What's the best concert you've ever been to? Could have made this a poll, but obviously that would have been bias as to the shows I've actually been to. My favorite was Jimmy Buffett last Sat. in Frisco (actually a week and a half ago) - I was at his Woodlands show as well, but made it to the front with my 8 year old daughter on my shoulders in Frisco. By far - the best live show I've ever been to. What's your favorite?
best - weird al runner up - the flaming lips i'm not even a huge fan of either, but they both put on an actual show, and made it entertaining.
Elvis Costello - 1994 at the Woodlands I saw him in Las Vegas in 1999 or 2000, I'm trying to forget that one because it was the worst concert I've ever been to.
Alright, this might sound a little weird because of the band and the fact that I'm not one of their huge fans....but the best concert I've been to...Maroon 5. Let me explain why. They were scheduled to play a small bar (maximum capacity, ~200 people) in Little Rock, AR during my sophomore year of college. They couldn't make it to their initial concert date due to a snowstorm where they got stuck in Dallas. They rescheduled their show soon after this initial cancellation. Well, I didn't have a ticket to their initial show at this bar in Little Rock. Soon after their canceled show, I became a fan. I immediately purchased a ticket to their rescheduled show after I first heard their debut CD, "Songs About Jane." In between my purchase of their tickets and the concert date, they blew up. I got to see a band that could have sold out a 5,000 seat venue in a small bar attached to a Mexican restaurant. It was just surreal getting to see a band that was so huge in a freakin' bar. Maroon 5 played well...but what was so amazing was the energy for a band in a bar. I've never experienced something similar to that before. The entire place was just jam packed and rocking out harder than imaginable. It was also funny seeing a band roll up to such a small concert in a huge tour bus that would be fit for a band headlining arena shows. My personal favorite, as far as the music goes, would be matchbox twenty, but that's just because they're my favorite band of all time.
Depeche Mode both in 1990 for the Violator tour and in '93 for the SoFAD tour when Dave was strung out. Gotta count the 2002 show (I think that was the year) at the Woodlands as I had pit, first row VIP tickets. Tool for the Lateralus tour in 2001, although their past show last November was a close second. A Perfect Circle in 2003. Just downright rad. My Morning Jacket this year. Unbelievable show for a MMJ fan. Lollapalooza in 1992. So stoned, acid ripped, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ministry, Soundgarden, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Pearl Jam...so bad ass at that time. Rosenburg still sucks, but from what I can remember I had one awesome time. Lots of tracers is one thing I remember.
Oh damn.... My first real concert was Motley Crue on the Dr. Feelgood tour n 89-90 at The Summit. I was 14. This one holds a special place in my heart and in my mind: seeing my favorite band at the peak of their success with sluts EVERYWHERE. Teased hair, heels, the whole nine. Seeing multiple pairs of feet in each stall in the men's room, drugs and naked chicks everywhere....just absolute, complete, and utter decadence completely surrounded me. I saw Rob Zombie (solo) sometime in the later '90's. There was this huge robot on treads, something like 30 feet tall chasing Rob around the stage when he played "Meet the Creeper." When the chorus hit, the robot would rear its head up and shoot flames all over the place. It was awesome. He puts on one hell of a show. The Family Values Tour (the original with Korn, Ice Cube, Rammstein, Orgy, and Limp Bizkit before they sucked) sometime in the '90's was also complete insanity. Saw that at the Bronco Bowl in Ft. Worth or Dallas, whichever it is. When Rammstein played, everything, including the lead singer, was on fire. The crowd was completely insane; just nuts. Great concert. Summer Sanitarium in 2000 (I think) was also great, and I will forever fight anyone who talks s**t about Metallica: Hetfield threw his back out and couldn't perform, but the show went on anyway. Metallica came back a few months later for a free concert for all who kept their ticket stubs from the first show when James couldn't perform. For 'legendary concert' status, I got to see the fully reunited Black Sabbath in '97. Pantera opened for them. After Dimebag got killed, I was so sad, but was glad I got to see them, especially opening for the likes of a reunited Sabbath. The last one I saw was Megadeth at Verizon. I wish I could have seen them way back when, but I'll take what I can get. Dave Mustaine brought it like no one else.
1. The Who- The Astrodome, 1982. First one is always special. 2. Bruce Springsteen- Born in the U.S.A. tour, 1985. 3. REM, Southern Star Ampitheatre, Life's Rich Pageant. Honorable Mention- the tour at the Woodlands when Radiohead opened up for REM, early 90s. 4. The Smithereens-any one of the clubs they played at in Houston- Cardi's, Back Alley, Sam's Boat, etc. 5. Cheap Trick- same, Astroworld, Galveston, Back Alley, etc. 6. Don Henley- surprised me, didn't think it would be that good 7. Texas Jam- Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, Bryan Adams, .38 Special, Gary Moore. 8. Joe Satriani- House of Blues, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, 2 years ago. 9. Prince- Purple Rain, Thursday, January 10, 1985 and Thursday, January 17, 1985. He was in Houston for an entire week, 6 shows. 10. The extensive number of bands whose names I can't even recall that I saw in clubs in Houston from 1986 through 1998- Sherlocks, Kenneallys, Ecstasy, the Ocean Club, Yucatan Liquor Stand, Power Tools, The Roxy, 6400, Numbers, Red Square, Confetti's, Willie Nelson's Night Life, Wild West, City Streets, Shakespeare's Pub, Sam's Boat, The Hop, Savages, Nightcage, Molly Maguires, the Crazy Country Club, the Vault, etc., etc., etc.
-Depeche Mode Violator tour -Nirvana, Breeders, Shonen Knife @ Astro Arena -Nine Inch Nails @ Numbers -Red Hot Chili Peppers @ El Monumental de Nuñez -Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, & Rollins Band ...but the top goes too LolaPalloza II @ The Fair Grounds Ministry, Pearl Jam, Ice Cube, Jesus and Mary Chain, Soundgarden, Lush, Red Hot Chili Peppers
In March of this year, I got to see Mark Kozelek (of Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters) during SXSW in Austin. Venue was Central Presbyterian Church. It was the highlight of my life. I was in tears. Here is a video someone captured on Youtube. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vKdLgkz7m1E&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vKdLgkz7m1E&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
I don't remember what year it was, but sometime during the Dream Theater album Six Degrees Degrees of Inner Turbulence tour it was reported that Dream Theater would be doing a "special" show in New York because of the 9/11 tragedy. My best friend and I are huge Dream Theater fans and we badly wanted to go to this show. So we made it a weekend trip and explored New York a little as well as going to the show. We had heard rumors that during this tour, Dream Theater was somtimes closing their show out by playing the entire 2nd disc of the Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, and sometimes by playing the entire Metallica Master of Puppets album. We thought that was awesome because Metallica was another of our favorite bands. Well, the concert night rolls around, and Dream Theater is playing great. They do all the classics, and then play the entire 2nd disc of 6 degrees of Inner Turbulence as well as the entire Change of Seasons album (not any of the bonus songs at the end of that disc). Then, when we thought it was all said and done, THEY PLAYED THE METALLICA TOO. It was so freaking awesome. They were on stage for more than 4 hours, and I was so exhausted afterwards...but it was worth it. I can't imagine another show ever topping that one.
Seeing Portishead this year at Coachella was the closest thing to a magical experience that I've ever had at a show. Others that have to be considered would be seeing NIN for the first time on the Fragility tour, and also seeing Radiohead for the first time at The Woodlands a few years ago.
Bob Dylan and Paul Simon at the woodlands. Amazing. Simon and Garfunkel's old friends concert. The Meters, Rebirth Brass Band, Bob Dylan, Keb Mo' and a crapload more at the first Jazzfest after Katrina. That was amazing. Yes I skipped bruce springsteen to see the Meters. Good call. My brother in law was friends with someone who worked for Miller - we got free beer the whole show for 3 days. Rammstein with slipknot and system of a down. That was insane. The original family values tour as someone as mentioned. Nothing will ever top that in terms of pure, outrageous chaos. Tito Phuente's last show in Houston before he died was really cool. The people on the floor moved all the seats to the side and danced the whole show. And they were damn good. Fun to watch as a dance-challenged white guy in the upper seats. Every green day show I've been to has been plain fun. Great stage presence. Weirdest concert - Mogwai. For such a trippy sound, they play it louder than anything I have ever heard. We wore earplugs, having been warned, and I could literally feel the sound. When the bass drum hit you could feel the air in the room compress - it shook your chest. Just overwhelming.
I went to a Linkin Park one when I was like 18. It was pretty fun! There was this MILF that kept wanted to feel my junk during the concert.
Correction: He USED to put on a good show. I've seen him a few times in concert myself, and I must say that he's becoming a little b****. Last time I saw him in concert I almost walked out. Plus, all of his new stuff sucks balls. Best concert I've ever seen is by far System of a Down. I've never seen anyone have/produce the level of energy they do... Except Ministry, but that's a little too scary for me. Runner up was probably Rob Zombie, before 2003.
The Police, 2007 - My all-time favorite band, yet I never got to see them live until last year. I never dreamed they would get back together and tour, so this was VERY special for me. I'm going again in a couple of weeks when they play at the Woodlands. Weezer, 1996 - This was their Pinkerton tour and I saw them at Liberty Lunch in Austin. They were at their peak and I got to meet them after the show since I was in their fanclub. Ten Hands, 1990 thru 1994 - We followed this band around Texas like Deadheads while I was in college. Must have seen them 50 times and was NEVER disappointed. Earl Harvin is God. Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1987 - At the Sam Houston Coliseum before anyone knew who they were. The place was half empty, but electric. This was during their "rock out with your **** out" phase... RIP Hillel... But the best, and I say this every time this topic comes up, was... Living Colour, 1988 - Just the most INTENSE concert I've ever been to. I'll never forget it.
The Hot Lies and The Getaway Plan (both Oz bands) they had only released an couple of EP's between them and played a venue that held 200 people and was only half full. For two and a bit hours they played and really got the crowed involved. I had high hopes for the concert and was not disappointed. The 2000 Big Day Out was also great, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Blink 182, The Chemical Brothers and a whole host of Oz bands. From 10am to 10pm standing outside in the middle of an oval during the height of summer in Australia. Just a great day..
In no particular order: Butthole Surfers, The Flaming Lips, Ed Hall - #s 1986 Love and Rockets, Jane's Addiction - #s 1987 Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, Drums & Tuba - Emo's Austin 1993 DEVO - Riviera Theater (Chicago) 2004 Bauhaus - Bayou Theater (Houston) 1999 Touch & G0 25th Anniversary (Scratch Acid, Big Black, !!!, Man...or Astroman?, etc.) - The Hideout (Chicago) 2006 Lollapalooza (Jane's Addiction, Butthole Surfers, Siouxsie, Ice-T, etc.) - Dallas 1991 Skinny Puppy (VIVISECTVI tour) - #s 1987 Les Savy Fav (every time I've seen them) - Austin and Chicago 2001-2008
