Inside the very best rock shows exists an inexplicable energy that tugs at your being in the deepest of ways. The difference between your standard run-of-the-mill club show and one that leaves you speechless afterward is as vast as the sonic spectrum that inspires us to live our lives the way that we do. In honor of the approaching summer and as part of this last spring issue of the Badger Herald, I take you on a stroll through three summer shows that left me in a daze long after the power to the Mesa Boogies had been cut.
Smashing Pumpkins — June 29, 1996 — The Palace of Auburn Hills — Auburn Hills, Mich.
This was the Smashing Pumpkin’s finest hour and for many in attendance, the last time they would be recognizable to their core fans. Following an engaging set by Madison residents/haters Garbage, the piano intro, “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” began, and the 20,000 in attendance rose to their feet in what would serve as one of the finest rock shows the Palace of Auburn Hills has ever seen.
Corgan, in Zero-era attire, led the original lineup, including bassist D’Arcy and late touring keyboardist Jonathon Melvoin, through a jackhammer set that kicked off with the staggered riffs of “Where Boys Fear To Tread” and ended with a Corgan solo on “Mayonnaise.”
The relentless pace and energy of the show in the midst of the Pumpkins’ most ambitious tour ever left nothing to be desired. Although follow-up album Adore would be a precursor to their demise, the Pumpkins’ performance in Auburn Hills was live perfection. The glazed expression on the faces of the sweat-soaked crowd that filed out of the arena told the story — a truly unforgettable one.
Foo Fighters — July 3, 1997 — Clutch Cargo’s — Pontiac, Mich.
Touting the release of the pop-rock gem The Colour and the Shape, Dave Grohl and company hit Pontiac and Clutch Cargo’s for a promo gig that was made all the more memorable by a suffocating heat that threatened to limit the performance.
With original rhythm guitarist Pat Smear sporting a thick ‘fro, Grohl led his backing trio through a frenetic set that felt like a sandstorm in a sweatbox. The capacity crowd summoned energy from nothing, pushing and shoving with reckless abandon as the former Nirvana drummer pounded out riffs and screams that reminded us once again why he is one of the very best performers alive today.
Edgefest — July 1, 1999 — Molson Park — Barrie, Ontario, Canada
In every person’s life exist a few unforgettable moments that linger for a lifetime. Canada’s annual Edgefest in 1999 was one of those moments. A relentless, frigid rain and gusty winds made an ill-prepared crowd in T-shirts and shorts helpless in the oddly frigid conditions of the mid-summer day.
Groups of friends huddled inside ripped garbage bags with naíve hopes of reflecting warmth between each other. It wasn’t until a second stage set by hard-rockers Finger Eleven that the crowd began to block out their physical condition in favor of the music they had come to see. Finger Eleven was nothing short of phenomenal on this particular day.
A slow, muddy walk to the main stage led to the day’s best performance, even during the peak of its worst conditions. Silverchair stole the show from the opening notes of “Israel’s Son.” Amid the energy of the set was a surreal scene, with 30,000 dirtied attendees jumping in unison to the band as a pummeling rain smacked them in the faces. As awful as the weather was, this show was as good as it gets.
While there have been many gems dispersed throughout my collective experience of seeing hundreds of shows, these three concerts always stick out in my mind as truly unique and unforgettable experiences. There’s a whole world of music out there waiting for you this summer. Take advantage of your semi-freedom and make your own memories — memories that you will look back on as fondly as I do mine.
