The title is one of my little rules for life, and one I try to follow if I can help it. There are always exceptions when timing doesn’t work out (U2, Springsteen, Yngwie), and I usually end up regretting them, even if there was nothing I could do about the situation. Even if the performer’s someone I’ve never heard of, or performs a style I’m not necessarily into, I can always find something to enjoy and appriciate in live musical performance.

I bring this up, because last night, I didn’t refuse the opportunity, and enjoyed a nice set of light, improvisational jazz by the Herb Smith Trio in a beautiful historic manor house in Maryland with some friends, and had a great time.

And also, because a couple of weeks ago on the Social Network That Must Not Be Named, I saw a “list the last 50 bands you saw” meme propogating, and while I don’t normally play around with that “TAG! You’re It!” crap, I did think it might be fun to try and come up with a list of all the performances, great and otherwise, I’ve seen over the years; and since it feels like I haven’t done many music posts lately, I thought I’d format that list, and post it here for posterity and, perhaps (at least for certain entries) , bragging rights.

I make no claims of accuracy or completion; I’m sure I’m forgetting something entirely obvious. Still, I was kind of impressed with myself that I blew past 50 pretty easily (leaving out duplicates except in one case); and even if I don’t get out to see stuff as much as I used to, I still have a pretty decent record for the last couple of years of responsible grown-up parenthood.

Anyway, after the jump, Chuck’s list of bands he can remember seeing:

• .38 Special
• Aerosmith
• Amy Grant
• Barenaked Ladies
• Big Back Forty
• Billie Myers
• Bon Jovi
• Bryan Adams
• Caryn Lyn
• Collective Soul
• Danny and the Juniors
• Dirty Looks
• Dozens of Anonymous Bar Cover Bands and Folk Combos
• Earth To Bob
• Elton John
• Extreme
• Faster Pussycat
• Herb Smith Trio
• Hootie & The Blowfish
• House of Lords
• Indigo Girls
• Innocent Nixon
• Innumerable Jazz and Classical Recitals
• Jason Timoll & Apocalypso
• Jeffrey Gaines
• Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
• Joe Diffie
• Johnny Lang
• Jonathan Coulton
• Julie Schreiber Band
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd
• Kirk Franklin
• Kiss
• Kix
• Laura Cortese w/ Aoife O’Donovan
• Lee Roy Parnell
• Lisa B
• Little Texas
• Marc Chestnut
• Martina McBride
• Mary Chapin Carpenter
• Missy Elliot
• Mr. Big
• Nancy Griffith
• Natalie Merchant
• Nelson
• Parallel Circles
• Patty Griffin
• Paul and Storm
• Pete Palladino
• Rez
• Sarah MacLaughlin
• Several Elvis Impersonators
• Suzanne Vega
• The Armadillos
• The Badlees
• The Bogmen
• The Clarks
• The Eagles
• The Fabulous Greaseband
• The Wailin’ Jennys
• The Wiggles
• Tony Perry Three
• Tori Amos
• Travis Tritt
• Tricia Yearwood
• Trixter
• Van Halen (w/ Cherone)
• Van Halen (w/ Hagar)
• Vince Gill
• Wierd Al Yankovic