And then they played ‘Freebird!’

Ken Partridge 1. Joe Strummer, Fall ’99, The Roxy This was one of those nights I’ll never forget. The show was amazing; Joe Strummer was re-elected emperor of ‘punk rock capital city’ as he called Boston and when he played ‘White Man in Hammersmith Palais,’ the walls almost came tumbling down. Afterward, my best friend and I waited in the freezing cold until 1 a.m. talking to Joe’s bus driver, hoping to meet our idol. Though it would be over a year, I finally shook the man’s hand, something about this evening suggested it wouldn’t get much better than this. Luckily, I was wrong but not by much.

2. The Shods, Fall ’99, TT the Bear’s The Shods are the best Boston band you’ve probably never heard, and, unfortunately, if you didn’t catch them by now you missed your chance. This was the night they released Thanks for Nuthin, the album that would be their last and also their best. To see them live was to forgive yourself for being too young to witness the Jam or the Clash in their heyday. I never got to kiss Cindy Crawford, but it would probably be on par with hearing ‘Eddie Cross’ for the first time.

3. Men at Work, Fall ’99, Middle East I’m convinced that music means the most when you’re at rock bottom. September of 1999 was a difficult time for those of us not adjusting to college life particularly well. Fear, paranoia, incessant thoughts of the girl that got away these were some of the pop favorites I was humming in those days. But that night at the Middle East, the greatest Aussie rock band of all time put my mind at ease. I realized that I’d been living the song ‘Overkill,’ and knew exactly what Colin Hay meant when he sang, ‘Ghosts appear and fade away.’ For some of us, the ghosts just linger a little longer. I’m so emo.

Kerri Chyka 1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Spring ’02, Orpheum The tickets for Nick Cave (which maxed out my credit card) were a ‘Yay,-we’re-in-the-same-country’ present to my boyfriend after returning from a semester in Dublin. Nick Cave is one of our favorite songwriters and neither of us had seen him live before. Neko Case and Her Boyfriends’ gothic-country sound served as the perfect prologue to the Bad Seeds. Cave performed like a fiery preacher, enchanting us with wild murder ballads, poetic love songs and murky, carnivalesque rockers from all eras of his career. The instrumentation was beautifully varied, heavily driven by piano and strings. Everything about that night made us feel like we were on ‘The Mercy Seat.’

2. Morrissey, Spring ’00, Avalon He’s everyone’s favorite miserable Englishman. Even though Morrissey showed signs of graying, he put on one hell of a show. I felt like I was watching a new-wave Elvis. Sexually frustrated, skinny boys in hoodies crowd-surfed to get on stage and touch their beloved Moz. I’d never seen such hysteria at a concert before. After the divine Morrissey touched my hand a few times, I started to get into the obsessive groove as well. He gave us a special treat by playing five or so Smiths songs, all of which were very welcome. Although it was a bit saddening to see the once lanky lad with the jet-black pompadour age, he’s still got star power.

3. The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Fall ’02, Paradise This past November, I was very lucky to be able to interview TSOOL for the Muse. In fact, I was the only journalist in Boston interviewing them, so what was supposed to be a 15-minute interview turned into an hour-and-a-half and a few rounds in the Paradise Lounge. Guitarist Ian Person and I had an especially great time talking about random things like Arthur Lee, partying with the Gallaghers and Swedish bands. TSOOL are one of the most energetic live bands around and they have great chemistry with each other. They even make the audience feel like part of the band during their shows. I’m not a groupie girl, I swear. I’m just spoiled.

Joey Arak 1. Godspeed you black emperor!, Fall ’99, Middle East Upstairs My first show ever at BU just so happened to fall on the eerie date of 9/9/99, adding a supernatural element to this awe-inspring show. I had never heard GSYBE! before, and I went to this show at the Middle East Upstairs based on a tip from a friend back home. Imagine 200 people crammed into an attic, watching a tiny stage that somehow fit nine musicians who were pouring their souls into the most swirling, violent orchestral music you’ve ever heard, while atmospheric black-and-white films were projected onto the wall behind them. I was ready to quit my life and just follow Godspeed around, but my mom said no.

2. !!! and Les Savy Fav, Fall ’02, Middle East Rarely do opening bands blow you away, but !!! (pronounced chik-chik-chik) put on something truly special: a mini-orchestra of indie rock goofballs playing party-funk with sneering punk vocals. Everyone worked up a sweat, and that was just for the opener! Then came Les Savy Fav, the best art-punk band to ever go to RISD who weren’t the Talking Heads. LSF was touring behind their awesome Go Forth, which was still fresh material, instead of the tired old piece of work that they’re still touring on today. Frontman Tim Herrington came into the crowd and gyrated all over us. His beard was scratchy.

3. Don Caballero, Fall ’01, Middle East A great concert because of the events surrounding it. Everybody in the crowd knew that the veteran instrumental, math-rock trio hated each other, and the tension was thick. In a bizarre turn, each band member performed a solo, 15-minute set before the group’s full performance. Drummer Damon Che pounded out metal riffs on a guitar, bassist Erich Ehm played looping electronic music on a laptop and guitarist Ian Williams played elevator music on a Discman while setting things on fire and making out with audience members. Then Don Caballero tore through a set while not uttering a word to each other and followed it up by crashing their van a week later and breaking up for good. And indie rock history was made.

Christinia Crippes 1. Doves and The Strokes, Spring ’01, Paradise I went to see Doves in my ‘Britpop girl’ prime. More often than not, I skip opening bands, but by chance or fate, I came early to this show. Fortunately, what I found there was the first band that I could say, ‘I heard them before anyone else.’ The Strokes, with just one EP, opened up for and outshined (by miles) Doves. I was shocked that a fluffer band could be so young, incredibly good-looking and, above all, performing awesome tunes. And I even almost grabbed Julian Casablancas’ tight-jeaned ass. Instead, I thought I’d seem creepy and now I’ll regret that forever.

2. Wilco, Fall ’02, Orpheum It was the second time I saw Wilco, but first since they had become my favorite band. The first time I saw them was with my Belleville (singer Jeff Tweedy’s hometown) friend. The second time was with my parents, who raised me in Belleville for 14 years. Unlike high school, it became acceptable to take them. In fact, my friends were impressed. The show was both incredible and interesting because I heard songs from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in purer form. Then, Tweedy lost his voice from rocking out so hard. Plus, the guy behind me asked where the band was from, and I got to fire back about my hometown.

3. Andrew Bird, Spring ’03, Middle East Upstairs Sans his Squirrel Nut Zippers, Bowl of Fire and his shoes, Andrew Bird balanced playing a guitar, a violin, whistling and singing. His backing band was just the two speakers behind him. It was my first experience with Bird’s greatness, but I knew instantly that I was in for a treat. Then, upon hearing lyrics like ‘I’m so lame, but I think this song is about me,’ I was entirely won over. Bird makes me want to live in a barn, like him, and listen to his beautifully clever music with chickens who get their own room.