1982

Jan 21, 1982



The Kinks – Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
Opening Act – The Go Go's
Ticket Price - $10.50

The Go Go's were riding the charts with the single “Vacation” which appeared on the album of the same name. They put on a fun, energetic show but the fans weren't very accepting. I think it was a strange opening act for the Kinks.

The Kinks were great. They were touring for “Give the People What They Want” and the hit single was “Destroyer”. The Kinks are one of the all-time great “garage bands” that never lost that raw sound. They put on an awesome show full of hits.

Set List:

Around the Dial
The Hardway
Where Have All the Good Times Gone?
Captain America Calling
Come On Now
Destroyer
Yo, Yo
Lola
Dead End Street
Add It Up
Low Budget
Art Lover
Back to Front
A Gallon of Gas
Celluloid Heroes
Till the End of the Day
Bernadette
All Day and All of the Night
Give the People What They Want
Pressure
You Really Got Me
Stop Your Sobbing

What more could you want from an incredible show from an amazing band?


February 4, 1982



Black Sabbath – Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Ticket Price - $10.50

This was the Mob Rules Tour, the second release with Ronnie James Dio as singer. They were so loud that it sounded like pure mush. It was hard to determine what song they were playing because of the distortion. A real disappointment.

Set List:

E5150
Neon Knights
NIB
Children of the Sea
Turn Up the Night
Black Sabbath
War Pigs
Slipping Away
Drum Solo
Slipping Away (cont.)
Iron Man
The Mob Rules
Heaven and Hell
Guitar Solo
Heaven and Hell (cont.)
Paranoid
Heaven and Hell (cont.)
Children of the Grave
Fluff (tape)



March 19,1982



The Cars – Hartford Civic Center
Ticket Price $11.50

This was the Shake It Up Tour. They had a really great stage and played all of the hits. I had to miss part of the show when the really drunk guy behind me puked all over my head and down my back. After cleaning myself in the crowded men's room I got back to my seat and the drunk guy and his friend were gone.

Really sucky.


April 2, 1982



Rick Springfield – Hartford Civic Center
Ticket Price - $10.50

Riding high on the hits “Jessie’s Girl” and “I’ve Done Everything for You”, Rick Springfield put on a pretty energized performance. The Album, “Working Class Dog” went on to sell a few million copies and made Rick a household name; that and the fact that he was on General Hospital at the time. The show was pretty enjoyable even though I only knew 2 or 3 songs.

I saw Rick perform again in 2001 for a group of about 100 people in a small banquet room in Malibu, CA. It was a fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders. He still looked great and put on a fun show.



April 3, 1982



Ozzy Osbourne – Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
Ticket Price - $11.50

My second time seeing the Prince of Darkness live. This was the Diary of a Madman Tour and, sadly, it was less than one month after Randy Rhoads' death. Brad Gillis from Night Ranger stepped in to fill the guitar virtuoso's shoes. All-in-all it was still a great show. Ozzy was still in fine form, before all of the alcohol & drugs turned him into such a mess. Brad Gillis is a decent enough guitar player but he is far from Rhoads' level of talent. Still, he was able to learn all of the songs in a really short period of time.

Set List:

Diary of a Madman Intro
Over the Mountain
Mr. Crowley
Crazy Train
Revelation (Mother Earth)
Steal Away (The Night)
Suicide Solution
Goodbye to Romance
I Don't Know
Believer
Flying High Again
Iron Man
Children of the Grave
Paranoid


June 18, 1982



Rainbow – Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
Ticket Price - $10.50

Honestly, I don't remember going to this show at all.


June 20, 1982



Squeeze – Agora, West Hartford, CT
Ticket Price - $9.00

Squeeze is one of my all-time favorite bands. They write great, memorable pop songs and their music during the 80’s never really went towards that soulless mechanical sound. At the time their biggest hit was probably “Tempted”. This was a memorable show for me, mostly because I was such a big fan of the band. I feel that this was the last year that they released any good music and it was great to see them perform all of the songs I loved while they were still together and still at the height of their powers. Black Coffee in Bed, Slap & Tickle, Pulling Mussels from a Shell, Up The Junction, Goodbye Girl, Cool for Cats, Another Nil in My Heart and a new single at the time, Annie Get Your Gun. It appeared that the band was still getting along at this show and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. A fun show by one of the greatest pop-rock bands ever.


June 24, 1982



John Valby – Toad's Place, Waterbury, CT
Ticket Price - $5.00

The king of perverted, sing-along, party songs. It was just John and a piano and I knew most of the songs from a worn-out, beer-soaked, bootleg cassette that I played the crap out of. The show was a lot of fun, it's like one big party. If you're not familiar, you need to check him out.


September 9, 1982



Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes – Agora, West Hartford, CT
Ticket Price - $8.75

I remember Southside Johnny touring endlessly. They are a fun, party band featuring the “New Jersey Sound” made famous by Bruce Springsteen. The Boss’ guitarist Steven Van Zant produced some of the early Southside Johnny albums but even this association failed to launch them beyond a local cult following. They put on a fun show and the crowd was really into it. I wasn’t too familiar with their songs but I danced right along with everyone else. They released a whole slew of records and they still tour regularly. One of those solid bands that will always be relegated to the 2nd tier.