(1) Johnny Cash with June Carter, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins, Wisconsin State Fair, August 1969
In 1969, Johnny Cash was a commercially viable legend, topping the charts with “A Boy Named Sue.” But he left the stage without doing that song, disappointing fans like then-9-year-old Tom Crawford, now general manager of WMSE-FM. “So he comes back out and says, ‘This is my new
hit record.’” It was the ultimate encore.
(2) U2, The Palms, April 15, 1981
On its first U.S. tour, the Irish quartet was still playing clubs, giving collegian Rich Menning – now owner of Atomic Records – a close-up look and his pick for most memorable show. The scrappy, intense performance showed that U2 had the goods to go big-time.
(3) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Uptown Theater, Oct. 2, 1975
In 1975, Bruce Springsteen made the covers of Newsweekand Timein the very same week. He also played the Uptown twice in one night. “There was a bomb threat called in,” says Bob Reitman, at the time a WQFM DJ and the evening’s emcee. Police evacuated the theater, but the Boss and company returned at midnight to give a legendary performance since bootlegged as The Bomb Scare Show.
(4) Bob Marley, Performing Arts Center, May 29, 1978
Twenty years ago, Peter Jest didn’t even know who Bob Marley was when he decided to check out the reggae legend’s performance. The concert was so incredible, the future owner of Shank Hall bought Marley’s latest record, Kaya, the next day. He probably wasn’t the only one.
(5) Nick Lowe, Shank Hall, Sept. 28, 2007
Englishman Nick Lowe has been a pub-rocker, a countrypolitan cat and a new wave godfather. But in his last Milwaukee gig, he was just a bloke with an acoustic guitar. A singer/songwriter show extraordinaire. Or, as attendee and longtime rock photographer Jim Herrington puts it, “He has the facility to make you shut up and listen.”
(6) Fugazi, The Rave, Nov. 12, 1998
The punk rock legends gave fans value for money – this show cost less than two beers at the venue’s bar – and go-for-broke power. “They were commanding the audience,” says Davey von Bohlen, whose band at the time, the Promise Ring, was an opening act. “The vibe was overwhelming.”
(7) Yes, MECCA Arena, Aug. 16, 1976
Back then, Yes had mystic visions, 20-minute songs and lots of money. This last factor allowed the prog-rock supergroup to dazzle a large crowd with an elaborate stage set. “It was a spectacle,” says Jay Tiller, member of the Milwaukee group Couch Flambeau.
(8) Nirvana, The Unicorn, April 8, 1990
In 1991, Nirvana would become the biggest thing in rock with its breakthrough album Nevermind, but a year earlier was still touring in a van. This was literally an underground concert: The Unicorn was a basement venue. But this supremely talented and acidic alt-rock power trio put
on a show that even its members would recall years later.
(9) Pearl Jam, Marcus Amphitheater (Summerfest), July 8 and 9, 1995
The alt-rock band had already cancelled a 1994 tour that included a Summerfest gig, due to concern about high markups by ticket sellers, and this show wasn’t confirmed until five days beforehand. The result was a palpable release of uncaged energy. “They were ready for it and the crowd was ready for it,” recalls Bob Babisch, Summerfest’s longtime vice president of entertainment.
(10) Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, The Winter Dance Party,George Devine’s Million Dollar Ballroom, Jan. 23, 1959
Less than two weeks before the tragic plane crash in Iowa killed them, Holly, Valens and the Big Bopper gave Milwaukeeans an unforgettable rave-up of classic ’50s rock ’n’ roll.
