Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam at the Aragon

They set up chairs on the dance floor.  Eddie Vedder said he had always dreamt of playing there.  But in his dreams, there were no chairs.  He encouraged folks to fold up the chairs and pass them to the back.  The crowd gleefully complied.  The bouncers were not pleased and commenced with the bouncing of people.  Johno was one of those unlucky souls.  I was shocked when he was hauled off, but chasing after him provided no solution.  Back to the show I went.

Smashing Pumpkins were boring; the Red Hots were not.

I don't know how or when we met back up with Johno after the show, but clearly we must have.

I could have sworn this we went to this show after the other time I saw Pearl Jam, but the internet tells me that is not so...

Fishbone and Primus at the Riviera

I remember being pretty excited about this show.  Both Fishbone and Primus were pretty big deals in our little world at the time.  Maybe this was a little past their prime as far as we were concerned, but still...

It seems likely maybe Johno and I had more friends there, and even more likely that Jen brought a friend or two of hers along as well (perhaps that Michelle M girl?).

Fishbone had an informal 'big booty contest' up on stage during their set.  It was embarrassing even then.  But thank grod at least i didn't see my little sister up there.

I do not remember seeing the Hard Corps, but I do have an ep by them, so maybe this is where I heard of them.  I do seem to recall buying a bootleg t-shirt outside the riv on the way out.

Murphy's Law, Mighty Mighty Bosstones at Medusa's

Went alone.

Chants of 'skinhead' during the Murphys' set (i had dreads at the time).  Some girl (friend of the band?) danced on stage for much of their set.  She mostly took off her sparkly silver dress, but managed to keep the show PG-13 with strategic hand placement.

I believe the Bosstones rocked.

I think the only other time i was at Medusa's, a bunch of us walked over from Patreeecia's house on some new years' eve.  I remember throwing up the glass of champagne i drank walking there.  I didn't even break stride, of course.  Gumby didn't even notice i did it...

Royal Crescent Mob at the Cubby Bear

It seems incredibly unlikely that we would have dragged Lisa's mom to a show.  But i definitely remember her being there.  If my mind is playing tricks on me, at least it's making up interesting stuff.

Also, RC Mob covered Mama Said Knock You Out for what must have been one of the very first times.  David Ellison (the singer) read the lyrics out of a Tiger Beat (or somesuch) magazine.

The internet tells me Daisy Chain opened, and i believe it, even though i have no memory of this band at all.

Violent Femmes, Fishbone, Jellyfish at Summerfest

I distinctly remember motorbiking up to Milwaukee with Lisa on the back of the bike.  Everyone else was in, I think, Morgue's car.  I remember swimming in the lake during the day, despite the fact that i doubt we were supposed to.

Violent Femmes were great, but only a fool follows Fishbone.

Jane's Addiction at the Palmer Auditorium

That's right, we drove across the state to see Jane's Addiction play at a Chiropractic College.  I can't remember exactly how we all got there... It's possible we picked Johno up in Chicago "on the way."  I do remember being really tired, which explains why i watched the Chickasaw Mudpuppies open the show from the bleachers.  It also explains why i dozed off during their set.

I was wide awake and on the floor for Jane's Addiction though.  They rocked.  This was one of the bigger GA shows i'd been to at the time, and i remember the gym floor being packed.

Years later, i discovered Doug S was also at this show.  I guess it would only be 2-2 1/2 years till i met him for real.

Bad Manners at Lounge Ax

Finally, my first ska show.  After listening to it for years, there were now just the hint of bands touring and playing it.  This would turn into a flash flood in a few years.  Then everybody got sick of it (i did not).

Anyway, i was living in Dekalb at the time, and Johno called me on the day of the show to tell me Bad Manners were playing.  I managed to beg someone to cover my shift and hopped on the motorbike and drove to Chicago.

It should be noted that at the time i was working in a hot kitchen and living a block from work.  Also, i was an idiot (some things don't change).  So i always wore shorts, and didn't think twice about riding in them.  Despite there being snow on the ground.  That was a COLD ride.

After getting to Lounge Ax and warming up (it took a while), i ditched my leather jacket under the stage with a bunch of other folks' coats and whatnot...

The show was great.  The horn parts were played by a fiddler, if memory serves.  They dumped water on the crowd (a welcome relief by that point) during Special Brew.

I got to say hello to Buster Bloodvessel briefly after the show (he's much shorter when not on stage).  And then discovered by jacket had been stolen.  Of course it had my wallet in it.  I was displeased.

Someone found the wallet in a trashcan on the el platform and somehow got it back to me.  And johno loaned me a windbreaker or something so the ride home the next day wouldn't be quite so cold (also, it was daytime so i was warmed by the glorious rays of the sun.  And probably my anger at having had my leather stolen).


***I do not remember, nor have i been able to find any evidence of, the date of this show.  I know the year is right, and the month should be close.  I arbitrarily chose the date because i like the number 13 (February 13th is my best friend from high school Karen's birthday, meaning this is most likely not the correct date, as i probably would have remembered that).

Special Beat, Toasters at the Metro

This show was 25 bucks - obscenely expensive for that time for us.  Halfway through the opening band, Johno and I decided it was worth it.  The Toasters were great.

And then Special Beat came out and blew them away.  Roger and Neville spent the whole show running back and forth across the stage.  We could not believe how much energy they had.  And of course a set made up of the best songs of The Beat and The Specials is nothing to sneeze at!  They only played one new song: Rainy Days.  General Public finally recorded it for their reunion album. And I eventually found the demo of it that Special Beat recorded (thank you, internet).

Faith No More, Voivod, Soundgarden at Mabel's

Did i go to the show by myself?

I remember loving Faith No More.  I don't remember much about Voivod.  And the only thing i remember about Soundgarden is falling asleep standing up.

Years later, i found out Tiny was at this show.  Alas, i would not meet him for another decade or more.