Just to get away from political talk for a bit (its depressing me) what was the best concert you have ever seen? The worst? And why?

I'm not sure I can pick a best. Some really good ones I've seen have been:
Bruce Springsteen - not really a big Springsteen fan, but he puts on a hell of a show
John Hiatt - Seen him many times and have NEVER seen a bad John Hiatt show. He always seems to be enjoying himself.
Peter Gabriel - Quite a spectacle
Richard Thompson - also never seen a bad show from Mr Thompson
Todd Snider - his shows (or at least the ones I've seen) are always very informal and he always tells some funny stories
Some other good shows I've seen: David Bowie, Brandi Carlile, Jethro Tull, Billy Joel, Cowboy Junkies, Bob Schneider, The Who (back when they were all alive)

Worse shows: Two I can really think of

Van Morrison - seemed like he was ina grumpy mood. Did not play any of his hits, just all kinds of weird stuff
Pure Prairie League - I had heard repeatedly what great and long shows they put on. When I saw them they played for 45 minutes and were very robotic.
3/6/2019 7:13 PM
Ten Years After and Willie Nelson for the best two for me.
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit a close 2nd (3rd)
Amanda Shires for the best RECENT show.

Worst was probably Lucero
with Grateful Dead worse yet actually!
3/6/2019 7:25 PM
Talking Heads----Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, watching David Byrne in that giant suit on every drug available was freaky, place was rocking and swaying. Plus I lost my car---parked is someones driveway for 10 bucks, all the houses looked the same, like Archie Bunker's house

The Who/ The Clash----Shea Stadium. Senior year 5 friends in my Chevy Impala, what a blast.

The Kinks----Ritz Theatre, New Years Eve, 6th row from stage. Bitter cold outside, 90 degrees inside. LIRR train to Manhattan
3/6/2019 8:02 PM
ive seen plenty of big names who did not put on a great show - kinks..dylan - i mssed first half show was ok....some shows the sound was bad ruining it - ramones..the jam.....for my favorites ill try to put them in some sort of order of fun and shock and awe...the stones i saw but giant outdoor stadium and i was doing the i scream you scream we all scream.
my favorite local artist was kenn kweder who was almost signed by arista but he refused to cede artistic control..could have been a monster.

1. the clash - first 3 albums - london calling tour ...like being witness to 1966- 1967 stones....charisma and excitement thru the roof
2. the cramps - many times - you dont know what you are missing
3. devo - un - fu#%@ng believable - first 2 albums
4. x - once early but too high...once a few years ago...gods
5. springsteen - maybe 2nd or 3rd on list - flawless unbelievable ...born to run tour...everything his legend is built upon.
6. billy joel - many times - most early up to 4th album ...once or twice during stranger tour....he was amazing. i loved those days.
7. b52s - many times before and after first album - c=standing in front of them close enough to touch them
8.elvis costello - several times
9. aimee mann with michael penn
10. the only ones - close up...group that did another girl another planet
11. gary numen - kinks opened....cars tour.....splendid
12. t heads - 5th row small venue......
13. squeeze
14. robert gordon
15. roxy music
16. xtc
17. the buzzcocks

one of the best non rock and roll concerts was harry connick..i saw tom petty in a big outdoor venue - it was good.
im jealous about 10 years after..i can imagine that being great ...wish i saw velvet underground and of course the beatles and 1960 elvis.
stones in 1972....wish i saw dylan in 1966....wish i saw lenny bruce.....wings...lennon /ono in 72......george in 75..ringo any ringo 75...wish i saw janis joplin and zombies and bowie in 73....who during their early singles years......tommy tour...who's next tour.

i used to go back stage..i worked at amusic store and i created a badge that said press only from a press only paper from the cleaners.....also used it for free parking many times in front of tv station.
3/6/2019 9:22 PM (edited)
Posted by laramiebob on 3/6/2019 7:25:00 PM (view original):
Ten Years After and Willie Nelson for the best two for me.
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit a close 2nd (3rd)
Amanda Shires for the best RECENT show.

Worst was probably Lucero
with Grateful Dead worse yet actually!
yeah, Amanda Shires was great. Forgot about Aimee Mann. She puts on a good show as well,
I saw Dylan a couple of years ago. It was disappointing. Would have liked to have seen him 20 years ago. Every song sounded the same.
Also, I forgot about Dire Straits at Radio City Music Hall. Just about the time of the Bothers in Arms CD when Money For Nothing was a big hit. They seemed kind of shocked at the whole popular thing. Also seen Mark Knopfler a couple of times solo. Also very good.
The Pretenders at Radio City Music Hall was a great show as well.
Saw Deep Purple around the time of Smoke on the Water. (I know, I am old) Pretty good too.
Reckless Kelly always puts on a good show, as do the BottleRockets
3/6/2019 11:42 PM
i saw the pretenders..very good show...emerald city.
robert gordon opened.
3/7/2019 1:14 AM
i also saw al jolsen.
3/7/2019 1:16 AM
The Ten Years After gig was in 1972 (I think) and was at the Seattle Arena. (I also saw Rare Earth and The Doobie Brothers there).
I don't even remember the opening act. Not sure I saw them as I was a tad chemistrated.
Ten Years After was LOUD and ROCKED, save a couple of their bluesy bits (Good Morning Little School Girl, and I Can't Keep From Crying particularly---BOTH spectacular songs.) They played over 2 hours (I think!) and after the final encore song, Alvin Lee hit his last lick (chord or note?) and turned around, leaned his guitar against the amp and walked off stage. The guitar kept sustaining the lick for several minutes until a roadie came onstage and turned off the amp. It was a spectacular finish to the finest lead guitar work (rock style) I've ever witnessed.

Of course I never got to see Peter Green, Or Danny Kirwan, and Jeremy Spencer play. Would have LOVED to watch Green and Kirwan play together......... from what I've read the "chemistry" between the two of them jamming was a spiritual experience. Also read somewhere that without Kirwan's "additions" Green's classic "Oh Well" (likely) wouldn't have been finished as Kirwan contributed much of the Part 2 section of the song.

Apologize for all the minutia/detail!
3/7/2019 11:14 AM
Best = U2 with Def Leppard/Journey a close 2nd

Worst = Metallica
3/7/2019 11:21 AM
Best = U2 with Def Leppard/Journey a close 2nd

Worst = Metallica
3/7/2019 11:21 AM
Posted by wylie715 on 3/6/2019 7:13:00 PM (view original):
Just to get away from political talk for a bit (its depressing me) what was the best concert you have ever seen? The worst? And why?

I'm not sure I can pick a best. Some really good ones I've seen have been:
Bruce Springsteen - not really a big Springsteen fan, but he puts on a hell of a show
John Hiatt - Seen him many times and have NEVER seen a bad John Hiatt show. He always seems to be enjoying himself.
Peter Gabriel - Quite a spectacle
Richard Thompson - also never seen a bad show from Mr Thompson
Todd Snider - his shows (or at least the ones I've seen) are always very informal and he always tells some funny stories
Some other good shows I've seen: David Bowie, Brandi Carlile, Jethro Tull, Billy Joel, Cowboy Junkies, Bob Schneider, The Who (back when they were all alive)

Worse shows: Two I can really think of

Van Morrison - seemed like he was ina grumpy mood. Did not play any of his hits, just all kinds of weird stuff
Pure Prairie League - I had heard repeatedly what great and long shows they put on. When I saw them they played for 45 minutes and were very robotic.
I saw Tool a couple years ago and they were unbelievable.

RHCP were a bucket list show and they didn't disappoint.

Surprisingly, I think John Mayer was probably the best show I've ever been to. He did Hendrix and SRV covers and just rocked the **** out of the place in general.
3/7/2019 11:27 AM
Bad shows: I've gone to a lot of country concerts in the last few years. The music is just terrible. Florida Georgia Line, for example. Barf. Just bad, bad music.

BUT

These shows have a huge redeeming quality. It's a huge party and, if you've ever gone to a Halloween party in college, it's like that, except all the women are in country costumes. It's basically a butt-cheek contest.
3/7/2019 11:33 AM
OK, I gotta ask. Why? Why are you going to all these "country concerts" with terrible music.
3/7/2019 11:45 AM
Posted by laramiebob on 3/7/2019 11:45:00 AM (view original):
OK, I gotta ask. Why? Why are you going to all these "country concerts" with terrible music.
My friends like to go so it becomes a huge party.
3/7/2019 11:54 AM
Posted by laramiebob on 3/7/2019 11:14:00 AM (view original):
The Ten Years After gig was in 1972 (I think) and was at the Seattle Arena. (I also saw Rare Earth and The Doobie Brothers there).
I don't even remember the opening act. Not sure I saw them as I was a tad chemistrated.
Ten Years After was LOUD and ROCKED, save a couple of their bluesy bits (Good Morning Little School Girl, and I Can't Keep From Crying particularly---BOTH spectacular songs.) They played over 2 hours (I think!) and after the final encore song, Alvin Lee hit his last lick (chord or note?) and turned around, leaned his guitar against the amp and walked off stage. The guitar kept sustaining the lick for several minutes until a roadie came onstage and turned off the amp. It was a spectacular finish to the finest lead guitar work (rock style) I've ever witnessed.

Of course I never got to see Peter Green, Or Danny Kirwan, and Jeremy Spencer play. Would have LOVED to watch Green and Kirwan play together......... from what I've read the "chemistry" between the two of them jamming was a spiritual experience. Also read somewhere that without Kirwan's "additions" Green's classic "Oh Well" (likely) wouldn't have been finished as Kirwan contributed much of the Part 2 section of the song.

Apologize for all the minutia/detail!
is chemistrated a word?
3/7/2019 12:17 PM
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