The Beatles, Met Stadium, 1965. Historical, hysterical but hopelessly brief and sonically inadequate.
Allman Brothers/Poco/Little Richard/It's a Beautiful Day, Midway Stadium, 1971. Duane Allman and Dicky Betts in a great jam band before the term was coined -- plus a rock pioneer, in St. Paul's old park.
The Band/Muddy Waters/John Sebastian/Free/Butterfield Blues Band/Delaney & Bonnie, Midway Stadium, 1971. A great band at its peak, a still reliable blues giant and a loaded concertgoer who fell or jumped off a light post.
Eagles/Steve Miller/Pablo Cruise, Met Stadium, 1978. A steady rain couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of a record 65,000 fans squeezed into the Twins' old park. With the Eagles, guitarist Joe Walsh emerged as unreluctant star, bringing animation and a rock 'n' roll spirit; it was an impassioned effort by a band not known for onstage passion.
Hootie & the Blowfish, Midway Stadium, 1995. Red-hot, easygoing Hootie was like a lazy, good-time afternoon at a sunny ballpark.
Bob Dylan/Ani DiFranco, Midway Stadium, 1997. The hometowner smiled freely and talked a lot (for him, anyway). Who cares if he didn't play harmonica?
R.E.M., Midway Stadium, 1999. The band was too laid-back, the sound too soft. But the rainstorm that hit during the encore of "The End of the World as We Know It" was a perfect ending.
Area: One festival headlined by Moby & OutKast, Midway Stadium, 2001. A hip, diverse modern-day happening with 11 acts over seven hours. Way cool.
