The Specials at the Vic

U2 at Soldier Field

Karen had an extra ticket to this show, so we met at my house earlier in the day so she could give it to me.  This was her (and everyone's) first time at my house, so i gave them the nickel tour.  Unfortunately, our cat Two had left a present on the hall rug, and someone stepped in it.  It was a mess, a smelly mess.  Ugh.

I rode the bike down there after work to meet them.  I got there during Interpol's set, which was as expected (both my late arrival and Interpol's set).

U2 was good, and hanging out with my old high school friends was great.  I may have had a few beers (for the last time?), which made the bike ride home through a crowded Grant Park interesting, if ultimately uneventful.

Rush at the United Center

I had never seen Rush, so i suggested we all go.  Remarkably, everyone agreed.  Johno hadn't seen them since high school, i believe.

We met at that taco place at Belmont and Damen.  Or maybe we rode their together.  Either way, we definitely rode to the UC together.

Our seats were waaaay in the back (but not as far back as this show).  The light show didn't work as well as it could have from so far up, but it was cool to be able to see how their crazy light contraption worked.

Some guy a few rows over from us could not clap on beat, one my own Greatest Fears.

Dropkick Murphys, Naked Raygun at the Congress

I had forgotten all about this show until Ingrid reminded me that we all went and she actually drove us.

Memory now jogged, i do remember driving around looking for parking, Raygun (especially Pezzati) seeming a bit stiff to start the show, and i think this was the show i saw the Murphys cover the Clash (Guns of Brixton).  I liked it; it left Johno a little cold.

The internet tells me that the Parkington Sisters joined the Dropkick Murphys, and that does sound familiar.

[EDIT - oh yeah - this is the show that Emmett was supposed to come with, but was too sick.  I seem to remember him not being that sick, but Amy does.  At any rate, him not being there really saddened me.]

Motorhead at the Congress

Lollapalooza in Grant Park

Finally made it to Lolla after the fiasco in 1991. We (Johno, me, others most assuredly) were supposed to meet my sister Jen at the Hinsdale oasis, but we had to return a UHaul and were running late (yes, I'm always late). We got there and waited hours playing hacky-sack before giving up and going home. Turns out, she was there but headed to the venue (Tinley Park) to wait for us outside the gate. When I talked to her the next day, she was cheesed because she missed a bunch of the show waiting for us. Why she waited for us in the wrong place, I still don't know.

Anyway... My memories of this show are pretty hazy. I know we saw Social Distortion.

Ingrid tells me we saw Gogol Bordello. I believe her.

Em brought a friend maybe from summer camp (?) who went by BJ(?). I guess the name wasn't problematic for 11 year olds... Em, he and I went up close for Green Day. We could feel the pyrotechnics. This was back when Jo didn't like live shows, so she and Ian stayed in the back and did whatever those two weirdos did back then. I doubt they even watched the show...

Poster Children at Bottom Lounge

Droids Attack opened.  Did i see them?  I'm not sure.

I seem to remember liking the second band, ifihadahifi.

Poster Children, as usual, killed.  I hadn't seen them in a while at this point and remember thinking: "Damn, they're good.  Why don't i see them more often?"  Of course i didn't get around to seeing them again for several years.

Sid & Susie at Old Town School of Folk Music

Flogging Molly at the Congress

Jen and Brian took me to this show for my birthday.  They were really into Flogging Molly, who were alright, but sounded to me like a Pogues cover band that didn't do any Pogues songs.

I was really excited to see the Aggrolites open, who did not disappoint.

Dub Trio played first.  I had never heard of them, but they were great so i've since picked up a couple of their records.