I’ve spent a small fortune on concerts over the years. It certainly has been money well-spent, but of course, I’m accepting contributions for the hearing aid fund.
1987
Howard Jones (June 5, 1987) My first ever concert! It was at Pine Knob, and I was in heaven! Some Canadian band (I think) called Frozen Ghost, opened.
Duran Duran (July 6, 1987) My friend Amy had an extra ticket for Duran Duran’s concert at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, and I ended up in the seventeenth row! I swear I made eye contact with John Taylor! Erasure was the opener!
1988
Depeche Mode (May 21, 1988) A whole slew of freaky kids from high school went to this show. I went with my sister Karen, and her friend Shannon. Shan though that “I just can’t get enough” was “I just can’t get it up!” OMD opened the show and were awesome, too. DM recorded this tour for their 101 album.
Information Society (December 1, 1988) I want to know, what you’re thinking…What an awesome show! My first “industrial” show, although nobody called it industrial back then. Local band Crossed Wire opened.
Crowded House (sometime between 1987 and 1989 -I’m thinking fall of 1988 but I can’t recall) Crowded House had just won “Best New Band” on MTV’s Music Awards, and we made a banner to hang from the balcony and they waved at us! I still have the banner somewhere, too.
1989
Duran Duran (January 26, 1989) The Pursuit of Happiness opened this show. Basically, they sucked. Duran Duran was awesome, of course.
1990
Sinead O’Connor (May 16, 1990) i had been a sinead fan since her first album, but missed her each time she hit town. this time, at the MSU Auditorium, i finally got to see her, and she was incredible. she had only played for 40 minutes or so when some jerk jumped on stage with her and pissed her off. She left. it sucked.
Sinead O’Connor (August 5, 1990) The rest of the tour! Sinead played all of her great songs.
Metallica (sometime in the summer of 1990) My sister is a huge fan of opening band, The Cult, and she originally had the tickets for this show. Her attendance, however, was contingent upon a passing grade in biology. She did not pass, and my good friend Paul bought the tickets, and took me to the show instead.
1991
Morrissey (June 26, 1991) We camped out overnight to get seventh row tickets for this one. Now I wonder why! This is the show that killed my hearing. Phranc opened.
1992
Lollapalooza ’92 (August 1, 1992) I had tried to get tickets through Ticketmaster and was two people from the front of the line when the show sold out. Then my friend Paul came up with two tickets. It was an amazing day! I saw the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow, too. Got to see: Lush, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Pearl Jam who were my main reason for going to Lollapalooza in the first place, Soundgarden, Ministry, Ice Cube, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
1993
Peter Gabriel (July 2, 1993) Probably one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Peter Gabriel is an excellent performer. And Paula Cole was his backup singer. The worst part of the show was listening to the drunk fools behind us scream “Play Shock the Monkey” over and over and over again.
Duran Duran (August 4, 1993) My sister bought me these tickets for my 22nd birthday gift. She rules! It was awesome to see Duran Duran yet again! Terrence Trent D’Arby opened.
Blind Melon/Soundgarden (August 16, 1993) Blind Melon and Soundgarden opened for Neil Young, but we left before he came on. Soundgarden rocked, of course, and Blind Melon wasn’t all that bad. Thinking back, we probably should have stayed for Neil Young.
Did I not go to ANYshows in 1994? hrm…that’s when I was living in Washington, DC and I could have seen Fugazi for free, but nobody would go with me. I was dumb.
1995
Laurie Anderson (March 13, 1995) We managed to get front row balcony tickets for this show with about two days notice. It was great fun – it’s not so much a concert as it is a multimedia performance. Laurie’s a great storyteller.
Sarah McLachlan (March 16, 1995) Finally, after being a fan for years, seeing Sarah McLachlan live was an amazing experience. I don’t know how else to describe it. Paula Cole opened, and at that time, was kind of interesting to see live.
Belly (April 13, 1995) This show was fun. Belly kicked ass. There were lots of “little kids” at this show – I ended up sitting next to someone’s dad that was waiting out the show. I’m getting old!
Portishead (Spring 1995) I won the concert tickets from 89X, a local radio station. Fabulous show. It was in a small, very intimate club, and we were maybe 10 feet from the band throughout the entire show.
Sarah McLachlan (July 1, 1995) Sarah at Meadowbrook. She was great, of course, although the set list was almost identical to the one from the show in March.
1996
Ministry (April 11, 1996) Ministry kicked ass! Young Gods, the opening band, sucked big time. I want to get a record contract so i can suck too!
Sarah McLachlan (June 14, 1996) I think this mini-tour thingie was a test run for the Lilith Fair. We ended up missing the first act because we were stuck in traffic. Sarah rocked. Lisa Loeb and Aimiee Mann played, too, I think. I’m getting really tired of Paula Cole.
Garbage (April 14, 1996) They rocked big time – lots of energy, and Shirley is the spiffiest.
Garbage (June 30, 1996) Garbage opening for Smashing Pumpkins? Shirley Manson rocks. Garbage rocks. That’s all there is to it. Smashing Pumpkins were pretty damn good, and they did an encore consisting entirely of cover songs.
Drill/Chem Lab/Sister Machine Gun (August 10, 1996) This show was so-so. Drill sucked, but the other two bands were pretty okay. I particularly enjoyed the encore when all three bands sang L.L. Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
Holiday Hootenanny (December 8, 1996) – This show, sponsored by a local radio station, was pretty decent. I think there were other performers, but I can’t recall who they were. The Barenaked Ladies are a blast to see live – they seem like they truly are enjoying performing and they are just plain fun. I also got to see Duncan Sheik, Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan
1997
Ani DiFranco (April 6, 1997) – Ani DiFranco live is an experience unlike anything else. She’s many wonderful things, but always calls herself the folksinger. I could listen to Ani tell stories for days and days. Dan Bern opened the show, and was awesome. He does a dead-on imitation of Ani, too.
Heavy Water Factory (May 17, 1997) – This was their CD release party. Local band Randolph’s Grin opened.
Mary Chapin Carpenter (June 13, 1997) – I went with my mom to this show, and enjoyed it very much. I’m not really into country music, but this show wasn’t just country. The opening act WAS country and twangy – even my mom made fun of him. I got to sit next to some guy in a big old cowboy hat, too.
Crash Worship (August 1997) I don’t know how to describe this show other than by saying it was an experience totally and completely unlike anything else. Pyrotechnics, watermelon, firecrackers, carrots, chocolate and wine. My boots are still covered in stuff, and I can’t wait for them to come around again. If any local concert halls will have them – they’re quite messy!
Sneaker Pimps (Sept 12, 1997) I took myself out on a date to this show. It was really disappointing. I left before Aphex Twin came on. The best part of the night was the valet parking, I think.
The Big Sonic Heaven Birthday Bliss (October 1997) I won the tickets to this concert, sponsored by The Planet, a local radio station. Caelum Bliss did an awesome cover of Donna Summer’s “I feel love.” There were some other bands, but only Supra Argo piqued my interest.
Holiday Hootenanny 2 (December 12, 1997) I froze my butt off but I got main floor tickets for this show. My friend knew the usher, and I managed to get within about 30 feet of The Cure and Robert Smith. Toad The Wet Sprocket was pretty damn cool, too.
Heavy Water Factory (December, 1997) – I saw these guys live, right after seeing the Rockettes with my mom and sister. HWF played the Shelter with two other local bands. Forge and someone else that sucked.
1998
Switchblade Symphony (sometime in 97-98) – SS were okay..not that great, but not awful. all of their stuff starts sounding the same to me after about five tracks. Rhea’s Obsession opened…now if only I had paid attention to them!
Caelum Bliss (February 1998) I won tickets for this show from Big Sonic Heaven. They rocked, or course, and made me very happy when they played their awesome Donna Summer cover.
Ani DiFranco (June 29, 1998) – Phenomenal show. Seventh row is pretty damn cool, too. She is getting bigger and bigger, yet her fanbase stays the same. She played stuff from her current album, new, unreleased stuff, and lots of OLD stuff, too.
Savage Garden (summer 1998) – Beth and Grey got free tickets to see Savage Garden at Pine Knob. After a lazy dinner at LaShish, we drove out to the show, got excellent FREE parking, and wandered around. We made it to the walkway area just in time to hear Savage Garden sing all of their radio hits, including Chicka Cherry Cola!. Perfect timing! And then we left.
Tricky – (August 1998) I took myself to this show, and it was so-so. Stage show was pretty much nonexistent, but musically it was decent.
Massive Attack (September 1998) This was an excellent show! The only disappointment was that Elizabeth Frasier, from of The Cocteau Twins wasn’t there to sing her parts like she does on the album Mezzanine. The woman they had doing her parts was pretty decent, though.
Covenant – (November 1, 1998) Backspace and Decoded Feedback opened. Covenant was, by far, one of the best industrial shows I’ve ever seen. Usually I’m bored to tears by watching musicians push buttons on some machine. This was an incredibly high energy show. One of the best parts of this show was being able to hang out and chat with the members of the bands afterward. They signed my Europa poster, too!
Depeche Mode – November 9, 1998 – My official flashback to being a teenager. DM played all of their hits, and I felt so OLD!
Garbage – November 12, 1998 – They rock. That’s all there is to it.
Apoptygma Berzerk – November 16, 1998 – This show was interesting. Apop was opening for Spahn Ranch, so they only had a small number of songs on the DAT. So, after doing a Depeche Mode cover, they replayed the first song from their set. Unique, to say the least.
Underworld – November 21, 1998 – An amazing band, amzing music, and an amazing show.
1999
Some random noise bands – Spring 1999 – My friend Grey is way into the noise thing. I went, along with Beth and Grey, to see some bands – MSBR, Gov’t Alpha, Princess Dragon Mom and a few others. The robot stuff was kinda cool, but overall, OUCH! My ears are finally recovered, I think. I’ve decided that I’m definitely NOT a noise fan.
Underworld – April 24, 1999 – Underworld, round two. 100 times better than the first time, no stupid boys, and no car-mishaps, either. mmmm…underworld, thank you.
Duran Duran – (August 10, 1999) – They played at least one song from every album, and even played some b-sides and non-hit stuff, like Secret Oktober and Friends of Mine. Now only if John Taylor was there…
Godsmack – (October 29, 1999) – Mostly went to this show to see my friend, The Lizardman, perform with the Jim Rose Circus.
2000
Peter Murphy – March 16, 2000 – Clutch Cargo’s, Pontiac, Michigan. YAY! I’ve redeemed myself and earned back all of my goth points! Peter Murphy does an excellent live show! He sounds less like Neil Diamond live, but he’s still got that swoony voice.
SAMA – April 1, 2000 – Göteborg, Sweden. What an awesome show – a whole bunch of bands in one place, playing music that I adore. I saw Mesh, Covenant and Apoptygma Berzerk, and snippets of other bands, too. Statemachine cancelled though, and I was very much looking forward to seeing them play.
The Cure – June 10, 2000. What a wonderful show. They played lots of things from all of their albums, and I wasn’t deaf when I left the show, either.
Carrie Akre – July 27, 2000 – Saw her at an in-store at Sonic Boom in Seattle with my friend Christine. She’s got a kick-ass voice and she’s super nice, too. I got my CD signed.
Ferndale Art Fair – August 6, 2000 – I hung out for a few hours and heard a few of the Sunday evening performers. Some really awful band, then the Jill Jack Band, Soul Clique, and Breexh. Breexh was by far the most interesting, and Soul Clique was so loud I was more comfortable listening to them from about a block-and-a-half away. Jill Jack? Sounds like Natalie Merchant minus the yodel. Not too bad, but I won’t be running out to buy their CDs anytime soon.
VNV Nation – September 16, 2000 – Apoptygma Berzerk was the headliner for this show, but I was totally there for VNV. The place was oversold and way too crowded, it was hot and sweaty and my feet hurt. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. VNV Nation put on an excellent show, and even made fun of the kids with glowsticks. Apop was way too loud, so after the first couple of songs, I hung out and socialized with people at City Club. It was quieter and much more fun.
2001
Covenant – April 15, 2001 – An amazing show! Local band DeLIEN opened, and then AndOne played and rocked the house. Covenant was excellent – definitely the best of the three shows I’ve seen by them so far. They even played my favoritest Covenant song of all time, Flux. I was a happy girl.
Shelter Me benefit (Deathgirl, bomb pops, sweatysuedelips) – July 21, 2001
VNV Nation – (November 16, 2001) – The Vic/Chicago – Missed Icon of Coil due to traveling companion issues. Great show. Not sure it was worth the commute, but we got to go play at Ikea before we came home.
2002
John Berry (July 2, 2002)
Motorpop (Iris, Cosmicity, Neuroactive) (July 27, 2002)
Voltaire (May 18, 2002)
Radioactive benefit (August 31, 2002) – Backspace, Chiasm
Underworld (October 15)
2003
Kompressor/Boole (April 5, 2003) – Cleveland, Ohio
Inland Invasion 3 – Flashback to the Future (September 20, 2003) – Los Angeles, California – Violent Femmes, Echo & the Bunnymen, Psychadelic Furs, Duran Duran, & The Cure. Berlin, Dramarama, Hot Hot Heat, Dashboard Confessional
Duran Duran – (November 15, 2003) – Royal Oak Music Theater.
