My Top Ten Favorite Concerts

After watching the awesome performance put on by Prince last nite at the Super Bowl I started to think about my favorite concerts . I have seen well over 150 shows for close to 20 years and so I had a hard time coming up with only 10. A lot of the artists on this list I have seen more than once. In some cases more than 10 or so times. Here is my list and some of my sketchy memories of these shows:

10. Stryper--In God We Trust Tour--AJ Palumbo Center--Pittsburgh, Pa.--1989--You never really forget your first and this was my first rock show. I loved these guys. They made great music with a great message and they rocked. Hurricane opened up for them and I remember when I heard that first power cord I thought my head would explode. It was awesome!!!!

9. R.E.M.--The UP Tour--AJ Palumbo Center--Pittsburgh, Pa.--2005--These guys were past the time of selling gizzillions of records but they never stopped making great albums. This show proved what true professionals do. The "One I Love" sounded so good I thought they were just playing the record. It was that good.

8. Dick Dale--The Fall Tour--The Rex Theatre--Pittsburgh, Pa.--2006--The king of surf music and one of the greatest guitar players I have ever seen. I am lucky my bud John Merriman introduced me to him. This was the first time I ever saw Mr. Dale play and I can humbly say I am proud to be a full fledged Dick Head now.

7. Boston--The Corporate America Tour--Blossom Music Center--Cleveland, Ohio--2003--This is one of the greatest arena bands of all time and any time they go out on the road it is a special treat. 3 hour shows of one hit after another. This nite in Cleveland my brother and I were 5th row center with about 13,000 other people. It is safe to say the roof was blown off the dump.

6. Motley Crue--Dr. Feelgood Tour--Civic Arena--Pittsburgh, Pa.--1989--This show was special because it was the Crue's last show of the 1980's. That alone made it a kicking show. More than that though was the big sound, big stage, big lights and the drum kit that hung from the ceiling and went out over the crowd. Where are where are those types of shows now?

5. Kiss--Alive and Worldwide Tour--Mellon Arena--Pittsburgh, Pa.--1996--The reunion of my childhood idols. I was petrified they were not going to live up to the image I had in my head from when I was a kid. They didn't...They were even better!!!! It was a dream come true to see the made up heroes come to life and retake their throne as the best show in the land. I remember losing my voice 3 songs into it. I have the show on cassette and you can hear me screaming and then nothing. It is classic.

4. Bruce Springsteen--The Rising Tour--PNC Park--Pittsburgh, Pa.--2004--The Boss' first stadium tour since 1984. Wow! is the only expression you can use. 3 hours and 45 minutes of just classic tunes. I recommend everyone get a chance to see a stadium full of people dancing to "Dancing in The Dark". It was a special summer nite in a stadium that has the skyline of Pittsburgh in the background. Truly a great spectacle.

3. The Rolling Stones--The Bigger Bang Tour--PNC Park--Pittsburgh, Pa.--2005--The world's greatest rock and roll band they are. They sock so much money into their show. They give their fans their money's worth. I went to the show with my 62 year old dad and 58 year old mom. They had as much fun as I did. Need I say more?

2. Prince--The Hits 4ever tour--Mellon Arena--Pittsburgh, Pa.--2003--After last nite's performance I thought about how great the Purple one is and how lucky I was to see him. Seventh row for this magical performance. One great song after the other. Before you know it, the show is over and you are depressed because you don't want to go out of the door and admit that the journey you just took is over.

1. Paul Mccartney--The US Tour--Wachovia Center--Philadelphia, Pa.--2005--Simply put the greatest of all time. I had seen him in Cleveland 2 years earlier and thought it couldn't get any better. I was dead wrong. Almost 4 hours and 36 songs played. It is something special to say you are a witness to history. My brother and I have made a promise that wherever he comes or goes we will find a way to be there. To Ryan and Kevin, to love him and his music is one thing, to see him takes it to a whole new level. I hope and pray that when he goes out again that we all make the same pact and travel to see the greatest. I would love to share those memories with you. It changes you inside.