The soon-to-be-demolished Giants Stadium wasn’t the best place in the world to see a rock concert. Many seats are extremely far from the stage and the sound sucks unless you are really close to a speaker stack. That being said, this monstrosity of a venue will always hold a special place in my heart as I saw my first two concerts there way back in 1984 and 1985.
For this week’s B List, we wanted to take a look at the ten most memorable concerts in the stadium’s history. Let’s see what we came up with…
10. Grateful Dead – June 17, 1991
On September 2, 1978; the Grateful Dead played their first of many concerts at Giants Stadium – a relationship that would last until the jam legend’s last tour in 1995. Of all the shows the Dead threw down in East Rutherford, the one from 6/17/91 stands out thanks to the surprising Eyes of the World opener and all sorts of Dark Star teases.
READ ON for nine more memorable Giants Stadium concerts…
Live Earth played the center of the music world for more than 24 hours this weekend. While we can’t really say if the concerts saved the world — actually, we can say it: they didn’t – we did enjoy much of the music. And since this blog is about music, and not, say, harmful greenhouse gases, that’s cool with us.
We’ll have a full non-Al Gore batch of links on the heels of this special edition, but for now, let’s take one last look at what people are saying about Live Earth:
Here’s the way I see it: Various webcasts and television channels brought us a constant stream of top-drawer artists rocking crowds across continents and oceans. How on (live) Earth could Al Gore’s latest invention be anything but entertaining for the average viewer? Every time I turned back to it someone relatively cool straddled the stage. The artists may not have given their best performances to date (understatement of the year), yet I still enjoyed the day/night in toto.
That’s not to say I understood the point of this grandiose endeavor. Why would you fly hundreds of artists more than 220,000 miles around the world to make an old point everyone’s been hearing already for years? Will Lenny Kravitz and his directive of letting love rule really get me to take a shorter shower? Still, a global concert’s a global concert, and I ain’t complaining.
So read on after the jump for a slew of videos from yesterday’s intergalactic, 24-hour Live Earth concert, and check out what you may have missed. But before you do that, watch this backstage interview with the specially re-united Spinal Tap — did Rob Reiner just say Al Gore invented The Tap Reunion?
After months of intense planning, Al Gore’s Live Earth invention is set to begin tonight at 9 pm Eastern. The Police, Dave Matthews Band, Roger Waters, and Smashing Pumpkins are slated to headline Live Earth New Jersey. If you can’t make it to one of the event sites, you won’t have a problem tuning in. Live Earth programming will be taking over a number of television and radio networks, and MSN will provide full coverage of the whole event starting at 9.
If the Live Earth lineup is too commercial for ya, check out the High Sierra Music Festival webcast all weekend long. Otherwise, link these:
Only best wishes for Mark Karan, who has a big fight ahead of him
Eddie Vedder is working on new material for the Into The Wild soundtrack
Former Guns N Roses bass player Duff McKagan is a savvy businessman
The newly reunited Smashing Pumpkins have given the Live Music Archive permission to store their live shows, and they’ve reiterated that taping is allowed at all of their concerts. In the five days since Saturday’s decision, 55 Pumpkins shows have been uploaded to the LMArchive. Largehearted Boy has done a nice job of compiling the best of what’s been upped thus far. I’d love to see more bands follow their lead ::cough:: Pearl Jam, Phish, Neil Young ::cough::
Mr. Girl Talk Goes to Washington: Gregg Gillis sat down for a lunch meeting with Congressman Mike Doyle to discuss the copyright issues that have made it difficult for Girl Talk to sell records. Doyle, who represents Gillis’ hometown of Pittsburgh, is trying to figure out a way for mash-up artists to practice their art without getting sued. While Gillis and Doyle face an uphill battle against the fat wallets of the major labels, it’s good to see a politician trying to actually understand all sides of an issue. So what do you think? Should Girl Talk be allowed to use other artists’ copyrighted material outside the live setting, for profit?
Strong reviews for Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks’ Soul Stew Revival
When Al Gore invented the upcoming 24-hour Live Earth concert event, many people questioned whether he’d fulfill his ambition of putting a band on every continent. Can you actually arrange for a band to fly or sail in and out of heady Antarctica in July, where its winter and shit is frozen solid?
No chance for a big field of mud here
The answer, according to the British Antarctic Survey, is no. But have no fear, Gorebrahh, the show must go on, even if the chicks are freezing their tits off:
But all was not lost. BAS officials told Gore that a band was already in place on the South Pole. BAS press representative Linda Capper told blogger Tim Slagle, “We have a house band — five of our science team. They are very good indie rock-folk fusion. The remaining 17 will be the audience on location.”
Good fucking lord. Even in Antarctica you can’t escape the indie rock-folk fusion trend that’s been taking popular music by storm. Will we see a Devendra Banhart sit-in? Play whatcha want, Scientist, but at least gimme an It’s Ice encore.
(By the way, if you read through the comments section of that Antarctica article, you’ll find this gem: “AL GORE IS GAY ———————————–: I saw him sucking Bill Clinton’s cock on a tour of the White House in ’96! Fucking funny shit!”)
Lollapalooza brings some big acts to Chicago every year, but does the festival wield a double-edged sword? Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jim DeRogatis takes a look at how performers signing Lollapalooza’s exclusive contracts actually hurts the city’s sheds. Also, buried within this piece is the news that Jam Productions plans to open a new venue in Hoffman Estates next summer.
Let’s check in on some other news and interesting links on the world wide web:
M. Ward played Chinese Translation on Conan last week with fellow beloved indie heroes Neko Case, MMJ’s Jim James, Kelly Hogan, Mike Coykendall, Than Luu, & Adam Selzer
As is our Monday custom, let’s take a look at some setlists from the weekend, including but not limited to Arcade Fire in Chicago, Steely Dan, Brock Butler, Tool, Damien Rice, Disco Biscuits, The Sea & Cake, ZZ Top and many more…
Spinal Tap will make its triumphant return to the stage as part of inventor Al Gore’s inaugural Live Earth concert event on July 7th. Original members Nigel Tufnel, David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls will look to be fitted like a flesh tuxedo as they rock all the Big Bottoms at Wembley Stadium in London.
This Is Spinal Tap director Rob Reiner explained Spinal Tap’s involvement:
“They’re not that environmentally conscious, but they’ve heard of global warming,” Reiner says of Spinal Tap’s often clueless members. “Nigel thought it was just because he was wearing too much clothing — that if he just took his jacket off it would be cooler.”
As an added bonus the boys will be recording the aptly named single Warmer Than Hell. Reiner gives us a little preview of the lyrics: “The devil went to Devon, it felt like the fourth degree / He said, ‘Is it hot in here, or is it only me?’”
Spinal Tap played and recorded new material in 1992 for the Break Like The Wind album, so this isn’t the first reunion for the Brits. Although we fear for the unfortunate and yet unnamed soul who will be stepping in to play drums.
Al Gore’s been quite successful so far in inventing a seven-continent, 24-hour rock concert, and today he’s sticking it to Hidden Track. A month ago we relayed a reliable double-sourced rumor that Live Earth would take place at Shea Stadium, and our sources maintain that was the case. Only today, the Live Earth folks kicked us in the shins and said it will set up shop at Giants Stadium. Sorry ’bout that.
The U.S. leg taking place at the Meadowlands in good ol’ Jets Stadium will feature The Police, Roger Waters, Smashing Pumpkins, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Alicia Keys, Fall Out Boy, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, Ludacris, Melissa Etheridge, Rihanna, AFI, and Akon. A couple stinkers, but that’s actually a pretty sweet lineup. Pink Floyd non-re-reunion?
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 16 and will be available at livenation.com/liveearth or by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171. All ticket information is available at LiveEarth.MSN.com. All proceeds will go to The Alliance for Climate Protection and other international NGOs.
The London leg of Live Earth was also announced today, and the lineup includes Genesis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Beastie Boys, Corinne Bailey Rae, Madonna, Duran Duran and many more. Click here for more details on the Wembley scene.
Wilco has announced some North American dates in June at some of the best venues in the country. The Pines in Northampton is one of the coolest places I’ve ever seen a concert outdoors. The Count Basie Theater in Red Bank is another great room: They don’t often have rock shows at the newly restored theater that was built in 1926. Check out the dates, and check out today’s batch o’ links:
The 2007 Newport Folk Festival has an eclectic lineup including the Allman Brothers Band, Rage’s Tom Morello, Grace Potter, and Alison Krauss
For the techies in the crowd here is the inside story of the production of Phish’s Colorado ’88
The Roots, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Ky-Mani Marley are among the artists playing this year’s Reggae on the River
Another Allman Brothers Band run at the Beacon Theater comes to a close this weekend. It seems like just yesterday that the 78-show homestand started. The band took a while to warm up, but all the recent reports have been outstanding. It should be interesting to see where they play next year, with the Beacon closed for renovations. Showing no signs of fatigue, the ABB also announced summer tour dates, including a number of shows with RatDog.
Page McConnell returns to the stage at noon today to perform a set for WXPN’s World Cafe series. I saw McConnell’s set at moe.down in August and had my interest piqued, but I wasn’t immediately drawn in by the tunes. Some of them have that post-Coventry gloom-and-doom feel, which I just don’t need to hear about anymore.
That being said, I recently received a copy of Page’s self-titled album and it flat out rocks. Songs such as Heavy Rotation and Back In The Basement are long and jammed out bolstered by the bass playing of Mike Gordon. Page uses a vast array of keyboards, pianos, and synthesizers to create a plethera of amazing sounds throughout the release. I think the awesomeness of this album will catch many fans by surprise.
Look for more about the album and the music soon, as both Ace and I will be attending McConnell’s showcase gig on Wednesday.
The Allman Brothers Band has announced a new archival release featuring the original lineup
As if there weren’t enough unbelievable reunions happening this summer, we found a very interesting item from the Rush and Molloy gossip column in Wednesday’s New York Daily News. I think it just moved:
We’re going to set up our tent tonight to get tix for Al Gore’s 100-act, 24-hour worldwide concert on July 7 to fight global warming: A source says the Police, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd – including Roger Waters, who’s refused for years to play with his former bandmates – have signed up.
While I compose myself and change my shorts, check out the following links:
Backstage notes from Monday’s R&R Hall of Fame induction ceremony
We’ve got a juicy rumor that seems to be making the jump to fact. A number of industry sources have indicated to us that the North American segment of the Live Earth festival will be held at Shea Stadium in Flushing, Queens.
Hey, Gore, Shea is a shithole. Perhaps the organizers were feeling a bit of nostalgia, as the home of the Mets will be closing after the 2008 baseball season.
Aside from the word of our sources, here’s another clue: The Mets will be away from the park from June 29th to July 11th, giving the organizers and field crew plenty of time to assemble and take down the stage and production elements.
The 07/07/07 Live Earth is a 24-hour festival billed as the “The Concert for a Climate in Distress.” Al Gore, the main spokeperson for the worldwide event, says it will take place at seven separate locations, each one on a different continent. Confirmed locations include London’s Hyde Park, Johannesburg, Shanghai, and Sydney. The venue in Antarctica has yet to be announced, but I have a feeling that will be an easy ticket no matter at which igloo the bands play.
The performers that have been announced at press time are:
* AFI * Akon * The Black Eyed Peas * Bloc Party * Bon Jovi * Corrine Bailey Rae * Damien Rice * Duran Duran * Enrique Iglesias * Fall Out Boy * Faith Hill * Foo Fighters * Genesis * John Mayer * John Legend * Kanye West * Keane * Kelly Clarkson * Kenna * Korn * Lenny Kravitz * Maná * Melissa Etheridge * Paolo Nutini * Pharrell Williams * The Police * Ray LaMontagne * Red Hot Chili Peppers * Robin Thicke * Sheryl Crow * Snoop Dogg * Snow Patrol * Tim McGraw
Read on for more on the storied history of rock concerts at Shea Stadium…
The lineup so far looks pretty blah, but now three big names have been tossed into the fray: “ROLLING STONE has learned exclusively that we can add three more music heavyweights to the bill: The Police, Genesis and Kanye West.”
Nice exclusive, homes. Oh, hey, we posted that scoop yesterday, and wouldn’t you know it, we even bolded that shit: “Our sources are telling us The Police will make their triumphant return to the United Kingdom that evening.”
Our being totally fucking awesome aside, this is a huge get for Gore & Company that adds a bit of credibility to the 07/07/07 event. Way to go, stud.
