I thoroughly enjoyed reading the first two installments of Live Shows, A to Z.  Thanks to Nick Jezierny for coming up with the original idea and to JCE for turning it into a series.  Their lists and recollections prompted me to do the same.  I ask forgiveness for getting carried away with some letters and cheating on one or two others.  All venues are/were located in Columbus, Ohio, unless otherwise noted.

A – Ass Ponys, February 3, 1996, Stache’s.  This Cincinnati band has remained one of my favorites even though they are no longer together. My friend Drew once described them as a national treasure and I’ve never seen, heard, nor smelled anything to contradict that assessment.  Honorable mentions: American Music Club, opening for Moe Tucker and Half Japanese, May 6, 1989, Stache’s; Afghan Whigs, April 29, 1996, Newport Music Hall, with Howlin’ Maggie opening.   Alabama Shakes, September 29, 2015, LC Pavilion.  Avett Brothers (see “O”).

B – Butthole Surfers, June 22, 1985 at Stache’s.  This was the first of several times seeing the band.  It was also the first show I ever saw at the legendary Stache’s.  A few years ago, my brother & sister-in-law gave me a T-shirt that read, “I may be old, but I got to see all the cool bands.”  When I wear it, the first band that comes to mind is the Butthole Surfers.  Honorable mentions: Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, April 26, 1989, Newport Music Hall.  I hung around after the show and got to meet Ms. Brickell and get her autograph.  The only thing I had for her to sign was a Taco Bell coupon.  Her added artwork more than compensated for the loss of a complimentary food item.  Black Sabbath, October 7, 1980, St. John Arena, on the Heaven and Hell tour with Ronnie James Dio on vocals.  Black Flag, July 21, 1985, Newport Music Hall.

C – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.  This was my first time seeing Cave in concert and it was a rather life-changing event.  A fan once said, “If Nick Cave decided to start a cult, I’d be the first to join.”  I can kinda understand where she’s coming from.  My first submission to Pencil Storm was a review of this show.  See https://www.pencilstorm.com/blog/2014/6/24/review-nick-cave-and-the-bad-seed-louisvilleky-by-nick-taggart. Honorable mentions: Hayes Carll, February 17, 2017, Stuart’s Opera House, Nelsonville, Ohio.  Carll is an outstanding song writer with a great sense of humor and I love seeing him in concert.

D – Devo, October 18, 1981, Ohio Center.  Honorable mentions: Dead Milkmen, March 8, 1989, Newport.  After getting my shirt pocket torn off while stage diving, I had it signed after the show by guitarist Joe Genaro, aka Joe Jack Talcum.  My friend Drew added the “Dead Milkmen 666.”  Dash Rip Rock, multiple shows!

E –  Steve Earle, July 22, 2017, People’s Bank Theatre, Marietta, Ohio.  Honorable mentions: Earl Rays, a fun band from northeast Ohio from the late 1980s/early 1990s.  Tim Easton, February 10, 2019, Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza, Worthington, et al.

F - Peter Frampton, June 2, 1979, sold-out show at St. John Arena.  This was my first ever live concert.  It’s weird to think of it now, but at the time of this show, Frampton Comes Alive had only been out for three years.  The show opener was The Sweet, best remembered for "Little Willy," "The Ballroom Blitz," and "Fox on the Run", and best forgotten for "Love is Like Oxygen."  Honorable mention: Flyin’ Saucers, June 25, 1999, Bozo Stage, Comfest.

G – Rhiannon Giddens with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, January 19, 2023, Southern Theatre.  My god, but that woman has a beautiful voice!  Honorable mentions: The Godfathers, Newport Music Hall.  Great Plains, multiple shows around Columbus in the mid- to late-80s.             

H – Hoodoo Gurus, Oct. 16, 1991, Newport Music Hall, Columbus.  Honorable Mention: Helix, as the opener for Ratt in 1984 at the Ohio Center.  Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, September 17, 2015, Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  When we picked up our tickets at the box office the afternoon of the show, Emmylou just happened to be nearby walking her dog.  She was extremely gracious when asked for an autograph by two fans from Columbus.

I – Iggy Pop, September 19, 1988, Newport Music Hall.  Honorable mentions: Iron Maiden, opening for Judas Priest in 1982 at the Ohio Center.  Ishkabibble, June 25, 1999, Bozo Stage, Comfest.

J – Judas Priest, September 29, 1982, Ohio Center.  You never forget your first time seeing Rob Halford riding a motorcycle out on stage!  Honorable mentions: Jefferson Starship, Oct. 25, 1981, Veterans Memorial Auditorium.  This was the show where Paul Kantner used his guitar to hit a security guard over the head for being overly brutish with the audience. J. Geils Band, Dec. 13, 1981, Fairgrounds Coliseum.  This show will be remembered for my forgetfulness at locking my car door.  After the concert, I returned to the parking lot to find a stranger passed out in the backseat.

K – The Kinks, March 12, 1985, Veterans Memorial.  Honorable mention: Kansas, July 24, 2010, with the Columbus Symphony for Picnic with the Pops, Columbus Commons.  (editor’s note; Any other A to Z Live Show lists detailing Kansas as a class act will be mercilessly mocked in print by Ricki C.)

L – Nick Lowe, September 24, 2019, Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center, backed by Los Straitjackets.  Honorable mention: Los Lobos, July 14, 2023, The Midland Theatre, Newark, Ohio.

M – Molly Hatchet, March 29, 1981 at the Ohio Center.  Friends of mine drove down to Cincinnati the night before to see Styx.  We got together later and debated who had seen “the best concert ever!”  It turned out, we were both sadly mistaken!  Honorable Mentions: Parker Millsap, April 8, 2017, Wagner Theatre at Ohio University-Lancaster, et al.   J.D. McPherson, November 15, 2017, Skully’s Music-Diner.  Milk Carton Kids, September 18, 2015, Lincoln Theatre.  In concert, they’re a cross between Simon & Garfunkel and the Smothers Brothers.

N – Nazareth, February 24, 1981 in Battelle Hall at the Ohio Center.  Donnie Iris & the Cruisers was the opener.  After a rocking 90-minute set, Nazareth finished the show with encores of Love Hurts and Z.Z. Top’s Tush.  Honorable mention: Aaron Neville with the Columbus Symphony at Picnic with the Pops, Chemical Abstracts Service lawn; New Duncan Imperials, August 15, 1998, Little Brother’s.  ALWAYS a fun band to see!

O – Old 97’s, June 6, 2014, Newport Music Hall.  This was the first of many times seeing this band.  They never disappoint.  Honorable mention: Old Crow Medicine Show, as part of Willie Nelson's Outlaw Music Festival, June 2019, Nationwide Arena, which also included Alison Krauss, the Avett Brothers, and Nelson himself.  Over the Rhine, December 22, 2018, Memorial Hall, Cincinnati.

P – Pink Floyd, May 28, 1988, Ohio Stadium, Columbus.  This was the first concert ever held in the ‘Shoe.  Honorable mentions: PIL (Public Image Limited), October 16, 1989, Newport.  John Lydon mooned the audience, so I can now die with the happy knowledge that I’ve seen the bare ass of a Sex Pistol.  The Police, April 6, 1982, Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati.  John Prine, April 24, 2015, Palace Theatre.

Q – I was going to cheat and fudge this letter a bit by listing Quinn Fallon, but then decided not to.  His band, X-Rated Cowboys, get listed later on.  By definition then, I have failed this assignment since I have no Q band to list.  I don’t think I am to blame.  The fault lies at the feet of those musicians who lacked the imagination to come up with a cleverer stage name.  I’m looking at you, Elvis Quostello (August 6, 2022, Rose Music Center at the Heights, Huber Heights, Ohio).

R – The Replacements, August 9, 1985 at Stache’s, the first of three times seeing the band in the ‘80s.  I listed this band first out of solidarity with Nick Jezierny and JCE who also included the ‘Mats.  Honorable Mentions: Numerous concerts by REM and The Ramones and a single show by Lou Reed in 1989 at the Palace Theatre.  I was working for a radio station at the time and was able to gain backstage access after the show to meet the great one.  I consider Reed to be the most important person in rock history that I was close enough for physical contact (that’s Lou’s hand on my shoulder!).  He was very cool and signed autographs, one per customer.  He had a stack of 8 x 10 glossies that most people had him sign, but I preferred to have him sign my ticket stub.  He didn’t seem to understand why I wouldn’t prefer his photo, but such are the vagaries of fandom.

S – Paul Simon, June 8, 1991, RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, Ireland.  Honorable mentions: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, July 9, 1984, Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland.  Slammin’ Watusis, Stache’s. Shovels & Rope, May 31, 2015, LC Pavilion, opening for The Decemberists.

R – Richard Thompson, October 24, 2011, Kentucky Theatre, Lexington, Kentucky.  Honorable mention:  The Toll, various shows in the late 1980s and the Andyman-A-Thon in 2010 (see “X”).  Aaron Lee Tasjan, March 7, 2018, Rumba Café.

U – U2, October 13, 1987, Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Honorable mention: Utopia, Dec. 28, 1982, Veterans Memorial Auditorium.  I used to be a big Todd Rundgren fan and in the early to mid-80s, it seemed as though he played Columbus about every six months, either solo or with Utopia.

V –  The Vents, March 17, 1990, Apollo’s.  Honorable mention: Voices of Winter, May 20, 1989 at Ruby Tuesdays.

W – Tom Waits, June 2008, Ohio Theatre.  It took somewhere between 3-20 minutes for this show to sell out.  I considered myself lucky to have gotten tickets and fortunate to see what I consider one of my all-time top concerts.  Watershed, too many shows to count, but I saw them two years in a row on New Year’s Eve, 1998 and 1999 (Y2K!).  Joe Walsh, June 17, 1981, Palace Theatre.  Wilco, November 6, 1999, Newport Music Hall, with Matthew Sweet as the opener.  Rufus Wainright, November 17, 2023, City Winery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

X – X-Rated Cowboys.  I’ve seen them many times including at the Andyman-A-Thon, November 24, 2010, Lifestyles Communities Pavilion.  This was a show that also included Willie Phoenix, Watershed, The Toll, and Howlin’ Maggie.  Columbus fucking rocks!  Honorable mention: Doctah X, multiple appearances at Comfest.  I realize this one should more properly be listed under “D”, but it’s incredibly difficult to come up with “X” musicians and bands!

Y – Neil Young, March 3, 1983 at the Convocation Center at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.  Honorable mention: Yes, March 1, 1984, Ohio Center.

Z – Warren Zevon. November 20, 1988, Ohio Union Ballroom, Ohio State University.  Honorable Mention: ZZ Top, Jan. 21, 1982, Ohio Center.

# - 7 Seconds, November 16, 1989, Newport Music Hall.  Honorable mention: 50 Watt Alarm Clock, opening for Econoline Crush, March 18, 1999, Newport Music Hall. Dishonorable mention: 10,000 Maniacs, April 11, 1988, Newport Music Hall.  Natalie Merchant’s in-between song banter consisted of criticism for Columbus, calling it the filthiest city she’d ever been in.  For this rude and needless condemnation, the singer sits atop my list of mortal enemies.

Nick Taggart was born in Columbus, raised on the Hilltop, and edjikated in the finest public schools on the westside.  He was employed for decades by the Columbus Metropolitan Library where he spent his final working years dispensing information in the Local History & Genealogy department of the Main Library.  He is now retired and living the life of a gentleman of leisure with his wife, Michele, with whom he travels around Ohio and the world.