1985-04-26 R.E.M.

SUNY Gymnasium, Binghamton, NY

Travelled down to Binghamton from SU to see this show. The price was less than $10. REM had a sort of cult following and most recently had released their Fables of the Reconstruction album. This is such a small venue that we ordered a dominos pizza to the venue, stepped outside to get it from the delivery guy, and then sat on the floor of the gym eating slices before the show. Although they were barely known at the time, within the space of just a couple of years REM would appear on the cover of the Rolling Stone under the caption "The Greatest Band in America." Michael Sipe wore his trademark overcoat. After the show a friend convinced one of the roadies to give him one of the setlists that was taped up on the stage. The setlist included covers of CCR and Velvet Underground tunes during a 5-song "second encore."

1995-10-06 R.E.M.

Meadowlands Arena

This was part of the Monster album tour, although the album had been out for awhile. Concerts given by R.E.M. in the mid 1990s were incredible and legendary. Friends of mine saw them more times than I did and I got the raves from them about some of the shows. At this show I remember Mike Mills wearing a "Nudie" suit (a rhinestone-studded bodysuit designed by Nudie Cohen, similar to those worn by Elvis Presley and which were also at times worn on stage by Jerry Garcia and by Keith Richards).