I was at Boston Common. Everything written prior to my post, resonates - thanks, all. Thanks Robert Acorn for some perspective.

Like most here, I too mostly identified with the frustration of finally seeing Joni for the first time after years of her (then) canon being a big part of my life (arguably, being my life ~circa '76-'80). Now the canon is simply fully formed osmosis ~ some 40 years later.

My 'Sharon' was Liss. And eventually as teenagers, without a guitar, Liss sang the Joni canon a capella everywhere, in every car we were in, on every road trip, or to every Packie run -- every possible chance it could be heard/received. That was my introduction and memorization/knowledge of the pre-Hissing canon. We fancied ourselves cool and free in our India imports.

I get it now of course, reading Robert's post. Then. I was profoundly disappointed. And I had forgotten until reading BostonBoy's 2009 post - yes, I remember Joni courting favor with the "free" crowd and that it was confusing to me - I knew her sensibilities from her lyrics yet here, as a ticket holder, was I.

I do remember her comment about Frisbee-playing and thought "good luck with that on the Common - er, called a Common for a reason - it is an informal venue for the people!" Totally wrong venue for her management to have booked her.

I was sad to have made the 2 hour drive from mom's in Northwestern CT, summer of my 3rd year of school at BU SFA only to turn around and head back to CT with Liss, scratching our heads.

A Cali resident since 1995, got to catch Joni one more time with Bob and Van in 1998, in San Jose - another hard performance for her; daresay equally as memorable.

Yes, I was there. I was with a friend who was not a huge Joni fan, but who was looking forward to hearing her. During Joni's first couple of songs, my friend convinced me to move from our assigned seats to two empty seats closer up. I felt really uncomfortable doing it, because it felt disrespectful to Joni. I could almost feel her getting upset about all the people walking around and when he told me he wanted to move a second time I refused. She played Just a few songs... could have been seven but most of us remember it as three or four. I'd say maybe ten minutes. Then she told the crowd she'd be back when people stopped walking around. And yes, she was gone for a loooong time. It could have been an hour and it sure felt like an hour. She did not play a 45 minute set after that. As I recall she sang another three or four, apologized about some technical things which I imagined were sound related, then left again . After another long break she came back to sing one or two more then she split. Being such a diehard fan I was happy just to have seen her and to have heard the few songs she played. My friend, the not so big Joni fan, felt ripped off. I guess the truth lies somewhere in between.

I was at this concert and it probably should never have gone off the way it did, having previously seen a 'spec sheet' of all required technical specifications for the Passion Play concert of Jethro Tull. It was detailed as need be to every exact requirement of the concert-in place for every concert of their tour; that, for instance, the venue had to be capable of a complete black out at any given moment serving split second dramatic subject matter, to they type of persons running the spot lights and the coordinating communication systems in place and exacting skills required to use them.. it went on page after page after page, requirements that had to be met, and agreed to, by the venue to have the band perform. Boston's Joni Mitchell performance, and similarly every concert on Joni's tour, contracted and specified properly should have precluded any effort that Miller Beer, or any promoting company would have in determining where their banners would or would not have been placed. Not to say that Joni specify a 'black out' especially with an out-of-doors concert at 6 pm with a warm and beautiful summer sun still shining, but to have everything that was important and essential to Joni's performance in place. And who there would not have more enjoyed Joni Mitchell's hand painted back drop of a Saskatchewan mountainscape to what we ended up getting? We should have all been angered not at Joni but the ugly staging banners that Miller imposed on the atmosphere. If Miller's agent couldn't deal with that then maybe Heiniken's or Schlitz's (or even Old Milwaukee's,) could - either way, this evening wouldn't have been so memorable for all the wrong reasons. But say it was specified and the promoters sidestepped the contract agreements and Joni performed 2.5 songs or fewer, and with a breach of contract (on Miller's part,) Joni rightfully got back into the limo and left - and was paid regardless as specified 'in the case of any breach of the contract.' In this scenario, the audience demands their money back, Miller is liable, looses any profits as well as the mark-up in bulk of consumption they would have gotten had the concert progressed properly for the planned two to three or even four hours. This is when the contract becomes important. Instead, it became very sloppy in no time. I don't know how many of us were out there - maybe ten thousand or more puzzled fans, milling about, smoking, talking, getting plastic cups of Miller HighLife, enjoying each others company as we do under an accommodating warm summer sun. But we were also there to listen to a fantastic band headed by the incomparable artist. We still got to hear and see a good glimpse of that so I was thrilled to be there and I'll still venture further to hike the beautiful mountains of Saskatchewan I hope someday.

I was at this show too. I had seen Joni back a few years earlier around the Shadows and Light time. Wow! So I was really excited to see her and my friends were so excited. As has been stated it was light out and yes there were people still moving about to some degree BUT most of us were very receptive and focused on seeing her play and right away I knew something was odd. She played a bit (can't remember how many songs) and said something to the effect "when ya'll stop playing frisbee and are ready to listen..." and walked off the stage. I remember that she took her sweet time before she returned...nearly an hour. She returned, played a few songs and split... she did in fact make some kind of statement about hoping it will be better next time...Her husband was very attentive and she had a cocktail on ice in hand when she made her exit. I also remember feeling totally cheated and disappointed by her behavior. But I was 25 at the time. My brother who is a great musician and in her league and plays with her contemporaries said to me when I expressed my outrage.."she's an artist and she is what she is...I am happy to have had this experience". I remember how strange his attitude was about that very sad and disappointing performance. But today looking back I understand. I have been around all those rock stars in subsequent years as my brother is one of the best of the very best guitar players alive and I have learned to separate the ego assholeness from the magic and wonder of the music itself. Joni is a genius and she will live long in our hearts for her contribution to art. She had a bad day that hot summer in Boston 34 years ago.

My sister, Diane, and I were at the sadly ill-fated and aborted Concert on the Common in Boston that hot July evening. My memories (which could be faulty but which I think are not) are as follows: Joni came out onto the stage to wild and enthusiastic applause. She sang two songs then walked off the stage. Some people
standing around us in the audience commented as to how Joni seemed "drunk or stoned". Her behavior was erratic. She (justifiably so) became very upset that people were not settling down, not listening to her music, were milling up and down the aisles making a lot of noise when she was trying to sing. When she
returned to the stage (which she said she was doing reluctantly but would try to continue "if people sit down and be quiet"), she proceeded to sing again but then walked off a second time. This kept happening and again, sorry! and no judgments here whatsoever but she did seem intoxicated or maybe just exhausted and disoriented coming off a long and somewhat disappointing world tour. At any rate, I do remember that she did not come back for anything even resembling a full concert. People were pissed. Joni was pissed. The whole night got pissed on. I know Diane and I looked into getting our money back.......But.....I have loved Joni's work since she burst like a firework on the '60s music scene and seeing her and hearing her perform, however briefly, remains one of the highlights of my life. Five minutes of Joni is more precious than 18 hours of practically any other artist. I would go see Joni read the proverbial phone book if that is what she was doing. In the 90s, my friend, Joe and I, saw her at The Fleet Pavilion out on the waterfront. The show was fully realized. Joni's
voice was smoky, rich, throaty, haunting. Her rendition of BOTH SIDES NOW brought tears to every single person in that crowd. Joni was and remains one of the planet's most gifted singers/composers/artists/poets. As far as I am concerned, she can do no wrong. And I feel so privileged to have been there at that now famous/infamous Boston Concert on the Common show...

I was spending a long, hot, lonely summer, studying in Boston, and I attended this concert too. My memories are different, though, than many of those recorded here. I had first seen Joni perform when I was ten years old (see my entry for Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles in October 1969), and I had seen her perform many times since then. By now I was in my twenties, and had just graduated from college. I went to the concert alone.

I do remember well Joni getting upset when people were arriving late and milling up and down the corridors between the seats. She did leave the stage, but I remember thinking at the time that she was quite justified. People were being terribly rude. I remember her saying that she thought it was rude and that she would come back if people could settle down.

She did return and the rest of the concert was absolutely beautiful. I loved every minute of it, and never held it against her.

Wow, this is cool to be able to look up concerts and see everyone's comments. Yes, I was at the concert and remember well the incident. I, too, was bugged about people being rude, talking, walking around. There seemed to be a mix of Joni lovers and people who would come to a concert just because it was part of the series. It was in the evening, but since it was in July, it was not dark at all. I remember being bugged, that although people were up and walking around an dnot listening carefully, there were many in the audience that were paying rapt attention, and it seemed unfair to us that were not part of the rudeness. I also remember people calling out things like "We love you, Joni" and trying to let her know many were listening closely. It was disappointing to me, but, luckily, I had seen her in the late 70's at the Music Hall, which was a fantastic concert, so it wasn't as devastating to me as to others who maybe only had this chance to hear her play live. Now that I think of it, I also was in town when Linda Ronstadt played this series (not attending, just there when she arrived, so I stayed to listen a bit from outside the ticketed area). Honestly, this type of a concert situation wasn't a great fit for Joni Mitchell, anyway. I mean, think of it...sponsored by Miller High Life, with a big banner...probably selling beer to the patrons...much more of a social, lively party atmosphere...not suited to Joni or her fans. Nothing against this type of thing...I would like it, but not when I would want to be a serious listener.

This really was a sad show. I remember seeing the local tv entertainment news reporter right in front of us. We were all pretty upset by what happened, and I wonder if it was on the news that night, or if it was just the preshow vibe being broadcast. Now that we were older, it was more complicated to get to a show, and people really were "milling about" because it was 6 p.m, when people were just getting off work and arriving. It should have been later in the evening. I also remember feeling betrayed, and that we never forgot about it, but luckily I had a dozen other Joni concerts to remember happily! And I loved the later videos that were released!

I can't add much more to what's been said but I was there (with strep throat!) and was really annoyed by the milling around. It was still light when Joni came on and you could tell people weren't paying attention and that sooner or later this was going to get under her skin. The whole thing was embarrassing for Boston and then for Joni. Not one of anyone's good evenings at a concert. Redeemed years later at the Fleet......

Wow, do I remember this horrible experience! LOL, smiling now tho at the time I felt cheated. I was just a kid in my early twenties and thought my chance to see this beautiful artist IN PERSON was long gone. But when tix 2 c her in concert outdoors on the Boston Common came up I snatched them up right away (I only bought one, 4 myself) and told all my friends (who laff cuz the're in2 the B52's). I dont care I always LOVED her music, so REAL.

Anyways, after waiting months the show rolls into Beantown and I arrive early cuz I don't want 2 miss a thing. Lots of people moving about which even I found annoying. Anyways, I loved these outdoor shows, never bought a ticket cuz u could hear them outside, real good 4 free, and that party was such a good vibe. Kids in trees and cops shakin' them out, lots o' laffz. But this show I wanna c her so I plunk down the $.

Seems like 4 ever b4 she shows up, but when she does this great excitement rises inside me. God I almost peed my pants when she came onstage, waiting 4 ever and finally I get 2 c her in concert! She starts her set but you could tell it wasn't quite right. She was distracted and I don't blame her. People showed up late and were not paying attention. I figured it would get better as the show went on...but it didn't go on. She complained about the lack of attention and left the stage. We waited for a long time b4 she came back on and started her set again. I thought it was going well but she would stop and complain and now I'm getting mad that these people are still walking around and Joni can't get around it.

Just when it seems like she's over it she "turns" 2 the people outside the arena and says they are the ones she's playing to and u hear this great applause and cheering from beyond the fence! I was so pissed that I spent my $ on this show of shows only to hear her praise those who did not pay as I sat there feeling really screwed. I couldn't believe it. I felt my friends were right in scorning me for paying $ 4 someone who was out of sinc with my generation. Smoke rose from my head.

Well it only got worse. The outside crowd was louder than inside and I don't blame her now 4 playing to them but at the time I was very angry. I never bought another one of her albums from then on. She was in the doghouse for decades after that. I guess she only hurt herself.

I was ready to send her my tix stub and ask for a refund as that was THE WORST CONCERT I'VE EVER ATTENDED. But that was the day b4 internet and I didn't know who 2 contact so I just ate my ticket.
I still remember that show over 25 years later and had to join this site just to share this experience.

NO BAD VIBES NOW as I can laff about it, but Joni if ur reading this, I want want my 10 bucks back, LOL.

Love Boston Boy
PS PRAYERS 2 Joni for a swift recovery from her recent illness

  [ed.]  [ed.]