Sam Roberts Band - FIRST CONCERT EVER

In this First Concert Ever segment, the alternative band, Sam Roberts Band, talks about the stories of their first experiences with live music. You can check out the story below:

Sam Roberts
Sinead O'Connor at the Montréal Forum. It was either 1989 or 1990. I went with a girlfriend, and we were too short to see over the people standing in front of us. Through the odd gap in the crowd, we would catch glimpses of Sinead's iconic shaved head—bringing home the reality that we were actually there, in the same room as this larger-than-life figure, and she was singing to all of us and us alone. My friend developed a case of "nerves," and she spent most of the show throwing up in the toilet while I waited by the door. We missed "Nothing Compares 2 U" and made the long trip by bus ride home. By the next day, every rough edge had been smoothed out in our memories, leaving only the magic behind. Such is the power of live shows...

Dave Nugent
Katrina and The Waves and Corey Hart. I was about 10. Told my mom it was too loud when Corey Hart hit the stage and made her leave. My sister and cousins were happy because now they could try to buy beer and party, now that the chaperone for the night was removed!

James Hall
My first concert was Sharon, Lois & Bram (a sort of Canadian Peter, Paul and Mary for kids). The entire experience—from the look of the "giant" theater to sitting next to kids that were weird 'cause I didn't know them—made a pretty big impression on me. I was probably about 5 or 6 years old, but I remember it pretty clearly. It's one of my earliest memories. Other than the novelty wearing off and being sort of okay sitting next to strangers, I'm not sure the rest of the experience is much different now.

Josh Trager
June 28, 1988… I was 7, and my parents took me and my two older siblings to see The Beach Boys and Roy Orbison at the Montréal Forum. Roy and the Boys were common fixtures on long family car rides, plus I loved the Good Morning, Vietnam and Cocktail soundtracks that had just come out, each with a Beach Boys song—so I was pretty excited. Up to that point, I hadn’t experienced anything like it. Everything was so new and immense. However, despite significant information overload, I do have a few memories—mostly consisting of giant beach balls being passed around the crowd… and a strange yet intoxicating smell in the air…
Needless to say, I was hooked… on music.

Eric Fares
Me, Mom, and Morgentaler at Foufounes Électriques. I was 15 and got in with my brother's ID. It was such a wild, fun vibe. That show was more like a party than anything else, but the band seemed like they were 10 feet tall on stage. As it turns out, they actually were a collection of mostly pretty tall people.

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