During the 90s, in Chicago, I went to concerts and plays, and dance recitals, and festivals, and musicals ALL THE TIME. I have the ticket stubs to prove it. I went to a lot of sporting events as well, which surprised me as I don’t have any real interest in sports, but I have the ticket stubs from numerous baseball, football, and hockey games as well. I’ve been doing a major clean out in the millions of photo albums I have, most of which sit and gather dust over the years, as no one ever looks at them. I figured I should take a stab at least at trying to narrow down the AMOUNT of them, since someday my kids will have to deal with them.
I’ve gone through the photo albums twice so far. I’ve emptied four, 3 of which are ready to be pitched, and one which is in good enough shape to give to charity. The first time through I was pretty ruthless, ripping out old and bad photos, bleached photos, photos of places that I barely remember going to, and many many photos of other people’s children. I’ve just been going through them again, and I’m being even more merciless. For some reason over the years, back when tickets to events were physical, I stuck the stubs in photo albums. Now, I think, why? Why am I keeping these? Just to have proof that once upon a time I saw these artists in person? Proof that I was cool? (except that my kids have barely heard of any of these artists so my cool stamp is wasted on them). Everyone goes to concerts. It’s not anything special.
My brother called me today while I was in the middle of purging and while talking about the ticket stubs, he made me read them all off to him. Several of them elicited shocked reactions (as in “You saw David Bowie!? You saw Lou Reed!?”) I’m not sure if he was surprised at my musical tastes or what. (His reaction to Janet Jackson was hilarious, though…I got free tickets from work, I think). John says I have to keep the David Bowie ticket stub, because “he’s a legend!” but you know, he’s a legend whether I throw that little piece of paper away or not.
I can’t think of many concerts I’ve been to since we moved overseas. First we had little kids and no money, and now ticket prices are so high it’s ridiculous. I have seen Elton John twice here, once with Angie, and once with Karin, and I saw him twice in the US back in the day so I think he’s the artist I’ve seen the most times live. I’ve seen Lloyd Cole and Wilmer X at Malmöfestivalen and some of the Melodifestival artists like Timotej. I’ve seen The Ark, who performed at a work event. But I don’t pay attention to, or buy tickets for concerts here. Ticket prices generally start around $65 but average over $100 or more. I know the big name artist’s ticket prices are closer to $200. I was just looking at the prices on the ticket stubs that I have. I saw Peter Gabriel in 1987 for $15. David Bowie the same year was $25. I can’t think of anyone I’d pay so much money to go see in person nowadays at today’s prices.
I don’t really miss the actual GOING to concerts, although the ones in the smaller, more intimate venues were nicer. And of course it was a lot easier in Chicago than it is in Malmö. EVERYONE came on tour to Chicago. It was fun to go with friends and sit out on the lawn or in a big arena, but I think I’m too old for it now. Too many people, too long lines for bathrooms, too loud. Haaa! I am so old. I’d rather listen to Spotify or watch someone on our big screen TV. There isn’t that burning need to SEE the artist in person, to be a part of the scene like there was back when I was in the my 20s. Aaah, the good old days.
Anyway, just for posterity, the list from my saved ticket stubs is below. This isn’t exhaustive (for instance I saw The Daddies (then The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies on a trip out to Oregon, and my first concert was Foreigner, back in Germany in 1982), but it’s probably most of them :
- Rush – Jul 9, 1984, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
- Elton John – Sep 12, 1984, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
- Dire Straits – Aug 4, 1985, Pine Knob, Detroit
- Lou Reed – Aug 6, 1986, Meadowbrook Music Festival, Detroit
- Elton John – Aug 17, 1986, Pine Knob, Detroit
- Peter Gabriel – Jul 24, 1987, Poplar Creek, Chicago
- David Bowie (The Glass Spider Tour) – Aug 21, 1987, Rosemont Horizon, Chicago
- Tom Waits – Oct 24, 1987, Kalamazoo State Theatre, Kalamazoo
- R.E.M. – Nov 4, 1987, UIC Pavilion, Chicago
- The Bo Deans – May 20, 1988, Riviera, Chicago
- The Who – Jul 21, 1989, Alpine Valley, Milwaukee
- The The – Feb 20, 1990, Riviera, Chicago
- Janet Jackson – Apr 9, 1990, Rosemont Horizon, Chicago
- The Indigo Girls – May 4, 1990, Riviera, Chicago
- Melissa Etheridge – Aug 11, 1990 – World Music Theatre (Tinley Park), Chicago
- Bob Mould – Oct 13, 1990 – Riviera, Chicago
- The Indigo Girls – Feb 4, 1991 – Chicago Theatre
- Crowded House – Nov 20, 1991, The Vic, Chicago
- Melissa Etheridge – Jul 19, 1992 – McCormick Place, Chicago
- Jimmy Buffett – Aug 15, 1992, Poplar Creek, Chicago
- Joan Armatrading – Sep 17, 1992, Riviera, Chicago
- The Breeders – Oct 3, 1992, Metro, Chicago
- K.D. Lang – Oct 16, 1992, Chicago Theatre
- 10,000 Maniacs – Nov 29, 1992, Chicago Theatre
- Melissa Etheridge – Dec 15, 1992 – Chicago Theatre
- The Bo Deans – Feb 13, 1993 The Vic, Chicago
- Johnny Clegg & Savuka – Jun 29, 1993, The Vic, Chicago
- Midnight Oil, Ziggy Marley & the Melodymakers, Hothouse Flowers – Aug 7, 1993, Tinley Park, Chicago
- George Winston – Dec 2, 1993, Centre East, Chicago
- Sarah McLachlan – Apr 30, 1994, The Vic, Chicago
- Blues Traveler – May 13, 1994, Aragon Ballroom, Chicago
- The Pretenders – Nov 3, 1994 – Rosemont Horizon, Chicago
- K.D. Lang – Feb 9, 1996, Rosemont Theatre, Chicago
Maybe once we retire and are bored, I’ll start looking up concerts again. We can take the train to Copenhagen, if no one good is ever coming to Malmö, and bring camp chairs for our old bones. 😀
Mood: nostalgic
Music: David Bowie—Changes