Cloaca Melodia

Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ.... Setlist : "Flying Dutchman," "Crucify," "Silent All These Years," "Precious Things," "Happy Phantom," "Leather," "Tear In Your Hand," "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin cover), "Me and a Gun," "Winter," "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana cover), "Mother," "China," "Take to the Sky," "Angie" (Rolling Stones cover)

Irving Plaza, New York, NY...... Although Gin Blossoms would go on to having four top 40 hits in the U.S. including one top 10 placement while Del Amitri would only have three top 40 hits (including one in the top 10), when this concert took place Del Amitri was the bigger band and thus the Scottish group was the headliner. Del Amitri released their brilliant debut album in 1985 but it came and went with little notice in the U.S. outside of some college radio stations (including my WICB, at Ithaca College). I loved that release but when no follow-up album came out for years, I figured sadly that they were a one-and-done band. But then, they had a new album in 1989 on a new record label and lo and behold--the band scored their first top 40 hit in "Kiss This Thing Goodbye." It took the label two tries to make it a hit, releasing the song as the album's first single without success but then re-releasing it in the summer of 1990 and taking it to the lower depths of the top 40...

Deena Shoshkes The first time I caught the Rollins Band was at Lollapalooza one year before, but I was sick at that show and ended up napping (!) during the Rollins set. Since then Rollins & Co. had put out their explosive The End of Silence album.   The single "Low Self Opinion" had been a big one at WHTG, and I was very interested in seeing the live show in a proper setting (and with me healthy). The club, right off the corner of 4th and Kingsley in Asbury Park, was packed when I and my girlfriend (who I believe was in attendance only reluctantly) walked in. The Fastlane's bleacher seating was quite full with t-shirt and button-down shirt wearing twentysomethings, and the floor was also crowded in front of the stage as well as by the bars on both ends of the room. Not able to find a seat, we walked back towards the front and staked out some standing space. Naturally, Rollins is a dynamic performer. Not one to leap about the stage, he rather stands rock-solid gripp...

Waterloo Field, Stanhope, NJ.... Lollapalooza II sorry, Mike has not yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!   my credential from the concert  

Fastlane, Asbury Park, NJ Sweet was touring in support of his breakthrough album Girlfriend . He had stopped by WHTG for an interview the day of the concert.   Sweet kept re-tuning his guitar (it felt) endlessly between songs.

Continental Airlines Arena, E. Rutherford, NJ..... Coming hot on the heels of an amazing new album, Achtung Baby , and with much advance chatter about the over-the-top multimedia design of the "Zoo TV" concerts, there was a lot of anticipation for this tour. This was my first time seeing U2 since the Hartford Civic Center in 1985, so I was greatly looking forward to the show. However, it was a Wednesday night, which sucked--I was doing the WHTG morning show, so I had to get up no later than 5am the following morning. But sleep issues notwithstanding, this show was unbelievable. The band performed at their usual inspirational level, and the multitude of video screens around the set provided an intriguing running commentary on and interaction with the music. Bono's preening before the onstage cameras when he came out dressed in his silver lame outfit was almost shocking--here was a guy who had built his reputation on earnestness, and he was suddenly playing the part of a ro...

The Marquee, New York, NY This was one of the coolest Billy Bragg shows I attended, primarily due to some technical difficulties early on in the set. post continues.... Bragg's guitar wasn't coming through properly, so while the problem was being corrected Bragg began to sing one of my favorite pieces of Bragg obscurata: "I Don't Need This Pressure, Ron," an acapella Reagan-era number (the title satirizes the Spandau Ballet U.K. hit "I Don't Need This Pressure On") which I used to play all the time on my college radio station. Frankly, I was shocked and delighted he pulled that one out--I never expected to hear it live! I went to the show with my then-girlfriend Christine.