Martina in concert

Oops. I was going to post this a long time ago, but time flies...

We went to see Martina McBride at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine. She put on a great show (perhaps I'm biased). I thought I'd take this opportunity to list my Top 5 favorite concerts. And I encourage everyone to post their own list as well.

1. Martina McBride in San Diego, 2004
I have now seen Martina at least one time every year since 1999 (you could say I'm a fan). So how to pick a favorite? This show in San Diego stands out for a few reasons:
The venue - The outdoor stage was right next to the water, making for a beautiful backdrop.
The crowd - The sold-out crowd was really excited and engaged in the show, standing and cheering for pretty much every song.
The performance - She had an extended set compared to her performance the following night in Anaheim, when she was on a double bill with Alan Jackson (yes, I went to both). I think she fed off the energy and put on a great show. Plus she sang one extra encore for us (compared to Anaheim).
And finally, during "This One's For the Girls," they wanted a few girls from the audience to go onstage, but more and more girls kept coming up until the stage was almost filled (no, I did not try to go up there). At one point Martina said something like "We've completely lost control, and I love it!"
At the same time, people started going to the front of the stage to cheer and dance. So I decided to do the same, and was able to watch her sing "Independence Day" standing a few feet away.
Here is Martina performing "Concrete Angel."


2. Garth Brooks at the Staples Center (early 2008)
Garth Brooks' live shows are legendary. And he does not disappoint. He performed five shows in two days earlier this year to raise money for victims of the 2007 wildfires. We saw the Friday night show (the second of the evening). It started at 9 p.m. Full house. The crowd stood the entire show. Special guests included Trisha Yearwood and Huey Lewis. He obviously has a loud and loyal fan base itching for him to return to full-time recording and performing. We overheard one woman who traveled from North Carolina to see all five shows. Another guy said he came with his wife, who stayed at the hotel room while he went to the concert. And another guy was friends with the band leader, who came to visit him before the performance wearing sweats (he changed before going on stage).
I have been to plenty of sporting events, but I have never heard a louder audience. It hurt my ears worse than the speakers. And Esther was able to get a great floor seat, and I joined her after "tipping" the security lady.
People sang along to every song and just showered him with admiration. It was quite a show.


3. Alanis Morissette at the Universal Amphitheater, 2002
Most people think of her as the angry girl from "You Outta Know" (if they think of her at all). But Alanis puts on a high-energy show with great vocals and heartfelt songs. Here is the song she opened her set with:


4. Billy Joel in Oakland, circa 1989
He has a huge songbook to choose from, and he doesn't disappoint. This was his "Storm Front" tour, but he played plenty of oldies but goodies. But perhaps the most memorable concert moment of all was during the encore, when he performed "Piano Man." At one point he stopped playing and let the crowd sing the chorus. I heard later that the people at the A's game next door could hear us singing. I don't know if that's true, but since it's a good story I choose to believe it.


5. Huey Lewis and the News in Oakland, circa 1987
Jeff was nice enough to take me to this show, which was my first real concert experience. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this band. They don't have flashy special effects, but they do have rock solid musicianship and plenty of catchy tunes. Here is a video of "Jacob's Ladder," which was recorded at the concert we attended.


Ever since that first performance, I've been a big fan of live shows. The anticipation. That jolt of energy when the lights go down and the first notes are played. Sure, Ticketmaster is one of the biggest ripoffs in modern history (what's "convenient" about an extra $10 per ticket?!!?), but I endure it because the shows are worth it. You become part of something unique. You're surrounded by people who are as excited as you are to be there. And you will have memories that will last.

What are yours?