Seeing Them Live

S04E03 - The Band Played On: Paul Talks About Seeing Bands Live After a Lineup Change

In this episode of "Seeing Them Live," host Charles welcomes back Paul Peterson, a retired technology manager and lifelong audiophile who hosts the podcast 'An Avid Listener.' Together, Charles and Paul explore the complex world of bands performing with significantly changed lineups. The conversation was sparked by Paul's recent concert experiences, including seeing Alan Parsons and the Doobie Brothers with almost entirely new members, which led him to question what makes a band authentic and what concertgoers are really seeking when they buy tickets based on a famous name.Charles and Paul examine numerous examples of lineup changes with varying outcomes. They contrast successful transitions like AC/DC replacing Bon Scott with Brian Johnson and Iron Maiden swapping Paul Di'Anno for Bruce Dickinson, with more questionable situations like Grand Funk Railroad touring without Mark Farner, the Beach Boys performing with only Mike Love, and Queen continuing with Adam Lambert. The discussion reveals how fans often purchase tickets unaware of major personnel changes, raising questions about transparency and the power of brand names in the music industry.Paul encourages listeners to research bands before attending concerts and seek experiences that offer more than nostalgia. He emphasizes the value of artists sharing stories and offering unique performances rather than simply recreating studio recordings, praising innovative approaches like Steely Dan performing entire albums in sequence and intimate acoustic sets from aging rockers. While lineup changes are inevitable, the key is transparency and delivering an experience that justifies the ticket price—whether through musical excellence, storytelling, unique venues, or discovering new bands at smaller, more intimate settings.BANDS: AC/DC, Alan Parsons, Beach Boys, Beatles, Black Sabbath, BoDeans, Brian Auger, Doobie Brothers, Duke Tomato and the All Stars, Eagles, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Flaming Lips, Fleetwood Mac, Gov't Mule, Grand Funk Railroad, Grateful Dead, Heart, Iron Maiden, James Gang, Johnny Reno and the Sax Maniacs, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin Two, Motley Crue, Pink Floyd, Queen, Rolling Stones, Scorpions, Steely Dan, Super Tramp, The Doors, The Who, Toto.VENUES: Arcadia, Auditorium Theater, Candlestick Park, Chicago Stadium, City Winery, Empty Bottle, Fitzgerald's, Hollywood Bowl, House of Blues, Living Room, Riot Fest, Shea Stadium, The Sphere. PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/SeeingThemLivePlease help us defer the cost of producing this podcast by making a donation on Patreon.WEBSITE - BECOME A GUEST:https://seeingthemlive.com/Visit the Seeing Them Live website and click on the link to fill out a form so we can consider you as a guest on the show.INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/seeingthemlive/FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550090670708

S04E02, Part 2 of 2 – The Encore: Wrapping Up 2025’s Live Music Scene

Welcome to Part 2 of the second annual Seeing Them Live Year End Concert Review show, where a panel of returning guests share their favorite live music experiences from 2025. Host Charles brings together an eclectic group of music enthusiasts including Andy, Jessica, Steve, and superfan Dawn Fontaine to discuss the most memorable live music experiences of 2025.Dawn shares highlights from her incredible 55-show year, including intimate performances by New York punk bands The Lousekateers and Typhoid Rosie at JJ's Tavern in Florence, Massachusetts, and her milestone 50th Soraia show at Music Fest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The conversation takes an extraordinary turn when Dawn recounts her once-in-a-lifetime experience winning a contest in 2002 that put her on the Rolling Stones' private jet, where she met and chatted with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the late Charlie Watts. The band even played her favorite song, "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," at the Denver show the next night. Dawn also discusses her new role booking shows for Soraia, turning her passion for the band into a dream job that allows her to be part of their team.Steve brings the star power with his account of seeing Lady Gaga at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which he ranks in his top 10 concerts of all time despite not being a superfan. He describes the show as mind-blowing, with incredible choreography, costume changes, and an intimate piano performance of "Die With a Smile" that transformed the energy of the 18,000-person venue. Steve also highlights seeing St. Vincent at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, praising her guitar skills and stage presence influenced by David Byrne, as well as catching Joan Jett with Alanis Morissette and being amazed at how Joan's voice hasn't changed over the decades. His Vegas weekend also included the Psychedelic Furs at House of Blues and Adele at Caesars Palace, making for an unforgettable concert trip.Andy rounds out the episode with his diverse concert year, starting with the mesmerizing guitar work of Mdou Moctar at The Space and a spontaneous third-row experience seeing Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys at Hard Rock Gary. His spring break trip to Vegas delivered a surprise highlight when he caught Joe Russo's Almost Dead at Brooklyn Bowl, calling it his surprise concert of the year with their incredible double guitar attack. Andy also shares his Bonnaroo experience, seeing Neil Young perform his new song "Crime in the White House" at Meigs Field (where they unknowingly appeared in the music video), and attending Riot Fest to see Jack White and the Beach Boys with John Stamos. The episode wraps with the group discussing their most anticipated 2026 shows, including Iron Maiden, Radiohead, Guns N' Roses with Public Enemy and Ice Cube, and the long-awaited Rush reunion.BANDS: Adele, Alanis Morissette, Ashley Gavin (comedian), Beach Boys, The, Beaches, The, Billy Idol, Black Crows, The, Buddy Guy, Cocktail Slippers, The, Cure, The, Dead & Company, Dogs in a Pile, Florence and the Machine, Gary Numan, Grunge Worthy, Guns N' Roses, Ice Cube, Idiot Kids, The, Iron Maiden, Jesus and Mary Chain, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Lady Gaga, Lamp, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Lousekateers, The, Luke Combs, Marcus King, Mdou Moctar, Mighty Suicide Squirrels, The, Mogwai, Neil Young, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Otis and the Elevators, Pretenders, The, Psychedelic Furs, The, Public Enemy, Radiohead, Rolling Stones, The, Rush, Rush Tribute Project, Soraia, Sonic Youth, St. Vincent, Talking Heads, Typhoid Rosie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.VENUES: Aragon Ballroom, Bonnaroo, Brooklyn Bowl, Caesars Palace, Crypto Center, Douglas Park, FM Kirby Center, Foxborough Stadium (Patriots Stadium), Garcia's, Hard Rock (Gary, Indiana), Hotel Figueroa, House of Blues (Las Vegas), JJ's Tavern (Florence, Massachusetts), Meigs Field, Metro, The, Music Fest (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), Redwood Bar (Redwood Grill), Riot Fest, Salt Shed, The, Soldier Field, Space, The, Sphere, The, Tabernacle, The, T-Mobile Arena, United Center, Vic, The, World Music Theater, Zinzenplatz stage (at Music Fest). PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/SeeingThemLivePlease help us defer the cost of producing this podcast by making a donation on Patreon.WEBSITE - BECOME A GUEST:https://seeingthemlive.com/Visit the Seeing Them Live website and click on the link to fill out a form so we can consider you as a guest on the show.INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/seeingthemlive/FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550090670708

S04E01, Part 1 of 2 – The Encore: Wrapping Up 2025’s Live Music Scene

Welcome to the second annual Seeing Them Live Year End Concert Review show, where a panel of returning guests shares their favorite live music experiences from 2025. Host Charles brings together an eclectic group of music enthusiasts including award-winning documentary filmmaker Eric Green, podcast host Jessica Catena, nurse practitioner Summer, antique shop owner Art Gregg, executive assistant Dawn Fontaine, accountant Steve Pothel, high school teacher Andy, and producer Doug Flozak to discuss the concerts that defined their year.Eric Green kicks off the discussion with an impressive lineup that showcased both legendary side projects and emerging talent. His year began with Close Enemies featuring Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton at City Winery Boston, followed by Kim Deal's solo tour at the Wilbur Theater. He caught Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fame doing an intimate VH1 Storytellers-style performance, and witnessed Shane Hawkins honoring his late father Taylor Hawkins with Chevy Metal at Brighton Music Hall. Eric also saw the Joe Perry Project's supergroup lineup featuring Chris Robinson and Robert DeLeo, enjoyed a nostalgic double bill of Billy Idol and Joan Jett at the Xfinity Center, caught the rising stars Wet Leg at a packed Roadrunner Boston show, experienced Jeff Tweedy's multigenerational band at Royale, and closed out his year with Throwing Muses at the new Racket venue in New York City.Jessica Catena attended three memorable indoor concerts that kept her dry after previous years of rain-soaked shows. She saw young jazz sensation Samara Joy at the newly renovated Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut with her uncle, experienced the Broadway spectacle of Moulin Rouge featuring Wayne Brady and Taye Diggs with updated contemporary songs, and capped off her year at iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden, where she saw Ed Sheeran, Laufey, and a diverse lineup of pop and folk artists while dealing with some challenging sightlines.Summer's concert year included the intimate Metro show with Bridget Calls Me Baby where her son met the bass player's parents, a record-breaking night at Lollapalooza featuring Olivia Rodrigo's surprise Weezer collaboration, an energetic Yungblud performance at the Riviera that included some crowd drama, and a unique operatic interpretation of Smashing Pumpkins' Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness at the Lyric Opera of Chicago during a snowstorm.Art Gregg had a remarkable year highlighted by three unforgettable shows. He saw childhood hero Burton Cummings of The Guess Who at the North Shore Center for Performing Arts after accidentally meeting him in the lobby without recognizing him, caught Michael Schenker's 50 Years with UFO celebration at the Desplaines Theater, and scored a last-minute ninth-row ticket to see Robert Plant at the intimate Vic Theatre, where the Led Zeppelin legend performed six classic songs including an electrifying version of Ramble On that earned a rare standing ovation.Charles rounds out the discussion by mentioning his own concert experiences at new Chicago venues including Space in Evanston where he saw Mdou Moctar and The Old 97s, the female-focused Motoblot festival at Beat Kitchen, an incredible Buddy Guy performance at the Rialto Square Theater where the 89-year-old blues legend walked through the aisles playing guitar, shows at the new Garcia's venue and City Winery, and his anticipation for an upcoming Iron Maiden show. The episode concludes with a teaser for part two, which will feature Dawn's private jet experience with the Rolling Stones, Andy's Bonnaroo adventure, and Steve's concert highlights.BANDS: Aerosmith, Alex Warren, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Belly, Benmont Tench, Billy Idol, Black Crows, Black Sabbath, Bob Dylan, Bridget Calls Me Baby, Burton Cummings, Chapel Rowan, Chevy Metal, Close Enemies, DJO, Dogs in a Pile, Ed Sheeran, Elastica, Elastica, Elvis, Foo Fighters, Foghat, Foster the People, Gary Newman, Generation X, Gigi Perez, Guns N Roses, Iron Maiden, Jeff Tweedy, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Joe Perry Project, Johnny Cash, K-pop band Monsta X, Katy Perry, Kim Deal, King Gizzard, Laufey, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin 2, Liz Fair, Mdou Moctar, Metallica, Michael Shanker, Miles Smith, Ministry, Neil Young, Nelly, Nine Inch Nails, Olivia Rodrigo, Ozzy Osborne, Pixies, Psychedelic Furs, Radiohead, Robert Plant, Rolling Stones, Runaways, Samara Joy, Sarah Larson, Shonen Knife, Smashing Pumpkins, Soraia, Stone Temple Pilots, Taylor Hawkins, The Babies, The Beatles, The Black Crows, The Boudines, The Breeders, The Guess Who, The Old 97s, The Police, The Scorpions, The Velvet Underground, Throwing Muses, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, UFO, Van Halen, Walk the Moon, Wayne Brady, Weezer, Wet Leg, Wilco, Wrought Iron Soul, Yungblud.VENUES: Aragon Ballroom, Barclays, Beat Kitchen, Box Center Wang Theater (Boston), Brighton Music Hall (Boston), City Winery (Boston), City Winery (Chicago), Credit Union One Amphitheater, Desplaines Theater, Garcia's, Grant Park, Great Woods (Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts), House of Blues, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Madison Square Garden, Metro, North Shore Center for Performing Arts (Skokie, Illinois), Penn Station, Racket (New York City/Chelsea), Ravinia, Rialto Square Theater, Ridgefield Playhouse, Riviera, Roadrunner Boston, Royale (Boston), Salt Shed (Chicago), Sonia (Cambridge, Massachusetts), Space (Evanston, Illinois), Thalia Hall, Tweeter Center, Vic Theatre (Chicago), Wilbur Theater (Boston), Wrigley Field, Xfinity Center (Mansfield, Massachusetts). PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/SeeingThemLivePlease help us defer the cost of producing this podcast by making a donation on Patreon.WEBSITE - BECOME A GUEST:https://seeingthemlive.com/Visit the Seeing Them Live website and click on the link to fill out a form so we can consider you as a guest on the show.INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/seeingthemlive/FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550090670708

S03E18 - Speechless: Horace Pinker's Memorable Meeting with John Paul Jones

In this episode Charles interviews the core members of the Chicago-based punk band Horace Pinker, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Scott Eastman, drummer Bryan Jones, and bassist and vocalist Greg Mytych. Charles delves into the history of the band, which was originally formed in Tempe, Arizona. Horace Pinker has toured extensively, performing in over 20 countries and sharing stages with renowned acts such as Green Day, The Offspring, and Blink 182. They have released eight studio albums, including their latest, 'Now and the Future.'The interview touches upon their musical journey, personal concert experiences, and the influence they had on other bands and their fanbase. Bryan recounts a memorable story of loading in gear for the band MDC, while Scott shares his experience of seeing Bad Brains live in the late '80s. The band members also discuss some of their weirdest and most disappointing shows, including an incident involving a ceiling fan in Germany and a lackluster performance by Texas is the Reason.The highlight of the interview is when Bryan describes the time, he had dinner with David Grohl of Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin but missed an opportunity to start a conversation with John Paul Jones.The conversation also highlights the impact of their music, with accounts of fans reaching out and young musicians covering their songs. They reflect on the longevity of their career, the experience of touring, and their continued passion for music. The episode concludes with the band expressing their gratitude to fans and mentioning that more information can be found by Googling 'Horace Pinker.'BANDS: Agent Orange, All Systems Go, At the Drive-In, Bad Brains, Bad Religion, Blink-182, Bulimia Banquet, Butthole Surfers, Dag Nasty, Descendents, DI, Doughboys, Duran Duran, Firehose, Fugazi, GBH, Green Day, Guns N’ Roses, Horace Pinker, Hüsker Dü, Jawbreaker, Jimmy Eat World, KISS, Led Zeppelin, MDC, Meat Puppets, Metallica, Minutemen, Monster Magnet, NOFX, NRA, Queens of the Stone Age, Seven Seconds, SNFU, Texas Is the Reason, Them Crooked Vultures, The Cult, The Offspring, Yellowcard.VENUES: Aragon, Boat on the Rhine River (festival performance in Cologne, Germany), Bobby’s Eastside, Burlington, Fireside Bowl, Fitzgerald’s, House of Blues, Living Room, Reggie's, Riot Fest, Riviera, Silver Dollar Club, UIC Pavilion. PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/SeeingThemLivePlease help us defer the cost of producing this podcast by making a donation on Patreon.WEBSITE - BECOME A GUEST:https://seeingthemlive.com/Visit the Seeing Them Live website and click on the link to fill out a form so we can consider you as a guest on the show.INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/seeingthemlive/FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550090670708

S03E17 – Andy Gets Washed Out at Bonnaroo

In this episode of Seeing Them Live, Charles and Doug welcome back Andy, a school teacher and avid live music fan, to share his an After Show Report on the 2025 Bonnaroo Music Festival. Despite carefully planning his trip with his friend Teddy and driving nine hours to the festival, Andy faced a series of unexpected challenges and adventures. The trip kicks off with a tense interaction with law enforcement when they are pulled over by a Kentucky State Trooper, escalating as a K-9 unit arrives. Fortunately, they are allowed to proceed to Bonnaroo without any legal troubles.Upon arrival, Andy and Teddy set up their elaborate campsite, which included modern amenities like a solar generator and 42-inch TV. The first night involved acclimatizing to the youthful crowd and loud electronic dance music that played until the early hours. Things took a dramatic turn when Teddy experienced a sudden medical emergency and had to leave, promising to return later to pick Andy up. Later, a severe storm brought torrential rains and flooding, leading to the cancellation of the entire festival due to infrastructural failure. Despite disappointment, Andy encountered numerous acts of kindness from fellow festival-goers and eventually managed to get back home safely, albeit with a vivid, unforgettable experience.BANDS: Dogs in a Pile, Eurythmics, Foster the People, Goose, Insane Clown Posse, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Lemon Twigs, Luke Combs, Marcus King, Miranda Lambert, Parisi.VENUES: 2025 Bonnaroo Music Festival. PATREON:https://www.patreon.com/SeeingThemLivePlease help us defer the cost of producing this podcast by making a donation on Patreon.WEBSITE - BECOME A GUEST:https://seeingthemlive.com/Visit the Seeing Them Live website and click on the link to fill out a form so we can consider you as a guest on the show.INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/seeingthemlive/FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550090670708