Have you ever been in the front row for a concert?
 

Only once for me - Earl Klugh - 2500 seat Mershon auditorium on the campus of "THE" Ohio State University. Obviously not a top draw, but exciting none the less being escorted to the from row and having the star of the show right in front of me. I have experienced this many times in clubs, house concerts and other small venues, but only that once in a larger concert hall.

Back in the day before the internet, making a play for front row seats required one to camp out in line at the ticket window the night before - if not longer - and even then it was common to end up in the second or third row, most likely due to the number of front row seats reserved for guests of the band, local DJ's, contest winners, and other such dignitaries.

How about you - ever been fortunate enough to grab a front row seat for a auditorium/arena concert?

More times than I can remember (ran a record store for many years and sold tickets) Back in the day - Rush several times, Van Halen, Toto, Boz Scaggs, Marty Stuart, Jaco Pastorius, Doc Watson, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger, George Winston. Sat at Michael Hedges feet a few times and watched him play. Many more that aren't coming to mind right now.

I don't "do" stadium anything anymore - all of my shows are in venues that are about 400 tops. I did have second row seats to Diana Krall a few months ago, and that was pretty cool.

David Bowie, Diamond Dogs tour, Charlotte, N.C., 1974.

Twice

Once for Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani (front row center actually). First concert I ever attended where I heard the stage amps and not the sound system.

Second time was for Credence Clearwater Revisited.

D

Gentle Giant and Rick Wakeman (King Arthur tour) 1975, Riverfront Coliseum. To be more accurate, we really weren't in front row seats; we were in front of them at the front edge of the stage. Made for wonderful photo making.

Merce Cunningham, music/soundscapes by John Cage at Mershon in the early '80s. We sat right by Cage, too (he was set up on the floor in front of the stage), absolutely amazing concert. We've been to Mershon lots of times in the early '80s.

Frank Zappa, Hartford Civic Center. I saw him more than once, am not sure of the year of this one. My guess is 1979 or 1980.

Who did he have for guitarists?

Never as an attendee but a couple times photographing the band for a local radio station. I did get to meet Alan Jackson and go on his bus when shooting for the radio station. My wife came along as my "assistant"

At the time he was my wife's FAVORITE singer which scored me major points!

Best,
PJ

I had front centre seats on the upper level of the beautiful State Theatre in Sydney for Yes about 9 years ago.

https://i.imgur.com/HWFGZAVl.jpg

I seem to be getting front row side seats more often, but that's at civic arts centers where the crowd is less avid than at rock concerts, and patrons are more reserved. In the past year, I've sat up close for Tommy Emmanuel and for "The Low Down Dirty Blues," a stage revue of classic blue Blues tunes. That one led me into some uncomfortable audience interactio, when the Big Mama character chose me, sitting alone, as a partner as she got her Mojo working.

Then there was a personal highlight, my first time to see the Maria Schneider jazz orchestra, a highly respected 18-piece big band. Our tix, bought just a couple days before, were front row center. It was great to watch Maria, who composes on piano but doesn't play publicly, conducting the band with the grace of a trained dancer. But I wasn't prepared for the sheer power and impact of a dozen horns at close range. The solo mikes were placed about 12 feet in front of me. When the trombonists racked their long valves in and out, I wanted to duck! I sat four feet below the stage, so the effect was more overwhelming. But overall, it was great to see the band filling my whole field of view. I could hear a better-balanced mix on the album, but this was once in a lifetime.

Each of these ticket purchases happened in the last few days before the show, suggesting that front row isn't the first to go-- at least with the "mature" performers and crowds I seem to be hanging with.

Too bad ...
 

You missed all that beautiful architecture behind you. ; >

Front row seats: Steven Stills and Mananas, ~1972. HOLLYWOOD BOWL. Front row BOX seats, just right of center.

Stills kept checking out my date. I think he coulda' had her.

Yes, my friend had front row seats, but unfortunately it was for a Gallagher (the comedian) concert. I still today can't look at a watermelon without cringing. ;)

Oh, I almost forgot front row about 10 feet from Jorma Kaukonen doing a very intimate small club date. That was much better.

Supposedly Earl slick and Carlos Alomar, but I couldn't swear to it. I am fairly certain that I do remember Earl Slick being there. But I could be wrong.

John Denver

Jeff Golub Dave Koz and Peter White

Gordon Lightfoot

Doyle Dykes