It has been a while since I posted any top 5 lists. So, I thought I’d do something a little different today, meaning that this one is even more subjective than all the others. So, I present to you, my humble readers, the top 5 Concerts I have personally experienced.
5. Leftover Salmon – May 2, 2000 – Knoxville, TN
Leftover Salmon are an eclectic mix of bluegrass, country, Cajun, southern rock, and boogie. We got front-row tickets at the Bijou and smiled every minute of it. Their music is all about fun, and I danced my little rump off until the last cord. These guys made sounds come out of the mandolin and banjo I wouldn’t have thought possible.
4. Lucinda Williams – September 25, 2001 – Bloomington, IN
Lucinda is one of my all-time favorite musical acts. We got there early and were rewarded with spots right off the stage (there were no seats) and to the left. Dressed in a low-cut, red tank top and tight-fitting blue jeans, Lucinda was dressed to please, and she did just that. I would have preferred it if the band had stretched some of the songs a bit, but what they left out in improvisation, they more than made up for with energy. She sang all my favorite songs and a few that quickly became new favorites.
3. Ratdog – April 10, 2001 – Knoxville, TN
I’ve seen Ratdog several times before, but this was my favorite performance. I decided to go at the last minute, on a whim, and I’m glad I did. It was a mixed setlist, containing both songs I really don’t like and some of my very favorites. But even on the crappy songs they played tremendously.
2. Furthur Festival – June 25, 1998 – Atlanta, GA
Through various circumstances, I was never able to see the real Grateful Dead in concert. What I have to live with is their various incarnations minus Jerry Garcia. In the second year of the Furthur Festival, a touring festival featuring members of the Dead as well as other Dead influenced bands, the remaining members of the Grateful Dead (minus drummer Bill Kreutzman) formed The Other Ones. This was the first time since Garcia’s death that all of them were playing together, and the first time they set out playing the old classic Dead songs. It was not a disappointment. The jams were hot and smooth, in fact, much of the three-hour show seemed like one giant medley of music. It was a perfect time, perfect place and I enjoyed some great music with even better friends.
1. Willie Nelson
I’ve seen Willie Nelson twice: Once at the Brady Theatre, in Tulsa, OK, and again at the IU Auditorium in Bloomington, Indiana. They were completely different types of shows, and yet I cannot claim that one was better than the other. In Tulsa, they took all of the seats out of the theatre to give it a livelier atmosphere. The bar was running plenty of drinks out and the crowd acted like it. Willie’s music was up to the task. He played a huge medley of all of his classic hits without taking a break to say a word. It was loud, obnoxious, and fantastic. I’ll never forget Willie standing on the stage with a wrinkled face, and broken guitar running through “Amazing Grace” and “Uncloudy Day” with about 20 bras having been thrown on the stage and the audience saluting their beer mugs to the gospel music. It was quite a time.
In Bloomington, the atmosphere was completely different. It was an academic auditorium and the people were all dressed appropriately. Willie played his songs as songs, pausing between each one to say thank you. The audience sat politely in their seats, except for a few moments when they gave an ovation to the giant American flag and his tribute with some patriotic songs. It was vastly different than the crazed party scene I had witnessed before, and yet it was still a wonderful night of music.
That was really tough. There are other concerts that just barely missed the top five. The Indigo Girls, Sam Bush, and Jamgrass were difficult to cut out. But that’s what a top list is for, I guess.
themidnightcafe.org 
That is a hard one to calculate. So– I will say, without being asked for it– that my five favorite concerts I attended are (in random order):
(1) Neil Young with Booker T and the MG’s at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco 6-9-1992 OR Neil Young with Crazyhorse at the Cow Palace in Daly City 4-6-1991 — The Warfield show was word of mouth only– and included a hilarious stand up set by Dana Carvey– doing a really funny impression of Neil). The 91 Crazyhorse show was LOUD and intense.
(2) Grateful Dead – Oakland Coliseum 10-31-1991 (the section of Dark Star that Kesey does his rap in still haunts me with its emotion and power). Hard to pick only one of the Dead shows I saw between 1982 and 1995, but that night was especially powerful and moving.
(3) Van Morrison w/ the JB Horns – Masonic Theatre, San Francisco, CA 12-19-92
(4) Leonard Cohen – Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA 4-13-2009
(5) Blues for Salvador Benefit – Henry J Kaiser, Oakland, CA – with Carlos Santana, Garcia, Weir, Wayne Shorter, Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Tower of Power and others (the jams with Carlos, Garcia, Weir and Wayne Shorter were amazing– and Jerry funking it up on “What is Hip” was amazing).
There are so many others — BTW, I saw Willie solo and with the Highwaymen (with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson).
That’s a nice list. Consider me jealous. My original list was made way back in 2005. I’ve seen a few more concerts since the so I really should update it sometime. Gillian Welch in Memphis would have to be included, and surely one of the times I’ve seen Wilco and Dylan would get added. I’d have to think about it.
I rally haven’t seen that many concerts. As much as I love to go location and finances have always kept me from seeing everything I’d like to see.
I count myself fortunate to have grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area (born and raised in San Francisco). Concerts were much less expensive in the eighties and nineties when I was going to see them regularly (and most everyone booked a show in the Bay Area when touring). Van lived in Marin County in the mid seventies to mid eighties, so even after he left, he came back often. I saw the Jerry Garcia Band often in small clubs because he, as you know, lived in Marin County along with the rest of the Dead. Neil Young lived south of here so played unannounced shows from time to time in small theaters and clubs.
I am envious of those who got to see concerts in the sixties and seventies– back when shows were even more affordable and so many of the greats were in their prime and so vibrant. I, for example, would love to have seen the Dead between 69-77. I was here then, but too young.
I love Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. I saw them quite a few times from 2008-2011– including a great Dave Rawlings Machine show at the very intimate Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. My fave Dylan show as at the Greek Theater in Berkeley in 1988. Half way through the show a guest just showed up and started playing the guitar on every song for the rest of the set. It took me a minute to realize it was Neil Young. I have yet to see Wilco. I like them very much.
I really do not go to concerts anymore because they are just way too expensive now.
PS I really enjoy following what movies you are watching (reading your reviews here and on Letterboxd).
Growing up around SF must have been amazing. I grew up near Tulsa, OK then moved away for a couple of decades and now I’m back. We get some decent shows, but nothing like the big cities do.
I saw Gillian and Dave in a small theater and it was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Great sound and the audience was completely quiet, just listening.
I’ve seen Wilco several times and they always put on a great show. They are coming here in September and I already got my tickets. That will be the first show I’ve attended since the pandemic hit.
And yes, tickets are so crazy expensive now. The big named acts are way out of my price range these days and even smaller artists like Wilco are getting that way.
Oh and thank you for your kind words about the movie writing. I never really know if anyone cares one flip about that stuff since this was a music site for so long. So it is always nice to hear when folks enjoy it.
Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Revue 11/8/75 Patrick Gym Burlington VT. Ratso Sloman has a review in his book, On the road with Bob Dylan or what ever it’s called. That and a whole slew of Dead shows. Worst concerts Mylon LaFerve One of the 1st show Blue Oyster Cult ever did in the early 70’s. I wanted to poke my ears out at that one.
>
Rolling Thunder Review must have been amazing.