This was on Scott-Ryan Abt ’s list of questions for people who say they are into music. I came up with answers to most of those questions, but this one in particular got me thinking. Do we think of a concert (or any kind of experience) as good or bad because it was objectively good or bad, or because of how we remember it, and what else was going on in our lives? What goes into the way we remember an experience? One thing led to another and now I have a whole column about this one question.
Went to see a double bill in Milwaukee in 2003: Queens of the Stone Age and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was more of a QOTSA kinda guy, but was excited to see RHCP. QOTSA opened and put on an excellent rock show, ended up running into the band at truck stop outside of Racine, WI, after the show, that part was magical (I was not allowed to use the ample men’s restroom due to Joshua Homme needing 6+ stalls and urinals all to himself).
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Anthony Kiedis took one look at the 2/3rds full Bradley Center and gave up halfway through the first song. The drummer - Chad Smith - had to carry the band for the next 17.5 songs, which he did as well as he could. Kiedis pranced and preened and mumbled and shrieked, but lead singer duties he did not perform at a high level. I never was a big RHCP fan, and that concert sealed the deal for me.
Hey Brad, as always, you have some interesting extra "color" to your accounts. That sounds pretty disappointing but at least not a total loss. I haven't heard much QOTSA so I'll have to add that to the list to listen to more. Any top songs to suggest?
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Actually, I don't disagree re. some of the historical details. But what you are saying is actually that the two bands were similar in being the product of singular geniuses. Agreed. And also agreed, most of the Beach Boys were not virtuoso musicians. (I've actually written three articles about Carol Kaye who was a key member of the WC.) Neither were the Beatles., with the possible exception of Ringo. But for lasting cultural impact, the Beatles were unsurpassed, and the Beach Boys come close. Chicago? Not so sure. If I had to name a "best band" of their peer group, it would be Tower of Power.
I know Carol mainly from the movie, but a bass player friend said he learned from her instruction book.
As for ToP: agreed, their long-term output far surpasses Chicago's, but maybe if Terry had lived..... nah, the pull towards Schlock was just too strong.
Went to see a double bill in Milwaukee in 2003: Queens of the Stone Age and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was more of a QOTSA kinda guy, but was excited to see RHCP. QOTSA opened and put on an excellent rock show, ended up running into the band at truck stop outside of Racine, WI, after the show, that part was magical (I was not allowed to use the ample men’s restroom due to Joshua Homme needing 6+ stalls and urinals all to himself).
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Anthony Kiedis took one look at the 2/3rds full Bradley Center and gave up halfway through the first song. The drummer - Chad Smith - had to carry the band for the next 17.5 songs, which he did as well as he could. Kiedis pranced and preened and mumbled and shrieked, but lead singer duties he did not perform at a high level. I never was a big RHCP fan, and that concert sealed the deal for me.
https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/queens-of-the-stone-age-red-hot-chili-peppers-ac40ff46-7cef-46af-aca8-9b405afdfad7
Hey Brad, as always, you have some interesting extra "color" to your accounts. That sounds pretty disappointing but at least not a total loss. I haven't heard much QOTSA so I'll have to add that to the list to listen to more. Any top songs to suggest?
Sorry for the late response! Not my playlist, but t hi s would be a good place to start:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgkAHCYAprcaSz1gAnPrkvWe50b76FRZJ&si=W-tJnTpqFUjP2D9I
" while Chicago may have been a hot band at the time, they were not actually great. Good, yes, but not great. Few people remember them today."
au contraire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFVpSjRUD2E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB-nXQc6LMU
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5037288/
When Terry Kath died, they turned into a schlock band.
As for the other band, the Beach Boys were a studio band. Watch
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185418
The other Beach Boys were mediocre musicians who just toured. Brian was the genius who wrote the songs and told The Wrecking Crew how to play them.
https://zapatosjam.substack.com/p/the-most-famous-musician-youve-never
https://zapatosjam.substack.com/p/unsung-heroes-the-most-recorded-musician
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Actually, I don't disagree re. some of the historical details. But what you are saying is actually that the two bands were similar in being the product of singular geniuses. Agreed. And also agreed, most of the Beach Boys were not virtuoso musicians. (I've actually written three articles about Carol Kaye who was a key member of the WC.) Neither were the Beatles., with the possible exception of Ringo. But for lasting cultural impact, the Beatles were unsurpassed, and the Beach Boys come close. Chicago? Not so sure. If I had to name a "best band" of their peer group, it would be Tower of Power.
I know Carol mainly from the movie, but a bass player friend said he learned from her instruction book.
As for ToP: agreed, their long-term output far surpasses Chicago's, but maybe if Terry had lived..... nah, the pull towards Schlock was just too strong.