My First Concert
Originally Published Date:
July 19, 2010
So I had seen that Squeeze were touring and coming back to Philadelphia. They are playing the Mann Music Center in July. I bought tickets for my father and I as a Father’s day gift. Suddenly, I was propelled back to my very first concert.
It was November 7, 1987. I was 9 years old. My father got tickets for him, my sister Trina, my Aunt Donna and me for Squeeze at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pa (just outside of Philly). I remember my dad, Trina and I taking the El from Bridge and Pratt all the way to the end at 69th street. On the train ride, I started to get curious about what happens at a concert so I began asking my dad. My sister had known more about it since Dad took her to see Beatlemania. The one question I remember asking is when intermission was. I am not sure where this idea came from but my father told me there was no intermission, the band just came out and played.
When we got off the train at 69th Street, I remember walking along what seemed like a long bridge over Market Street then crossing over 69th Street to get to the venue. When I first saw The Tower Theater, I was mesmerized by the radio like antenna on top of the building.
Now right before the concert, Squeeze just released their seventh album “Babylon and On” which had such great songs as “Trust Me To Open My Mouth”, “The Prisoner”, “853-5937” and their big comeback hit, “Hourglass”. Since they made a video for “Hourglass”, they released a video compilation of all their music videos on VHS. Their music videos coincidently coincided with their greatest hits album “Singles: 45’s and Under”. Prior to the show, I studied every video on that tape. I am surprised it wasn’t worn out!
As Squeeze took the stage, I was thinking that I couldn’t believe I was seeing the same people that were in all those great videos live in person (again, please remember this was my first concert and I was only 9). They played such a great show I was hooked for life.
The next album that came out was “Frank” and although it didn’t seem as much as a commercial success as “Babylon and On”, I always felt that musically it was the superior album. With songs like “If It’s Love”, “She’s Lucky She Doesn’t Have To Shave”, “Slaughtered, Gutted And Heartbroken”, “Rose I Said”, “(This Could Be) The Last Time” and the ever laid-back anthem “Dr. Jazz” with the line “Oolamalawaladollar That's what the fez he sing” how could you go wrong?
Again, my father sister and myself went to see them tour for this album at The Tower Theater and we had the best seats ever. We had front row seats to the left corner of the stage. At that time, the seats that were permanent and in the Tower, the rows narrowed as they got to the front. So, that particular row only had three seats in it. We were so close to the band it was unbelievable. They again put on a great show. At one point, bassist Keith Wilkinson came over to play in that corner of the stage and he was only 5 feet from us. The drummer also made a great impression one me. At the time, I was a young drummer and I got to watch Gilson Lavis (one of my all-time favorite drummers) in all his glory at the top of his game. Every time I saw Gilson play, he always looked like he was having the time of his life. He made it look so fun that it inspired me to want to have that much fun.
The next album was “Play” and it was a major let down of an album. Jools Holland had left the band and I think he took some of the magic with him. We saw the band but the show was not quite as good as I remembered.
Following the “Play” tour, Gilson Lavis also left the band. They regrouped and recorded “Some Fantastic Place”. I recall seeing founding members and the writing core of the band Rhythm Guitarist Chris Difford and Lead Guitarist and Lead Vocalist Glenn Tilbrook on Regis and Kathy Lee. I felt bad for them after Kathy Lee apologized to them for the Revolutionary War. They performed a song called “Third Rail” acoustically which I loved from the moment I heard it. The album saw the band teamed back up with Paul Carrack. Paul was the vocalist on one of their biggest hits “Tempted” and sang one for the new record called “Loving You Tonight” another instant classic. The title track, however, stuck out all on its own as a very deeply personal song about a woman that both Difford and Tilbrook knew. When we saw the “Some Fantastic Place” tour at the Keswick Theater, we finally got to meet Difford and Tilbrook for the first time. It was an amazing moment.
Squeeze then broke up and Tilbrook released several solo albums but to me they never stood up to the quality of Squeeze.
Seeing them with my father the other night brought back a flood of memories. It was good to see Difford and Tilbrook back on stage together.
So, I invite you, the readers, to take a minute and remember your first concert.
Until next time,
Thanks for reading!
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