Favorite Live Performances Attended
Posted by: ErikL on 15 May 2003
Those I remember at the moment are:
Metallica, 1988. I was just feet from the stage and had lots of teen angst
The local news van outside was tipped over following the show; mom and dad were concerned, having seen it on the 11 o'clock news (which of course made it even better).
Primus, on 6 occassions from 1990-1995.
Public Enemy, 1990 in a college auditorium. P-o-w-e-r-f-u-l and extremely tight! Wow.
Pearl Jam, 1992 or so. Best rock show I've seen, and the timing of it all was perfect.
Beck, 1993 and 1995? What a versatile entertainer. His DJ was outstanding too.
Bob Mould, 1995 or thereabouts in a very small club. Still haven't seen anyone play with so much emotion and excellence on guitar.
?unknown name?- Spring 1999 in Cape Town, South Africa. A local band with the most amazing percussion section. Everyone in the club had a huge smile.
?unknown name?- February 2003 in Parati, Brazil. Smoothest female voice I've heard, backed by a talented acoustic guitarist.
Wilco and Pavement performances within the last 5 years were also impressive.
(Worst performance of all time was U2 on their glitzy tour in 1993 or so; I never heard such terrible drumming.)
-Ludwig-
Metallica, 1988. I was just feet from the stage and had lots of teen angst
The local news van outside was tipped over following the show; mom and dad were concerned, having seen it on the 11 o'clock news (which of course made it even better).Primus, on 6 occassions from 1990-1995.
Public Enemy, 1990 in a college auditorium. P-o-w-e-r-f-u-l and extremely tight! Wow.
Pearl Jam, 1992 or so. Best rock show I've seen, and the timing of it all was perfect.
Beck, 1993 and 1995? What a versatile entertainer. His DJ was outstanding too.
Bob Mould, 1995 or thereabouts in a very small club. Still haven't seen anyone play with so much emotion and excellence on guitar.
?unknown name?- Spring 1999 in Cape Town, South Africa. A local band with the most amazing percussion section. Everyone in the club had a huge smile.
?unknown name?- February 2003 in Parati, Brazil. Smoothest female voice I've heard, backed by a talented acoustic guitarist.
Wilco and Pavement performances within the last 5 years were also impressive.
(Worst performance of all time was U2 on their glitzy tour in 1993 or so; I never heard such terrible drumming.)
-Ludwig-
Posted on: 24 May 2003 by Phil Barry
We need more classical in here...
Spring, 1962 - Turandot, the (old) Met, Nilsson, Corelli, Albanes
Summer, '76, Mahler's 8th, National Symphony, Rudel, Scottish National Chorus at Wolf Trap
Summer 1982 or 3 or 4 - Beethoven, 3rd Symp, CSO, don't remember the conductor, at Ravinia, thunderstorm during funeral march - fanatastic
Lyric Opera (Chicago) in the past 8 years - Boris Godunov/Ramey - Alcina - Jenufa - Un Re in Ascolto
Orchestra Hall in the past few years - Mahler's 6th (Ehrling?) - Bartok Concerto for Orchestra - Brahms Violin Concerto/Shaham/Welser-Moest
Ali Akhbar Khan - Dallas, 1993
Shahid Perveiz - Chinmaya Mission outside of Chicago maybe 1996
non-classical:
Buffy Ste-Marie, Hill Aud (Ann Arbor), 1969, and Cellar Door (Wash, DC), 1977?
Muddy Waters - Cellar Door in 1977, South Shore Country Club, 1981
Regards.
Phil
Spring, 1962 - Turandot, the (old) Met, Nilsson, Corelli, Albanes
Summer, '76, Mahler's 8th, National Symphony, Rudel, Scottish National Chorus at Wolf Trap
Summer 1982 or 3 or 4 - Beethoven, 3rd Symp, CSO, don't remember the conductor, at Ravinia, thunderstorm during funeral march - fanatastic
Lyric Opera (Chicago) in the past 8 years - Boris Godunov/Ramey - Alcina - Jenufa - Un Re in Ascolto
Orchestra Hall in the past few years - Mahler's 6th (Ehrling?) - Bartok Concerto for Orchestra - Brahms Violin Concerto/Shaham/Welser-Moest
Ali Akhbar Khan - Dallas, 1993
Shahid Perveiz - Chinmaya Mission outside of Chicago maybe 1996
non-classical:
Buffy Ste-Marie, Hill Aud (Ann Arbor), 1969, and Cellar Door (Wash, DC), 1977?
Muddy Waters - Cellar Door in 1977, South Shore Country Club, 1981
Regards.
Phil
Posted on: 25 May 2003 by bdnyc
My favorites going back into the deep recesses of my youth are varied, but mostly folk and rock.
1)Grateful Dead- Englishtown, NJ Fall 1977
This wonderful, late 70's show has now been released as Dick's Picks Volume 15.
2)Little Feat- Upstate NY College Date-Fall 1978 with Lowell George and Bonny Raitt.
I had nearly worn out my copy of "Waiting For Columbus", and this was a band very near the top of their game. One of the best American bands of that, or any era.
3)Grateful Dead- 12/31/81 New Years Eve-
Perhaps my ultimate Deadhead experience. They started with an acoustic set with Joan Baez around 8 PM, and finished up after 3 AM following three full electric sets. The whole history of San Fransisco jamming music was alluded to: blues based jams, rock partnerships where Garcia played off of Quicksilver's John Cippolina in long takes on Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away and The Dead's "The Other One", and Garcia's great cover of "Morning Dew" before a third set reading of the Dead's own jamming classic "Dark Star". It was, although unkown to us at the time, Garcia's wedding, so I can safely say I saw the best wedding band of all, at least for this Deadhead...
3) Paul Simon- Graceland Tour at Radio City Music Hall in NY. 1986?
This musician is always in charge of super well rehearsed bands, and this was the NY homecoming for this tour, and a great night of music.
4) Bonnie Raitt- The Ritz, NYC 1985 or 1986. This was a tour where she had lost her record contract, and was paying for the band out of her pocket in a last ditch attempt to see if she could find an audience. The band was NRBQ, and the material she was debuting went on to become the "Nick Of Time" I have rarley seen a performer more passionate and open.
5) Eric Clapton- The Ritz, NYC Mid Eighties. This was a small club date, one of a very few on a short US tour, when Eric had decided to shed what had been a sprawlingly large band, and move to a four piece band that announced his return to a more direct style of playing and recording. He introduced, or more properly, revised his Cream material that he had not played for years. It was great to see "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Badge", "White Room" in a small room full of sweating, dancing, screaming fans. Truely a night to remember.
6) Richard Thompson Band- Bottom Line, NYC Mid 80's. Amnesia Tour.
This era of RT's band included Clive Gregson and Christine Collister, and they helped with the harmony vocals, as well as adding nice texture to his electric band playing. Truth be told, I could have picked a dozen different dates through the years, as Richard is a consistently excellent live performer.
7) Grateful Dead- Albany NY, Spring 1990 tour. Subsequently released as "Dozin At The Knick". This period was Garcia's second act, following his coma and return to health, his work from 1987- 1990 was truely a thing to behold. I love the mature era of Jerry's playing and singing. Check out the jam from Playing in the Band- Uncle John's Band- Terrapin Station- and a 60's era jam the Dead never recorded on a studio album that Dick Latvala termed the "Mud Love Buddy Jam".
8) Emmy Lou Harris- Tramps, NYC Wrecking Ball Tour. Mid 90's. A transcedent night of music from one of the most spiritual artists I have ever been priviliged to see. This show is very similar to the "Spy Boy" CD, which captures a great deal of the magic I recall form this night.
9) Lucinda Williams- Birchmere Club, Alexandria, Virginia "Car Wheels" Album Release party.
This notoriously self critical artists was visibly nervous to start, and as she introduced the material that would come out later that week on her Grammy winning album, she won the audience over, and gained her own measure of confidence. By the end of the show, she was ecstatic.
10) Tommy Flanagan Trio- Village Vanguard, Spring 2001.
On the same day that Chris Koster installed my ARO, and Armegeddon on my LP 12, we went to see the great piano master Tommy Flanagan in one of his final runs at this New York landmark, and temple of jazz. Luckily my records are lasting a bit better than the great jazz players of the 50's and 60's and 70's who are increasingly, moving on. Chris was a reluctant visitor to the Nightclub world, and I was delighted to introduce him to the amazing interplay of this working trio.
So many more, but I'll leave it at 10.
1)Grateful Dead- Englishtown, NJ Fall 1977
This wonderful, late 70's show has now been released as Dick's Picks Volume 15.
2)Little Feat- Upstate NY College Date-Fall 1978 with Lowell George and Bonny Raitt.
I had nearly worn out my copy of "Waiting For Columbus", and this was a band very near the top of their game. One of the best American bands of that, or any era.
3)Grateful Dead- 12/31/81 New Years Eve-
Perhaps my ultimate Deadhead experience. They started with an acoustic set with Joan Baez around 8 PM, and finished up after 3 AM following three full electric sets. The whole history of San Fransisco jamming music was alluded to: blues based jams, rock partnerships where Garcia played off of Quicksilver's John Cippolina in long takes on Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away and The Dead's "The Other One", and Garcia's great cover of "Morning Dew" before a third set reading of the Dead's own jamming classic "Dark Star". It was, although unkown to us at the time, Garcia's wedding, so I can safely say I saw the best wedding band of all, at least for this Deadhead...
3) Paul Simon- Graceland Tour at Radio City Music Hall in NY. 1986?
This musician is always in charge of super well rehearsed bands, and this was the NY homecoming for this tour, and a great night of music.
4) Bonnie Raitt- The Ritz, NYC 1985 or 1986. This was a tour where she had lost her record contract, and was paying for the band out of her pocket in a last ditch attempt to see if she could find an audience. The band was NRBQ, and the material she was debuting went on to become the "Nick Of Time" I have rarley seen a performer more passionate and open.
5) Eric Clapton- The Ritz, NYC Mid Eighties. This was a small club date, one of a very few on a short US tour, when Eric had decided to shed what had been a sprawlingly large band, and move to a four piece band that announced his return to a more direct style of playing and recording. He introduced, or more properly, revised his Cream material that he had not played for years. It was great to see "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Badge", "White Room" in a small room full of sweating, dancing, screaming fans. Truely a night to remember.
6) Richard Thompson Band- Bottom Line, NYC Mid 80's. Amnesia Tour.
This era of RT's band included Clive Gregson and Christine Collister, and they helped with the harmony vocals, as well as adding nice texture to his electric band playing. Truth be told, I could have picked a dozen different dates through the years, as Richard is a consistently excellent live performer.
7) Grateful Dead- Albany NY, Spring 1990 tour. Subsequently released as "Dozin At The Knick". This period was Garcia's second act, following his coma and return to health, his work from 1987- 1990 was truely a thing to behold. I love the mature era of Jerry's playing and singing. Check out the jam from Playing in the Band- Uncle John's Band- Terrapin Station- and a 60's era jam the Dead never recorded on a studio album that Dick Latvala termed the "Mud Love Buddy Jam".
8) Emmy Lou Harris- Tramps, NYC Wrecking Ball Tour. Mid 90's. A transcedent night of music from one of the most spiritual artists I have ever been priviliged to see. This show is very similar to the "Spy Boy" CD, which captures a great deal of the magic I recall form this night.
9) Lucinda Williams- Birchmere Club, Alexandria, Virginia "Car Wheels" Album Release party.
This notoriously self critical artists was visibly nervous to start, and as she introduced the material that would come out later that week on her Grammy winning album, she won the audience over, and gained her own measure of confidence. By the end of the show, she was ecstatic.
10) Tommy Flanagan Trio- Village Vanguard, Spring 2001.
On the same day that Chris Koster installed my ARO, and Armegeddon on my LP 12, we went to see the great piano master Tommy Flanagan in one of his final runs at this New York landmark, and temple of jazz. Luckily my records are lasting a bit better than the great jazz players of the 50's and 60's and 70's who are increasingly, moving on. Chris was a reluctant visitor to the Nightclub world, and I was delighted to introduce him to the amazing interplay of this working trio.
So many more, but I'll leave it at 10.
Posted on: 26 May 2003 by Bob Edwards
I'll just put my top four here:
1. Tie between The Pursuit of Happiness at a NYC club I can't remember the name of and Bob Mould at Maxwells in Hoboken, NJ on the Workbook tour. Both were absolutely awesome.
3. Modern Jazz Quartet--The Last Concert (or so they thought at the time!). I was all of about 8 years old but still felt something amazing was going on.
4. REM--Fables of the Reconstruction tour--Rutgers University, NB. Just as they opened with "Feeling Gravity's Pull" an enormous lightning storm started, punctuating the opening riffs with lightning and thunder. The rest of the gig was equally spectacular--and hilarious. They tried playing "Smoking in the boys room" but Stipe clearly didn't know the words, they played early versions of Finest Worksong and These Days, and were all on.
Best,
Bob
1. Tie between The Pursuit of Happiness at a NYC club I can't remember the name of and Bob Mould at Maxwells in Hoboken, NJ on the Workbook tour. Both were absolutely awesome.
3. Modern Jazz Quartet--The Last Concert (or so they thought at the time!). I was all of about 8 years old but still felt something amazing was going on.
4. REM--Fables of the Reconstruction tour--Rutgers University, NB. Just as they opened with "Feeling Gravity's Pull" an enormous lightning storm started, punctuating the opening riffs with lightning and thunder. The rest of the gig was equally spectacular--and hilarious. They tried playing "Smoking in the boys room" but Stipe clearly didn't know the words, they played early versions of Finest Worksong and These Days, and were all on.
Best,
Bob
Posted on: 18 August 2003 by ErikL
Old School
Last night I saw The Roots (and Talib Kweli) and would place them firmly alongside Public Enemy among live rap performances. The MC would start a song and sounded like he didn't take a breath until the song ended. He also kept the energy going the entire set, by quickly transitioning the band from one song to the next. The Roots live (in 2003) are a different band than what you hear recorded in a studio, or even on their live LP. They played rap, funk, blues, and soul all very, very well, with gobs of energy and precision.
Highly recommended if you're interested in a different sort of rap show.
(Talib Kweli was okay, and the show's headliner, N.E.R.D., was schizo at best)
[This message was edited by Ludwig on MONDAY 18 August 2003 at 21:22.]
Last night I saw The Roots (and Talib Kweli) and would place them firmly alongside Public Enemy among live rap performances. The MC would start a song and sounded like he didn't take a breath until the song ended. He also kept the energy going the entire set, by quickly transitioning the band from one song to the next. The Roots live (in 2003) are a different band than what you hear recorded in a studio, or even on their live LP. They played rap, funk, blues, and soul all very, very well, with gobs of energy and precision.
Highly recommended if you're interested in a different sort of rap show.
(Talib Kweli was okay, and the show's headliner, N.E.R.D., was schizo at best)
[This message was edited by Ludwig on MONDAY 18 August 2003 at 21:22.]
Posted on: 18 August 2003 by ChrisG
Hi
listed in order of attendance:
1962 Little Richard (my first hero) Kingston Granada Theatre
1963 Dion Di Muchi same venue.
1963 Gene Vincent Addlestone Co-operative hall (honestly!)
1964 I'm sure there was something?
1965 The Animals Richmond athletic ground
1966 undoubtably Dylan(my second hero)at Royal Albert Hall
1967 anyone at the Windsor jazz and blue festival.
1968 can't remember
1969 Tom Paxton Isle of Wight Festival (blew Mr Dylan away!)
1970 An acoustic Byrds at the Bath festival
1971 Spirit at Kingston Poly?
1972 Lou Reed and the Tots at same venue
1973 Bowie Guildford civic Hall
1974 a blank!
1975 Springsteen at Hammersmith Odeon twice!
1976 The Ramones at the Roundhouse
1977/1978 The only Ones/Television Hammersmith Odeon
1977/1978 Blondie supporting Television at Hammersmith Odeon
Numerous Soft Boys gigs in 2001/2002
flash forward to this year:
Robyn Hitchcock at QEH
Arthur Lee at the Royal Festival Hall
Lou Reed at Barbican
Patti Smith at The Empire
Steve Wynn (my current hero) and The Miracle Three at the Borderline (currently the best live experience bar none!)
John Cale at Milton Keynes
Neil Young at Hammersmith
Rem at Brixton twice, 1st night much better.
Paul McCartney at Earls Court
Tommorow night "Alien Ant Farm" at the Mean Fiddler, I'm taking my Godson!
Loads of others I can't remember at the moment, but the important thing is live music is just so much better than Hi-Fi.......but you alreAdy new that of course!
Take Care
Chris
"Hindsight is a very groovy bedfellow!"
listed in order of attendance:
1962 Little Richard (my first hero) Kingston Granada Theatre
1963 Dion Di Muchi same venue.
1963 Gene Vincent Addlestone Co-operative hall (honestly!)
1964 I'm sure there was something?
1965 The Animals Richmond athletic ground
1966 undoubtably Dylan(my second hero)at Royal Albert Hall
1967 anyone at the Windsor jazz and blue festival.
1968 can't remember
1969 Tom Paxton Isle of Wight Festival (blew Mr Dylan away!)
1970 An acoustic Byrds at the Bath festival
1971 Spirit at Kingston Poly?
1972 Lou Reed and the Tots at same venue
1973 Bowie Guildford civic Hall
1974 a blank!
1975 Springsteen at Hammersmith Odeon twice!
1976 The Ramones at the Roundhouse
1977/1978 The only Ones/Television Hammersmith Odeon
1977/1978 Blondie supporting Television at Hammersmith Odeon
Numerous Soft Boys gigs in 2001/2002
flash forward to this year:
Robyn Hitchcock at QEH
Arthur Lee at the Royal Festival Hall
Lou Reed at Barbican
Patti Smith at The Empire
Steve Wynn (my current hero) and The Miracle Three at the Borderline (currently the best live experience bar none!)
John Cale at Milton Keynes
Neil Young at Hammersmith
Rem at Brixton twice, 1st night much better.
Paul McCartney at Earls Court
Tommorow night "Alien Ant Farm" at the Mean Fiddler, I'm taking my Godson!
Loads of others I can't remember at the moment, but the important thing is live music is just so much better than Hi-Fi.......but you alreAdy new that of course!
Take Care
Chris
"Hindsight is a very groovy bedfellow!"
Posted on: 19 August 2003 by graeme w
I've been to some allegedly world class events, eg the Rolling Stones at Wembley, done a few festivals, and had a good time. I've seen countless bands in large venues around the country, and enjoyed most of them. Saw John Martyn at the Hafren Theatre in Newtown in the 80's, he was brilliant. Likewise, I saw Kate Rusby at The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick earlier this year, and she was awesome.
However, the live "bands" I've seen and enjoyed the most, are those that sit around a table in a little pub in some unremarkable town and just play for the sheer hell of it. The music has not always been to my taste, but the enthusiasm and the love of playing live music (sometimes quite badly) without all the commercial baggage of mainstream events is simply the most enjoyable.
So to all those people who turn up at pubs with thier friends and entertain others in the spirit of fun, thank you!
Graeme
However, the live "bands" I've seen and enjoyed the most, are those that sit around a table in a little pub in some unremarkable town and just play for the sheer hell of it. The music has not always been to my taste, but the enthusiasm and the love of playing live music (sometimes quite badly) without all the commercial baggage of mainstream events is simply the most enjoyable.
So to all those people who turn up at pubs with thier friends and entertain others in the spirit of fun, thank you!
Graeme
Posted on: 19 August 2003 by BLT
Favourites -
The Cure at the SEC on the "Disintegration" Tour
Echo and the Bunnymen at the Glasgow Barrowlands, on their original farewell tour.
Michael Brecker at the Glasgow Jazz Festival about four years ago.
Soundgarden on the "Superunknown" tour.
Jethro Tull at Inverness Icerink in 1984 (The first real gig I ever went to)
Blondie at the Glasgow Barrowlands about 4 years ago.
And finally, Motorhead at the Barrowlands, about 4 years ago. I swear it was so loud that it straightened out the folds in my brain! After the first song (Bomber) I could hear a loud crackling noise in one ear, this turned out to be the guy next to me whistling! When I left the gig everyone sounded like the teacher from the Snoopy cartoons. The feedback noises after the final song made it difficult to stand upright and walk out. You certainly know when you have been to a Motorhead gig, as Lemmy said "Grunt Grunt Grunt Barrowlands, grunt grunt, go home f***ing deaf!"
The Cure at the SEC on the "Disintegration" Tour
Echo and the Bunnymen at the Glasgow Barrowlands, on their original farewell tour.
Michael Brecker at the Glasgow Jazz Festival about four years ago.
Soundgarden on the "Superunknown" tour.
Jethro Tull at Inverness Icerink in 1984 (The first real gig I ever went to)
Blondie at the Glasgow Barrowlands about 4 years ago.
And finally, Motorhead at the Barrowlands, about 4 years ago. I swear it was so loud that it straightened out the folds in my brain! After the first song (Bomber) I could hear a loud crackling noise in one ear, this turned out to be the guy next to me whistling! When I left the gig everyone sounded like the teacher from the Snoopy cartoons. The feedback noises after the final song made it difficult to stand upright and walk out. You certainly know when you have been to a Motorhead gig, as Lemmy said "Grunt Grunt Grunt Barrowlands, grunt grunt, go home f***ing deaf!"
Posted on: 19 August 2003 by bjorne
quote:
And finally, Motorhead... You certainly know when you have been to a Motorhead gig
BLT, I have seen Motörhead about 10 times and really enjoy their concerts. It's a physical experience! Good fun.
Posted on: 22 August 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Sham 69, The Roxy ( The Roxy ) september 1978. Unbelievable energy and a lift home from the band, too.
Also saw The Clash one Boxing Day, late 70s, paid 50p to see them in a club under the arches of the Westway. Teeny club; stage a foot high, could touch Stummer (RIP) and the guys if you wanted. Also at The Rainbow on the White Riot tour; started with White Riot, bouncers instantly lost control....
saw The Members 57 times which says something. Banshees at Kingston Swimming Pool 1977; Cramps, Lyceum, 1978: B-52s, er, 1983?? Big Town Playboys by accident, in the Dover Street Wine Bar, mid 80s; phenomenal Be Bop / Swing band. Really good. Leonard Cohen, The Rainbow, 1977 (?), he got 13 encores. Stunning.
Those where the days.
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy
Also saw The Clash one Boxing Day, late 70s, paid 50p to see them in a club under the arches of the Westway. Teeny club; stage a foot high, could touch Stummer (RIP) and the guys if you wanted. Also at The Rainbow on the White Riot tour; started with White Riot, bouncers instantly lost control....
saw The Members 57 times which says something. Banshees at Kingston Swimming Pool 1977; Cramps, Lyceum, 1978: B-52s, er, 1983?? Big Town Playboys by accident, in the Dover Street Wine Bar, mid 80s; phenomenal Be Bop / Swing band. Really good. Leonard Cohen, The Rainbow, 1977 (?), he got 13 encores. Stunning.
Those where the days.
Regards
Mike
On the Yellow Brick Road and happy