The Nirvana Live Guide appears here for historical reference only. For up to date information, please visit the LiveNIRVANA.com Concert Chronology.

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1987
03/??/87 - 17 Nussbaum Road (house party), Raymond, WA
Soundcheck (incomplete)
  • Downer

Set (incomplete)
  • Aero Zeppelin • If You Must • Heartbreaker (jam) • How Many More Times (jam) • Mexican Seafood • Pen Cap Chew • Spank Thru • Hairspray Queen

Notes
  • This was the band's first show.
  • Aaron Burckhard played drums.
  • The show took place on a Saturday night.
  • The band jammed on the Led Zeppelin songs "Heartbreaker" and "How Many More Times."
  • Tony Poukkula, who lived in the house, played second guitar on at least the two Led Zeppelin jams.
  • Before "Hairspray Queen," Kurt sang a few lines of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound Of Silence."
  • More songs may have been played.
  • Kurt reported that the band played Flipper's "Sex Bomb" for 30 to 60 minutes at their first show, but this was probably one of Kurt's fabrications.

Circulating Recordings
  • AUD #1a - audience audio (incomplete)
    • Equipment: unknown > unknown
    • Lowest Generation: ANA(1) > MP3
    • Length / Sound Quality: 50 min / B
    • Lower quality, but more complete than AUD #1b.
    • Includes "Downer" from the soundcheck, which cuts in.
    • Missing everything after "Hairspray Queen."
    • Circulating copies are sourced from a 256 kbps MP3 file.
  • AUD #1b - audience audio (incomplete)
    • Equipment: unknown > unknown
    • Lowest Generation: Official CD [With The Lights Out]
    • Length / Sound Quality: 5 min / A-
    • Higher quality, but less complete than AUD #1a.
    • Includes only the "Heartbreaker" jam.
??/??/87 - house party, Aberdeen, WA
Notes
  • Aaron Burckhard played drums.
  • The band played after a new Dale Crover project band, according to Slim Moon.
04/18/87 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA
Set (incomplete)
  • Love Buzz

Notes
  • The band played under the name Skid Row.
  • Aaron Burckhard played drums.

Other Performers
  • Nisqually Delta Podunk Nightmare • Soylent Green • Yellow Snow
05/01/87 - GESCCO, Olympia, WA
Set
  • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber • Downer • Mexican Seafood • White Lace And Strange • Spank Thru • Annorexorcist • Hairspray Queen • Vendetagainst • Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves

Notes
  • The band played under the name Skid Row.
  • Aaron Burckhard played drums.
  • This was the closing night of GESCCO (Greater Evergreen Students' Community Cooperation Organization).
  • Krist was so drunk that the band almost wasn't allowed to play, according to Slim Moon, who booked the show.
  • Most of the set above comes from a handwritten setlist believed to be from this show but possibly from another show around this time. Based on the set order of the 05/06/87 performance, "Dope Hippie" on the handwritten setlist is assumed to be an early name for "Hairspray Queen." The band also played a Cher cover, most likely "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," according to an attendee.

Other Performers
  • Danger Mouse • Lansdat Blister • Nisqually Delta Podunk Nightmare
05/06/87 - KAOS Olympia Community Radio, Olympia, WA
Set
  • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber • Downer • Mexican Seafood • White Lace And Strange • Spank Thru • Annorexorcist • Hairspray Queen • Pen Cap Chew • Vendetagainst

Notes
  • The band played under the name Skid Row.
  • Aaron Burckhard played drums.
  • John Goodmanson booked this performance after seeing the band play at the 05/01/87 show.
  • The performance took place on a combination of the radio shows "Out Of Order" and "Toy Train Crash Backside Bone Beefcake."
  • A recording of this performance served as the band's first demo.

Circulating Recordings
  • SBD #1a - soundboard audio (incomplete)
    • Equipment: soundboard > unknown
    • Lowest Generation: FM > ANA(3)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 35 min / A-
    • Lower quality, but includes songs that are missing from SBD #1b.
    • Missing "Vendetagainst."
  • SBD #1b - soundboard audio (incomplete)
    • Equipment: soundboard > unknown (reel)
    • Lowest Generation: Official CD [With The Lights Out]
    • Length / Sound Quality: 10 min / A
    • Higher quality and includes a song missing from SBD #1a.
    • Includes only "Annorexorcist," "White Lace And Strange," and "Vendetagainst," which cuts in.
    • The official release labels "Vendetagainst" as "Help Me I'm Hungry."
06/27/87 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA
Notes
  • The band played under the name Pen Cap Chew.
  • Aaron Burckhard played drums.

Other Performers
  • Hell's Kitchen • Silent Treatment • Soylent Green
08/09/87 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA
Notes
  • The band played under the name Bliss.
  • While Aaron Burckhard most likely played drums, Ben Shepherd of The Magnet Men has stated that Mike Dillard was possibly on drums at this show.
  • Chad Channing, whose band The Magnet Men (later called Tic-Dolly-Row) was also playing, saw the band perform for the first time.
  • The band borrowed Chad's drum kit for the show.

Other Performers
  • Inspector Luv And The Ride Me Babies • The Magnet Men • Sons Of Ishmael