What was the last concert you attended?

Elvis Costello with the Minnesota Orchestra Elvis is one of my favorite live performers, I've seen him 4 times now, all since 1999...so I missed out on his early more "punk" years if you want to call them that, but what this past decade has done for him is it's made him and incredible and intese performer. I have his entire catalogue, and including the 2 disc versions of all his albums, it counts 50 CDs at this point, he is THAT prolific, so he always has a great depth of selection. The first time I saw him in 1999, he was doing an acoustic tour with his pianist Steve Nieve, who has been his piano acompaniment throughout his career way back since his second Attractions record.

This was a truly magical night for me, because my (now) wife and I get engaged on that night, and then went to the show, and even though we'd been to some incredibly powerful shows in the past (think heavy metal, like Pantera, Black Sabbath, etc. ) where the intensity level was so raw you could taste it, this show had a power unlike anything I'd previously experienced. It was a small concert hall and just the piano, voice and ocassional acoustic guitar. He played 35 songs over the course of 2 1/2 hours, no opening act, just the two of them, and he hit on almost every era of his career.

Since then I've been a huge fan of his live shows. The second time we went to see him, it was with his rock and roll band the Imposters, which was a different dynamic, but still an incredible show. The third time was yet a different format, in support of his River in Reverse recording with Jazz legend Allen Toussaint, the two took the stage together and played songs from their collaborative album and from each one's respective solo career, again, a very intense, dynamic and unusual show.

So when I found out he was coming to the Minnesota Orchestra to play part of the ballet he wrote "Il Sogno", followed by a rock and roll set supported by the Orchestra (and Mr. Nieve) as his backing band, I managed to get tickets in the front row, nearly dead center for the first night of a two night engagement. It was a truly awe inspiring performance yet again, and I'm glad I went because I've never seen anything quite like it (at least not live on stage). This was just about a month ago.

Not that you asked, but tomorrow night I will be attending a different concert, this one is stand up comedy, the comedian is Jim Gaffigan, perhaps best known for his Sierra Mist commercials, his skit about Hot Pockets and his Pale Force cartoons that are featured on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He is perhaps the funniest commedian out there today, and I was fortunate enough to win 4 tickets to see him at one of the 4 shows he's doing in town this weekend. Previous to the show I mentioned, the last thing I saw was Prince on his 7/7/07 homecoming show...he also played something like 29 or 30 songs over 2+ hours, and just a few days before that I got to see a free outdoor show put on by Morris Day and the Time...that week was like 1984 all over again....that same night I also got to see a little bit of Tapes N Tapes as they were playing a free stage next door to the one the Time had played on shortly thereafter, but I didn't stick around for much of that.

In June I saw Tool and a few days before that I saw Gwen Stefani with Akon and Lady Sovereign. Prior to this I went to a small club to see Peeping Tom, the new band featuring Mike Patton (most famously the lead singer of Faith No More). I love live music of all varieties...I've seen everything from the Lilith Fair to Ozzfest (in fact in the same year I believe), and just about everything in between.

But of everything I've ever seen, the 4 Elvis Costello shows, certainly including this last one, all stand out about most of the others.

Air Supply and Christopher Cross... At Humphrey's By The Bay in San Diego. Now I know some of you are probably snickering right now, but Air Supply has gotten quite good in their old(er) age. Most everyone who goes to the shows knows the songs and sings along, and Graham and Russell don't take themselves too seriously.It's an over the top night of romance and filled with dramatic, sentimental music from the 80's (mostly).

They have updated arrangements on most of their songs and some have a "rockier" quality than before. Their band is top notch too...the bassist is a supremely talented guy and the keyboard player is awesome too with some classical stuff now and again. Not to leave out the drummer, he rocks too!

If you get a chance, be sure to check out a concert at Humphrey's. The stage is out on a grassy area that overlooks a marina.At night, you get the cool breeze blowing the palm trees, you can see the boats and the houses of San Diego on the hill AND great music! It's quite a venue.

And Christopher Cross is good too. A very mellow, thoughful dude who has done some great, memorable songs over the years as well. It was a great night!

Sources: my experience HankMoody's Recommendations Ultimate Air Supply Amazon List Price: $13.98 Used from: $7.99 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 35 reviews) Also check out Graham Russell's latest album called "The Future." .

I saw She Wants Revenge at the Troubador It was great to see a relatively big band in such a small venue. We first saw them about 2 years ago and they were just hitting the road. Their act was a little rough even though I thought the music was great.

They are so polished now. Just wonderful. -layyla-'s Recommendations This Is Forever Amazon List Price: $10.99 Used from: $4.43 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 6 reviews) She Wants Revenge Amazon List Price: $9.98 Used from: $4.99 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 165 reviews) These Things - EP Amazon List Price: $4.98 Used from: $3.49 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 19 reviews) Tear You Apart Amazon List Price: $8.49 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) .

It was ZZ Top at the Erie County fair. Two years ago, I think. Great show!.

1 "Elvis Costello with the Minnesota Orchestra":how exciting! I've never seen him live - although I would love to! .

Elvis Costello with the Minnesota Orchestra":how exciting! I've never seen him live - although I would love to!

Where do I look for just released music/concert dvd's on amazon.

If so what are the people like at the concert.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.