Top 30 Shows (So far…)

I’ve been thinking about writing this down for some time now. The list is by no means comprehensive, but catalogs my most memorable shows. I started out trying to document my top 10, but just kept going . . . would love to know yours!

MY TOP 30 CONCERTS

1. Van Halen – Apr 4 1980 World Invasion Tour (@ Seattle Center Arena) Rail opened, First concert, Women & Children First, walked home from the Arena because I got separated from Dean and Steve.
2. Metallica – Mar 18, 1985 (@ New York Theatre in Vancouver, BC) Armored Saint and Black n Blue opened. Crossed the Canadian border at age 17 with a forged note from my parents. Partied in Black n Blue’s touring bus. Went backstage for the entire show. Had Heineken beers with Metallica. Met Cliff Burton, weeks before his tragic death. No joke. Can’t make this stuff up. In the process of writing a screenplay based on this…
3. Van Halen – Jun 5, 1981 Fair Warning Tour (@ Seattle Center Arena) After the Fire opened.
4. Paul McCartney – Jul 19, 2013 (@ Safeco Field) Joined on stage by surviving members of Nirvana.
5. Pearl Jam – Dec 7, 1993 (@ Key Arena) Versus tour.
6. Goodness – 1995? (@ Crocodile Cafe) Kim Virant opened
7. Paul Simon – Apr 17, 2011 (@ Showbox)
8. KISS – Aug 31, 1996 (@ Tacoma Dome) Final tour with original lineup, T-Dome roof caught on fire in the middle of the show.
9. Flaming Lips – May 6, 1995 (@ Moe’s Mo’ Rockin’ Cafe)
10. Presidents of the USA – May 12, 1995 (@ Moe’s) Basketball Diaries soundtrack release party.
11. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Dec 11, 2013 (@ Key Arena) First major tour.
12. R.E.M. – May 21, 1995 (@ Gorge) Monster tour, with Sonic Youth, they played multiple Young Fresh Fellows tunes.
13. Red Hot Chili’s and Foo Fighters – May 27, 2000 (@ Gorge) Kool Keith opened.
14. Mötley Crüe – Nov 23, 1983 (@ Paramount) Front row, first major tour, Shout at the Devil.
15. U2 – Apr 20 1992 (@ Tacoma Dome) Pixies opened, “Zoo TV” Zooropa tour, I’ve seen these guys 5 times and the show never disappoints.
16. Prince – Aug 30, 2004 (@ Key Arena) Musicology tour.
17. Little Richard – Sep 4, 1989 (@ Seattle Center Arena, Bumbershoot)
18. Spinal Tap – Sep 1, 1984 (@ Seattle Center Arena, Bumbershoot)
19. Sex Pistols – Aug 30, 1996 (@ Memorial Stadium, Bumbershoot) Filthy Lucre tour. Amazing show.
20. Rolling Stones – Oct 17, 2006 (@ Qwest Field) Got free tix from Dean. Didn’t want to go, initially. Needless to say it was AMAZING, despite being opened by Dave Matthews! Saw them again with Ben Trigg on Aug 14, 2019 (@ Century Link Field). Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real opened up – INCREDIBLE!
21. Electric Light Orchestra – Jun 28, 2019 (@ Tacoma Dome) AMAZING sound and stage show. What a set list!
22. Green Day, Weezer, Hole, Rancid – Sep 11, 1994 (@ Seattle Center Mercer Arena) EndFest. 311 played too, but I don’t care much for them.
23. Bush – Feb 6, 1995 (@ Mo’s) Elastica opened.
24. Elton John and Billy Joel – Jan 24, 2001 (@ Tacoma Dome)
25. The Hives – Nov 1, 2007 and Sep 7, 2012 (@ Showbox Sodo and Showbox) Don’t miss them the next time they tour!
26. Deep Purple – Feb 9, 2004 (@ Paramount) Machine Head Anniversary, Thin Lizzy opened, sat in the FRONT ROW!
27. Deep Purple with Ritchie Blackmore – Apr 9, 1985 (@ Tacoma Dome) Perfect Strangers tour with my lil’ sis’.
28. Del Fuegos – Apr 2, 1986 (@ Paramount) Sat in the pit, next to John Keister.
29. Replacements – Apr 9, 2015 (@ Paramount, Young Fresh Fellows opened)
30. 45 Grave – Winter 1984 (@ Meat Lockers on South Capital Hill) First and only rock n roll bake sale I ever attended. Crypt Kickers 5 opened.

Other Notable Shows

1. Dinosaur Jr. – Nov 10, 1994 (@ DV8 – old Skoochies) Loudest show ever!
2. Neurotic Outsiders – Jan 12, 1996 (@ Crocodile Café) Supergroup founded in 1995, consisting of Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, and John Taylor of Duran Duran.
3. The Cult – Jul 30, 2013 (@ Showbox)
4. Buckwheat Zydeco – Sep 1990 (@ Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, Bumbershoot)
5. Beastie Boys – May 29, 1995 (@ Kitsap County Fairgrounds) EndFest, with Bush, Catherine Wheel, Everclear, Gin Blossoms, Korn, Supersuckers, The Presidents of the United States of America, and Throwing Muses
6. The Silos – Jan 13, 2023 (@ Triple Door), 30th Anniversary of their LP, “Cuba”.
7. The Posies – Jun 26, 1992 (@ Moore Theater) This show would have made my top 40!
8. Jane’s Addiction – Jul 22, 2015 (@ Showbox SoDo)
9. Social Distortion Feb 11, 2011 and Jun 7, 2018 (@ Showbox SoDo)
10. Marilyn Manson – Mar 26, 2015 (@ Showbox)
11. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Jul 30, 2006 (@ White River Amphitheater) Eddie Vedder and Stevie Nicks joined TP on stage.
12. The Police, Thompson Twins, and The Fixx – Sep 1, 1983 (@ Tacoma Dome) Wow!
13. Gary Numan – Nov 22, 2017 (@ Neptune Theater) Blew my mind!
14. Parliament-Funkadelic – Sep 4, 1995 (@ Seattle Center Arena) Most people I’ve ever seen on stage together. Literally, blew the roof off the mutha.
15. Macklemore – Dec 12, 2013 (w/ Ryan Lewis @ Key Arena) The Heist Tour. Bobby’s first concert. Amazing performance! and Dec 22, 2017 (@ Key Arena) Gemini Tour. Took Ben, Bobby, and some of their friends – what a show!
16. Aerosmith – Jan 20, 1983 (@ Seattle Center Arena) Steve and I attended using counterfeit tickets that we bought at school for $5 each, no Joe Perry on the Rock in a Hard Place tour, Pat Travers Band opened.
17. Metal Church – Mar 14, 1989 (@ Meeker’s Landing) Small Venue, literally leaned on the stage as they played.
18. Rail 1981 (@ Kennedy High School Gym)
19. Wild Dogs – Nov 18, 1983 (@ Lake Hills Roller Rink). Metallica was supposed to be the headliner, but they ended up canceling.
20. Weird Al Yankovic – June 28, 2022 (@Moore Theater) Took Ben to see Weird Al. Did the backstage VIP thing. Got to meet the man. Chris Balew from PUSA joined Al on stage for a cover of “Peaches”. Amazing showman. True American treasure. Checked this one off the bucket list.
21. Iron Maiden, Halford, Queensrÿche – Sep 19, 2000 (@ Tacoma Dome, 1/2 venue only)
22. Megadeth – Nov 29, 1987 (@ Tacoma Dome Pavilion, attended dressed in headbanger wig)
23. Crowded House – Sep 7, 1987 (@ Seattle Center Arena, Bumbershoot)
24. Sting – Mar 29, 1991 (@ Desert Sky Pavilion Phoenix, AZ, Soul Cages Tour)
25. Rush – Jul 19, 2015 (@ Key Arena, R40 Farewell Tour)
26. Soundgarden – Sep 3, 1990 (@ Seattle Center Mercer Arena, Bumbershoot, Louder than Love tour)
27. Green River – Aug 29, 1986 (@ Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, Bumbershoot)
28. Mudhoney – Jan 9, 1989 (@ Ballard Underground)
29. The Who – Oct 19, 2019 (@ T-Mobile Field) Went with Ben Trigg. Great show!
30. Eagles, Doobie Brothers – Sep 30, 2017 (@ Safeco Field, “The Classic Northwest”, Glenn Frey’s son played and sang with the Eagles)
31. Foo Fighters – Sep 1, 2018 (@ Safeco Field) The Foos may be the last true hard rock group, amazing!
32. Velvet Revolver – Apr 22, 2005 (@ Everett Events Center, with Hoobastank – and, believe me, they really stank)
33. Bob Mould – Oct 11, 2005 (@ Neumos, Shiny Toy Guns opened, Silver Age tour, 2nd loudest show I’ve seen)
34. KISS – Jun 23, 2011 (@ Comcast Arena Everett) Ben’s first concert! He was 9 years old. Took him for his 10th birthday.
35. Saxon, Accept, Heavy Pettin’ – Apr 21, 1984 (@ Paramount) Spent most of the show in the lobby talking to the guys from Heavy Pettin’.
36. Ozzy Osbourne, Waysted, and Mötley Crüe – Mar 22, 1984 (@ Seattle Center Arena)
37. Dire Straits – Apr 4, 1992 (@ Seattle Center Arena) On Every Street Tour.
38. Judas Priest – Jul 6, 2005 (@ White River Amphitheater) With Queensrÿche!
39. Judas Priest – Jul 22, 2008 (@ WaMu Theater) With Testament!
40. Platinum Blonde – May 17, 1986 (@ Paramount)
41. Charlie Sexton – Jun 19, 1986 (@ Paramount) Charlie’s first solo tour! Concrete Blonde opened.
42. Ready for the World – Jun 18, 1986 (@ Paramount)
43. AC/DC – Aug 31, 2009 (@ Tacoma Dome) Black Ice tour!
44. Van Halen – Dec 3, 2007 (@ Key Arena) First tour back with DLR, Great show!
45. Queensrÿche and Armored Saint – Nov 15, 2016 (@ Showbox)
46. X – Dec 18, 2015 (@ Showbox) X is an amazing live punk band!
47. Psychedelic Furs – Oct 6, 2012 (@ Showbox) The Chevin opened.
48. Son Volt – Oct 18, 2019 (@ Neptune Theater) With Erico. Great show!
49. Traffic – May 31, 1994 (@ Reno Hilton Outdoor Amphitheater, Reno, NV) Won big at the black jack tables with Missler and Rayner, almost missed our flight out.
50. Vanilla Ice – ~Mar 2001 (@ House of Blues in Las Vegas) Free tix. Went for shits and giggles.
51. The Drip Drys – Jun 2015 (@ Feedback Lounge) WSHS 30th Reunion.
52. The Lemons – ~1994 (@ Central Tavern) The Lemons were a hard rockin’ local band that really should have made it big. They were outstanding live!
53. Running with Scissors – ~1994 (@ Offramp) Crazy / very entertaining stage show.
54. Rangehoods – ~1988 (@ The Fenix Underground) Saw these guys multiple times, once I was old enough to go to 21-and-older shows. Loved them! Hard rock with a little twang.

BANDS I’VE SEEN THE MOST

1. The Posies (9x)
2. Presidents of the United States of America (7+x ???)
3. Mudhoney (5x)
4. Goodness (5x)
5. Van Halen (4x)
6. Green Day (4x)
7. Supersuckers (4x)
8. Bush (3x)
9. Foo Fighters (3x)
10. Weezer (3x)
11. Pearl Jam (3x)
12. R.E.M. (3x)
13. U2 (3x)
14. Queensrÿche (3x)
15. Taj Mahal Trio Thanksgiving Show @ Jazz Alley (3x)

MOST SURPRISINGLY BAD SHOWS

1. Counting Crows – Apr 1, 1997 (@ Paramount) First tour, Ben Folds Five opened.
2. Weezer (multiple bad shows, oi.)
3. Cheap Trick – Feb 22, 1995 (@ Under the Rail) The Posies and The Lemons opened, everyone was just a little off that night. Cheap Trick was good, but the show ended early when someone in the crowd threw firecrackers at Bun E. Carlos.
4. Van Halen A Different Kind of Truth Tour w/ DLR – May 5, 2012 (@ Tacoma Dome, Kool & the Gang opened and blew =VH= off the stage.)
5. Michael Schenker (multiple bad shows, but he was a bit better last time, now that he’s sober. oi.)
6. Ted Nugent – Jul 26, 2008 (@ Emerald Queen Casino) I didn’t realize that Terrible Ted and his ten fingers of doom had gone over the edge when I bought these tickets, oi.
7. Mekons – Aug 5, 1994 (@ Moe’s Mo’ Rockin’ Cafe) I had never seen these legendary punk stars before and have no reason to see them again.

CAN’T BELIEVE I NEVER SAW

1. Nirvana – Tried a couple times after they were already popular, but couldn’t get a ticket. Steve and I listened to one of their shows from outside of the Central Tavern on First Ave in Seattle, and then were able to get into the venue as they were packing up their gear, but that’s the closest we ever got.
2. Ramones – Didn’t make it a priority. Then, they all died.
3. Motorhead – Just kept putting it off. Then, Lemmy died.
4. Black Sabbath – Was a huge Ozzy fan, but for some reason, I was never a huge Sabbath fan. They’re a little dark for me.
5. Def Leppard – Too big. Still too big.
6. Slayer – Wasn’t really into the whole death / speed metal thing when this band was hanging out with my friends
7. Guns n Roses – Meh.
8. Johnny Cash
9. Queen
10. Run-D.M.C.
11. Tragically Hip
12. UFO
13. The Cars
14. Led Zeppelin – They played the Kingdome when I was 10, but I was too young. Now that the 50th anniversary has come and gone, I’ve lost hope. I did see that Robert Plant is doing some Zeppelin on his tours with Alison Krauss, however, which was cool to see. She’s doing most of the vocal high notes these days.
15. Willie Nelson – No longer touring 🙁 Did see his son, Lukas, open up for the Stones, however.
16. ZZ Top – Dusty passed in 2021. Will they tour without him?

STILL ON THE LIST

1. Pretenders – #1 on my must see list.
2. Joan Jett – Still waiting for the right small venue opportunity.
3. G.B.H. – Still cranking out strong punk vibes!
4. The Cure – Next tour?
5. Devo – Still waiting for the right opportunity.
6. Wilco – Have really mellowed since the 90’s but would still like to see them.
7. Kraftwerk – Had tix to see them in 2020, but the pandemic hit
8. Sammy Hagar – Tried to get tix to see him long before he was in VH, but I was too young and my parents wouldn’t let me go. Never was interested in seeing Van Hagar.
9. Scorpions – They were playing huge shows and I wasn’t interested in seeing them in a giant venue. Should go to see them before they retire . . .

Trying to keep this list in synch with my list on Setlist.fm.