Great guitar players

[steve B]

Originally Posted by BobC

https://www.mmone.org/agora-ballroom/

The West Hartford location was just one of about a dozen locations across the US that Cleveland Agora founder, Hank LaConti, opened up in the late 70s/early 80s when he tried expanding the original location and idea he had started in Cleveland. For whatever reason, changing times, changing/different people, changing tastes, they didn't last like the original Cleveland location.

The only time I went there was that Stryper show they mentioned.

Insane and weird show and place.

The lines were crazy, all the way around the building. But the person I went with said we can just go to the box office and the lines were for people who already had tickets. Box office had a line like 10 people long.

First time I saw a vending machine that took dollars.

They had beer girls! Carrying a case of beer in a somewhat suggestive location, must have been very profitable. "Would you like a beer?" "Oh yes!" "Ok, that will be $3".... later on thinking "I paid way over retail for a warm bud just because she held the case near her chest... I'm sooo stupid"

The warmup acts were forgettable metal bands. and it was really hot in there.

Stryper... People in the crowd passed out, and were taken out over the stage. One girl realized that got her close to the band, and faked it then got away and nearly tackled the guitar player mid -solo. To his credit he didn't miss any of it. And it wasn't like the staged stuff for videos, it took 3 security guys to peel her off ... twice!

I had heard about the bibles and figured it would be pocket ones, or maybe small paperback versions... nope, full size hardcovers. Ok, they just drop them into the front rows. Umm, ok, throwing them a bit farther back and a bit farther still... last couple were really thrown all the way back near the sound board. Last one nailed some kid right in the forehead.

Wild times. And maybe close to the end, I moved back up to mass maybe a year later in late 87

[1952boyntoncollector]

John Fruciente

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

John Fruciente

Found myself nodding in agreement when I saw his name. Incredibly creative and extremely talented. Played some stuff people can't figure out to this day.

[Touch'EmAll]

My son is quite into rap music. A guitar ? What's that? They don't use those things anymore. Sigh.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

My son is quite into rap music. A guitar ? What's that? They don't use those things anymore. Sigh.

Kanye had a guitar player when I worked for him...

[stlcardsfan]

Spurred by discussion on another music related thread, not sure if he has already been mentioned, but Richard Lloyd of Television, and later, of Matthew Sweet fame is an incredible talent.

[Corporal Lance Boil]

This was a fun read, always nice to get reminded of some great guitar players.

I'll add Jerry Garcia. Some may roll their eyes, but he's unmistakable.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by steve B

The only time I went there was that Stryper show they mentioned.

Insane and weird show and place.

The lines were crazy, all the way around the building. But the person I went with said we can just go to the box office and the lines were for people who already had tickets. Box office had a line like 10 people long.

First time I saw a vending machine that took dollars.

They had beer girls! Carrying a case of beer in a somewhat suggestive location, must have been very profitable. "Would you like a beer?" "Oh yes!" "Ok, that will be $3".... later on thinking "I paid way over retail for a warm bud just because she held the case near her chest... I'm sooo stupid"

The warmup acts were forgettable metal bands. and it was really hot in there.

Stryper... People in the crowd passed out, and were taken out over the stage. One girl realized that got her close to the band, and faked it then got away and nearly tackled the guitar player mid -solo. To his credit he didn't miss any of it. And it wasn't like the staged stuff for videos, it took 3 security guys to peel her off ... twice!

I had heard about the bibles and figured it would be pocket ones, or maybe small paperback versions... nope, full size hardcovers. Ok, they just drop them into the front rows. Umm, ok, throwing them a bit farther back and a bit farther still... last couple were really thrown all the way back near the sound board. Last one nailed some kid right in the forehead.

Wild times. And maybe close to the end, I moved back up to mass maybe a year later in late 87

That is a great story Steve, and rivals some of the ones I remember and have already posted about from shows I'd seen at the original Cleveland Agora. Sounds like you had a heck of a time at the show, and I'm guessing it is one those things that you'll always be able to fondly look back upon and remember, and never regret having gone to. LOL

I think shows in small, more intimate venues like the Agora's of the world are way better than most of the huge stadium shows. Don't get me wrong, being able to see the likes of Zeppelin or the Stones, regardless of the venue size, is great. But seeing some of these groups in the smaller, night club/bar like venues before they become too big for them, takes you back to the real roots of what rock was all about, and how it was supposed to be performed, heard, seen, and truly enjoyed.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by BobC

That is a great story Steve, and rivals some of the ones I remember and have already posted about from shows I'd seen at the original Cleveland Agora. Sounds like you had a heck of a time at the show, and I'm guessing it is one those things that you'll always be able to fondly look back upon and remember, and never regret having gone to. LOL

I think shows in small, more intimate venues like the Agora's of the world are way better than most of the huge stadium shows. Don't get me wrong, being able to see the likes of Zeppelin or the Stones, regardless of the venue size, is great. But seeing some of these groups in the smaller, night club/bar like venues before they become too big for them, takes you back to the real roots of what rock was all about, and how it was supposed to be performed, heard, seen, and truly enjoyed.

What's even funnier is the person I went with was more an acquaintance, kid my brother knew from scouts or something who had complained a couple months before that his friends had taken his money and ditched him or simply never shown up to pick him up three straight concerts. "Oh yeah, we'll leave a ticket for you at the will call window" So I offered to drive to pretty much any concert as long as he bought the tickets.

And there's a card collecting angle, he worked for McDonalds, and at the end of the football card promotion got me a trash bag full of that weeks leftover cards. Ended up with 100+ sets.

Later on, he cracked a bat playing in the yard with a few guys. My brother said it was pretty old, I ended up swapping a store bought bat I had for what I'm almost positive is a Fred Parent gamer, plus a few other old bats that were pretty beat, a D+M and a Batrite both I think store models.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by steve B

What's even funnier is the person I went with was more an acquaintance, kid my brother knew from scouts or something who had complained a couple months before that his friends had taken his money and ditched him or simply never shown up to pick him up three straight concerts. "Oh yeah, we'll leave a ticket for you at the will call window" So I offered to drive to pretty much any concert as long as he bought the tickets.

And there's a card collecting angle, he worked for McDonalds, and at the end of the football card promotion got me a trash bag full of that weeks leftover cards. Ended up with 100+ sets.

Later on, he cracked a bat playing in the yard with a few guys. My brother said it was pretty old, I ended up swapping a store bought bat I had for what I'm almost positive is a Fred Parent gamer, plus a few other old bats that were pretty beat, a D+M and a Batrite both I think store models.

Steve,

That is a fantastic story, and great baseball connection as well. It is hard to really explain and convey to others the full experience from seeing some of these outright famous groups appearing in a venue like the old Agora. It all comes down to the old saying, "You had to be there!". Got to love the memories, right?

[steve B]

Originally Posted by BobC

Steve,

That is a fantastic story, and great baseball connection as well. It is hard to really explain and convey to others the full experience from seeing some of these outright famous groups appearing in a venue like the old Agora. It all comes down to the old saying, "You had to be there!". Got to love the memories, right?

Yes, although the one in Hartford was closer to an arena than a club. Sort of a small arena sized club.


Now seeing the Ramones in Toads place in Waterbury...that was really amazing.
Toads Waterbury was tiny, maybe 500 capacity?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by steve B

Yes, although the one in Hartford was closer to an arena than a club. Sort of a small arena sized club.


Now seeing the Ramones in Toads place in Waterbury...that was really amazing.
Toads Waterbury was tiny, maybe 500 capacity?

Never saw the Ramones live, that would have been a great show, especially in a small, intimate venue like that.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by BobC

Never saw the Ramones live, that would have been a great show, especially in a small, intimate venue like that.

That would have been awesome. One club show I was just a bit too young to go to but some of my older friends told me about decades later was here in LA with three of our best punk bands: X, Los Lobos and The Blasters. That would have been epic. I also wish I'd seen this tour in 1987:



How fun would that have been, the Beasties opening for Run DMC?

https://youtu.be/b4teHlgW0vg