In the corner of my living room, on the third shelf sits an old cigar box filled with ticket stubs from concerts I attended in during my youth.


While waiting for a cup of hot ginger tea to brew, I decided to kill time and take a look inside Pandora’s Box for the first time in many years. Like the feeling of holding an album and reading the song lyrics written in tiny font on the record slip cover, holding a used ticket stub is a Jetson’s-like transportation to that day… the feelings the sounds, the people I was with.  


A few show stub’s that caught my eye were…

Van Halen at Madison Square Garden (Oct. 8, 1982)


It was David Lee Roth’s birthday and I was 9 years old.  I remember every minute of the show and was hooked on live music! I have never looked back. Notice the price, $13.50.

David Bowie at Giants Stadium (Aug 3, 1987)


At 14 years old, I didn’t realize the magnitude of King Bowie.  I was really into his version of “Dancing in the Streets” with Mick Jagger at the time. I also discovered his Ziggy Stardust book of work before the show and wished he played more or those tunes.  We did catch Squeeze as the opening act (thanks Uncle Mike!) and sang along with “Black Coffee in Bed”.

The Band at World Stage (a small theatre in Spring Valley, NY) (Nov. 30, 1990)


My fake id worked! I got drunk and threw up in the parking lot just as they took the stage.  One of my older cousin’s friends taught me about “rallying” and “getting my sea legs” while I stood hunched over in the alley behind the venue.  I did rally, and quickly marched my way up to front stage rail right in front of Richard Manual and fell deeply in love with his voice and The Band’s catalog of songs.  I had already caught Rick Danko solo at The Turning Point nearby, so seeing him with the entire Band that night was magical for me.

The Grateful Dead at The Brendan Byrne Arena (March 31, 1988)


It was my first Dead show of many and my older cousin Bobby not only bought me a ticket with the money he made at Dan Allen Cleaners in New City, NY… he brought me along and introduced me to a whole new world. “Hell in a Bucket” was the first song. The words “at least I’m enjoying the ride” proved so true. “All Along the Watchtower” blew me away that night like I’ve never knew was possible.  Holding that stub and reengaging with those emotions reminds me of the power of music and how much happiness it has brought to my life.


Keep flapping rancheleros!
Peace,
Michael