PopTodd

Not a concert that I attended, per se, but a show that I played with one of my old bands: Larry Damore and John Haggerty (Pegboy, Bophal Stiffs, Naked Raygun) were in the audience and I got to talk to them a bit about band stuff. They also complemented my band, which was really cool. (Too bad it was that band's last show.) And, at a solo show that I played, George Wendt was in attendance, although he showed up too late to see my set. (I went on first.) It was still cool to see him there.

Another one: Meat Puppets at (Cabaret) Metro, Chicago -- 1988. There was a really cute girl (probably 17 or so… the same age as me at the time) who was sitting ON the stage, at the very edge of the front of the stage, air drumming throughout a good chunk of the show and throwing around her very long hair the whole time. I think that I fell a little bit in love with her that night. Sadly, never saw her again.

Just in case any of you actually care. The top 3-5 can probably shuffle into any order on any given day: Fumaça Preta - Fumaça PretaPortugese-speaking Columbians living in Amsterdam making a ruckus with a groove that sounds like Os Mutantes or Tom Zé jamming with Captain Beefheart.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugWRFUYr_LY The Thons - Thirty Foot SnakeChicago-based retro punk band, with a great guitar player for fans of The Strokes, The Fall, Television, and Parquet Courts. This record is better than PC's newest one. And, it's free at their Bandcamp page.https://thethons.bandcamp.com/track/h

Just thought of another one: Jonathan Richman at Lounge Ax around 1997 or 1998: Mid-show, Jonathan made an announcement from the stage along the lines of, "Now you know your old friend Jonathan doesn't do requests or anything. But, it looks like (name) knows that they way to Jonathan's heart is through his stomach. So, she left me a box of Ho-Hos, along with a note asking me to play 'Give Paris One More Chance' for her friend (other name) who is going off to Paris for a month. "So… (name), thanks for the Ho-Hos, and (other name), this one is for you, from (name)." Then, he played a lovely vers

This is amazing.

It could be music-related, but doesn't have to be. I have a couple: 1. Neutral Milk Hotel honoring my request to play "Song Against Sex" when I saw them at an in-store at Reckless Records in Chicago, back in 1998. Jeff: Uh, we don't have our trombone with us right now. So, sorry, but... (Scott Spillane runs up to Jeff and says something) Jeff: Oh, but Scott says that he can play the part on flugelhorn, so that's cool. We'll do it! 1-2-1-2-3-4! 2. Super Furry Animals at Lounge Ax, 1997 or 98. They were playing "The Man Don't Give a Fuck" to a small room, packed shoulder-to-shoulder. And tha

Smart man. He is absolutely incredible.

I just got a check from my record label for almost $100, thanks to Spotify streaming, CD Baby, and other digital distribution methods -- more than I ever expected to get! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!! https://play.spotify...rJuPCfFRA5hWspD

Fingers crossed for D'Angelo. And, that I'll be able to make it to a Wilco show.

Another one that I would love to see. Only just getting familiar with him, outside of the couple of radio songs. Brilliant songwriter, and incredible, underrated singer.

Hell yeah, I've had opportunities. I live in the Chicago area. The issue always seems to be timing (and money). And the fact that our kids are only just now old enough that we can leave them for the night to go and see something like this. It's a priority, for sure. Of the bands that there is actually a chance, they are #1 on the list.

Oh! And: WILCO!!! I haven't seen them since their first Chicago show back in 1994 at Lounge Ax. They are an entirely different band now, in many ways. I'm sure I'll think of more at some point. But, that's it for now.

Saw UT… twice: bookending their career: 1989 and 1993. Blur: saw twice, as well, on consecutive tours: Parklife and Great Escape. As to bands that I still want to see (that I have a CHANCE of seeing… meaning, not The Smiths, because there's no chance): • The Chills -- I think that I'm still basking in the new discovery of the Flying Nun bands, but I would love to see these guys. Also... • The Bats -- see above. • John Cale -- His post-Velvets career was better than Lou's, IMO. • Brinsley Schwarz -- I doubt that they'll reunite, but all of the live documents I've heard from them, they seem to

Only heard it once, at Spotify. Sadly, I don't think that I am going to be able to buy it before the end of the year, so I won't be able to accurately place it in my year-end list. From that one listen, though, it sounds like it could place, for sure. I'll pick it up eventually.

In the case of Green Day, they've had a lot more popularity over a longer period of time. Been around 25 years now and are still going. And SRV is dead. Instant cred.

On Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/album/5Hfbag0SsHxafx1SySFSX6