The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Thursday September 3, 2015
Continuing these personal last posts for the summer, here are my top three favorite live concert moments.
3. I’m So Afraid – Fleetwood Mac
Honorable mention: Soul Sacrifice – Santana
When you’re 14 in 1998 and you shop for records at the Goodwill you see a lot of Fleetwood Mac. So you buy it. You listen to it, but it’s not like it thrills you that much, because shit, you usually listen to the Beatles. And Fleetwood Mac aren’t the Beatles.
But as you grow older you appreciate them, especially if you listen to their music as if it’s the first time. “Don’t Stop”? Overdone, but what a catchy ass song. All their hits are well written, even if they’re a bit shiny and perfect.
My dad introduced me to slow, dark, emotive “I’m So Afraid” when the Rumors-era Mac re-united in the ‘90s. Lindsey Buckingham proves how underrated he is as a songwriter and especially guitar player on this brooding track. I’ve seen them perform it several times and it never gets old.
2. Helter Skelter – Paul McCartney
But as you grow older you appreciate them, especially if you listen to their music as if it’s the first time. “Don’t Stop”? Overdone, but what a catchy ass song. All their hits are well written, even if they’re a bit shiny and perfect.
My dad introduced me to slow, dark, emotive “I’m So Afraid” when the Rumors-era Mac re-united in the ‘90s. Lindsey Buckingham proves how underrated he is as a songwriter and especially guitar player on this brooding track. I’ve seen them perform it several times and it never gets old.
2. Helter Skelter – Paul McCartney
McCartney has done a great job keeping his setlist diverse over years and years of touring. He adds and subtracts songs at whim, and with an oeuvre like his you can get away with it.
I never imagined that he’d ever pull out the proto heavy metal “Helter Skelter” but it’s been in his setlist for the last several years. I saw him play it in 2005. He’s aged, sure, but this song loses none of its edge.
1. In the Court of the Crimson King – Greg Lake (with Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band)
I never imagined that he’d ever pull out the proto heavy metal “Helter Skelter” but it’s been in his setlist for the last several years. I saw him play it in 2005. He’s aged, sure, but this song loses none of its edge.
1. In the Court of the Crimson King – Greg Lake (with Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band)
Of all the surprises I’ve seen at live shows nothing will compare to Greg Lake performing King Crimson’s underground rock classic “In the Court of the Crimson King” in all its 8+ minute glory. My dad was pretty cool in the late ‘60s evidently, because he loved the song and album of the same name, and it wasn’t exactly popular. I was with my dad and my brother Chris at the show, and to see him play an obscure song that meant so much to all of us was really special. Kudos to Ringo and kudos to Lake for pulling it out, especially considering that he has so many radio hits he could have played instead.
The song is progressive rock before it even existed, sort of. It was the weirdest thing to come out in 1969 and that says a lot. Poetic lyrics, elements of fantasy, and Robert Fripp’s imaginative mind and out of the box arrangements are highlights
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
The song is progressive rock before it even existed, sort of. It was the weirdest thing to come out in 1969 and that says a lot. Poetic lyrics, elements of fantasy, and Robert Fripp’s imaginative mind and out of the box arrangements are highlights
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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