Concert #50 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers at the Universal Amphitheater (July 30, 1989)

My second encounter with TP, also at the Universal Amphitheater, two years after the first one. They had been touring with Bob Dylan, which gave Tom a huge credibility boost in my eyes.

This time I sat closer to the stage, on the main floor, which they call "orchestra". Just like the first time, I was impressed by the quality of the band. Since then, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench remained some of my favorite "unsung" musicians and it was a thrill to see them perform, many years later, on separate occasions, in the intimate confines of McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica.

The opening act was an old favorite of mine, Dion DiMucci, better known as Dion. His "Ruby Baby" was one of the earliest songs I remember listening to as a young kid. On stage, he wore a beret, just like the one in the picture. Sadly, I can't remember any of the songs he played that night and the Internet wasn't helpful either.

Concert #49 - Tanita Tikaram at the Roxy Theater (May 2, 1989)

She came out of nowhere, literally. In 1988 I heard her "Twist In My Sobriety" song on the radio, bought the album (titled "Ancient Heart"), and from that point on, I was hooked big time. The album had nothing but gems, not a single weak song, and when the album came out, she was still in her teens. Absolutely stunning.

Her first tour of the States brought me to the Roxy for the first time. I got there early, stood directly against the stage and enjoyed a great concert with someone whose music I dearly loved. Until that time, I had never been so close to a performer, and that was very special. I knew almost all songs that she played. Quite often, she delivered the songs with her eyes closed, as if she was in a dream. There was little eye contact with the crowd, and she didn't say much.

Here's a 1988 video of "Twist In My Sobriety":

Concert #48 - Mike & the Mechanics at the Universal Amphitheater (April 1989)

My second time to see Mike & the Mechanics, but this time they were without Paul Carrack. Moreover, the "All I Need Is A Miracle" momentum was gone, so the concert was pretty bland.


The opening act was Escape Club, who at the time were enjoying some success with their single "Wild Wild West". They ended their set by saying that they would be back with more hits. I'm still waiting.

Concert #47 - Robert Cray at the Universal Amphitheater (January 28, 1989)

My second time to catch Robert Cray, after having seen his excellent opening set for Eric Clapton in 1987. This show was less memorable. I can't remember whether he played "Right Next Door" and "Smokin' Gun", my favorite songs from "Strong Persuader", his then-current album. By the way, my son Danny still plays those two songs.

The opening act was my fellow-Claremonter David Lindley, who played a few different guitars, as usual. It was my introduction to his music.

Concert #46 - 10,000 Maniacs at the Wiltern Theater (October 31, 1988)

 

My second time to see the Maniacs, the first time as headliners. I sat upstairs, in one of the first rows. Not bad. Downy Mildew was the opening act, nothing special. The Maniacs opened their set with "Hey Jack Kerouac", then they went on to play a few more songs from "In My Tribe". From their not-yet-released third album they played "Eat For Two". Natalie danced and moved around quite a bit, pretty much like in this video:

Being the huge fan that I was, I bought a 10,000 Maniacs T-shirt, with the gorgeous "In My Tribe" LP cover in the front. I still have it, more then twenty two years after the show.

Concert #45 - The Scorpions at the LA Sports Arena (October 19, 1988)

I went back to the LA Sports Arena to see the Scorpions, the German pop-metal band who was all over the radio and MTV with their catchy songs. I really liked Klaus Meine's voice, undoubtedly one of the best rock & roll voices ever. I had a great seat, on the floor, close to the stage. They played two nights, both were sell-outs.

It's easy to dismiss the Scorpions, but on certain nights, it feels good listening to their made-for-radio music, it's as simple as that. There were lots of special effects, lots of movement, great music and excellent vocals. They did play most of the songs that made me wanna see them live, such as this one:

The proceedings started with Winger, a rock band that did not particularly impress me.