All the Worlds a Stage II

Concerts! Absolutely love them. These days I am more inclined to the quieter show in a smaller venue, say The Trews at the Cohn or something similar, as opposed to the full concert experience of my youth. One of the perils of getting older is that I have less tolerance for huge crowds and ringing ears, not to mention trying to justify spending $120 to see a band that I used to pay $17 for...fuck inflation!!

And that's OK really as I have seen more than my fair share of stupendous shows. So much so that I am now at a point in my life that I have a few bucket list type acts that I would pay a lot to see and after that, whatever. Leonard Cohen was one of them and sadly my chance has passed...R.I.P. Monsieur Cohen. U2 is the other group that I would drop a small fortune on...and the stage is set for that this June when I am in Toronto for an eye doctor appointment at the same time that U2 is on their Joshua Tree revisited tour....I'm pretty stoked I must say! I've always wanted to see them but for one reason or another I never made it...not this time pal. I'm there.

From my very first show, Motely Crue at some cow dung palace on the grounds of the C.N.E. for $14 and general admission to Pink Floyd filling the mistake by the lake, I've seen a lot of shows. Rush several times, Van Halen, The Moody Blues, Def Leppard, John Mellencamp, Blue Rodeo, Genesis...well, the list is almost endless. Here are some of my most memorable....you might be surprised:

Seeing my favourite band several times over the years is a highlight in itself, but I have to say seeing them on the Power Windows tour was pretty special. That album will forever hold a place in my heart because I associate it with a time in my life when all things were firing well for me. The band was polished, tight and since they are all virtuoso's on their chosen instruments, the music was perfect. I've seen them five or six times easily but that show stands out.

There was one week in grade ten, during exams mind you, that I saw three concerts in four nights. Toronto was great for this kind of variety...I saw Howard Jones, Heart and The Moody Blues in that short span. Didn't do that well on my typing exam but who the fuck cares about that. Heart was OK. The Moody Blues were as expected, as I had seen them previously...Howard was amazing. He put on a great show with a lot of dramatics backed by simple energy and his own musical prowess.

The one and only time I have danced at a concert was during John Mellencamp on his Lonesome Jubilee tour. To know me is to know I don't dance...this guy got me out of my seat with Connie and someone else if I recall correctly. The album is a masterpiece and I have been a fan of his ever since...they say Springsteen puts on the best live shows, well, I never saw him but I did hear a radio announcer the next day declare that Springsteen couldn't hold Mellencamp's jock strap. He rocked...and I danced.

Whitney Houston. Yep...you heard me. Vocal solo, that's all I am going to say....unfucking real.

The Rankin Family at Old Massey Hall...a foot stomping good time. In fact, any show I have seen at Old Massey Hall has been great. Marillion, Tom Cochrane, others I can't remember....and the crowning show, ELP. Hanging from the rafters watching Keith Emerson unleash on that organ was amazing. He beat the shit out of that thing and then stabbed it to hold the final note of the show....I think it was a "C" You have not lived until you have heard Hoedown live.

Kim Mitchell and the annual trek to Canada's Wonderland for summer concerts. I wonder if they ever replaced the turf that was almost completely ripped up one year....flying grass bombs everywhere. Which didn't come close to the scene at the Ex when Van Halen played and pizza boxes littered the sky. Probably the best part of the show...they sucked ass that night.

Iron Maiden on the Power Slave tour was fantastic. The ridiculous Twisted Sister not being fit to share the same stage as an opener aside it was one of the best concerts I remember seeing at Maple Leaf Gardens. You always saw the same scalpers at the shows there, and an Alice Cooper look alike would be standing at the top of the subway exit hawking his tickets...Who needs tickets? Got tickets!

And while I wasn't there in person, the Hip finale last summer will always be a thing for me....read about the night here The Hip

The list goes on with more shows than I can actually remember. Like great restaurants to choose from, Toronto offers up a veritable cornucopia of music events to satiate ones desire for live music. It's one of the few things I miss about living there. Nowadays I am quite content with the occasional show at The Carleton or The Cohn, smaller and more intimate...and if someone worthy of a cash expenditure rivalling a car payment comes through at the Metro Centre I will consider it. For now I am planning for that bucket list cross off with U2 in Toronto. Who wants to come?

Rock on Chakka Khan
D