Orpheum Theater, Phoenix
April 14th, 2025

The last time I saw Kraftwerk live, I was thoroughly unimpressed. It was July 1991, at Brixton Academy, and my twenty-something self left disgruntled, “What was the point?,” I muttered. “That wasn’t a concert.” Three decades later, Kraftwerk haven’t changed. At least, not in style. The only member remaining from that line-up is Ralf Hütter, which is why a friend refers to them as the ‘band of Theseus‘. Though given a defining trait is the group’s entirely deliberate lack of stage presence, few musical ensembles are better built to cope with personnel changes. But I did warn Chris beforehand what she should expect, based on my earlier experience. Kraftwerk will take the stage at 8 pm, on the dot. They will not interact with the audience in any way. They will play for two hours in front of their video wall. They will leave.

Turns out this was almost entirely spot-on, and the same as in 1991. Except, this time I really enjoyed it.

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Footprint Center, Phoenix
October 29th, 2024

The latest in our ongoing series of “Guess We’d Better See Them Before They Die” concerts, brings us what is intended to Jeff Lynne’s farewell series of shows, the appropriately named “Over and Out” tour. As ever, you’re never quite sure whether to believe an artist when they say they’re quitting. But with Lynne turning 77 next month, and never a particular fan of playing live (he basically didn’t for two decades), it’s credible this could be the last chance to see him. If so, Phoenix was his final performance in America. It wasn’t originally intended that way, but the concert was rescheduled from October 21st due to illness, pushing it to the end of the tour dates.

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Arizona Financial Theater
July 3rd 2024

Our latest venture into the world of geriatric pop took us to the Venue Formerly Known as the Dodge Theater in downtown Phoenix for a gathering of 80’s greats, Okay, for some loose definition of “greats”, revolving around, “People you might have heard of.” Possibly. Well, I was fairly stoked anyway, finally getting to see Thomas Dolby, a mere 43 years after Europe and the Pirate Twins became one of my earliest exposures to synth-pop. It still kicks ass now. Unfortunately, in an equally throwback spirit, a couple of members of his crew tested positive for COVID, forcing Mr. Dolby to drop out. Oh, well, sure he’ll be back around in another 43 years. I’ll only be one hundred and one.

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This year, Eurovision snuck up on me. One moment, I was “It’s not until May?”, but my next thought was, “This weekend?” All I’d really heard about it was the obligatory political fuss: this year, spinning the Wheel O’ Controversy landed on “Gaza.” Some were complaining about Israel being allowed to take part, given the situation there, but the organizers weren’t having any of that. I would not be surprised to see some kind of demonstration during Saturday’s final though.

It’s also the fiftieth anniversary of probably the most iconic Eurovision moment: Abba winning with Waterloo. Given this year’s event is taking place in Sweden – hey, what are the odds? – nor would I be at all surprised to see Abba show up, despite strenuous denials from the group. But that’s all in the future at the time of writing. What follows is in alphabetical order, and based entirely on the music videos for each entry, as presented in the official Eurovision playlist.

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State Farm Stadium
8th May 2024

And you thought Al Jourgensen was old? Mick Jagger will turn 81 in July, so sets a new record for the oldest performer I’ve seen in concert – he was born about six weeks before Roger Waters. The Rolling Stones as a whole were founded several years before I was born, with Jagger and Keith Richards having been continual members for the 62 years since. Hell, the first time they played Phoenix was in 1965. Tickets cost $4.50, and among the crowd that night was a young Vince Furnier. He’d go on to become Alice Cooper, and open for the Stones when they played the first concert at what’s now State Farm Stadium in 2006.

I’ve never been a particular fan, but Chris is, and there’s no denying, the Stones are icons – maybe the most famous rock band in the world? Hard to think of any who surpass them overall, in terms of longevity, influence and impact, across a range of musical genres. But would Mick be able to cut it, at an age when simply “not being dead” is an achievement?

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