Favorite Live Performances Attended

Best...

Motorhead - Wrexham Football Ground
17 years old, got backstage, hung out with my then heroes Lemmy and Philthy Animal Taylor. Missed last train. Slept in a bus shelter. Went home with hearing loss.

The Damned - Brixton Academy, 199?
A ferocious onslaught. Threw myself around in the mosh pit for 1.5 hrs. Went home a happy Man

Pixies - Brixton Academy, 199?
pure magic.. still dreaming about this one now

The Fall - The Fridge, Brixton 1996

Ozric Tentacles - Town & Country Club
but then again anything would have sounded good
that night

Bob Dylan - Docklands Arena, 2002
I'd been waiting a long time to see Dylan: I wasn't disappointed.

All the Hayfield Jazz Festivals I have had the pleasure to attend over the years.


worst...

Rolling Stones - Wembley arena: huge budget, pyrotechnics, all the hits but for some reason desperatly boring. Came away thinking I'd have had a better time seeing some band over my local pub.

The friday(IIRC) of Reading '89
The highlights included Spacemen 3, The House Of Love, The Sugarcubes, and New Order. It was the day I got my GCSE results as well.

Happy Mondays - Brighton Top Rank (1989 IIRC)
It was as the madchester thing started getting in Smash Hits, and there was a massive buzz about it all.

KLF - Energy Rave (Xmas 89 or Jan 1990)


Synergy (Shamen & Mix Master Morris) - Polytechnic of North London Rocket (1990)
I swear the walls were breathing. Then again, I am still convinced that when I went into the toilets, everyone there chanted 'Poo poo, it sounds like loo!'.

Energy Rave - Docklands Arena 1990
Danced on stage with Orbital and Adamski

Stone Roses - Spike Island 1990
Superb day out. In the sunshine, Jah Wobble made sense. By the time the Roses' fireworks had finished, it was perfect. Made the Mondays big do at the GMEX seem shabby.

<insert too many DJs>

Big Beat Boutique - The Concorde 1996
Norm was rocked it back then.

Mt. Universe - Alexandra Palace NYE 1996
Orbital mixing Big Ben into Chime at midnight - huge!

Buck 65 - Pressure Point 2002
Simulatenous beat juggling and rapping, stories, and crowd participation. This is how all hip hop shows should be done.

Breakestra - The Gloucester 2003
Just a couple of nights ago, so it sticks out at the mo'. An hour and a half of funk breaks mixed together by a live funk band.

[This message was edited by Mekon on FRIDAY 16 May 2003 at 10:23.]

My first "real" one with an international act was Queen in Stockholm 1978. Complete with boringly long solos, Merqury the Diva constantly handing over his stick that wasn't a microphone stand to a roadie, the worlds biggest drum kit and, of course, everybody of the scene while the spotlighted tape deck was playing. I loved it!

Bruce Sprinsteen in Stockholm 1981. Seriously good, don't have to say more.

After ZZ Top in Göteborg, ca 1996. We went to a small place in the central shopping maul. Swedish blues artist Sven Zetterberg (and some more people) where playing. Remembered because they where roughly ten times better than ZZ.

John Fogerty in Göteborg 1997. Normaly in a concert there are a couple of songs where the public can sing along to the corus. And are alowed to do it. Here John F could pic any song and let the public sing all of the lyrics and he only had to play the solo!

JohanR

At Uni...

The Buzzcocks and Joy Division - the Saturday before my 20th birthday.
The Undertones - the day after my 20th birthday, what a week!
The Cure
The Jam
Two tone tour
Caravan - I remember we sat down for this one, it wasn't busy.

Others

Thin Lizzie on the Jailbreak tour
Elvis Costello, surprising stage presence, he loomed large on the stage, the Attractions were excellent.
Simple Minds, at their peak on the New Gold Dream Tour
Echo and the Bunnymen, they made the classic mistake of cranking up the volume too loud, but excellent otherwise.
The Chameleons - did I ever say I like the Chameleons? On the Script of the Bridge tour in a converted church which was somehow appropriate for their music
The Cure (again), several more times each more miserable than the last!
The Undertones (again) the gig was interrupted by a bomb scare (it was at the height of The Troubles) but they played on and IIRC played seven encores!
The Who - sadly after Keith Moon's demise
Wilko Johnson and the Solid Senders in a small sweaty venue, perfect!
Sensational Alex Harvey Band - one of his last performances at Reading Festival
Steve Hillage - on the 'L' tour.

Too many others to remember, they all seem a long time ago, probably because they were . I stopped going to gigs for a long time, my record buying dried up as well, late 80's marriage, kid loss of interest in music scene (since re-kindled).

Worst gig...

The Pretenders. Brass in Pocket hit no 1 that day! Chrissie Hinds attitude towards the student audience was awful, she seemed to think that they should be playing on the theatre circuit not in student unions (the capacity was 1500 and the gig was sold out so it wasn't a small one). We did let the townies in to gigs, we didn't have to, relations between students and townies were not good and this gig did not help!

Recent gig
Peter Hammill! My long time hero, I'd not seen him live before and it was excellent, including a brief re-union of VdGG for the encore. Cheshire cat smile wasn't in it

Many have been at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh, a seriously great performance space in an old chapel. Particular goodies include Davy Spillane on St. Patrick's day in the late 80s and John Zorn & Masada (not my idea, but the first time I've completely got a free jazz performance and it was awesome). The last McFall's Chamber gig there was rather special too.

Another great was proof you don't need the really big guns to have a wonderful time, Dundee Choral Union with the SCO doing Mass in B Minor. It was abundantly clear that everyone on stage was having a glorious time, and the audience did too.

BT Scottish Ensemble have provided lots of treats, their Tears of the Angels candlelight concert at the Marryat Hall in Dundee was really very special.

Though I'm mainly a rock man on disc I prefer jazz, folk and classical live. The sound is better, the atmosphere warmer and you don't get some tosser chain smoking next to you labouring under the misapprehension that if he yells out the name of a song the band haven't played for 10 years every 30 seconds during the entire show then it'll magically work its way onto the set list...

Weirdest for a long while was The Enid (lots of bikers sitting in a trance like state) but even more surreal was Ivor Cutler... Hardest work was The Ramones, where I had to take a breather half way through! Most danceable was one of the several visits to Salsa Celtica, probably the one at the Islay Jazz Festival 2 years ago.

Pete.

Deep Purple in 1971 was the first rock concert I attended and I was staggered by the quality of performance and sound. Since then I’ve seen many outstanding concerts – Bob Dylan in 1978, Bruce Springsteen in 1981 for example, but the best were by Brian Wilson in Glasgow and Edinburgh last year. The Glasgow one in particular was almost like a religious experience. His band is the best I’ve ever heard live, featuring 10 outstanding instrumentalists and vocalists. His songs are unmatchable and to see him on stage, knowing what he had been through, was truly humbling. I can’t wait for his tour next year.

Jools Holland-Nottingham Uni, Billy Bragg Derby Conference Centre(?) both early 90's.

Why? Because both set out to entertain not posture. They gave value, and most importantly actually looked like they were enjoying it themselves. Jools Holland is a top bloke-I had a bit to do with booking him and sorting out the gig arrangements and he was the most straightforward guy to do business with. He even wrote afterwards thanking 'us' for helping him and the band have such a good night!

Bruce

Best concert - Hawkwind, Hammersmith Palais c. 1984

Others of note: - Yes, Wembley Arena c mid-eighties: Rush, Wembley Arena c early eighties (Signals Tour) - it was just like a studio recording and how high could Neil Peart throw those drumsticks and still hit the cymbals!!!; Prince, Wembley Arena c sometime in the eighties (Lovesexy Tour?) - what a showman and still prone to rock it then; just about every other Hawkwind concert attended in the early eighties - usually at the Odeon, Hammersmith.

It is a co-incedence that many favourite concerts were at the Wembley Arena because as a venue I do not like the place.

Worst - AC/DC, Wembley Arena (again) c mid-eighties - so impersonal.

Regards

Mike

The Blue Nile - sometime in the 80s - I've already posted about this before - superb performance, long anticipated, great interaction between the band and audience.

REM - Murmur or Reckoning tour. This was in a room above a strip club in Birmingham. This was a whole new sound for me, great performance from the whole band.

Fashion - sometime in the 80s - they / we were oh so cool then.

The Sex Pistols - Munich '96 A dream I thought would never be realised. Utterly stunning performance, forget the baggage, Johnny Rotten had such incredible presence.

But, unbelievably, in first place..... INXS - a half full Birmingham Odeon - 1980 ? I had heard "Original Sin" and I thought it was by this band. Turned up to see a group performance complete with horn section, female backing trio etc.And they rocked like utter, utter bastards. Brilliant.

Worst performance - INXS Birmingham Arena - 1987 - go figure.


Superb thread

Brian OReilly

quote:

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Originally posted by Brian OReilly:
Fashion - sometime in the 80s - they / we were oh so cool then.

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Ah forgot Fashion, yes they were cool, saw them in 82 supported by Kajagoogoo who were anything but!

Special AKA - Welly Club, Hull 1979. It was the night that they did Gangsters on TOTP (filmed previous day!) - an absolute corker of a gig!

The Smiths - GMEX 1986. As part of the Festival of The 10th Summer. Big cast of bands but no-one seemed to know when anyone was coming on. Expected Mozza and co to be late on - but around 4:30 in the afternoon the Prokofiev (?) intro music struck up - one helluva shiver went down my spine.

The Jam - Bridlington - 1982. Farewell tour -something like their 4th to last ever gig. Played a blistering set full of passion - then Paul, Rick and Bruce came on and just stood and waved to a massive ovation. The only major band I've ever known to split at the absolute peak of their popularity and power - massive respect to Weller for not letting them become the new Stones.

Martin Stephenson - approx 10 gigs a year on average for the last 6/7 years. The best communicator of a song with guitar/voice I've ever heard.

Best: Neil Young – Pheonix Festival mid-90’s, Neil Young – Reading Festival mid-90’s, Pearl Jam – Finsbury Park mid-90’s, Soundgarden on many occasions thru 90’s, Supertramp followed by Yes – Reading Festival 1976(?), ULTIMATE was Smashing Pumpkins farewell tour Wembley Arena 2001.

Worst ever: Bob Dylan – Brighton late 90’s, Yes – Wembley Arena mid-80’s (sorry MichaelC!!).

Most wished for but never possible: Free (too young)

These are some of my faves

KRAFTWERK _ Lyceum June 1981 (far better than the 91 tour)
GRATEFUL DEAD - Wembley, Hallowe'en 1990
BOWIE - Royal Festival Hall June 2002 (second row, just down from Eno and Kylie!)
NEW ORDER - Heaven Feb 81
NEW ORDER - Royal Festival Hall May 84
NEW ORDER - Wembley Dec 87
NEW ORDER - Reading Aug 89
NEW ORDER - Reading Aug 93
JOY DIVISION - Liverpool Erics Aug 79
JOY DIVISION – Rainbow (w/Buzzcocks) Oct 79
DURUTTI COLUMN + GRAHAM FITKIN - Queen Elizabeth Hall Feb 91
SONIC YOUTH - Astoria Nov 88
PAUL McCARTNEY - Earls Court Apr 03
STEREOLAB - RFH Feb 02
PINK FLOYD - Earls Court Oct 94 (their last-ever gig)
PINK FLOYD - Wembley Mar 77 (my first-ever gig, just 13)
THIN LIZZY - Hammersmith 78
NEIL YOUNG - Brixton May 02
NEIL YOUNG - Hammersmith Dec 89
DYLAN - Wembley Oct 00
EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN - ICA Apr 84?(a near-riot)
DIZZY GILLESPIE - Ronnie Scott's May 83
BIRTHDAY PARTY - The Venue Jul 82

and some of the worst..
SPRINGSTEEN - Wembley, Jul 85
BOWIE - Wembley Jul 87
DYLAN - Docklands May 02
PINK FLOYD - Wembley Aug 88

and who do I wish I'd seen?
Led Zep
Can
Magazine

Kevin

Best
Santana- Royal Albert Hall 1985
Beethovens 9th-1986 N.Marriner,Academy St.Martins-in-the-Field,Barbican
Mary Black-Colston Hall,Bristol mid 90's

Worst
Chris DeBurgh-Hammersmith Odeon,mid 80's[went to appease then g'friend:concert boring as hell,relationship didn't last]
Sky-Hammersmith Odeon,early 80s.Both pretentious and boring as hell.

some memorable ones

Eddie & The Hot Rods - Marquee 1977

Birthday Party - Rock Garden 1981
Nick Cave climbing all over the audience

Jesus and Mary Chain - North London Poly 15/03/85
20 minutes of noise followed by riot - Great!

Lone Justice - Marquee 6/6/85

New Order - Tolworth 01/12/83

Jonathan Richmond - Glastonbury June 85
the pre show thursday night perfomance. He's always great, but this was wonderful. It wasn't advertised, so people would just be wondering by and stop to see what was going on. There was a huge crowd by the end ... and this was before most people had arrived

Smiths - Hacienda 24/11/83
came on late after jetting back from 1st TOTP performance. Hacienda looked like a florist shop

Smiths - Clickimin Centre, Lerwick 28/09/85
playing to a bunch of Iron Maiden fans jeering from the front - all the kids on the island went as they got so few 'rock shows' .. not many Smiths fans, but the band played a belter.

Smiths - Glasgow Barrowlands 16/07/86
Absolutely heaving.

Smiths - Salford 20/07/86
Probably the best of the bunch. The floor was bouncing up and down and the stage was permanently invaded

Scientists - numerous London 1984
brilliant Aussie Garage

Oooh, I would have loved to have been at that Mary Chain gig. IIRC, there is a video of it called 'Riot'.

I saw them on the Automatic tour. It was the most vicious mosh pit I've ever been in. Some git smashed a whisky into the metal bar I was pushed against, and showered me with broken glass. Also, a goth girl half bit my lip off.

Well, it wasn't all bad .

I saw someone filming from the balcony, but I've never actually seen th tape.
I have an audio recording, but A riot doesn't sound that impressive on tape.

A few weeks later I saw Einsturzende Neubauten at the same venue ... and they nearly burnt the place down. Set fire to some stage curtains and the show had to be stopped while they put the fire out

Best
Status Quo - various from 1972 (Preston Guild Hall) to 1993 (Sheffield Arena). For atmosphere and just a sheer good time, their concerts are absolutely second to none.
Joan Armatrading - Lancaster University, early 80's. Wonderful, understated and emotional. The whole audience sang "Willow" back to her; she was in tears on the stage, just holding the microphone out.
Worst
Al Grolnik (I think that's how you spell it) early 90's. Very highbrow jazz that had no melody.
Elton John - Blackpool mid 80's. Music was fine, but he was a real prima donna that night.
John Mayall - Harrogate 2002. Tried to charge £20 for an autographed CD; in the concert, he would only play tracks off the new CD, and was abusive when audience asked for some of the old stuff (my wife fell asleep during the concert!)
Steve D

Best
Queen - Main Road, Manchester 1986(?)
Queen had always been my favourite band and this was the first(only) time I got to see them live. One of the few bands that can pull off a Stadium Gig, Would have loved to have seen them at a smaller venue though.

Oasis - Main Road Manchester 1997(?)
We managed to blag our way into the front (VIP) pen, and me being a lanky git slowly got to the front row, Just a fantastic live experiance, though I don't think their performance was anything special.

Scorpions - Manchester Apollo 1982(ish)
This guys put on a fantastic show, and actaully try to entertain the crowd, spandex trousers, long hair, guitar solo's, fantastic lighting and pyrotechnics, superb sound. The ultimate Heavy Rock/Metal performance.

Two that stand out for me were two that I didn't really want to go to in the first place, which gives them a certain something that seeing your fave band and finding them wonderful [which you were expecting anyway]doesn't quite have.

The first was Prince at Wembley Arena around the time of Lovesexy. I'd always admired him, but never particularly liked him - if you get my drift ... obviously very clever, but a bit of a prat. In the event he was absolutely AMAZING, and after that evening, I became a total convert and bought as many CD's as I could.

The second [and don't laugh] was Marc Almond. Partner had always been a manic fan, but although liking the first couple of Soft Cell albums well enough, I really thought that live he would be dreadful, if not positively embarassing. I'd had a hard day at work, and was on the point of having One Of My Heads but eventually succumbed to persuasion and dragged myself to the Shepherd's Bush Empire [incidentally, the absolute best current venue in London in my opinion - just the right size, & sound always superb]. And what a trouper! Vastly improved voice since Soft Cell days [not hard, admittedly], total control of the audience, and an excellent band. Didn't put a foot wrong all night. Changed my opinion of him completely, and if you investigate the last few solo albums, you're in for a treat.

For different reasons, an amateur performance of 'Messiah' at the Albert Hall was also a goodie. Massed Huddersfield style hundreds in the chorus, a very wobbly baritone and a soprano who continually had tears running down her face because she couldn't quite believe where she was and what she was doing. Chuck in The Organ, and you have the antithesis of authenticity, but everyone was so obviously having the time of their lives that my critical faculty evaporated and made me realise that music making doesn't have to be about perfection, something that has stayed with me.

throb

The best :-

Zep 1979 Knebworth atmoshere was "breathable"
Enid 81 Finsbury Park never even heard of them before we went a truly amazing experience.
Bruce S Brighton 81
Sky Brigton 81 worth seeing all the evening dresses leaving after the 1st number when they realised John Williams was'nt going to play guitar concertoes.
Quo Hammersmith 80 pure energy
Richard Thompson 03 Brighton -magic
Saw Doctors 03 Fareham - superb

Bad
Deep Purple Wembley they (richy) could'nt care less
Rainbow Brighton as above.

Howard

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. I've probably attended 80-100 concerts in my life and my top 18 concerts are all Bruce. IMHO, no one can touch him in concert. Other truly great shows included: The Who (at Shea Stadium), Elton John, Paul Simon, Bob Seger and Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes.

Forgive me , I can't remember dates, but memorable concerts include


Phillip Glass
Throbbing Gristle / Monte Cazazza / Leather Nun - all nighter
Severed Heads
Wilko Johnson's Solid Senders
Culture
Rock against Racism - Victoria Park
Human League
Buzzcocks
Eat Static
Interesting Tents
A Certain Ratio

DS

OTD - Various Artists - Mill Plateaux - Clicks & Cuts

Best gigs... well - easy
My joint top three -

Black Sabbath - Ozzfest 2001 MK
The Bangles - March 2003 - Manchester Academy 2
Nerf Herder - Bradford Rio September 2002

Other notable performances are a particularly intimate evening with Erlend Oye in Feb 2003 at MA3, Simian at the Roadhouse - Sep 2002 (hated them before that performance) and july 2002 saw greenday at the Cricket ground in Manchester too.

Andrew

diamonds - she'll pretty much have to...

Althouigh various concerts by the

Undertones 1979 I think
The Fall 1984 Brixton
Nick Cave 1988 Brixton
Sonny Rollins Barbican mid eighties
Cecil Taylor/Max Roach 1993
Van Morrison in a small pub in Donegal many years ago were all wonderful

I think the wonderful King of rockabilly Sleepy LaBeef in Off Broadway,St Louis 1996 was the most erm adrenaline fuelled musical soiree I've attended.