The Concert Room

Send us Fan Mail The Concert Room welcomes veteran PR and Promotions Executive Ike Richman. Ike was the public relations and promotions publicist at the Spectrum Arena, creating, implementing and executing publicity events, press conferences, photo opportunities, and media events for hundreds of events and concerts. He has successfully orchestrated press conferences for some of the top live music...

Send us Fan Mail The mighty Van Halen rolled in to the legendary Philadelphia Spectrum for 3 dates in the summer of 1981 on the Fair Warning Tour. July 20, 21 and 22. This tour was the largest tour in Rock history at the time, and it was peak live VH. The Spectrum crowd was in a party mood all day and the lead up and anticipation busted when the lights cut off and the strobes twirled while Edward...

Send us Fan Mail The Concert Room welcomes veteran Philadelphia music and entertainment journalist, Chuck Darrow. We dive into the world of concerts, personalities, and performers inside the world of a renowned music critic during the heyday of concerts. Chuck's illustrious career spans over 50 years and he's still churning out great copy! Listen as we discuss the early days of music jou...

Send us Fan Mail EP #08 - The Concert Room takes you inside the world of Rock Photography at the Spectrum with one the top Rock Photographers of the day, our guest Rich Fuscia. Listen as we discuss the process of shooting concerts as an amateur fan to going professional and getting photos published. Backstage stories and tales from the photo pit inside the Spectrum, it's an interesting and li...

Send us Fan Mail The Concert Room welcomes good friend Ed Majewski, the host of Friday Night Vinyl on Facebook and former local area rock band manager. Today we dive into the Spectrum concert experience such as ticket buying, stories about favorite shows and the overall thrill of seeing our favorite bands perform on the Spectrum stage! Friday Night Vinyl: The Philadelphia Spectrum - A Tribute to a...

Send us Fan Mail EP #6 - Part 1 of Genesis at the Spectrum- Genesis rolled in the Spectrum for a 3 nightstand on November 25, 26 and 27, 1983 to sold out crowds! A Genesis show was always special in Philly, and they put on spectacular shows for a great night of music and lights! Here is the opener Dodo/Lurker – recorded on the night of the November 26th show. 

Send us Fan Mail EP #07 Part II of Genesis at the Spectrum, November 26, 1983, on the second night of 3-day stand. ABABCAB is a highlight of the sets on this tour and listen to Phil Collins come in at the beginning of the outro with his signature Tom rolls and play along with touring drummer Chester Thompson. A phenomenal evening of music and lights!

Send us Fan Mail The podcast episode is dedicated to Neil Peart, who passed away 5 yrs ago on January 7, 2020. Rush rolls in to the Spectrum for 2 nights, April 14 and 16, 1986 on the Power Windows tour. Here is a stellar recording of Subdivisions recorded on the April 16th show. 

Send us Fan Mail EP #04 - The Doors set up in the Spectrum Theater for a phenomenal performance to a sold-out crowd on May 1, 1970. They're only performance at the Spectrum recorded and released as double live album "Live in Philadelphia '70" on the Rhino/Bright Midnight label released in 2005. Light my Fire has always been a highlight in their sets and at the end the crowd is...

Send us Fan Mail EP #03 - Pioneering British rock band Humble Pie rolled in the Philadelphia Spectrum for one last time on their "Goodbye Pie Tour" and left the crowd wanting for more. A blistering final set recorded and released on the Official Bootleg Box Set, Vol. 2 (℗ 2018 Jerry Shirley). On the Bill also this night was Peter Frampton and John Entwistle's band, Ox. Four Day Cree...

Send us Fan Mail Dedicated to Phil Lesh who passed on October 25, 2025. The Grateful Dead pulled into the Spectrum on September 21, 1972, for an electric and memorable show. Our features performance of "Cumberland Blues" captures the fun and energic night! They went on early and played late to another sold out Spectrum crowd! This show is highly regarded as one of the best on this tour. ...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Concert Room- inside the Philly concert experience EP #01 - Our inaugural show kicks off with a fiery performance by The Stones! During the legendary 1972 tour in support of Exile on Main Street, the Stones rolled in to Philly in July for 2 days playing 3 shows. An evening show on July 20, then 2 shows the next day on the 21st. The first show was an afternoon matine...