The Show is the Thing
Editor’s note: In 2009 Jupiter Index was just 10 years old. We are rerunning the special replies of many artists who told us what memorable and top ten shows they attended, and in most cases what made the music special for them. These interviews were reduced due to space.
Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay)
Not in any order:
1. Depeche Mode Violator Tour
(First time seeing them live. They have always been great about the visual esthetic and the music from that record was fantastic. And Nitzer Ebb opened!)
2. U2 Achtung Baby Tour
(Small 4000 seat civic center in Lakeland, FL. The only indoor show of that tour. The band rehearsed there for two weeks prior to that show. And The Pixies opened!)
3. Daniel Lanois @ Exit-In Nashville.
(He was touring in support of his, "Shine," record. Great album/ great performance.)
4. Sting @ Austin, TX.
(Mercury Falling Tour... Jars opened that night and got a standing ovation from the crowd of 22,000! Made his performance that much better.)
5. Jellyfish @ American Theater. St. Louis, MO
(They opened for Tears for Fears. I had only heard one song... They stole the show!)
6. Rush@ Worchester Centrum, MA
(Hold Your Fire Tour. Just a brilliant night of well used lasers and math rock)
7. The Cure @ Orlando Arena, FL.
(The Wish Tour. They know how to make an arena feel intimate and introspective. Great lighting and stage design.)
8. Toad the Wet Sprocket with The Grays @ 321 Performance Hall, Nashville,TN.
(Toad was supporting their Dulcinea record, and the Grays were just out of this world amazing.)
9. Crowded House @ The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
(They played EVERY song I wanted to hear!)
10. Sarah McLachlan @ TPAC
(Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Tour. Sarah was perfect.. The songs came across so artful and soulful and she had a great band and lighting design.)
Guy Forsyth (Blues artist)
1. Tom Waits. I had waited almost 15 years to see him, so it had to be good. It was. In his own way Tom Waits = Chuck Berry.
2. John Hammond Jr. This show is why I am a musician today. Just raw country delta blues from one man, a national guitar and a harmonica, Hammond showed me what it meant to mean it.
3. The Violent Femmes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Living Colour. This was in 85-86 and all three bands had something to prove, each punching out gigawatt performances just to keep up with the next.
4. B.B. King, Albert King. A friend of mine was playing keys in Albert King's pick up band, and he walked off stage when Albert berated his players for not knowing a song they had not rehearsed. The awkward silence of the audience was instantly dispelled by B.B., the King we all hope we deserve.
5. Lucinda Williams. She almost seemed embarrassed to be on the Antone's stage back in 1999, but when her mouth opened she sang perfect blue haikus, sweet and tart as the plums you were probably going to have for breakfast.
6. John Mooney, Madigans in New Orleans. Son House meets Professor Longhair, and a chain of world-class talent sat in.
7. Ray Charles, Irma Thomas & Earl King, Danny Gatton, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Fliers, Ben Harper, Bobby Blue Bland, B.B. King, Al Green and Robert Jr. Lockwood for God sakes. This was the Peer Rhythm 'n' Blues fest in 1994, and I got to open the show and see the rest from the side of the stage. I felt like I was on Mt. Olympus.
8. The Asylum Street Spankers. I was in this band, but no one on stage or off knew what was going to happen when the shows at The Electric Lounge kicked off. It was the perfect blend of talent, inspiration and chaos, and all performed on acoustic instruments with no amplification to a wrapped crowd of hundreds. I've never seen anything like it.
9. The Beat Farmers. It was inflatable sheep and Midwest soul. Country Dick Montana died wile performing on stage a few years after I last saw him. With shows like this I am amazed he lasted as long as he did. Leave nothing left but one hell of a story.
10. Richard Thompson, Cactus Cafe. If I could claim to be from anywhere, I would like to be from where he's from.
Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay)
Not in any order:
1. Depeche Mode Violator Tour
(First time seeing them live. They have always been great about the visual esthetic and the music from that record was fantastic. And Nitzer Ebb opened!)
2. U2 Achtung Baby Tour
(Small 4000 seat civic center in Lakeland, FL. The only indoor show of that tour. The band rehearsed there for two weeks prior to that show. And The Pixies opened!)
3. Daniel Lanois @ Exit-In Nashville.
(He was touring in support of his, "Shine," record. Great album/ great performance.)
4. Sting @ Austin, TX.
(Mercury Falling Tour... Jars opened that night and got a standing ovation from the crowd of 22,000! Made his performance that much better.)
5. Jellyfish @ American Theater. St. Louis, MO
(They opened for Tears for Fears. I had only heard one song... They stole the show!)
6. Rush@ Worchester Centrum, MA
(Hold Your Fire Tour. Just a brilliant night of well used lasers and math rock)
7. The Cure @ Orlando Arena, FL.
(The Wish Tour. They know how to make an arena feel intimate and introspective. Great lighting and stage design.)
8. Toad the Wet Sprocket with The Grays @ 321 Performance Hall, Nashville,TN.
(Toad was supporting their Dulcinea record, and the Grays were just out of this world amazing.)
9. Crowded House @ The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
(They played EVERY song I wanted to hear!)
10. Sarah McLachlan @ TPAC
(Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Tour. Sarah was perfect.. The songs came across so artful and soulful and she had a great band and lighting design.)
Guy Forsyth (Blues artist)
1. Tom Waits. I had waited almost 15 years to see him, so it had to be good. It was. In his own way Tom Waits = Chuck Berry.
2. John Hammond Jr. This show is why I am a musician today. Just raw country delta blues from one man, a national guitar and a harmonica, Hammond showed me what it meant to mean it.
3. The Violent Femmes, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Living Colour. This was in 85-86 and all three bands had something to prove, each punching out gigawatt performances just to keep up with the next.
4. B.B. King, Albert King. A friend of mine was playing keys in Albert King's pick up band, and he walked off stage when Albert berated his players for not knowing a song they had not rehearsed. The awkward silence of the audience was instantly dispelled by B.B., the King we all hope we deserve.
5. Lucinda Williams. She almost seemed embarrassed to be on the Antone's stage back in 1999, but when her mouth opened she sang perfect blue haikus, sweet and tart as the plums you were probably going to have for breakfast.
6. John Mooney, Madigans in New Orleans. Son House meets Professor Longhair, and a chain of world-class talent sat in.
7. Ray Charles, Irma Thomas & Earl King, Danny Gatton, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Fliers, Ben Harper, Bobby Blue Bland, B.B. King, Al Green and Robert Jr. Lockwood for God sakes. This was the Peer Rhythm 'n' Blues fest in 1994, and I got to open the show and see the rest from the side of the stage. I felt like I was on Mt. Olympus.
8. The Asylum Street Spankers. I was in this band, but no one on stage or off knew what was going to happen when the shows at The Electric Lounge kicked off. It was the perfect blend of talent, inspiration and chaos, and all performed on acoustic instruments with no amplification to a wrapped crowd of hundreds. I've never seen anything like it.
9. The Beat Farmers. It was inflatable sheep and Midwest soul. Country Dick Montana died wile performing on stage a few years after I last saw him. With shows like this I am amazed he lasted as long as he did. Leave nothing left but one hell of a story.
10. Richard Thompson, Cactus Cafe. If I could claim to be from anywhere, I would like to be from where he's from.
