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Best Live Concert You Ever Saw

Jim_64
Jim_64 Member Posts: 253
Three times: Trans-Siberian Orchestra
«1

Comments

  • Bick Bickerson
    Bick Bickerson Member Posts: 12
    Fun for this weekend

    1. Deep Purple - Come Taste the Band Tour - 1975 Rochester, New York. Right place, right time, best people, best seats, Tommy Bolin was a God that night. Coverdale, Hughes, Paice, Lord & Bolin rocked.

    2. Yes - toss up between, Tales From Topographic Ocean Tour at Cornell University, Barton Hall, front row, Yes - Relayer Tour, Syracuse War Memorial. The most incredible live band

    3. Allman Brothers - Watkins Glenn - Summer Jam 1973, they jammed forever, pharmaceutic-ally speaking

    4. Zappa - Zoot Allures Tour - Manley Field House, Syracuse, small band, mostly jamming. Frank was an incredible guitarist.

    5. Kansas - Left Overture Tour in quadraphonic sound, their musicianship is incredible.

    6. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Syracuse, so funky and intense, Jerry Goodman, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Jan Hammer & Rick Laird - Fits in the category of Super Group.

    7. Deep Purple - Machine Head Tour 1972, nuff said

    8. Thin Lizzy opening for Rainbow in 1976, they blew Rainbow off the stage.

    9. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, original line-up, made Santana & Bad Company wish they didn't share the same bill. Wasn't even close.

    10. Santana - Inner Secrets Tour, 70's, blistering Santana before he went radio...

    *There is another 100 I left off, we saw everybody who was anybody back in the 70's & 80's for like $10, $20 tops. Johnny Winter, Derringer, J.Geils, Clapton, Jeff Beck, REO, Journey etc.
  • Wayco Wayne_2
    Wayco Wayne_2 Member Posts: 2,479
    Your're taxing my memory chips

    I've seen a lot and forgot a lot too.
    I saw the James Gang in Washington DC next to the reflecting pool. They rocked. Nuff said.
    I saw Linda Ronstat, The Eagles, Jackson Brown, and Dan Fogleburg all at one concert. A fundraiser for Jerry Brown for Pres.
    The Paul Mcarteny Concert I saw 3 years ago was the closest thing I could imagine a Concert by the Beatles being. It was Great!
    I saw The Eagles 3 years ago. The old poops can still rock, but they have back up musicians to help pace themselves. Very Smart. Joe Walsh is still one of my favs. I enjoyed watching his hands run up and down the frets like a tarantula on speed.
    I saw Zappa once but don't remember a lot. :Z
    Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon tour was most excellent. Visual stimulation along with some excellent heavy vibe sounds. The encore was Echoes. Sent chills down my spine.

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  • realolman
    realolman Member Posts: 513
    for the

    best sounding music....Elton John. Sounded better than the records.

    Two of the worst were Moody Blues... I was shocked and disappointed. I've always been a big fan... and Santana... fifteen guys pounding on various drums and Carlos plying on a 20 watt amp. very poor.

    Frank Zappa was indeed an incredible guitarist.
  • Charlie Masone
    Charlie Masone Member Posts: 66


    Jefferson Airplane, maybe not the best but the most memorable. It was my first concert, I was 13, it was free at Stony Brook University, 1967. Many good concerts at Stony Brook in those days. Three Dog Night, Jethro Tull, others. Can't do that sort of thing at that level today.
  • ScottMP
    ScottMP Member Posts: 5,883
    My first concert

    was The Who and I was 13 ....

    I saw alot of the same concerts but I STILL SAY the best was ....

    Buddy Rich at the Marblehead High School ..... THAT was a tight band !!! Fifteen brass players, upright bass, grand piano and The Man Himself on the Skins.

    Scott

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  • Josh M.
    Josh M. Member Posts: 359


    Most memorable was my first concert. Nirvana, Live and Loud in Seattle, 1993. My older brother won tickets on the radio. It was filmed and broad casted on MTV. It was also the last time they would ever play in Seattle.

    Also honorable mention goes to The Cure, Foo Fighters, Social Distortion, U2, and Aerosmith.
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,598
    For me it was my first concert.

    Summer of '66. The concert was at the old Forest Hills Tennis Stadium.

    The main event was the Momas and the Pappas.

    The warm-up band was a couple of kids from Queens, NY - Simon and Garfunkel. No one knew who they were.

    I'll never forget that night.
    Retired and loving it.
  • John Barba
    John Barba Member Posts: 166
    They're all memorable...

    ..some memories are a little fuzzy, however.

    In no particular order:

    Bruce Springsteen, Worcester Centrum 1991

    The Kinks w/Ian Hunter opening act, Lenox Music Inn 1979

    The Kinks w/The Cars opening act, Springfield Civic Center, 1977 (4 rows from stage with Susan Bolles sitting on my shoulders! What a night...)

    George Thorogood & The Destroyers (special guest Peter Wolf), Boston Orpheum, 1984

    Muddy Waters, Georgetown University, 1978

    Arlo Guthrie, Boston Orpheum, 1976

    Rick Danko, Richard Manual, Levon Helm & Paul Butterfield, The Bayou, Washington DC, 1981

    Little Feat (post-Lowell George) Clendenin Gym, American University 1981

    Brian Wilson (Pet Sounds Live) Harborlights, Boston, 2003

    Paul McCartney, Foxboro Stadium, 1990

    Cold Shoulder (my son Sam's band), Dinkytown Cafe, Minneapolis, 2008

    Marshall Tucker Band, Sringfield Civic Center, 1977, Marlboro High School, 1984, Bogart's Night Club, 1997

    Bob Dylan at Great Woods, 1987

    Crosby Still and Nash at Great Woods, 1986

    Any one of a dozen Jimmy Buffet shows at the Boston Common, Great Woods or the Target Center

    Roger McGuinn, the "new" Band, Hot Tuna at the Worcester Memorial Auditorium, 1987

    Hank Williams Jr at Mechanic's Hall, Worcester, 1987

    Stop me!
  • Jack
    Jack Member Posts: 1,048
    Well...

    Woodstock- Everybody

    Watkins Glen- The Band, The Dead and Allman Bros

    Tempe, AZ '74- James Cotton Blues Band, Lynrd Skyner, Marshall Tucker (this was about when their first albums had come out), Boz Scaggs, headliner-Steve Miller (he stunk) Elton John was in the crowd and played. LS and Marshall Tucker swept the field
  • Ron Huber_2
    Ron Huber_2 Member Posts: 127
    Best Bargain

    73 0r 74? Elvin Bishop, Marshall Tucker Band, and the Allman Brothers at Mile High Stadium, $8.00
  • GMcD
    GMcD Member Posts: 477
    Kiss

    1. Kiss Destroyer tour 1976, Cheap Trick opened and were fantastic, but the Kiss show was second to none.

    2. Triple bill of Ted Nugent, Scorpions, and the Pat Travers band 1980?

    3. Blue Oyster Cult 1979

    4. Yes, in the round 1978

    5. Hoyt Axton, Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, 1984ish - up and dancing with the new wife, what a great time.

    6. Roxy Music, with opener Images in Vogue, 1981ish

    7. ABBA in Edmonton, 1978ish (I'm mostly a Metalhead, but the girlfriend of the day....) It was actually a pretty good show.

    8. The Highwaymen (Waylon, Willie, Johnny, and Kris) in 1983? - future wife was into country music, but good show)

    There have been others, but those are the top of the list.
  • best

    Best one I saw was Van-Halen in Portland, ME. I was up close to see Eddie play. Absolutely phenomenal. He has a gift.
    Foghat- final tour farewell tour early 90's Wow, those guys looked used and abused.
    Yanni. Whoops no that was just a bad dream.
  • Bick Bickerson
    Bick Bickerson Member Posts: 12
    Hey Jack

    I was also at Summer Jam in Watkins Glen, I thought The Band were better than the Dead. Man oh man the things I saw there. For a dollar you could reach the stars. I heard I had a great time! Lot's of laughs...
  • Steamhead (in transit)
    Steamhead (in transit) Member Posts: 6,688
    Well, my memory is a bit hazy

    regarding dates, but here are some of them:

    1979 or so- Crack the Sky at the old Painter's Mill Music Fair. Not bad.

    1980s:

    Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at the old Capitol Centre, Largo, MD, second half of "The River" tour in 1981. I remember they played the traditional song "Jole Blon" which appeared on the first Gary "U.S." Bonds album the Boss produced, and their version of Jimmy Cliff's "Trapped!" I was a Springsteen fan by that time, but if I wasn't, that concert would probably have changed my mind. Awesome!

    The Who, Capitol Centre, 1982 I think. Pretty bad. The worst part was the audience, they booed the band when they played anything newer than "Baba O'Riley". Didn't surprise me when they broke up shortly afterward. The opener, David Johanneson, wasn't much better.

    A long string of good concerts at Merriwether Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD. Some highlights:

    The Pretenders w/Simple Minds opening. Chrissie Hynde was married to Jim Kerr, Simple Minds' frontman, at the time. Both bands were good.

    The Go-Gos with A Flock of Seagulls opening. Local girl Gina Schock was the Go-Gos' drummer, I remember she played her heart out. She's one of rock's under-rated drummers. AFOS had an interesting take on synthesizer-based rock.

    Cheap Trick- I think their opener was AXE, who were rather forgettable.

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- don't remember who opened that one, and it probably didn't matter.

    Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Capitol Centre, 1984, on the Born in the U.S.A. tour. Even better than the 1981 show.

    After that I kind of tapered off, but did see Springsteen twice more. The 1992 show was good, but not the same without the E Street Band. The 2000 E Street Band reunion tour was just like the old days but even better. The last two tours sold out before I could get tickets.



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  • Brian_19
    Brian_19 Member Posts: 115


    1 Rush
    2 ac/dc
    3 Pink floyd
    4 Kinks
    5 Steely Dan
    6 ELP
  • Paul Fredricks_7
    Paul Fredricks_7 Member Posts: 2


    Most memorable, and possibly the best, was Yes at Hartfords Colt Park in '76(?) Relayer Tour. That is one I wish I could relive. I was 14 and it was my 1st concert.

    #2 would have to be the Who in Bridgeprt CT last year. Now there may have been better concerts, but this one was very good and I did not expect it. These guys were into what they were doing. Probably one of my favorites because it was my son's first concert. What a great night.

    The Who at shea in NY, both nights. 1982? 50,000 people singing Behind Blue Eyes at the same time. Amazing!

    1982? The Waitresses in Norwalk CT at a small club. What a great act. And the Tubes in '82. Wow, didn't expect it.

    To tell you the truth, I can't actually think of a concert that was bad.
  • bob_46
    bob_46 Member Posts: 813
    Most memorable

    Van Clyburn @ Edmund Chapel, Wheaton College.
    Byron Janis same place different time.
    The "KING" Elvis, Chicago Stadium.
    Deaf Camp Concert in a meadow above Old Snowmass CO., they had no announced acts just who ever showed up. I saw Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Denver, Warren Buffet and I can't remember who else.

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • hb_3
    hb_3 Member Posts: 8
    Looking back through the haze..........

    There have been so many great ones. Saw Bowie on the "Diamond Dogs" tour in '74. He is very good live.

    Kiss in '75 or '76. The greatest stage show ever.

    My most memorable (maybe because I was completely coherent and old enough to appeciate it) was Black Sabbath at Ozzfest 2005. Magical, it was. Ozzy was perfect that night, which is a rarity these days.

    Just got my tickets for the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival for this summer. Should be a great day.
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    Rush, the R-30 show. Super powerful. Then, the Fabulous Thunderbirds opening for REO Speedwagon. Jethro Tull, Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Chicago, Beach Boys and more I do not remember...

    Tim
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Jim Morrison...

    and The DOORS...
    Live in 1970 @ D.U. arena.

    Jimmy Hendrix for a one night stand at a place called the Family Dog. He was unheard of at that point in time, playing the secondary circuits.

    Jethro Tull and Aqua Lung at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Got a free snoot full of tear gas at that one from the cops battling the gate crashers...

    Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end.

    But I would have to say THE BEST concert was at McNichols arena, in the round, 2nd row seats for Dolly Parton. THat image is burned into my mamory. Er, sorry, I mean MEMORY :-)

    ME
  • Bick Bickerson
    Bick Bickerson Member Posts: 12
    Wow, I forgot Jethro Tull

    Amazing in concert!

    *Wish I was at Madison Square Garden when the Rolling Stones recorded "Get Yer Ya Ya's Out" truly one of the best live albums ever put out, Mick Taylor's solo on Sympathy for The Devil smokes! And to think we missed it last weekend.

    What should next Friday's quiz be?

    Rick
  • Mark Hunt_4
    Mark Hunt_4 Member Posts: 68
    Best concert eveh????

    I don't remember.

    Mark H
  • Wayco Wayne_2
    Wayco Wayne_2 Member Posts: 2,479
    Wow!

    Some great shows. Here's a couple I remembered while reading the others. I saw Bruce Springstein on his Born to Run Tour, at Constitution Hall in DC. I remember being hoarse by the end of the show. Wow!
    While I was at College at Frostburg State College in the mountains of MD we had an in house concert in the Student Center. The headliner was Johnathan Edwards, and the warm up a group called The Persuasions, but the Persuasions cancelled at the last minute and they got some relatively unknown guy named Steve Goodman to fill in. Steve Goodman stole the show. What an amazing talent. I don't know if he had even written the song, "The City of New Orleans," that Arlo Guthrie made famous yet but he shone like the sun. I even remember how good the brownies were that night. Yum!

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  • Dave Larsen_11
    Dave Larsen_11 Member Posts: 39
    best ever!

    I was very lucky and got to open for some big acts, so those have to be on my list. Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult,Steppenwolf, Guess Who, Iron Butterfly, Savoy Brown, 38 Special,there's more but I know the best ever was in the double diamond in Aspen around 1988, the temptations walked in and did a set with the band playing that night. I still get chills thinking of how their harmonies were just freakin' perfect!
  • Wayco Wayne_2
    Wayco Wayne_2 Member Posts: 2,479
    Oh yeah

    The Nighthawks played at my community college Homnecoming dance in 72. I remember watching agog and saying Who the hell are these guys. they were just getting started.
    I've also seen John Prine a gazillion times. He's one of my favs.

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  • jim s_2
    jim s_2 Member Posts: 114
    HMMMMM

    Let`s see

    Iron Maiden 1985 Hartford civic center,Powerslave tour,one of the most elaborate stage productions I`ve ever seen.

    KISS Reunion tour1996-97,another amazing show.

    Van Halen 1984 tour ,Top of their game. Going to see them at Mohegan sun in a little over a week.

    YES,90125 tour Damn good show.

    Saw Alice Cooper as part of the Heaven and Hell tour back in September at Mohegan and was absolutely floored by His performance,better than the headliners.

    One of the worst was The Cars,Heartbeat city back in `84 I`ve seen mannequins that were more animated than these guys.
  • Ross_7
    Ross_7 Member Posts: 577
    I was a Roadie for..

    Pink Floyd on the Division Bell tour, back in 1994. It was only for two concerts. Set up for two concerts on the tour. Ames, IA ,and Kansas City, MO. Boss let me go for 2 weeks from my regular job, to go do this. It was hard work, but a lot of fun. Went with a couple of my buddies from college.
    Got to see the show twice.
    Ross
  • Plumdog_2
    Plumdog_2 Member Posts: 873
    I got gassed too

    And the Family Dog was great. Saw Cream there, and Van Morrison, etc. Jimi Hendrix at Red Rocks. Lotta smoke there, and not just the Amplifier burning.
  • Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_2
    Dave Yates (GrandPAH)_2 Member Posts: 377
    memories!

    Fiddler on the Roof in NYC with Zero Mostel in the lead role. From the nose bleed section. Spur of the moment thing by my boss. We were returning from Rutherford Diascan Co after he'd purchased a color separator scanner (I worked in a printing/publishing company back then - at the age of 14).

    69 or 70? Imagine 116 short-haired kids in coats & ties from the Gow School being bussed to Buffalo to see The Who perform Tommy live. Drinking age was 18 & bars tended to serve anyone who could reach the counter, so a few of us thought we'd sneak in a beer only to find out teachers were stationed at the bar keeping a keen eye out. Great concert!

    James Gang - Mott the Hoople - front-n-center - right by the speakers! Huh? What'd you say? Cops searched anyone they felt like - looking for drugs.

    Missed seeing Bread, Yes & Jethro Tull in same concert in Pittsburgh due to Hurricane Agnes flooding out the areana.

    Saw The Eagles a few years ago in Philla - great show. Folks in front of us were smoking something odd(G). Cops didn't care who was smoking what & folks were quite openly smoking weed. Times do change.

    The ultimate concert experience had to be being back stage watching this relatively new country singer launch into his new hit single. I'd just removed a pair of underpants from the back-stage sewage ejector pump & had been hearing the crowd screaming for this guy. Echoed reverbs in a concrete underground tank! The security guard let me backstage & directed me to the seats along the side just off stage left. The singers family was seated there. As Garth broke into Friends in Low Places, the fans went nuts!
  • Bick Bickerson
    Bick Bickerson Member Posts: 12
    Mark, your best show was...

    Anne Boleyn live at the Altamont Fairgrounds. Remember there was this crazy scotch soaked singer with long hair who had a 4-octave range. Tight leather pants and a fondness for Wilo Pumps? Man he rocked! "Long Live Rock N' Roll" WOOOOoooooooWHOOOOooooooo


    Rick, President of the Anne Boleyn Fan Club
  • John L
    John L Member Posts: 118
    best ever

    Springsteen - Slane Castle- also best venue
    Stones- same place,
    Lizzy, mid 70's when i was yung and lernin things
    Bob Marley- lernin some more
    U2- heck of a band

    John L
  • John Barba
    John Barba Member Posts: 166
    Nighthawks & Prine

    Wayne --

    Saw the Nighthawks 4 or 5 times during my DC days -- apparently they're still alive and kicking - minus Thackery. Did you seen Prine at AU, spring of either 80 or 81 -- played at the outdoor amphitheatre with Leon Redbone and the Atlanta Rhythm Section. At least I think I remember the show...

    JMB
  • Brad White_185
    Brad White_185 Member Posts: 265
    Mirror that

    nearly the same- Elvin Bishop, Marshall Tucker Band and Charlie Daniels Band at the Orpheum, Boston. 1976 if memory serves.

    The concert went way past curfew and the police had to shut it down...
  • Wayco Wayne_2
    Wayco Wayne_2 Member Posts: 2,479
    No John

    I missed that one. I've seen Prine with Redbone at Wolftrap in the late 80's. The only concert I saw at AU was Chicago in 72.

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  • John R. Hall
    John R. Hall Member Posts: 2,245
    Two ends of the spectrum

    Lynyrd Skynyrd

    Sammy Davis Jr. / Frank Sinatra
  • Thought about it for a while...

    The Eagles With Special guest Joe Walsh, San Diego 1979 pre Hotel California. It was their first public performance together. Nothing but Eagle hits and Joe Walsh hits. And then there was Lynrd Skynrd same location 1977 with some unknown group called "Journey" warming up. Two months later they crashed. :(
  • tommyoil
    tommyoil Member Posts: 612
    Capitol Theater Passaic NJ

    Was where I took in The Dead, Stones(under an assumed name so as NOT to cause a riot)Hot Tuna, The Boss, Jerry Garcia and too many others to name. Even with all those heavy hitters the best show I ever saw there was The Outlaws. They were a great live band and the jams went on forever. Saw Frank Zappa at Fairleigh Dickinson Gym in Teaneck NJ which was ok, but after seeing the Zappa Halloween shows year in year out at the Palladium on 14th street in NYC, The Fairleigh show was just OK. Billy Joel at Fairleigh Dickinson Rutherford campus when I was MAYBE 15 or so. Saw David Bromberg at least a dozen times in different locations. Lately hes been playing here at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank NJ so I've been going there when he's in town.Was ON STAGE as security for Ace Frehley(Kiss), Gilby Clarke of guns and roses fame(who was kick **** AND a great guy) Dee Snider of Twisted Sister fame, Joe Lynn Turner of BTO fame, Vanilla Ice( who was a TOTAL #** hole)and literally 100's of other lesser known acts. Had a pretty good run when I worked that club. I wouldnt go to a large venue show now if you GAVE me the tickets. I've been spoiled. Cant beat that small club vibe.
  • John Barba
    John Barba Member Posts: 166
    A little before my time...

    Did recently pick up the Allman Bros. Live at AU CD...recorded either just before or just after their Fillmore East epic. What a show!
  • PJO_5
    PJO_5 Member Posts: 199
    Oh Boy...

    Memories...

    First concert was a doozy; Yes, Peter Frampton and Gary Wright at JFK stadium in Philly, 1976. Just as "Frampton Comes Alive!" was peaking. He was great, and Yes was incredible...saw them three more times indoors. Probably my vote for overall best - especially outside.

    Saw Lynard Skynard (sp?) a year later at the same site, not long before their accident...the J Geils Band kicked a**, but Frampton was whacked out that day, and took 20 years to recover :-(

    Eagles in '77 when Joe Walsh joined them. Also in '77 for $10.00 was Foreigner, Rick Derringer and the Little River Band. Derringer blew the house down...I also saw him at the first concert ever in Northern Maine. It was Blue Oyster Cult as the headliner and a local band as well. I caught one of Derringer's drummer's sticks...it was cracked but still usable.

    I was a huge Aerosmith fan back in the day. Saw them twice when Steve T was drinking real haevy...he skipped a lot of lines due to the JD, but they rocked so loud you hardly heard him anyway :-) I was there in Philly when the firecracker blew on stage and ended the show early...couldn't blame Joe Perry for giving the crowd the finger...

    Saw U2 at the second to last show at JFK in about '92 or so. There was a guy at the back of the stage most of the show w/ a guitar hanging on him...couldn't see his face. Bono had his arm in a sling, and near the end of the show this guy finally comes under the lights - the Boss! They rocked for about 30 minutes. He was there because Little Stevie's band was on the ticket.

    Also saw Bruce and the E Street band in 2004, and Bruce solo in '05...big difference but still awesome.

    John Mellencamp and Bowie (Serious Moonlight Tour) in the mid-80's...both great entertainers w/ differing shows. Also saw three of the best piano/keyboard rocksters of the day the same summer: Elton John, Billy Joel and Steve Winwood in '85 I think - too much fun to remember ;-)

    At the Mann Center in Philly: Two Great Shows ten years apart...
    Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse
    BB King, Doctor John and Robert Cray


    A lot of others...from Punk to Heavy Metal to Electric/Dance (like the Thompson Twins & OMD). Thanks for the memories!

    Take Care, PJO


  • John Mills_5
    John Mills_5 Member Posts: 952
    1986

    Gordon Lightfoot
    Rochester MN
    Mayo Civic Center
    3 standing ovations, 3 encores
This discussion has been closed.