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Top 5 favorite concerts

1. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

2. The Ramones

3. Hootie & the Blowfish

4. Metallica

5. Boston

I’ve always loved rock ‘n’ roll music. Back when I was a little kid, I listened to my dad’s Lynyrd Skynyrd eight-tracks on those big, clunky headphones. I remember a “Who’s on first?” type of scene in my house when I discovered the “Guess Who.”

Through the years, I’ve gone to many concerts spanning the genres of rock — alternative, metal, classic rock and various college alternative bands. But no matter how you dice it, the classic rock concerts were generally my favorite.

Topping my list of favorite concerts is Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. I’ve seen these guys twice and can’t wait to see them again. The first time I saw them was July 18, 2005 — the first concert ever at the brand new Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

My husband, Ryan, and I were joined by my brother and his wife. Not only did we have amazing seats — next to the stage right catwalk — but the band did not disappoint. From the first guitar strums of “American Girl,” one of my all-time favorite songs, throughout the concert, this band did not pretend that the fans were here to see them play new music. They kept the limit of new songs to two and gave the people what they wanted — a whole lot of solid classic rock. While I also enjoyed “Free Fallin’,” “Refugee” and “The Waiting,” the concert gave me a brand new appreciation to “Learning To Fly,” of which I hadn’t been a big fan before.

Next up, I go back to Lollapalooza 1996 in Ankeny, Iowa, when I saw punk legends The Ramones. I realize seeing them in the gritty big-city clubs during their heyday would’ve been by far the best way to experience this band, but hey-ho, I was just a baby at that time.

These guys were — plain and simple — hard core. They rocked through “Blitzkreig Bop” and “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” wearing black leather jackets as the crowd melted under the beaming sun during what must have been a 100-degree summer day. Also appearing onstage throughout the day were Metallica, Soundgarden, Rancid and Screaming Trees.

Next on the list is Hootie & the Blowfish. Through the depths of the flannel shirt Nirvana-led grunge movement of the ’90s rose this brand new pop band from Charleston, S.C. Their songs were poppy and upbeat; their name just downright hilarious. And every time you turned on the radio and MTV, there they were.

In the midst of their Justin Bieber-like popularity, I saw Hootie & the Blowfish at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. It must’ve been around 1995, because I had just transferred to Iowa State University. The arena was packed. It was just a fun night with my college gal pals, singing “Hold My Hand, “Only Wanna Be With You” and “Hannah Jane” at the top of our lungs. We swayed, lighters in hand, to “Let Her Cry.” Was it cheesy? Perhaps. But fun? Definitely — and that’s why it made the list!

A virtual “unknown” named Edwin McCain opened for the band, and quickly became one of my favorite artists.

I had a hankering for metal, and seeing Metallica was by far the hardest-rocking concert of my youth. I saw Metallica for the second time at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, during the winter of 1996-97. They had just released the album “Load,” and while I remember they played several new songs, they also had a set heavy with fan favorites, including “One,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Breadfan.” Although I suffered from tinnitus for weeks afterward, I’ll never forget high-fiving former bass player Jason Newsted on stage from the front row. And, my jealous brother who saw it happen from the cheap seats!

For No. 5, I listed Boston because “More Than A Feeling,” is another one of my all-time favorite songs. However, the concert experience could’ve been many: Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Cheap Trick, Pink Floyd, Ozzy Osbourne or even the reuniting of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (formerly of Led Zeppelin). Now I’m really showing my age — and my love for classic rock.