Freeeeee Birrrrrd!!!

Writing about Kraftwerk reminds me that they are on the short list of bands that I would like to see in concert, but never have. Others include the White Stripes, M.I.A. (missed her with LCD Soundsystem at Transit last June), the Arctic Monkeys (sold out at the Starlight Ballroom later this month), Broadcast, Thievery Corporation, Portishead, Massive Attack (even though their moment has passed) and Jerry Lee Lewis ($80!).

This would also be a good time for my wife to remind me about the time I rejected her idea of seeing pre-"Nevermind" Nirvana at J.C. Dobbs...

Here is a nearly complete list of bands I've seen. I'm only including signed, touring bands, or the list would be full of local heroes like Tons of Nuns, Van Gogh's Ear, the Electric Love Muffin and the Dead Milkmen. Most of the venues are in Philadelphia unless otherwise indicated. Dates are mostly best guesses.

*marks the dozen or so best.

808 State @ Trocadero, 1991
Annabouboula @ Katmandu, 1991
B-52s @ F&M (Lancaster), 1984
Big Dipper @ J.C. Dobbs, 1990, 1991
The Cars @ Spectrum, 1984 (with Wang Chung opening)
Cheap Trick @ the York Fairground Arena, 1981
The Clash @ Spectrum, 1984
Consolidated @ Trocadero, 1992
Cowboy Junkies @ Tower Records, 2000
The Cure @ Tower Theater, 1985, @ Spectrum, 1994
Deee-lite @ Trocadero, 1992
Depeche Mode @ Spectrum, 1993 (with The The opening)
Echo & The Bunnymen @ Mann, 1987,* @ Meriweather Post (Columbia, MD), 1987, (both with New Order & Gene Loves Jezebel), @ Tower Theater, 1988, @ Electric Factory, 1997
Elastica @ TLA, 2000*
Elvis Costello @ Mann, 1992
The Fall @ First Unitarian Church, 2004*
Fine Young Cannibals @ Houston Hall (in the gym), 1985
Fishbone @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1987, 1988, @ Temple U. spring break, 1988
The Fixx @ whatever the fieldhouse at Shippensburg University is called, 1984
Frank Sinatra @ Hershey Arena, 1994
Freedy Johnston @ Tin Angel, 1993
General Public @ Tower Theater, 1984
Grandmaster Flash @ Spectrum, 1983 (the FreshFest, with Run-D.M.C., Whodini and the Fat Boys)
Iggy Pop @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1987,* 1988, @ Tower Theater, 1990
Interpol @ Electric Factory, 2003
Jeffrey Gaines @ Tin Angel, 1993
The Jesus & Mary Chain @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1987,* @ Trocadero, 1989 (with Nine Inch Nails opening)
John Cale @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1988
Killing Joke @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1989
My Bloody Valentine @ TLA, 1992,* @ Trocadero, 1992
New Order @ Irvine Auditorium, 1986, @ Mann, 1987,* @ Meriweather Post (Columbia, MD), 1987, (both 1987 shows with Echo & the Bunnymen & Gene Loves Jezebel), 1993 (with PiL and the Sugarcubes opening)
Peter Murphy @ Revival, 1986
The Police @ JFK Stadium, 1983 (with Joan Jett, Madness & R.E.M. opening)
The Psychedelic Furs @ The Forum (Harrisburg), 1983 (with Divinyls opening)
The Ramones @ McGonigle Hall (Temple U.), 1985 or 1986 Temple U. spring break
The Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1987, 1988, @ Temple U. spring break, 1988
Robyn Hitchcock @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1988, @ Tower Records, 1988, @ Tin Angel, 1994
Run-D.M.C. @ Spectrum, 1983 (the FreshFest, with Grandmaster Flash, Whodini and the Fat Boys), @ Spectrum, 1986 (with Beastie Boys opening)
The Stone Roses @ Trocadero, 1995
The The @ TLA, 1989, @ Revival, 2000
U2 @ Tower Theater, 1983,* 1984,* @ Spectrum, 1985, @ RFK Stadium (Washington DC), 1997, @ Giants Stadium (NJ), 1997, @ Franklin Field, 1997,* @ First Union Center, 2001,* 2001
Wire @ Chestnut Cabaret, 1988, 9:30 Club (Washington DC), 2001, Gasoline, 2002*
XTC, Tower Records, 1990