Hoi Folks,
Just some of the shows I have really enjoyed:
Halifax
Anne Murray It was a special childerns performance my Mum took my brother and I. The songs from that concert stayed with me all through childhood, and I remain a fan of Anne. Seats- Balcony
Supertramp, Gowan opened, I loved this one as it was the first rock concert I was allowed to go to. Seats- on the floor centre section row 8
CSN (A Rare Acoustic Evening) All three were playing acoustic, they covered the upper bowl of the Metro Centre so as to improve the acoustics of the building and to make it a more intimate performace, which it was. Seats- front row centre. I had David on my left, Graham 5 feet in front of me and Stephan on my right. I was in bliss of hours, and after the concert as well.
Paul Simon (Rhythm of the Saints) He did not have the full emsemble that was on the album but there was a pile of musicians on that stage. A class act, again a long show, got our money's worth and more. Seats- floor left of centre front row
Dire Straits (On Every Street) This was a very special, down right personal concert for me. In '84 when the Brothers In Arms Tour was scheduled there was a stop in Halifax planned. It was cancelled in favour of two more nights at Madison Square Gardens. At the time Mark made a promise to get to Halifax. The band broke up. I had missed my chance to see my FAVORITE band forever. Some years later Mark is working with John again, there is a new Dire Straits album, I start holding my breath. One of the first cities announced was Halifax! Joy! Mark is a man of his word. The band was so impressed at how fast our little Metro Centre sold out they stayed for another night! Yes we forgive you! You came after all! The first show, the one I went to was clearly geared for us old steadfast fans, Telegraph Road, Sultans of Swing, Private Investagations, etc.... A very long concert, high energy, and everyone was so glad just to be there. People of all ages filled the seats, the youngest I say was about 7 years old there with her Grandfather, who was by no means the oldest. All social groups were there as well, punks, country, rockers, easy listeners, rappers, you name it, we were there and it was beautiful. Mark is a class onto himself, and it is the highest. I walked around quite a bit as I was so impressed at the turn out for the show, I do not normally do that but I felt compelled to see who was there enjoying the music that was so important to me, and yes I was just so glad to find out I was not the only Dire Straits nut. Seats- floor, centre section row 10.
Kronos Quartette For any reading this post, if you know any of the work of this quartette I will say no more. If you have never heard of them, check them out. Seats Balcony, about 5 metres from where I sat a heard Anne at the Dal Arts Centre.
London, U.K.
Les Mis in english at the Palace Theater. It stands out because I was in a cheap seat, almost behind a pillar (I gave my gf the good seat as she could perform the entire musical by heart on the piano) but from my vantige point I could see the performer playing Jean Valjean (sp.?) just before stepping back out from the chorus to do one of his big solos, inhaled some saliva, his face went bright red and I could see he really had to cough, cough long and, cough hard. He did not cough at all, but stepped right out onto centre stage and did the solo perfectly. I was in awe at that demonstration of mind over matter. The guy literally ran off the stage as soon as the last note of the solo left his lips, but wow. I would never forget that solo, which was good because relating to someone that experience later in life served me in a way I could not possibly have forseen. Seats- behind a pillar, but it was just right.
Rome, Italy
I wish I could remember the name of the band, or even the name of the venue, but no matter. The band was a progressive rock/jazz fusion sort of thing. Really incredible music, really tight band. The star of the show was the frontman flute player. After getting the whole place, an old theater with the seats removed and a bar installed in the back, dancing and having the time of our lives the flute player starts into another super fast, super groovy solo, but this time he starts diassembling his flute while playing. The whole place stops dancing and starts hooting and cheering as piece by piece the flute is placed on the stool and the solo does not slow down or stop, but just keeps getting more and more intense untill only the mouthpiece remains. He is changing the tone by sliding his finger in and out in increments from the end of the mouthpiece. The place is going nuts; noone is dancing, as we are too amazed at what we are hearing and seeing. He starts putting the flute back together again, while playing! With the last piece replaced on the end of the flute the rest of the band, who are equally impressed by the talent we all just witnessed, join in and the place is in danger of the roof shattering for the cheering. Seats-general standing/ dancing
Alsace, France
A Christmas Concert in an eleventh century church featuring music by Mendleson arranged for choir and organ. My gf's,(a different one) mother is in the choir. Things didn't work out with that gf, having to cross the pond for a date was something we could not afford to maintain, and we both balked at relocating. The concert, and the venue however took me back in time...or something, its tough to describe. It is times like this where I have been known to say, that my abilities with the english language are so deficient that I cannot even say what is on my mind. Seats- very old pews about halfway back (it didn't matter as the music incapsulated your entire being inside that little church that had more pillars holding up the roof than space to sit. Oh, no heating either we could all see our breath, but I do not remember the cold at all)
Toronto
Peter Gabriel (Growing Up) Magma, Bonk, and drb, the B____naughts in formation, on a big adventure. Seats- lower bowl halfway up directly behind the sound mixer, in other words, just perfect. I remember as we took the long way out of town up Yonge St. the next day saying that it was fine to come to Toronto for a concert and visit my Aunt and cousin, but I wouldn't want to live here. I am, at the end of this month leaving Toronto after living here for two and a half years.
This will bring me back to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
There would be a book in my experiences with Symphony Nova Scotia, many of them in a pool hall of all places. I owe them for the life I now enjoy. I do not play, but the world brought us together, they are my angels. For me, meeting them was nothing short of an act of God. I enjoyed many free concerts, they would not let me pay for a ticket, no matter if the show is sold out or not. I love every member of that symphony, and am looking forward to introducing my daughter to my friends when I get home.
Take care...to go see your local symphony
drb
Topic: What were your favorite live music performaces. (Read 1703 times)