What was the first live show you ever saw? It's OK to list two - the first one you went to with a chaperone like a parent or sibling, and the first you went to unchaperoned.
I was at that REM show at Wittenberg Univ. It was in May 1985. Is that old field house still standing? I remember it being a strange old building, like an airplane hangar.
I haven't been back there since, so I don't know if it's still there or not. You are right about it being a strange building. I thought the sound was really garbled, but it was still a magical show.
Chaperoned: 4/4/89 - R.E.M on the Document tour, with the Indigo Girls opening at Riverfront Coliseum (RIP). This was on the eve of my 16th birthday and my brother took me.
Non-chaperoned: 11/24/89 - The Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother's Milk tour with the Young Fresh Fellows opening at Bogart's. I lied to my parents and told them I was spending the night with a friend down the street. I got caught and could've just asked & they probably would've let me go, but teenage rebellion, etc. I had a blast.
I was at the REM/Indigo Girls show at Riverfront, too. Was super bummed because Robyn Hitchcock had been opening and for me that was a *magical* combination. Alas, his last date with them was just prior to the Cincy date. SADNESS.
My first concert was Styx (11/2/1979, Riverfront Coliseum). I went to that one with my sister. My second concert, and first without a chaperone/sibling was The Who (yes, that tragic one on 12/3/1979, at Riverfront Coliseum). For that one, I met up with my friends from St X before the . We got separated at the entrance, and I didn't see them until the next day at school. That was a crazy night, to say the least.
My father grew up with Steve Tracy (for those into blues, ie Crawling Kingsnakes) and used to play with him when they in high school/college, so I know we went to a few of his shows when he'd come back into town when I was young.My father also took me to some of the Ludlow Garage Freakout shows they had at Eden Park growing up too, but I can't really recall the years of those anymore, maybe later than I remember.The first show I went to with friends was Screaming Trees/Soul Asylum/Spin Doctors in 93. The opener (Screaming Trees) was my impetus for going. We stayed for Soul Asylum and left during the main act lol.I think we went to see TMBG a few months later at Bogart's, but really don't remember.
1987? Def Leppard and Tesla in Ft. Wayne, IN. My dream concert then. I've grown a bit, LOL, but I'll still rock out to Photograph or Modern Day Cowboy anytime. Best concert(you didn't ask, but oh well) 1992 Lollapalooza @ Pine Knob. Every single act. Look up the lineup if you don't know. Tried to sneak Bacardi 151 in inside a loaf of bread. FAIL. LOL.
Stevie Ray Vaughan sometime in the late 80s, because my mom couldn't find a babysitter so I had to go. Don't remember much except my mom being slightly drunk and it being loud. My first show was freshman year of high school in '94: Toadies with The Nixons opening.
MxPx at Bogarts in 2002. (not proud, but that's the truth). Would see White Stripes a year and a half later for the elephant tour, and that was one for the books.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones with Dropkick Murphy's at Hara Arena. Probably circa 1997 or so. That or Squirrel Nut Zippers at The Fraze 1998.
On my own, my first show was L7 and Wool in 1994 I think.
REM. Reconstruction. 1985
Chaperoned: 4/4/89 - R.E.M on the Document tour, with the Indigo Girls opening at Riverfront Coliseum (RIP). This was on the eve of my 16th birthday and my brother took me.
Non-chaperoned: 11/24/89 - The Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother's Milk tour with the Young Fresh Fellows opening at Bogart's. I lied to my parents and told them I was spending the night with a friend down the street. I got caught and could've just asked & they probably would've let me go, but teenage rebellion, etc. I had a blast.
The Cramps 1986 at the Jockey Club.
99% sure it was a Barney Live! concert at a theme park in Florida. Does that count?
If not... then it was Metallica at the US Bank Arena in 2008 with Gojira and Lamb of God. My musical taste has expanded since then...
My first concert was Styx (11/2/1979, Riverfront Coliseum). I went to that one with my sister. My second concert, and first without a chaperone/sibling was The Who (yes, that tragic one on 12/3/1979, at Riverfront Coliseum). For that one, I met up with my friends from St X before the . We got separated at the entrance, and I didn't see them until the next day at school. That was a crazy night, to say the least.
I love how you can look this stuff up now. Thinking it was Aerosmith at Freedom Hall in Louisville. Their tour dates say it was 4/30/1988.
Second was They Might Be Giants in Bloomington, IN. I'm guessing October 27, 1988. Hard to tell for sure at this point.
My father grew up with Steve Tracy (for those into blues, ie Crawling Kingsnakes) and used to play with him when they in high school/college, so I know we went to a few of his shows when he'd come back into town when I was young. My father also took me to some of the Ludlow Garage Freakout shows they had at Eden Park growing up too, but I can't really recall the years of those anymore, maybe later than I remember. The first show I went to with friends was Screaming Trees/Soul Asylum/Spin Doctors in 93. The opener (Screaming Trees) was my impetus for going. We stayed for Soul Asylum and left during the main act lol. I think we went to see TMBG a few months later at Bogart's, but really don't remember.
1987? Def Leppard and Tesla in Ft. Wayne, IN. My dream concert then. I've grown a bit, LOL, but I'll still rock out to Photograph or Modern Day Cowboy anytime. Best concert(you didn't ask, but oh well) 1992 Lollapalooza @ Pine Knob. Every single act. Look up the lineup if you don't know. Tried to sneak Bacardi 151 in inside a loaf of bread. FAIL. LOL.
Stevie Ray Vaughan sometime in the late 80s, because my mom couldn't find a babysitter so I had to go. Don't remember much except my mom being slightly drunk and it being loud. My first show was freshman year of high school in '94: Toadies with The Nixons opening.
The first show I went to without a parent was Maynard Ferguson at The Ohio Center in 1980.
Warped Tour 2007 😅
Victor Borge at the Taft Theatre.
MxPx at Bogarts in 2002. (not proud, but that's the truth). Would see White Stripes a year and a half later for the elephant tour, and that was one for the books.
BoDeans, late 80's at Miami University
Rick Springfield--8/27/82 at the ATP Tennis Stadium in Mason
Ozzy Osbourne and Queensryche in 86?
Fleetwood Mac. 1982 Greensboro Coliseum
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/fleetwood-mac/1982/greensboro-coliseum-greensboro-nc-3d3a15f.html
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers opening for INXS on their KICK Tour.