hellomrworld

So while I was driving back from Camp and the family reunion every July 4th in Central Maine, I listened to my wife's IPod and heard Man or AstroMan?

The wife has been getting into Tenacious D and there is only so much I can listen to of it ...

But it made me think how great Man or Astroman were at Pomona College in 2001 and think of my favorite live shows ever.

There are two artists I saw twice both were awesome live.

One is the immortal legend of Rock and Soul, Ray Charles .. once in New Brunswick, NJ at the State Theatre (around a 2,000 seater) in an amazing about 75 minute set ***** .. One of the great shows I ever saw .. I think it w as in the mid-90s? ...

Another was later in Ray Charles's life in a free show outside in Pasadena, CA in 2001 ... It was a fun show but not as amazing **** ... I think its awesome I saw one of my favorite performers of all time live twice.

Another group who was ASTOUNDING live is Living Colour (Cult of Personality is their big single) .. I saw them once at the University of Chicago in Fall 1993? at Mandel Hall, in a 1,000 seat theater usually reserved for classical shows ... Just awesome and insanely great ... Had a "seat" in the pit and had an absolute blast .. One of the best shows ever ***** ...

I also saw them before my really bizarre trip to London in the Summer, 2001 in North London .. They were brilliant there too but the crowd acted posh, and distant ... I loved it though, and thought it was awesome I saw they were in a show in the free paper ****

Other great shows were Lollapolloza 2 at the JFK Stadium Grounds, Philadelphia, Summer 1993 ****1/2 .. A wonderful, hot exhausting show, with Tool, Dinosaur Jr, Fishbone ... Was in the pit a good 5 hours before I just had to get water...

Another was U2 in the Summer of 1992, in the ZOO TV tour, at the floor of Veterans Stadium, Philly ... I had seats about 8 rows away in the acoustic set at the end of a long runway .. Great stadium show *****

Also the Little Steven Underground Rock Festival at Randalls Island, NYC in August? 2004 ... Great show, the Misfits and MANY others were great .. Do wish there was more then one stage ... Lots of fun ... Would have saw Iggy Pop if I wasn't there for 12 hours already, the Strokes didn't play WAY too loud (posers) and there wasn't a hurricane warning out ... And of course the wife wanted to go home .... ****

Awadagin Pratt (classical pianist) given ticket at Mandel Hall, Chicago, 1993 ... ****1/2

BB King blues festival, Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ .. mid-1990s? ... .Buddy Guy was unbelievable so was Koko Taylor (also saw her at the U of Chicago) .... Fun show ****

Also saw Paul Simon live twice (once at the concert in Central Park ****) and once with Bob Dylan in Holmdel ****

What are some of your favorite shows ever?

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