As I enter year 58 in this funky world we live in, a look back on the music acts I've been fortunate to see over the years. I was initially going to rank them but there would be too many in first place so we'll just list them alphabetically with comments. My pea brain is probably missing a few but here goes:
B.B. King
He passed away not too long after this show but was fortunate to see him.
Black Sabbath
My first concert ever and unfortunately it was Black Sabbath with no Ozzy (or Ronnie James Dio). They overdosed with the satanic light show to make up for the bad music. Great people watching in the arena, however. Lots of leather.
Blues Traveler
I've seen them multiple times and while they never disappointed in putting on a great show, they did seem to jump the shark once the bass player passed.
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Also seen multiple times and never disappointed. The pride of Michigan music.
Damn Yankees
A supergroup plucked from Styx, Night Ranger and the Amboy Dukes, their songs were pretty cliche but the concert was entertaining.
Dave Matthews Band
I saw the band during their peak. Violins, trumpets and saxophones within the band are always entertaining. Good show except for the girl next to me had loud girl scream going too much.
Dickey Betts Band
While a great guitarist and had some outstanding songs with the Allman Brothers, Betts lost points with me during the show when he checked his watch during a song.
Doobie Brothers
The band that is seemingly always on tour but never disappoints with their catalog.
Eddie Money
The opener at Pine Knob for many years regardless if he had an album out of not, Money did not disappoint. You find out he has a few more songs than "two tickets to paradise."
ELO
I saw them in recent years when they came back on the road after a long hiatus. With the orchestra in tow, they nailed all the songs. The only gripe I had were the morons around me with their damn cell phones out taping it rather than watching. I hoped they enjoyed tape of me yelling behind them.
Eric Clapton
Not sure if this were his drug relapse years (show was in the late 80's) or not but he put on a great show.
Fleetwood Mac
A reunion tour that sounded great but the band seemed to going through the motions, getting the songs over.
Genesis
I saw them on their most recent tour. Phil Collins' son played drums as Phil can no longer but he still has an outstanding voice. Great show, even with the 20 minute 'prog' songs.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Slide guitar with a splash of saxophone; great show and great entertainer.
Greta Van Fleet
The youngsters from Frankenmuth rocked the Fillmore in Detroit.
J. Geils Band
The original rapper, Peter Wolf, and the best harmonica player out there, Magic Dick, is all you need for an entertaining evening.
James Wailin'
I saw Wailin' at a small venue in Pontiac back in the 90's. Look him up on the music import sites.
Joe Cocker
Cocker opened up for The Police and he was exactly as you would expect. The incredible voice, the background singers rocking it and Cocker gyrating just like John Belushi impersonated him back in the 70's.
Joe Walsh/The James Gang
A James Gang reunion tour, Walsh did not disappoint playing the old James Gang catalog with a few of his solo songs splashed in.
Judas Priest
Seen multiple times, Rob Halford is quite the entertainer and can scream with the best of them.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
An underrated band, worth checking out if they come through town.
Kid Rock
Not a big fan but had to see it once. He's making a living; we'll leave it at that. Maybe he and Corey Feldman can tour together...
Lake Street Dive
Rachael Price has the most beautiful voice out there, bar none.
Lenny Kravitz
Always a good story, friends and I were watching the show right behind the sound board at Pine Knob. I had to take a whiz. After finishing my business, I came back to my seat, asked my friends if I missed anything. It turns out Kravitz walked down the aisle, onto the soundboard and was right in front of our seats. The story of my life.
Norah Jones
A close second to Rachael Price in terms of beautiful voices.
Paul Rodgers
He played as part of the Art festival in Pontiac one year and played like he was playing in front of 20,000 versus 2,000. Great show.
Pearl Jam
Very fortunate to see the "Vet Man." He was drinking some wine, telling some great stories and rocking the place.
Peter Gabriel
Speaking of story telling, Gabriel's pre-song talk was longer than the actual songs themselves. Long intros aside, the music was outstanding.
Ratdog
The closest I've came to seeing the Grateful Dead as the band had a few former members. As with the Grateful Dead songs, you can go to the bathroom, get a soda, come back to your seat and the same song when you left is still playing,
Robert Cray
I saw him open up for Eric Clapton and also by himself at a small venue in Indianapolis. Very underrated bluesman.
Roger Waters
The closest I've came to seeing Pink Floyd. Waters likes his political talk but talk aside, a very entertaining show. My first "in the round" experience.
Rush
The beginning of Tom Sawyer gives me goose bumps listening to it on the radio, imagine starting a concert off with that drum beat. Great show.
Samantha Fish
Friend Keith M. got me hooked on Fish (a play on words there) and have seen her a few times. This petite blond from Kansas City can pluck the guitar with vengeance.
Sammy Hagar
The ageless wonder, Hagar never fails in entertaining (which swigging some tequila).
Santana
It rained the entire show but he played for 3+ hours regardless, and rocked. Some fun mud slide watching on the hill that night at Pine Knob.
Steely Dan
Seen multiple times, the consummate studio band with so many hits that never seemed to tour finally did so in the 90's; and did not disappoint.
Steve Miller Band
As with the Doobie Brothers, Miller is seemingly always on tour but never disappoints with his catalog.
Steve Winwood
I saw him on a tour about eight years ago. He played a good portion of his catalog from Traffic, Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith and solo work. The white Ray Charles was entertaining.
Stevie Wonder
A tour to play "Songs in the Key of Life" in it's entirety, besides the hour delay to wait for the crowd to arrive due to a snow storm that came out of nowhere in the area, the show was outstanding with about 20 people in the band.
Ted Nugent
Political talk aside, Ted is never going to take a night off in entertaining the masses.
Tedeschi Truck Band
Probably a third behind Rachael Price and Norah Jones, Susan Tedeschi has a beautiful voice.
The Allman Brothers Band
As with the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers like their long songs. I enjoyed the red Solo cups on Gregg Allman's keyboard as he wailed away at Midnight Rider.
The Black Crowes
A band that seemingly has disappeared, they put on a great show.
The Police
They did not disappoint as they hit pretty much all of their catalog.
The Romantics
My first Pine Knob experience, the band from Detroit had the energy and a good portion of my high school on the hill.
Three Dog Night
While I love their songs, the band in later years may not have aged the best. I saw them at a BBQ fest in Illinois and it was a train wreck with band members forgetting the words.
Three Legged Dog/Herazz/Leechbombs
I'm lumping my garage bands in one.
Three Legged Dog put on some strong performances but were forced to disband when a founding member moved away.
I saw Herazz, Milford's metal band, at a few garages. They weren't too bad; cliche 80's metal. Below is a link to some songs.
As far as the Leechbombs, they finally learned how to finish songs (kind of). They have since disbanded, whereabouts unknown.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I saw them three times, the third a blur but the two that were not were outstanding. Petty would be top five if I were to rank.
Van Halen
I saw them for the '1984' album tour. Seeing Eddie Van Halen play was definitely worth the price of admission (which was probably $20 at the time). David Lee Roth can be a cheeseball but he plays the lead man role well.
Yes
I saw them as part of the '90125' album tour. They would probably be number one if I needed to pick one from this list. They were entertaining and hit every song incredibly well.
ZZ Top
Spinning guitars in unison and some great southern rock. Sorry we lost Dusty Hill a few years back.
