Favorite Concerts

My favorite concerts are as follows:

1. James Brown - fall 1964 - Auburn Ave. Casino - Atlanta, GA
     I was a freshman at Emory and two older fraternity brothers asked if I would like to  go see James Brown. I knew absolutely nothing about JB, but agreed to go. There were three shows that day at the Auburn Avenue Casino ( a club in the black entertainment section of Atlanta, capacity approx. 800). We decided to go to the second show and got there fairly early. As we stood in front of the line waiting, we could hear the band and would get glimpses of the stage through the portholes on the front doors. What we heard or saw did not prepare me for what really lay inside. The James Brown show at that time consisted of two drummers, guitars, bass, organ, a great horn section, and the Famous Flames. The show lasted about 2 hours and one song went right into the next. The entire band was totally choreographed and they would freeze between songs (this lasted just seconds). James Brown never stopped moving. I had never seen anyone dance like this . I cannot put into words a description that does justice to what I saw that night. I was a total James Brown fan after that. I probably saw him a total of 8 more times but never in a small venue like this. Totally awesome.

2. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run Tour - Atlanta, GA
     Springsteen was all the rage, cover of Time magazine and this great album that everybody talked about. We had 3rd row seats (one of the record bus perks) and Springsteen and the band put on an unbelievable three hour show. I saw this band a couple more times, however they never had the fire that they had that night. Bruce all over the stage and Clarence was a most commanding presence. One of the greatest rock n/ roll bands ever and they were at the top of their form that evening. As close to James Brown as anybody I have ever seen.

3. Ike and Tina Turner - 60's - Royal Peacock - Atlanta, GA
     I saw Ike and Tina probably 4 times during the 60's. My favorite were the shows at the Royal Peacock. The Royal Peacock was across the street from the Auburn Ave. Casino, the club itself was upstairs (long vertical flight of stairs) and probably held about 300. Great sight lines and from what I remember the sound was very good. Ike and Tina Turner Revue was just fabulous. Tina and the Ikettes were moving and shaking and singing non-stop while the band just played. Everything was choreographed but in a very raw sense. Everything that I have seen about them comes close but does not totally capture the experience at the Royal Peacock.

4. Bette Midler - Divine Miss M Tour - 70's - Atlanta, GA
    This was Bette's first tour with Barry Manilow on Piano and music director and Melissa Manchester as one of the backup singers. Bette was fresh out of the bath houses in New York and had a very big gay following. The ostentatious audience was very similar to James Brown except that instead of being black they were gay. The Bette Midler show was a hoot, more stage show than concert - but what a show. I have seen Bette a couple of times since, but nothing compares to this first tour.

5. Otis Redding and Sam and Dave  - 60's - Columbus, GA
     It was the Otis Redding tour at the Columbus Auditorium, the promoter was Dr. Jive (my boss) so I had very good seats. In the 60's the soul shows would have 4-5 acts open before the headliner. For the most part the audience did not pay much attention to the opening acts. Until Sam & Dave came on stage. They just cooked, one of the best live acts I have ever seen. And it was the first time that Stax had sent the Barkays on the road - what a great little band (six pieces). I was back stage during the break before Otis took the stage and he said, "I will have to strip to top these guys". Otis came out and just went from one hit to the next - he might not have had the energy or the showmanship of Sam and Dave - but man could Otis sing. This was the best that I ever saw Otis Redding.

6. Charlie Daniels Band (Dickie Betts) - 70's - Richards - Atlanta, GA
     Before Charlie Daniels made it big, he came to Atlanta a lot and always played Richards. Since Charlie was on Buddah records, I would go down to see him. However, it was not much of a chore as I always enjoyed Charlie Daniels Band live. Even a few years ago, when I saw them at the House of Blues in Chicago, I realize what a great live performer Charlie is. One night  at Richards, Dickie Betts showed up and went on stage to jam with Charlie and the band. At the time, Charlie played the guitar more than he did later and I was amazed where these two guys went that night. After the show, I told Charlie, he needed to duplicate what he had done on guitar. He said, "Steve, I don't even know where I went tonight, Dickie pushed me to places I have never been. Needless to say, a hell of a night.

7. James Cotton Band - 70's - Alex Cooley's Ballroom - Atlanta, GA
     Buddah had released a double LP - James Cotton Live, and to support the album, the James Cotton Band came to Atlanta for 5 days at Alex Cooley's Ballroom. This was my first taste of electric chicago style blues and I was blown away. I went every night to see this band. Matt "Guitar" Murphy (Blues Brothers) was with James at the time. They were great, plus James still had his voice at this stage in his career. Great show every night. Absolute pleasure seeing these guys and hanging out with them. To this day, I have always felt bad that we (the record label) could not figure out a way to break James Cotton.

8. Eddie Harris and Les McCann - 90's - Jazz Showcase - Chicago, IL
    "Swiss Movement" with Les McCann and Eddie Harris has always been one of my favorite jazz albums. So when I saw that they were playing together at the Jazz Showcase, I had to go. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. Great show, stayed for both sets. Really glad I got to see them as Eddie Harris died about a year later.

9. Chicago Transit Authority - 70's - Ga. Tech - Atlanta, GA
     Chicago back in their hey day were just a great band. I was always a sucker for good horns and Chicago did not disappoint. Plus, will never forget how good the drummer was - predominately a college crowd who the band had great rapport - tremendous show.

10. Patricia Barber - 90' - Green Mill - Chicago, IL
       I have seen Patricia Barber several times both in concert and at the Green Mill. She plays the Green Mill on Monday nights when she is in town and well worth going. A very good jazz artist who always seems at her best in this small jazz club. I have actually been disappointed when I saw her in concert.

11. Gino Vanelli - 70's - Great Southestern Music Hall - Atlanta, GA
       The promotion guy (Al Monet) from A&M said I had to go. So I went to see Gino not knowing what to expect. One of the best live shows I have ever seen. Gino was a very active singer and certainly wowed the ladies with his dancing and such. The band was a very keyboard oriented with a very full sound.

12. Great Southeastern Music Hall - Steve Martin, Cheech and Chong, Linda Rondstadt - different dates - Atlanta, GA
       I got to see Steve Martin and Linda Ronstadt on their first tours before they made it big and it was very memorable. The Great Southeast (held about 800 - in the round, excellent sight lines and acoustics) was also a great place to see Cheech and Chong.

13. La Carousel Lounge - Modern Jazz Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Jimmy Smith - different dates - Atlanta, GA
       When I was at Emory, we would go down to the south part of Atlanta to this small jazz club which was located at a motel. If memory serves me, Sherman was the woman's name who was the maitre'd and the club was long and narrow. However, they had all the great names in jazz and between sets, the band members would circulate among the patrons. Great place to see jazz (little did we know that Dr. king and Julian Bond met in the coffee shop every morning at this same motel).

14. Otis Clay with Tiny Hodges - 90's - River West - Chicago, IL
    Otis Clay - American Music Fest, Fitzgeralds - July 1998 - Berwyn, IL
     I have seen Otis Clay many times, twice I saw him with Tiny Hodges in the band. Tiny Hodges was the rhythm guitar player for Al Green (he also co-wrote many of Al's biggest hits). When Tiny played with Otis, he took the band up a couple of notches. He would get in a groove on rhythm and the band just had to fall in with him. Otis Clay is as close to the old R&B singers as there are - so you know I would enjoy him. One of my more memorable nights was Otis at Fitzgerald's in the tent during the July 4th America Fest. It was raining hard with thunder and lightning and everybody had to get under the tent. The harder it rained, the harder Otis and the band played.

15. Neville Brothers - Ravinia - 90's - Highland Park, IL
       The Neville Brothers are one of my all time favorite bands, however they run hot and cold live. But when they are on, they are fabulous. So was the night at Ravinia, they had an all older all white crowd (under the pavillion) on their feet and dancing the whole show.

16. Alejandro Escovedo - Schubas - 90's - Chicago, IL
      I have never seen Escovedo put on a bad show. I have seen him play acoustic, with a big band and in-between. One of the nights that I remember the best was with the whole band at Schubas. I love Escovedo and if you ever get the chance - go see him.

17. Zachary Richard - Schubas - 90's - Chicago, IL
      Richard had just released a killer CD on A&M called "Snake Bite of Love" and was on tour to support the CD. Zydeco rock has never been better than Richard during this period (from what I understand, he has changed). He had the joint rocking, very glad I made this one. (Still wonder who the blond was that I danced with all night and was too shy to ask her name.)

18. Astral Project - The Green Mill - 99 - Chicago, IL
      A friend and I stumbled into the Green Mill in search of some music and sat down to one of the best sets ever. Astral Project a jazz group out of New Orleans, they were nothing short of fabulous. Remember vividly, the keyboard player (looked like a brick layer) and his great pair of hands. We ended up staying until closing - the music was just that good.

19. Liquid Soul - Chicago suburb - 98
      This is one of my favorite funk bands. They used to play every Sunday night at the Double Door in Chicago and I caught them there a couple of times. However, the night they brought the house down was in a club out in the suburbs. The audience did not have a clue who the band was and was less than enthusiastic in the beginning. Liquid Soul pulled out all the stops, before the night was over - the whole place was up dancing. Great night of music.

20. Harry Manx - S.P.A.C.E - Evanston, IL - 3/2010 - Solo acoustic blues performer who just mesmerizes you with his playing as well as his voice. If you get the chance, do not miss Manx. I took two friends who had never heard of him, after 3 songs they were hooked. The only solo performer that I have seen and was not thinking the whole time - I wish he had a band.

 

Steve Begor- thebopper

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