What’s the Best Concert Montana Radio Host Mark Has Ever Seen?

One of the most common questions that I get asked is about concerts. "What's the best concert that you ever saw?" And I don't really have a single answer. And that's because, at least to me, it's situational.

When Karen Carpenter winked at me while she was singing during a show at the State Fair grandstands in the early seventies was one of the highlights of my entire life at the time. Let alone the best concert I'd ever seen.

The first concert my folks let me go see with my buddies was when I got to drive from Great Falls to Billings to see Boston in 1978 (I've still got the ticket stub). It was a cool experience. And back in those days, you could see a hot new rock band for eight dollars with no fees added on.

Read About It: Boston Was in Billings

The first time that I saw Garth Brooks was memorable because he hadn't really "hit" nationally at that time. I remember that Paul and I emceed that show. Martina McBride was the opener. Then Garth. And the Judds were the headliners.

Credit: KCTR / The Judds in Montana

The Neil Diamond show at Metra that I took my mom and sister to was pretty cool. My mom lost her mind when Mr. Diamond took the stage.

Those that know me are right about now wondering when I'm going to mention Sheryl Crow. I've seen her in concert four times including when she played the fair here in about 1996. But at that time, I didn't know that we were soul mates.

Getty Images for iHeartMedia

And I gotta tell you that I have seen an awful lot of great shows at Alberta Bair Theatre. I saw Don Williams and Merle Haggard there multiple times. Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ray Price, Glen Campbell, and many more.

Credit: Mark Wilson, Townsquare Media

I also saw Gordon Lightfoot there twice. One of those was really good.

So my answer is not which act I saw, but who I saw the show with that determines how good I thought it was.

PICTURES: See Inside Kenny Rogers' Staggering California Estate

Kenny Rogers developed a taste for fine living early in his success. His ultra-lavish mansion in Bel Air, Calif., an estate called Lionsgate, was opulent even by celebrity standards. The 11-bedroom, 17-bathroom home totals 23,988 square feet of space, and it sits on 1.63 acres of some of the most expensive real estate in California.

The lavish interior includes a master suite that encompasses more than 3,000 square feet, three separate living rooms, seven fireplaces, a billiards room, a formal study, a private 12-seat theater with leather seats, a climate-controlled wine room that opens onto a saltwater pool, three steam showers and a large dry sauna. The property also features an outdoor glass elevator that leads to a large ballroom party space with an attached guest suite and a professional-sized gym.

The exterior of the house is just as lavish, including an outdoor living area with heated floors and a fully equipped bar, a tennis court with stadium lighting and a viewing area, a hot tub and extensive landscaping. Realtor.com calls Lionsgate the "most prestigious luxury estate" in Bel Air, boasting "possibly the best views in Los Angeles."

According to Business Insider, Rogers purchased the estate in the 1970s, and he added the lions to the gate and christened the home Lionsgate. He sold it in 1983 for $5.8 million, according to Variety, and the property most recently sold in 2015 for a staggering $46.25 million.

Filed Under: billings, bozeman, concerts, kenny chesney, live music, metrapark, The Breakfast Flakes

Categories: Concerts, Country Music News