The First Concert, The Last Great Concert

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A man named Alice and his excellent band.
Not long ago, this year’s inductees into The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame were announced. Among them were three of my favorites: Alice Cooper, Donovan and Tom Waits.

An eclectic trio for sure.

My first exposure to a national recording act was seeing Alice Cooper in the fall of 1971 in Cleveland, Ohio (not far from where The Hall of Fame stands today). Alice and his band had just released their second album, “Killer”, and the rock show’s line-up was a stew of styles–– Sha-Na-Na, The J. Geils Band and Alice Cooper in full theatrical regalia and pyrotechnics. Alice taunted the crowd with his boa constrictor (literally) and was hung from the gallows. Not bad, eh?

Alice and his band were incredible performers, charismatic and infectious. The music was hard driving and testosterone-fueled. It was a hell of an introduction for rock shows and still stands in my top five of all time.

Tom always delivers. Always.
The last great concert I’ve attended was Tom Waits at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Like Alice, Waits is a masterful showman. He just uses less mascara and 100% fewer reptiles.

Waits is one of my favorite songwriters; a man who’s voice is distinctive and extremely polarizing. There are very few people I spend money to see these days. Tom Waits is definitely in that short list. A must-see.

Hippy dippy hurdy gurdy man delivers songs of love.
As for Donovan, regrettably I’ve never seen him live but good gobs of gravy did the guy write some great songs that will endure forever.

Advertisers have discovered the power of Donovan. You can hear his work on spots from General Electric and Microsoft. Yes, his music that good.

It’s good to see these three transformative artists pass into the pearly gates in Cleveland. It’s certainly about time.

Remember your first? Your last great? Do share.

20 thoughts on “The First Concert, The Last Great Concert”

  3. Yup. That was the apex of the platform boots and big glasses. A coupla weeks ago, I saw Rush at an amphitheater in West Palm Beach. So close I could put my hands on the stage. Geezer rock, I know, but an amazing show. All three of them are still at the top of their game. Less well known, but just as amazing, was Victor Wooten at Variety Playhouse. Scary good.

  4. I’m going to show some age here, but I’m not afraid. I heard Cream play at Chastain Park in the fall of 1968. White Room, Eric Clapton, et al. It was a concert, so I wore a sport coat. Woops!

  6. Live Cream had to be incredible. And, Bill, I’m going to assume you were 4 and your grandma (who loved hard rock) dressed you in a sport coat. And what was the last great show you saw– and how did you dress?

  7. How about Paul Rever and the Raiders? In uniform. Not long after I saw Jim Croce. He had a stand up comic as a warm up act. Some guy with masturbation jokes named Woody Allen.

  8. Wow– what year was it? ’66? ’67?
    Was Woody good? Have heard recordings– he sounded very nervous.
    And what was your last great concert?

  9. Hey–I was at that Alice Cooper, Sha Na Na and J. Geils concert too–didn’t know you were there.

    Alice did the hanging thing back then (having graduated from the electric chair)–he was escorted up a dozen steps to the top of the gallows and was hanged to the military beat of the drums.

    Saw him last month, and now he only hangs himself from 2 feet off the ground–they just kick the stool out from under him, then wheel the whole contraption off the stage behind the curtain.

  10. You drove to that show. I believe Cous, YPC and myself were in tow. It was a great inauguration into big time rock shows.

    It’s good to know he’s still performing, even if not at the heights his gallows once reached.

    A worthy Hall of Famer!

  11. Jimi, Janis, etc., at Monterey Pop in 1967. I’m dating myself. Then, I was dating no one.
    My big brother let his kid sister tag along.

  12. Wow– point, game, match, check and mate! That had to be incredible. And what was the last GREAT show you saw?

    If you say Woodstock, I’m killing myself.

  13. I can’t pick between Thelonious Monk with Dr. John or Monk and John Coltrane, both at the Fillmore. Definitely, it was a Monk and a John.

    No dying, Patrick. We need us our funny boys.

  15. I haven’t been to a non-classical concert in some time so I’m having trouble with question #2. Concerts nowadays have too many “too”s, as in too expensive, too loud, and too many people. Here’s my answer nonetheless, because I don’t want an incomplete grade in this class. My last great concert experience was hearing Wynton Marsalis at the Ferst Center, and it was not George Winston at Agnes Scott!

  16. O.K., good. You did not get an incomplete and for having a classy jazz artist and referencing classical music, you go to the head of the class for varied musical taste.

  18. I agree nothing tops a great live production, so kindly recall your first Broadway show, and your last great show. For bonus points, and an angel stamp, all-time favorite show. Thanks.

  19. Oooo, an angel stamp? I’m going for bonus points and a relic of my patron saint. Okay, then.
    First Broadway show was Guys and Dolls with Dan Dailey. Fave was Hair. Or Rocky Horror.

  20. Congratulations, for your extra effort and a “winner’s attitude”, you’ve earned TWO patron saint stamps.

    What musical do you think has the bestest music?

    I gotta go “West Side Story”… and you?

    Yes, there’s a stamp in it for your answer.

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