I was recently with a group of people from around the country. I knew some of them very well, and some were newer acquaintances. As such, conversations can be awkward. Not this time. We had a great discussion about concerts we attended. Try these questions out next time you are in a group.
What was the first concert you ever saw? It is amazing how quickly people can answer this one. Mine was The Grass Roots at Adventureland Park sometime in the late 1970s. This was music from my older sister that I heard around the house growing up, and I loved it.
What was the last concert you saw? The answer proved to be tougher for nearly everyone, except for those who attended a show in recent months. The pandemic certainly slowed this down for most of us. Aside from local bands at community festivals, the last concert I saw was probably Jackson Browne at the Civic Center. He was amazing.
What was the worst concert you have ever seen? People don’t seem to hesitate when answering this one, as the answer is usually related to the performers being under the influence of something. Mine was a different story. Jolene and I saw the band Kansas perform after an Iowa Cubs game sometime in the 1990s. We attended with another couple, and we tried to name Kansas songs on our drive to the stadium. “Dust in the Wind.” “Point of Know Return.” “Carry on Wayward Son.” And… it became difficult after those three. Even so, we were looking forward to hearing those songs. What we didn’t expect — and what made it my worst concert ever — were the 20-minute instrumentals in each and every song. Painful.
What was the best concert you have ever seen? This was another easy answer for the people in the group I was with, and the responses offered insight into each person’s interests. I took my mother to see Alan Jackson play at Wells Fargo Arena a decade or so ago. We were seated on the floor in the first 10 rows, and we felt like we were in the Jackson living room. He is an incredible performer, yet humble and sincere. I wasn’t a big country music fan, but I was entertained for an evening by a series of songs that I recognized by one of the industry’s greatest.
A close second for me was Barry Manilow. Yes, Barry Manilow. My friend Clint Dudley and I bought group tickets for a Wells Fargo Arena suite for this show at a fundraising auction. The trick proved to be in finding anyone else to go with us. But we did, and the concert was truly amazing with another series of sing-along songs from a true entertainer.
So give these questions a try next time you are in a group setting and struggling for some interesting conversation. You will find common ground and learn new things from people you think you hardly knew — and you might learn a little something about yourself, too.
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 | 
