Prog Concert Memories

I remember my first concert (although I will never tell what it was ) and it was the same way. I think the only difference over the years is that I know my neck will hurt after the show, not like the first one where I woke up the day after and was like - what the hell???

I'll admit after Rush I couldn't talk properly for a few days after , never mind trying to look around.

my first show was Saxon in '82 ('Denim and Leather'), followed by Sabbath 'Mob Rules' tour

King By-Tor wrote: Prof. wrote: Hey I think I remeber your first concert.   Oh and I was right by you, did you manage to see me? Ooooh, blackmail.  Wait a sec, weren't you the guy in the seat to the direct left of me? I think you were...

Most memorable concert was Shakti 1980. Me and best friend were sitting in second row in front of Mclaughlin, and in one moment because we were to loud John turned to us and put finger on his mouth.

My very first concert was Yes on the Relayer tour in Lincoln Nebraska.  It was, of course, amazing.  Moraz was on keyboards, and he was quite good, although I still would like the Yes with Wakeman experience.  The opened with "Sound Chaser" I remember, and did the full "Gates of Delirium" as well.  Other highlights were "Close To The Edge", "Ritual" (truly amazing!) and a really great "America".  For me, the highlight was Steve Howe, who was all over his many guitars.  Yep, it was a dandy!

Camel 1977

When I was 19 I went with my brother to see Yes on the Union tour 91. and they really were fantastic, Wakeman and Kaye, Rabin & Howe, Bruford & White, it was bloody brilliant!

Edited by michaelmorris - June 17 2008 at 15:48

I almost forgot several Peter Hammill concerts (I have been to around 20 gigs of him over the years). The best ever was a solo gig at "Die Zeche" in Bochum, shortly before I met Jean, so she was not with me (she is really envious about this ). He had already given five encores, and the roadies were already demounting the stage, but the audience still wanted more (a behaviour you won't find often in an audience; usually they know that when the roadies appear it is over). Then he finally reappeared, a towel around his neck, went to the front of the stage and sang a heartbreaking version of "Again", without any instrument or a microphone. He stood right in front of me; I could have touched him (which of course I didn't; I am not an "Energy Vampire"). The audience was absolutely silent, but after he had finished a roar of applause shook the hall. No-one asked for another encore; everyone knew this just had to be the end. An unforgettable moment!

I saw The Musical Box last December. Before I had heard of them, I was so sad that I would never be able to experience what people in the 70s experienced. When I heard about these guys, read some stuff and saw some video... I was floored! I had to see them!

My friend and I made plans to see them in October of that year, when they would be in Milwaukee (we in St. Paul, MN), doing two shows: Foxtrot and Selling England. We were pumped.

Eventually I realized that the concert dates on their site were for the year previous. The site was one of those which is rarely updated. I was heartbroken.

Then they were scheduled to come back to Milwaukee! It was going to be hard... I was going to be in college. I bought the tickets anyway. It turned out that I had a chem test the day of the concert... there was no way I would be able to take a test at 9:15AM, drive to St. Paul in 3 hours, to take a bus to Milwaukee to see a show at 7PM. There was no way. Luckily, my prof let me take the test the day before. I was set to go.

When Watcher of the Skies began, I started crying. I was seeing a Genesis show! It was beautiful. Other than a few audience members who I wanted to kill (hey, I was intense...), the concert was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. "Peter Gabriel's" voice was so close to the real thing, I just say I saw Genesis in concert. It seemed like everything was reproduced exactly to the most minute detail.

When Supper's Ready ended with the scream, "Jerusalehhhhhhhhhhm!" I was so emotional. Then I realized there was going to be an encore! I couldn't believe it! The Knife! My first Genesis song, and more importantly, the song that got me into prog in the first place. This song has changed my life so dramatically and changed the way I view music... and I got to hear it live. Oh. My. God.

When we left, my two friends and I were crying with tears streaming out of our eyes. When I tell this story, everyone laughs at us. But I think a few members here can appreciate how we felt. Teenagers just introduced to one of the greatest bands to ever exist, who put on one of the most amazing shows, but sad we would never be able to experience it. What we thought impossible became reality.


Edited by KeleCableII - June 18 2008 at 00:48