(Wild and crazy guy voice) That is where I got one on you , my friend !!
I THINK I saw The Ramones 7 times , yeah , that's right . And I got started late ! The first time was in 1984. Saw 'em once , in '88 , with Iggy Pop(Headlining) and The Dickies , but , otherwise they almost always had terrible , or just mediocre , opening acts . Even ROCKABILLY GODS , Social Distortion , were'nt telling me anything I did'nt already know.
I SAW THE STONES , ONCE , IN '81. They were sloppy as ever (Retraction. I don't think they REALLY started getting sloppy til the mid 70's) , but, it was fun. Everyone was too stoned to rock out.
The Isleys , I saw once , and it was heavy on the T-Neck sides , light on the babymaking music. But , I told you that.....I hope you still get to see them , now that the Big Daddy Dizzy Dee Smalls , OR WHATEVER , HYPE , Is THROUGH.
I first saw Doug Sahm at Antone's NYE 1988 - 89 . He had a pickup band , and was dressed atrociously . No disrespect , but , I was , like , "Come on , Doug !" . Of course , it was a fine show , but , I had to move from Texas to Chicago to see The Sir Douglas Quintet. Ironic , is'nt it? They played Dallas in '84 , but ,I could'nt get a ride , and it would have been about $40 IN A CAB. i WAS AT THE CUBBY BEAR TEXAS TORNADOS GIG . MAN ! THE CUBS MUST HAVE TAKEN A BEATING , THAT NIGHT (cubby bear is across from Wrigley Field.), because people , meaning WHITE people , were picking fights and jumping in each other's shit , all night , pushing and shoving , while all the Mexicans were totally cool. Doug Sahm LOVED him some Cubs , tho' . Mid song , he reels off the 70 - 71 "Dream Team" (Whom I saw twice. Last Cubs games I ever attended.)- RON SANTO ! LAAAAAAAWD , ERNIE BANKS !! DON KISSINGER , Y'ALL !!! FERGIE JENKINS , YEAH , MY MAN , TOO MUCH , IN THE GROOVE ! DIG IT ! Doug scarcely said hello when we first met , because I was the only person in the room not talking baseball. I saw him 6 times , total. His last Chicago gig , also at Cubby Bear , basically a Sir Douglas Quintet show , minus a sorely - needed Mike Buck on Drums , drew about 40 people. For shame.
I did'nt know if I wanted to drop 30 bucks to see what an 80 - something Bill Monroe was bringing to the plate. Maybe that was my big mistake.
As for The Gories , I did see them in 1990 , opening for The Gibson Bros. I only really knew them by name , but , Jeffrey Evans really played them up to me.
I thought they were great. I was right up in fron , while the rest of the audience stayed in the very back , about the length of a bowling lane. Of course , most of those people did'nt show when The Gories came back , 20 years later , but they probably bragged about how they saw them , back when. The Gories came back , once in '90 or '91 , to open for Alex Chilton. Sorry , never got it with him. I know I'm supposed to bow down in worship.....I saw The Box Tops once , and they killed , but , THAT was a money gig , so Alex showed up sober , and ready to rock.
I should've gone if only to see The Gories. I figured they'd return. Did'nt know it'sd take two decades , but , it was business as usual.