some old concert reviews from an old concert goer (NZC)

[brian ingham <brianingham@xxxxxxxxx>]

Below are some concert reviews I transcibed from notes taken by a
coworker. All locations are in Detroit. As you will read, he was a
Stones nut. Sorry, he didn't see any Zeppelin concerts. Included are
ratings he gave for each concert.

1964
Rolling Stones
Olympia Stadium
AAA+++
What a time to see the Stones! The Beatles were "THE" in band for
nearly everyone else, but not for me ? I was a Stones freak from the
very beginning! Olympia holds 16,500 and only 600 people showed up to
see the Stones ? boy ? what a freakout! Before the Stones came on,
judging by the crowd size, I figured they might not make it big, but
after hearing what they were putting down, I thought for sure they
would!!! My first Stones show and one I?ll never forget ? because it
turned me on to the Stones FOREVER ? because they?re the BEST ?
PERIOD!!

1966
Rolling Stones
Cobo Arena
Friday, July 8
AAA+++
Another incredible performance by the world?s greatest! Show opened
with "Under My Thumb" and closed with "Satisfaction". At this time
"Satisfaction" was THE song of all times, and everyone freaked when
the song began! Although no one knew it, this was the last time
around for Brian Jones, as he died July 13, 1969. He was a very
"together" person and looked great on stage. Jagger wore a
button-down sweater that freaked everyone when he turned his back to
the audience for the first time ? there was knitted into his sweater
a great big tree!! Crowd loved every minute of what was happening.
Great seats and dug the shit out of this show. No stage "flash", just
the best fucking music going down. Another amazing performance by the
greatest rock ?n? roll band in the world!!!!!

1969
Rolling Stones
Monday, November 24
Olympia Stadium
AAA+++
Songs: Jumping Jack Flash, Carol, Sympathy for the Devil, Stray Cat
Blues, Prodigal Son, Love In Vain, Midnight Rambler, Gimmie Shelter,
Little Queenie, Live with Me, Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Woman
Encore: Street Fighting Man

B.B. King and Terry Reid were good but when Jagger strutted out in
his black shirt with omegas insignia, black pants with silver studs,
red silk scarf and an Uncle Sam top hat ? Jesus ? what a rush!!
Another flawless, superb, show by the Stones ? who get better every
time I see them, and the first time around for Mick Taylor. The 2
best numbers were "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Midnight Rambler",
with Jagger doing incredible harmonica riffs while bathed in red
spotlights. Two horn players and Hopkins on piano were superb. Both
Richards and Taylor were knocking me out with their amazing guitar
playing. Keith very thin and sports one small earring ? bomb looking
dude. Stones blues are the best, as is their rock and roll ? or
anything they do. Couldn?t have been better!

1972
Jethro Tull
Monday, May 8
Cobo Arena
A+
Crazy, zany, show! "Stage hands" turned out to be Tull!
"Thick-As-A-Brick" first number. Madman Ian Anderson played bizarre
flute. Stage antics insane ? phone rang in middle of show! Never knew
what was to happen next ? superb entertainment.

Rolling Stones
Friday, July 14
Cobo Arena
AAA+++
Songs: Brown Sugar, Bitch, Happy, Tumbling Dice, Sweet Virginia,
Rocks Off, Gimmie Shelter, Bye Bye Johnnie, Love In Vain, Rip This
Joint, All Down The Line, You Can?t Always Get What You Want,
Midnight Rambler, Jumping Jack Flash, Street Fighting Man
Encore: 20 minutes of Satisfaction with Stevie Wonder

There never has or ever will be anybody better than the Stones. When
I say other groups are the "best", it?s understood they?re best NEXT
to the Stones! When Jagger and company strolled out onto the stage,
my mind and body went into a constant rush till the concert was over.
They?re not just another group ? they?re a legend. What can anyone
say about Jagger that hasn?t been said already. Superb, incredible,
flawless and absolutely amazing performance! Light show with huge
suspended mirror a gas. Jagger a real genius, can play harmonica
better than anyone and mesmerizes you with his performance. I freaked
when they did "You Can?t Always Get What You Want", and it was the
best song I?ve EVER heard in my life!!! Stones seem to be into what
they?re doing more than any other group ? even after 14 years! Simply
the best!!!!!!!!
The grand entrance:
"Hello Dee-troit!" Jagger removed his hat and gave a long exaggerated
bow. The band immediately went to work and Jagger reacted like a
stray jolt of electricity had struck his back and began flaunting his
body to the rhythm. His voice cut through the cheering throng and
made it clear that the legend was actually in our presence. The
Stones are the most visually and musically stunning ensembles in any
form of music. With the concert over, Mick passed the test, proved he
was a human god. You drained my brain ? I am completely satisfied!
Horn players and piano players fit into the show perfectly. Jagger
wore a white jump suit with a Levi jacket. They also played Thursday,
July 13.

Uriah Heep
Thursday, July 27
Warren Arena
AA++
"Johnny Round" played first!! Punky crowd but Heep blew our brains
out! Incredible show that turned me on to Heep. "July Morning"
superb. Concert very, very loud which enabled music to completely
take over my entire system!!

Uriah Heep
Monday, November 27
Ford Auditorium
AA++
Sat in 7th row. Opened with "Sunrise". Ken Hensley incredible
spaced-out Moog solo during "Gypsy" as smoke billowed out of Moog!!
Heep?s drummer [Lee Kerslake] excellent ? superb performance.

1973
David Bowie
Thursday, March 1
Masonic Temple
AA++
If I hadn?t seen it myself, I never would have believed it.
Incredibly space-out performance. "Space-Oddity" a complete trip.
This concert was a rush from beginning to end ? was like no other
show!!!!!!

David Bowie
Friday, March 2
Masonic Temple
A+
A flawless show both musically and visually. Mick Ronson amazing on
guitar. Bowie?s costumes good ? except for silly short pants. I never
thought I?d see what I?ve seen for the past 2 nights!!

Billy Preston/Uriah Heep
Saturday, May 23
Cobo Arena
A
"Circle of Hands" a masterpiece. Mick Box on guitar and Hensley on
Moog were masters of their instruments. A very enjoyable show that
left me totally drained. Encore: "Rock & Roll Medley".

Black Oak Arkansas/Humble Pie
Wednesday, May 23
Cobo Arena
A
Drum solo [Tommy Aldridge] incredible ? bare handed! Show ended as 2
guitar players smashed guitars together ? producing incredible
sounds! We left after 5 or 6 Humble Pie numbers!

Deep Purple
Monday, June 11
Cobo Arena
D
A 3 hour wait!! Mostly numbers from Machine Head. "Smoke On The
Water", complete with smoke machine was good, but the wait was too
long for me to get into the show.

New York Dolls
Saturday, September 22
Michigan Palace
?
After 4 numbers ? which were strong ? equipment trouble set in. Dolls
kept appearing to yell "You fuckers want to rock & roll?", but they
never came back and the crowd slowly filled out?.

Bachman Turner Overdrive/Spirit
Friday, October 12
Michigan Palace
B
Good rock & roll show, with no mistakes. Only weak point was 2
encores = "Honky-Tonk Woman" and "American Woman". Excellent band. We
left after 4 Spirit numbers ? they?re good on record but bad on
stage.

Joe Walsh
Sunday, November 4
Masonic Temple
?
We decided not to get there too early ? so when we walked in Walsh
was playing, and upon finishing his "first" number, he said "Good
night Detroit!!". We missed it all!!!

1974
Black Oak Arkansas
Thursday, January 17
Masonic Temple
A
Good high energy "Cock-Rock"! Black Oak Arkansas much stronger live
than on record ? superb guitar solos. End their show by smashing 2
guitars together and let the feedback just fade out?.

Bachman Turner Overdrive
Thursday, February 21
Michigan Palace
C
Bachman Turner Overdrive great but Michigan Palace bad! Too many
distractions. Spotlights often on wrong person. Oversold as usual.
Had to sit through 2 shitty groups. Good show but the Palace isn?t
the place to see it.

Yes
Wednesday, February 27
Cobo Arena
A+
Very professional ? mellow ? letting you relax, but getting heavy at
times. Good stage props and lights. Instruments used well in
conjunction with one another. No weak spots ? one of my favorite
performances!

Genesis
Tuesday, April 16
Ford Auditorium
AA++
My first of "theatrical rock!". Unique, fresh and original ? a total
experience! Great "costume" changes on Gabriel ? lots of freaky
things happening! Genesis is one of the best ever ? a real A-1 show!!

Grand Funk Railroad
Monday, April 29
Cobo Arena
B
Superb stage and light show. As usual I could have done without drum
solo ? kinda weird to have drummer sing lead. New organ player fits
into group well and Mark Farner is one helluva guitar player.
Hard-rocking show.

Roxy Music
Saturday, May 25
Ford Auditorium
A++
What a great fucking concert ? my mind and body were completely
carried away! A clear Plexiglas electric violin was featured!! Can?t
say enough about it ? every member did a solo ? absolutely amazing!!!

Ten Years After
Tuesday, May 28
Cobo Arena
A
Very strong concert with hard working bass player. Alvin Lee is this
whole group ? with an incredible voice and kick-ass guitar playing.
Ten Years After last tour before breaking up topped off with 2
encores!

David Bowie
Sunday, June 23
Cobo Arena
F
This was about the worst concert I?ve ever been to. Back-up band
sucked and so did Bowie?s voice. Stage antics were childish! At least
I made money by selling extra tickets! A total disaster.

Bachman Turner Overdrive/Bob Seger
Friday, October 11
Cobo Arena
A+
Superb concert with 2 encores. Seger got crowd in the mood then
Bachman Turner Overdrive really rocked! Randy Bachman threw his
guitar into the crowd following a solo with a drum stick! This was
Bachman Turner Overdrive at their very, very best.

David Bowie
Friday, October 18
Michigan Palace
F
What a rip-off, $9.00 for tickets up in the rafters. Really sucked ?
Bowie looked like shit. Music was nothing but noise ? no encore ?
really terrible!

Genesis
Thursday, November 28
Masonic Temple
A
Sat in first row!!! Played "The Lamb" sides 1-4. Slide show matched
the music. Gabriel looked better the first time. Best music and
vocals I?ve heard in a long time. Genesis is on of a kind ? majestic!

1975
Lynryd Skynyrd/Charlie Daniels
Wednesday, January 29
Ford Auditorium
A+
Sat in second row!! Both groups excellent. Charlie Daniels lead
singer played an un-real violin ? group had 2 drummers. Skynryd had 4
driving guitars ? encore was long rendition of "Free Bird". Damn good
concert.

Roxy Music
Monday, February 24
Ford Auditorium
A++
Sat in third row!! Incredible concert and a very responsive crowd.
Jobson on violin and McKay on sax were stand-outs; Ferry wore a black
tux! All sounds amazingly clear and different ? a superb concert!

Pink Floyd
Monday, June 23
Olympia Stadium
C
Too hot ? inside Olympia was 106 degrees! Big airplane and "Buzz Saw"
light show bizarre. Their film clip very weak. Sound system great ?
speakers stationed all around Olympia. Fairly weak show.

Rolling Stones
Monday, July 28
Cobo Arena
AAA+++
Songs: Honky Tonk Woman, All Down the Line, Star Fucker, If You Can?t
Rock Me, Gimmie Shelter, Ain?t Too Proud to Beg/Get Off My Cloud, You
Can?t Always Get What You Want, It?s Only Rock ?n? Roll, Fingerprint
File, Happy, You Got To Move, Wild Horses, Tumbling Dice, Midnight
Rambler, Rip This Joint/Street Fighting Man/Jumping Jack Flash
Really now ? what can I honestly say?! Star-shaped stage, big penis,
confetti spitting dragon. These guys are fucking amazing ? the best
mother fucking band in the world. STUPENDOUS!!

10 CC
Saturday, November 1
Michigan Palace
A+
A freebie from Dave and Barb. An excellent show with plenty of
"unusual sounds"; a very nice light show.

Roxy Music
Sunday, November 23
Cobo Arena
C-
Roxy not powerful enough for Cobo ? or else I?m spoiled from previous
Roxy concerts. I?ve seen better.

1976
Peter Frampton/Gary Wright
Friday, January 23
Cobo Arena
B
Wright was weak ? just packed no punch ? Frampton was a real rocker ?
good crowd response.

Genesis
Tuesday, April 20
Ford Auditorium
A++
Without Gabriel for the first time ? their best to date. "Trick Of
The Tail" and other superb selections. Good light show ? a real mind
fucker.

Paul McCartney and Wings
Saturday, May 8
Olympia Stadium
A
Superb seats, a flawless rocking concert ? an all-around good show ?
especially "Live and Let Die" with explosions!

Eagles
Tuesday, July 20
Olympia Stadium
B-
Very hot, spotlight work atrocious ? which didn?t help any. Walsh now
with Eagles ? did 3 encores! Musically it was pretty good ? more or
less middle of the road ? at times good driving rock & roll.

1977
Genesis
Saturday, February 12
Masonic Temple
A
Started slow but sure picked up. Light show utterly mind-fucking.
Phil Collins tambourine playing was hard to believe. Two sets of hard
driving drums. Well done show!!