#concert history

[gen-x-catmom]

I don't have space to fill out the meme template but here you go- Gen X Cat Mom's concert history.

Not gonna lie, it's not impressive. I spent most of my life being so broke that shows just weren't in the budget. Also, about half of the artists I would've liked to have seen in concert wouldn't come to Oklahoma City. The ones that did were just so pricey, or my mom wasn't okay with me going unaccompanied (the Cure came while I was in high school, and she was not a fan.) Once I got older, I was still pretty much perpetually broke.

1. FIRST CONCERT: Paul McCartney, Dallas TX 1990. My mom, my brother, mom's delightful friend Monica and I drove from Oklahoma City to Dallas and had an absolute blast. Mom was such a McCartney fangirl- one of her most endearing traits. I believe she saved for the whole trip for quite a while (we were POOR. Like, section 8 housing/food stamps/other welfare poor.)

2. LAST CONCERT: Outlaw Fest, Mansfield MA July 2024. Killer lineup- Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Bob Dylan, and Lukas Nelson filling in for Willie, who was sitting this one out on doctor's orders. Lukas held it down like a champ. Great show.

3. WORST CONCERT: Vince Gill, Oklahoma City OK 1994 (the music was fine, but I was so sick that I spent a lot of time in the bathroom. My mom was worried about me, but otherwise had a good time. (She loved Vince Gill, and I'm pretty sure she got the ticket for my brother who couldn't make it for some reason.)

4. LOUDEST CONCERT: New Kids On the Block, Oklahoma City OK 1991 (I remember nothing but the noise and being so overstimulated. I lost interest in NKOTB soon after, when I discovered the Cure and the B-52's.)

5. BEST CONCERT: They Might Be Giants, Lawrence KS 1997 (drove from OKC to Lawrence with a couple that I believe I met through the old IRC TMBG mailing list. Their names escape me, but they were so nice. I met Graham Maby- he was such a sweetheart. He offered us a hotel room since they were about to hit the road, but I don't think it was his to offer so we ended up at a different motel.)

6. SEEN THE MOST: I haven't seen any artist in concert more than once. I've had tickets to TMBG twice since 1997 (2015 in OKC and 2023 in Tulsa). Missed 2015 because my request for time off was denied (I lived 3 hours away at the time, this would've been an overnight trip, and my boss was a spiteful jerk). Missed 2023 due to illness.

7. MOST SURPRISING: the White Stripes (they were good but I wasn't sure how I felt about the opening act. Also, it was much more low key than I expected an act like the White Stripes to play- SRO, not all that well attended.)

8. HAPPY I GOT TO SEE: Willie Nelson, Outlaw Fest 2023 (Xfinity Center has rules about smoking in the venue but a lot of folks didn't seem too concerned about following them.)

9. WISH I COULD HAVE SEEN: the Monkees in the 80s. They came to Oklahoma City in 1987 but my mom just couldn't afford it. We were both sad tbh. (Again, we were super broke. Society was not kind to single moms back then. Not much seems to have changed tbh.)

10. NEXT CONCERT: They Might Be Giants, Boston, 12/14/2024 (I splurged on decent seats. I'm really looking forward to it.)

[greensparty]

My Concert History: Foo Fighters UPDATED

Periodically I do a rundown of my concert history of seeing a particular artist. In 2018, I did my concert history of Foo Fighters, but since then I actually need to update the list. Timing couldn't be better with their show at Fenway Park tomorrow, which I'll be at...and have to update this list again! Here now is the update concert history since that 2018 history was published:

- WBCN River Rave 6/8/1997 @ Great Woods (Mansfield, MA)

I didn’t catch any of Foo Fighters’ shows in 1995-96, but I wasn’t going to miss out when The Colour and the Shape was released. Taylor Hawkins had just joined the band, and it was a few months before Pat Smear left the band. The WBCN River Rave also featured Matthew Sweet, Morphine, Fiona Apple, Porno for Pyros, Primus, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Moby just to name a few. Their set was mostly the songs off the first 2 albums. One of the highlights of the festival!

- HMV Records 11/1/1999 @ HMV (New York, NY)

Me meeting Dave Grohl at their HMV in-store

Chris Shiflett had just joined the band. When There is Nothing Left to Lose was released, they did promotional blitz in NYC that included an in-store appearance at HMV. My ex-GF and I traveled down from MA to NYC for this. The band performed for about 40 min. mostly off the new album. Then the band signed copies of the new album and I got to meet them (read all about it here).

- WBCN Xmas Rave 12/1/1999 @ Orpheum Theater (Boston, MA)

Only a month after I got to meet the band, I saw them at the WBCN Xmas Rave, which also featured At the Drive-In and Ben Harper. They played about 13 songs, mostly hits and new album. Great show!

- 4/2/2000 @ Mullins Center (Amherst, MA)

They co-headlined a tour with Red Hot Chili Peppers (my first time seeing RHCP) with opening act Muse. Drove out to UMass Amherst to see this show. It was really cool to see the Foo Fighters in a much bigger venue, a preview of some of the arenas I’d see them in later. RHCP drummer Chad Smith came out and joined them on a second drum kit for “My Hero”.

- 7/3/2003 @ Hammerstein Ballroom (New York, NY)

Even though the band in retrospect isn’t a fan of their 2002 album One By One, its one of my favorites. Promoting the album, the band played 2 shows at Hammerstein with openers My Morning Jacket and Pete Yorn. They did quite a bit of the One By One album and during “Everlong”, a fan apparently proposed during that song!?! 

- Fuse TV Special 6/14/2005 @ Fuse TV studios (New York, NY)

Technically this is not a concert I saw, but I’ll explain why it made the list. I was working at the music video cable TV channel Fuse in 2005 just as the double album In Your Honor had been released. The band was doing a promotional blitz in NYC and stopped by Fuse to do a live performance 7th Avenue Drop show. I tried to go down to see them, but even as an employee and knowing so many people, I wasn’t able to go to the studio due to the capacity limit. But my friend who was working there, managed to get Dave Grohl’s guitar pick for me! Hence it being listed here even though it wasn't an official show I saw.

- 10/14/2005 @ Continental Airlines Arena (Rutherford, NJ)

My girlfriend (who became my wife) and two friends made the trek to NJ to see this co-headlining tour with Weezer and opening act Hot Hot Heat. This was a fantastic show, but the big highlight of the night was when they brought out special guest Roger Taylor of Queen, who played drums on the cover of “Tie Your Mother Down”, which Taylor Hawkins sang on. So much for “Never Meet Your Idols”! 

- 8/21/2006 @ Beacon Theater (New York, NY)

In 2006 they went on an intimate acoustic tour of theaters. I went to the Beacon Theater show with Frank Black (of The Pixies) opening. Further musicians they brought on this tour included Rami Jaffee (who became an official member in 2017), Petra Haden, Drew Hester and returning Foo Fighter Pat Smear, who officially returned as a member in 2010. It was almost like an episode of Storytellers as Dave Grohl talked about some of the songs and their meaning. Very special show!

- 2/19/2008 @ Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

After the release of Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace, the band began playing much larger venues. At this MSG show, Serj Tankian (of System of a Down) and Against Me! opened. Some of the additional musicians who played the 2006 acoustic tour came out for an acoustic section of the show that included the very first Triangle solo in MSG history from their percussionist. 

- 11/13/2011 @ Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

By the time of 2011′s album Wasting Light, Pat Smear was back as an official band member. For their NYC show at MSG, the openers were The Joy Formidable and Social Distortion. They brought out a few special guests: Bob Mould of Husker Du played on “Dear Rosemary” and “Breakdown” (the Tom Petty song); and Joan Jett came out and did her song “Bad Reputation” with the band. The band also did Pink Floyd’s “In the Flesh”.

- 7/19/2015 @ Fenway Park (Boston, MA)

Obligatory concert selfie of me and my friend Tim with Foo Fighters behind us!

After the 2014 album and HBO series Sonic Highways, I hoped Boston would be an upcoming episode / recording. While on tour to promote the album, just a few weeks earlier, Dave Grohl broke his leg onstage, so for the remainder of the tour he performed on a throne. Even if he was sitting the whole time, it was one hell of a show (read my concert review here). Openers were Royal Blood and Dropkick Murphys. Highlights of the show included Grohl’s surgeon Dr. Lew Schon, who came out and sang The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” with the band; a brief cover of The Cars’ “Let’s Go”; a cover of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure”, and Godsmack’s Sully Erna joining for Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out”. 

7/21/2018 @ Fenway Park (Boston, MA)

my friend Ron, Wally the Green Monster and me at Fenway Park

Taylor Hawkins onstage with Foo Fighters

My second time seeing them at Fenway Park, but this show was very special because I won a contest and got tickets to the show and got to stay at the nearby Verb Hotel and also earlier in the weekend I got to see Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett doing a solo show at City Winery. I wish I could have this experience more often to get to see a musician in a small intimate setting and then see them rock out in a stadium with a band (read my concert review here). My buddy Ron came up and we had a great time! Openers included Boston's The Monsieurs (who I interviewed earlier in the month) and UK's The Struts. Highlights of this show included a cover of Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure" with Taylor Hawkins singing along with The Struts singer Luke Spiller, the band doing a cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" musically while singing Van Halen's "Jump" along with producer Greg Kurstin on piano, and Grohl's daughter Violet (12 at the time) on back-up vocals. Looking back it was one of the best Taylor Hawkins' performances as he also did a drum solo.

Boston Calling 5/23/2023 @ Harvard Athletic Complex (Boston, MA)

Foo Fighters on stage

me in my happy place: watching Foo Fighters

I attended Day of the 2023 Boston Calling festival (read my review here). Foo Fighters' headlined that night of the festival. This was a little over a year after the passing of Taylor Hawkins and only a week after they announced new drummer Josh Freese. Much of this show was about the band breaking in Josh but remembering Taylor. They paid tribute to Taylor with Dave singing “Cold Day in the Sun” (which Taylor sang) and to my surprise they performed “Aurora” because it was Taylor’s favorite Foo Fighter song (I haven’t seen them do that song live since 2003). For “Shame, Shame”, Dave introduced his 17 year-old daughter Violet. The highlight of the night (that got national attention from numerous news and music outlets) was Taylor’s 17 year-old son Shane guest drumming on “This is a Call”. 

Me just hanging out with Mr. Chris Shiflett in 2018

In addition to all of these shows I recounted, I also saw Dave Grohl with Them Crooked Vultures in 2009, Taylor Hawkins with the Coattail Riders in 2006 and 2010, and Chris Shiflett in 2018.

After I see tomorrow's show I'll have to update this concert history!

[zzombiegrrrl]

so in 2007, when my mom was stationed in Florida on a naval base, she had the chance to go to Taste of Chaos with her boyfriend. They had extra tickets, and she didn't have work the next day so she thought it would be a good time. At that concert, she saw The Used, 30 seconds to Mars, and Saosin.

And now, 17 years later, I have that hoodie.

one of my favorites, it is such a cool thing I have and proof that my mom was cool LOL

[melomancy]

Kate Bush performing in Japan, 1978

[ourstaturestouchtheskies]

Chalice of Saint John the Evangelist from The Diptych of Saint John and Saint Veronica – Hans Memling // From Eden – Hozier

[numnum-num]

Grace Jones, 31st December 1987. Dress painted by Keith Haring.

[presley4president]

Me core:

[lustnhim]

elvis in the 68’ comeback special) 𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩

𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩

[whispers-of-gallifrey]

Cannot stop thinking about an au where Turnabout Trump doesn't happen/happens but Olga is convicted instead so Apollo is still working at the Gavin law offices for his first few cases. He meets Trucy at one of the crime scenes and she tags along on his investigations, but she doesn't tell him about her connection to Phoenix until after their first case together. Ema likes Apollo less at first bc she doesn't like the fop and you work for his brother, who she also hates bc he's very condescending when he cross examines her in court.

When you meet Klavier in the second case you can ask Kristoph about him and vice versa. They don't interact with each other but you get to learn some more things about the brothers, their opinions on each other and their backstory. You also find out that Klavier was the one who got Phoenix disbarred and Kristoph is apologetic about it, given that Phoenix is his "friend" (though they haven't interacted at all since phoenix was found not guilty).

At one point Trucy is visiting Apollo at the Gavin Law Offices when Kristoph returns and "politely" kicks her out. She then reveals to Apollo who the daddy she keeps talking about actually is. You get to meet Phoenix again in the next case and find out more about the incident 7 years ago.

Over the course of the game you/Apollo starts to grow more suspicious of Kristoph and his intentions, alongside a growing sense of horror that you got an innocent person convicted in your first case. It all comes to a head in Succession when Drew Misham finally uses the stamp, which turns up fixed to a letter in the Gavin Law Offices postbox that Apollo collects on his way in one morning. You hand it to Kristoph and he promptly disappears with it, feigning excuses. Phoenix uses this case to finally spring his trap and test the jurist system. Kristoph gets the double whammy of his brother and mentee turning on him at once and the murder of Shadi Enigmar is properly resolved. It's also revealed that Trucy started tagging along on Apollo's investigations to collect intel for Phoenix.

At the end of Succession, Apollo is offered a role at the newly-renamed Wright Anything Agency and there's a final rise from the ashes-style case that serves as Apollo's first proper case as an official WAA employee and helps tie up some loose threads/lets the characters deal with the fallout of Succession.

Idk I just think it'd be fun/satisfying to realise slowly that there's more to everything than meets the eye.

[hooked-on-elvis]

September 3, 1974: Elvis goes to the Caesars Palace to attend Tom Jones' concert there. His then girlfriend Sheila Ryan is his date for the night. Note that EP is wearing one of the Beige Leather Two-piece suits he wore during the summer for his Las Vegas concerts that year. A karate ghee is on top of the stage costume. By the end of Tom Jones' show, Elvis goes up onstage and gives the audience a brief karate practice exhibition (picture 4).

(Below) Elvis performing at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. Summer of 1974 (August-September).

[elvisslut]

Affairs and tears❥

// warnings for entire series- strong language, affairs (obviously), broken marriages, mentions of tom Parker (ew), smut (Elvis trying to get into readers pants, fingering, oral (m! And f! Receiving), handjobs, angry sex, angsty sex, back clawing, Elvis’s dick will probably bleed at some point, mentions of him fucking Priscilla(..no comment),moaning and ect.), fighting, yelling, punching things (not the reader elvis is NOT abusive)//

watching him move on stage with such a passion, and messing with the crowd an the band. It all made your feelings deepen, especially when he gave you attention on stage or off stage either way it made your heart throb with desire and desperation in a way.

You and Charlie sat in the room that lead to the stage warming up your vocals for the concert that was about to start. A slam on the door notioned that the boys were here. Elvis came tackling sonny into the room once the door was opened the others following close behind.

You softly smiled looking over at Elvis from the edge of your paper that had the lyrics on it. You put your attention back to the paper as Charlie got up and went to Elvis involving himself in whatever the guys were doing.

Quickly reading over the paper to get what you need, setting the paper down and getting up making your way to the door and towards the stage. You walked up set the water bottles up for everyone and positioned the microphones the way they needed.

"What'd ya doin'?" A very familiar southern accent bellowed from the steps of the stage, you look over and smile at Elvis as he made his way up and towards you.

"I'm just getting everything set up" you say looking back at the microphone that you were fixing. "Ain't that a job for the people that set up the stage?" He asks chuckling, his arm brushed against yours, you didn't know he'd made his way over here already but it felt nice even if it wasn't a genuine touch from him you simply felt like it was something.

Anything from him was something, a simple breath or gaze your way would have you falling in the floor.

"I suppose so yeah..but i like to do it..gives me something to do" you answer with a soft laugh. He nods and leans over to fix one of the inspirations microphones his hand presses against your exposed waist for balance. Your breath halts and your body almost stops.

Sure he's hugged you before and gave you some friendly touches that was before you knew how you felt about him. How you felt..for a married man..as a married woman. "How's Priscilla? I haven't seen her in a few days." You ask pulling yourself away from his touch subconsciously as you thought about Priscilla and Oliver.

"Shes good, bit busy watching lisa. How's..uhm..your husband?" He asks looking back at you with a light smile on his lips. "Oliver.. he's good, spending some time in North Dakota with his family. He'll be back in a few weeks." You say looking down and messing with your ring, which didn't go unnoticed.

"Ya missin' him?" He asks a slight frown crossing his features. You nod hesitantly, you didn't miss him. That was the problem, your husband whom you've been married to for a little over 5 years. You didn't miss, not one bit. You actually preferred him to stay in North Dakota. He didn't talk to you much there and you could spend more time around Elvis. Most of that time was spent with Charlie who you got real close with.

"Yeah..i miss cilla' and lisa a whole lot too." He says in a comforting tone. "Yeah its hard being away for so long" you look up at his eyes your breath being pushed out of your lungs as you see how blue they are, and how close they are.

"Yeah" he agrees, his eyes scan over your face stopping at your lips for a moment before you look away your cheeks rosey.

"So..whats..what do you plan on doing after the show?" You ask nervously. You probably just missed your chance to kiss Elvis, but it was definitely for the best.

"Its 'bout time to so i best head back.. ill..talk to ya later y/n" he says before leaving back to the side of the stage. If there's anymore moments like that one. You know this will be hard, you know you won't be able to control yourself the next time it happens.

The only problem was, oliver and Priscilla..

[classic-art-favourites]

Frederick the Great Playing the Flute at Sanssouci by Adolph von Menzel, 1852.

[doll-elvis]

bringing this back because I’m still not over how he pulled the second girl in 😩

courtesy of dontbeecruel on twitter

[melomancy]

Kate Bush on ‘Revolver’ (1978)

[mjj-nostalgia]

"(Y/N) out here embarrassing me in front of all my fans!"

NOT MY GIF

[elvispresley]

The Beatles arriving on the rooftop for their last concert together (January 30th, 1969)