Ticket Stub Time Travels

 39 years ago today... July 31, 1982 - Phoenix, AZ The championship of professional Team Tennis was held at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Team Tennis was the vision and creation of founder and player Billie Jean King. The start-up league could not sign many other recognizable players and failed to gain any traction in the marketplace. The league started up on two different occasions with a season that lasted less than two months. The Phoenix team was named the "Sunsets," and included Tom Gullikson on the four-person coed roster. The Sunsets lost to the Dallas Stars, led by Kevin Curren and Steve Denton, in the championship match. With Gullikson, Curren and Denton serving as the marquee names in a championship match, the league was certain to fail. Team Tennis is a mere footnote in Phoenix professional sports history.

 39 years ago today... July 30, 1982 - Phoenix, AZ Reigning Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year Barbara Mandrell performed in concert at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandrell had just concluded a two-year stint with her own TV variety show starring her and her sisters and was at the peak of her popularity. She may have been "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed," but "She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool." And "If Loving Her Is Wrong, I Don't Want To Be Right." Mandrell was once of the top acts in country music throughout the 80s. She surprising retired from performance in the late 90s and has never returned to the stage. She is one of only two members of the Grand Old Opry allowed to maintain their membership without returning for shows. Ray Stevens opened the show. With the popularity of his goofy song "The Streak," Stevens became a singer of novelty songs and actor in comedy routines. He opened a theater in Branson, MO, and...

 37 years ago today... July 29, 1984 - Los Angeles & Inglewood, CA Day One of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games saw preliminary action in swimming at the USC Swim Stadium and men's basketball at the Forum. In the swimming competition, we caught glimpses of American stars and eventual Gold Medal Winners Rowdy Gaines and Nancy Hogshead. Watching swimming was relatively boring, but we were treated to a practice routine from U.S. diver Greg Louganis, working from the 10-meter platform in a diving pool adjacent to where we were sitting. The fans were far more interested in watching Louganis from afar, and applauded every practice dive. Olympic basketball was held at the Fabulous Forum, then home to the Los Angeles Lakers. We saw Australia defeat Brazil, and then Yugoslavia with Drazen Petrovic edge West Germany with Detlef Schrempf, both players becoming NBA stars.

 37 years ago today... July 28, 1984 - Los Angeles, CA The Opening Ceremonies for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games were held at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in front of more than 94,000 attendees. We were fortunate to have the ability to purchase tickets to the Olympics via a lottery system, including the coveted Opening Ceremonies tickets. We drove to L.A. to see this event along with preliminaries in boxing, basketball, swimming and volleyball. Under every seat in the Coliseum was a vinyl flag in a primary color. When instructed, patrons held the flag skyward with two hands to create a patchwork scene of flags from all of the participating nations. I taped three instamatic printed pictures together to create this photographic image in a pre-panoramic era. Rafer Johnson, decathlon gold medalist in the 1960 Games, used the Olympic torch to ignite the cauldron in officially starting the competition.

 25 years ago today... July 27, 1996 - Las Vegas, NV Illusionist David Copperfield performed his unique form of magic in the showroom at Caesar's Palace. Copperfield is a long-time entertainer on the Vegas Strip, and is regarded as the most commercially successful magician ever. When he isn't on stage, he is managing his chain of 11 resort islands in the Bahamas. We had excellent center stage seats at a cocktail table in the middle of the showroom. The seats next to us were vacant with a "reserved" tent card sign atop that table. Midway through the show, Copperfield vanished from the main stage, only to appear in the crowd by rising up through the bottom of the adjoining table in an explosion of lights, smoke and sound. He was now standing on the table right next to us, basking in the applause from the amazed audience, us included. David currently is in residency at MGM Grand at the other end of the Strip. We endorse and recommend his show.

 14 years ago today... July 26, 2007 - Phoenix, AZ Rock band Heart played a concert in the round at Celebrity Theatre. Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson appear to prefer Celebrity Theatre over any other Phoenix-area venues, as they have performed there many times in recent years, typically stopping here for every extended tour. With Ann still belting out the lead vocals, Heart songs played live sound much like the radio versions. Guitar slinger Nancy remains easy on the eyes and still does that unique kick/pirouette dance move on stage several times each show.

 32 and 26 years ago today... July 25, 1989 & 1995 - Phoenix, AZ  The Pat Metheny Group played concerts on the same date at Symphony Hall six years apart. This is the second scheduling rarity like this is the seven months of TSTS thus far, the first being Kansas on June 3, 2011 & 2018. Symphony Hall is an appropriate venue for Metheny and the jazz and bossa nova devotees who come to his shows. I was a backstage labor grip learning the concert business when I first saw him (April 12 TSTT) in 1979 and became an immediate fan of his unbelievably fast and mind-bending guitar playing. Along with the date and the venue, another wonderful similarity is that both tickets are stamped "complimentary," my very favorite type of ducat.

 37 years ago today... July 24, 1984 - Scottsdale, AZ Jazz pianist Bob James played an intimate concert at Scottsdale Center for the Arts. James best-known song is "Angela," aka the theme song from the TV show "Taxi." James provided all the music for that show. Bob won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental for his work with Earl Klugh on the album "One on One" released in 1979. He was kind enough to autograph my album following the gig. The concert was presented by KMCR Radio, now known as KJZZ (K-Jazz), in the metro Phoenix market.

23 years ago today... July 23, 1998 - Phoenix, AZ Fleetwood Mac vocalist Stevie Nicks played a solo concert with her band at America West Arena. This was a greatest hits show, as Stevie was touring behind "Enchanted," a three-disc box set cataloging her solo career. The Phoenix Suns Arena downtown, named America West Airlines at the time, served as Stevie's new hometown venue since the closure of both locations of Compton Terrace, owned and operated by her dad Jess. Here's the link to the setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/stevie-nicks/1998/america-west-arena-phoenix-az-53cdb359.html  

 9 years ago today... July 22, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ Willie Nelson & Family took the stage for the 100th concert I had attended at Celebrity Theatre. Willie has been one of my favorites since the 1970s. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview him in 1980 between shows at the DuQuoin (IL) State Fair when he was coming off the "Honeysuckle Rose" movie and CMA Entertainer of the Year honors. This show 32 years later found Willie at age 79 showing signs of slowing down despite still spending 300+ days on the road. Sister Bobbi remained on piano and Paul English on a scaled-down drum kit, but the band was smaller and mellower than their heyday. With this being my 100th ticketed show at Celebrity Theatre, we were invited by venue owner Rich Hazelwood to hang out with him and his little dog in his private suite that sits high above the stage. The suite included sofas and theatre seating for 20 or so with a private bar, draft beer tap and restroom. Rich was a gracious ho...

 4 years ago today... July 21, 2017 - Glendale, AZ Perhaps the leading couple in country music, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, brought their "Soul 2 Soul World Tour" to Gila River Arena. This show was a combination of duets and solo numbers from each of the husband and wife duo. They both made appearances throughout the night, with Faith generally playing earlier in the set and Tim closing the show prior to rejoining for the last few numbers. Musical highlights were "Breathe" by Hill and "Live Like You Were Dying" from McGraw. This writer has been fond of Faith Hill for years, noting that her opening song on NBC's Sunday Night Football was the highlight of the football weekend for many years. She's no longer on the pregame tune, but still remains easy on the eyes. Here's a link to the setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tim-mcgraw-and-faith-hill/2017/gila-river-arena-glendale-az-43e5ab0f.html

 3 years ago today... July 20, 2018 - Phoenix, AZ Chris Isaak made his annual concert appearance at Celebrity Theatre. Regular readers of TSTT will recognize Celebrity Theatre as one of the most popular concert venues we visit in the Phoenix area, host to 127 shows that we have witnessed there since 1982. We've seen Chris Isaak there eight times, more than any other performer. Isaak has a tight touring band, mostly the same guys from his early 2000s "Chris Isaak Show" TV series on Showtime. His 50s-era rock & roll vibe and crooner vocal style makes for a cool live show. "Wicked Game" was a hit from the "Heart Shaped World" album and made for one of the more erotic music videos to ever air. Isaak typically ends his concerts wearing a suit made of small mirrors, turning himself in to a human disco ball shooting rays of light around the venue. The mirrored suit probably weighs 75 pounds. The photos were from a different Isaak show at Celebrity T...

 18 years ago today... July 19, 2003 - Phoenix, AZ We learned how to "Walk Like An Egyptian" during the Bangles concert at Celebrity Theatre. The Bangles, fronted by singer/guitarist Susanna Hoffs, featured all four founding members in this concert that happened 40 years after the band was frequently shown on MTV. Along with "Walk Like An Egyptian," the band's top songs were performed including "Manic Monday," "Eternal Flame" and the Simon & Garfunkel cover "Hazy Shade of Winter." I wasn't expecting a lot, but this show was pretty fun and high energy.

 9 years ago today... July 18, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ  Performing together without brother Michael for the first time, the surviving Jackson brothers brought their Unity Tour to Comerica Theatre. The Jacksons were comprised of the four oldest brothers from The Jackson 5; Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon, touring together for the first time in years. While Michael was missed, his music wasn't as it was highlighted in the encores.

 14 years ago today... July 17, 2007 - Phoenix, AZ Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Stephen Stills and Dave Mason joined forces for a concert at Dodge Theatre. Mason was relegated to only eight songs in his set, singing his solo hits like "We Just Disagree" and "Let It Flow" along with a few Traffic classics. He still sounds great and his show was too brief. Time has not aged Stills' voice well as he struggled to sing his well-known hits and those from CSN and Manassas. His guitar playing remains world class, but his vocal range is now very limited and he couldn't hit some of the notes. I would recommend seeing a current Dave Mason show, but would pass on a Stills concert unless Crosby, Nash and Young join him; wishful thinking on my part.

 44 years ago today... July 16, 1977 - Peoria, IL Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band scheduled a concert at Glen Oak Park Amphitheatre, but pouring rain moved it to the sweltering Bradley Fieldhouse. Regular readers of TSTT will recall our discovery of Seger at a festival in Indiana the year prior where he introduced and played the "Live Bullet" album in its entirety. Now just over a year later, Seger has reached major popularity thanks to the live album and his new release, "Night Moves," immediately a rock radio classic. Both "Live Bullet" and "Night Moves" got many hours of airplay on 8-track tape in my Olds Cutlass. We drove to Peoria with high expectations of the pending show at a beautiful outdoor stage in a city park where we saw Atlanta Rhythm Section and Heartsfield a few weeks earlier. Mother Nature had other plans, and torrential rains moved the outdoor show to the Bradley Fieldhouse, an aging basketball arena for the local univ...

 15 years ago today... July 15, 2006 - Phoenix, AZ Lyle Lovett & His Large Band played a concert at Dodge Theatre. Lyle Lovett rivals REO Speedwagon for the most shows I've seen live, both in the 20+ category. This show was with His Large Band which includes local favorites Francine Reed and Ray Herndon in an ensemble which changes but is always Large with horns, backup singers, two lead guitars and a cello. I love the Large Band, but Lyle is equally entertaining and witty in his acoustic shows when he shares the stage with another singer-songwriter or two in a guitar-pull format. Guy Clark, Robert Earl Keen, John Hiatt, Bonnie Raitt and Joe Ely are among his friends that we've seen him perform with. We met Lyle at our favorite Scottsdale honky tonk, Handlebar J, owned by Herndon, following one of his local concerts where he promoted the bar between songs. He was as friendly and funny as expected. A year later, Lyle performed at Handlebar J in celebrating its anniversary...

 29 years ago today... July 14, 1992 - San Diego, CA The 63rd playing of the MLB All Star Game was held at Jack Murphy Stadium with the American League defeating the National League 13 - 6 in front of nearly 60,000 fans. We sat in the left field seats where a Ken Griffey Jr. home run ball landed just a few rows in front of us. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Ted Williams threw out the first pitch. The combined rosters included 19 players who have since been inducted into the Hall of Fame including Ozzie Smith making his 12th ALG appearance and Cal Ripken Jr. making his 10th. Three San Diego Padres, Tony Gwynn, Benito Santiago and Fred McGriff, made the starting lineup representing the host city.

 28 years ago today... July 13, 1993 - Tempe, AZ The touring production of Broadway hit "Les Miserables" was performed at Gammage Auditorium on the Arizona State University campus. This France-based musical is one of the longest running Broadway shows and a multiple Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Original Score. While this wasn't my favorite stage show ever, we have seldom been disappointed with shows from the Broadway Series that annually comes to Gammage Auditorium.

 45 years ago today... July 12, 1976 - Nashville, TN Classic country, Dixieland jazz and rock guitar converged in a variety-driven show at the Grand Old Opry. The Opry had moved to this venue from the Ryman Auditorium two years prior. Performers included pianist Floyd Cramer, country crooner Tom T. Hall, Yakety-sax player Boots Randolph and guitar innovator Les Paul. We didn't know that Randolph and Paul would be on the bill. Ironically, we were turned away from Boots' Printer's Row nightclub the week prior for being underage. Paul was the most compelling, demonstrating his Les "Paulverizer" loop recording technique that made it seem like he was playing several guitars at once. We enjoyed Hall and his radio-friendly songs like "I Like Beer" and "Fox On the Run." Cramer was vocal-free elevator Muzak and seemed out of place in this show. This has been my only visit to the Opry to date, but we are scheduled for a return there this September, ...

 10 years ago today... July 11, 2011 - Phoenix, AZ The MLB Home Run Derby and Workout Day, part of All Star Weekend, was held for the first time ever in Arizona at Chase Field. As Diamondbacks season ticket holders, we retained our seats for the ticket strip of events including celebrity softball, futures game, team workouts, HR derby and the game itself. Robinson Cano of the Yankees won the HR Derby over Adrian Gonzales of the Red Sox. The participants were controversial in that "captain" Prince Fielder elected to add his Brewers teammate Rickie Weeks Jr. to the derby roster over hometown Arizona star Justin Upton, the local face of All Star Weekend. C/W star Jason Aldean played a 3-song concert with pyrotechnics that was unexpected. We scored invites to Upton's All Star Party at American Junkie in the Old Town Scottsdale nightclub district. I'm not sure why, but we walked the red carpet and were photographed with the celebrity host and the co-sponsoring Fox Spor...

 44 years ago today... July 10, 1977 - Chicago, IL The "Super Bowl of Rock" headlined by Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynyrd was held at Soldier Field. The day opened with a then-relatively unknown .38 Special followed by a new version of Journey and one of the first ever appearances by Steve Perry. Regional favorites REO Speedwagon came on next and then Skynyrd, at their live show peak and the best band of the day. Ted Nugent, also arguably at his career peak performance-wise, closed the festival. In this pre-bottled water era, each of the 60K+ in attendance at Soldier Field could bring in a gallon jug. When Nugent took the stage, the empty jugs were thrown from the back and upper levels of the stadium down to the main floor and toward the stage. Jugs were tossed at the band with Nuge egging it on. So many gallon jugs accumulated on stage the show was stopped and staff with push brooms worked to clear the area.

 5 years ago today... July 9, 2016 - Phoenix, AZ The leader and creative genius behind the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, performed the band’s greatest hits and the entire “Pet Sounds” album in a concert at Celebrity Theatre. This rare tour from Brian was in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of “Pet Sounds,” the 1966 release that is generally regarded as one of the most creative and influential albums in rock/pop music history. Former Beach Boys bandmates Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin played guitars in his band. This was a superior group to the Mike Love-led band touring county fairs and casinos behind the Beach Boys name. The first half of the concert was Wilson’s solo work and select Beach Boys classics. Following an intermission, the band returned to play the “Pet Sounds” album from front to back in its entirety, followed by “Good Vibrations” and a six-song encore. This was the best Beach Boys-related show that I’ve seen. Jardine served as the front man and introduced most of ...

 7 years ago today... July 7, 2014 - Phoenix, AZ Bob Weir and Ratdog jammed in front of a contingent of Deadheads at Celebrity Theatre. Wearing his signature Birkenstock Arizona sandals, Weir led his band through a set of Grateful Dead songs and other covers. I shot these photos on my phone from our 8th row seats. Here's a link to the setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ratdog/2014/celebrity-theatre-phoenix-az-3c1e5b3.html

 29 years ago today... July 6, 1992 - Phoenix, AZ The Space Cowboy, Steve Miller, played a rock concert at Desert Sky Pavilion. As expected, the bulk of Miller's set was pulled from his back-to-back chart-busting albums of 1976 & 1977, "Fly Like An Eagle" and "Book of Dreams." Steve would define himself as a picker, a grinner, a lover and a sinner, playing music in the sun. He is also a joker, a smoker and a Midnight toker. He does not want to hurt anyone. And by playing songs he recorded nearly 20 years earlier, he is OK Taking The Money and Running.

 16 years ago today... July 5, 2005 - Phoenix, AZ The St. Louis Cardinals downed the host Arizona Diamondbacks 7 - 1 at Bank One Ballpark. Albert Pulos was 3 for 4 with a double and homer and 3 RBI. This was just a random game, but I kept the stub since it's autographed by the player pictured, Jose Valverde, Arizona's all-time season and career saves leader. "Papa Grande" was a flamboyant closer and an All Star with the team when he led the league in saves in 2007.

 12 years ago today... July 4, 2009 - Denver, CO Behind a six-run 8th inning, the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the host Colorado Rockies 11 - 7 in front of 49,096 fans at Coors Field. Baseball and Independence Day go hand in hand and there were fireworks on and off the field. The teams combined for 25 hits in hitter-friendly Coors Field in a 3-1/2 hour game. It was fun to be part of the small but mighty visiting crowd and a come-from-behind win in an otherwise forgettable season. The postgame fireworks display over downtown Denver was spectacular. We had seats owned by the Rocky Mountain brewer itself in Row 2 directly behind home plate with access to the private Coors Clubhouse, included in a Coors in Colorado package we bought in a charity auction.