This last weekend I saw JJ Grey & Mofro in Seattle. Hill Country Review opened for them and it was a great show. Both bands sounded better live than their albums and I love their albums. (for those of you who don't know, Hill Country Review is a side project of the band North Mississippi Allstars) The only down side was the mid life crisis couple next to Heather, Jessica and I who could help but dry hump each other to death the entire time. I wish I could have done something to embarrass them and make them stop but from the look of it, they were beyond embarrassment.
Anyways it got me thinking...which concerts I've gone to where the best? Well here's my top 10 list:
1) Drive by Truckers - Brighter than Creations Dark tour - June 26 2008 - Spokane Wa. - The Big Easy.
This concert was amazing. The only down side was the opening act, Dead Confederate, who just sounded like pink Floyd without the talent. However, DBT was amazing and we got to sit relatively close. Plus the company was good, my wife, Jessica, and John Cory.
2) Gov't Mule - Mighty High Tour - Nov 14th 2007 - Portland Ore - Roseland Theater
This was my first time seeing Warren Haynes and company and it was amazing. I still can't believe how much sound that trio (now added keyboard for four) can create and Warren in my opinion is the best guitarist alive today and one of the best ever. Went to this concert with my brother and that was special to me, as we've always fought as kids and its nice to spend time with just him as a adult and on much better terms.
3) Pearl Jam - Yeild Tour - Jul 18th 1998 - Portland Ore - Rose Garden
This was my first big concert and it was awesome. My co-worker and friend Justin went with me and it was the first big show for both of us. Pearl Jam put on an amazing show with a cover of Neil Young's F-ing up, which was amazing. They set the bar high for all other shows I would see. Someday I want to see them live again.
4) Farm Aid - Sept 14th 2004 - Auburn Wa - Mukelshoot Reservation
I went to this show for two reasons...to see Neil Young and to spend time with Heather, who I had just started dating. In fact I agreed to go to this concert long before we started dating because I knew she was recently single and I wanted to take the risk. It turned out to be a good risk. The show was great with Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and much more. The only drag was that I bough tickets after Heather and her friend had so I ended up sitting by myself and actually in a row all by myself but I got to see good shows and lay a foundation for a good relationship which blossomed rapidly to marriage...still going good.
5) Drive by Truckers - Feb 15th 2008 - Blessing and a Curse Tour - Portland Ore, Roseland Theater.
This was the first time I was able to see DBT live. It was amazing. I went with my dad which was also cool and Son Volt opened which is a good band, but not as good as DBT. It was also in my favorite concert venue, the Roseland Theater.
6) Willie Nelson's 4th July Picnic - July 4th 2007 - The gorge - Washington
This was a HOT show...Jessica and I were sweating, but we were close and we got to see shows from Willie Nelson, Drive by Truckers, Son Volt, and the Old 97's. All I got to say is it was an outdoor venue but it reeked of pot...and Willies son can play a mean guitar.
7) JJ Grey and Mofro - Sept 20th 2008 - Neumos - Seattle Wa.
This was a great show with two good bands, Mofro and Hill Country Review. The venue sucked...I actually would have loved it if there was more seating as I like small venues. And the audience was high and very "touchy" but the music was great and we were only 25 feet away.
8) Nickelback - Sept 3rd 2004 - Spokane Wa, Greyhound Park
This was a fun show. We missed the 1st opening act, 12 Stones, because of the restaurant we stopped at took an hour and half to get us food, but we did see Puddle of Mudd and Nickelback. The highlight was when Nickelback covered Metallica and it sounded awesome...there was a lot of fire too! Good people came with too, Michael Prentice and Tony.
9) Taj Mahal Trio - Nov 16h 2002 - Pullman WA, Bryan Theater
Taj Mahal was very entertaining and it was a fun blues show. Bryan theater was packed and the acoustics were very good!!!
10) 3 Doors Down - July 12th 2001 - Better Life Tour - Salem Or, Salem Armory.
This was a good show, but very hot. Acoustics were bad too but we saw two great bands, 3 Doors Down and Tantric.
11) Third Day - Nov 8th 1997 - Conspiracy Tour - Portland Or, Roseland Theater.This was the first official concert I went too, although not the first secular concert. I went to see a new band called Switchfoot who, along with All Star United, opened for Third Day. That’s right people I listened to Switchfoot back in 97, 8 years before they got big...their first album is the best in my opinion but that may be nostalgia.
Anyways it got me thinking...which concerts I've gone to where the best? Well here's my top 10 list:
1) Drive by Truckers - Brighter than Creations Dark tour - June 26 2008 - Spokane Wa. - The Big Easy.
This concert was amazing. The only down side was the opening act, Dead Confederate, who just sounded like pink Floyd without the talent. However, DBT was amazing and we got to sit relatively close. Plus the company was good, my wife, Jessica, and John Cory.
2) Gov't Mule - Mighty High Tour - Nov 14th 2007 - Portland Ore - Roseland Theater
This was my first time seeing Warren Haynes and company and it was amazing. I still can't believe how much sound that trio (now added keyboard for four) can create and Warren in my opinion is the best guitarist alive today and one of the best ever. Went to this concert with my brother and that was special to me, as we've always fought as kids and its nice to spend time with just him as a adult and on much better terms.
3) Pearl Jam - Yeild Tour - Jul 18th 1998 - Portland Ore - Rose Garden
This was my first big concert and it was awesome. My co-worker and friend Justin went with me and it was the first big show for both of us. Pearl Jam put on an amazing show with a cover of Neil Young's F-ing up, which was amazing. They set the bar high for all other shows I would see. Someday I want to see them live again.
4) Farm Aid - Sept 14th 2004 - Auburn Wa - Mukelshoot Reservation
I went to this show for two reasons...to see Neil Young and to spend time with Heather, who I had just started dating. In fact I agreed to go to this concert long before we started dating because I knew she was recently single and I wanted to take the risk. It turned out to be a good risk. The show was great with Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and much more. The only drag was that I bough tickets after Heather and her friend had so I ended up sitting by myself and actually in a row all by myself but I got to see good shows and lay a foundation for a good relationship which blossomed rapidly to marriage...still going good.
5) Drive by Truckers - Feb 15th 2008 - Blessing and a Curse Tour - Portland Ore, Roseland Theater.
This was the first time I was able to see DBT live. It was amazing. I went with my dad which was also cool and Son Volt opened which is a good band, but not as good as DBT. It was also in my favorite concert venue, the Roseland Theater.
6) Willie Nelson's 4th July Picnic - July 4th 2007 - The gorge - Washington
This was a HOT show...Jessica and I were sweating, but we were close and we got to see shows from Willie Nelson, Drive by Truckers, Son Volt, and the Old 97's. All I got to say is it was an outdoor venue but it reeked of pot...and Willies son can play a mean guitar.
7) JJ Grey and Mofro - Sept 20th 2008 - Neumos - Seattle Wa.
This was a great show with two good bands, Mofro and Hill Country Review. The venue sucked...I actually would have loved it if there was more seating as I like small venues. And the audience was high and very "touchy" but the music was great and we were only 25 feet away.
8) Nickelback - Sept 3rd 2004 - Spokane Wa, Greyhound Park
This was a fun show. We missed the 1st opening act, 12 Stones, because of the restaurant we stopped at took an hour and half to get us food, but we did see Puddle of Mudd and Nickelback. The highlight was when Nickelback covered Metallica and it sounded awesome...there was a lot of fire too! Good people came with too, Michael Prentice and Tony.
9) Taj Mahal Trio - Nov 16h 2002 - Pullman WA, Bryan Theater
Taj Mahal was very entertaining and it was a fun blues show. Bryan theater was packed and the acoustics were very good!!!
10) 3 Doors Down - July 12th 2001 - Better Life Tour - Salem Or, Salem Armory.
This was a good show, but very hot. Acoustics were bad too but we saw two great bands, 3 Doors Down and Tantric.
11) Third Day - Nov 8th 1997 - Conspiracy Tour - Portland Or, Roseland Theater.This was the first official concert I went too, although not the first secular concert. I went to see a new band called Switchfoot who, along with All Star United, opened for Third Day. That’s right people I listened to Switchfoot back in 97, 8 years before they got big...their first album is the best in my opinion but that may be nostalgia.
