Skip to main content

Smoking a joint with Iggy Pop in the mosh pit

 Preface: This is a story I only recently realized I have never told. I used to be pretty terrible at remembering to take pictures and write down my memories of what happened at shows. I do that now but didn't start with this tradition until I was over a dozen concerts in. It's a shame I never wrote about this concert before because it was really incredible and mind blowing performance. Since it's been 10 years I can't remember is as well as I used to be able to but I'll be doing my best.
---------------------
 Iggy Pop and The Stooges played at The Warfield in San Francisco on April 19th, 2007 with Sistas in the Pit as openers. This was my first Iggy/Stooges show and I was very excited. I took this guy I dated at the time who loved the Stooges. We both happened to have matching red mohawks which later came in handy when we needed to locate each other. The audience was filled with the usual suspects; adults from their 20's to their 50's donning leather jackets and band shirts. These are my people. We drank some over priced concert whiskey and got up to the front pre-show...the floor was filling up fast. 
 When Iggy and the Stooges hit the stage the floor of people began moving in waves with fists in the air. This easily separated my friend and I but we were each more than happy to be sucked into the pit. After a few songs still shirtless Iggy started to crowd surf. I was pretty impressed by this considering he was about to turn 60. He flowed across the crowd like a seasoned pro continuing to sing and shimmy. There was a point where I stopped dancing and jumping just to take the moment in. Within moments I am handed a joint by a guy standing to my right. Living in the Bay Area for a while at that point I didn't even hesitate to take a drag.  
 I pass it back and it comes down again. Iggy is still walking through the audience and singing. I noticed he was quickly headed to my left and people are clearing a path while they tried to touch him. Just as he gets to where I'm at the joint is passed to me again. I took a drag and Iggy reached out his hand, clearly wanting a hit of the joint. I complied and handed it to him and pretty much froze. Just watching what was happening but also afraid I'd do something stupid and look un-cool. He took a hit and handed it back to me. Instead of passing it back to the other guy I took another. He then walked back to the stage still singing and people were still clearing his path. 
  After that I was pretty energized by the show, especially when he welcomed everyone on stage to dance and sing. The audience quickly acted upon his invitation and before I knew it more than enough people had rushed the stage. That was one of the coolest things I've seen at a show. The sight of dozens of people dancing and singing with the Stooges on stage. Fitting them back into already pressed forward crowd was a bit of a puzzle. I couldn't believe the amount of energy, passion and authenticity of character Iggy was showing. Almost 60 and still a bad ass. It was one of the most intimate and genuine live concerts I've ever been to.  
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The album art of Tommy by Mike McInnerney

 People often ask me what my favorite album is. Without much thought I am able to answer them. The Who's 1969 album "Tommy" is my favorite record of all time. The album artwork also happens to be my favorite. Recently I was thinking about the album and how it affected me in my life. I decided to look up the Tommy album art and was surprised that I was unable to find any of it. I could find the cover, but never all the album art inside. The Tommy CD comes with a booklet with lyrics and a series of different illustrations. But they weren't on the internet.   So this blog will be changing that! I just took out my CD booklet and scanned all the artwork. There are two versions of the cover, one featuring small images of their faces inserted into the gaps in the central sphere. The other is just the original work. Executives at The Who's record label insisted on having the band members pictured on the cover, so that's why there are two covers. Pete Tow...
1 comment
Read more

[REVISED] Eddie Vedder's voice, the most emulated voice in music history?

  Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder has one of the most distinct and emulated voices in contemporary rock music. I feel like I spent the entire 90's hearing alternative bands copying Eddie's singing style. Just to show you how many artists have been said to sound like Eddie Vedder throughout time; Creed's Scott Stapp, Fuel's Brett Scallions, The Stone Temple Pilot's Scott Weiland, The Calling's Alex Band, Soundgarden's Chris Cornell, Lifehouse's Jason Wade, and some say Nickelback's Chad Kroeger have a similar sounding voice (don't shoot the messenger). And probably more than I can remember.  When I continued to look into this stream of vocals that sounded the same, I came upon a quite obvious realization. Whether they know it or not, they are actually emulating Jim Morrison. It also makes sense that Eddie later played with the remaining Doors members and inducted them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This singing style wasn't just ho...
1 comment
Read more

Music posers

Ever see a girl in a rock t shirt who just doesn't look like she knows who they are? Have you ever been out in public, and spotted a person wearing a rock and roll t-shirt? Every time I do, which is if they're 12 feet or less away, I have to say something about it. That something would be "Yay! I love (insert band)! What's your favorite album?" Well, sometimes when I ask that question, I get a response I don't expect... *Blank expression* "I'm not really a fan of (insert band), I just like the shirt." My heart sinks. And then I want to punch them. This happened just yesterday. I was visiting my local pot club ( Berkeley Patients Group , woop woop) and I immediately spotted a girl wearing a Beatles shirt. I shouldn't even have to inform you how much I love rock music, so I can't help but mention it. I also feel like this is an obvious potential friend! I said to her "Yea the Beatles rock! Niiice!" And sh...
5 comments
Read more