heidi | Wow! Friday Five is back! Sorta... (Reply)

1. What was the first concert you ever attended? How old were you? Where was it?

The Police, October 27, 1982, at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Well, technically, my first concert was The Animals, who were the first opening act, and my second was The Fixx, who were the second opening act, but we were there for Sting and the Police, 100%. It was the Synchronicity tour, so the costumes were a bit unique but it was an amazing show.

2. What was the most recent concert you attended? Where and when?
Simon & Garfunkle at the American Airlines Arena back in December; it was the same day that ROTK came out, so by the end of the evening, I was suffering from a bit of wonderful overkill!

3. Have you ever seen your favorite artist/band in concert? Did the show live up to your expectations or were you disappointed?
Yes, back in 1998, I saw Neil Finn in concert three times - in Orlando in July, in LA in August, and in NYC in November, four days after I realised I was pregnant with Harrison. Each concert was more amazing than the last - the Orlando show was his first solo concert in the US, and it was at the House of Blues and so intimate and I was front & center and snuck in for a bit of the sound check and it was just grand. After the LA one, I hung out with aswas and her sister, and we saw Salma Hayek at Jerry's Deli, but more important than that, before the concert I met Neil himself at the restaurant next door to the concert, and I had 12th row seats and the venue was wonderful and Wendy Melvoin was there and it was just amazing. And in NYC, I was, again, front and center and I got to meet the wonderful Peter Green and a bunch of other Frenzers and Tongue In The Mail folks and apart from the fact that I became queasy as hell the next day, and didn't stop for a few weeks, it was fantastic.
4. Ever been to a concert where you were pleasantly surprised at the performance? Ever been to a concert where you were totally disappointed? Name 'em!
The closest I can come is Nanci Griffith in NYC in the spring of 1998. My husband is a huge fan, and I do enjoy her stuff, but it was just very blah. Sigh. Plesantly surprised? The Bangles, who I'd never listened to before, as Cyndi Lauper's opening act back in 1984?1985? They were fun, although not as polished as they later became.

5. Name five bands that would headline your own personal festival. (Along the lines of Oz Fest or Lollapalooza)

Can these be bands of all time, or bands that could currently perform?
If it's the former, I'd love to have one bill with The Beatles, Split Enz (but performing songs from Crowded House, Finn Bros and the Finns' solo stuff), Everything But The Girl (circa 1994 or earlier), U2 and INXS.

If it's acts that could currently perform, Split Enz (but performing songs from Crowded House, Finn Bros and the Finns' solo stuff), U2, Billy Joel and Elton John (but only together, which is much more fun, and allows me to count them as one, haha!), Everything But The Girl (but with nothing but acoustic guitars, dammit!) and Madonna, because she just does good shows.

I'd also love to have an all-vocalist event, with Mandy Patinkin, Patti LuPone, Rebecca Luker, Michael Ball and Laurie Beechman (who was the narrator on my first Joseph soundtrack, and one of my favoritye Fantines, except that passed away about 10 years ago, so she is someone I would never get to see again).