I had JUST mentioned Van's name in a conversation w/ a friend about the difference between great singers & singers with great voices when Harvey ended a song & said "We have a very special guest, please welcome to the stage, Van Morrison."

Reminded me of a time when my brother & I were at a small outdoor venue we frequented to see John Mayall when he had Coco in the band.
There was an area where we could be out of sight to burn one, but still easily hear the music..and crowd.
As we were imbibing in said area I mentioned to the bro how it never fails that no matter WHO is playing...someone will invariably yell out "Freebird!". Not more than 20/30 seconds later someone in the audience screams FREEBIRD! 😮 😛

I had JUST mentioned Van's name in a conversation w/ a friend about the difference between great singers & singers with great voices when Harvey ended a song & said "We have a very special guest, please welcome to the stage, Van Morrison."

Reminded me of a time when my brother & I were at a small outdoor venue we frequented to see John Mayall when he had Coco in the band.
There was an area where we could be out of sight to burn one, but still easily hear the music..and crowd.
As we were imbibing in said area I mentioned to the bro how it never fails that no matter WHO is playing...someone will invariably yell out "Freebird!". Not more than 20/30 seconds later someone in the audience screams FREEBIRD! 😮 😛

That was your brother! Damn stoners...

Probably in '75 or so. I saw Charlie Daniels open for Lynard Skynard at the Academy of Music in NYC . It was unique because in between acts I witnessed a great fight right outside the bathroom between a tall skinny guy against a smaller husky guy. They both got their shots in, good shots. Now I am not a fighter at all but this was so evenly matched it was very entertaining. Then after the show some of the guys in Skynard were fighting amongst themselves. They did not look like they were in very good shape at all - too stoned. Then one of the guys in the band ( don't ask me which one- I forget) asked if I could score him some downs. Bizarre and unique

The most unique show I've seen was the Sex Pistols at Winterland in 1978.

It was their first AND last tour of the U.S. and their last show ever with that lineup (of course we all know Sid Vicious died not too long after...).

That show was a spectacle, never seen anything like it...

Unique, huh. Let's see:

Catching Dylan at the Student Union in Eugene (for free) with about 800 people, standing next to Ken Kesey as I watched from about 30' from the stage. This AFTER I just saw him in Portland with Paul Simon at a speedway with about 100,000 others...

Tracy Chapman opening for Dylan when no one knew who she was and I sat in the front row and was awed

Seeing a band called MC 900 ft. Jesus take "scratching" to the next level. It was unbelievable...

Watching Dave Mathews at a bar with about 4 people...

Seeing Eric Johnson open for Derek Trucks at the Wow Hall in Eugene

Everytime I saw Zappa...

Being dragged to ZZ Top by some high school buddies only to find out that Alvin Lee was opening for them!!

Watching Keith Richards swing his guitar at some guy trying to steal Mick's fedora off of Ian Stewarts piano on Keith's birthday, no less, at Hampton in '89

Seeing Tom Waits live...

Watching Nic Cave and the Bad Seeds do a version of Stagger Lee live....

Many others that I will think of later...

1988 - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Benefit at Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KS
Hosted by Peter Fonda
Stephen Stills & David Crosby
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
John Fogerty
All Star Jam encore - "Roll Over Beethoven"
Select memories include Crosby telling stories about being in a Texas prison (he had just gotten released) Stills & Crosby doing "For What It's Worth," how damn cool Peter Fonda looked and how totally stinkin' drunk Thorogood was when he came back out for the all-star encore. Bought a poster that night signed by every artist in attendance. Later stolen and sold off by a friend of a roommate.

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral Tour, also at Memorial Hall. Opening acts were Marilyn Manson (right at the beginning of his career) and The Jim Rose Circus Sideshow.

The Jacksons Victory Tour, Arrowhead Stadium 1984. From the ticket lottery system all the way down to the stage act, it was quite the unique experience.

1 - I wasn't there but a friend of mine was with my brother to see Sha Na Na. My brother was not a huge music fan; and before the show the group mingled with the audience acting like greasers. My friend had to stop my brother from decking Bowser

2 - c 1982 I was at the Newport Jazz Festival in NYC. Tribute to Duke Ellington. Some of the old timers were still kicking; during Cottontail 8 of his Sax section jammed.

3 - Santana's percussion session left the band abruptly in I think either 1972 or 1973. I went to their second show at the Felt Forum. The first night they played without percussion. My friend was a conga player - and looked up on stage to point at Santana's brand new conga player and turned pale. He said to me "That's Jimmy - I play with him all the time." Seems James Mingo Lewis had the balls to send a note backstage night one; saying I know all your stuff. Carlos tried him out and he joined the band

I saw Jimmy Buffet play Dark Star with Little Feat backing him at Jazzfest. That was a pretty random combination. Never would have guessed Buffet to cover Dark Star.

The Christmas Jam in 2000 after Allen Woody died was one of the most emotional shows I've ever been to. it was the last year it was held in the Thomas Wolfe Theatre. Warren opened it on acoustic and then Matt Abts joined him on congas. You could hear a pin drop (minus some well placed cheers at times) when he sang In My Life. It was very moving.

At the end of a great evening, Gregg & Warren played together on acoustic for a couple songs and then we got treated to an ABB set from Gregg, Butch, Jaimoe, Warren, Oteil and Jimmy Herring.

Derek Trucks & Allman Bros around '94 when a young unknown 13 year old Derek surprised the audience and joined ABB for the final 2 encores with his blistering slide. It was special as I'd never heard slide like that since Duane passed & had goosebumps & watched as the entire normally sedate audience Rose to its feet in unison while he played.

It was also interesting because before the set we watched as Derek played frisbee offstage with some friends for awhile acting like the kid he was. We brought that up to Derek 2 years ago when we met him & Susan & he did fondly remember playing frisbee outside there & joining ABB for that blistering solo.Its definitely the 1 performance of Derek which stands alone.

Derek Trucks & Allman Bros around '94 when a young unknown 13 year old Derek...

Unknown to you maybe 😉

He'd been gigging around Jacksonville for a few years at that point.

First - Jerry Garcia Band out on Long Island maybe around '80 at Good Skates - a short lived roller skating rink with very low ceilings. It had to be 100+ degrees inside and everyone including the band were on the verge of passing out for multiple reasons including the heat.

Second would be Talking Heads during the Speaking in Tounges tour. The band came out pretty much one at a time each song starting with Byrne solo, then Tina Weymouth the bass player joining on the second song and so on building out to the full expanded band. This was captured in the film Stop Making Sense, but live it was sepctacular and one of the best shows ever.

I posted earlier in this thread and of course, I left out some shows. One show I left out is the Foghat Blues Benefit at the Palladium in 1977 which included Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Paul Butterfield, Eddie Kirkland, Hubert Sumlin and others.

I was at that show.From previous posts through the years,I get the feeling we attended a lot of the same shows.

I posted earlier in this thread and of course, I left out some shows. One show I left out is the Foghat Blues Benefit at the Palladium in 1977 which included Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Paul Butterfield, Eddie Kirkland, Hubert Sumlin and others.

I was at that show.From previous posts through the years,I get the feeling we attended a lot of the same shows.

One of my favorite performances from that show.

An acoustic Warren Zevon at 'Norms" in Birmingham.

I was there!

Also saw Zevon acoustic at UAB -Ulman Theater and at the Nick. Saw him with full band (including Kenny Gradney and Richie Hayward of Little Feat) at the Alabama Theater! [/quote

How awesome is all that!

 

Dickey at a bar in my county which has now closed - so small and the show was in the backyard - and during Liz Reed a train went by and it was perfect timing

Dickey at a bar in my county which has now closed - so small and the show was in the backyard - and during Liz Reed a train went by and it was perfect timing

Your county is closed? 😉

James Taylor- SUNY Oswego 85 or 86- Itimate venue w/ my old college crowd
SRV-NYE Ritz, NYC 87 or 88
U2 - War tour SUNY Stonybrook- venue, timing in career.
DTB- Piedmont Park Dogwood Fest-2003- smokin show, outdoors, Susan & Dr. Dan guests
My 1st Grateful Dead show Friday night of May 1981 Nassau Colliseum- You Never forget your 1st. Many more to follow.
My 1st ABB Show Summer 89 NY State Fair Syracuse area. Front row for most; Drove straight To Alpine to see Grateful Dead after this one.
The Who /The Clash at Shea Stadium 1982. First Farewell Tour -LOL. Venue, crowd, being on the field.

Of what I recall:

GA Tour 1973

ABB 1975 MSG

MTB/ABB-1976-Nassau

Willie Nelson's 65th BD party,including Kris Kristofferson,,Eric Clapton,Ray Charles,ZZ Top,Leon Russel,etc.

Bob Dylan/The Band 1974

Bob Dylan-Rolling Thunder-1975

Bob Dylan @ Tramps playing for about 600

Working as a gofer for Bob during hours of rehearsals in the mid 80's

Uncle Willies seeing Rick Danko and Hot Tuna in 89-was guest of Willies and sat front table.

The final ABB show.

Muddy,Cotton,Johnny Winter @ Beacon.

Dr, John,Levon,Rick,Max Weinberg,etc, at a pool party in Woodstock in the early 90's.

Leon Russell-Leon Live Tour-May 1973,Brooklyn College

Derek Trucks Band-cruise around nyc...can't recall year,but was in June and we stood right next o band...great experience seeing Derek's skill up close.

Various backstage moments at ABB shows...seeing and feeling the power...wow.

Any early-mid seventies Allmans or Grateful Dead show at Roosevelt Stadium in NJ was a memorable and unique experience...if anyone ever saw shows at that wondrous madhouse!

So many Wednesday nights with 10 or less people,mid winter seeing Levon at Barnburners shows in the late 90's as he recovered.Garth showed up too!

Too many more to list!

[Edited on 11/25/2014 by dadof2]

early Jethro Tull,Johnny Winter (w/Edgar),Van Morrisson,Mountain (w/Felix& Corky) all in 1 show,for only $15
I remember riot police marching onward toward us inside & the bands playing thruout it all,I remember chairs being rippedup & bonfires thruout the stadium as the bands played at night,I remember the bonfire on the roof of the pressbox on the roof of the stadium (& me right next to it w/ fire burning-hmm) as Tull played 'To Cry You a Song" (& how different a band they were)... I remember leaving at 4am w/3 headliners left & hearing the music continue to play as I walked for miles...definitely unique & never matched quite the same...not for the faint of heart in those days....

I remember getting in a lot of trouble when I got home at 5am cause it was all over the news too.

[Edited on 11/29/2014 by bettyhynes]

Jimi Hendrix and The Soft Machine.

Newark Symphony Hall, the week MLK was killed.

Armed National Guard in the Streets.

When we picked up the girl going with us, her father offered us a handgun, in case we needed it.

The place was only about a tenth full, everyone down in front.

Much to be said for being young and stupid.

Two absolutely stunning spirit of Duane moments come to mind:

July 13, 1990 Greenville memorial auditorium - First time seeing the Warren - dickey - Woody line-up _ when Gregg counted off Statesboro blues and Warren started playing that beautiful slide intro 4 guys from south cackalackey looked at each other with jaws agape ! Knowing they were back!

Then 4 years later July 4th 1994, Greenville SC again, the Donaldson Center for Freedom Weekend aloft Balloon Fest featuring an ABB concert that night. Out comes this Kid with an SG that dwarfs him and does it again! I already knew about him but that was first time seeing and hearing!

I'm a fortunate man. I saw and heard Duane play guitar and had these two moments when I knew immediately that his spirit was being channeled. Many times since I've had that experience listening to Derek & Warren play, but those two times after ten years of wondering if we'd ever see the ABB live again. It was and is still special

[Edited on 11/26/2014 by willieB69]

Two absolutely stunning spirit of Duane moments come to mind:
July 13, 1990 Greenville memorial auditorium - First time seeing the Warren - dickey - Woody line-up _ when Gregg counted off Statesboro blues and Warren started playing that beautiful slide intro 4 guys from south cackalackey looked at each other with jaws agape ! Knowing they were back!

Felt the exact same way 5 days earlier when the first notes of DWYNM came from the stage.
Knew it was true by the time they finished this set...

Jul 8, 1990 (Sun) Perf. Arts Center Tampa, Florida

Intro Jam
1. Don't Want You No More
2. It's Not My Cross To Bear
3. Statesboro Blues
4. Blue Sky
5. Low Down Dirty Mean
6. Seven Turns
7. Midnight Rider
8. Good Clean Fun
9. It Ain't Over Yet
10. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
11. One Way Out
12. Blues Ain't Nothin'
13. Gambler's Roll
14. Shine It On
15. Dreams
16. Ramblin' Man
17. True Gravity
Encore:
18. Jessica
19. Whipping Post

In the unique show categories, saw Alvin Youngblood Hart put the voodoo on an audience by playing a bunch of Skip James songs one night. It was like he sucked the crowd into Skip's haunting world. People funnelled out of there in a kind of quiet haze.

Another show in Seattle, part of Jazzfest, was Hamza el-Din. He had an oud, I think, and you could hear a pin drop the entire show, everyone was just riveted.

Toots and the Maytals in Portland, Maine at a long gone club called The Tree, in the 80's. OMG, that Voice in a small, packed club. There was no standing room, you stood up because of being shoulder to shoulder with everyone. Saw Bunny Wailer that same year in Boston, they passed out copies of the UN declaration of human rights to all concert goers.

Chris Whitely, solo, in Seattle after his acoustic album came out, he was ... channeling another realm. Saw him before and after that, but never like that. Even the sound check was chilling that night. He was just ... on fire with passion to play. It was like every note came through ya, listening. i have seen artists in that zone before, not always for an entire show.

the 3 Kings was a unique show;
in a tiny intimate theatre venue,I was in row 3 as each King each took their turn wowing the audience,then they all played together at the end for a set with their own unique styles,BB w/ his soulful licks,Albert with his flying V tearing it up,and Freedie

Another very different style show was a mass of psycadelic bands all on one bill;
Fridgid Pink,Blue Cheer (distortion heaven),Rare Earth (Losin You for 1 hr) the Amboy Dukes,Iron Butterfly (playing'in a Godda da Vida' for 2 hrs) & others I don't quite remember...
oh yeh,also the Byrds,Grand Funk Railroad, & a premiere of the Cream film.Of course the whole thing finished in the early hours of the next day when there was no 11 pm curfew

[Edited on 12/1/2014 by bettyhynes]

Greg Allman Tour at the Shrine Auditorium in LA in 1974 (I think 74) My first ever concert, I have no tickets, by myself, drive up, go the box office and say I need ONE ticket, they give me a front row seat literally In line with Greg, need I say more?

Richard Betts Highway Call tour at Santa Monica Civic, simply a great show, the highlight was after the THIRD encore about 100 of us were left and kept yelling and pounding the seats, he comes back out, says you guys are nuts and plays one song solo with the lights on.

A triple bill of Little Feat (with Lowell George) Charlie Daniels Band and Marshall Tucker headlining at Santa Monica Civic, I didnt know much about Little Feat but came home and bought every record they had, been a fan ever since.

Oh yeh, there was 1 other final, unique show. It was seeing 1 of the final Allman Brothers concerts with Duane Allman...just before he died in Oct '71. It was a very 'special' show that affected & stuck with me all my life!

I always remembered Duane as a very gifted guitarist because of seeing that show,long before he got the recognition he truly deserved. I always later stated, matter-of-factly, that he was the Best slide player ever in existence & possibly the greatest guitar player-ever!

This was definitely a very Unique show & one I'll never forget.

Dickey at a bar in my county which has now closed - so small and the show was in the backyard - and during Liz Reed a train went by and it was perfect timing

kellys pub,tappan n.y. ?

I caught the "With a Little Help from My Friends" Mule show that went late into the night.

Caught two of the ARMS shows with Beck, Page, Clapton, Paul Rodgers, Simon Philips, Joe Cocker, and a host of others.

May be blasphemy, but I enjoyed the Wanee without Gregg, just because it was something different (and I had seen them so many times).

Caught one of the first times Derek sat in with the Brothers. Still remember the ubiquitous Braves hat and an SG that looked bigger than he was.

I think I show the last show with Dickey. Not sure, though. It was Music Midtown in Atlanta.

Probably not for everybody here, but I saw a famed King's X show in Atlanta where they blew a few amps. They played acoustically, and I recall the crowd not only singing along to everything but harmonizing.

Saw a Rush show at Radio City Music Hall. Several seats caught fire. Flames were a few feet high, but they put it out and didn't evacuate. I always thought that was a tad odd.

Saw Jimmy Herring back when he toured with Derek as well as the Herring, Rodgers, and Sipe days.

Saw a female dwarf/little person having sex with a biker at a 90's Allman show in Atlanta. Not only was it out in the open, but it was against the first row of a section with a walkway in between. He was standing up and didn't look to be straining to hold her. It is unfortunately burned in my memory.

Caught the first Derek show with Javier Colon.

Caught a McLaughlin, DiMeola, Paco, with Steve Morse show

Saw the first Oteil/Jack tour in the middle of a horse arena outside of Atlanta. Very weird.

These spring to mind as unique in some form or another.

Blooby

are you sure you didn't take too the too many hits of acid at that Allman Bros show when you saw the dwarf girl having sex with the big biker in the first row at the walkway crossing ?

I wonder if Greg noticed anything unusual ?

I've seen a lot of things...but I can't say I've ever seen anything like that.