best live concert you ever attended?? (2 Viewers)

[Louis Badolato]

ironically for me, the worst show I ever saw was the Moody Blues. I took my dad to see them in DC a couple years ago and man alive- it was awful!! Waaay tooo much of the poppish 80's nonsense- I enjoy nights in white satin, tuesday afternoon, the actor, etc-

even though the performance was weak, they are still one of my all time favorite bands. Nothing beat sitting down after a day in the field humpin a ruck and listening to nights in white satin or any of their other tunes on my walkman. Took me away to better places.

I also have two Ironic worst concerts. I am a huge Clapton fan, and the one time I got to see him live, the worst concert I have ever experienced, was one of his infamous "off nights" and he was terrible. I literally fell asleep in my seat.

My second worst concert was Van Halen during the 1984 tour, and I am also a huge Van Halen with David Lee Roth fan. I had seen them live two other times and they were great. They must have also had an "off night" that night, and they stunk on ice. It was horrendous.

 

[Ghostrider]

Sammy, this is a very cool thread you started, and it floods my memory of incredible daze gone by. And here's my list:

1. 1971(yes I'm old) - This was my first concert - The Grateful Dead - in the most intimate of venues - in a 300ish person club in Island Park, LI. I think the club was called the "Rock Pile"
2. 1971 - My favorites - The Allman Brothers - when Dwayne was still alive - Fillmore East. And many more of them during the 70's at the Coliseum, LI
3. 71 - Traffic - Fillmore East
4. Early 70's - Rod Stewart - LI Coliseum
5. Mid 70's - Mandrill, and another afro-centric group, of which cannot remember the name - both with horns, and heavy percussion. Very strong driving music
6. Mid/late 70's - The Rolling Stones - at the Garden - great concert up until the moment that the idiots in the top rows began throwing fireworks down below - it's what turned me off to concerts for a long time.
7. 1991 - Fleetwood Mac - Jones Beach - an actual adult crowd - very different after the long absence from concerts.

 

[DMNamiot]

Wow Chris I would not have taken you for a Moody Blues guy at all, interesting.

I really enjoyed the Doobies before the break up, yeah I'm old too. But I should have left it at that concert back in the day because I saw them again when they came back together and this time they were just awefull, thankfully Steve Miller was on his game that same evening and blew them and their stink off the stage. Also enjoyed the heck out of Rush in Frankfurt Germany and discovered Primus that evening as well needless to say it was an eclectic crowd that night. However the best concert I have been to was Pearl Jam's recent tour on opening night in Seattle with my wife and her brother who flew in for the concert as well. That was a great night!

Dave

 

[Currahee Chris]

Wow Chris I would not have taken you for a Moody Blues guy at all, interesting.

However the best concert I have been to was Pearl Jam's recent tour on opening night in Seattle with my wife and her brother who flew in for the concert as well. That was a great night!

The Moody Blues mastery of music and harmony is rivaled by very very few. Unfortunately they lived in the shadows of the Beatles but they were simply amazing back in the 60's and 70's.

Eddie Vedder has perhaps the best stage presence and voices of anyone in the past quarter century. The guy is worth every cent for admission.

 

[lancer]

Have seen many groups, although it's been a few years. Fleetwood Mac was great, as were Elton John and Rod Stewart (both seen in the early 70's). The Rolling Stones were a highlight and very good. Favorite all-time was Peter Gabriel. Saw him several times and was never disappointed. He is a fantastic performer. -- Al

First saw Elton John in 1971 in Baltimore. The arena was only half full, so everyone moved down to floor seats and around the stage to get closer. Elton had a single piano and his band (2 or 3 other guys), and that was it. No flashy sets or costumes, just the basics. He played for ages and must have sung most of his then rather limited book of songs. It was an amazing performance from a singer prior to going supernova in popularity. Hard to believe it was 40 years ago. -- Al

 

[tdubel]

Iron Maiden at Radio City Music Hall . . . the concert opened with Winston Churchill on the huge Radio City Movie screen (the largest in the world) giving his "never in the course of human endeavor . . ." speech, and then Iron Maiden launched into Aces High. I still get chills thinking about it.

You are a lucky man, Maiden was the only band of my childhood I have never seen live due to one misfortune or another. I loved the tour you saw, but had to settle seeing it on video.

TD

 

[tdubel]

First saw Elton John in 1971 in Baltimore. The arena was only half full, so everyone moved down to floor seats and around the stage to get closer. Elton had a single piano and his band (2 or 3 other guys), and that was it. No flashy sets or costumes, just the basics. He played for ages and must have sung most of his then rather limited book of songs. It was an amazing performance from a singer prior to going supernova in popularity. Hard to believe it was 40 years ago. -- Al

Al,
I have a family connection to Elton. His former deceased long time keyboardist, Guy Bablyon is from Carroll County Maryland and was one of my mother's piano students! My Mom is on the level of a concert pianist, but obviously Guy's ability quickly overcame his need for lessons. Anyhow, in the 90s, they kept in touch and we were his guest at a concert at Merriweather in Columbia to see Elton. It was a really great experience, Elton is amazing in concert. Sadly in 2009, Guy died unexpectedly of a heart attack while swimming at home. Sometimes its a small world.

TD

 

[lancer]

Al,
I have a family connection to Elton. His former deceased long time keyboardist, Guy Bablyon is from Carroll County Maryland and was one of my mother's piano students! My Mom is on the level of a concert pianist, but obviously Guy's ability quickly overcame his need for lessons. Anyhow, in the 90s, they kept in touch and we were his guest at a concert at Merriweather in Columbia to see Elton. It was a really great experience, Elton is amazing in concert. Sadly in 2009, Guy died unexpectedly of a heart attack while swimming at home. Sometimes its a small world.

TD

Great family story, Tom. It is amazing how small the world can be. Never saw Elton at Merriweather but saw him in Baltimore a few times and at another location (maybe the old Cap Center). An amazing performer, as you said. -- Al

 

[Louis Badolato]

You are a lucky man, Maiden was the only band of my childhood I have never seen live due to one misfortune or another. I loved the tour you saw, but had to settle seeing it on video.

TD

I saw Maiden 3 times, the first opening for Judas Priest on its "Screaming for Vengence" tour at the Meadowlands. All three shows were awesome!

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I am probably a little older than many of you. This is the last concert I attended.

 

[Nooooo9]

I saw a lot of bands years ago. Van Halen, Journey, 38 Special, Blue Oyster Cult, Neil Young, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Heart, Cheap Trick, Hank Williams Jr., REO Speedwagon, and U2. I saw Jane's Addiction, and Smashing Pumpkins and Keith Urban playing in little bars before they became famous. But the concert I'll remember forever was at the Olympic Stadium in Munich in 1982. It rained all day and we were soaking wet. I was able to work my way up into the crowd and I was only about twenty feet away from the stage when the rain stopped, the sun burst through the clouds and hundreds of ballons were released as the the Rolling Stones walked on and played the opening notes to "Under my Thumb". It was just awsome from that point on, and almost thirty years later I still get a thrill thinking about it.