Top Ten Rock Shows...

Last week, I heard Benji Hughes' upcoming release A Love Extreme (Part 1 and 2), and I found myself drawn to the song "I Went With Some Friends To See The Flaming Lips." Not only does the song drop the name of various Charlotte folks and talk about driving to see The Flaming Lips in concert, but it also made me start thinking about my favorite shows. What would make the list of the "greatest" shows?

"I went with some friends to see The Flaming Lips, It was the greatest show that I ever saw. We had been planning the trip for a couple of months and I just couldn't wait to get it on..." -Benji Hughes

After a couple of drinks, I posed the question (a la High Fidelity)to Tim about his top ten rock shows of all time. Now, we don't sit around categorizing our top ten all throughout our days, but rather this question served as a distraction from the Bike Week (Harley, that is) clientele at our favorite watering hole.

Case in point. A conversation ensued about the breasts of a mermaid mannequin in the establishment. One of the men in the group commented about how the mannequin looked like Heather (names changed to protect the exploited), but without the tits. A woman sitting with him remarked, "Those are breasts!" At which point, he answered back, "Those might be breasts in Detroit, but they are tits in Myrtle Beach!" Classic. So, yes, a distraction was necessary.

Of course, the question provoked all types of additional questions- Is it your best memory of a show? Is it the best technical show? And onwards...Then we asked one of the bartenders who could have compiled his own list- and rather quickly. He is from Dublin, so his list seemed (in retrospect) more well rounded and historical than mine.

Here we go...(in chronological order)

1. Dinosaur Jr. in Chicago, Illinois at Metro (1993)

This was my first trip to Chicago and I was astounded to find out when I opened up the paper that one of my favorite bands was playing in town- and I was able to get tickets. It was loud. It was incredible.

2. Jawbreaker in Chapel Hill, North Carolina at Cats Cradle (Approx. 1996)

If I'm not mistaken, this may have been Jawbreaker's final tour before they called it quits. A big group of us from college piled into the car and spent the weekend in Chapel Hill with some folks from the band, Unfound Logic. I remember meeting a pig named Earl.

3. The Flaming Lips in Athens, Georgia at 40 Watt (Approx. 2000)















After the release of The Soft Bulletin in 1999, I fell in love with The Flaming Lips. When I found out they were playing in Athens, Georgia and on a week night, I knew that no matter what I had to attend. I left work at 5:00pm, arrived in Athens around 8:30pm, watched the show, left around 2:00am, drove back to Charlotte, arrived at 5:00am- then had to work the next morning at 8:00am. After all of this, I didn't regret it at all.

I went to the show solo. I have only attended a handful of shows alone, but this was a perfect show to be alone. I had been told by a friend to arrive early at the show and secure a set of headphones. I didn't really understand why or what the headphones were for- but I followed this suggestion. Having arrived early, I also found a place very close to the front.

And then it started...the gong, the confetti, the blood on Wayne's face, the puppets. It is one of those moments where you have no idea what you've been missing until the moment starts- and then you almost wish you could go back in time to remember what it felt like before you had this experience. On my drive home, I recaptured all the scenes in my mind. For at least a month after the show, I was finding confetti in my pockets, bag, and shoes. It was a great way to remind me as the show that had passed.

I've seen The Flaming Lips at least 2 additional times since my first introduction and I still get excited talking about each and every show. Benji was right.


4. Bright Eyes in Austin, Texas as SXSW (2000)












After talking about my experience with The Lips, I arrive at this show...and I find myself at a loss for which I would consider higher on my list (hence my use of a chronological order). This wasn't about seeing Bright Eyes, as I had seen them a few times prior to this date, but it was an incredible memory of a show mostly because of my co-conspirators, Parker and Greg...who I joined for a road trip from Atlanta to Austin over the course of a weekend to SXSW. I would get into a detailed version of this show and experience, but one already exists online. You can find it at my pal, Parker Johnson's old website for Bright Eyes. Scroll down to the bottom of this page. Keep in mind, I wrote this many, many, many years ago.


5. Tristeza in Austin, Texas at SXSW (2000)

This show also took place during the magical road trip to Austin with Parker and Greg. This show speaks to me about my experience of hearing "indie" instrumental music live for the first time. This was the first show Parker, Greg, and I attended. We literally drove into Austin, pulled up to the club, and within 30 minutes Tristeza began to play. The club wasn't too crowded and we stood close to the front of the stage. Within the first song, I was hooked. I was so hooked, we saw Tristeza again the next day.

6. U2 in Charlotte, North Carolina at Charlotte Coliseum (2001)















I'm not the hugest U2 fan, not saying I haven't been at one point in time. That being said, my mother is the biggest U2 fan. She has been having an one-sided affair with Bono for the last 20 years. Seriously. She made me a picture slideshow for my 16th birthday and it included pictures of Bono. No kidding. When I found out that U2 was putting out a new album, as well as touring to promote their new image- I knew that taking my mother would be the perfect gift. I think it was also close to her birthday.

Since at the time I was running a promotional company and writing a self-published zine, I figured I would take my chances at getting free passes to the concert. I sent a request to Interscope. I waited. Two days before the concert, I was phoned and informed that my tickets would be overnighted to my home. One ticket and one photo pass (for my mother- the photographer, which she really is). And it really happened. My mother got to enter in with the photographers that night. She got to stand in the middle of the heart-shaped stage and take photographs. She told me later that apparently they were informed that if they tried to touch any members of the band, they'd immediately be thrown out. I think it was a toss up for my mother as Bono stood within a couple of feet of her.

7.Superchunk in Charlotte, North Carolina at The Casbah in Tremont Music Hall (approx. 2002)

Superchunk has always been a favorite of mine. What I remember the most from this show was taking a full sip of a PBR tall boy when they started playing the song "Slack Motherfucker" and then proceeding to spray the rest of the crowd with beer. Yes, I had a lack of control. This was one of the first songs I loved by Superchunk. And it was fabulous. Sorry to those folks standing around me.

8. Vic Chesnutt in Charlotte, North Carolina at The Evening Muse (approx. 2003)

You may wonder why some dates say approx.? I can't exactly remember the year of these shows. One of the wonders of the internet is that generally you can find pictures/blogs/postings about a show, no matter the year...and so I've been able to piece together lost memories of dates with a bit of internet research, but not all of them.

So, Chesnutt. I remember a friend making me a mix for Christmas one year. Track one was "Little Vacation" and it was my first exposure to Chesnutt. That still stands as one of my favorite songs. So, of course I jumped at the opportunity to see him play in a venue as small as the Evening Muse. I don't think it sold out that quickly, which was a surprise to me. I probably had the second ticket available. I do remember my friend Brian going with us to the show.
And I remember the quietness. It was the quietness of adoration.

9. Sparklehorse in Charleston, South Carolina at The Music Farm (2007)
















I ache now to remember the first Sparklehorse song I heard. I can't remember, but I know that the first song that resonated with me was "Heart of Darkness." Everytime I hear it, all 1 minute and 52 seconds of it, I feel every moment of it. I think when I first heard it, it must have been in 1996. And from that year on, I bought every album. And I never really considered the fact that I might get a chance to see them perform. Then in 2007, it happened. The 11 year wait was well worth it.

"As the sun burned down the west, there's one thing we still got, one last dance in this parking lot, oh yeah, i got a heart of darkness..." -Sparklehorse

10. The Port Huron Statement in Raleigh, North Carolina at The Pour House (2008)












This one was really a toss up- between this show and the last Sticky show at The Klondike. And to be honest, I almost found myself confused at which was which. Many of the same people were there. The same last sentiment was there. It was a last waltz and well worth the drive.