Concert Time Machine

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the possibility of time travel and what events I would attend if I had the opportunity.  It should come as no surprise that what always pops into my mind first is a list of concerts that I would do just about anything to go back and attend.  Here is a list of my top five time machine concert stops (and a few runner-ups):

1. The Grateful Dead at the Fillmore West, February 27-March 2, 1969:  The height of psychedelic Dead. In San Francisco. In 1969.  Jesus, what I would give.  This would be (without question) the first stop on my time machine tour.

2. Band of Gypsys at the Fillmore East, December 31, 1969-January 2, 1970:  Jimi Hendrix at his creative peak.  Seeing Hendrix perform the version of “Machine Gun” that ended up on the Band of Gypsys album is almost too much to even ponder.  The stuff dreams are made of.

3. The Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East, February 11-14, 1970:  This is strategic because not only is this a killer Dead run but it also had the original lineup of the Allman Brothers Band opening each show.  3 nights of the Dead and the ABB (with Duane Allman) would be about as good as it gets.  Duane and Gregg even sit in with the Dead on 2/11 for “Dark Star” and “Turn on Your Lovelight”.

4. Pink Floyd at the Fillmore West, April 29, 1970: This is one of the best known shows (for good reason) from the tour in support of the album Atom Heart Mother.  This is a killer show and definitely has some of the most psychedelic music Pink Floyd ever made (which is really saying something).

5. Led Zeppelin at San Diego Sports Arena, March 14, 1975:  Number 5 is a tough call as there are so many other shows that I could list.  However, this one, which was on the Physical Graffiti tour, has to be it.  I just don’t think I could pass up the opportunity to see Zeppelin on tour in support of one of my all time favorite albums.

Honorable mention:

The Allman Brothers Band at the Warehouse in New Orleans, March 20, 1971:  Guitar playing the likes of which the world will never see again.

The Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden, July, 24-26, 1972: In support of Exile on Main Street. 

Cream at Winterland Ballroom, March 10, 1968:  This really doesn’t require an explanation.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience at Winterland Ballroom, October 10-12, 1968: Neither does this.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Fillmore East, March 6-7, 1970:  Good old Neil in the period where he was playing killer electric and acoustic sets.

Rush at the Forum, Montreal, March 27, 1981: In support of Moving Pictures.  Just killer stuff.

So who would you want to see if you go could back in time and catch anyone?  Inquiring minds want to know…