best concerts?

[Goatboy]

OK, we've been having a ton of music related threads lately (best songs, bands, albums, etc.) I was wondering, are any of you concert goers? And if so, what are some of the best concerts you've ever been to? OK, I am definatley a concert fan. I love the live experience of hearing the way the songs REALLY sound (without the overdubs and studio perfection.) So I have been to a ton of concerts over the years. The most memorable were:

1. Prince: Laugh if you want, this was BY FAR the best concert i have ever seen. I'm not even a Prince fan (well, i wasn't. I am now.) I didn't own any of his albums when i went to this show, and barely knew any of the songs. I just went because i heard it was a great concert, and i was basically just expecting to have a decent time. Little did i know that not only is Prince an outstanding musician/entertainer, but his entire band is just fantastic. If you ever get the chance to check him out, do it!

2. Billy Joel: OK, I get a lot of flack for liking Billy Joel, but the guy puts on a terrific concert. It was basically three hours of every single song you could possibly want to hear, plus some great piano interludes. A great time.

3. Jimmy Page/Robert Plant: The closest I will ever get to seeing Led Zeppelin, and it was great. They aren't quite the performers they were in the mid 70s, but they still put on a great show.

4. Eric Clapton: I saw Clapton with a small orchestra backing up his regular band, and it was a really fantastic show. The string section added some real nice touches to the music, and of course Clapton is still one of the greatest guitarists on the planet. Plus, he had an outstanding keyboard player who got a standing ovation from the MSG crowd after his long solo.

5. They Might Be Giants: This was just a really FUN show. One of the few times you're laughing at a concert, and it's WITh the band, not AT them. Plus, i love their songs. it was a really great night.

Ok people, what are some of yours?

 

[Traveler]

I lived in Oklahoma City for 15 years and they had a convention center.The Myraids Convention Center saw concerts NCAA basketball and car shows there but,I digress:

AC/DC,the For Those About To Rock,That was the first of five times I saw them they just blew the roof off the place.They played and rocked for an hour and a half straight,then they did some encores.All I can say is Angus!!!! Angus!!!.


Then,I moved back to Chicago and went to a blues club and saw George Thorogood.That was a good show.It was a small place so you were real close.No,wonder I can't hear anymore.

 

[crydun]

1) Brooks and Dunn-This duo by far tops my list of must-see concerts. They really know how to entertain.

2) Ray Boltz- I have seen him twice! Hope to see him again. This was a life-changing experience for me.

3) Little Texas- I saw this group(no longer together) twice. They too knew how to rock the crowd!

 

[steph]

I heard that Prince was awesome!
I was damn near crushed to death at the AC/DC a few years back (but that was a really great show!) 😛

My fave goes to Paul McCartney and then again another great one, I think the year was 1982, Boston, I saw The Stones with George Thoroughgood and J. Geils Band~amazing!!

XOXO

 

[leafstk]

I've been fortunate to see many great bands here in Toronto over the years 😀 My fav's include: AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Black Sabbath, Neil Young, Rush, Jethro Tull, Dire Straits, Tragically Hip, and the Ramones.

 

[the_Baron]

every moody blues and YES concert i've been to has been among the best shows i've seen.

and this too....the oak ridge boys. oh yeah.

 

[mistertickle123]

Depends on the type of music.
I've been to so many shows it's hard to single too many of them out but as far as rock & pop go some of the ones that left an impression because of the great music & overall experience and vibe would be:

Elton John in Oakland, Ca
This show was in the late 80's I think?
Fantastic showman. An Elton John concert is a true rock/pop experience. He's extremely talented and had a great band.

Chicago & Bruce Springsteen at Carnegie Hall, NYC (Bruce was the opening act and it was his first tour with a major band - Chicago was hot at the time and actually released a 4 record set from their performances there on that tour - Live at Carnegie Hall - soon thereafter. Sizzling sets from both bands.

The Rolling Stones (back in the lean and mean 70's when they had some serious attitude - Mick Taylor was playing lead for them), Led Zeppelin ( Song Remains the Same tour - nothing else need be said)and The Who (with Keith Moon)all at Madison Square Garden, NYC.
These three were serious stand out shows for me because I was very young and got an introduced to some serious icons of rock who were in their primes. My ears were buzzing and body vibrating from the loud amps and energy from these shows for a couple of days after the concerts especially Zep & the Who both were insanely loud. Never would have thought to wear earplugs back then!

The Rolling Stones in Oakland, CA. Bridges to Babylon tour. OK so maybe they were a couple of steps slower but their show was still as electrified and as powerful as ever with great, great musical back up including Chuck Leavell. Mick Jagger is one of the ultimate showmen in music! This band still rocks!

Allman Brothers Band at the Capital Theater in Passaic, NJ
Allman Brothers Band - Trenton Fairgrounds, NJ
I've seen them many times throughout their various personnel changes but these two shows were great. Never got to see them with Duane Allman unfortunately.
The Capital was an old movie house where I saw many fine bands over the years (believe it's gone now) the sound system was great and the atmosphere and vibe cozy. The set was super tight even though there were a number of powerhouse extended jams.
In Trenton it was a big Woodstocky type vibe, sound wasn't that great but they definitely were a band who when they were dialed in could take you on some fantastic rides. They were on that day.

Pink Floyd at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, NJ
This was around the time of Dark Side of the Moon.
Excellent concert, great light show and effects. Very psychedelic experience.

Alice Cooper, J. Geils & Flash at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, NJ
Flash was a British band fronted by original Yes keyboard player Tony Kaye. They played a fine highly energised opening set, followed by J Geils who played a seriously high-voltage set of music. This was pre- pop J Geils and they were gritty, nasty & blusy. They rocked the stadium into a frenzy. Believe it or not Alice Cooper then came out and absolutely blew people away. The combination of a tight band pounding out some very good hard rock and Alice's wild theatrics which at the time were pretty ground breaking made this one to remember. During the encore School's Out helicopters flew over the multi strobe light blinding stadium dropping parashoots on the crowd that had plastic panties attached to them. The same panties as those found as the inner sleave of the vinyl LP.


Steeley Dan at the Chronical Pavillion in Concord, CA
These guys can seriously rock. Their music while considered sophisticated pop has always encompassed great hooks, interesting lyrics and covered so many types of music from country to rock to blues to jazz that they really are hard to categorize. They put on one hell of a show if you're lucky enough to see them tour which has been very infrequent over their long storied career.

 

[leafstk]

"Steeley Dan at the Chronical Pavillion in Concord, CA
These guys can seriously rock. Their music while considered sophisticated pop has always encompassed great hooks, interesting lyrics and covered so many types of music from country to rock to blues to jazz that they really are hard to categorize. They put on one hell of a show if you're lucky enough to see them tour which has been very infrequent over their long storied career."

😱 How could I possibly forget Steely Dan?!! I've seen them three times, each time they have been nothing short of superb 😀 😀

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

Neil Young- solo acoustic show...plus, Hartford Conn, 1982.
Neil played all his big songs and tons of obscurities by himself at this show, at the time he had just released the techno-sounding "Trans". By the concerts end, he put on wraparound sunglasses, bought out an electric guitar and played "Mr. Soul" and some of the "Trans" material while struttin' around the stage with a video screen image of himself...singing back-up! Truly phnenomenal!

U2- Hartford, 1985.
Outstanding concert, "The Unforgettable Fire" tour, what more can be said.
U2- Hartford, 1988
Not as good as 1985 but incredible opening. Before the show started, the "backround music" was playing John Lennon's cover of "Stand By Me". Halfway thru this, U2 strolls onstage, finishes the song and goes right into "Pride(in the name of love)". Every single person was standing and singing with Bono at the top of their lungs.....and the house lights weren't even turned off yet!!


Drew

 

[TickledToDeath]

Cool Thread

I too have been to a ton of concerts in my day.... my most memorable are:

Pink Floyd: Saw The Wall tour at Madison Square Garden, Delicate Sound of Thunder Tour and their final tour.....Pulse, both at Giants Stadium.

Electric Light Orchestra: The Out of the Blue tour, Madison Square Garden. HELL of a show, as the stage was a flying saucer where they opened the show with the top of the saucer lifting off and the band was inside. Some of the best special effects I have seen to date.

Kitaro.

Kansas.

Alan Parsons.

Allman Brothers.

Yes.

Those are a few of the memorable ones' as asked in the thread. I have probably seen roughly 100 concerts to date. Give or take a few.


TTD

 

[featherfingers]

Elton John- 1975: This was his greatest year yet! The "Captain Fantastic..." album had been released and he was touring to support it. He was still wearing his costumes and fantastic eyeglasses at this time. It was my very first concert but not my last.

Paul McCartney & Wings- "Wings Over America" tour, 1976: Best concert I've ever seen, hands down. Imagine, an ex-Beatle just a few hundred feet away from me! I can still see the lasers from their performance of "Live And Let Die"! Great show!

The Commodores-1978: I got to see them free because a friend worked in the venue they were playing. Great funk and even greater slow jams!

Santana- Many times! Carlos and his guitar were one with each other and his concerts were a very Spiritual experience... except the one where an overzealous fan jumped onstage and pulled the hat right off of Carlos's head. After 1999 and the hit "Smooth", Santana stopped visiting Tucson.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

Honorable mentions:

Van Halen- 1979, touring behind "Van Halen 2"
Robin Trower
B.B. King
Yes
ZZ-Top


Drew

 

[giantfan121262]

Rush-1981-Madison Square Garden- It was their moving pictures tour and it was special b/c Moving Pictures was one of their best albums. Those songs incorporated with classics like Spirit of the Radio. 2112 Overture, etc... made for a special show

The Ramones with David Johansen in 1982 at Ramapo College. I went to see the ramones and thouroughly enjoyed them but David Johansen actually blew them off the stage.

This past summer, I saw Earth Wind and Fire and Chicago. they actually palayed some stuff together and really jelled well and actually seemed like they wanted to be out there

Those are my top three

 

[leafstk]

Re: Cool Thread

Alan Parsons.

Brilliant, I was fortunate enough to see APP too. One of the truly under rated talents of our time 😀

 

[mistertickle123]

I love this thread because with each person's submission I'm remembering more shows I'd attended by some of those bands being mentioned.

I'm afraid to start getting into the soul, funk, r&B, blues, jazz latin and bluegrass memorable concerts I've been to over the years!

Santana definitely should have been on my list. I've seen them so many times. Their shows are always exciting and fresh.

Another one I didn't add because my initial list was focused on rock & pop was Marvin Gaye, Funkadelic & Graham Central Station together at Radio City Hall in NYC. Can't remember the year but that was one hot show!

 

[natural tickler]

I went to a Creed concert, and it was cool
I went to Prince's recent Musicology tour this year, and lemme tell ya, if after that concert you didn't go home and pull out all his albums, something was wrong


I went to a RUN-DMC concert in 86' when they teamed up with Aerosmith. Blew the place up

I listened to a concert album Teddy Pendergrass had in '78-'79, and it made me turn off the lights...and light a candle😛

 

[Limeoutsider]

Up In Smoke