Lollapalooza (Sonic Youth) at Randall's Island, NYC (7/28/1995)

I started listening to Sonic Youth when I was 13, the year Goo was released. I spent a lot of time painting in the basement that summer to a soundtrack of Sonic Youth and Jimi Hendrix. This show marked the first of a gazillion times I would see Sonic Youth. Back then, I thought Kim was the bee's knees. I'm now, and will forever be, all about Lee.

Wikipedia told me that the following bands played Lollapalooza that day: Sonic Youth, Hole, Cypress Hill, Pavement, Elastica, Beck, The Jesus Lizard, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones on the main stage. Of all the bands listed on the side stage, I can only confirm that the Dambuilders played. As for who I remember seeing that day, it's a pathetically small list: Sonic Youth, Hole, Cypress Hill, and Beck, who was pelted by fistfulls of muddy grass. (Although I didn't participate in this assault on the poor guy, it would take me about three or four more years to learn to appreciate his genius.)

Live at Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA (7/22/1995)

I loved that "placenta falls to the floor" song and you did, too. This show marked the first time I drove to Philly. To this day, I still get really excited by all of the lights on Boathouse Row. (This show also marks the first of many times I have skipped a women's restroom line by using the men's loo.)

Phish at Waterloo Field, Stanhope, NJ (6/23/1995)

I'm pretty sure this is the last time I saw Phish. I'm also pretty sure that this is the concert when a kid fell out of a Jeep and was killed, which explains why I remember the traffic being so terrible that day.

Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Orange 9mm at Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ (5/5/1995)

I remember that we got to the show waaaaaay too early. After waiting an eternity, Orange 9mm played. Eventually, Ned's Atomic Dustbin came on, and it felt like we already had been at the club for two days. I can't recall if we got to hear the big radio hit or not before Jarad demanded that we leave. (Thanks for letting me drag you there in the first place!)

God Fodder is still one of my all time top albums. It's one of the rare albums that I will still listen to from start to finish without skipping any tracks. An ex-boyfriend told me that the bassist works at the Parkside Lounge. Or, maybe I'm confused and he meant the guy from Jesus Jones. Anyway, some British ex-pat works at a bar in Manhattan.

Blues Traveler at State Theater, New Brunswick, NJ (05/01/1995)

God Street Wine probably opened. Sara probably went with me. (Later in 1995, I went to see Sonic Youth play at Roseland. Before we boarded the bus, we had to go pick up a friend from a house off campus. While there, another friend handed me the God Street Wine CDs I had lent him a few weeks earlier. I packed them in my backpack and off we went. After arriving at the Roseland, I checked my bag, which now included t-shirts that friends had just bought, in addition to a few Sony Walkmans and mixed tapes. After the show ended, the coat check workers were unable to present my bag. Roseland eventually paid me about $250 for everything that I lost. I swore after that day never to return, even if the Pixies were to reunite and play there. When the Pixies announced they would be touring again in 2004, I thought I would have to eat my words. Luckily, they played the Hammerstein. And that's the story of how I lost every God Street Wine CD I ever owned.)

Phish at Madison Square Garden, NYC (12/30/1994)

Yep, twice in one year. I don't know what to say. So, I'll tell you about NJ Transit. Maybe it's still true today, but in the mid-90s, after an event at Madison Square Garden, I almost never had to pay for my ride. Too many people, too few conductors willing to push through the masses of (smelly) people in the aisles.