An interesting tidbit I recently learned (please note, Mr. Shife, that I didn't use the term, 'Fun Fact') is that the rock band, Cheap Trick, was very popular in Japan and their album, Live at Budokan was recorded in Japan at the Nippon Budokan arena:
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Most definitely NOT my photo
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Last weekend, my husband and I had the pleasure of seeing Cheap Trick perform live at a venue in the area. There is nothing like people-watching at a concert of a band that was popular four decades ago. I saw one guy recording the concert on what looked like a Jitterbug flip phone. There were men in leather biker vests with long, grey pony tails. And women dressed like this: |
White military hats; no guns as we all had to walk through a metal detector
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I want you to want me . . . with long hair, wrinkles, and poor eyesight.
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Mommy's alright, daddy's alright, they just seem a little weird . . .
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I've been married for almost 37 years and I'm still hearing new stories from my husband like the following. This concert marked the 44th anniversary (almost to the exact day) that my husband last saw Cheap Trick. Or, should I say, almost didn't see Cheap Trick . . .
The night he had tickets for the concert with friends, he also had an away game for his high school varsity baseball team. Ironically, the away game was at MY high school. Karma and all that jazz. Unfortunately, the game went into extra innings and he began to sweat. He'd have to ride the bus back to his high school (30 minutes away), get in his car to go home and shower, and then pick up his friends before heading to downtown Cleveland to the Palace Theatre. The clock was ticking. Then by a strange twist of fate, the boy who would later become the best man at our wedding hit a home run and they won the game! My husband was able to make it to the concert just in time for the show.
Now that we've satisfied our '70's concert requirement, we have tickets for later this year to see a popular band from the '80's and one from the '90's. Care to make any guesses? If someone has the right answer, I will let them know in the comments. If not, stay tuned . . .
What was your last concert?
Oh, how cool! And what fun you and your husband must of had. I remember Cheap Trick in the 70's. Whenever I hear them, I'm immediately transported back to my early days living in NYC.
ReplyDelete"Then by a strange twist of fate, the boy who would later become the best man at our wedding hit a home run and they won the game! My husband was able to make it to the concert just in time for the show."
What a GREAT story!
I don't go to concerts much, so don't laugh. The last concert I attended was Diana Ross at the Westchester Premier Theater in Upstate New York in the early 80's. She was faaaaaaaabulous! And one of the people I was with was an artist, who had drawn a picture of Miss Ross and brought it to the concert with the hope of getting Diana Ross to sign the drawing. And guess what? She did. One of the ushers took it backstage to her dressing room before the show started, and then brought it back SIGNED during intermission!
You got some great photos from the Cheap Trick concert!
Happy Sunday, my friend! X
Diana Ross must have been an AMAZING experience, Ron. Iconic!!! And what a great story that she signed the drawing that your friend had created of her. I’m sure you were wondering if you’d ever see that picture again! You never know with these ushers.
DeleteConcerts are so dang expensive now. I wonder how much the artist receives compared to the ticket distributors and the venues. We have not gone to a ton of concerts since we’ve been together, but have decided that we are going to splurge and go to more because so many of our favorites have passed away (Prince, Bowie, Tom Petty) and it might be our last chance.
What an awesome story! Sounds like a fabulous time at the concert. Can't wait to see who else you go see. I have no idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lori. Have a great Sunday!
DeleteI never was much of a concert goer even when I was a teenager! I just hated the noise and the crowds! I was old before my time!! The last concert I went to was Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas concert about 6 years ago! It was a great show but I haven't been to one since! Enjoy the next few concerts you go to!
ReplyDeleteSome concerts are crazy loud, so I understand. We saw TSO with our kids about 15 years ago. I loved the music, but the lights about did me in.
DeleteI like Cheap Trick, but only know a few of their songs; mostly just the Hits. I'm laughing at your song lyrics, updated to our ages. :) Your husband is hilarious with his retelling of stories that he's been keeping to himself all these years.
ReplyDeleteUm, I wanted terribly to see Duran Duran and Billy Idol this year. (Billy is in Vegas, thought of making it a weekend!) But I chickened out on both. I am going to see John Mayer in September, but he's New School.
We generally go to a lot of concerts, but the last few years it's been more of our songwriter friends at small venues/home parties. Scratching my head to remember, but my last 'official concert' might have been Adam Ant in 2021?
OMG. I am SO freaking dense. I saw a concert just six days ago in Fort Worth. Drake Milligan. See, I must have drank too much as a teen because the brain cells are NOT HERE.
DeleteI did only know 5 of the songs they played; my husband was more of a fan of theirs. It’s funny when I hear a new story of his. My first reaction is that he is making it up because I can’t believe he’s never told me! š¤£ I would love to see Duran Duran. Bucket list! And I’ve also been saying that I’m going to see Idol next time we go to Vegas. He is a truly under appreciated artist, IMO.
DeleteOmg, how was Adam Ant? Why can’t I remember a post about him? My brain cells are not working either.
OMG. I have no concept of time. I just looked it up and I saw Adam Ant in 2019; I would have sworn it was after the pandemic. He was great---so much fun!! https://busybeesuz.com/2019/10/03/creating-deliciousness-for-callie-and-the-reunion-with-my-first-love/
DeleteI commented!
DeleteWhat a great story!!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm...who could you be seeing? I am going to guess Phish, maybe, just because I know they are touring. And an 80s band - oh! I know! Guns and Roses? Is that right? We have tickets to see them in Vancouver in October.
My last concert was Zac Brown Band, and it was really great.
Thank you for your guesses! Incorrect, but nice try! How fun that you are going to see GNR. Years ago, I had another blogger buddy named Flutterby, also Canadian, and a fan of theirs. I’ve heard of Zac Brown Band, but I don’t know their music.
DeleteWhat fun for you! I haven't been to a live concert in years, so I'm living vicariously through you. I've no idea who you're going to see next, but I bet they'll be a blog post about it.
ReplyDeleteKnowing you like classic rock, I thought you’d appreciate it. Happy Weekend!
DeleteI haven't been to a concert in several years. The last one was probably Paul McCartney at Comerica Park in Detroit. Come to think of it, back in the Beatles days, he also played the Budokan! We've had a couple of nice concerts here in OurTown; had I been so inclined, I could have walked to them from my house. Simon and Garfunkel played the Breslin Center at MegaState University sometime in the last 20 years, and the Rolling Stones played Spartan Stadium. . .
ReplyDeleteThose are all giants in popular music. I bet the McCartney concert was a dream come true for a Beatles fan like yourself. Thanks for stopping by as always, Craig.
DeleteI love it. Ya know, I've never been to a concert. My social anxiety would never let me do that. lol
ReplyDeleteOh, that’s too bad, Mary. I figured you’d have gone to at least a few in your late teens or 20’s.
DeleteJenny and I have been to a couple of concerts by Fairport Convention, who first made their name in the late 1960s and are still going strong! And yes, the audience was mainly nostalgic oldies such as us.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun, Nick.
DeleteI love the how the homerun saved the day in more than one way. The concert sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteI am THE worst at knowing music, lyrics, names of bands, etc. Coach, on the other hand, often forgets events or moments from life, but he knows every lyric and band from our youth.
We saw the bodeans on NYE in '21, but almost didn't go because we felt too hip and young to enjoy it. My SIL invited us. The people watching was epic and was confirmation that we are indeed old-ish.
I have no guesses because if I guessed, my lack of band knowledge would surely show - I'd probably choose a band that no longer performs together.
I always surprise myself with knowing lyrics to songs I haven’t heard in eons. That’s cool that you saw the Bodeans! I only know Closer to Free. A NYE concert was probably even more epic for people watching!
DeleteI love this.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I love Cheap Trick. I saw them open OPEN for Zac Brown Band at Wrigley Field in Chicago years ago, which is a travesty in and of itself. Second, I love the story about when your husband first saw Cheap Trick. That's fantastic. The Palace Theater....wow.
So you're seeing a popular band from the 1980s and one from the 1990s....
I'm going to guess Journey and Pearl Jam. I checked the notify me box, but sometimes the comments go to spam. I hope I got one of them right!
I’m happy to hear you saw Cheap Trick live, too. We were out with friends on Friday night and they were telling us how they went to see a band (I can’t remember who) and that Tears For Fears was the opening act, which they also thought was a travesty. I’d love to see them.
DeleteNope on Journey and Pearl Jam. More new wave on the’80’s and more mellow on the ‘90’s. I think you’ll appreciate both.
What a fun little story there! Concerts were big for us before the pandemic. We got our girls into going to them when they were about 10 years and 14 years old. They go to them every chance they get now. My last concert, I believe, was Post Malone. Or maybe it was New Kids on the Block since my bestie won radio tickets for them. I can't remember which came last. Now all of my weekends are tied to work, so I don't get to go to them anymore :(
ReplyDeleteHere's a funny concert story for you. I told my husband I would love to see Goo Goo Dolls in concert. He forgot what I said, bought tickets to Gin Blossoms. Was so pleased with himself thinking he was going to surprise me with a date night to a band I liked in the 90's. We still had fun, but he felt bad for messing it up. Bought me the right tickets a few months later. Got ready to drive to Detroit day of concert only to look at the tickets before we left the house to learn he bought them for a FRIDAY show and we thought it was for the SATURDAY one. So we missed it again. D'oh. Two times a strike out LOL. And the kicker. My daughter, not even born until the 2000's went to their concert when they were in town a few months back (I had to work). She face-timed me during the chorus of NAME so I could at least enjoy a bit of their live performance once in my life. So, my daughter has me beat on Goo Goo Dolls when she wasn't even alive in that era. Ugh!
For your upcoming concerts, I'll take a wild guess. Bon Jovi for the 80's. Foo Fighters for the 90's? or Maybe Matchbox 20? I don't know who is on tour right now, so just throwing something into the wind to see if I can guess right, hehehe!
Whoa……now that’s a crazy story!! Well, at least hubby got the first letter rightš¤£ I’m wondering if the date screw up is because you don’t get actual paper tickets anymore? The phone ticket stresses me out. I always envision my wifi to stop working at check in.
DeleteWe took our kids to see Fleetwood Mac the second time we saw them because they grew up listening to our CD of them on repeat. Our son travels around to see his favorite bands now. Last time it was San Francisco to see Father John Misty/ LCD Soundsystem, two groups I don’t care for. We are taking my son and his wife to the ‘90’s concert with us.
My oldest daughter LOVES the GooGooDolls! I think she’s seen them twice. My favorite song of theirs is Name, so she videotaped it for me. It would be crazy if they were at the same concert!
Thanks for the great guesses, but the ‘80’s is more of a new wave act. I love your guess of Foo Fighters! That would be great, but not the right answer. A little more mellow. Matchbox 20 is a good guess, too.
It was totally because they were on the phone and we didn't look at them like we would paper tickets. I have started taking screen shots of my tickets in case my wifi goes out and I can't pull them up at the venue. At least I'll have a back up in my camera roll then.
DeleteI'm really interested to see who you're going to now. I love going to the older band concerts way more than the newer ones. It seems like the older generation isn't holding up their phones and ruining the view for those behind them. They remember a time when we could go to concerts and just chill, listening to good music and dancing the night away. Now it's about sharing to social media more than taking in the performance. Once concert I went to, a girl Facebook live streamed the whole thing and I had to keep craning my neck to see over her stinkin phone.
That’s a really good idea about doing the screenshot of the tickets. I’m telling my spouse to start doing that. Yes! People are so annoying trying to live stream an entire concert. How does one even enjoy being there? It’s nuts.
DeleteI love small world stories like that. I don't have a guess for the 80s band. I was going to guess Matchbox 20 for the 90s band because I love them, but saw that someone else already asked about them. So I'll guess Smashing Pumpkins or Blink 182.
ReplyDeleteI would really enjoy Smashing Pumpkins! I think I’d feel too old for Blink 182, but I do like their hits. Thanks for the good guesses!
DeleteMy last concert was Built to Spill in Fort Collins last May. That's a long stretch for us to go without live music, but we've got tickets for Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks in Minneapolis this November and I am super jazzed for that one. There will be others before then, I'm sure. I also want to see Pat Benatar and Jackson Browne.
ReplyDeleteI love Cheap Trick btw. "Live at Budokan" is a classic, and yes, it's part of our vinyl collection. Along with several other albums of theirs.
I'm guessing Depeche Mode for the 80s band. The 90s is tougher...hmm...The Wallflowers?
I would do a hard pass on Billy Joel, but yes to Stevie Nicks. We are huge Fleetwood Mac fans. Funny story: I’m convinced someone broke up with me in college because I wouldn’t go to a Stevie Nicks concert with him and his sister! LOL! It had nothing to do with Stevie Nicks, believe me.
DeleteWe were talking concerts with another couple last Friday and the wife said that the last time they saw Jackson Browne, he was phenomenal. That’s nice to hear about an aging artist.
Guess what? You win! We are going to Depeche Mode in November. But nope on the Wallflowers.
I am a huge Stevie Nicks fan and am most looking forward to seeing her. Not that I dislike Billy Joel! It'll be a fun show.
DeleteLove the new Depeche Mode song "Ghosts Again." I've been a big fan since the late '80s.
It’s kind of a weird combo, but I look forward to hearing how it goes. We saw DM maybe 20 years ago. They do not disappoint. I haven’t heard if there’s an opening act yet, but I’m hoping for another 80’s fave.
DeletePet Shop Boys opening for DM (or vice-versa) would be a dream lineup!
DeleteOhhhhhhhhhhh…….I’d be super stoked if that were the case! I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything.
DeleteFirst off, I am beyond thrilled to be recognized on your blog. And tidbit does sound so much better, don't you think? Ha. People watching is the best at shows like that. Glad you and the hubs had a good time and great story about the first time he saw them. The last concert I believe that I saw was Whiskey Myers. It was fun and great people watching. My guesses are Def Leppard and Weezer.
ReplyDeleteI still like Fun Fact. Sorry! I am not familiar with Whiskey Myers, but he/they sound fun. I can’t imagine my husband at a Def Leppard concert, for some reason. It’s cracking me up, just thinking about it. But we’d both be down for Weezer!
DeleteWhat a great time. I can't remember the last concert I went to, unless festivals count, but I can't remember who was playing!! I went to lots when I was young though, but that's way toooooo long ago to remember !!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I’ve never been to a music festival. Thanks for visiting.
DeleteWhat a fabulous post! I love the story about your husband at the baseball game--it was a real nail-biter.
ReplyDeleteAnd your description of the Cheap Trick concert was brilliant--"I want you to want me...with long hair, wrinkles and poor eyesight!"
I was never much of concert goer myself. I did see the Police at Madison Square Garden sometime in the Eighties but that's about it. Now I just like small jazz combos in wine bars.
Rock on!
Thanks, Rob. Cheap Trick is such an oldie but goodie. I imagine the Police at Madison Square Garden was iconic. I listen to Synchronicity on repeat back then.
DeleteHappy Weekend!
Your husband's story is great! I think the last "rock" concert I saw was Dr. John at the Savannah Music Festival a bit before COVID. He was old and my wife wasn't impressed, but there were those of us over 60 who used to have long hair who really enjoyed it.
DeleteIt's so cool that these old bands are still touring. Great story from your husband. Wild you hadn't heard it before! I can hardly wait to hear who the 80s and 90s bands are. Let's see, the Bangles? And... all I can think of for 90s is Smashing Pumpkins, but I doubt that's right. (This is Betsy. :) )
ReplyDeleteMark guessed the 80’s band! I’d love to see the Smashing Pumpkins, but nope. Ironically, my husband just bought us more tickets an hour ago to one of my fave 90’s bands. It’s definitely becoming our Year of the Concerts.
DeleteDepeche Mode! I'd forgotten about them! That sounds fun. I'd also love to see the Pumpkins! Gosh, now I'm really curious to know what these now TWO 90s bands are!
DeleteStay tuned, Betsy! The tickets he bought tonight are at Blossom. We sort of said, ‘never again’ after both having bad experiences there on dates (not with each other!) but have relented. We’ll see if it’s worth it. Did you ever go there?
DeleteI may have been to Blossom. I saw the Cranberries out there somewhere. When I heard on the radio that they were coming to town, I called my mom at work to ask if she could get me tickets. She told me she already had. :)
DeleteAwww, that’s great! Aren’t you so glad you got to see them? So sad about the passing of Dolores.
DeleteAgreed. Hubs and I saw her house (from afar-ish) on our honeymoon in Ireland.
DeleteThat’s pretty cool!
DeleteIt was an unexpected bonus.
DeleteThat's cool you got to see Cheap Trick. I like some of their songs.
ReplyDeleteLast concert... hmm... might be back in 2018. We saw The Revolution (Prince's old band) and also that year the B-52s. Ron's tinnitus is so bad though that he does not enjoy concerts (and never did like crowds) much at all anymore. That said, he did see Natalie Merchant maybe a month ago. A friend offered him the ticket and he did used to like her music quite a lot so he went. Smaller venue, so it wasn't as terrible for him.
I scanned thru some comments before guessing and found out you're seeing Depeche Mode. Awesome!! My daughter LOVES them! I don't know if she'll be able to go to their Philly show this fall but I know she really wants to.
There's one concert I'm looking forward to in September and have tickets for ... Aerosmith!! They always been my top FAV band so to see them play for their farewell tour I'm thrilled about.
I’m upset I never got to see Prince (or Bowie or Tom Petty) but The Revolution must have been great. And how fun to see the B-52s!!! Because so many artists from our youth are dying, we’ve decided to spend the money and just go see as many as we can. I’d LOVE to see Aerosmith, but my husband is not a fan and none of my friends would be interested either.
DeleteIsn’t Depeche Mode so good? So many great songs. We saw them about 20 years ago and we were very impressed so we jumped at the chance to go again. Since I wrote this post, we got tickets to yet another 90’s band. It was ridiculously expensive, but we decided to go for our anniversary. One of my favorite bands ever….Barenaked Ladies. The other band nobody guessed that we are seeing is Counting Crows.