Top Five Concerts
1. Ministry, KMFDM, January 28, 1990, The Venue, Dallas, TX--Easily, the loudest show ever! The show, in support of the Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste, was on a Sunday and my ears were still ringing on the following Wednesday. Two drummers and seven guitarists including badass Mike Scaccia from the legendary Dallas band Rigor Mortis. Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat) and Nivek Ogre (Skinny Puppy) on guest vocals. I must also mention the 10 foot high chainlink fence separating the crowd from the band. The skins were out in full force creating an intense and violent (mosh) pit and lets just say it was a good thing to have the fence there.
2. Tom Waits, Dec 30th, 1992, San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, CA--Absolutley amazing show by Waits in what was a preview show for his New Years Eve show in SF the next day. He played guitar, piano and sang for nearly 3 hours. Some solo, some with a band that include Larry Cohen on bass and Ribot on guitar. New songs, old songs and the classic Tom Traubert's Blues. Also excellent was his witty, smart-ass repartee with the excitable audience, all seated in an orchestra hall
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Dec 31, 1991, Cow Palace, Daly City, CA--This show is memorable mostly for the lineup. Hell of a lineup, eh? I didn't even see Pearl Jam since I was in the car downing a few Mickey's Big Mouths to prep me for the show. Nirvana rocked out bigtime, smashing their instruments for the finale. The Chili Peppers were their usual high energy selves but nothing too much stood out. I saw them in '89 at the Bronco Bowl in Dallas and that was a better pure show.
4. Butthole Surfers, Flaming Lips, April 30, 1988, Arcadia Theater, Dallas TX--Clean and sober at this show, honest. You didn't need to be on anything since they provided the trippiness. Gibby pouring lighter fluid on a cymbal, lighting it and then hitting it and watching the flames rise up 10-15 feet in the air. Two filmstrips in the background-sex change operation, male to female, running backwards, Viva Las Vegas, assorted cartoons and nature shows. Can't forget the two topless dancers who eventually had to put their tops back on. No tits allowed but 10 foot high flames are fine. We had 2nd row seats too to make it all the more intimate at this small theater on Greenville Avenue.
5. Blues Traveler, June 8, 1993, Tipitinas, New Orleans, LA--The finale of a roadtrip following the Traveler around Texas and Louisiana (Dallas, Austin, Houston, Baton Rouge and New Orleans) after graduating from college. My friend was recording all the shows, to boot. Popper and colleagues loved Nawlins and they put on a great show at the classic venue.
Honorable Mention:
-The Smiths, September 5, 1986, Bronco Bowl, Dallas, TX--The Queen is Dead tour. Morrissey and Marr in top form.
-John Zorn's Electric Masada, January 30, 2003, Tonic, NYC, NY. Unbelievable musical improvisation from Zorn, Wolleson and Ribot.
-Phish, August 2, 1997, The Gorge Amphitheater, George, Washington. Memorable for several reasons, one of which will not be elaborated in full. The camping sucked but the venue is one of the nicest I've ever been too. The show started at dusk with the sun setting behind the stage overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. Clear skies with the moon and planets rising afterwards. Almost made me think I was in the promised land. But that didn't last long as the first set was a struggle but the second set was marvelously relaxing and pleasant.
-Soul Brains (Bad Brains), March 8, 1999, 9:30 Club, Washington DC--Reunion of the legendary band Bad Brains in their hometown where at one point in their career they were banned from playing because their shows were so freaking intense. They changed their name to Soul Brains for some contractual reasons I guess. These dudes alternately jammed mellow reggae grooves and rocked EXTREMELY hard and fast with classics Pay to Cum, I Against I, I and I Survive.