Crows at Rock N Roll Heaven

Paul Stanley at Rock N Roll Heaven

The Cult at the Cabanna Club in Toronto as well as in Vancouver BC in a small club

Cinderella club gig in Vancouver

Collective Soul in a small club gig in Vancouver on their first tour... was an amazing show

Soundgarden in Vancouver for Molsons Blind Date contest ...... the last gig they did before first split up.

That’s all I can remember for now

 

[holland123]

saw a lot of great ones back in the day, Traffic, the who, the stones, stanley clarke w george duke, al jarreau, but here's one that got away: A good friend was into Pink Floyd, said I'm getting tiks kev wanna go, well I was not much into their experimental type art rock so i passed, tiks were like a whopping 6 bucks at the time. The next day saw my bud and he told me kev ya shoulda gone they did their new album not yet released and it wasn't experimental at all I would have liked it very much. Turns out it was Dark Side of the Moon. My Ultimate f up.

 

[HDave]

Saw many concerts in the Detroit music scene, heavy attendance from summer 74 through summer 76. All the top bands in their prime just a glorious and fun time to be a teenager.
The first, my first was a small crowd affair of the Birmingham summer celebration (northern Detroit Suburb) it had the typical carnival rides, merry-go-round, the dreaded Zipper and small Midway. They also had a stage, this whole scene was new to me, never had been to the Birmingham community shindig (usually partaked in Royal Oaks).
Anyway summer of "69" and I had been buying up 45 rpm records, a favorite of mine was Bob Seger System, Rambling Gambling Man. Well when the band got ready I was quite interested seeing plenty of long hair, lo and behold it was Bob Segers band and they played among other tunes Rambling Gambling Man. I was just elated as a 12 year old wanna be long hair could be, it was magical. I thanked my mom profusely for taking us kids, even after the near emptying of my lunch from the Zipper. Years later I remembered when Bob introduced other band members that the name Glenn Frey on guitar rang a bell.
The reason we went to Birmingham ? My mother was the first Female Police Officer for the city, mostly on meter reading patrol in her little scooter, and of course her nickname was Rita. She enjoyed the attention immensely, ah the late 60's early 70's fond memories for sure.

 

[antoine555]

I once saw a 2pm (yeah...) concert of Spock's Beard in Paris.

A special guest appeared at the back of the room, a certain John Petrucci Mike Portnoy (yeah, he was still a member of Dream Theater at the time )
I saw him also the previous night at an Oceansize concert.

The nice thing with a 2pm concert is that you can chill at a café afterwards, with the band right beside you

(edited, it shows how much I care about DT now...)

 

[JanBakker]

I think Petrucci is still a member of Dream Theater? Mike Portnoy is the one who left the band?

 

[antoine555]

Damn, you're right, it was Portnoy, not Petrucci

 

[musicmemorabiliashoppellc]

2 more shows at the Masonic Temple (formerly known as the Rock Pile), both featuring David Bowie.....Bowie on keyboards for Iggy Pop's Idiot Tour I think it was and Tin Men

Also Rush at Massey Hall where "All The World's A Stage" was recorded!! Yes I was at both shows

Bob Dylan also at Massey Hall for the BORN AGAIN TOUR and you CAN even hear me yelling at Dylan to play Lay Lady Lay on the Toronto show of the EXPANDED disc set of that release!!

Buddy Guy at the Vancouver Jazz Fest....he tought Hendrix some of his tricks and it showed

More to follow when I can remember them. Saw thousands of shows through the 70's and 80's....bit of a blur now....LOL.....

You know what they say if you can remember the 70's & 80's or maybe even the 60's you weren't there