The Greats for the most part were just that and expected. Yet the best overall "Concert" for me was when on the spur of the moment, in mid 70's, Halloween night and someone said there was concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium: Golden Erring, Robin Trower and Spooky Tooth. So we went to the box office paid our $4.50 each and sat down as the lights dimmed. GE and RT owned the night but ST w/Gary Wright (yeah the Dreamweaver guy) did pretty darn good.
What is the most memorable concert that you had attended so far?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Nathan_Milstein.jpg
I do not go to concert very often, maybe once or twice a year.
I listen to music mostly through my audio system as much as 4 hours a day.
The most memorable concert that I had attended is the solo recital by Nathan Milstein held at Auditorium of UC Berkely on 1983.
He is one of the virtuoso violinist of the 20th century.
But he was 79 when he played at the recital on 1983.
When he played Partita by Bach, it was not his best.
Although he showed some of his skills, he could not keep up with the fast tempo as much as I wanted.
But as soon as he started playing "
César Franck, Violin Sonata in A Major.
".
I just marveled at the sweet sound of violin.
I could realize why he is one of the virtuoso violinist of the 20th century.
He died on 1992 so it is now impossible to attend his live recital again.
How about you ladies and gentlemen?
What is the most memorable concert that you had attended?
I do not go to concert very often, maybe once or twice a year.
I listen to music mostly through my audio system as much as 4 hours a day.
The most memorable concert that I had attended is the solo recital by Nathan Milstein held at Auditorium of UC Berkely on 1983.
He is one of the virtuoso violinist of the 20th century.
But he was 79 when he played at the recital on 1983.
When he played Partita by Bach, it was not his best.
Although he showed some of his skills, he could not keep up with the fast tempo as much as I wanted.
But as soon as he started playing "
César Franck, Violin Sonata in A Major.
".
I just marveled at the sweet sound of violin.
I could realize why he is one of the virtuoso violinist of the 20th century.
He died on 1992 so it is now impossible to attend his live recital again.
How about you ladies and gentlemen?
What is the most memorable concert that you had attended?
137 responses Add your response
@shkong78 - I was always aware of Bruce Springsteen and had "Nebraska" on CD for years. However, I was never a Bruce Springsteen fan until I saw him live on the "High Hopes" tour in 2014. I was amazed at how good the show was overall and also how good Springsteen was as the front man. When he closed with the solo performance of "Dream Baby Dream", I was hooked forever. I've been to see him a couple of times since, and he never disappoints. Dream Baby Dream - Live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1nTfDAn2KQ |
Maybe we'll start a new thread, but let's add another dimension to this.... WHAT CONCERT(S) do you WISH you could've/would've been able to see, while the artist was still alive, still touring, or before they broke up (but is/are no longer)?? For me, it's some of the rock classics who died or broke up just a couple years too soon for me to have been able to see them live:
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shkong78, "I wish I had been to live concert of Bruce Springsteen. I want to know why he is called boss."He is simply good, and I am not much of his true fan. That is all I can say about that one time I saw him. However, those who have been to his Broadway performances, claim it is a different and unexpected experience which cements him as a Boss more than regular concerts. I have not seen it, but quite a reliable crowd told me that. Supposedly, audience cried. I am not even sure how much music is there. Be it what it is, there will be a record (yes, a record) and some other music carrier from those performances coming out soon. Probably before Christmas. Check it out. http://brucespringsteen.net/ If you think about attending one of those shows, good luck with tickets. |
shkong78, I wish that my father had done same thing to me.Can I get a partial credit, at least, for flying my daughter to a Leonard Cohen concert and then one more ("fans and media only", no kidding, that was the title of it at Beacon Theatre in New York)? She made it through both, even singing most of the time. Later she made me buy her a Judy Collins singing Leonard Cohen CD and take her to her concert, too. She was 4 (years) at that first concert and full mature 5 at the second. |
reubent, as I mentioned my two favorite concerts were R.E.M in the mid 80s when they hadn't yet gotten huge and then The Struts about a month ago. One common denominator: my wife was with me at both. She was my girlfriend for the first and wife of 30 years at the second. She is not into music as I am (though she is a musician)....well, not the type of music I am into anyway....but she had a blast at both of these concerts, especially The Struts since she likes to sing and dance. So maybe that is a big part of why those two shows stand out for me. |
Saw Jimi Hendrix at Merriweather Post outdoors in MD circa 1969. A monster thunderstorm came out of nowhere and Hendrix’ guitar picked up Purple Haze a local radio station was playing since he was in town. Hendrix held his guitar up to the microphone so the audience could hear Purple Haze and said, thank you, thank you. |
October 31, 1990, Wembly Arena, London England. Grateful Dead. They played Werewolves of London. The Who, Atlanta Omni, November, 24, 1975 Grateful Dead, Atlanta Omni, December 12, 1974 Talking Heads, Pretenders, Dire Straits, Alex Cooleys Electric Ballroom (aka The Agora Ballroom), Atlanta GA, various dates 1976-1979 Fleetwood Mac, Fox Theater, Atlanta GA, November 14, 1975 Bruce Springsteen, Atlanta Civic Center, March 2, 1977 This is just what I remember. We saw a lot of music in the 1970s. Can’t remember all the Grateful Dead shows I attended around the country over three decades. Rollin |
Over the decades, I've attended *thousands* of live performances, ranging from the New Lost City Ramblers, to the N. Y. Pro Musica, to Michala Petri, the Heifetz of the recorder, to Kathryn Tickell, OBE, the Heifetz of the Northumbrian smallpipes, to Felix Hell on the pipe organ, to bands like Chicago and the Eurythmics, to Bill Monroe & the Bluegrass Boys, to Natalie MacMaster, Cape Breton fiddler extraordinaire. Many were spectacular and very memorable. None, however, have ever exceeded The Bothy Band, who I *produced* in concert at a small community college in far western New York State in September of the year of '76. They were on a short, and mostly disastrous, tour, the only time they ever performed in the U. S. Nevertheless, their performance was like no other. It was Promethean—they brought fire to Earth. The Bothys had just recorded their second album, "Old Hag You Have Killed Me," two months earlier, and Kevin Burke was playing the fiddle. I'd turned out an audience of over 200 people in that small town, and no one, not even myself, had ever heard the like. After an opening set by Lew London, the Bothys played for 2 1/4 hours *without a break*, until 11:30 pm, and no one left. Half way through, they put down their instruments and sang their now famous a cappella piece "Fionnghuala" https://youtu.be/3aFAQvhA9kY When they were done, the audience sat in stunned silence for at least 10-15 seconds before the first person clapped, then they went nuts. I've never seen that happen in all of the years and all of the concerts I've attended since. And so it went. As I said, Promethean. |
Jean-Luc Ponty @ Tower Theater Philadelphia (1980) (the best acoustics of all) The Dixie Dregs @ Emerald City N.J. (1981) The Jazz Crusaders @ Valley Forge Music Fair(1981) Al Dimeola/Paco Delucia/John Mclaughlin @ Lehigh University (198?) Ozark Mountain Daredevils and The Outlaws @ Bucknell University (197?) Black Oak Arkansas and Jo Jo Gunn @ St. Joseph's Auditorium in Hazleton (197?) Dan Fogelberg @ Penn State (197?) Fleetwood Mac and Firefall @ The Spectrum (197?) Steve Winwood @ Hershey Arena (198?) John Kay @ Irvin's Bar in Sheppton (????) |
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@shkong78 - Sound was pretty good, for a 19,000 seat arena. All of the speakers were hung up high, so no obstruction of the view. The subs, were on either side of the stage, down at floor level. We were dead center and up very close. So, the sound was good, but very loud. Wish I had taken my earplugs, but I forgot them. I wend to the restrooms and bar back at the back end of the floor and there was much less volume of sound and the SQ was pretty good. Can't complain at all, considering it was a big arena. |
I took my wife to see Elton John last night. It was a complete surprise to her. She thought we were driving to Columbus, Ohio to pick up something I bought on Craigslist. She didn't know where we were going until the second we turned into the venue and I told her where going to see Elton John. Her reaction was priceless. Complete emotional breakdown! She's a big fan and has been wanting to see Elton John for the 25 years I've known her. Anyway, we had PERFECT seats. I bought unsold VIP seats 2 days before the show when they were turned back to the venue (and at about 30% of the original VIP Price!). 10th row, dead center, completely unobstructed view of Sir Elton about 25 feet directly in front of us. I can't saw it was the best concert I've ever seen (I've seen a lot!), but it was very, very good. But the experience was one of my best ever. My wife was in heaven, completely beside herself with joy. Wow! What a moment. Memorable, to say the least. |
#1: Lowen & Navarro, at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis Minnesota around 1990. Small intimate setting, they even unplugged for an encore and played acoustic guitars, and cello with no amplification. Just a magical night my wife and I will always remember. #2: Dire Straits, Love Over Gold tour. St. Paul, Roy E Wilkins auditorium. The best D.S. album IMO and a great venue for excellent sound. With one of my best friends from high school. The couple sitting behind us was willing to share some of the best marijuana I had ever had! Mark Knopfler and company never sounded better. |
Hands down, my first concert Queen ~1977 at the Chicago International Ampitheatre for 4 reasons: 1) Anybody remember the YMCA Indian Guides? Older kids group was Trailblazers. Our group had some older High School guys, who were pretty cool & had amazing musical taste. So, one of my 8th Grade (?) or Freshman yr (?) outings was a Queen concert. 2) Indian Guides was Father & Son. My Dad thought the BeeGees were too wild for his taste. But, he sat thru that concert & had fun because he was there with his son & other Father’s & Sons. 3) I hadn’t been exposed to much more than top 40’s. It exposed me to a whole new world & my musical interests exploded. 4) It was the most amazing, “kick ass rock tour de force”. Freddie’s vocals “lifted you to heaven & then slammed you in the face & melted your spine”. Those were a couple of the descriptions of Queen that I remember. Then, Brian May’s guitar playing alternated between searing, melodic, soft and raw. But for an 8th Grader... indescribable. So, 2 reasons were the story, 1 was how if effected my musical world & 1 reason was power & grace of that music. Actually, I do have to say that Freddie put on an amazing show with only a microphone stand & tights. Who needs explosions, lasers & flying stages when you have Freddie. |
I've seen almost 500 concerts; so, here's the top 3%: PINK FLOYD, summer of 1973 in Detroit. My 4th concert. This was the "Dark Side of The Moon" tour. Talk about "a hard act to follow!" MOTT THE HOOPLE & NEW YORK DOLLS, fall of 1973 in Atlanta. I can describe the audience is 3 words: "Halloween on acid." ERIC CLAPTON, summer of 1974 in Atlanta. Pete Townshend opened the show with a solo version of "Pinball Wizard" and he didn't come back until the final encore to play on "Layla." Keith Moon tried to play drums on the first 3 songs, but he passed out and fell off the drum stool and had to be carried off the stage by Clapton's roadies. ERIC CLAPTON & SANTANA, summer of 75 in Detroit. They took turns headlining or opening; so, it was great watching them try to outdo each other. But, the final encore was a 20 minute jam with every member of both bands playing together. JEFF BECK, fall of 1980 in Atlanta. When they opened the curtain to reveal Simon Phillips massive drum kit, the "oohs and aahs" that reverberated thru the building was hilarious. AL DiMEOLA - PACO DeLUCIA - JOHN McLAUGHLIN, spring of 1981 in Detroit. The original "acoustic summit" was awe inspiring! THE CLASH, fall of 1982 @ Kent State University. To say that those boys were inspired to be playing at Kent State is an understatement of epic proportions. TALKING HEADS, summer of 1983 in Detroit. This is from the "Stop Making Sense" tour. What incredible energy! It's a shame that the concert film doesn't begin to capture that energy. JIM CARROLL, fall of 1983. The show was at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and it was a combination poetry ready and concert. Thus, totally unique. HUNTERS & COLLECTORS, spring of 1987 in Atlanta. The most "primal" show that I've ever seen. Every audience member danced their butt off and walked out drenched in sweat and totally ecstatic. I wish I could bottle the feelings from this show. THE BLUE NILE & WENDY MaHARRY, summer of 1990 in Atlanta. The most magical and spiritual concert experience ever for me. There were cameras that were filming this show; but, it's never been released. PJ HARVEY, SUMMER OF 1993 in Atlanta. The raw sensuality of this show has never been duplicated. It was almost as primal as H&C show. SADE, fall of 1993 in Atlanta. The audience was emitting so many hormones that you could cut the air with a knife. PINK FLOYD, spring of 1994 in Atlanta. This was the "Pulse" tour. KAKI KING, spring of 2018 in Chapel Hill. This is from her "The Neck is a Bridge To the Body" tour. Her video presentation is totally unique and has got to have made the Pink Floyd crew jealous. Lots of good videos from this tour on YouTube. |
@boxer12 I had exact same experience with the Dead in 1978 in Cleveland. Studying for my first grad school finals so completely unaltered and it was incredible, Most recently, saw Kishi Bashi this past June at the Old Town School of Folk Music. He was performing with a Kodo drum ensemble. While I am a big fan, I can see a number of folks being not interested. But this show was such an unexpected experience - just amaizing. There is no way anyone attending but unfamiliar with his music would not have left as a lifelong fan from that point on. Someone posted on You Tube the performance of ‘Atticus in the Desert’ from that show for anyone interested. A once in a lifetime performance and concert experience. And finally, George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra in 1965 at Severence Hall. I was 10 and it was my first live symphony. Dvorak’s 9th. Cemented my love of classical music! |
@tubegroover, we’re the same age, and I (Eric) had just turned 14 when I saw The Beach Boys live for the first time. All Summer Long was their latest album, and I spent the Summer of ’64 listening to it every day as my girlfriend and I made out on her couch for hours. Hi Mary Lou ;-) . She somehow knew the date of the show was close to the birthday of one of the boys, so she and two of her friends brought along a cake to The SJ Civic Auditorium to present to birthday boy. We went to the back stage door and knocked, and a security guard answered. He ushered in the three girls, but not I! I could not wait to start playing shows myself, and get some of that action ;-) . Less than a year later, I was. I next saw The Beach Boys in the early 70’s at The Fillmore (with Chicago opening); Dennis had a broken arm, and was playing electric piano, Ricky Fataar was on drums. They were very strong; Chicago paled in comparison. I met Dennis in 1982 at a small club in Venice, CA named Blackies. I was on stage that night, and he was sitting alone at a table, drinking. As I sat down to tell him how much I liked his solo album, I noticed how puffy his pretty face had gotten, presumably from drink. If you have a chance to see Brian live now, my advice is to not. Seeing and hearing him live (in the very early 00’s, with The Wondermints in his large band) was (apart from the death of my Mother when I was 15) the saddest, most depressing thing I have ever experienced. My heart hurts to this day. @slaw, I too have seen Tift live, at The Troubadour in 2008, I believe it was. She was swell, but I sure wish I had seen Lucinda on her West tour. I’m now absolutely in love with that album. |
Here's another, Tift Merritt. The last show of her "Traveling Alone" tour in her home town. Chris Stamey opened for her. It was an outdoor show. The rain stopped right before Tift started to play. It was recorded by PBS for one of their future fund raisers. PS. I saw it with my daughter.Ponchos & Umbrellas my friends. |
I just remembered a few more, and how could I forget these: Astor Piazzolla - at SOB’s. I was sitting near the stage, he invites a special guest onto the stage, a petit but statuesque woman sitting right next to me, elbows apart, at the next table gets up and steps up. It was Grace Jones. Tito Puente - at SOB’s Kid Creole and the Coconuts - A club in Chelsea, can’t remember the name Johnny Winter - the show was in the gymnasium of my Catholic high school. As a rule, I prefer small clubs. I almost never go to large venues, the football field at Columbia for the Airplane, and MSG for Dylan (a horrible experience, that probably turned me off to stadium concerts once and for all), and MSG for the Eagles (6th row center, comp seats or I would not have been there). Central Park for the Summer NY Philharmonic concerts are always fun, but you go there as much for the picnic vibe with 100,000 fellow NYers. |
Robin Trower at a local small club venue, mid 80s, standing about 10 feet away. Lucinda Williams during her "West" tour at a local small theatre/great sound that night! Kansas, late 70s, Charlotte Coliseum Doobie Brothers, mid 70s, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke University Eagles, early 80s, "The Long Run" tour, their first one of their last tours together. Neko Case, 2013?, Raleigh, outdoors, great sound! Aimee Mann, 2012?, Dana Auditorium, Guilford College, Greensboro, she was actually in a great mood! Invited audience members on stage to play instruments on one song. Rosanne Cash/John Leventhal, 2018, at the same local theatre I saw LW. Acoustic evening. Richard Thompson, 2010?, same venue as above, solo acoustic. |
Find you too something what Bdp24 whatever your real name is? Lucky you from a 14 year old 1964 die hard Beach Boy fan. It would be MY personal favorite as well and I've seen more than a few in many genres in many places including 3 later Beach Boys concerts, never with Brian performing. Thanks for sharing. |
Well, just to recall a few: Jesse Winchester at a broken down movie theater in Denver with an audience of about a dozen; Blues Image (my favorite under-appreciated band), opening for Three Dog Night in Phoenix; The Buddy Rich Big Band, Gunnison, Colorado, circa 1972; Johnny Smith, Colorado State, circa 1970; Bob Dylan, the Hard Rain concert in Ft. Collins, Co. Deep Purple, Denver Auditorium, Richie Blackmore leaning against a Marshall stack, rocking it back and forth in time until I thought it would fall; The King's Singers, Denver; Manhattan Transfer/Take 6, Mackey Auditorium, University of Colorado just a year or two ago; Steve Goodman, Rainbow Music Hall, Denver; Vince Gill acoustic tour, Colorado Springs Leon Russell and the New Grass Revival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival |
In no particular order: Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris at Max’s Kansas City Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna at Columbia University Jimi Hendrix at the Fillmore East (the New Year’s Eve show that was recorded) Bruce Springsteen at Max’s Kansas City (after his first LP) Bonnie Raitt at Max’s Kansas City (see a trend?) Cesoria Evora at The Bottom Line Judy Collins at the Tarrytown Theatre Joni Mitchell Arlo Guthrie double bill any of a couple dozen shows produced by The World Music Institute in New York City. |
bdp24, I thought it was a long time ago and you must have mixed the dates. Well, at least you found the right theatre that night and did not end up at Lipps Inc. concert. If they actually existed as a performing group. The only reason I noticed the error was because Cohen took a long hiatus (15 years or so) from music and I was eagerly awaiting his return. That is how I ended up in Toronto in 2008. It was his first announced concert after the hiatus. He welcomed us with "I know many of you have gone through significant geographical and financial inconveniences to be here tonight", or something to that effect and he was right for at least half of us in the audience. I doubt anyone regretted those inconveniences. |
@ shkong78 - Yes, sometimes memorable concerts aren't the best the could have been. I had long wanted to see Ali Akbar Khan, the great Indian sarod virtuoso. I finally got a chance to see him near the end of his life, around 2005 or so. He was far from his prime and his performance wasn't inspired, but I still am grateful I got to see one of the musical greats of that tradition. @ skyscraper - Those are some great stories. My girlfriend, now wife, had a Corvair at that time too and it let us down more than once as well. |
glupson, I thought it was in the late-1990's/early-2000's at The Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles that I saw Cohen, but I just looked up his touring history and discovered he was not performing in that time period. Picturing him on stage in my mind has lead me to realize it was at The Wiltern Theater (also in L.A.) in 1993 that I actually saw him. Hey, I was drinking heavily in those days! |