My Most Intense Concerts

As an audience member and DJ/VJ/performer I've seen thousands of live music shows over a lifetime. Here's a quick list of the most memorable and influential I've witnessed first-hand (not exactly in order of importance):

1. Altamont -December 6, 1969, with my dog Gypsy-Rose in tow; Hells Angels whoop ass the crowd to music from Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Flying Burrito Brothers, Crosby, Stills & Nash, & Rolling Stones. Saw, just ten feet in front of me, Mick Jagger getting blind-sidedly cold-cocked then carried backstage unconscious on stretcher as he attempted to go through crowd just after arriving. Quite an entrance. My post traumatic syndrome continues.

2. Beach Boys at the Hemet Armory -Southern California, March 16, 1963 before a small crowd, twelve days after "Surfin' USA/Shutdown" was released. Spent break with them in parking lot as some in the band drank beer. 'Bushy, bushy blonde hairdoo...'

3. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Joe Higgs & The Wailers at The Matrix -San Francisco, October 19, 1973. Had never heard of any of these guys until the curtain opened. Went home and put most of my rock records in a trunk in the attic. My life was never the same.

4. Tim Buckley at The Troubadour -several times, Los Angeles, Fall 1967-Spring 1968 along with Nina Simone, Richie Havens, Hedge & Donna... Tim is the most operatic folk/rock/jazz singer ever.

5. Brian Wilson performing SMiLE in The Hague -two nights, Holland, July 13-14, 2004. Get the SMiLE double dvd NOW!

6. Jimi Hendrix at Winterland -San Francisco, CA, February 3, 1968

7. Devo at The Old Waldorf & The Warfield -San Francisco, CA, November 1978/August 1980. Confession: I was the guy disguised in the gorilla suit at the Old Waldorf.

8. The Band's first live show ever as The Band -Winterland, San Francisco, CA, February 28, 1969, Robbie Robertson had horrible flu, put under hypnosis in order to perform, with hypnotist wandering the stage.

9. Leonard Cohen at The Orpheum & Berkeley Community Theatre -San Francisco Bay Area 1970s & 1980s with his tower of song, Jennifer Warnes singing backup.

10. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at The Greek Theatre -Berkeley, CA August 11, 1996. Trance-scendent and ecstatic epiphanies non-stop.

11. Bob Marley at The Greek Theatre -Berkeley, CA July 21, 1978 with THREE ENCORES ended by a 15 minute "Punky Reggae Party"!

12. Paul Simon's GRACELAND tour featuring Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, & Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Berkeley Community Theatre - CA, February 28, 1987

13. Paul McCartney at UC Memorial Stadium -Berkeley CA, March 31, 1990. The Beatles' music in abundance at long last.

14. Blue Riddim Band at Reggae Sunsplash -Montego Bay, Jamaica August 8, 1982. At sunrise, to an astonished Jamaican crowd, the boys from Kansas City prove white folks can play real reggae, The Police etc. not withstanding.

15. Elton John at The Boarding House -for a week, two shows a night, San Francisco, August 1970; no one really knew about him. Also saw debuts of Kris Kristofferson & Steve Martin; my first summer job away from home, I worked nearly every position at that club except Chef. Among other highlights I witnessed there that amazing summer: Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks, Ricky Nelson, Livingston Taylor, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Stewart, Doug Kershaw...

16. Bunny Wailer in Long Beach -West Coast solo debut July 12, 1986, CA; after a morning earthquake wake-up call Bunny delivers over 4 hours of sophisticated roots reggae, with three different major reggae bands, in an epic pent-up, career-spanning performance.

17. Peter Tosh & The Rolling Stones at Oakland Coliseum -Peter's Bay Area solo debut July 26, 1978. For Mick's birthday Bill Graham helicopter drops inflated sex dolls into audience, weirdos get jiggy with them, but Peter, backed by Sly & Robbie, innoculated those who came early with their crucial BUSH DOCTOR set. His next two local appearances were even more phenomenal, at The Old Waldorf, February 9, 1979 San Francisco, & The Tribal Stomp, September 8, 1979, Monterey, CA

18. Alpha Blondy at The Fillmore -West Coast debut, San Francisco, March 3, 1988 with Jah Big opening; first show ever in Bill Graham's return to his major home base where it all started in the 1960s. Don't tell the Fire Marshall but rumor has it (& if you were there you know it's true), it set the venerable venue's still standing, all-time attendance record.

19. Charley Pride at The Mansfield -June 26, 2004 Great Falls, MT, where he got his start. He greets old fans & neighbors as he tells intimate tales of Montana, his interactions with vintage country artists, while ragging on the insane music biz in amazing asides for about half the show. It was half improved inspired spoken word & half great music.

20. Lucky Dube at The Kennel Club -West Coast debut, San Francisco, late 1980s. Small crowd, huge talent. Reggae with an uplifting mbaqanga touch.

21. John Trudell at Reggae On The River -Redway, CA in 1980s, 1990s, & 2000s. He always speaks poetic truths with authority, brilliance and a sense of real dread. Native genius.

More magical shows amongst the best I've ever seen include Professor Longhair (Tipitina's, New Orleans 1976), The Wild Tchoupitoulas (The Boarding House 1977), Lee Dorsey, Joe Liggins (Wolfgang's mid-80s), Dick Dale, Thomas Mapfumo with Kronos Quartet (Slim's late-80s early-90s)... Other top-of-the-liners lively & intensified shows: Lee Perry (Maritime Hall), Skatalites (Slim's), Augustus Pablo (Greek Theatre), Linton Kwesi Johnson (Berkeley High School!), Bob Andy & Alton Ellis (Wolfgang's), Fela Kuti (Fillmore), King Sunny Ade (Greek Theatre), Marcia Griffiths (Reggae On The Ranch, Glacier Park), Ornette Coleman (Masonic Auditorium), Jan & Dean (Legion Park GF, MT), Willie Nelson (Choteau MT Rodeo Rink), Jacob Miller (Winterland), Bob Dylan (Bozeman Field House), Donovan (Hollywood Bowl), Michael Franti (Emerson Center, Bozeman). Gregory Isaacs (Keystone Berkeley), Dreadstock (Vallejo,CA), Pato Banton (anytime), Burning Spear (everytime), etc. etc. etc. plus a great New Year's Eve with Santana, Al Green, Buddy Guy & Midnight Dread Videos (Oakland Arena)! So many great memories... Don't miss Ghost Town Sound live whenever we perform. Live music is boss.

Please post your most intense concert moments or moment in the special upper right side comment box.

To watch twenty-one videos that correspond specifically to My Most Intense Concerts list: Click Me

To watch ten videos that sometimes humorously follow my life's trajectory while showcasing direct influences from these shows: Click Here