Top 15 Concert Memories

I've been reading Todd Carey's Ping playlists over the last few weeks and have really enjoyed seeing what he's listening to and why, finding some great new music along the way, and I thought for a moment that I might want to do my own list. And so, thanks to TC's challenge, here we go...

I decided my list needed a theme or I'd just be listing hundreds of songs I think are awesome, and I started thinking about concerts I'd been to and decided to create a playlist of my top 10 (okay 15 because I couldn't narrow it down!) concert memories. They are in order by when I saw the concert...I found the best videos I could...some mine, some the official videos, some from other people...enjoy!

1 - Al Jarreau - Roof Garden - Saw him live at Red Rocks in 1984. It really doesn't get much more awesome than Red Rocks, and his voice...so pure, so perfect. Hearing this song now takes me right back to that moment.

2 - Boyz II Men - Motownphilly - Saw them in Pittsburgh in 1992 open for Jodeci who were the opener for MC Hammer. Yeah. They were brand new. And all kinds of awesome! Their harmonies were spot on and I love that I saw them when they were first starting out.

3 - Luther Vandross - A House Is Not A Home - Saw him in Pittsburgh in 1992 also and he did not disappoint. We lost a great voice when Luther died, and this song live was simply amazing. It can bring me to tears even today.

4 - Public Enemy - Fight the Power - They opened for U2 on the ZooTV tour, and I saw it in Chicago in 1993 (I think...maybe 1992). I probably wouldn't have gone to see them on their own but wow. They could perform! Great lyrics, great presence...still love this song.

5 - Burlap to Cashmere - Basic Instructions - This band only recently came back on the scene, and I am so glad! I saw them tour off their first album in 2000 in San Francisco (The Warfield) and I honestly don't think I've ever seen anyone play guitar like them. Their hands moved so unbelievably fast that I really thought I was seeing things. This song always reminds me of that night, and I've still never seen anyone else play like that.

6 - Third Day - Agnus Dei - I first saw Third Day in 2000 at Marine World in California, and this is the song they ended their show with. It was quite possibly the most moving experience I've ever had at a concert and thinking about it now just gave me chills. One of my all-time favorite bands who I have actually seen more than ten times now, but I will certainly never forget that first show.

7 - Train - When I Look to the Sky - In 2004 Train played 4 or 5 shows at this tiny little club in San Francisco called Cafe du Nord. It might hold 200 people. We were lucky enough to get tix for the Friday night show and wow. It was AMAZING! I could have honestly picked any song from that night, but this is one of my favorites and seeing them perform it live and being so close to them was truly great. However, the best part of the night was being handed a cd of the first two-thirds of the show when we walked out. Yeah. Very few people have that cd. So very cool.

8 - Switchfoot - On Fire - Another band that I have seen more than 10 times, and they play this at every show, but I remember the first time I saw them at The Warfield in San Francisco. Truly amazing showmen and phenomenal musicians. So much energy! This song moves me so deeply...I couldn't even describe it in words if I tried. Switchfoot live is something everyone should experience at least once.

9 - U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name - My memory of this song at a U2 concert is actually from the second time I saw them, which was in San Jose in 2005 on their Vertigo tour. I always loved this song before that show, but something about the way the stage lights moved and the swell of the crowd noise when The Edge starts playing the very famous opening riff...wow. It was spine tingling and it is now one of my absolute favorite U2 songs and the thing I remember most about that show.

10 - Matt Nathanson - Still - If you've never seen Matt in concert, make plans to do so immediately. It's so much more than just a concert. The man is hilarious and can, in one night, make me laugh until my sides hurt and bring me near tears. The performance of Still I'm remembering is from a radio show he played on Halloween at a tiny place in San Francisco called The Slide Lounge. It was about as close to perfect as a person can get. Watching his emotion as he sang the words that I knew by heart made it so much more special for me. Of course, the fact that in the middle of the show we had a 1-2 minute exchange about my phone made the night fairly memorable too...

11 - JJ Heller - Love Me - I've seen JJ perform this many times, and while I can't pinpoint a specific date, I just know that it never ceases to move me. She has since re-recorded this and renamed it What Love Really Means, but I will always know it as Love Me. The words are so pure and so real, and I can't help but think part of it was written just for me. JJ and her husband Dave are longtime friends and I can only smile when I hear their music now...could not be more happy for them.

12 - Kelly Clarkson - Sober - I saw Kelly sing this live in San Jose in late 2009 and wow. The song hadn't done a lot for me on the record but hearing it live changed my attitude completely. Simply amazing. The woman can just flat out sing.

13 - Billy Joel - Scenes from An Italian Restaurant - Hands down my favorite Billy song, and while I've seen him sing it live several times I'm remembering the last time, in San Jose in 2010. Billy is pure rock and roll and this song embodies all of it. Absolutely awesome.

14 - Elton John - Levon - I've seen Elton several times too, but I don't ever remember him performing Levon until the last time I saw him, which was in San Jose in 2010. I only need to hear the introductory notes and I'm completely lost in the song. It's always been a very moving song to me, and I will never forget him doing it live that night.

15 - Todd Carey - Photograph - Since my list was inspired by Todd I certainly couldn't leave him off of it, but believe me, he would have made it either way. In a little less than 6 months in 2010/2011 I saw TC in concert 3 times, but there is nothing I will ever remember more than him playing Photograph - my absolute favorite of his songs - in the green room in this tiny little club in DC called The Red Palace. Truly a night I will never forget.

So, there you have it...maybe I'll do another one of these some day...we'll see...

The first step is admitting your addiction...

My name is Carrie, and I'm addicted to music...all kinds of music, but especially live music. As many of you know, I'm a concert junkie...an addict, if you will. When each new year begins, I wonder which of my favorite bands will tour and how many will come to the Bay Area so I can see them in person. So many bypass us that I typically start the year as a skeptic thinking that this will be the year I don't get to see anyone in concert. But then...I'm surprised...and excited...and full of concert tickets!! Oh yes. I feed my addiction. And it is JOY!

Here we are in July, and so far, I've seen only 2 concerts. But oh. They were joyous. They were both the same tour...Third Day, with Revive & Brandon Heath. One in Modesto and one in Fresno. But now, the real fun begins...

• July - Matt Nathanson (that's tomorrow!)
• August - Switchfoot, Green Day, Daughtry
• September - Pink
• October - Rob Thomas, U2
• November - Billy Joel/Elton John, Kelly Clarkson

Crazy, right? Yes. I'm completely addicted to concerts!! That's nine concerts in five months. NINE!! But I don't care. There is nothing like live music. Nothing.

I wonder who might be on tour in December...

So, what concerts are YOU attending this year?

Would your life suck without me?

Okay. No need to answer that. I just love that there's a song on the radio called "My Life Would Suck Without You". I mean, how great is that? It's what we want to say, and not some flowery romanticized sentiment. It's real life. Real.

I've always loved Kelly Clarkson because she's so real. As the first American Idol, she has obviously had more time than anyone else to become a star, and she's done it...without going crazy and going down the road of Britney or other silly pop stars. She's pop - pure and simple. She's what AI was always intended to be. Many will argue that Carrie Underwood is the most successful Idol, but I disagree. She is COUNTRY. American Idol was supposed to be a pop show. She should NOT have won. But I'm not bitter...

So Kelly's latest album dropped this week...yes, I said album and I said dropped. That's how I roll. The first single (referenced above) is pure, unadulterated pop, and I LOVE IT!!! The album is great, and I highly recommend it. Her last album was, well, an "experiment". I just recently downloaded it, and it's certainly not awful, but it is fairly useless compared to the new one and the one prior to it.

I've read a couple of semi-snotty reviews of her new album...commercialized, remake of her last popular album...blah-blah-blah. And? So? Why is it bad to be commercialized and revisit the formulas that work for you? Obviously there are people who like it, so what's the big deal? I've never understood this. Why must everything be new and on the edge and whatever? Her experiment clearly didn't work well, so she stepped back and said, okay, I'm going back to my bread and butter of pop. Good for her I say! I know I've been listening to the album pretty much non-stop since I downloaded it Tuesday night...and there are not many artists I do that with.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure my life would suck without you...so thanks for taking some time to read this silly little anti-blog. Hope you enjoyed!

Happy New Year...the sequel

H - Here's to...

A - Arizona State's men's basketball team...may it make us forget the football season.

P - People making new starts.

P - Pucks that go in the net for the Sharks!

Y - YOU!


N - New albums (and hopefully tours!) from U2, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry and others.

E - Everyone reaching whatever goals they've set.

W - Wii!


Y - (Cy) Young award winner Timmeh!

E - Enjoying time with friends and family.

A - (Tasha) Alexander's next book, Tears of Pearl.

R - Revelation...Third Day's spring tour!


Hope your new year is going well so far. I'd love to tell you that I'll be blogging more frequently in the new year, but that's just an empty promise that I have no need to make. All the best...Happy 2009!