We still go to the Mann and the Tower often.
Saw the Shins at the Tower recently, and Robert Plant/Alison Kraus at the Mann a couple years ago. The Electric factory is still going, but I haven’t heard much about the Main Point in a long time.
I was a little young for the Electric Factory. The only concert I ever saw at the Mann was the Philadelphia Orchestra. I loved the Tower and saw many great shows there—The Dead, Steven Stills, America, Spyrogyra, Guess Who and others. We’d take the bus to 69th Street, stop at the Balcony for “supplies,” then go to the show. Also at the Spectrum I saw AC/DC, Blue Oyster Cult, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, the Outlaws and Molly Hatchet, U2, and others. I was also in JFK for Live Aid in 85. I haven’t lived there in many years, but I have many great memories of The Spectrum, the Tower, and the Vet. In fact, l9 years ago tonight we were in the Vet for Game 4 of the World Series. Phils lost to Toronto l5-14.
I remember going to the Electric Factory to see Steppenwolf. The warm-up act was a new unknown piano player from England, doing his first U.S. gig. Dressed in just a pair of white coveralls. He played the piano, literally, until his fingers bled. The crowd wouldn’t let him off the stage, and I’m sure Steppenwolf was sitting backstage, collectively P.O.’ed. That was the first time I ever heard of ELTON JOHN, and the rest is history.