Yeah, that’s a question that will blow your mind. Trying to name the best band to have ever played in Utica NY is crazy. We all like different music and all sorts of bands have played at different times and different places. Again this is going to be about what you like. They could even be a local band. The first rule of the internet is there is no rules, the second rule is please try to make sure your answer is a band that definitely played in Utica NY at one time or another.
How will you decide what the best band to have ever played Utica is?
The old radio guys like Jerry Kraus, Genesee Joe and Bill Keeler probably all have some great stories of what they have experienced from spending almost half a century on the airwaves and promoting. There are others too, like Robin Raabe, Joe Sweet and Zee who have been on the music scene so long they’ll make your choices look like its your first rodeo. All you drunks don’t even know the kind of music that someone like Robin has brought to our city, but that’s because it truly is hard to crawl out of that pint glass and venture over to a coffee house where there is no beer. She definitely is tuned into the Live music scene in Utica. So is Zee and Joe Sweet and so many people. I know in my lifetime thus far i have been blessed to know these people and have the time to hang out and watch music. 10 years at the Electric Company almost fuckin killed me. If I lost my life from listening to music like that it it would’ve been worth it.
Joe Sweet, he played in like most of the bands that are from Utica and he also had the courage to bring people together for live music events. SoulFlow, the Utica Music and Arts Fest. Nothing like the Joe show.
I expect the people named above to tell me who they think the best band to have ever played Utica is. If you’re reading this make sure you share this with them so they know I’m calling them out.
I also want my dad to answer, but he never reads my blogs so I’ll have that conversation off line. But I know him and my mom would go see different Polka bands at the Bungalow every weekend, and from what I gather my dad fell into one of the bands during the dance. He bought their record, and then asked the to play his wedding. If it wasn’t for Elvis who don’t think ever played Utica, I’d say that was his favorite band to play Utica. The nameless Polka Band. haha.
Remember it’s about you! Who do you think is the best band who ever played Utica. Me, my first concert was The Digable Planets at Hamilton College. I was a junior in high school. That was my first concert I went to without my parents. And if you go with your parents in high school to a concert it doesn’t count. that’s another rule that doesn’t matter. Since then I have tried to absorb as much live music as I can. I absolutely love Woodenspoon. Jay Schnitt constantly surprises me with his talent and there are so many other bands too. Most of them i danced like a freak and yelled weird stuff at. But how would they know that they were making my day until now. If you play music, I love you.
It can be a big band. Kiss played here, The Grateful Dead, all the shows at Saranac Thursday and the Brewery concert series. Its your choice to make fool. It’s hard enough for me to choose my own. But I’m gonna.
My choice for best band to play Utica ever is The grateful dead in 73. I didn’t go, because my parents were still doing polkas. But I did download the show. They are one of my favorite bands and I can’t think of anyone I like more. I’m also really psyched that WEEN is playing so close to Utica. They are definitely awesome!
Now its your turn who is your favorite band to have played Utica NY ever?
I have a few. Jethro Tull, Kansas, Rush, The Doobie Brothers and The Henry Paul Band in Hannah Park.
Favorite band I have to agree with the Grateful Dead. Never saw it so o have to say the best show I got to actually see in Utica was Oyster Head at the Aud.
Foreigner at the Stanley Theater 1995..
I saw the Kinks at the Stanley on Ray Davies’ birthday. That was a great show.
Good question. Stevie Ray Vaughn 1986 the Stanley. Peter Gabriel 1982 the Stanley . God damn this is a toughie. Best local band The frogs. I may reply again. Thanks for including me. An old radio guy lol.
Grateful Dead
I think I’ve most enjoyed the free concerts at the parkway with bands like Becken, 805…and many other homegrown bands.
I Have seen Black Sabath play the Utica Auditorium but they we’re out done by their (at the time) little known opening band (Van Halen). But my favorite Aud show would have to have been The Doobie Brother’s.
August 3, 1976, Doobie Brothers. Opened by Firefall!
That was the first date with my wife of 42 years!
How about the Ramones at 4 Acres ?? !!
By the way
Elvis was scheduled to play the Utica Aud his next show, but missed the show due to his death.
S.I.V at Mohawk Community College Earth Day! They were crazy that day, made the lead story on the local news for disrupting the festivities because people were offended that they protested the City of Rome not allowing the Playground Strip Club to open!
I have to agree with you on the Dead but Asia played second live show ever at the Stanley they were pretty good. https://archive.org/details/gd73-03-22.sbd.sacks.1822.sbeok.shnf
Gentle Giant
or
Grateful Dead
or
Focus
or
ELP
so many to decide !
A hometown master …… Joe Bonamassa
Joe mama and the funk daddy’s,perfect thyroid,and pretty much everything that Joe,Zee,and the etc had to offer! Utica your spoiled and don’t even know it
I have many but top would be Peter Gabriel , followed by Rush, & tull, Pantara, TypeOnegative,so many awesome local bands .
Oh it had to be ZZ Top and j. Giels band at the aud… plus at the Stanley in one show it was Eddie money and Bon Jovi was the opening act… their first national tour… also Robert Palmer at a sold out show at the Stanley was electric !
RUSH! Is this in question? https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/rush/1987/utica-memorial-auditorium-utica-ny-4bd18b72.html
I missed ASIA 🙁 https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/asia/1982/stanley-theater-pittsburgh-pa-3d0cde3.html We can put them on the list as #2
Gentle Giant opened for j.Giels love G.G
Phish at the Aud. Or maybe Trey Anastasio at the Stanley where the balcony almost came down
I would like to add the Schrams for bringing great live music to the Dev and filling a huge void that the closing of the EC left. They brought some GREAT bands in that Utica would never have had the honor of seeing.
For many, many years a concert I saw at the Aud stood as the best concert experience ever – Gregg Allman, c. 1976? (it was the 70’s, so… I do remember it was when he was married to Cher). It was an absolutely mesmerizing experience! So many great bands. Like BTO, who started my guitar pick collection with Randy Bachman’s pick when my friends and I were right up front in the getting spit on by the singer zone back when it was all general admission. Those general admission tickets were ridiculously cheap because it wasn’t so much about the live concert then as the promo for their records. My girlfriends and I quickly learned which door to wait by, take off our platform shoes, and run like hell when the doors opened so we could be right up front. There were so many great bands that played in our area and the outstanding homegrown bands and musicians, especially in the 70’s, when I was lucky enough to have grown up here – from venues like The Aud, the colleges and The Stanley, to the smaller club venues like the legendary Four Acres where we saw Eddie Money, John Cougar, Elvis Costello, and so many more. Utica was always a hot music scene with so much amazing talent. As a music lover, I always felt blessed to be here.
Ozzy, Def Leppard and The Rods at the Utica Aud 1980. Right after Ozzy left Sabbath. I also saw Asia 1982 at the Stanley. Their second live show ever, was a MVCC GIG.
The Rods were called ‘Dave Feinstein and Thunder’ when they played at the Aud. Awesome band! If I remember right, they were a last minute replacement for a band that couldn’t make it to that concert.
Asia played the Stanley although it may have been sponsored by MVCC.
So I will go with this order. Gabriel at the Stanley, Rush at the Aud, Asia at the Stanley, Ozzy at the Aud, Marillion at MVCC.
Marillion at MVCC was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen period.
Went to school and lived in Utica in 1974-75. Saw Johnny Winter in 74′ right after he got out of rehab (the first time). Great show , and he was on ! Did Johnny B Goode for the encore ,wearing a black body suit with matching cape and top hat !
The second show Asia ever played; at the Stanley on April 23, 1982.
I’ll go local with Jack and the Naturals. Incredible performers live!