I’ve been posting my recollections of seeing Blue Oyster Cult in concert. Instead of continuing to post one at a time, I decided to do the remainder shows all at once.
Ralph at Hot Rails to Hull put these at his giglopedia. If you’re a fan of the oyster boys, take a look at his listings. You might even be able to help out!
April 22, 1986, Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
Support for RUSH, Power Windows Tour
Ever since 1976, RUSH has been my favorite band, BOC second. So it was great to see the two bands paired together for this show. I remember my friend Robert and me talking about that, and wondering how many people were at both shows.
Great acoustics in Greensboro. Robert asked me about the change in the line-up. Quite frankly, I didn’t know any details.
September 10, 1986, The Flaming Mug, Fayetteville, NC
After my tour of duty in England, the Air Force sent me back to Pope. I was thrilled to get to see BOC in this intimate setting but it came at a big cost. Al (drums) and Joey (bass) had left the band.
Wish I could remember the setlist, but it's just a flickering light now. I remember talking to one of their roadies about Al and Joey leaving.
September 29, 1990, Baity’s Music Garden, Winston Salem, NC
My good friend Derek, who was a fellow RUSH fan, visited me from New York City. We drove from Fayetteville up to Winston-Salem. I had never been to this place before.
Hard to forget it though, a bare bones set up. Got close to the band, and at the end of the show, shook hands with Buck.
The support band were head bangers. Can’t remember their name.
Feb 9, 1991, The Cabaret, San Jose, CA
For my assignment to Tunisia the Air Force first sent me to Defense Language Institute in Monterey. I didn’t want to go to the show by myself, but none of my classmates were into it.
Typical bar set up, BOC came on late to the tune of Blade Runner. I got fairly close.
Don’t remember much about the show, but I had an unforgettable experience on my drive to Monterey from North Carolina.
I stopped by and visited with Bolle Gregmar in L.A. Really glad I did. In addition to being super nice, Bolle showed me his Cult Museum. We talked for several hours. Melne was there too, and we went out to eat.
Never forget Bolle saying, “they’re just the band, I’m Blue Oyster Cult.”
Bolle sure has done a lot for the group, including publishing the lyrics.
(Anyone remember the lyrics you could get by sending a SASE? I think the address was given on Tyranny and Mutation. I did, and they sent them to me. Might even be somewhere with all my junk. They were printed out on the computer paper of the day).
October 11, 1998, "Taste of DC," Washington, D.C.
This is an annual early fall event held on Pennsylvania Avenue between 9th and 14th. Always get great turnouts.
Great weather. Hung out behind the stage afterwards. Eric asked someone how to get to I-95 north. Buck said they had gotten 3 hours sleep. Show around 4 pm.
Classic Rock 94.7 was one of the hosts. "Heaven Forbid" had come out in March. I was thinking, yep, the curse of classic rock, the radio station plays DFTR and Burnin, but they are not going to play anything from "Heaven Forbid."
October 4, 2003, Fredericksburg Fairgrounds, Fredericksburg, VA (40 miles south of DC)
A most memorable show, but not for the reasons one would expect.
About 200 fans of a country artist whose names fails me right now were camped out on the worn down grass in front of the out-door stage. So the BOC fans, whose total did not exceed 20, stood out – literally!
The boys played on like true professionals. I remember Buck improvising his solo on Burning. Damn you Mr. Roeser, you brought tears to my eyes.
Danny Miranda played with another group at the smaller stage. We’re talking real small.
And major props to the better half who went with me.
June 10, 2005, "Celebrate Fairfax," Fairfax, Virginia (western suburb of DC)
Celebrate Fairfax always draws a lot of people. This show was held in the back corner of the parking lot. A fine turnout, perhaps more than 1,000.
Rare Earth played beforehand. I dug 'em in the 60s and 70s, but had never seen them.
During DFTR, some guy behind me played a large cowbell. At first I thought it was pretty cool, that whole chanelling of SNL (More Cow Bell), but he was right behind me and the sound was melting my ears.
September 30, 2006, Rockville Town Center, Rockville, MD (northwest of DC)
We took the Metro to get there, so this was certainly the most convenient show to get to. It was the Red Line on DC Metro so I’m sure I thought about Hot Rails to Hell!!
The stage was a short walk from the Metro stop. I had heard Rockville had revitalized with the town center, and you could see it had.
I remember Eric asking about what baseball teams people pulled for. At one point, Buck stared toward the sky, holding the pose.
I got real close to the stage and saw some of the regular fans who make a lot of the shows.
Well, that's a wrap. I'm in a drought as far as seeing them, so I'm really looking forward to the show here next month.
Rock on oyster boys!
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