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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

01.12.74 New York Dolls, Toledo Sports Arena

UPDATE 01/20/11:
Try as we might, PDGB can't find a single Toledoen who both attended this gig and retains enough unpolluted gray matter to produce an even remotely-lucid recollection. Lucky for us, we found this nearly decade-old interview with Sub Pop Records founder and Toledo Native Jonathan Poneman floating around on the interwebs: 
"The New York Dolls played in the Sports Arena, not in the main arena, but in the little exhibition center right off to the side of it, and there weren't very many people there. It was really funny. I remember everybody sitting down and kind of like... I didn't get it. I was like a Creem magazine reader, and I remember buying the first [New York Dolls'] record and going "Wow!" I was into Todd Rundgren, and Todd produced that record. I was going, "What the fuck's up with this?" There's no (Poneman proceeds to imitate an insanely fast guitar solo). I didn't really get it. This is before The Ramones; it was even before [The Stooges'] Raw Power came out, as far as I can remember. And, so, that's the thing about my earliest experience with punk rock is I thought it sucked, because there weren't enough notes. I was much more [a fan] of like Skynyrd and Allman Brothers and even barfier than that."
You can find the entire interview here:
And if you were there, let us know. A little street cred is a good thing. 

9 comments:

Unknown said...

andy, scott fisk here. love your blog. great to see all these old posters from toledo concerts. never knew the MC5 played there but why the hell not? you actually kind of make me miss ol toledo, but only for a second......anyhow keep it up, your efforts are not unappreciated

Michael said...

Sweet ! I can buy my tickets at Sears!

RealReldnew said...

@Scott Fisk: Good to hear from you man, and Fanx!

@Michael: Look closely, that's the Woodville Mall Sears only. Go to the Westgate Sears and you'll get nuthin' but a big bowl of loser soup!

Anonymous said...

the Westgate Sears had fresh, hot caramel corn and the whole first floor smelled like it. i saw Haystack Calhoun there once.

Chazz Avery said...

I was there. But, about all I remember was the low attendance and folks sitting. Loved the band, too.

Unknown said...

I was also there They were originally scheduled to play at the Toledo Sports Arena. The Toledo Goaldiggers made the hockey playoffs at the last minute so the concert was moved to the Exhibit hall. It was bizzare waiting in line with the hockey game starting at your left while waiting in line to get into exhibit hall. It was my first concert & I will never forget it. I remember the chords of Jetboy playing as I was waiting for the Dolls to appear. There was also people blowing whistles & I thought there was going to be a police raid or something. later I remember not being able to hear for about an hour after the show was over.

Anonymous said...

I was at the concert in the front row. Great memories. Great time

Anonymous said...

I remember it. Particularly the platform shoes. I was 11. My sister took me.

Matt Robin said...

I was there in the exhibition hall with the non folding chairs. It was kind of sparce. Back then I would go to any concert I could. The Dolls were different but visually a true spectacle. When Gene Simmons and Kiss came alongI thought they we not shit compared to the Dolls