Best Concert You've Ever Been To

[AchtungBaby]

I've been to a few really good shows, but the two that really stand out in my mind are the times I've seen U2-- once in 2009 and once in 2011. Both were on the 360 tour but the sets were completely different. The first show was more of an even set, mostly focusing on the new album with some oldies thrown in. The second show was focused on Achtung Baby and rarities like Zooropa and Your Blue Room.... *drools*

Hoping to see them again on the new tour.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

Like a few others have said, just way too many to choose from. Different times of my life, different genres of music, etc. Some memorable ones are...

U2 at the Ritz in NYC when they had only just released October.

REM at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ way before they were popular.

Bow Wow Wow at the Ritz in NYC before I Want Candy exploded all over popular radio. Annabella was all over that stage, dancing like her life depended on it. Oh, and a little, little known rap group opened for them: Run DMC.

Prog-rock group Renaissance in Atlantic City in the 1980s. Annie Haslam's voice was pitch perfect and the night was magical.

All Blondie concerts in NYC in the late 70s. Debbie Harry was unlike any woman performing on stage at that time. Plus, the original lineup band was amazing.

Linda Ronstadt at Radio City Music Hall in NYC circa 1979. What an amazing voice!!!

Better Midler at Radio City Music Hall in NYC circa 1980. What a dynamic talent!!!

And so many, many more!!!

And how can I forget The Pretenders at the Capitol Theater in Passaic NJ in 1980! I wanted to jump on stage and attack Chrissie Hynde, she was so damn hot... and I'm gay!

 

[fljoe0]

I forgot one

I saw the original Pretenders lineup at the time they released Pretenders II. Awesome show - the early edition of The Pretenders rocked hard.

 

[skimom2]

I've been to a few really good shows, but the two that really stand out in my mind are the times I've seen U2-- once in 2009 and once in 2011. Both were on the 360 tour but the sets were completely different. The first show was more of an even set, mostly focusing on the new album with some oldies thrown in. The second show was focused on Achtung Baby and rarities like Zooropa and Your Blue Room.... *drools*

Hoping to see them again on the new tour.

My husband's dream is to see U2 live He actually found tickets to a show in Phoenix for $85/ea, but you have to buy 4. We need only 2, so... *sigh* Someday.

 

[fljoe0]

Not so much the best shows I've ever been to but the best venue I've been to is Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. (The place where U2 made "Under A Blood Red Sky"). I went there several times when I lived in Denver. The place was so cool, I would go see bands I didn't even like just to go to Red Rocks.

One standout show I remember from Red Rocks was George Benson (before he had completely crossed over to a hit making machine)

 

[DiO'Bolic]

I’ve added up the groups I’ve seen in concert over the years. I can remember 65 big name groups as of now. Some I saw that I thought provided an exceptional concert experience were (not at Live Aid): Yes, Frank Zappa, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Edgar Winter, Jethro Tull, Peter Frampton, Kansas and Blue Oyster Cult.

 

[AchtungBaby]

My husband's dream is to see U2 live He actually found tickets to a show in Phoenix for $85/ea, but you have to buy 4. We need only 2, so... *sigh* Someday.

It's SO worth it! But yeah, the way they're doing tickets for the new tour is....odd.

 

[fljoe0]

I’ve added up the groups I’ve seen in concert over the years. I can remember 65 big name groups as of now. Some I saw that I thought provided an exceptional concert experience were (not at Live Aid): Yes, Frank Zappa, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen, Edgar Winter, Jethro Tull, Peter Frampton, Kansas and Blue Oyster Cult.

I saw Blue Oyster Cult in the mid 80s at a water park in Fort Lauderdale. That was a pretty sudden drop in popularity. That could be another good thread, some of the saddest places you've seen your favorite bands.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

I saw Blue Oyster Cult in the mid 80s at a water park in Fort Lauderdale. That was a pretty sudden drop in popularity. That could be another good thread, some of the saddest places you've seen your favorite bands.

I saw them at the State Theater in Easton, PA back in 1974. They oversold the concert and I had to sit in an aisle of the theater. People having to go to the bathroom was a trip.

 

[danie]

Michael Jackson - The History tour in Leipzig i think 1997, perhaps 1996.

Dying here. You saw Michael Jackson in concert? I am so envious.

 

[danie]

I saw Shaun Cassidy in concert when I was 14 and thought he was so "tuff."

 

[DiO'Bolic]

That could be another good thread, some of the saddest places you've seen your favorite bands.

We have a local place that’s a giant wooden cabin that has a restaurant and holds concerts from some big names, called Penn’s Peak, and is located on the top of a mountain in the Poconos. Not too much seating but it brings in some great artists. And they sell alcohol at the bar in the concert hall during the event.

Some of the upcoming concerts there this summer are Travis Tritt, The Lettermen, Jay and the Americans with the Mystics; the Happy Together Tour (with The Turtles Flo & Eddie, The Association, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Grass Roots, The Cowsills and The Buckinghams), Gary Allen, 38 Special, Lee Greenwood, Jamey Johnson, Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam, Gene Watson, America, Clint Black, Tommy James and The Shondells, Rhonda Vincent, Three Dog Night, and a couple more.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

The Muse puts on a great show. RATM was awesome as always. As of now, it was their last show.

 

[staropeace]

Great Big Sea

 

[Lepplady]

I don't know about the BEST concerts, but my favorites are the ones where I was wearing a backstage pass. Hangin' backstage.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...overall: Kiss, AC/DC and Aerosmith...but I will always have a special place in my heart for Joan Jett, just wanted to pick her up, put her in my pocket and bring her home...

 

[EAST COASTER]

I've been to a few I would consider brilliant, The Pet Shop Boys at Wembley Arena (twice), Depeche Mode also at the Arena, Kraftwerk at the Brixton Academy, but the best has got to be The Stranglers at Hull City Hall in 2011. I was down at the front pogoing up and down with all the other 40 and 50somethings like a load of teenagers. My back and knees were killing me the next day, but it was well worth it.

 

[EAST COASTER]

I don't know about the BEST concerts, but my favorites are the ones where I was wearing a backstage pass. Hangin' backstage.

That's just so cool. I got backstage once at a Gary Numan concert, I had a conversation with his Dad before they escorted me out.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Saw Springsteen on the Tunnel of Love tour in 1988. That was pretty awesome.

Van Halen on the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge tour in 1991 was pretty good as well. Alice In Chains were the opener.

U2 in 1987 on the Joshua Tree tour was my first concert. It was good. U2 on the Zoo TV tour in 1992 not as good. All downhill for that band from there.

Toadies at the Avalon Ballroom in 2001 was killer. Haven't seen a bad Toadies show yet.

Social Distortion at the Middle East in Boston in 1995 was awesome. July show and it was about 1000 degrees inside but the band was great.

Joe Satriani at the Orpheum in Boston in 1989 was jaw dropping. As a guitar player I could not get over the stuff he pulled off live.

Seen AC/DC several times. They have ranged from good to awesome.

Saw Aerosmith in 1990 on the Pump tour. They were terrible. The saving grace was the Black Crowes. They opened the show and were way better than Aerosmith.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

I saw Blue Oyster Cult in the mid 80s at a water park in Fort Lauderdale. That was a pretty sudden drop in popularity. That could be another good thread, some of the saddest places you've seen your favorite bands.

LOL.

Puppet show and Spinal Tap