Amazing Commodore Ballroom archive shows how much your drunk ass has forgotten

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      Our friend Aaron Chapman of the Town Pants hipped us to an amazing new feature on the Commodore Ballroom's website.

      Click here, and you'll get the complete skinny on 40 years of shows at Lady Commodore, starting with a two-night stand by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band in March, 1973.

      "It's a hell of a piece of research. And it felt like climbing Mt. Everest to do it," Chapman said, adding that he spent months climbing a similarly sized mountain of Georgia Straight back issues to find out who, for instance, opened for Kiss on January 9, 1975 (the Sam Hurrie Band, whoever the fuck they are).

      Speaking of, did I really see Yo La Tengo on the same bill with My Bloody Valentine in 1992?

      Just how much has my drunk ass forgotten over the years?

      Chapman said that the next stage of the project will cover the years leading up to 1973.

      Comments

      6 Comments

      space ways

      Mar 16, 2013 at 10:27am

      great work!
      one correction to the list on June 21st 1990 it was Sun Ra and his Arkestra not King Sunny Ade

      Brigitte Petersen

      Mar 17, 2013 at 1:32am

      Wow! Wish I had a time machine to go see Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band! What a great band to start off a great night club! Also would have loved to have seen Yo La Tengo and My Bloody Valentine on the same night. Very cool!

      Brigitte Petersen

      Mar 17, 2013 at 2:00am

      Early 80s shows would have been fantastic to see with the likes of The Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Cramps, Gang of Four and The Talking Heads! Amazing! There's nothing of that calibre playing anywhere these days.

      John the Bomb

      Mar 17, 2013 at 1:32pm

      That's right Brigitte! I'd love to see Captain Beefheart. I have a time machine I stole it from some Doctor person. He was busy fighting the Silurians and I grabbed his keys. I'll pick you up at 8pm. Weee!

      The Master

      Mar 17, 2013 at 1:35pm

      Great comments Briggie! I would have gone to both Beefheart shows!

      Wilma DeVito

      Jan 16, 2015 at 11:00am

      Just to let you know we went to the Commodore in the late 50's. It was an elegant dine and dance place where you dressed up to go to and boogie to really great bands!

      I have really fond memories of those days as it was a big treat to go there. There wasn't a lot of money to be spent so you really appreciated the fact that you could go there once in a while.