First Show/Punk Show/Best Show

[dave]

For me, my first show was Cheap Trick on the One-On-One tour. It was in a basketball stadium, so the sound was a little washed out, but I was so stoked to hear 'em play that I didn't care.

First punk show was the Big Boys, (Texas) in a tiny li'l bar called Backstage, 1983.

Best shows, so far: The Cramps w/ Nick Knox, Stay Sick tour, and the Boredoms, 1993. Both shows were off-the-scale energy, wow...

Most disappointing show was The Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, 1996 (SXSW, ack!) the singer was waaaay drunk, the gtr player was pissed-off, and the band maybe played 20 minutes.

[John Battles]

Any Ramones show , tho' I was late for the party, particularly ,The Ramones , Iggy Pop and The Dickies , Aragon Ballroom , 1988. The RAMONES HAD AN AWFUL MIX , AND WERE ONLY GIVEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO PLAY , But to see a three bill band like THAT , WHEN mURPHY'S lAW DICTATES , THE MORE YOU LIKE THE HEADLINER ,THE WORSE THE OPENING BAND IS GONNA BE (Tho ' there are exceptions.).
 
Mongul said:

First: The Ramones at City Gardens in Trenton, NJ May 29, 1991

Best: The Ramones at The University of Maryland, Summer 1993 - the show started with only about five people in attendance - like my own private Ramones concert!

[dave]

Don't feel bad, check this out: The Ramones came to my hometown of College Station, TX (!!), itself a miracle, with DeeDee playing, in a small venue and I-didn't-go. At that time I rarely drank, and had seen New Order sober- boy, did that suck, worst concert I've ever been to! So, even though I was an avid Ramones fan, I knew I wouldn't have fun. Still shoulda gone. D'oh!

John Battles said:

Any Ramones show , tho' I was late for the party, particularly ,The Ramones , Iggy Pop and The Dickies , Aragon Ballroom , 1988. The RAMONES HAD AN AWFUL MIX , AND WERE ONLY GIVEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO PLAY , But to see a three bill band like THAT , WHEN mURPHY'S lAW DICTATES , THE MORE YOU LIKE THE HEADLINER ,THE WORSE THE OPENING BAND IS GONNA BE (Tho ' there are exceptions.).
 
Mongul said:

First: The Ramones at City Gardens in Trenton, NJ May 29, 1991

Best: The Ramones at The University of Maryland, Summer 1993 - the show started with only about five people in attendance - like my own private Ramones concert!

[The FRANCS]

First show: KISS, Syracuse 1976. Opening act was Uriah Heep. (Happy to see I'm not the only one whose first show was KISS!!!)

First punk show: Wreck N Crew, Cortland, NY 1978. Cortland's punk overlords...

Best show: Heavy Trash, Las Vegas 2005. The Sadies opened the show and backed Heavy Trash. Close second is the Stray Cats, Tucson, AZ 1982ish. Played in a low-ceiling basement at the Convention Center. They were on a little riser. Maybe 500 people. Cool.

Worst show: If it was bad I usually drank more so I wouldn't remember... seems to have worked.

Best "unfinished" show: Johnny Thunders, Tucson, AZ 1985. Never finished a song. It was great.

[John Battles]

dave , I guess I don't follow you. You did'nt think you'd have fun at a Ramones show because you were'nt much of a drinker?  College Station ? Gig 'em Aggies ! HA HA , just kiddin'.          Friends : We used to all tell "Aggie Jokes" in Texas about how dumb Texas A&M students supposedly were , even THEY tell 'em......But , then , I found out how much SEX was going on around that campus , and I said , They're not so dumb after all.

But , my old Alma (What does it) Mater, ETSU , is now owned by Texas A&M , which means they're Aggies , too , now.
  
dave said:

Don't feel bad, check this out: The Ramones came to my hometown of College Station, TX (!!), itself a miracle, with DeeDee playing, in a small venue and I-didn't-go. At that time I rarely drank, and had seen New Order sober- boy, did that suck, worst concert I've ever been to! So, even though I was an avid Ramones fan, I knew I wouldn't have fun. Still shoulda gone. D'oh!

John Battles said:

Any Ramones show , tho' I was late for the party, particularly ,The Ramones , Iggy Pop and The Dickies , Aragon Ballroom , 1988. The RAMONES HAD AN AWFUL MIX , AND WERE ONLY GIVEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO PLAY , But to see a three bill band like THAT , WHEN mURPHY'S lAW DICTATES , THE MORE YOU LIKE THE HEADLINER ,THE WORSE THE OPENING BAND IS GONNA BE (Tho ' there are exceptions.).
 
Mongul said:

First: The Ramones at City Gardens in Trenton, NJ May 29, 1991

Best: The Ramones at The University of Maryland, Summer 1993 - the show started with only about five people in attendance - like my own private Ramones concert!

[John Battles]

Weirdness. Just as Kiss IN '76 was my first show ( Not counting my Brother's little band in Kewanee , Illinois , Ear Lick , and a really cool band I saw at  a car show in Ft. Worth. I remember , they opened with "The Rockford Files" and did a medley of "Gitarzan" and "Troglodytes" , the singer donning a cheap ape mask !), I ,too , saw The Stray Cats in '82 , before they broke in The US , AT tHE hOT kLUB , DALLAS' SECOND - EVER PUNK VENUE. Missed a lot of great shows there , for still being 17 -18. There were several hundred people , there. I saw Thunders in '86. Rode my bike to the mall to buy my ticket. I think he finished nearly every song......HA HA . HE WAS INTERRUPTED BY A BOTTLE - THROWING SKINHEAD , AND THE TWO HAD TO BE PULLED APART. JOHNNY WAS GETTING THE BEST OF IT , BUT NEITHER OF THEM REALLY SEEMED TO BE HURT , AND THE SHOW WENT ON.....
 
SMF said:

First show: KISS, Syracuse 1976. Opening act was Uriah Heep. (Happy to see I'm not the only one whose first show was KISS!!!)

First punk show: Wreck N Crew, Cortland, NY 1978. Cortland's punk overlords...

Best show: Heavy Trash, Las Vegas 2005. The Sadies opened the show and backed Heavy Trash. Close second is the Stray Cats, Tucson, AZ 1982ish. Played in a low-ceiling basement at the Convention Center. They were on a little riser. Maybe 500 people. Cool.

Worst show: If it was bad I usually drank more so I wouldn't remember... seems to have worked.

Best "unfinished" show: Johnny Thunders, Tucson, AZ 1985. Never finished a song. It was great.

[VJ Wasted]

My first show was a festival at the CCH in Hamburg 1979 called "BRAVO-Super-Disco" with Suzi Quatro, Racey, Truck Stop and Frank Zander. Bravo is the largest teen magazine within the German-language sphere and very cheesy. Can't remember that much. I think I was too excited.

First punk concert or whatsoever was DAF (Deutsch Amerianische Freundschaft) at the Markthalle in Hamburg 03.06.81. Music: electro punk. Audience: mostly punk. It was good fun.

The best concert so far: The Milshakes at the KIR in Hamburg 1982. 2 hours pure fun. The whole crowd was dancing and the whole band was drinking. In the end they stumbled cross the stage but played so tight as if sobriety was their middle name.

[Mr Yates]

First show - Pretty sure it was Madness at Melbourne's Festival Hall, must have been about 16 or 17. Probably 1980. I still remember the scary looking skinheads in their boots and braces and the totally hot woman wearing a clear plastic raincoat and nothing else.

First punk show - Dead Kennedys at Monash Uni. 1983 I think. They played with The Corpse Grinders. Awesome night. I still have a ticket stub.

Best Show - Where to start. I saw Lightning Bolt a few years ago. They played to a room of about 300 people. Perhaps the most powerful gig I have ever seen in 30+ years of live music. What about Nomeansno and DOA supported by Front End Loader. Ort any New Christs gig, especially the night they played Melbourne Uni with Exploding White Mice. Or feedtime, or The Cosmic Psychos, or the meanies, or Lubricated Goat in front of 25 people, or the Dirtbombs at Golden Plains or Off  two night ago  ............................................................   

[dave]

You Aussies get alla the Good Stuff!  :D

Any Birdman-kinda stuff is right up my alley!

And Lightning Bolt is waaay too intense for a measly 2-piece!

And those beautiful Australian ladies, ooh!!

[John Battles]

DENIZ TEK , WHO LIVES IN DETROIT , NOW (WELL...DOES ANYBODY?) , HAS BEEN PLAYING , OFF AND ON , WITH SCOTT MORGAN'S POWERTRANE. They played here , 4 or 5 years ago , with a frontline of Morgan (Rationals, Sonics Rendezvous Group,etc.), Tek , and Robert Gillespie (Rob Tyner , Mitch Ryder.) . Either of those Guitarists and singers could front a great band of their own , but, together , Holy Shit ! Less than 15 people showed , including the opening band, Thunderwing.......that's another subcategory "Best shows nobody went to"

Mine would include - Divine Horsemen ,   Chris D.'s Flesheaters offshoot band , that , admittedly ,had'nt had much press yet. I ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE GIG , AND WHO THEY WERE , BECAUSE I WAS standing right outside the club , somewhat dejected after seeing a very competent but not very Garage (In sound or repertoirre) Larry and The Bluenotes , and I read a mention about the show in The Dallas Observer

Ragin' Fire - Despite a Southern Rock Bar band - sounding name , this Nashville Roots /Country Punk outfit , fronted by a gutsy female singer , Melora Zaner, took me entirely by surprise. I think the 6 or 10 other attendees agreed.

Voodoo Dolls - Cramps/Flesheaters /Roky - influenced Punk Rock and Roll. From Florida , their very early sides are on You  Tube , now.

27 Devils Joking. THE OTHER 14 PEOPLE WERE THERE FOR THE OPENING BAND , BUT STAYED , ANYWAY. This , given the fact that the club stretched the truth just a BIT , and said Singer/ Bassist , Brian S. Curley had been in The 13th Floor Eleveators. It's possible he played in the reformed group for one gig in Houston in 1984  , after Ronnie Leatherman bailed. He did back Roky in The  Resurrectionists (With Nervebreakers Drummer , Carl Giesecke.) and Evil Hook Wildlife E.T. , as well as Lester Bangs with The Delinquents ,who also released a very B- 52's ish LP of their own. 27DJ rocked like Raw Power - era Stooges , with the expected nods to Roky and The Elevators , live. Guitarist Tom Trusnovic is in T.TEX EDWARDS' CURRENT GROUP (ONE of 'em.) , PURPLE STICKPIN.

Best recent shows attended by 30 people or less (FOR SHAME , CHICAGO)

Fleshtones at Double Door , ? and The Mysterians at Reggie's (TWICE ! CRIME !).

[John Battles]

John Battles said:

DENIZ TEK , WHO LIVES IN DETROIT , NOW (WELL...DOES ANYBODY?) , HAS BEEN PLAYING , OFF AND ON , WITH SCOTT MORGAN'S POWERTRANE. They played here , 4 or 5 years ago , with a frontline of Morgan (Rationals, Sonics Rendezvous Group,etc.), Tek , and Robert Gillespie (Rob Tyner , Mitch Ryder.) . Either of those Guitarists and singers could front a great band of their own , but, together , Holy Shit ! Less than 15 people showed , including the opening band, Thunderwing.......that's another subcategory "Best shows nobody went to"

Mine would include - Divine Horsemen ,   Chris D.'s Flesheaters offshoot band , that , admittedly ,had'nt had much press yet. I ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE GIG , AND WHO THEY WERE , BECAUSE I WAS standing right outside the club , somewhat dejected after seeing a very competent but not very Garage (In sound or repertoirre) Larry and The Bluenotes , and I read a mention about the show in The Dallas Observer

Ragin' Fire - Despite a less than intriguing name , this Nashville Roots /Country Punk outfit , fronted by a gutsy female singer , Melora Zaner, took me entirely by surprise. I think the 6 or 10 othe rattendees agreed.

Voodoo Dolls - Cramps/Flesheaters /Roky - influenced Punk Rock and Roll. From Florida , their very early sides are in You  Tube , now.

27 Devils Joking. THE OTHER 14 PEOPLE WERE THERE FOR THE OPENING BAND , BUT STAYED , ANYWAY. This , given the fact that the club stretched the truth just a BIT , and said Singer/ Bassist , Brian S. Curley had been in The 13th Floor Eleveators. It's possible he played in the reformed group for one gig in Houston in 1984  , after Ronnie Leatherman bailed. He did back Roky in The  Resurrectionists (With Nervebreakers Drummer , Carl Giesecke.) and Evil Hook Wildlife E.T. , as well as Lester Bangs with The Delinquents ,who also released a very B- 52's ish LP of their own. 27DJ rocked like Raw Power - era Stooges , with the expected nods to Roky and The Elevators , live. Guitarist Tom Trusnovic is in T.TEX EDWARDS' CURRENT GROUP (ONE of 'em.) , PURPLE STICKPIN.

Best recent shows attended by 30 people or less (FOR SHAME , CHICAGO)

Fleshtones at Double Door , ? and The Mysterians at Reggie's (TWICE ! CRIME !).

[dave]

Oh, sure, rub it in, eeeeevvvvverybody sees some band Deniz Tek is in but me! Well, at least I got to say a few drunken words to him in Austin while the Sons of Hercules were playin' (while wearin' my leather w/ the Birdman logo on it!). "Hey, what's that emblem on your jacket?" hahaha... You could tell Tek knew the lineage of the Sons, and got off on their sound. Ironically, the guys hadn't heard Birdman 'til they got a following in Austin.

Hey, I met 27 Devils Joking, I think they changed their name to Altamont '69 (genius!)...

John Battles said:

DENIZ TEK , WHO LIVES IN DETROIT , NOW (WELL...DOES ANYBODY?) , HAS BEEN PLAYING , OFF AND ON , WITH SCOTT MORGAN'S POWERTRANE. They played here , 4 or 5 years ago , with a frontline of Morgan (Rationals, Sonics Rendezvous Group,etc.), Tek , and Robert Gillespie (Rob Tyner , Mitch Ryder.) . Either of those Guitarists and singers could front a great band of their own , but, together , Holy Shit ! Less than 15 people showed , including the opening band, Thunderwing.......that's another subcategory "Best shows nobody went to"

Mine would include - Divine Horsemen ,   Chris D.'s Flesheaters offshoot band , that , admittedly ,had'nt had much press yet. I ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE GIG , AND WHO THEY WERE , BECAUSE I WAS standing right outside the club , somewhat dejected after seeing a very competent but not very Garage (In sound or repertoirre) Larry and The Bluenotes , and I read a mention about the show in The Dallas Observer

Ragin' Fire - Despite a Southern Rock Bar band - sounding name , this Nashville Roots /Country Punk outfit , fronted by a gutsy female singer , Melora Zaner, took me entirely by surprise. I think the 6 or 10 other attendees agreed.

Voodoo Dolls - Cramps/Flesheaters /Roky - influenced Punk Rock and Roll. From Florida , their very early sides are on You  Tube , now.

27 Devils Joking. THE OTHER 14 PEOPLE WERE THERE FOR THE OPENING BAND , BUT STAYED , ANYWAY. This , given the fact that the club stretched the truth just a BIT , and said Singer/ Bassist , Brian S. Curley had been in The 13th Floor Eleveators. It's possible he played in the reformed group for one gig in Houston in 1984  , after Ronnie Leatherman bailed. He did back Roky in The  Resurrectionists (With Nervebreakers Drummer , Carl Giesecke.) and Evil Hook Wildlife E.T. , as well as Lester Bangs with The Delinquents ,who also released a very B- 52's ish LP of their own. 27DJ rocked like Raw Power - era Stooges , with the expected nods to Roky and The Elevators , live. Guitarist Tom Trusnovic is in T.TEX EDWARDS' CURRENT GROUP (ONE of 'em.) , PURPLE STICKPIN.

Best recent shows attended by 30 people or less (FOR SHAME , CHICAGO)

Fleshtones at Double Door , ? and The Mysterians at Reggie's (TWICE ! CRIME !).

[John Battles]

You mean , SOH had'nt heard of Radio Birdman til you hepped them to it? That must have been a long time ago , cos I met them in the early 90's , whentheir first LP came out , and I know we spoke about them at the time , as Dan Hoekstra (Now w/Purple Stickpin) and Dale Hollon were telling me about a Birdman/Saints video they had (Which they eventually got me  a copy of...). Maybe it was the second time they were here , but even that was before the second LP came out (I remember ,because my artwork was being considered for the cover.).....I remember, too , they did "(I'm) Misunderstood" by The Saints the first or second time they were here. I'm sorry , I figured you had the chance to see Radio Birdman
on one one of their U.S. reunion tours. They played  here , twice , but ,I did'nt go the second time , because it was hotter than FUCK in that place , take a very old building , no A.C. , OVERSOLD TO THE HILT , middle of summer......Yes , it was'nt Texas - hot outside, but ,it sure was , inside. Both shows were mid - summer , a year apart.   John Doe raised Hell about how hot it was (The place is called Double Door , and they have crappy sight lines , besides.), once , but a cool - headed Jim Heath (Horton Heat) just said , "It gets real hot in Texas , too , but , we've got something you don't have , here......ADEQUATE AIR - CONDITIONING.".       "aLTAMONT '69" . ha ha ha. I've never heard anything about 27 DEVILS JOKING PLAYING OUT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.
  , I figured Brian S.Curley went back to New Mexico. But , it's been over 15 years since I've been to the town where you have to sell your soul to get a taxi.

dave said:

Oh, sure, rub it in, eeeeevvvvverybody sees some band Deniz Tek is in but me! Well, at least I got to say a few drunken words to him in Austin while the Sons of Hercules were playin' (while wearin' my leather w/ the Birdman logo on it!). "Hey, what's that emblem on your jacket?" hahaha... You could tell Tek knew the lineage of the Sons, and got off on their sound. Ironically, the guys hadn't heard Birdman 'til they got a following in Austin.

Hey, I met 27 Devils Joking, I think they changed their name to Altamont '69 (genius!)...

John Battles said:

DENIZ TEK , WHO LIVES IN DETROIT , NOW (WELL...DOES ANYBODY?) , HAS BEEN PLAYING , OFF AND ON , WITH SCOTT MORGAN'S POWERTRANE. They played here , 4 or 5 years ago , with a frontline of Morgan (Rationals, Sonics Rendezvous Group,etc.), Tek , and Robert Gillespie (Rob Tyner , Mitch Ryder.) . Either of those Guitarists and singers could front a great band of their own , but, together , Holy Shit ! Less than 15 people showed , including the opening band, Thunderwing.......that's another subcategory "Best shows nobody went to"

Mine would include - Divine Horsemen ,   Chris D.'s Flesheaters offshoot band , that , admittedly ,had'nt had much press yet. I ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE GIG , AND WHO THEY WERE , BECAUSE I WAS standing right outside the club , somewhat dejected after seeing a very competent but not very Garage (In sound or repertoirre) Larry and The Bluenotes , and I read a mention about the show in The Dallas Observer

Ragin' Fire - Despite a Southern Rock Bar band - sounding name , this Nashville Roots /Country Punk outfit , fronted by a gutsy female singer , Melora Zaner, took me entirely by surprise. I think the 6 or 10 other attendees agreed.

Voodoo Dolls - Cramps/Flesheaters /Roky - influenced Punk Rock and Roll. From Florida , their very early sides are on You  Tube , now.

27 Devils Joking. THE OTHER 14 PEOPLE WERE THERE FOR THE OPENING BAND , BUT STAYED , ANYWAY. This , given the fact that the club stretched the truth just a BIT , and said Singer/ Bassist , Brian S. Curley had been in The 13th Floor Eleveators. It's possible he played in the reformed group for one gig in Houston in 1984  , after Ronnie Leatherman bailed. He did back Roky in The  Resurrectionists (With Nervebreakers Drummer , Carl Giesecke.) and Evil Hook Wildlife E.T. , as well as Lester Bangs with The Delinquents ,who also released a very B- 52's ish LP of their own. 27DJ rocked like Raw Power - era Stooges , with the expected nods to Roky and The Elevators , live. Guitarist Tom Trusnovic is in T.TEX EDWARDS' CURRENT GROUP (ONE of 'em.) , PURPLE STICKPIN.

Best recent shows attended by 30 people or less (FOR SHAME , CHICAGO)

Fleshtones at Double Door , ? and The Mysterians at Reggie's (TWICE ! CRIME !).