I saw this fun prompt (created by @mankyddorf) on Instagram at @farbsy, and I thought it would be fun to post some answers. It’s actually really tough to name just one in each category!

First Concert?

When I was around 13, my friend really wanted to see The Osmonds, so I went with her and her parents. I was really in the other camp, being a Michael Jackson fan in his teeny-bop days, but I thought I might become an Osmond fan if I saw them live. Yeah, no. It was fun, but it did not change my mind. (Although I have really enjoyed both Donny Osmond’s and Marie Osmond’s books.) I think this was probably the concert: https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/296489/the-osmond-brothers-hit-toronto-again-last-night-with-concert

Last Concert?

I’m surprised that it was so long ago! We’ve done lots of other things in the past year, but maybe not concerts. My sister and her younger daughter were visiting and we went to the Vancouver Folk Festival and saw a favourite artist of mine, Aoife O’Donovan. She was really magical. I’ve also seen her once before as part of the folk “supergroup”, I’m with Her.

Worst Concert?

I’m going to pick Alan Jackson. While his opening acts of Miranda Lambert and Johnny Reid were both amazing and filled with energy, Alan Jackson just stood in one place or paced slowly, flicking guitar picks into the audience from time to time. Very boring and disappointing.

Loudest Concert?

Hmm. I’ve seen a lot of concerts over the years and I can’t really think of one in particular. I’d have to say that the loudest shows I ever saw were at local bars, where we stood much to close to the speakers and woke up the next day with ringing in our ears. Unfortunately, that happened more than once!

Best Concert?

Again, hard to choose… maybe Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden. The feeling was like being in someone’s living room, as he talked personably to the audience with no sense of ego and took suggestions (either/or) as to what to play. He throws in other peoples’ songs and is just so comfortable on stage. Really wonderful to experience. I love his 12 Gardens (Live) album, which gives a bit of a feel for it.

Seen the Most?

Might have been Queen back in the ’70’s. I really had a thing for Freddie Mercury and I loved their music, particularly those that Freddie wrote. His balletic presence and operatic but rocking voice was fabulous.

(I’d love to put a Getty image right here, but what happened to the ability to embed an image?? WordPress now tells me I would need a business plan and a plug-in to do that!)

Most Surprising?

I went to see Lisa Marie Presley, and she was great. It was a really intimate show, where the audience felt they knew her. Someone yelled out, “How’s your mom, Lisa?” and she responded in a friendly way, making the show more of a conversation. It’s too bad that she wasn’t really able to get past the comparisons to her father and really have her musical career take hold. She was a really good singer and wrote some interesting songs.

Happy I Got to See?

I’m almost (but not quite) embarrassed to say so, but I am really glad I got to see Buffy Sainte-Marie before she gave up touring just before the scandal of her likely not being biologically Indigenous broke. She was 81 when I saw her, but she was one of the most energetic performers I’ve seen (unlike Alan Jackson!) and the audience was fully engaged with her. I really love her album, Power in the Blood, which really is super-powerful. She wrote some songs you may know, even if you aren’t a Buffy fan, like co-writing “Up Where We Belong” (which won an Oscar) and “Until It’s Time for You to Go” (of Elvis fame). Here’s a little clip I took of her singing it.

Wish I Could Have Seen?

Maybe Barenaked Ladies, before Steven Page left the band. I remember when the mayor of Toronto banned them from playing in Nathan Phillips Square in 1991 because their name objectified women lol. How times have changed! Most of my favourite bands from way back, I’ve managed to see, whether then or now, like Elton John a few years ago.

Next Concert?

I’m going by myself to see Chantal Kreviazuk at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, for the 25-year anniversary of her Colour Moving and Still album, one of my favourites of hers. I’ve seen her several times and really enjoyed it… except for the one time that my husband came with me and was so obviously bored that I swore I would never have him come again! One time I saw her and her husband, Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, was performing, too. I like his band’s music, but he was doing performance poetry at this show! Not great. They also have a fascinating movie streaming that explores not only their creative process together, but also the issues in their marriage and how they work through them.

If you want to answer this prompt, too, feel free… or leave some of your concerts in the comments.