Guest Blogger: First Concert I Can Remember
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Here is another Late Greats installment for XPN’s gargantuan undertaking of collecting and compiling the 885 Most Memorable Musical Moments.
Emmylou Harris @ Valleyfair
First off, Valleyfair is a little like Six Flags or Hershey Park or Busch Gardens. Thrill rides, hot dog stands, long lines, etc. It was about two hours from my hometown.
Did you read my last ditty for this series? The one about Richard Marx? Well, the family that came along to the Emmylou concert was the same friends/family that went to see Richard with me and my dad. This time there were eight of us.
We rocked around the park for most of the day. Either I was too short or too scared to go on many rides. I do remember crashing into my sister while driving the bumper cars. And The Flume was a wet welcomed relief.
Right about sundown, we all headed to their little amphitheater. In my mind, it’s dinky. Tiny. Maybe ten rows of red benches. (It’s been awhile, so I may not have that correct.) Of the ten rows, maybe three of them were full.
In my mind, Emmylou pops out onstage dressed to the nines and plays a bunch of songs I couldn’t care less about. Music I had no connection with. We were there for my Dad. For my friend’s Dad.
Maybe this is why my Dad suffered thru the Richard Marx years later because he made me and my sister “suffer” thru Emmylou.
But then, I’m pretty sure my sister went off and rode the amusements. I was too little or too scared. Did I mention that?
I couldn’t tell you the name of a single song she sang at the show. Not even sure exactly when it was. All I do know is it is the first concert I can remember going to as a child.
I realize the tracks below come from a different time in Emmylou’s career. A time that I no longer “suffer” thru. In fact, many of her albums lately are in my collection.
Kind of strange how your musical tastes change over time. A theme that will be tackled on these 885MMMM posts.
Listen:
The Maker (The Maker)
Love Hurts (Love Hurts)
Deeper Well (Deeper Well)
What’s the First Concert You Can Remember? Leave a hullabaloo.
