Missed Concert Regrets
There is currently a thread on the WOXY message boards about the concerts people regret missing the most. The variety of reasons why these boarders reget missing one show or another is actually much more fascinating than the list of artists. Reading the thread got me to thinking about the shows that I’ve missed over the years. After a bit of Googling and sifting through openingbands.com’s show archive, I compiled a few lists of shows that went unseen. Keep in mind, these are just Champaign-Urbana shows. My spirit would certainly be crushed if I began to contemplate shows I missed in Chicago, St. Louis, Indy and other midwestern cities:
Group #1: Shows by bands I didn’t even know existed at the time
A bunch of heavy-hitters made it through C-U before they hit it big. I could only find a a few such shows in my few minutes of research, but they’re doozies. Too bad I had no concept of indie music prior to 2003, else I would have gone to see: The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, Queens of the Stone Age (all pre-2002 at The Highdive), The Shins (July 2002, Highdive), Death Cab for Cutie (October 2003, Highdive), The New Pornographers w/ The Frames (February 2002, Highdive) and most notably Interpol at The Courtyard Cafe (of all places!) in September of 2002.
Group #2: Shows I skipped because of cloudy ignorance/general apathy
I really like a lot of these bands now, but at the time they came through town I didn’t really have a grasp on their music (i.e. “I haven’t heard them but I’ve heard *of* them). Or, maybe I just didn’t care if I saw them or not, but now I kinda wish I did. This list could probably fill up a few pages, so I’ll limit it to what I can remember off the top of my head: Tegan & Sara, Annuals, The Mountain Goats, Wilco, Ben Folds (at least three times), Local H (probably five or more misses), Neko Case, Of Montreal (once apiece in ‘04, ‘05 and ‘06), Poster Children, Saturday Looks Good to Me, etc. But, the most notable band in this group is, HANDS DOWN, The Flaming Lips, who played the Canopy Club on May 2, 2003.
Group #3: The Big 3
Now that I’ve peppered you with a rather inconsequential who’s who of Chambana’s musical past, it’s time to get serious. I only carry small to moderate amounts of regret about the shows I listed above and the truth is I ended up seeing most of those bands later. But, there are three shows which score high to hair-pulling, cringe-worthy, hang-my-head in shame levels of regret. These are the big ones. I’m feeling sad just writing about them.
#3
If I truly believed in indie cred, I would need to turn in my Hipster Card® after missing this show. The show was originally scheduled for Caffe Paradiso, a study haunt that couldn’t hold more than 200 people for a concert. However, because of an unexpected boom in interest, the show was moved to the Highdive, and even then it sold out. I didn’t know what the big deal was. WPGU was playing the headliner’s first single from their debut album at a modest clip and I wasn’t terribly impressed. So, November 21, 2004, came and went and I didn’t think much about the show that happened that night. Radio eventually began to play a few more songs off their album and I became a fan. Three years and one more album later, the band whose first American tour sent them through small clubs like The Highdive became one of the biggest bands on the planet. If I truly believed in indie cred, I would think seeing The Arcade Fire before they were “famous” would be score a truckload of points. But I didn’t…
#2
So, we move from indie rock superstars to a nineties one-album wonder. I’ll dispense with the suspense-laden prose and give you the facts:
The Presidents of the United States of America @ The Decatur Celebration, 2004
[Yeah, I know, I said Champaign-Urbana only in the intro. Sue me.] If you asked most music fans if PUSA made more than two albums, I would venture that most would say no. That’s because their second album, II, was panned by critics, got virtually zero radio or MTV play and had a general nail-in-the coffin feel to it (as did a lot of albums from the late 90s). But, PUSA did release more albums. GOOD albums. Albums that I really enjoy. But let’s be honest. The Decatur Celebration is a step DOWN from the state fair circuit. It’s the street fair circuit. It’s where Dennis DeYoung goes to wow dozens of yokels. It’s where the big-name draw is Rick Springfield. It’s honestly kind of sad that PUSA was even in a state of notoriety as to draw an invitation to the event in 2004. It’s also sad that I didn’t go to their show just because I didn’t want to deal with the crowds. Let’s face it, with the summer heat, coupled with alcohol sales, coupled with the [conjecture here] prevailing “I-want-to-hear-Peaches-and-if-I-don’t-I’m-going-to-raise-holy-hell” attitude of the crowd, I probably would have gone insane, but I know it would have been worth it.
#1
There’s a bright side to the first two stories. I saw The Arcade Fire last year and PUSA is still alive and well with an album (and hopefully tour) forthcoming. Sadly, I will never get the chance to see an artist I missed way back when.
Wesley Willis w/ The Causey Way @ The Highdive, summer 2000 (I think)
I only say I think because my memory and Google-fu are both weak. I know that was the bill and venue, and I’m fairly sure of the date. Anyway, if you don’t know Wesley Willis, just start here and work your way around the web. I don’t think I can fully describe him in words here. Ditto for The Causey Way.
My friend had discovered the awesomeness that was “I Whooped Batman’s Ass” on the internet and we thought it was funny. At the time I had no knowledge of Wesley Willis the person. I had no clue about his significant contributions as an outsider artist in Chicago. He was just a “crazy” guy (not to be insensitive, but I didn’t know he was schizophrenic at the time) who made funny, nonsensical songs. My friends went to the show. I stayed home because I had helped roof some house (I think (again, hazy memories)) and I was tired. I don’t know if the show was good or bad. I don’t think my friends ever spoke of it besides mentioning that Willis headbutted some guy and used a lot of profanity, which is not surprising.
I don’t think Wesley did much touring outside of Chicago (if at all), so seeing him in Champaign would have been a rare treat. I remember kicking myself while I was on the phone with my friend saying I wasn’t going to go. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Of course, sadly, Willis died in 2003, solidifying this show as the one I regret missing the most, and I don’t think anything can top it.
[Postlude: So, I had to strike that last part because it will probably jinx me. There’s only one band that I must see before I die, but that’s only if they reform. My biggest fear is that Self will announce a one-off reunion show and some completely bogus conflict will make me miss it. Can’t think like that…..]
