Ballyhoo! – FIRST CONCERT EVER

In this First Concert Ever segment, Howi Spangler of the reggae rock band, Ballyhoo!, talks about his first concert ever. You can check out the feature, after the break.

My first concert ever was Ratt & Poison at the Capital Centre in Washington DC on March 12th, 1987. I was six years old and my dad took my brother (4) and I. I vaguely remember watching Brett Michaels hump the stage during a Rikki Rokkit drum solo.

Then Ratt came out. They were my favorite band (well, them and Motley Crue). It was the Dancing Undercover Tour and I knew all the words to the songs. Just watching them come out and slay it. They were a really great band, they could play and they looked awesome. Stephen Pearcy had that raspy voice. Seeing all the fog on stage, the lights, the sound… It was an awakening. It was just the fucking best thing I’d ever seen in my six years on Earth.

That night was the reason why my brother and I play music today. I’ll never forget it. I owe it to my dad. He was always so supportive of our dream to rock. Now we go out there and play our music for people and to think we might be affecting some kid in the crowd in that way is electrifying. I love the rush. I love being on stage. Thanks, dad!

-Howi Spangler (guitar, vocals)

Jun-28 Cocoa Beach, FL Coconuts on the Beach
Jun-29 Stuart, FL Terra Fermatta
Jun-30 Vero Beach, FL American Heritage Festival
Jul-2 Ocean City, MD Seacrets
Jul-5 Cleveland, OH Agora Theatre
Jul-6 Grand Rapids, MI Stache
Jul-7 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen
Jul-8 Omaha, NE Waiting Room
Jul-10 Denver, CO Otherside
Jul-11 Salt Lake City, UT Soundwell
Jul-13 Sacramento, CA Holy Diver
Jul-14 Berkeley, CA Cornerstone
Jul-15 Santa Cruz, CA Atrium
Jul-17 Bakersfield, CA B Ryders
Jul-18 Ventura, CA Discovery
Jul-19 Santa Ana, CA Constellation Room
Jul-20 San Diego, CA 710 Beach Club
Jul-21 Flagstaff, AZ Green Room
Jul-22 Phoenix, AZ Pub Rock
Jul-24 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
Jul-26 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey
Jul-27 San Antonio, TX Jack’s
Jul-28 Corpus Christi, TX House of Rock
Jul-29 Houston, TX The Bronze Peacock
Aug-1 Atlanta, GA Masq
Aug-2 Wilmington, NC The Reel Cafe
Aug-3 Virginia Beach, VA Shaka’s Live
Aug-4 Lusby, MD Vera’s White Sands Beach Club
Aug-17 Wantagh, NY Mulcahy’s
Aug-18 Asbury Park, NJ The Saint
Aug-19 Lockport, NY Spring Lake Winery
Sep-8 Southwick, MA Garden Grove Festival

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