The Nirvana Live Guide appears here for historical reference only.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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1988
01/23/88 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA
Set
  • If You Must • Downer • Floyd The Barber • Paper Cuts • Spank Thru • Hairspray Queen (part of) • Aero Zeppelin • Beeswax • Mexican Seafood • Pen Cap Chew • Annorexorcist • Hairspray Queen • Erectum > Moby Dick (jam)

Notes
  • The band played under the name Ted Ed Fred.
  • Dale Crover played drums. Other than the August 1990 tour, this was the only show with Dale on drums.
  • The first attempt at "Hairspray Queen" was stopped due to a broken string.
  • At the end of the show, the band jammed on Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick."

Circulating Recordings
  • SBD #1 - soundboard audio (incomplete)
    • Equipment: soundboard > unknown
    • Lowest Generation: Official CD [With The Lights Out]
    • Length / Sound Quality: 15 min / A-
    • Includes only "Downer," "Floyd The Barber," "Erectum," and the "Moby Dick" jam.
  • AMT #1 - amateur video
    • Equipment: unknown > unknown
    • Lowest Audio Generation: VHS(1)
    • Lowest Video Generation: VHS(1)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 50 min / B

Other Performers
  • Happy Dead Juans • Moral Crux • Soon
03/??/88 - The Caddyshack (house party), Olympia, WA
Notes
  • This was the first show with Dave Foster on drums.
03/19/88 - Community World Theater, Tacoma, WA
Soundcheck
  • Floyd The Barber • Big Cheese • Beeswax

Set
  • Love Buzz • Downer • Floyd The Barber • Spank Thru • Paper Cuts • Hairspray Queen • If You Must • Beeswax • Aero Zeppelin • Mexican Seafood • Pen Cap Chew • Big Cheese • Blew • Erectum > Moby Dick (jam) • Bad Moon Rising

Notes
  • The band played under the name Nirvana for the first time.
  • Dave Foster played drums.
  • The band most likely played "Beeswax" during the soundcheck, since Kurt can be heard playing the opening notes before the circulating recording cuts out.

Circulating Recordings
  • SBD #1 - soundboard audio
    • Equipment: soundboard > unknown (cassette)
    • Lowest Generation: ANA(M)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 60 min / A-
    • Includes "Floyd The Barber," which cuts in and out, and "Big Cheese" from the soundcheck.
    • "Love Buzz" and "Erectum" cut in, and "Blew" cuts out.

Other Performers
  • Lush • Vampire Lezbos
??/??/88 - The Witch House (house party), Olympia, WA
Notes
  • Dave Foster played drums.
  • An attendee remembers the party taking place a few months before college graduation in June.
04/??/88 - The Central Tavern, Seattle, WA
Set (incomplete)
  • Love Buzz

Notes
  • Dave Foster played drums. Some attendees claim Aaron Burckhard was on drums, but this seems impossible, as the show took place between two shows with confirmed dates that had Dave Foster on drums.
  • This was the band's first show in Seattle. Many sources cite the 04/24/88 show at The Vogue as the band's first Seattle show, but both Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt separately insist that this show took place first.
  • Only Jonathan Poneman, Bruce Pavitt, and a few other people were in attendance.
04/24/88 - The Vogue (Sub Pop Sunday), Seattle, WA
Set (incomplete)
  • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber

Notes
  • Dave Foster played drums.
  • The show was horrible, according to attendees and the band themselves.
  • They played 14 songs, beginning with "Love Buzz" and ending with no encore.

Uncirculated Recordings
  • soundboard audio
    • It is rumored that the show was recorded at the band's request.

Other Performers
  • Blood Circus
05/14/88 - The Glass House (house party), Olympia, WA
Set (incomplete)
  • Love Buzz

Notes
  • Dave Foster played drums.
  • This was a birthday party for Portland/Olympia musician Gilly Hanner of Sister Skelter.
  • Kurt joined Gilly to sing a version of Scratch Acid's "The Greatest Gift," possibly during Sister Skelter's set.
  • Kurt played "Love Buzz" on his back on the floor.
  • The manager of the band Mudhoney crashed through a plate glass window while slam dancing during Nirvana's set, according to attendees.

Uncirculated Recordings
  • amateur video

Other Performers
  • Lansdat Blister • Sister Skelter
05/21/88 - The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
Set (incomplete)
  • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber

Notes
  • Dave Foster played drums.
  • The all-day show took place on the field in front of the K dorm.
  • Many bands played, and Nirvana closed the show.
  • It was a hot and sunny day, but it started to rain during Nirvana's set, so they stopped playing and brought some of their equipment inside. They may have returned to play more after the rain subsided, according to an attendee.
  • After the show, the band asked Chad Channing if he would like to jam with them. Chad agreed and jammed with them a bunch of times, but was never officially asked to join the band. He just continued to play with them from that point on.

Other Performers
  • Herd Of Turtles • Lansdat Blister • The Speds • Telefunken
05/2?/88 - The Glass House (house party), Olympia, WA
Notes
  • It is assumed that Dave Foster played drums.
  • This was a birthday party for P.C. Quinn of Sister Skelter.

Other Performers
  • Sister Skelter
05/??/88 - The Vogue, Seattle, WA
Notes
  • This was the first show with Chad Channing on drums.
06/02/88 - The Central Tavern (Toe Jam '88), Seattle, WA
Other Performers
  • Chemistry Set
06/17/88 - Hal Holmes Community Center, Ellensburg, WA
Notes
  • "About fifty kids" were at the show, according to Slim Moon of Lush.

Other Performers
  • King Krab • Lush • Millions Of Dead Leninz
07/03/88 - The Vogue (Sub Pop Sunday), Seattle, WA
Notes
  • The band was originally supposed to play a show at the Community World Theater in Tacoma on this day, but that show was cancelled due to the venue permanently closing five days earlier.

Other Performers
  • Blood Circus • The Fluid
07/23/88 - The Central Tavern, Seattle, WA
Set (incomplete)
  • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber • Hairspray Queen • Spank Thru • Downer

Notes
  • The show was booked by Nikolas Hartshorne, who would go on to be the King County Medical Examiner at the time of Kurt's death.
  • There were about twelve people in attendance, according to Chad.

Other Performers
  • Leaving Trains
07/30/88 - Squid Row Tavern, Seattle, WA
Other Performers
  • Skin Yard
08/20/88 - Capitol Lake Park (Capitol Lake Jam), Olympia, WA
Other Performers
  • My Name • Soundgarden • Swallow
08/29/88 - The Vogue, Seattle, WA
Notes
  • Kurt was sick with the flu and played part of the show while lying down on the ground, according to a member of the Treacherous Jaywalkers.

Other Performers
  • Treacherous Jaywalkers
10/??/88 - birthday party, Bainbridge Island, WA
Notes
  • The show took place on a skate ramp.
  • It was probably the week before the 10/28/88 show.
10/28/88 - Union Station, Seattle, WA
Notes
  • The set was plagued with sound problems.

Other Performers
  • Blood Circus • Butthole Surfers
10/30/88 - Dorm K208, The Evergreen State College (dorm party), Olympia, WA
Set
  • School • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber • Spank Thru • Big Cheese • Hairspray Queen • Mr. Moustache • Sifting • Mexican Seafood • Aero Zeppelin • Run, Rabbit, Run! • Immigrant Song • Blew

Notes
  • This was the first show at which Kurt smashed his guitar.

Circulating Recordings
  • AUD #1 - audience audio
    • Equipment: unknown > GE (cassette)
    • Lowest Generation: ANA(M)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 60 min / A
    • "Love Buzz" and "Sifting" cut in. "Mr. Moustache" cuts out.

Other Performers
  • Lansdat Blister • Lush
11/23/88 - Speedy O'Tubbs Rhythmic Underground, Bellingham, WA
Other Performers
  • Coffin Break • Skin Yard
12/01/88 - The Underground, Seattle, WA
Other Performers
  • Coffin Break • D.O.A.
12/21/88 - Eagles Hall, Hoquiam, WA
Set
  • School • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber • Mr. Moustache • Paper Cuts • Mexican Seafood • Spank Thru • Aero Zeppelin • Sifting • Hairspray Queen • Run, Rabbit, Run! • Big Cheese • Immigrant Song • Blew

Notes
  • Krist played in his underwear.
  • At the beginning of the show, Krist jammed briefly on the Led Zeppelin songs "Heartbreaker" and "Dazed And Confused" and the Kiss song "She."

Circulating Recordings
  • AUD #1 - audience audio
    • Equipment: built-in > GE (cassette)
    • Lowest Generation: ANA(x)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 60 min / B-
    • Missing the opening jams.
  • AMT #1a - amateur video (incomplete)
    • Equipment: unknown > unknown
    • Lowest Audio Generation: VHS(x)
    • Lowest Video Generation: VHS(x)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 40 min / B-
    • More complete, but lower quality than AMT #1b.
    • Missing everything after "Sifting," which cuts out.
  • AMT #1b - amateur video (incomplete)
    • Equipment: unknown > unknown
    • Lowest Audio Generation: VHS(1)
    • Lowest Video Generation: VHS(1)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 25 min / B+
    • Higher quality, but less complete than AMT #1a.
    • Includes only "School," "Floyd The Barber," "Paper Cuts," "Mexican Seafood," "Spank Thru," "Love Buzz," and "Aero Zeppelin" (in that order).
    • "Paper Cuts" and "Love Buzz" cut in.

Other Performers
  • Attica • Psychlodds
12/28/88 - The Underground (Sub Pop 200 Record Release Party), Seattle, WA
Set
  • School • Love Buzz • Floyd The Barber • Mr. Moustache • Paper Cuts • Mexican Seafood • Spank Thru • Sifting • Hairspray Queen • Blew

Circulating Recordings
  • AUD #1 - audience audio
    • Equipment: Sony > Sony WM-D6C (cassette)
    • Lowest Generation: ANA(2)
    • Length / Sound Quality: 40 min / A

Other Performers
  • Blood Circus • Jesse Bernstein • Swallow • Tad • The Thrown Ups