What’s your best “insider”, word of mouth club show story or stories?

[LPDlx1970]

I'm looking for some good stories so dig deep. I have only two… And I'm both hoping and quite sure I'll read posts in here that put mine to shame. Anyway…

I saw Temple of the Dog play at the Off Ramp in Seattle some time before the album came out (April, 1991). They'd either just finished or were almost finished with the album. A friend of mine had loose connections with the "in" crowd at that time, that's how I found out about it. It was a weeknight but it was standing room only. I don't remember Vedder being there, though he may have shown up later, but I distinctly remember Chris Cornell (vocals), Jeff Ament (bass), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), and Matt Cameron (drums). Yes, Matt was in Soundgarden before joining Pearl Jam. So, for those keeping track, that's 2 guys from Soundgarden plus 3 or 4 from Pearl Jam. We were all standing up on the booths at the very back of the club just so we could see. I had to leave early because I had to be at work at 6:30 AM. I should've stayed and just called in sick the next day… Coulda, shoulda, woulda, right?! :-(

My second, and last, story is seeing Pearl Jam play an acoustic set in Ballard, WA ("suburb" of Seattle). I don't recall the exact name of the club/tavern or the date. That said; it was before they became Pearl Jam. They were still going by Mookie Blaylock. Sadly, I don't remember much of it. We'd done a fair amount of drinking and stopping by the club to see them play was almost an afterthought. Who knew?! There were so many bands and clubs to pick from in Seattle at this time it was easy to miss things…

Anyway, those are my two stories. Whattaya got for me?

[Walesdad]

It would have been lateish '76 and Scottish r'n'b singer Frankie Miller was due to do a show at my local University.I buy tickets,turn up on the night but no Frankie Miller.Sign on the door say's that he's cancelled but two bands will play anyway.I thought that,well I've got my ticket so in we go.Anyway first band on was the Stranglers,who were great,followed by AC/DC.Both were unannounced and unadvertised.To see them both now on the same bill,I'd have to pay something like £50:00 and be prepared to sit in row forty three at my local enormodome.

[LPDlx1970]

Hey Walesdad,

Thanks for sharing your story! I figured this topic was dead since it'd been up for a bit and I hadn't seen any other posts.

And I'm a huge AC/DC fan so, as far as I'm concerned, your story trumps mine... ;-)

[Knebby]

I guess probably 1978 when I snuck into the local City Hall to see Black Sabbath and was pretty blown away by their support band......Van Halen.

[Wolfman]

I didn't go to these shows but when I lived in Los Angeles, the Viper room and some other local rock bars hosted some shows with big bands going by different names. The few I remember hearing about were the Red Hot Chile Peppers, The Rolling Stones, and STP.

[Walesdad]

Hey Walesdad,

Thanks for sharing your story! I figured this topic was dead since it'd been up for a bit and I hadn't seen any other posts.

And I'm a huge AC/DC fan so, as far as I'm concerned, your story trumps mine... ;-)

You are too kind.

[JethroTull]

Years and years ago, I had a friend in the music business. He took me to a record release party in NYC for the then unheard band named The Smithereens.

[ringoffire]

A guy nobody had heard of, Tommy Tutone, played a show at lunch at my Jr. High School in San Jose, CA. Yes, a show at my Jr. High School lunch. This was about 2 weeks before "Jenny" broke.

[MadScreamingGallery]

I've had several but one of the most fun and unexpected was having my friend's older sister sneak us into her high school (known in those years as "The Drugstore" ) so we could see a concert by Edgar Winter.