summer 1976, The Who at Anaheim Stadium.

Two carloads of us (all HS students) went down the night before to camp out in line (festival seating); we got very drunk (I’m still missing a few hours memory of that evening). I woke up about 10 minutes before they opened the doors, participated in the mad rush to get a good spot to spread out our blanket on field (100 feet from the stage); then napped for most of the afternoon. The smell of pot is extremely unpleasant when hungover to that degree; but I was feeling much better by sunset, we had enough food in the cooler, and was feeling just fine by the time they took the stage.

I used to have a bootleg, on vinyl, of that show — I was heartbroken when a bad roommate stole it.

I’ve seen shows since that may have been better, in venues that were better (small clubs), or arenas from seats that were definitely better (actual seats in a close row, could show up just before it started, backstage passes, etc,) or with better company… but that Who show remains the finest Concert Experience of my memory.