Oddly enough, the best concert I ever went to was a concert I couldn’t even get tickets for. I was going to school at NMSU at the time, living right by campus, and heard some serious noise. I jumped on my bike and rode to the stadium and unbeknownced to me, the Eagles were in town. I parked my rear end about 5 feet outside the gates and listened to their entire set...and those old dudes rocked. I could not believe what I was listening to. I've seen a ton of concerts, but that is my favorite - by far. Runners up? Pearl Jam in 93, Ice Cube during his "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" tour and the original Warped Tour in 95 or 96.
I say this everytime this thread comes up... Living Colour - Houston, 1989 Some other notables: Weezer - Austin, Pinkerton Tour 1996 DMB - Houston, 2002 (my first show but not my last) Ten Hands - Multiple times in Houston, Dallas, College Station and Austin Radiohead - Houston Amnesiac Tour Ben Folds Five - Austin, 1995?
That's 'cause their effects aren't over-the-top and only complement excellent musicians who write great music. Most modern performers go to far with the effects, dance around on stage with hired dancers, and lip sync leaving the audience feeling unfulfilled. That's why many people haven't been blown away by concerts recently. No talented musicians on stage. BTW - for those of you who aren't familiar with Rush - they're a 3-man band (no backup vocals or musicians) who play all their own music. Bass player sings while playing bass and/or keyboards. One of the best bands ever. -- droxford
The Depeche Mode/OMD concert at Astroworld was pretty sweet. They said there were expecting 10,000 people and about four times that many showed up. Nothing but a giant sea of down-and-out depressed and misunderstood black clothes-wearing teenagers. 80's goth rules!!! A side story to this concert...I had tickets in the last row of the lower section, where the chairs were. I had friends who had seats in the fifth row. Before the concert, when the inital rush started I made my way up to where my friends were sitting. During OMD's entire set, we were all standing up. During the break, everyone sat down and the ushers/bouncers started making their way down each row, starting with the first, checking everyone's tickets. I was afraid they were going to find me out, but luckly, they stopped in the isle in front of us. Pretty cool concert...probably not the best ever, but cool nonetheless.
Pearl Jam (pick your tour) Radiohead (about 2 weeks ago!) These two bands are in a league of their own when it comes to performing live IMO.
Well, I can probably top DarkHorse... The Dixie Chicks My girlfriend (now wife) dragged me to see the Dixie Chicks about three years ago. Well, not only were there plent of hot chicks, but they really put on a great show...The best part was when they showed a bunch of pictures of themselves when they were growing up. That's when I first heard the term "mall hair". Damn, I've led a sheltered life. I've only been two five concerts. Dixie Chicks, three rodeo performances that my wife also dragged me to, and Alanis Morissette. Alanis Put on a pretty good show. It's now tainted a little because of the unbelievable crap she's put out since Jagged Little Pill. I remember her going backstage towards the end of the show, and she still hadn't sang "Ironic". Everybody in the building was screaming for her to sing that song. Now, oddly enough, I can't stand that song! Plus, the opening band sucked ass...
Nope, they played with Driving and Crying. I can't believe I remember that. It was at Xcess on Richmond. Right after their first album came out.
I haven't been to a concert in years, so all of mine are from long ago. Ministry - 1988 (Numbers) Front Line Assembly - 1989 (Numbers) REM - 1987 The Smithereens - '88 or '89 (Xcess) Faith No More - '88? (Xcess) Yes - '88 or '89
9/19/03-DMB at AmSouth Ampitheatre in Antioch, TN. Amazing set list and energy. I cannot wait until November 11 to see the Central Park DVD. A lot of the same songs.
U2 - Elevation tour 2001 right after 9/11 (Madison Square Garden, NYC) and Zoo TV Tour (at the Summit back in early 90s) Runner-up: Radiohead (Madison Square Garden - last week! It was my first Radiohead show, so I can't say if it was their best tour, but man what a great concert) Out of the concerts I have seen (not that many), I have to say U2 and Radiohead live are just simply superb.
Whoa! I was also at that concert as I was an Xcess freak! Small world... My fav would have to be Depeche Mode at the Woodlands for the Violator tour with Stabbing Westward. Their 1994 tour for Faith and Devotion was pretty sweet also...Big time DM fan. -Janes Addiction at Numbers in the late 80s. Also saw a kick butt show by NIN there, too. -Tool last year and in 2000. Best live shows by FAR! -Radiohead- Amnesiac Tour. -Nirvana at the Astrohall right before Kurt died. -Pearl Jam, Janes, etc. and the Lollapalooza tour in 1992. -Morrissey back in the 90s on the Bona Drag tour. -Metallica and Guns N Roses at the Dome. Lots of energy there. -The Cult back in 89. One of the best concerts ever. -The Pixies and XTC @ Numbers in the late 80s. -Oasis and the Cure on seperate bills back in 1994. I've been to over 300 concerts in the last 10 years, so there's way too many to choose from.
The year: 1976 The band: ZZ TOP It was my first rock concert, the summit had just opened. ZZ TOP was doing their World Wide Texas Tour. ZZ TOP put on a great show, but what I remember best were all the women in the audience. Before the band hit the stage, everyone in the audience was fascinated by the new giant tv screens. Girls were getting half naked to get the camera mans attention so they could see themselves on the big tv screens. I saw a lot of breasts that night. After that night I went many concerts over the next 5 years.
U2, Elevation 2001 in Portland. Honestly one of the most spiritual experiences I've felt. They are one of the few bands that are, in my opinion, better live than in the studio 2nd is Everclear in Palmer, Alaska (outside of Anchorage) on Labor Day this year at the Alaska State Fair. They played in the outdoor ampitheatre under the Chugach Mountains and rocked in the late night sunshine. Art's wife is from Alaska and they announced on stage that they were taking an extended break, and possibly leaving the music biz forever. They played an extended encore and really put a lot of heart into the show. 3rd is Ozzy Osbourne in Fairbanks in 2002. It was cool to hear some of the old Sabbath classics. It cracked me up the whole show, Ozzy looked like my step-grandfather walking around on stage. When a guy as old as Ozzy moons you, it's an interesting experience. On a side note, I'm going to see the Presidents of the United States of America in a bar show in Fairbanks this Saturday. Should be an interesting concert.
WOW. Didn't think I would ever see Gorilla Biscuits in this thread. How did you hear of them? Seems radically different from the other bands on your list.
