What was the best concert (or two) you've ever been to and one that you wished you had been to?

[MLAA]

Mine Bruce Springsteen in Atlanta in the early 80s. The one I missed was Pat Benatar. She was interviewed by the Atlanta Constitution before her concert and I remember one of her quotes some 40 years later, even though I have trouble remembering things that happened last year: ‘Some women say if you love me and leave me I’ll die, I say if you love me and leave me I’ll kick your ass’.

[kimbutgar]

1. I saw Kool and the Gang in the early 80's

They were so awesome and the lead singer was doing back flips and the music was so tight. Of course it didn’t hurt being in the second row!

[MLAA]

4. Great concert and second row are hard to beat!

In college I had a buddy that was always optimistic about getting a date so he always bought 2 tickets to great shows. Many times the night before I’d get a call asking if I wanted to go, haha.

[kimbutgar]

5. It was at the right time

I was newly separated from my ex and my co worker just happened to have an extra ticket to this concert! I realize she brought these tickets to cheer me up!

[MLAA]

28. Now that's a good coworker!

[kimbutgar]

69. She is a person I'll never forget!

I talked to her once during the pandemic to see if she was ok!

[Glorfindel]

2. I saw Kenny Rogers and the First Editiion,

The Grass Roots, and Ray Stevens in Chattanooga, TN, in 1970. I wish I could have seen theBeat les at any time, any place.

[MLAA]

30. Agree, Beatles anytime!

[Deuxcents]

3. The best concerts I've been to were Pink Floyd and Bruce Springsteen

Fortunately got to see em more than once.

[MLAA]

7. Cool! This was my favorite song at the concert was Devil With the Blue Dress On.

What was your favorite song?

[Deuxcents]

45. Hmmm..I have many but here's a couple

Springsteen…Waiting on a sunny day and Philadelphia

Pink Floyd..the turning away would be my very favorite.

[rogerballard]

6. Carly Simon / Diana Ross / Manhattan Transfer

all were fantastic, I have a lot of groups/people on a wish list but prices for tickets are horrible for good seats.

[MLAA]

11. Love Carly and Diana. Prices are crazy.About 4 years ago within 2 months Cher, Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross

were all in Las Vegas. All the glorious Divas except Bette Midler. I talked husband into to going to all 3 as we were just an hour flight away. While all 3 were fantastic. Barbra was, however in the huge arena. Diana and Cher were in smaller casino theaters. Diana’s was the shortest but probably the best. She really put her heart into it. A year or so later I was working in NYC for one year and got to see Bette on Broadway in Hello Dolly. All that took a big dent in the budget but well worth it.

[rogerballard]

14. Bette did a show in Denver, I was blown away...

I had tickets for Cher, I think she got sick and had to postpone the concert. This was in Grand Rapids. Diana was in a smallish casino here in Michigan. Lucky you to work in NYC, I love it there.

[MLAA]

31. We went for a year for my job before retiring, with Broadway so close I didn't save a dime all year!

[saged52]

8. Eagles in Denver September 2021.

6th row - best concert ever!
Wish I could have seen Tom Petty.

[MLAA]

32. I was born in Gainesville Florida, so Tom Petty is special to me. I too would have loved to see a concert,

[Dear_Prudence]

57. Oh, that sounds like a great concert! nt

[tableturner]

64. Went to the University of Florida in the early 70's, saw MANY Petty concerts, most FREE!

Back then he and his group were called Mudcrutch. He played many free concerts in dorm commons areas, just before he got big. I didn't realize what I was watching/missing!

[MLAA]

123. Great college memories.

The only artists I heard early on before they hit it big were Meatloaf and John Cougar. I was in high school when someone nominated me to introduce Meatloaf on a local radio station. Unfortunately we were going to visit my grandparents that weekend so I couldn’t. I’d never even heard of Meatloaf before. A few years later the Bat Out of Hell album came out and I played it constantly. I had a friend in college that was super into music and she played something by John Cougar and said this guy is going to be big. A couple of years later he was indeed big.

[Lunabell]

9. Billy Joel back in 78 or 79.

He had a multi level stage with pianos on each level. He ran back and forth with energy playing all of the pianos. Great performance.

[MLAA]

33. He was on fire for years! Love his music.

[rsdsharp]

10. SUNY Days concert at the University of Northern Iowa spring 1974.

The billed acts were REO Speedwagon, Steely Dan and Eagles. It was held outside on the baseball field on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

REO opened, and then Eagles came on and played for nearly three hours. It was announced that Steely Dan had decided it was unsafe to play because it had rained the night before, and they were afraid of electrocution. 😳

In fact, there was no risk. The promoters wanted them to go on second, with Eagles closing the show. Steely Dan (Fagen and Becker — assholes that they were) pitched a fit, and said they wouldn’t play if they didn’t close the show. To their credit, the promoters told them to piss off, and Eagles picked up the slack. They played every song from all three of their then released albums, and some extra stuff besides.

Oh, and REO was great, too.

[MLAA]

35. That had to be amazing as an outdoor concert.

Steely Dan, what prima donnas.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

12. Pink Floyd, Roger Waters and Peter Gabriel all top my list

For sheer spectacle, Roger Waters performing The Wall tops the list. A friend’s brother saw Floyd do the Wall - dropped $500 for a ticket (in 1980!) and was ready to do the same the next night.

For musical passion, probably seeing Richard Thompson acoustic in an audience of maybe 50 people.
Or Los Lobos doing a pair of early/late shows when the just let loose and jammed for the bulk of the late show.

Nirvana is my unicorn I never saw. They were playing the fair, it would’ve been free with admission, but I figured it would be crowded and they wouldn’t play a full set, and hey, they’ll be touring in 94, so I went to see the Jesus Lizard instead.
The Nirvana show ended early enough that they were spotted in the crowd at the Jesus Lizard show…

[MLAA]

41. Holy moly $500 in 1980! I paid $450 each for Broadway tix to see Bette Midler in Hello Dolly and that was

2019! The small audience of 50 had to be super cool.

[patphil]

13. The best concert I ever went to was actually 2 different concerts: The Doors and Lady Gaga with Tony Bennett

Best one I wish I went to was Woodstock.

[MLAA]

44. I would have loved to see Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. I'm with you on Woodstock!

That would have made it twice that I’ve smoked pot

[Dear_Prudence]

59. Envy!

I would have loved to see the Doors!

[Midnight Writer]

15. Little Feat-Chicago-1978

Larry Coryell and The Eleventh House-Champaign, Il. 1974

Jimmy Thackery-Champaign, Il. 1980s?

Victor Wooten-Champaign, Il- 1990s?

I've seen hundreds of excellent live music shows, including Queen, Heart, The Who, Traffic, Allman Brothers, Steely Dan, Parliament/Funkadelic, Gov Mule, REO Speedwagon, Jeff Beck, Journey, Montrose, Mountain, Stevie Wonder, Frank Zappa, and many more, but the ones listed above stand out. Of course, they are all great shows when you are young and life is exciting.

I would have loved to see Cactus, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Deep Purple.

Nowadays, I watch live music everyday on YouTube. I don't get around so well, and I no longer have the ability to wait in line for a bathroom, so I settle for watching videos at home.

[MLAA]

48. You have been fortunate to see all those wonderful concerts! You mentioned a few of your favorites that I'm not

familiar with and will check out, thanks!

[KarenS]

16. U2 Joshua Tree Tour started in Tempe AZ

twas awesome,,,,

I saw so many concerts at that time,,,,

Pink Floyd was memorable,,,,

I cannot think of any I missed or wished I had seen.

An interesting concert I saw was in Phoenix Union Hall in 1997 Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Timothy B Schmidt, Bruce Hornsby, Roger McGuin,,,,, such a small venue

[MLAA]

49. The 1997 small venue concert sounds amazing. Big crowds freak me out a bit. We saw Barbra Streisand in the huge

Las Vegas Arena, and while the concert was terrific, I don’t ever want to be in such a large venue ever again.

[KarenS]

115. Word was that the concert was for Stevie Nicks

to get out and perform again ~ practice per se,,, before touring.

[MLAA]

124. You were certainly in the right place at the right time

[AZSkiffyGeek]

85. Saw those Joshua Tree shows

Bono lost his voice the first night and the crowd sang all the songs.
Did you see the shows they filmed Rattle and Hum at, at ASU Stadium to end the tour?

[KarenS]

114. Yes,,,,

I think there were 2 at the end,,,, I went to the first of the two. Took my 11 yo son (he was a huge fan) with me

[OAITW r.2.0]

17. Grateful Dead - Old Boston Garden 1971 (Fall)

Dropped a bit of window pane, entered, and was assaulted by this thing called the Wall of Sound. Holy shit, didn't that audio system blow my impressionable mind away. The New Riders of the Purple Sage opened the show at 6:30 PM. I think Jerry played some steel pedal with NRPS, but can't verify with current memory recall. NRPS had cowboy glitter suits on. Peeps there knew NRPS and their set did not disappoint. Then the Dead played from 9 until 1 or 1:30 AM. Still charged on the windowpane, it took me 2 hours to walk to the BC campus where my hometown bud was,,,,

3 nights later, NRPS plays at Clark University, Worcester, MA, Maybe a 800 seating auditorium? What a show. And surprise the Dead were hanging with their jam brothers. kegs of beer available for the thirsty.

Have to say, I was a Beach Boy/Buffet fan (coastal Maine)....the Dead blew me away with the sound and presentation...still enjoying the sound 52 years later.

[MLAA]

50. Wow, worth the 2 hour walk. I love Buffett. I threw a birthday party form a friend at college dorm. It was middle

of winter,. I cranked up the heat, made margaritas and played Buffett. I called it the Bumble Baxter Buffett Birthday Bash.

[OAITW r.2.0]

63. Dammit...how did I missit?

[genxlib]

18. The best was Sting on the Dream of the Blue Turtles tour.

Relatively small theater venue. Great backing band. He was a little sick and struggling but he poured his heart into it.

The one I am sad I missed is strangely the J Geils band. I had tickets to see them in 1981. It was in a small venue and then Freeze Frame hit and they blew up. They ended up canceling the show. I don't regret missing them. I regret missing the concert because the opening band was U2 on the October tour. Just before the cancelation they had an article in the paper about them as an up and coming band. I was looking forward to seeing them. Man would that have been awesome to discover U2 years ahead of the crowd. I didn't really hear them again until my Freshman year of college in 1984 when "Bad" was practically the soundtrack of my dorm.

I saw U2 on the Joshua Tree tour in 87 later and it was right up there with the Sting concert as my favorite of all time. It was a full on stadium concert so a completely different experience but they were great. One of my favorite parts of that concert was how we got tickets. Those were the days when you had to buy physical tickets but you could buy them from any ticket outlet that sold them. We did our research and found out that there was a ticket outlet in a florist in the middle of Little Havana. We threw a party, stayed up all night and went to the florist at the crack of dawn while all those other suckers waited for days at the mall. On the field of the Orange Bowl baby.

On second thought, that was my favorite concert.

[MLAA]

87. Love that you cleverly did your research and found the florist! What memories.

[beaglelover]

19. Prince's Purple Rain tour and Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour.

Wish I had gotten to see Pink Floyd live.

[MLAA]

88. I do regret never seeing Prince.

[Skittles]

20. not sure I have a favorite, but Randy Rhoads' on guitar was mesmerizing

with Black Sabbath, er, way back in the day

I regret that I never saw Queen.

[MLAA]

89. Queen would have been amazing. The movie about Freddie Mercury and Queen was fantastic. I saw it in a

theater and loved it. If you missed its probably on Netflix and you’ll love it.

[ProfessorGAC]

21. I'll Do 4

The Fixx at The Vic in Chicago. I'm a gigantic fan, and The Vic is a 1,400 seat room, so very intimate.
The other was Oingo Boingo at a place in SoCal in the 90s. Holy cow, were those guys tight.
Then King Crimson on The Beat tour.
Finally, Bowie's Glass Spider tour.
One I didn't get to see but, wished I had was Talking Heads.

[MLAA]

90. I would have loved to join you for the Bowie concert.

My brother is 2 years older and played his music early on and that’s when I was hooked.

[ProfessorGAC]

121. IvecSeen Him Five Times

The first 3 were pre-marriage. My wife was quite jealous, so we went twice together. Once In the 80s, once in the 90s.

[Harker]

22. B.B. King, Albert King, Bobby Blue Bland, and Stevie Ray Vaughan...

at Red Rocks, June 19, 1985.

I would've liked it if a rain delay hadn't prevented me from seeing The Rolling Stones, ca. 1977.

[MLAA]

91. You got to see some really good ones.

[Harker]

120. I was in high school 1975-77.

Tickets cost $8, and there would be two or more performers, sometimes as many as six.

Sigh.

[BOSSHOG]

23. Jimmy Buffet in New Orleans and on the beach

Nothing but a fun time.

And a Rod Stewart concert combining his rock and roll and covers of old standards. Very nicely done in 2004 I believe.

Would have liked to have seen Hendrix but alas not.

[MLAA]

92. Love Jimmy Buffett. Somewhere around 1983 or 84 took a road trip from Tucson to Denver with a college

buddy and listened to the Buffett cassette that had If the phone doesn’t ring it’s me on it over and over.

[BOSSHOG]

133. He had a CD released after his death

“Equal strain on all parts.” Seemed that on some of the songs it was a man singing who knew he didn’t have much time left. Probably my imagination. But as always some memorable stuff like University of Bourbon Street which will roll through the Quarter forever. And the jocular Why Don’t you love me like my Dog does? If the phone doesn’t ring it’s me is awesome. Jimmy was a master of mood swings.

[MLAA]

135. I will check out the cd, thanks!

[Mister Ed]

24. I wish I'd gone to see Blondie at my favorite bar (The Longhorn, Mpls.)

When I went to the bar to see the Talking Heads, I was bummed out that the place was so crowded. So, I stayed away when other big acts like Blondie, Elvis Costello, and The Police played at the bar.



The best concerts would be Green Day on the 21st Century Breakdown tour and Bruce Springsteen on any of the half-dozen of his concerts that I've seen over the decades. Honorable mention goes to The Who on the Who's Next tour.

Edited to add: Wait, wait, I forgot! Leonard Cohen on his final tour. That was a beautiful experience.

[MLAA]

93. Leonard Cohen must have been amazing! Glad you added it!

[Mister Ed]

127. His show truly was amazing, and fortunately for posterity, it was captured in documentary footage.

The documentary aired on PBS, and many portions of it can be seen on YouTube:

?t=41

[Niagara]

25. I got to see Super Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute band in November of 2017.

I wished I had a chance to see Neil Diamond before his Parkinson's diagnosis.



I've been to plenty of extremely loud rock concerts and discovered that I was way too sensitive for the loud concerts at a young age. Massive migraine along with the majority of migraine symptoms. Not exactly a fun time for me.

[blm]

52. Neil put on amazing shows.

He’s really great live.

[Niagara]

61. He's so talented. I'm sorry that I missed his live shows.

[MLAA]

125. And so cool that Sweet Caroline is sung at the 7th inning stretch at every Red Sox game

[MLAA]

94. Neil Diamond is a classic. Not too long ago I watched one of his concerts love on a dvd I bought 2nd hand.

[cachukis]

26. Rolling Thunder Review, November 1975

Durham, NH.

[thucythucy]

29. I am Sooo envious!!!

I have the Bootleg Series album, amazing!!

[cachukis]

37. Sat in front of sound station. They all sang looking

at me. Actually, the sound man. Quite the lineup.
My younger brother was at UNH and heard that the Review had played in Plymouth, MA and got tickets. Dylan and Baez. Seriously.

[MLAA]

95. I'm not familiar but will check it out.

[thucythucy]

27. King Sunny Ade

at the Boston Convention Center--I think that's what it was called.

A huge venue, and it seemed the entire Nigerian expat community came out to see and hear him. Great music, great crowd, dancing for hours!

Also, BB King at a small club off Copley Square in the late 1970s. Dee Dee Bridgewater was the opening act.

[MLAA]

96. Both sound like wonderful memories.

Music and dancing, what more do you need for a great time.

[TexasDem69]

34. Dropkick Murphys in DC

Chris Stapleton in DC.

[MLAA]

97. DC is a great place for concerts and the arts. I lived there for a year way, way back when.

[brewens]

36. Page and Plant at The Columbia Gorge Amphitheater in 1995. I regret not seeing the Grateful Dead.

There was always gonna be another chance and then Jerry died right about when I saw the Page and Plant show.

We talked about going to Seattle or Portland to see The Dead but thought they would play a Gorge show before long. Didn't happen. I wonder if it was in the works. That place was big by then.

[MLAA]

98. I too would have liked to see The Dead.

[bottomofthehill]

38. Best concert U2, Boston Garden st Patrick's Day 1991, fucking amazing.

We started drinking at the purple shamrock and the green dragon and then headed to the Garden. Amazing show. The garden was rocking. Another amazing show was Prince and Shelia E at Reunion Arena, Dallas in 85. The Who,Pinball Wizard in DC and a Dead show in DC My music taste is all over. Concert I missed, Woodstock and any Springsteen show.

[MLAA]

144. I would have like to see The Who and Prince/Sheila E.

[DaBronx]

39. Peter Gabriel

Saw him 11 times. I can’t help myself.
Every concert is an experience that leaves you feeling like you were visiting another planet.
New album is great.

I wish I had seen Stevie Wonder…still hopeful.
Also Led Zeppelin…kicking myself for missing them..

[Beausoleil]

42. He puts on a great show! Loved it!

[Scrivener7]

51. Agree about Peter Gabriel. All those tours in the 90s were amazing. Haven't heard the new

album. Thanks for reminding me.

I see Bronx in your name. Did you ever go to the Bottom Line in Manhattan? It was such a great small venue. In my youth, I feel like we went there every week. When we weren't in the Beacon where my friend knew the security people and we got in free.

Another great concert: A few years ago there was a 2 day concert in Citi Field with Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Journey, Earth Wind and Fire and the Doobie Brothers.

[DaBronx]

134. Bottom line

Never went to the Bottom Line, mostly just concerts at MSG, the Pier, Nassau Coliseum, Cemtral Park, sometimes Jersey or CT.
The Citi Field
Concert sounds like fun!

[electric_blue68]

213. Loved The Bottom Line....

I saw The Patti Smith Group play Horses, and later on Radio Ethiopia.
Television playing Marquee Moon.

I think I saw two of their Christmas extravaganza Shows. Fabulous!

[Scrivener7]

215. They got the best people. And you were an arm's length away from them. It was great.

And they had burgers!

[electric_blue68]

216. Not sure I ever ate there. Usually I had dinner before going there. Lots of great memories ...

Also saw Devo, and The Tom Robinson band there. 👍👍

[MLAA]

99. I bet a Stevie Wonder concert would be amazing.

[DaBronx]

136. Let us wish very hard for one!

[MLAA]

137. Wishing and crossing fingers!

[AZSkiffyGeek]

109. Bought scalped tickets to see Stevie in 2007 or 08

$50 for a pair about 10 minutes before showtime. Turned out to be about 15 rows back, sitting behind Mike Tyson and Cedric Ceballos. Tyson was obviously heavily medicated, but was also very friendly with all the people around us.
He’s also very short.
But Stevie was amazing, played over 3 hours without an intermission, did almost all of Innervisions and a healthy chunk of Key of Life. Had a long medley he did with a talk box that included “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”.

[MLAA]

126. You certainly got your money's worth!

[DaBronx]

132. Wow

Sounds amazing, so glad you have that great memory, not to mention rubbing elbows with Mike.

[MLAA]

149. Sounds wonderful. I too would love to see Stevie Wonder.

[Beausoleil]

40. Large venue - U2

Texas Stadium, early 90s

Small venue - John Prine
Majestic Theatre San Antonio, mid 2010's

Never got to a Stones concert to my regret.

[Mr.Bill]

43. After seeing dozens and dozens of rock concerts,

I was at Caesers Palace in Lake Tahoe in around 1983 and saw the Count Basie Orchestra with Sammy Davis singing. It was an eye opener and my introduction to explore other music besides Rock and Roll. Incredible show.

I spent the 80s prowling the night clubs listening to Bluea and Jazz. I saw some of the best musicians that you've probably never heard of, usually without even a cover charge.

The show I missed was in the 60s when the Monkees came to the South Bay, but the show was cancelled because one of them was ill. The unbilled opening act was this bizarre guitarist I had never heard of named Jimi Hendrix. I think he opened about four shows for them.

[MLAA]

100. I never knew Jimi opened for the Monkees. Davy was my first crush at age 6 or 7.

Husband spent a lot of time in Las Vegas back in the Rat Pack days and said Sammy Davis shows were great and other members of the Pack would drop in on their late shows sometimes going until 1 or 2 in the morning.

[johnnyfins]

46. NIRVANA

10/1/1991 at JCDobbs in Philly. Smells like teen spirit had just been released, but not the Nevermind album. Dobbs was a small bar. People were standing on the whole bar!!!!! ENERGY!

Second is Bruce in September 1984. BITUSA tour. No words.

Missed U2 on the Joshua Tree tour in 1987 at JFK in philly. My wife STILL doesnt let me live it down...

[MLAA]

84. Concert in the small bar venue had to be amazing.

Don’t tell her asked about missed concerts, let’s let sleeping dogs lie!

[Joinfortmill]

47. #1 Billy Joel & Elton John together. #2 Elvis

[MLAA]

83. I never knew Billy Joel and Elton John played together what a treat!

One of the first albums I bought with my own money must have been in the early 70s and was a double Elvis album if I remember right. Might have been Elvis from Hawaii.

[multigraincracker]

53. 1958 Michigan State Fairgrounds

Not my favorite, but my first one. Ricky Nelson.
I was working in the Dairy Barns mucking stalls and sleeping in a dorm between the barns and the venue. I was 9 years old.
Teen girls going nuts.

[MLAA]

81. 9 years old! I didn't see a concert until I was 20. You got an early start.

[AltairIV]

54. Two best concerts

Frank Zappa's Halloween show in NYC. They performed Whipping Post as an encore, the entire show was awesome.
Allman Brothers Band and Muddy Waters at Rosevelt Stadium in Jersey.

[MLAA]

80. Those concerts sound like classics. I'm going to listen to some Muddy Waters, thanks for the reminder.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

129. Zappa is one of my regrets

Wanted to see the 88 tour, but his band imploded before they made it out west.

[RockRaven]

55. 1999 San Francisco Symphony & Metallica at the Berkeley Community Theater

Two night only performance (I was at the first night), was recorded and released by Metallica as both an album and a concert video (titled "S&M" ). It was, for me, a totally new and unique experience at the time and as such highly memorable.

[MLAA]

79. That does sound like a rare experience.

[Dear_Prudence]

56. Just one?

Rolling Stones, 75: An unreliable boyfriend asked me to the concert, supposedly securing tickets for us. But I secretly bought my own ticket as insurance. Sure enough, he stood me up. So I went to the concert on my own and dumped Unreliable.
John Denver, John Prine, Ralph Stanley, Prince bring back wonderful memories.
I missed out on the Beatles and the Doors.

[MLAA]

78. Love your independence and intelligence to buy a back up ticket! Glad you enjoyed the concert and even happier

you dumped unreliable

[DJ Synikus Makisimus]

58. It's a tie

Uggh, I can't seem to choose one:

Roxy Music = Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis), 1976
Iggy Pop Band (w/Bowie on keyboards) + Blondie = Oriental Theatre (Milwaukee), 1977
Flamin' Groovies + Good Rats = Roundhouse (London), 1978
Soft Boys + Only Ones = Tiffany's (Edinburgh), 1978
King Crimson = Agora Ballroom (Dallas), 1981
Motorhead + Plasmatics = Santa Monica Civic, 1983
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Band + lots of others at Kanikapila = Andrews Amphitheater (Honolulu), 1993

I could go on, but I'll stop there except to note Bruce Springsteen at the St. Paul Civic Center Theater in 1977, videos from which can be found on Youtube (not posted by me 'cause I didn't own a camera). They were really ON that night, covered "It's My Life" by the Animals, and Clarence was amazing. Still got the autograph. Very pleasant memories!

[MLAA]

77. I'd have liked to been at the Iggy Pop concert with Bowie and Blondie, I love Bowie and Blondie.

[oldsoftie]

60. I'm a hard rock guy but Pink was the most entertaining show I've ever seen

I couldn't sing along with many songs (didnt know them) but it didnt matter
She doesnt lip-sync & she flies around the arena top to bottom plus the entire stage show.

But I still love my 80s AC/DC, Motley Crue, still today. And some of the newer (less than 20yrs) groups, Shinedown, Seether, Halestorm,

I've seen Madonna, Tina Turner, the Stones, McCartney, Elton etc. ALL great.
But for the best SHOW I've gotta go with Pink!

[Lochloosa]

68. You're lucky. She is on my top 5 wanna see list and I'm a jam band guy.

Her tickets are almost impossible to get now. Unless you are willing to fork over some serious dough.

[MLAA]

76. I watched an interview with and about Pink last year. Maybe 60 minutes? It was fantastic and showed clips of

her concert. It looked fantastic and how she had to work on her breathing to be able to sing upside down and flying around.

[oldsoftie]

119. I saw that; it WAS 60 Mins. She sang with a woman standing on her stomach!

And you couldn't hear a strain

[MLAA]

130. That was it!

[MoonlightHillFarm]

62. Best Concert

Harry Belafonte, saw him 5 times
BB King, also 5 times
Frank Sinatra

[MLAA]

75. My husband is older than I and I love hearing about Vegas in the early day.

Going to see one of the Rat Pack at a late show and one or more of the others would drop in. Some nights they would go to 2 am.

Love Frank Sinatra.

[The Blue Flower]

65. Bob Dylan and Paul Simon at the Hollywood Bowl

It was almost more fun watching the celebrities streaming in. Among others, I saw Jeff Bridges, Sir Patrick Stewart, and Sydney Pollack. Sat beside Elizabeth Berringer who played Mrs. Mozart in the film Amadeus.

[MLAA]

101. What an event.

Husband said Dylan would go visit his grandmother i. The summers in the small town my husband grew up in and would hang out with a group of kids. Husband and a couple buddies went to his first show a couple hour drive away in some bar.

[Lochloosa]

66. So many. Top 5.

Prince 4/27/2004. 30 song set 3 song encore. Damn.

Grateful Dead 10/15/88. My first show.

Any Allman Brothers show. 40+

Any Widespread Panic show 30+

Robert Plant
4/15/11. Wanee festival

Oh yeah, Govt Mule. Various

[MLAA]

74. I do regret not seeing Prince. You've had some wonderful concert experiences.

[Bludogdem]

67. Jimmy Buffett

Parrothead concerts in Cincinnati. They were a great joy.

Been to many great concerts back in the 60’s through 90’s.

[MLAA]

73. I love his clever and sometimes very poignant lyrics.

If the phone doesn’t ring it’s me was one of my favorites.

[Squeaky41]

70. Some good ones

Cat Stevens at the Wilbur Theater in Boston 1971

Many NY Met Opera shows in Boston late 60's early 70's.

Moody Blues at Shoreline in Mountain View mid 80's.

Boston Symphony and Pops open rehearsals in mid 70's.

[MLAA]

72. Open rehearsals had to be so cool, were they free?

[Squeaky41]

118. Open

Yes

Just a walk in

Steinberg

Ozawa visit

Tillson Thomas visit

Saint-Saens Organ Symphony #3

Treat to listen to "chatter"

[MLAA]

148. Way cool that they made themselves available so more people could hear them.

[Ziggysmom]

71. Favorite is Tom Petty 2008 Milwaukee Summerfest.

Before that, Stevie Ray Vaughan's last concert 1990 Alpine Valley. RIP Stevie ❤️

[MLAA]

103. Tom Petty was from Gainesville FL where I was born and lived until about 6th grade, he holds a special

place in my heart 🙂

[herding cats]

110. Tom Petty put on one hell of a show.

He was awesome. I've seen truly 100's of concerts. He is in my top 10 always. Even including other good bands in smaller venues.

When I was very young I used to sneak into Auditorium Shores to watch Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was me and my best girlfriend from junior high/high school. She lived close (ish) and I'd spend the night so we could sneak out and watch the shows. It was a different world and a very different Austin than now.

[lapucelle]

82. This isn't the best concert I've been to, but it was one to remember.

EDITORIAL | The Story Behind Trump And Pavarotti's Alleged Friendship

Pavarotti had been performing in Atlantic City since 1983, and worked with Hungarian promoter Tibor Rudas, of the Three Tenors fame.

“I have Pavarotti coming,” Trump said to New Yorker columnist Mark Singer. “Pavarotti doesn’t perform for anybody. He’s the highest-paid performer in the world. A million dollars a performance. The hardest guy to get. If I call him, he’ll do it — for a huge amount less. Why? Because they like me; they respect me; I don’t know.”

But the concert did not go well. “He was singing and he lost his voice,” said Norma Foederer, a spokeswoman for Trump. “He stopped mid-note and he said ‘Forgive me’ and ‘I’m not feeling well’.”

snip-------------------------------------------------------------

Trump was allegedly furious at the lacklustre performance and stormed backstage to confront Pavarotti. Pavarotti apologized and blamed the disaster on his having a cold. Trump reportedly asked him to refund half of his $1M performance fee. Instead, Pavarotti offered to come back the following year to sing again for free for the same audience.

Pavarotti made good on his Taj Mahal do-over in February 2001.

.
https://www.ludwig-van.com/toronto/2020/08/13/the-full-story-behind-trump-and-pavarottis-friendship/

I was at both shows.

[MLAA]

102. Wow! Never a more unlikely pair I would think.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

86. That's easy!! Been to: Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon tour)... Wish I been to: Hendrix/Woodstock

[MLAA]

104. Agree on the Hendrix / Woodstock for sure!

[Traildogbob]

105. Best: Human rights Now

In 1988 at JFK Stadium in Philly. Only two shows of the world tour in US. Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Tracy Chapman.
Wish I have seen, Any original Pink Floyd Shows.

[MLAA]

142. I'm envious of your attending the Human Rights Now, what a line up!

[Traildogbob]

190. It was a surprise

Gift from my late wife. On a trip to Michigan to visit my mom, she convinced me to stay in Philly one night. Then showed me the tix on the way.
I mean to get tix to any of them alone would be impossible now. The tee shirt still fits, literally and figuratively. Seems we need a redo of that tour with more performers. We are going backwards.

[MLAA]

191. What a wonderful. Gift your wife gave you. I'm usually not a good keeper of gift surprises.

I tend to give the gifts the minute I get them home even if it’s days or weeks early. I almost had a great surprise from Hubby. I bought great Andreas Bocelli tix, airline tix and hotel reservations for his birthday. I kept it a secret. Then Covid and I felt it was unsafe given his health status. For the first time ever I had bought insurance for the tix (they were super expensive). I got the money back and never told dear husband as he would have insisted on going anyway. Glad the shirt still fits, not many can say that 😬.

[Traildogbob]

193. Wow!

Guessing your husband WAS ultimately Surprised AND disappointed.

[MLAA]

194. Never told him! Can't believe I didn't.

[Traildogbob]

195. That's some world class

Secret keeping there.

[Runningdawg]

106. Bowie, Glass Spider, Dallas TX, 1987. Historically significant - The Sex Pistols, Tulsa OK, 1978.

Honorable mention: Nina Hagen, CBGB NYC 1979, my first date after moving there.
The one that got away - Skinny Puppy

[MLAA]

143. I'm a big Bowie fan as well. I don't recognize Skinny Puppy, I'll have to head over to google.

[GP6971]

107. Elton John mid 90s

Tacoma Dome, WA

Woodstock

[MLAA]

145. I never had a chance to see Elton John, I can't remember him ever playing anywhere near me.

If we could go back in time for a day or two, I’d use one of my days for Woodstock.

[Chipper Chat]

108. Best: KISS

One I wanted to see but couldnt afford the $5.00 !!!!:
The Four Freshmen with Stan Kenton and June Christy.

[MLAA]

146. Haha, in our youth $5 sometimes felt as far away as $500.

[Chipper Chat]

182. Yup

[Trueblue1968]

111. CHER and Paul McCartney

[MLAA]

150. I saw Cher in Las Vegas around 2018, it was a great show in a smallish casino concert hall.

[Hekate]

112. About 1967 Ravi Shankar brought his sitar to Los Angeles, and several friends and I drove out to his concert

He was accompanied on tabla by iirc Ali Akbar Khan. I still have the vinyl album…

The review in the Los Angeles Times was a bit snarky, as the reviewer implied everybody there was stoned out of their little gourds. I can attest that was not so for everyone. My friends and I had a very long freeway drive in both directions, and it would have been stupid to do that impaired. YMMV.

However. However. However. I don’t know what my friends got out of it, or if the ones still alive remember that night.

But for me, that musical experience was mind-altering. Transcendental. Deeply spiritual. Other-worldly. And I have not forgotten.

[MLAA]

151. I wasn't familiar, so I googled Ravi Shankar and found some interesting facts.

His mentor was Guru Ustad Allauddin Khan, who he called Baba (literally father). Ravi Shankar first saw Baba in 1934 in Calcutta, when he was 14 years old. In 1938, Shankar became Ustad Allaudin Khan's pupil after feeling the strong pull of music.


We’re taking a look back at an iconic moment in pop music history, the time that Ravi Shankar, the legendary Indian musician, taught The Beatles member George Harrison how to play the traditional Indian instrument, the sitar.

It may seem just another moment in a long and illustrious career for Harrison but what transpired was a rich and fruitful partnership between the pair which would not only see Harrison promote both Shankar and Indian music through his various channels with The Beatles. But it would also see Shankar become a deeply respected musician in the Western world on his own merit.

[Hekate]

181. Thank you for adding this, MLAA. Much appreciated.

I know a woman from India who was a colleague of my husband’s in the computer programming field. She was also an ardent musical pupil of Ravi Shankar’s niece (? ) and we were invited to our friend’s formal singing and instrumental musical debut out here in SoCal, having seen her perform in other smaller and less nerve-wracking (for her) venues among the local Indian community.

I love a very broad range of music, especially instrumental and percussion. So far in my life I’ve only asked to be excused from heavy metal rock and Philip Glass. Vocals are harder to love in some foreign languages, and I’m not sure why that is.

[Coventina]

113. Biggest regret: Never saw the Clash

Best: Followed Echo & the Bunnymen for several shows in 1988. They were so amazing live!!!

Historically significant: Saw U2 with Lone Justice opening for the Unforgettable Fire tour, then again 2 nights in a row with BB King for the Joshua Tree tour. (Which was filmed for Rattle and Hum).

[MLAA]

152. I'm not familiar with Echo & The Bunneymen. I'll check them out 🙂

[Paladin]

116. Hendrix, Buffalo Springfield. Back in the 60's.

Should have made more of an effort to see the Beatles.

[MLAA]

153. Hendrix concert must have been something. I too wish I'd seen the Beatles.

[MissMillie]

117. "best" is such a loaded term. Lol

I'm trying to think of what ingredients make a great show.

Musicianship for sure. In this category: Carlos Santana. He and his band were so unified that I would have sworn there was a conductor leading them

Showmanship for sure. For this, I would pick my very first concert, ELO. Old Boston Garden 1978. The stage was the spaceship. There was a great light show. The cello players danced around with their instruments as they played.

Creativity is another one. Peter Gabriel.

Then there's also things like emotional attachment to the artist(s) and/or music. Here I have to go with two shows: Simon and Garfunkel or Rod Stewart. In both cases I had such an urge to sing along that I had to remind myself that the people near me wanted to hear the performance and not me.

[MLAA]

154. One of my favorite songs is Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Do you remember if they played that one at the concert?

[MissMillie]

177. Yep, they played it. (nt)

.

[MLAA]

183. I listen to this cover frequently

[MissMillie]

196. My fav S & G cover is

Hazy Shade of Winter by the Bangles

?si=CaM1mXoAmCj6LOox

[cachukis]

158. Was at that show. Very cool. ELO show.

[Redleg]

122. Rolling stones in '94 in Salt Lake City

I wish I had seen the Who on Valentine's Day in 1970 when they played at Leeds University and recording the famous Live at Leeds album.

[MLAA]

155. The Who exactly 54 years ago today! That's cool.

[lynintenn]

128. Santana opening for Eric Clapton

second Joan Baez twice.

[MLAA]

156. I'd love to have seen Joan Baez.

[Bobstandard]

131. Jimi Hendrix, Queens Surf, Red House

Jimi Hendrix was scheduled to play two shows at the Waikiki Shell. The first night there was a power problem that put an unholy buzz in the sound system. On stage he called off the show promising a make up date two nights hence. My brother was a musician and said there was sure to be a sound check the next day. We decided to be there.

The Waikiki Shell is right across from the beach. A surf spot named Queens is off the beach. There was a south swell, waves were really good. We’re surfers so we figured we’d surf until we heard the sound check crank up.

We’re out surfing when Hendrix plugs in and tries to blow out the sound system. He’s on his guitar, giant rack of Marshall’s at full volume going, depot doo, depot doo. Mitch Mitchell’s snare sounded like rifle fire.

The Waikiki Shell is an outdoor venue with a stage surrounded by an actual shell shaped structure—like a speaker horn. We could hear him easily over the sound of the surf. No need to go in. After a while he stopped making ragged sounds testing the sound system was ok.

And then he kicked into Red House. They worked it for like an hour. While we surfed perfect 4-6’ lefts, full sun, blue green water.

[MLAA]

165. Sounds like that is one perfect day, a truly perfect day in paradise.

[Upthevibe]

138. MLAA.....

Prince in 2011...I've been to many, many concerts and he was without question the best.

A band I would have LOVED to see in concert: of course, The Beatles!

[MLAA]

159. I would have loved to have seen both Prince and the Beatles.

Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney owned a horse ranch in the SouthWestern desert town I live in. Last year the local museum did a show of her photography.

[GoodRaisin]

139. Jethro Tull in Roanoke, Va in early 70s was my first and favorite

also caught Aerosmith in Norfolk, ZZ Top in Tampa, and Allman Brothers at the Beacon Theatre in NYC that were all excellent.

[MLAA]

162. I'd have really liked to see Aerosmith.

[OldBaldy1701E]

140. There were a few great ones...

The Eagles - The Long Run Tour (1976) Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, VA
KIss - Alive II tour (1978) Norfolk Scope, Norfolk VA
Pat Travers Band - (1980) Hill's Pub, Murfreesboro, NC
Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound of Thunder (1989) and Pulse (1994) Both @ Carter Finlay Stadium, Raleigh, NC.
Crosby, Stills, and Nash - Acoustic show (1992?) Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC.
Steeley Dan - I don't remember the tour (1993?) Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC.
Robin Trower - The Brewery (I saw him a few times there) Raleigh, NC
Keb Mo - The Cat's Cradle (Don't recall the year) Chapel Hill, NC

Those are a few.

[MLAA]

141. Great list and great memories.

[MLAA]

163. Whoa, that's like a list of who's who of artist from my late teens through my early 30s!

[dai13sy]

147. We got to see Huey Lewis and the News

at Oregon State University and we got to see Gordon Lightfoot at University of Oregon at McArthur Court. The one we missed was the Eagles in concert in Portland State Univ.

[MLAA]

160. I saw Huey Lewis late in his career at a work function event. It was fun.

I would have loved to see Gordon Lightfoot.

[maccafan]

157. The Beatles!

I saw them twice — 1965 and 1966! Lots of screaming but the experiences were incredible! I have seen Paul and Ringo a number of times and I wish there have been opportunities to see John and George as solo artists too.

[MLAA]

161. Wow, Beatles twice! I'm envious. I bet they hold the record for girls/women screaming!

[Jrsygrl96]

164. Bruce Springsteen 1985

9th row center seats Giants Stadium. Wished I had gone to Elton John on my BFFs birthday in 2022. We never went to one of his concerts even though we were huge fans ever since Goodbye Yellowbrook Road. Her husband was sick so she wouldn’t go. Devastatingly, hubby passed in late 2023. Regretfully, because life happens, we will never see Elton John in concert.

[MLAA]

167. 9th row center is perfect!

So sorry about hubby. Live happens and sometimes way sooner than it should. I have one worry in my life and its hubby’s health. He is much older than I am and turns 89 this spring. I try to live in the day, but my fear of his passing sneaks in too often.

Welcome to DU,

[Captain Zero]

166. The Who's first farewell tour, 1982

I've missed all the subsequent ones.

Also:
BB KING
RAY CHARLES
RICHARD THOMPSON (solo acoustic in a very small venue)
BONNIE RAITT
JACKSON BROWN

Oh several memorable dates to Rod Stewart concerts. Rod got 'em hot, I got 'em home. Part of my misspent youth.

[MLAA]

168. I saw Ray Charles at a work event. There was always a concert at these events and the artist was kept a secret.

He said maybe 10 words during the entire concert, but oh the music was amazing. Reading that Rod Stewart was your wingman made me smile.

[Mike Nelson]

169. I wish I'd been to...

...Woodstock 1969, Monterey 1967, the Beatles at the Cavern 1960s, Josef Hofmann at the Met 1937, Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall 1961, and Elvis Presley in Vegas 1969,

[MLAA]

173. Judy Garland's Somewhere Over The Rainbow gives me chills every time I hear it.

[Celerity]

178. Josef Hofmann - Complete The Golden Jubilee Concert (Metropolitan Opera House, November 28, 1937)

[Mike Nelson]

187. Thank you!

... he was a great musician!

[MLAA]

204. Beautiful, thanks for posting. The portrait is wonderful. Wonder who the artist was.

[Celerity]

206. Charles Edward Chambers, American artist (1883-1941)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Chambers

Charles Edward Chambers (August 9, 1883 - November 5, 1941) was an American illustrator and classical painter. He is most-known for his Chesterfield cigarettes advertisements and Steinway & Sons portraits that ran during the early 1900s. Chambers also illustrated stories for writers W. Somerset Maugham and Pearl S. Buck, among others. These appeared in various magazines including, Cosmopolitan, Harper's, and Redbook.

Josef Hofmann – The Complete 1937 Josef Hofmann Golden Jubilee Concert

https://www.discogs.com/release/16142785-Josef-Hofmann-The-Complete-1937-Josef-Hofmann-Golden-Jubilee-Concert

Label: International Piano Library – IPL 5001/2
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono
Box Set
Country: US
Genre: Classical

[MLAA]

207. Thanks!

[Celerity]

208. yw

[MuseRider]

170. Long Long ago, James Brown.

Again long ago Zappa complete with Flo and Eddie. Opening band was Steely Dan.

I have seen SO many. Used to hear Kansas all the time.

[MLAA]

172. Which made you dance the most?

[MuseRider]

176. LOL!

There was a terrific Irish band opening for James Brown. I cannot remember very well as this was a long time ago but I think it was Silly Wizard? His plane was late and they just kept playing and playing. No silent time there, they were having as great a time as we all were. By the time JB was on stage I think we were all tired but up and dance we did. I wish I had kept tabs on all the concerts I have been to. I just remembered this concert the other day. ***Scartaglen comes to mind as well as the opening Irish band. Drat my aged memory!

[MLAA]

212. When we are young and in the moment of extraordinarily good times it doesn't occur to most of us

to some how document them for our future selves, we expect to always be young.

[Silent Type]

171. Byrds 71; Dylan/Band 74; Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings 90s; Steve Earle several tours. Nt

[MLAA]

174. I googled the Byrds to be reminded of their top songs. A clip from one article below struck me.

…The Ballad of Easy Rider' was first recorded as a solo track by Roger McGuinn for the era-defining Easy Rider movie, but a full version by The Byrds came out a couple of months later.

The movie's star, writer and producer Peter Fonda actually wanted Bob Dylan to write the song. Bob said no, but did take the time to write down a single line on a napkin.

"The river flows, it flows to the sea/Wherever that river goes, that's where I want to be/Flow, river, flow."

"Give this to McGuinn. He'll know what to do with it," the uncredited Dylan said. And he clearly did….

Full article: https://www.goldradiouk.com/features/song-lists/byrds-best-greatest-songs-ranked/

[yellowdogintexas]

175. first: the one I missed: Linda Ronstadt at The Exit Inn in Nashville

However, did see Doc and Merle Watson twice at The Exit Inn That was such a great little venue.

Some of the best:
Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paycheck and a couple of other Texas C&W artists. Willie was just about to hit big and we had not heard of him. We were floored!!! This was in the mid 70s I think This was during the C & Whu DeeJay Convention where there were lots of free shows if you knew where to find them

A huge bluegrass concert (also at a fan event) Ten famous acts, then they all played together at the end. It was awesome. It was in the Old Grand Ole Opry House (Ryman Auditorium)

The last broadcast of the Grand Ole Opry from the Ryman. Marty Robbins closed the show and they had to literally drag him off the stage.

Pink Martini. Every time I have seen them.

Finally and this may be one of the best. Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth. Doobie Brothers, Bob Dylan, and more

[MLAA]

184. I live in Linda Ronstadt's home town. I love her classics but also really liked her 40s torch songs.

Marty Robbins’ Streets of Laredo is a favorite. My folks loved country music so I grew up listening to Marty Robbins, Charlie Pride and all on 8 track cartridges in the old Chevrolet. I’d love to have been to the Willie Nelson picnic! What a line up! So much to love about Willie. Seven Spanish Angels gets to me every time I hear it.

[yellowdogintexas]

217. She has one of the purest voices I have ever heard, and an incredible range

So sad the Parkinson's has made her retire.

[MLAA]

218. Indeed it is very sad.

[pandr32]

179. So many great ones, and lots of busts, too.

Just off the top of my head the following, but I cannot remember all of them over the years.

Up there as great:
Rolling Stones: pretty much all. I have seen them at least a dozen times.
Ike and Tina Turner Review at Oil Can Harry's. Oh, wow!
Paul Butterfield Blues Band in Vancouver at some gardens auditorium.
Canned Heat and Steppenwolf back to back at the Cave in Vancouver.
Willie Dixon and the Chicago All Stars
Elvin Bishop jamming at the Garage in Vancouver.
Led Zeppelin

Just okay:
The Who
The Clash
Ten Years After.
Sam and Dave.
Average White Band
The Doors at the Agridome in Vancouver. I was just 14 and Jim Morrison kept his eyes closed and barely moved the whole time, but I thought he was really cute. It was my first concert ever.

Terrible:
3 Dog Night--really boring show.
So many, I can't be bothered to list.

[MLAA]

185. Great line up, I do wish I could have seen Tina Turner.

[pandr32]

188. She was a pulsar!

I could not take my eyes off her. The heat up on stage from the lights and the audience below made her slick with sweat, her long, straight wig was sticking to her shoulders and back, but she would toss her head around to keep all her moving parts free. She needed no restrictions as she moved all around that stage with flying feet, arms, hair and force. She out-danced her back-up singers who worked it at least 75% of what she did, and that voice! Ike was just a pillar at the back right of the stage. His deep voice came through once in a while, but he barely moved. It was all Tina with her furiously flying beaded fringe all over her mini dress, legs that moved so fast they were almost a blur, and that voice! The whole time. Wow!
She was one of the best performers, ever!

[happybird]

180. The best was Phish on NYE 1995

Other standouts were
The Clifford Ball
Hershey Park 12/1/95
Hampton shows in '97
(hell, all the Phish shows I saw in Fall 1997 aka the Cow Funk aka Phish Destroys America)

Pink Floyd in '94 at RFK

Black Crowes at Constitution Hall in '92 or '93

Bad Brains, Fishbone, and Living Color in Philly in '92(?)

The Pogues, Violent Femmes, Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper at Wolftrap

Billy Strings was pretty damn good.
I've seen a lot of great bluegrass, which is probably what I enjoy most live: David Grisman Quintet, Bela Fleck and Tony Trischka was awesome, Bela with and without the Flecktones, Tony Rice Unit. The Birchmere in Alexandria had some top notch shows.

The one I wish I went to was Beastie Boys when Check Your Head was released. A friend had extra tickets and I said, "You mean like Brass Monkey? No thanks."

[MLAA]

186. So many I don't recognize! I'm pretty musically illiterate, so I'm going to have to do some homework by

checking out the artists in your list.

[appleannie1]

189. Elton John

You could still smoke indoors then. I was high when we left because of all the second hand pot smoke.

[MLAA]

202. That must have been wonderful

I enjoyed this movie

[Elessar Zappa]

192. Pantera. That was this past August.

Metallica was good too. Oh so many that I wish I could’ve gone too. Frank Zappa at the top but also Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath. I was born in 83 so many of the bands that I like had stopped touring by the time I reached concert going age. I’m really looking forward to seeing Iron Maiden this coming September.

[MLAA]

201. I was born in 60 and my music tastes, to some degree got stuck in the 70s - 90s. I also like most of the 60s

music. Not familiar with Pantera, will check it out.

[Elessar Zappa]

203. Pantera is hardcore thrash metal

so you may hate it lol.

[MLAA]

205. Thanks for the warning, haha.

[Mad_Dem_X]

197. Best: Roger Waters in 2017, and ELO in 2018.

Wished I'd been to: Queen, with Freddie Mercury, any year.

[MLAA]

200. I'm with you on Queen and Freddie Mercury. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it.

[Mad_Dem_X]

211. I've seen it, and enjoyed it very much!

[bedazzled]

198. Beach boys at the garden circa 1976

People were dancing in the aisles

Queen at the garden on the day at the races tour ... exceptional!

Judas priest and iron maiden in Asbury Park 1981 was outstanding! I loved when Halford rode his Harley onto the tiny stage.

Forgot my current favorite ... the STRUTS! if you haven't seen them make the effort. They are wonderful!

Wish I had seen the stones some girls tour or it's only rock and roll tour. Sigh

[MLAA]

199. I am very envious of the Queen concert! I love the movie that came out a few years ago.

Thanks, I will check out STRUTS, they haven’t been on my radar.

Edited to add the trailer

[WarGamer]

209. Have to break it down into categories.

Most outrageous "spectacle" was Celine Dion "Taking Chances" Tour in Los Angeles

First concert, "The Scorpions"

Epic good time "Metallica"

Early career stuff all at the Roxy or Country Club in Hollywood... "Great White, Motley Crue, Ratt and Poison"

Bucket List... Aerosmith and Rolling Stones.

Shock. Venom and Slayer at Santa Monica Civic Center

Best quality performance... "Rush" or "U2"

Big ones I missed... "Kiss" and "Springsteen"

[Rustynaerduwell]

210. The Lone Grateful Dead Show In Niagara Falls: April 17, 1984

It's gone down in Dead history as one of their best shows, and the only one ever in Niagara Falls. With an intimate crowd in what seemed like an over-sized high school gym- bleachers and all- there was plenty of space on the concrete floor to whirl and spin to your heart's delight. More than a dozen of us crammed into a VW Bus to get there. I've been to scores of Dead shows. I've seen Springsteen several times and without a doubt, he puts on the best shows I've seen. The first time I saw him was in a small auditorium that held about 2,000 people. I was at the first concert The Who put on after the Cincinnati tragedy. I was among a half million people in Central Park to see Simon & Garfunkel. Name a major band from the sixties and seventies and I've probably seen them at least once. Except for two. I had tickets to both Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull, but a tragedy caused the cancellation of former and the sudden and not quite expected wedding of a very good friend (and my sudden unexpected obligation to be there) prevented me attending the latter.

But nothing will ever come close to "been there" moments of that Niagara Falls concert, the drive there and the Falls themselves after. The Dead were at their peak. 'Jack Straw' opened and began a Bob Weir dominated show, but Jerry shined that night.They played 'Throwing Stones' and 'Touch of Grey' (which closed the show) years before they were released on vinyl. While I spent most of the night dancing, whirling ,and hugging a lot of friends and a few strangers, for about twenty minutes I was under the bleachers getting high, listening to the 'Space' and an unknowable number of people surrounding me who clanged along on the pipes.

You can see the show on YouTube, but it won't be the same.

You had to be there.

[electric_blue68]

214. The Who, U2, Bruce and some other special events

Last edited Sun Feb 18, 2024, 04:24 PM - Edit history (1)

I actually made a list that I added to over time (that I think I lost in '99?) that had like 250 performers, 200+ shows.

• The Who - Forrest Hills
7/29 & 31/71 Who's Next Tour!
But the most haunting, and beautiful part was the full song that was sung -that had just been a compelling snippet at the end of The Song Is Over called "Pure and Easy" the lynchpin song of the then failed Lifehouse project. Finally appeared on Odds & Sods, and then included on the CD of WN.

• U2 - Giants Stadium 360 Tour
'09
Was there from 8AM till let in. I ran sooo fast and got up to the outer rail between Edge, and Bono. It would be as they walked the round walkway the closest I'd ever seen them since seeing them from '84 onward. And I loved The Claw, and the Screen. What amazing show!
[U2 was the reverse of every other of my most favorite bands - seen close up early on, farther away as they got more famous!]
(ZOO TV was also amazing - I was waaay up in the eagle's nest)

• Bruce & E Street - ?The Academy of Music '76
This was the first time me and my friends saw him/them and we were blown away!
So next night I got a scalpers tix, and ended up in the 5th Row! . Snuck my camera, too! 😄

Honorable Mentions!
Midnight Oil
The Patti Smith Group
The B-52'S
The Clash
Ike & Tina Turner

*Special Events
• I saw Midnight Oil first time - serendipitously!
As we had been walking into Central Park after the Great Anti-Nuclear Weapons March of ?82 The Oils were playing! "Read About It" was their radio hit, then.

• Special Memorial/Commemorative
Outdoor Concert at The UN
?early '90's
Peter Gabriel w Y'Sor N'Dour
(show was late bc YN'D got stuck in Customs at the airport)
They played "Shaking The Tree", of course. But my favorite was
"Freedom (No More Apartheid)" just echoing off the skyscrapers 2-3 blocks away!

One sort of Wonderful circumstance -
We saw U2 ZOO TV, and Springsteen both at Giants Stadium within 8 days of each other!
I don't remember which was first (and if I still had that list I would! lol, grrrr), but we drove out there, and both evenings were the beautiful Summer weather you can but Not always get in NYC/nearby NJ: low 80's, and dry! 🧡