By April 1989, R.E.M. had just made the leap that changes everything — from cult-beloved college rock band to genuine mainstream force. Green, their first album for Warner Bros., had gone multi-platinum on the strength of “Stand,” “Orange Crush,” and “Pop Song 89.” The Green World Tour was R.E.M.’s first real arena-scale run, and the Onondaga War Memorial in Syracuse caught them right in the middle of it. Michael Stipe was evolving from enigmatic mumbler into a commanding frontman. Peter Buck’s jangly Rickenbacker was one of the most distinctive sounds in rock. Mike Mills and Bill Berry held down a rhythm section that was deceptively tight beneath all the shimmer. Out of Time and Automatic for the People were still ahead — the best was yet to come — but Green was the moment the world figured out what Athens, Georgia already knew.
Your Guide to Live Music in Upstate New York
