Like the title of the classic Saint Vitus album suggests, sometimes you have to just swallow the truth and accept that you were "born too late." Like most record collectors and music snobs, most of the bands I like either formed or peaked well before my years. One of the unfortunate aspects of obsessively seeking out those who influenced what you currently enjoy is that you're consistently looking at the past, mostly sighing. That being said, here are three shows that came to Cleveland ages ago that I would certainly have attended if I would have had the chance.
Dead Kennedys @ The Cleveland Engineers Building: June 10, 1982
In their prime the Dead Kennedys were among the most notorious, energetic, and controversial bands in America and the planet in general for that matter. Ever the political activists, it's only fitting that this show was held in the famous Engineers Building in Cleveland, the first major office building in the U.S. to be built and owned by a labor union. By 1977, this famous building was declared a landmark and a popular auditorium inside hosted many famous shows in the local area. Four years after this show, in 1986, this landmark of a building was shut down to make room for the building of the Society Center as city officials set to make a more "modern" Cleveland. This Dead Kennedys show his significant not only for the history of American punk rock but the city of Cleveland as well.
Iggy Pop @ The Agora Ballroom: March 21, 1977
There aren't many years in music history more significant than 1977 and certainly aren't many front men in music history more admired, aped, and notorious as Iggy Pop. When I was first getting into punk and metal my Aunt Joanne would always talk about the time she saw Iggy at the Agora in 1977. She was loaded on uppers and a friend of hers who worked at the Agora suggested that they go, probably to score more drugs or something sleazy like that. Although my Aunt was a Bowie fan (Iggy also put out "The Idiot" in '77 and was in the midst of a string of collaboration albums with Bowie), she had only heard of Iggy in passing. At this particular performance, as with all on this tour, fans were treated to Iggy performing with Bowie on stage and (if you weren't too loaded) you witnessed one of the most memorable tours in rock history. "He was crazy, I remember he was a fucking lunatic just running around and making everyone freak out." I wish Iggy would have played "China Girl" at this show but I can only imagine the intensity and raw power (no pun intended) of seeing the master in his prime.
Set List
- 1 Raw Power 04:50
- 2 T.V. Eye 04:13
- 3 Dirt 05:13
- 4 1969 03:01
- 5 Turn Blue 06:58
- 6 Funtime 03:02
- 7 Gimme Danger 04:34
- 8 No Fun 03:14
- 9 Sister Midnight 03:57
- 10 I Need Somebody 04:43
- 11 Search and Destroy 03:34
- 12 I Wanna Be Your Dog 04:42
New Order @ Blossom Music Center: July 5, 1989
In 1989 New Order could do absolutely no wrong. Their previous LP "Substance" was certified platinum and their brand of synth pop music was being duplicated by nearly every band on the pop charts in the UK and abroad. Imagine if Katy Perry were one thousand times more popular than she is now and didn't make music that was awful, that's pretty much the vibe of a New Order show in 1989 in my mind. Good times, a loose vibe, dancing, maybe some bad decisions...this would have been a good time for sure. New Order is forever one of my favorite bands from the 80s and although seeing Ian Curtis and Joy Division would be incredible, I'd pass it up on my time machine much like I pass over Joy Division for New Order when I go to the record collection.
Here's the Full Set:
Set List