Seeing Them Live

Part two of our 2025 year-end concert review features incredible stories from Andy, Jessica, Steve, and superfan Dawn Fontaine. The show kicks off with Dawn who attended 55 shows this year and now books concerts for her favorite band Soraia. Dawn shares her unbelievable experience flying on the Rolling Stones' private jet in 2002, meeting Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and the band, and hearing them play her favorite song the next night. Steve recounts seeing Lady Gaga's mind-blowing performance in Vegas (ranking it in his top 10 all-time), plus St. Vincent, Joan Jett, and Adele. Andy highlights Mdou Moctar's incredible guitar work, the surprise hit of Joe Russo's Almost Dead in Vegas, and Neil Young performing at Meigs Field. The crew also discusses the challenges of presales, the magic of small venues, and their most anticipated 2026 shows including Rush, Iron Maiden, Radiohead, and Guns N' Roses.

Welcome to the second annual Seeing Them Live Year End Concert Review show, where a panel of returning guests shares their favorite live music experiences from 2025. Eric Green discussed notable concerts he attended such as seeing Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton's side project band Close Enemies, Kim Deal's solo performance, and seeing Joe Perry of Aerosmith in his side project. Jessica Catena covered her experiences, including attending a Samara Joy jazz concert, watching 'Moulin Rouge' on Broadway, and attending iHeartRadio's Jingle Ball. Summer recounted her experiences at Lollapalooza, a Yungblud concert, and a special operatic rendition of Smashing Pumpkins' music. Art Gregg shared his delightful encounters with Burton Cummings of The Guess Who, Michael Schenker of UFO, and Robert Plant at a small venue, highlighting the intimate and memorable nature of these performances. The episode concluded with mentions of upcoming concerts in 2026. Charles rounds out the discussion by mentioning his own concert experiences at new Chicago venues including Space in Evanston where he saw Mdou Moctar and The Old 97s, the female-focused Motoblot festival at Beat Kitchen, an incredible Buddy Guy performance at the Rialto Square Theater where the 89-year-old blues legend walked through the aisles playing guitar, shows at the new Garcia's venue and City Winery, and his anticipation for an upcoming Iron Maiden show. The episode concludes with a teaser for part two, which will feature Dawn's private jet experience with the Rolling Stones, Andy's Bonnaroo adventure, and Steve's concert highlights.

In this Season 3 closer, Charles interviews the core members of the Chicago-based punk band, Horace Pinker, share fascinating stories from their extensive touring history and music career. Originating in Tempe, Arizona, Horace Pinker has shared stages with legendary bands such as Green Day, Fugazi, and Blink 182, while also touring internationally. The band recounts memorable concert experiences, including Scott Eastman's first show seeing Duran Duran, best and surprising concerts, and even mishaps like falling through a stage while performing. The highlight of the interview is when Bryan describes the time, he had dinner with David Grohl of Foo Fighters and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin but missed an opportunity to start a conversation with John Paul Jones. The discussion also covers the band's formation, the significance of the punk scene, and their latest album, 'Now and the Future.' Scott, Bryan, and Greg provide an authentic and lively insight into the life of a punk band on the road.

In this episode, Charles and Doug welcome back Andy, a schoolteacher and avid music fan, to give an After Show Report on the 2025 Bonnaroo Music Festival. Andy shares his adventurous experience, from a nine-hour drive to the festival and an unexpected encounter with law enforcement, to dealing with torrential rains, flash floods, and a canceled show. He recounts his dedication to seeing his favorite bands, notably King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and the camaraderie among festivalgoers amidst the chaos. Tune in to hear Andy's vivid storytelling and reflections on navigating one of the most challenging yet memorable music festivals.

In this engaging episode, Charles and Doug explore the intersection of True Crime with Rock and Roll with renowned guest Jim Berkenstadt, known as the Rock and Roll Detective. Jim shares captivating stories from his career, including explosive concert experiences and his eighth-grade first 'case' involving Beatles conspiracy theories. Jim discusses his bestselling works such as 'The Beatle Who Vanished,' being adapted into a movie, and 'Mysteries in the Music: Case Closed,' which delves into various rock and roll mysteries. He also touches on his role in consulting for rock documentaries and his detailed research into enigmatic stories like the FBI's investigation into 'Louie Louie.' Wrapping up, Jim reveals intriguing details about his other projects, including a forthcoming documentary, 'If These Walls Could Rock.'