Rockin' The 80s

A belated third installment to the My Concerts series.  Better do this before I forget more.

Concert going dropped off in the 80s, due to the intensity of work and the birth of our two children.  What started me back was when my dad moved to Massachusetts in 1985 and during the summers worked at the ticket office at Great Woods in Mansfield, Ma where he got us some pretty good tickets for shows.  I've probably forgotten a couple of others.

February 5, 1981

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Squeeze

Orpheum Theater

Boston MA

 

Elvis' 4th U.S. tour and the 4th time I'd seen him.  Our tickets were in the balcony and the sound was very bad when the opening act, Squeeze, was playing.  We moved downstairs before Elvis started and stood behind the last row of seats. The stage was completely dark when Elvis began to sing unaccompanied the ballad, Just A Memory, with Steve Nieve's piano joining in midway. A captivating start to an absolutely stunning show.  Elvis played 29 songs.

 

July 1986

Bob Dylan

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Great Woods

Mansfield MA

 

Went to this show because of Dylan, who turned out to be terrible.  Went in not a big fan of Petty but came out one.  This was a very long show with five sets.  First Petty, then Dylan, then Petty, then Dylan and then all together.  Dylan sang everything in a rush and half the time you couldn't even figure out what he was singing.  Petty and the Heartbreakers were terrific.  A high point was The Waiting.

 

August 1986

The Eurythmics

Great Woods

Mansfield MA

 

I liked the catchy pop music of The Eurythmics along with Annie Lennox's voice.  But their music videos left me thinking the band was very weird and Lennox seemed a cold and remote personality.  What a difference seeing them live!  Annie Lennox projected warmth and friendliness and her voice was lush and expressive.

 

September 1986

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Great Woods

Mansfield, MA

 

Had always wanted to see Young and he did not disappoint.  I closed my eyes and listened to his guitar soaring over everything.   

 

July 1987

Peter Gabriel

Great Woods

Mansfield MA

 

Gabriel came across as pompous.  Didn't like the show.

August 1987

Los Lobos

The Smithereens

Great Woods

Mansfield MA

The Smithereens had recently had a couple of hits I enjoyed, particularly Blood and Roses and were really solid.  Then Los Lobos came on and were simply outstanding.