February 20, 2019 would have been Kurt Cobain’s 52nd birthday. The Nirvana frontman was born on February 20, 1967; he died on April 5, 1994. In just a few years, he’ll be gone longer than he was around.
Gloomy thoughts, but this audio recording of a Nirvana concert from October 26, 1993 at Milwaukee’s MECCA Auditorium remains thrillingly alive. In it, Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl blast through everything from In Utero hits and deep cuts (the album had only been out for a month) to eventual Unplugged In New York standout “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam.” And yes, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “All Apologies” close out the main set.
Nirvana had played Milwaukee twice before, in 1989 and 1990, both at the legendary Unicorn club in the basement of the equally legendary (and gone) Sidney Hih building. Per an invoice, 3,339 people showed up to the MECCA show. Tickets were $18.50.