Since there is a worst concert thread, I decided to start a best of. For me it would either be the Flogging Molly show of a few weeks ago or Weezer last summer (but that lost points because Dashboard Confessional was opening for Weezer).
Tom Petty at Fiddler's Green Ampitheatre in Englewood during a rainstorm with a huge lightning storm in the distance behind the stage. It was coming down pretty hard, but no one left and they played for 2 1/2 hours and did like four encores because they were so impressed with our stamina. I also went to a four hour George Clinton jamfest once that was pretty cool. But if I ever lose my hearing when I get older, I'm pretty sure that concert's to blame.
Wow, that's amazing that you say Tom Petty. I, too, would have to say Tom Petty. I'm not the biggest Petty fan in the world, but sweet lord does he ever hyave an awesome stage show. Simply amazing. And I know nobody here will like this because they're all a bunch of music snobs, but Kid Rock's concert was excellent That dude puts on a bad-ass show. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed going.
It is so hard to boil it down to just one. I've been to well over 500 concerts. I can't give a #1, but here are the top 5 contenders (alphabetically) * Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Tallin Chamber Orchestra - Birmingham, AL - Alys Stephens Center - February 2002 * Midnight Oil (Ziggy Marley opening) Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre 1993. * Phish - Indianapolis, IN - Deer Creek Amphitheatre August 13, 1996 (2nd night of 2 night run) * Radiohead - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade - Fall 1997 * Sixteen Horsepower (opening for Morphine) - Birmingham, AL - Five Points South Music Hall - Spring 1996
neil young and crazy horse, primus and beck at the horde tour. neil and crazy horse are so damn good live that it's ridiculous
Blur at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA in 2000. Its a small venue of around 500 or so. I missed the announcement that they were coming so I didn't get tickets and they sold out. I called the record company and told them I worked for the company that designed the album cover. (I don't) I spoke with around 8 or 9 different people there to get on the guest list. They finally put me on. When we got in, sure enough, I was on the list, 1 + guest. My brother and I got in the 2nd row and Blur played around 2 hours and 22 songs. They were amazing. We did our normal tradition at Blur shows during She's So High and they played alot of old stuff including Oily Water Met the band after the show and got a signed set list. Great night.
I can't quite pick one because I've been to 30 concerts or so (I'm young, and I will be able to say that I have gone to at least 500) but here are my top five as well. Incubus and Hoobastank at the Civic Center in San Francisco last year. It was intense. Incubus is so amazing, they are by far my favorite band. Sage Francis and Gruvis Malt at the Fillmore in SF in Feb. Sage has great stage presence and GM opened then were his back up band. GM is so amazing. If you've never heard of them I highly suggest you check them out. David Gray @ Civic Center in SF..in Feb. Probably one of the best shows that I've been to that didn't have a mosh pit. The Used. Taking Back Sunday, New Transit Direction and the Blood Brothers @ Slims in SF in Jan (I think). This show was the most intense show ever. They had to stop the show during TBS's set because the crowd messed up the barracades right where my friend was at. Everyone ended up pushing to get up front and my friend ended up screwed because he was no longer in front. Our Lady Peace, Audiovent, Greenwheel- I was only there to see Audiovent but Greenwheel blew me away. I'm not a big fan of OLP but they were good as well. Cool thing about all these shows was that I was right up front, which is probably why I loved it so much and think they're the best. I also got to meet the bands as well for the shows listed above. I have pics to prove it People I wish I was born earlier to see live when they first began or before they broke up: Primus, The Police, Mr. Bungle, RHCP. TRANSFORM MARI
Slipknot... Saw 'em twice ('99 and '01). When they come on stage, all hell breakes loose. Nothing for the feeble-minded.
My top 6 (in no order) Kraftwerk... The played a set that was over 3 hours. It was amazing. Pop Will Eat Itself Skatalites Sublime's last show King Chango Misfits. Seen them a few times, but the best one was when i got to sing a verse of "Where Eagles Dare on stage. The singer wasn't there because he was in prison in DC. mostly the other bands that were there had members doing the singing, but a couple people from the crowd sang as well. It was fun as anything. I was in the Misfits for about 45 seconds
Depeche Mode, Rose Bowl, 101 Tour, 1988. (Wir and OMD opened up) Over 2 1/2 hour set... and on what started out as a crystal clear night, the clouds moved in and the sky opened up during the first few notes of the song "Sacred". Then it cleared up right after the song ended. Freaky. This was also the night of what had to be the biggest food and debris fight ever witnessed. As the crowd grew restless waiting for DM to hit the stage, a couple people started throwing coke and beer cups (some full) into the air or at the stage, and within minutes the whole thing escalated (or degenerated) into a 100,000-person trash clash... It was quite surreal, really...
I saw a similar thing at a Dinosaur Jr concert (part of Lollapalooza, but during their set) in front of about 20,000. It was cool, but messy.
Arena/Stadium: Bruce at the MCI Center in 1999. Unquestionably the best rock performer ever back with the E Street Band. I've got bootlegs that put the show I saw to shame (Agora Theatre Cleveland in 1978 being my favorite), but it didn't matter to me. Mid-Size Venue: Elvis Costello, Prince George's County Equestrian Center in 1994. I was right up front for his first concert with the Attractions in years. Opened up with No Action and didn't let up the intensity at all, even during the slow songs. I've seen him lots of times and I would probably consider this one the best of the lot. Small Club: Neil Finn. It could be any one of several shows, either with his band or with his brother Tim. A total natural onstage and a fantastic musician.
Supergrass 1997 - Guvernment in Toronto Ben Harper 2001 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa Radiohead 1998 - Toronto
I can't even begin to rank my favorites, there are just too many, but here are some that immediately came to mind. Sting (with Concrete Blonde and Vinx) - The Soul Cages tour Run DMC - The Tougher Than Leather Tour Mighty Mighty Bosstones - sometime in 1999 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC Melissa Ferrick (multiple times) - but the best being at Lupo's in Providence in 2001. (For fans of folk, I honestly believe that Melissa Ferrick is the best show you'll currently see for $10 or $15.) Ani DiFranco - Buffalo, NY in 1995. Before she became popular. For the period of the mid-90s, she was probably the most consistently awesome live performer around.
There are so many. Ministry in 1989 - "Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste" tour. Absolute insanity. A steel WWF-like cage surrounded the stage and it served as a jumping off spot for stage divers. X-TRA LOUD!!! Einsturzende Neubauten - fire! chaos! screaming in German! plus instruments that you can find in the junkyard. Swervedriver at Maxwell's in the mid-90s. turn the amps up to 11 and hang on. Shane MacGowan at the Guinness Fleadh. thousands of pasty Irishmen getting burnt in the 90 degree sun waiting many hours for Shaner to kick it. he didn't disappoint. Any Luna show. They've all been excellent.
I think it was 99. Sebadoh and Elliot Smith at The Ritz in Raleigh. It had everything: great music at one of my favorite venues, two opening acts, one entertaining, one crappy, a leaking roof, chants of "electrocution" during the crappy bands set, hot lesbian couple next to me. Steak n shake on the way home.