Face it, birthdays are celebrated in so many ways. Some ignore them and some have over the top celebrations that may spill over several days! The older people get, the more likely it is that they downplay or even ignore their birthdays. You can have your cake, stripper-grams and well wishes. For me, it’s going to a concert on or near my birthday that puts the cherry on top of the sundae! But it’s not as easy as it may seem.

It all started when I was in college. I celebrated my 19^th birthday with the first of 5 birthday shows over the last 40+ years. On February 24, 1974 I saw Yes (Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame 2017) at Barton Hall on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. It was a memorable show for a myriad of reasons that have nothing to do with the theme of this blog. This began a short run of birthday shows that fell on my birthday.

Next up the following year, on February 24, 1975, I was able to see Jethro Tull at the Syracuse War Memorial, NY. Ian Anderson and company were at the height of their popularity back in the ‘70’s. The following year, on February 24, 1976 I took in Joni Mitchell (RnR HoF 1997) with Tom Scott and the LA Express at the same venue. Tom Scott not only was the opening act, his was the back-up band for Joni Mitchell! This was the last of three birthday shows, in a row.

Fast forward 15 years and the stars aligned for another birthday show. This time it was acoustic guitar virtuoso Tommy Emanuel in my first show at the Charleston Music Hall on February 24,2012! If you have never seen Tommy live, his performance would be enjoyed by anyone who likes popular music. He is a virtuoso on the guitar and admired by musicians and fans the world over! Chet Atkins referred to Tommy as a complete guitar player…quite a compliment coming from a master of the guitar.

Five years hence, on Feb. 24, 2017, I brought 20 of my friends to the Music Hall for a local production, “Women and the Rolling Stones”. Local ladies have been producing this series for the last four years as they interpret the music of various artists. Women and the Stones did not disappoint!

There has to be a time limit to when to call one a birthday show.  For me, it was always up to three days either side of my birthday. Using this as my guide, my first near birthday show was the Boss, Bruce Springsteen (RnR HoF 1997), at the Omni in Atlanta, February 23, 1981. A great show (when has Bruce ever done a bad show?)! It was then six years later when a show that I wanted to see was scheduled near my birthday. It was February 26, 1987 back at the Omni during my second stint living in Atlanta. Genesis (RnR HoF 2010), with Phil Collins singing lead and playing the drums, put on one hell of a show that night.

On February 25, 2015 I got to celebrate my birthday with the Tedeschi –Trucks Band at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks front an 11-piece band that never fails to deliver a great performance. The following year, on February 25, 2016 I enjoyed ‘Experience Hendrix’ at the Gaillard Center in Charleston. Experience Hendrix is a variety show bringing together a wide and varied assembly of great rock musicians and guitar wizards. This year, on February 27, 2018, I added Eric Johnson as his original band celebrated the 40^th anniversary of Au via Musicom with a performance at the Charleston Music Hall.

If you have similar interests, I would love to hear about memorable birthday shows! Getting a show that you want to see fall on or near your birthday is not an easy feat if you don’t live in or near a major city. As my tally demonstrates, it’s only happened to me five times on my birthday and five more near my birthday in forty-seven years! How about you?   #Do you believe in Magic? #YES #TommyEmanuel #CharlestonMusicHall #JethroTull