Ticket 2 Ride

Years ago, these musicians played areas, stadiums and maybe the grandest concert halls. Later in life, getting gigs may mean playing clubs and bars. No disgrace, but fortunes change, and you get the opportunity to enjoy these folks in very intimate, relaxed surroundings. I wish then I was as diligent about taking photos and videos. Some of my best musical memories.

Here are a few artists I saw up close.

The Fixx – One of the biggest bands of the 1980s, easily as substantial as U2, yet the popularity didn’t hold 20 years down the road. They are still cranking it, still the original lineup. “One Thing Leads to Another”, “Saved By Zero”, “Reach the Beach”, “Less Cities, More Moving People”, “Are We Ourselves” and other great songs.

March 15, 2005, an unscheduled stopover in Kansas City at the Uptown Theatre. No seating, GA only, $10. Barebones production. Maybe a hundred people in a venue that hold several thousand. Lead vocalist Cy Curnin had the flu but performed anyway. The band stuck around to talk after the event for awhile.

Ian McLagan– A member of the Small Faces and The Faces, touring member of the Rolling Stones and many other bands. He performed on recordings by the Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, Jackson Browne and many others. “Miss Troublemaker” “An Innocent Man” “Stay With Me”

I saw him play in a bar, in a suburb of Kansas City, a couple of years before his passing. It was him on his keyboard and a guy on guitar. Of course he chatted up the crowd, told stories and performed a lot of songs from the old days. There weren’t a hundred people in the audience so I was able to get a close seat and chat with him after it was over. He wrote a book about The Faces and was instrumental in keeping their work available.

Paul Westerberg – Lead vocalist and songwriter for The Replacements, in the early 2005, he was enjoying some solo success, although he was playing smaller venues. Several of his songs had been used in the film, Singles. It was an evening of Replacement and solo material. Afterwards, he signed autographs for fans on his tour bus. “Can’t Hardly Wait”, “I Will Dare” “Knockin’ On Mine” “Waitin’ On Somebody”, “Let the Bad Times Roll”, “Best Thing That Never Happened”

He was playing at a Kansas City bar/club called the Grand Emporium. It was kind of a mid-town dive, but it attracted some great musicians. Sadly, the bar owner remodeled, making it “stylish”, and it closed not long after.

Mick Taylor – Lead guitarist from the Rolling Stones classic period. Another Grand Emporium concert. “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’” and “No Expectations” from the Stones’ catalogue. I recognize a couple of other Taylor written songs, with the other songs very bluesy cover songs. Veteran keyboardist Max Middleton was part of the band. “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’” with the Stones, “All Along the Watchtower” with Bob Dylan

After the show, Mick was quite agreeable to sign autographs and chat with the fans. In fact, he sat at our table to do it.

Dick Dale – King of the Surf Guitar, famous in the 1960s. This guy could shred a guitar. Of course he played classics like “Misirlou”, “Nitro”, “Let’s Go Trippin’”, “Riders in the Sky”, “Peter Gunn.”

“Surfin’ and a Swingin’, Miserlou, The Wedge”, “Nitro”, “Esperanza”

He also played at the Grand Emporium. Dick played the loudest guitar I’ve ever heard, the feedback practically made your hair stand on end. He was swarmed by fans afterwards for autographs, which he obliged.

Marshall Crenshaw – In the early 1980s, this nerdy-looking guy, who would play Buddy Holly in La Bamba, scored hits like “Someday, Someway“, “Cynical Girl”, and “Whenever You’re on My Mind”. He’s stayed around recording and touring, though the radio hits stopped coming, he’s a greatly respected musician. He’s guested as vocalist for The Smithereens after Pat DiNizio passed away. “There She Goes Again”

Back in the 2010s, Marshall toured as a solo and played the Gospel Lounge, a 70 seat room at Knuckleheads venue in Kansas City. Designed for intimate performances, the Gospel Lounge was perfect for Marshall’s acoustic guitar and thoughtful songs.

Denny Laine – Saw Denny perform at a casino in North Kansas City about 10 years ago. He was there with his band, playing early Moody Blues, Wings and his solo material. Affable guy, warm with fans and of course told many stories.

He passed on several years later. “Go Now!”, “Band on the Run”, “Deliver Your Children”, “Time to Hide”

Dwight Twilley – Around since the mid-1970s, the singer-songwriter has been going at it. First, as leader of the Dwight Twilley Band with Phil Seymour, then went solo in 1979. Jungle (1984) was a popular album his “Girls” as a top 20 hit. Dwight was a thoughtful and crafty songwriter and had a number of his songs covered by other artists. “I’m On Fire”

I saw him perform one evening at a local record store in Lawrence, Kansas. Just a handful of people were there, he had a greatest hits album out and was traveling the country promoting it. Just Dwight and his acoustic guitar. When you hear those power-pop songs without the force of a band – just a guy playing his guitar and singing – Nice guy, but the long years on the road was showing. He passed away a couple of years later.