With the Penguins loss to the Canadiens this past Wednesday night, it was the end of an era. No, not for Penguin hockey, but for the building that housed it. The Civic Arena (Mellon Arena) is closing its doors. Nicknamed “The Igloo” due to its shape and being the home to the Penguins for over 40 years, it has housed many a major event. From the Beatles, Elvis, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Hulk Hogan, lots of names have performed under its dome for the residents of Western Pennsylvania. What I wanted to do here was share some of my personal favorite memories.

Randy’s Top Moments from the “Igloo”

5. “Sudden Death”
I thought that it would be fun for a day to be an extra on a movie set. The movie was “Sudden Death” starring Jean Claude Van Damme as a Pittsburgh fireman that somehow gets caught up in a plot to assasinate the Vice President at game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. I was there for a day, got a hot dog and coke, and witnessed the thespian skills of JCVD from a few feet away.

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Beginning today and covering over 800 miles, I will begin a musical odyssey that will carry me from sunny south florida to the shores of the Mississippi in New Orleans. Tonight in West Palm Beach, the opening night of Sunfest with a concert by Weezer is where this is starting. Traveling to New Orleans tomorrow for Jazzfest (aka/Brian’s Bachelor Party) with some awesome shows lined up in and around the French Quarter. Planning for a return down to Boynton on Sunday night. These five days are probably going to be a bit rough, but I shall return from them a stronger man, with many an insane story to share.

Keep an eye out for my twitter updates for some up to the minute details of some of the music/insanity.

Again with the lists… Well, what we have here is a list of the top 5 concerts that I have attended.

1. Lollapalooza 1992 – Pittsburgh, PA (1992)
   It was the end of the summer after I had graduated high school. The lineup was incredible, with Red Hot Chili Peppers as the headliner, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ice Cube, Ministry. I still have fond memories of standing in a mosh pit at the base of the amphitheater’s hill looking up at the chunks of  grass and mud being thrown down into the crowd.
2. Vote for Change – Cleveland, OH (2004)
   Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, R.E.M., John Fogerty, and Bright Eyes. This was a concert tour in support of candidates running against President Bush. I took my mom to the concert in Cleveland, which had a much better lineup than in Pittsburgh.
3. The Flaming Lips, Thievery Corporation – Hollywood, CA (2006)
   I was visiting Beth in L.A., driving thru the hills of Hollywood and getting stuck in traffic for the Hollywood Bowl. I had no idea who was playing there that night, and to see it was the Lips I knew that I had to go. Highlight of the show was when the audience was encourage to throw glow sticks, that were provided, into the air during a song. It was a cosmic meteor shower set to music. AMAZING.
   
   
4. Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam  - Pittsburgh, PA (2005)
   The concert was at PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, I bought the ticket a couple weeks before the show while attending a Pirate game. I wanted to go for the spectacle but I was not ready for how amazing a concert it would be. Pearl Jam opened laying the best I had ever heard them, ripping through all of their best songs in 60 minutes. And then the Stones came out and topped that, what an experience.
   
5. Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds – Indiana, PA (1996)
   This was part of Dave’s acoustic tour of college campuses. I had no idea what to expect going to this show, and neither did anybody else at the school. When I went to purchase tickets there was no line, and tickets were still available up until a week before the show. What I saw that night was memorable, and I had my parents along with me for the concert.

What are your favorite concerts? Share below…