I've been a music fan since before I began my radio career at age 15. The Beatles were what sparked it for me, although I was late to the party. I was 4 years old when they first performed on the Ed Sullivan show, so I don't really remember that. I was only 8 or 9 when they disbanded, but when I discoverd them I made up for lost time, buying every album I could afford, and reading evetything about them I could. The first live performace of a pop band I ever saw was a local group, the Avant Guard who played for us in or school auditorium in Conway. After that I was hooked on live music..
My first real concert was Bob Dylan at the old Carolina Coliseum, for $15 mind you, wh Some artists I never saw but would have loved to ich I felt was crazy at the time. Pop, Country, Rock...I've been able to attend dozens of shows, maybe more, some of which I was able to meet some of my favorites, and actually introduce a few from the stage. Some artists I never saw but would have loved to include James Brown, the Rolling Stones, even though they played the Myrtle Beach Convention Center in the '70s, the Kinks and Prince.
But among the ones I DID see live, the following are some my favorites, although my list is fluid.
1. Paul McCartney (1989) at the Igloo in Pittsburgh, where I was somehow able to be be seated 2nd Row Center.
2. Bonnie Raitt with Lucinda Williams (2023) Township Auditorium in Columbia. An excellent show with two of my favorites.
3. Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, with Keb' Mo (1998) at Fraze Pavillion in Kettering, Ohio. I wasn't familiar with Keb' before his ser, but I instantly became a fan. Ly'e's Large Band was tight and bright, with an unbelievable horn section, and his backup singers were amazing.
4. Delbert McClinton (1987) at the Spanish Galleon in Ocean Drive. This was after the Galleon's remodel, and it the perfect venue for an intimate show with Delbert. He had me dancing and I can't dance a lick.
5. Tom Petty (2017) Assembly Hall, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. That morning at 4:00 a coworker arrived at the station and asked if I'd like to see Petty that night.. I knew if i said yes it would be a long day for me, and I'd seen Tom a couple of times previously, but FREE tickets? Why yes! At the time I didn't realize it would be my last Tom Petty concert, but it was. He died later that year, shortly after finishing his tour at the Hollywood Bowl. A good friend who lives in LA was at his last show.
I'll update this list periodically, but until I do, I'm now working on my WORST concerts list. There have been a few.
