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Kiss -- Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer,and Paul Stanley -- at Star Lake in July 2010.
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Let's play the concert game: First shows, best shows, wish you had seen

John Heller / Post-Gazette

Let's play the concert game: First shows, best shows, wish you had seen

If we can’t go to concerts right now, we can at least dream ... and reminisce.

This week, a fun little concert survey re-circulated on Facebook to allow for just that. First concert? Best concert? We all love those kinds of questions.

We posed them — with a few alterations — to some people in the Pittsburgh music scene. One question we added was “Who do you hope to see in 2021?” The nearly unanimous answer was “ANYONE!”

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Here’s what they had to say. We’d love to hear from you in the comments:

ADDI TWIGG, The Telephone Line

First concert: I won tickets to B94 Summer Stretch at Starlake in September 1999! The lineup had Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, Divine, Edwin McCain, Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray. I didn’t even know who Christina Aguilera was yet! She was the opener!

Last concert: The Starship Mantis farewell show at Spirit with Clara Kent, Buffalo Rose and hunnycomb! What a lineup.

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Best concert: Brandi Carlile at Carnegie Lecture Hall in Oakland. They performed unplugged and even meandered through the audience for a song. There’s something really magnificent about her.

Most disappointing: We saw Ray LaMontagne and Neko Case in 2018, and Ray didn’t mutter a single word. His set was incredible but I was bummed that he didn’t banter at least a little.

Best surprise: Probably CAKE at the 2004 Three Rivers Regatta. It was free, the Regatta had NO idea what they were getting into, and trumpeter Vince DiFiore was walking through the crowd afterward so I got a photo! I was fangirling like crazy.

Most seen: I’ve seen Ben Folds maybe five or six  times (but never with the Five).

Wish I could have seen: I was supposed to see Brittany Howard at Stage AE in June of 2020 but it was obviously canceled.

_________

SCOTT BLASEY, The Clarks

First concert: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stanley Theater, July 10, 1980

Last concert: U2, Heinz Field, Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary tour

Best concert: Prince, Mellon Arena, Musicology tour

Most disappointing: The Cars, Civic Arena, Heartbeat City tour

Best surprise: Richard Thompson, solo at Graffiti, didn’t know what to expect, blown away

Most seen: Petty

Wish I could have seen: US Festival, first night 1982 (Gang of Four, Ramones, English Beat, Oingo Boingo, B-52’s, Talking Heads, Police)

_________

LOU HETZER, promoter

First concert: As a baby I was in a stroller, “rollin” at the age of 2, when The Stones played West View Park. I remember zero. The FIRST concert I remember vividly, The Monkees in 1966 at The Civic Arena.

Last concert: Kiss in Dubai. Of course it's the world we've had to tolerate almost a year, but that was "On Demand.” Last concert I saw live was Elton John on Nov. 17, 2019. A “Farewell” indeed to both Elton AND live music.

Best concert: So many great concerts, but ... Prince opening for Rick James (March 1-2, 1980) at The Stanley Theater. I was dragged to the show, but upon that opening of "Soft and Wet" .... BOOM, by set end, mind blown.

Most disappointing: As a fan of Guns N’ Roses since the beginning, I would say Nov. 22, 2002, at the Civic Arena was the most disappointing show I've seen. That was not my GNR, though Axl was funny as hell, but the song structure ... nope.

Best surprise: Brian Wilson, July 8, 2001, covering Barenaked Ladies song “Brian Wilson.” It was almost surreal to believe Brian had a sense of humor.

Most seen: Sometimes you lose count...Springsteen, Kiss, Van Halen, probably.

_________ 

JAY WILEY, The Hawkeyes

First concert: Oasis/Black Crowes in Cleveland

Last concert: My goodness, where I was a pure spectator? Foo Fighters/Struts 2018.

Best concert: Tom Petty

Most disappointing: Eric Church (at Sturgis)

Best surprise: Collective Soul (also at Sturgis, got to meet ‘em too, woo hoo)

Most seen: Drive-By Truckers

Wish I could have seen: Soundgarden

_________ 

SEAN McDOWELL, retired WDVE DJ

First concert: The Doors, Sept. 1969, The Philadelphia Arena. I was 13 years old. My neighbor's Mom was our chaperone.

Last concert: Don Felder at Jergel’s in February 2020.

Best concert: Pink Floyd at the Civic Arena, June 1973, Dark Side of the Moon Tour. They slowly slid back the roof as "Breathe" was playing on the swirling quadraphonic sound system. People screamed and howled as a HUGE cloud of pyro/cigarette/marijuana smoke poured out into the now-visible Pittsburgh sky!

Most disappointing: Van Halen at Star Lake in July 2015. (DLR can't sing at all anymore. He's the absolute worst.)

Best surprise: ELO at PPG Paints August 2019. (I was never a huge ELO fan, but they were KILLER live! KILLER! I'm so glad I was there).

Most seen: The Grateful Dead, 16 times with Jerry, from the 1970s to the 1990s, including Cornell University, Barton Hall, Ithaca N.Y., May 1977, I WAS THERE!)

Wish I could have seen: The Beatles (I was 8 when The Beatles played their only Pittsburgh concert — Civic Arena, September 1964).

_________

 

MARS JACKSON, rapper-singer

First concert: Ruff Ryders/Cash Money Millionaires Tour with DMX, Eve, Cash Money w/ Lil Wayne , Juvenile, BG and Turk at the Civic Arena in 2000.

Last concert: Cautious Clay at The Thunderbird Cafe, Dec 7, 2019.

Best concert: Kendrick Lamar (The TDE Championship Tour) at Star Lake in 2018.

Most disappointing: Haven’t had a disappointing concert experience yet.. thank god

Best surprise: Wiz Khalifa popping up at The Internet show. I opened for the group, and he just showed up -- didn’t perform but was in the building at Mr. Smalls.

Most seen: JMSN ... I love his live performances, I’ve traveled outside of Pittsburgh to see him as well. My fiancé and I love his music!

Wish I could have seen: A Kanye West or Kid Cudi live, sold-out show.

_________

 

MISS FREDDYE, singer

First concert: The Jackson 5 at the Civic Arena in the mid-’70s.

Last concert: Tab Benoit at Jergels, fall of 2019.

Best concert: Tank and the Bangas at the Thunderbird. What a great time! They covered all genres of music that night!

Most disappointing: I've never been to a disappointing concert.

Best surprise: I had the chance to touch the hair of Tab Benoit!!!

Most seen: Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials I have seen a lot!

Wish I had seen: Koko Taylor, my biggest influence for getting into blues music!

_________

PETE HEWLETT, singer

First show: Thelonious Monk and Modern Jazz Quartet at Pittsburgh Jazz Fest at the Civic Arena in June 1964.

Last show: Billy Joel in Dublin, Ireland, in June 2018.

Best show: Beatles in Cleveland,1966

Most disappointing: Bob Dylan

Best surprise: Jethro Tull

Most seen: Steve Winwood

Wish I had seen: The Concert for Bangladesh

_________

CHRIS FAFALIOS, Punchline

First concert: Bad Religion and Goldfinger, Sept. 19, 1996, at Metropol in Pittsburgh.

Last concert: The Used, Feb. 5, 2020, at The Rex Theater

Best concert: Ben Folds with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Most disappointing: Last time I saw James Taylor. (I love JT, just wasn’t crazy about the setlist.)

Best surprise: Charley Bliss

Most seen: Less Than Jake

Wish I could have seen: Prince

_________

JM THE POET, rapper

First concert: 2014 Marsha Ambrosius. Took a date there. lol.

Last concert: Brittney Chantele album release for “The Golden Opportunity.”

Best concert: “Made in America” Festival in 2017. Wild.

Best surprise: Rihanna hovering on a platform over the crowd for her entrance.

Wish I could have seen: Travis Scott. I hear his concerts are crazy.

_________

JASON MYERS, Icarus Witch

First concert: Kiss at the Igloo on March 26, 1985, with W.A.S.P. opening. I was still young enough that a friend’s dad had to chaperone, but I didn’t care.

Last concert: I think it was Night Ranger at the Roxian.

Best concert: Pink Floyd’s Momentary Lapse of Reason tour in 1988 was probably the most epic production I’ve ever witnessed. Sigur Ros at the John Anson Ford Theatre in Los Angeles on May 1, 2001, may have been the most surreal.

Most disappointing: I’m rarely disappointed in a show unless the band cancels or maybe doesn’t play my favorite song.

Best surprise: I went to see Widowspeak at a venue called 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, N.H., back in June 2016. I’ve been a lifelong Mazzy Star fan and have always been on the lookout for new talent in that dreampop vein. Widowspeak captured that same chill shoegazey vibe.

Most seen: Probably Slayer or Motörhead because they opened for everyone in the ‘80s.

Wish I could have seen: I had tickets to see the Stones in Jacksonville a couple of years ago, and it got called off at the last minute because Mick had to get heart surgery.

_________

SIERRA SELLERS, singer

First concert: Britney Spears. No idea where, but I was probably around 6.

Last concert: Kendrick Lamar in 2018.

Best concert: J. Cole.

Most disappointing: Dave Matthews because it rained and it was gross out. His band was tight, though.

Best surprise: I’ve never been surprised at a concert.

Most seen: I’ve never seen someone more than once. (I’m boring and don’t actually go to a lot of big concerts. When I do go, all I can think about is, “I should be at home writing music so this can be me.”)

Wish I could have seen: I was really looking forwarding to opening for and seeing Ghost Note in 2020.

_________ 

TODD PORTER, The Cheats

First concert: The Carpenters/Paul Revere and the Raiders, Notre Dame, 1973 I think.

Last concert: New Bomb Turks

Best concert: Hellacopters, on a boat in NYC.

Most disappointing: None, any live music is better than no music.

Most seen: Motörhead/Ramones/Kiss

_________

STEVE ACRI, former record store manager

First concert: Beach Boys, 1965, at the Arena on a Dick Clark Caravan of Stars show.

Last concert: Dweezil Zappa

Best concert: Contenders are King Crimson, Cheap Trick, Frank Zappa, The Byrds.

Most disappointing: Bob Dylan at the Pete (15 years ago or so?).

Most seen: Cheap Trick

Best surprise: Learning 30 years after the fact that I actually saw Buffalo Springfield in 1967. It was at The Penn Theater (now Heinz Hall), opening for the Beach Boys. Strawberry Alarm Clock also on the bill.

Wish I could have seen: The Beatles

_________

AMY COOPER, Stage AE

First concert: Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet Tour in the spring of 1986 at The Capitol Center in Washington, D.C.

Last concert: Sturgill Simpson at the Petersen Events Center, March 2020.

Best concert: The Cure in Cleveland in 2008

Best surprise: Sigur Ros

Most seen: Alice Cooper

Wish I could have seen: The Beatles

_________

TED TARKA, Mud City Manglers

First show: Metallica, 1989, Civic Arena

Last show: New Bomb Turks

Best show: Tie- Real Kids / Candy Snatchers, New Years Eve, 1998. They were playing around the corner from each other in NYC on St. Marks  (Coney Island High and Continental) and I got to see both shows.

Most disappointing: Math rock [stuff] in the ’90s. Take your pick.

Most seen: Submachine or the Bad Genes.

Best surprise: Violent Femmes. For a bunch of dudes older than me, they still play really well.

Wish I could have seen: Lee Harvey Oswald Band, but they never played live. So let's just go with the MC5.

_________

Oh yeah, mine:

SCOTT MERVIS, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

First concert: My mom took me to see the Jackson 5 at the Civic Arena in 1972. On my own, with friends: Kiss at the Arena in 1977.

Last concert: Sturgill Simpson/Tyler Childers at The Pete in March 2020. So many in crowd left after Childers. Bet they wish they stayed.

Best concert: Has to be one of the Bruce shows, maybe the first one I saw, at the Stanley in 1978. The life-changing show for me was Gang of Four at CMU in 1982.

Most disappointing: The Clash at CMU (1982) or Elvis Costello at Heinz Hall (2017) because the sound was abysmal at both. Or ... Dylan when he played that South Side American Eagle fest. Thought he’d be up for that one.

Best surprise: Went to see my friend Ed Masley’s band at the Decade in January 1990 and Aerosmith showed up and played.

Most seen: The Grateful Dead, of course!

Wish I could have seen: Had tickets for both canceled Led Zeppelin shows (1977) and (1980). Still heartbroken.

_________

Wait....one more: the guy who edited the story. Too fun not to run:

ANTHONY CONROY, Post-Gazette

First concert: The Skyliners with my family at the Kennywood Park lagoon in 1977 or '78. My father knew one of the singers, and apparently they called my name after they spotted me dancing in the aisles. I have no recollection of that, by the way. First one I kind of remember was when we saw Sha Na Na in 1981 at the Stanley Theater.

Last concert: I haven't been to a live show since the 2019 Arts Fest. Don't really remember anything remarkable about it. The band playing that day was Nahko and Medicine for the People.

Best concert: The Allman Brothers Band at Star Lake in 1998.

Most disappointing: In 2010, at the DC101-FM Chili Cook Off in Washington, D.C., Stone Temple Pilots was among the acts playing that day. Scott Weiland sounded like he was singing a different song from what the rest of the band was playing.However, that same event is also responsible for one of the most outrageous moments in my concert life, when a woman in her 60s got buck-naked during Switchfoot's set, bent over and pulled her butt cheeks apart right in front of a group of us. We all have nightmares to this day.

Best surprise: Rage Against the Machine waking everyone up as one of the first acts — if not the first — at Lollapalooza in 1993. Totally caught off guard by them and their sound and became a lifelong fan.

Most seen: I've never seen one band more than once.

Wish I could have seen: Led Zeppelin in their prime.

First Published: February 4, 2021, 11:00 a.m.

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Kiss -- Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer,and Paul Stanley -- at Star Lake in July 2010.  (John Heller / Post-Gazette )
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