There are certainly more than a few geetar fanciers among us judging by all the threads on guitar bands and best guitarist. This thread is about the best rock shows you saw. Let's limit it to the rock shows. Not Blues or Jazz or solo performers. The concerts that raised the hairs on your neck or made you want to take up an instrument or raised your pulse through their sheer energy or just moved you through their performance on stage. The only ones that count are the ones you've seen. After making a list in my mind of the many rock concerts I attended, most from the late 1960's through early 80's, I have come up with mine. It was tough, I’ve seen well over 200 rock concerts over the years and it is really hard coming up with a top 5 but we have to limit this so here go mine. "Yes" - This group stands out as the 2nd best concert I ever saw with Steve Howe and Chris Wakeman. They opened for Emerson, Lake and Palmer and after their set I do feel that EL&P were disheartened and knew they couldn't match it; they didn't. Funny thing is like most, I was there to see EL&P. They were forced to have another concert the following night by popular demand. Virtuoso musicianship, “Poco” - This group could put on a show. I saw them 4 different times in the many various stages of their evolution. They never had the commercial recognition of some of the other great bands of their era but they sure made up for it in their live performances. No one stayed seated during a Poco concert. “Rod Stewart and Faces” - Ron Wood on guitar and Rod Stewart strutting all over the stage. Rod was probably the greatest natural Rock showman I ever saw, including Mick Jagger. His uninhibited manner and constant movement and soulful vocals brought the house down. The crowd wouldn't let him go after the 5th encore so he invited everyone ("especially the pretty young ladies") to his hotel to “party on”, and so they came; Led Zeppelin I had to include them because next to the Doors and of course Jimi Hendrix they were my favorites of that era and I never did get to see either of the other two. The acoustics were bad and they played so loud you couldn’t really hear the music. But they were great none the less and it was special to me. The best should be kept for last. "The Who" was acknowledged as the best concert band at the time. Getting tickets meant getting in line and waiting. I imagine at the time the only tougher ticket would be the “Beatles” and they weren’t even together then. They didn’t disappoint. The reaction of the audience was beyond anything I ever saw at a live concert before or since. The band was so cohesive and the energy they put out put them into a different realm. They just have to be on a very short list of the best live bands ever.
These were all great shows and tickets were cheap! $5 or less! And I should mention that I saw The Faces with Rod Stewart at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in February 1975! A killer show for sure!
Grateful Dead: Fillmore East end of December 1969 a week before Hendrix played. Grateful Dead: two shows at the Vancouver Coliseum in 1973 and 1974. Procul Harum: Vancouver Coliseum in September 1972. Tangerine Dream: Radio City Music Hall in September 1991. And I'll add a sixth, seventh and eight: the original Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart on their first US tour - Schaeffer Music Festival, Wollman Rink, NYC in July 1969 (Monday afternoon 3 PM). Jethro Tull: same as above but in August 1970 on a Monday evening - the Aqualung tour. Tickets for both Beck and Tull were cheap: $1.50 and 2.50! Jethro Tull: Vancouver Coliseum, March 1973 the Thick As A Brick/Passion Play tour. Ticket price $5! And why not, no.10: Santana, Catfish and The James Gang, Fillmore East, March 1970.
#1 Eagles 10 days ago Vivint Center Salt Lake City. Joe Walsh was spectacular. #2 Santana at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas #3 Eric Clapton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas #4 Cake at Eccles Center in SLC #5 Damian Rice at UVU in Provo Utah
#1 Eagles 10 days ago Vivint Center Salt Lake City. Joe Walsh was spectacular. #2 Santana at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas #3 Eric Clapton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas #4 Cake at Eccles Center in SLC #5 Damian Rice at UVU in Provo Utah
#1 Eagles about 12 years ago. Vocals were so freaking tight and spot on... Joe Walsh was on FIRE that night with his playing. A TRULY underrated guitar player.
#2 YES I've seen them probably ~4or 5 times. I saw them in Cincinnati with my younger brother. Both Allan White AND Bill Bruford were paying drums. Rick Wakeman on keys.
#3 This one is a unique pick but I saw Kansas on 32nd street Naval station when I was stationed there circa 1980. What made this concert special was there were only ~ 1000 people. At that time the base had an annual recreation weekend where they would bring in touring level acts that would agree to play for a GREATLY reduced booking fee as a part of supporting the Military. It was such an intimate event and you could clearly tell that they were having a lot of fun playing for us. Steve Morris on guitar (wickedly good player.)
#4 Again a special situation event. I was in the Petty Officers club on a Friday evening in Vallejo California (just between Napa and Oakland ) when the feature act was Eddie Money. His career was on the rocks and his Duet with Ronnie Specter had just hit the airwaves. Of course, that revitalized his career for several years. He was sensational in a club environment.
#5 Soft White Underbelly (AKA Blue Oyster Cult) They were famous for showing up at clubs in LA and pulling this deal. So I Didn't think much of it but right away you could this band was EXCEPTIONAL playing other bands covers... Then, they broke into Don't Fear the Reaper and the second the vocals kicked in you just KNEW who they were... the place went absolutely APE.
1. Jimi Hendrix Experience, New Haven, CT, Sunday 17 November 1968; 2. Cream, New Haven, CT, Wednesday 10 April 1968; 3. The Doors, New Haven, CT, Dec. 9, 1967 - Jim Morrison was arrested on stage; 4. Mahavishnu Orchestra, Sep 15, 1971. Wesleyan University. Middletown, CT - John McLaughlin was in residence at the college and taking music lessons there at the time; 5. The Greatful Dead, June 1873, Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C.
1964, Beatles at Red Rocks, included I think five other groups. Great!!! concert on a warm August evening. 1970, Jehtro Tull/Mountain, Red Rocks. Anything at Red Rocks turns out to be fantastic. 1971, Rolling Stones/Stevie Wonder, Denver Colloseum 1971 Moody Blues, Denver Colloseum 1971,EL&P/Mahavishnu(sic?) Orchastra. Showcased two of the best percussionists, EVER! Denver Colloseum 1980, Bob Seger,Big Mac, Denver. That guy can really rock the house.
The Disco Biscuits 4/7/2001 9/13/2001 Majestic Theater Detroit. Overall most incredible jamband! Still performing great shows just can't list them all.
ZZ Top at the Warehouse in New Orleans for mardi gras early seventies, Alvin Lee at the warehouse early70s, Savoy Brown at the warehouse early 70s, Bruce Springsteen at the Summit in Houston Texas I believe 1978, Led Zeppelin at the auditorium in New Orleons for the Houses of the Holy tour and have to add the sixth was the Rolling Stones in Baton Rouge in I believe 1976, had tickets to the first show and scalped tickets for the second show as we were walking out of the first show.
1.) My first, Humble Pie at C.W. Post college, Long Island. Frampton had departed by this point but it most certainly did not matter whatsoever. Steve Marriott was Steve Marriott, say no more...
2.) Newport Folk, the year Bob finally returned after having gone "electric" decades earlier - but most certainly not him. The highlight for me was Guy Clark, John Hiatt, and Lyle Lovett sitting on three stools and playing each other's stuff together. Second only by trying to adhere to the spirit of this discussion was Arlo Guthrie's closing the weekend while the sun began to set. Memorable.
3.) Lucinda Williams, Planting Fields Arboretum, Long Island. My gf at the time was a very big fan but I had barely heard of her at the time. World Without Tears had just been released. Been a fan ever since, try to catch her every time she's around New York.
4.) Back in the day when you actually bought tickets at the box office my friends and I were driving aimlessly around when we passed the Nassau Coliseum and noticed that tickets were still on sale - for Marshall Tucker and The Doobie Brothers. This show remains on my list because I never really paid much attention to The Doobies prior to that night. I figgered, "what the hell", how bad could it get? Well, they pretty much surprised the hell out of me. Great show, and a reminder that seeing live performances can change one's mind 360 degrees.
5.) The soundtrack to my wayward youth, Led Zeppelin Madison Square Garden 1977, all shows, same seats, stage left first tier, every night. First night opening salvo was The Song Remains The Same which was FELT in the chest. Talk about loud? Ear plugs? Ha! We didn't want no stinking earplugs! Often overshadowed by Cream and others as a 3 piece band, Zeppelin was amazing. Except for the drum solo - beer and joints, anyone?
FOR BEST SOUND... The Mavericks in Vegas audiophile quality sound from their performance. THE BEST WOMEN.. ACDC in Edmonton. the ladies were very friendly on the ground level wink winki. THE LOUDEST . Mr, Ted Nugent in Regina Canada. My ears rang for two days. THE MOST STONED. Rush and .. I cant remember the other band..lol. THE BEST SINGER. Matchbox 20, Rob Thomas sang sweet home Alabama in a rendition better than the original. Such an intense singer. He gives 110%
Humble Pie shortly after the release of "Smokin'", 9th grade, so '71-72? Led Zeppelin Madison Square Garden 1977 Newport Folk (Dylan's return from exile). 2004? 3? John Hiatt / Lyle Lovett, Aspen Colorado around 4-5 years ago Lucinda Williams, Beacon Theatre
My list of favorites would include shows by John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Grateful Dead, The Who (about 1972), and an all-star Ronnie Laine benefit in Dallas c. 1981.
Oops! I just now read the entire original posting, and I should not have included Iris---she is no rocker! In her place I guess The Who at The Carousel Ballroom (San Francisco) in 1968 ("A Quick One") and '69 ("Tommy").
Those shows which I liked at the time but haven't aged well with me (others may disagree!): Cream at The (original location) Fillmore Auditorium in '67 and Winterland in '68. By '68, The Band had made Cream irrelevant to me (and to Clapton!). Hendrix At The Fillmore in '67 and Winterland in '68. In '68 Jimi seemed to be treading water, like he was bored with what he was still doing, but not yet knowing where to go. It ended up being The Band of Gypsy's, not very much to anyone's liking. His death seemed anti-climatic to me, as did Jim Morrison's (by the way, The Doors were not a very good live Band, at least the two times I saw them, in '67 and '68).
I couldn't possibly narrow it down to five. How about ten?
- The Band, Berkeley (CA) Community Center 1969 - Rockpile & Moon Martin, The Country Club (Reseda, CA) 1980 - Dave Edmunds, NYC 1982 - Marshall Crenshaw (5-piece), NYC 1982 - Phil Seymour, The Country Club mid-80's - Big Joe Turner, Club Lingerie (Hollywood, CA) mid-80's - The Lyres, Club Lingerie late-80's - NRBQ (w/Al Anderson), The Roxy (Hollywood) mid-90's - Iris Dement, The Roxy and The Troubadour mid & late-90's - Bob Dylan, The Pantages Theater (Los Angeles) 2002
This is leaving out my first two shows, shows which might be at the top of a lot of peoples lists: The Beach Boys at The San Jose Civic Auditorium in 1964, and The Beatles in San Francisco in 1965, which were, in comparison to the above, merely okay. Sorry The Beatles worshipers, they were not so good live.
The one show I now dearly would love to have been at is Dylan w/The Hawks (aka The Band) at The San Jose Civic Auditorium in 1966. The Beatles in '65? The Rock n' Roll paradigm of the past. Dylan w/The Hawks in '66, the future. Two friends of mine were at that Dylan/Hawks show, and were also at number one on my list with me. They were ahead of me in '66, but by '69 I had caught up!
Elton John at Constitutional Hall in Washington, D.C. ; Steve Winwood at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA ; Fleetwood Mac at the San Jose Arena, San Jose; Rush at the Cow Palace; Elton John AND Billy Joel, San Jose Arena, San Jose !!!!!
AC DC killed it Wednesday night at the Meadowlands in NJ. I saw them in the late 70s with Bon Scott (a few times) and Back in Black with Brian Johnson in 1980 )and at he Garden a few years ago). I have to add this show to my top five as it was killer - even without Bon (and Rudd). 60 year Young Angus played a 20 minute guitar solo during Let There Be Rock that brought down the house - and it sounded awesome.
As a child of the 70's I'm afraid that I may be a little predictable here, however, I have seen some pretty decent bands.
Starting at 5th best....
5. Wishbone Ash - Not the hardest of rockers in the world but the guitar work was just magical
4. Black Sabbath - seen at least 8/9 times. Coming from Birmingham I had a mate at school who's brother used to hang out with some pretty cool local bands in the early seventies. Whilst at his house I met Roy Wood and Wizard, Nazareth, Blackfoot Sue, The Moody Blues, and of course Sabbath.
3. Budgie - The best three piece I've ever heard. Wailing guitars and screeching lyrics that would put any new born baby to shame. Also just happen to have played THE best rendition of "baby please don't go" this side of the universe.
2. Pink Floyd - Went to see the last ever (Original last ever!)playing of The Wall at Earls Court. When the Stuka dive bomber came over the heads of the audience and crashed into the wall I was convinced the world was ending.
1. Deep Purple - Let me just clarify, I think this was the mark 3 version as the line up was Paice, Lord, Gillian Blackmore and Glover. 1973 at Birmingham Odeon. It was a Time of the three day week, the bin men were on strike, power cuts, skin heads and really bad race problems........life was pretty shitty then these guys came to town. For two and a half hours nothing else mattered except Gillian's unbelievable vocal interplay with Blackmore, Paice pounding out the rhythm to everything and a 35 minute version of Highway star.
When this line up changed things were never quite the same again. To quote Don MacClean's American Pie, the music died.
The best bit is I can still remember it AND it provides some brilliant answers on prime time TV quiz shows.
The Who in 1976 was easily the best followed by Yes (1974 to 1977), a concert billed as Heavy Metal Sunday in Baltimore in October 1974 with PFM, Aerosmith, Blue Oyster Cult and Steppenwolf, Wings over America in 1976 and Cat Stevens, also in '76.
73 Rolling Stones in Memphis, 72 Pink Floyd DSOM in Chicago, 2009 Doobie Brothers in Jacksonville FL, 2009 Eagles in JAX, and 2008 ZZ Top in St. Augustine, FL.
The RS were great stage men/craftsmen. The PF lights and sound was nearly spell bounding at times. The Doobies sounded very fresh and dynamic. The Eagles sounded like old American masters. ZZ Top was outdoors like the Stones, and played a unique variety of their rockin’ ZZ tunes.
I’ll add Neil Diamond in JAX FL may have had the best sound mix I ever heard in concert. although they’re not a hard rocking sound.
In order,all pre 1975, Jethro Tull at MSG,, Alice Cooper at Roosevelt stadium n.j. ,,David Bowie at Radio City,, Frank Zappa at felt forum,,, the Tubes at beacon theatre
Have to throw this one in. Saw Return to Forever and Zappa plays Zappa at the Beacon in NYC this year, and it was sick. Return to Forever was just amazing. I never realized how crazy Stanley Clarke is on bass.
I saw the Yardbirds yesterday evening at Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis.
What a treat! The drummer McCarty is the only original member. But that was enough! The other younger members only helped to knock the ball out of the park! THe new/current vocalist, guitarist, and bass player were all fabulously talented and right on!
They played for about 90 minutes with no intro band and covered everything one might want to hear to perfection, including a fantastic rendition of "Dazed and Confused" at the end that made one realize how this blues influenced British invasion group from the 60's and the music they performed evolved into what became later know as Led Zeppelin. Wow, wow and wow! Go see the Yardbirds if you possibly can! A perfect 90 minute rendition of a piece of core rock music history delivered 40+ years after the fact!
Oh, and as usual, the sound quality at the Ram's Head Tavern was spot on, a real treat for the audio enthusiast!
Eagles-1975 Kansas-1978 Jackson Browne-1989,1994,1996 Rush-2008 (Bought) tickets 3 hours before showtime for $100, at the ticket office which turned out to be 10 rows back and just off center, on the isle. How that happened I have no idea, but I will eternally be grateful.
CHEAP TRICK @ Stubbs (Austin), 2004 - I remember talking all kinds of mess on the way to Austin, not really even knowing anything about the band (beyond the very few songs I had heard). We got there, found a spot, and rocked the house... Picks, they were a flyin!' What a night!
I hate to do it, but I must add a ninth...and how could've have forgotten about this one:
PEARL JAM @ The Unicorn, 1991 - The was their debut tour, with a young Soundgarden opening. The venue was an old Safeway (I believe); Eddie hung from the aluminum rafters; the place was about 100 degrees; the pit was an absolute madhouse. An unbelievable show, with soon-to-be megastars, in a hole of venue made this one of the very best I have seen.
I don't want to break the "5" rule, but I simply must add three more...
THE WHITE STRIPES @ Rudyard's (Houston), 2001 - This was their debut tour, and the show was to an audience of maybe a hundred. Powerful stuff in a rockin' little venue.
JETHRO TULL @ Jones Hall, 2005 - The acoustics of the 'Hall made this a memorable experience.
THE POGUES @ The House of Blues (Houston), 2009 - I had been waiting 22 years to hear them in Houston and it finally happened (I missed 'em in '89 @ #'s). I sang every single song and tried to tear up the pit like a complete moron. What a blast.
PINK FLOYD @ Rice Stadium, 1994 - This is the show where they played in the rain until everything blew up. The storm rolling in with lightning in the clouds, and then the lasers reflecting off the rain resulted an amazing experience (regardless of the show being cut short).
PRINCE @ Toyota Center, 2004 - I didn't own a single Prince album and had no idea what to really expect. The man is pure genuis and an incredible musician. The night was a blast.
ELVIS COSTELLO @ Jones Hall, 2006 - Front and dead center. Need I say more?
STEELY DAN @ Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion, 2006 - We were given tickets and thought they were for row "V," but ended up being row "C." And row "C" is essentially front row (behind the pit, etc.). This was one groovin' show.
RUSH @ Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion, 2010 - We sat on the lawn, dead center, as far forward as you could get. It rained like mad for about an hour prior and then stopped. I preferred this to being 3rd row several years earlier; you were able to really take everything in. The vibe was just soooo right.
There are definitely others, but I'll keep those as my five for now.
No particular order. Can't really say any were better than others, and my list could go a lot longer. Being a Denver native. U2 at Red Rocks, when they filmed under a blood red sky Black Crowes, the first show returning after Mr. Robinson was arrested for shoplifting at 7-11. They all played like they were pissed! What a show Sting, also at Red Rocks, for the Bring on the night tour. I never liked Sting before that, Once they started, I was in another world. Elton John, it was my first concert when I was fourteen, and my folks made me go with my older sister as a chaperone. Can't really say it was a good concert, but it was my first
Last, but not least, Jethro Tull, summer of '88. Let me tell you how much I hated having to go to that show, I had been to three other Tull shows. First was with the stones or the who, I don't even remember. This and the other two were free tickets from friends who couldn't find any other suckers to go for free. Long story short, met an ex-girlfriend, had sex in my friends car during the show. Enough said
Janis Joplin and Big Brother at the Filmore West- I was working there and saw most of the concerts but, this one stood out for me.
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention with The Merry Pranksters- I drank the kool aid so of course it seemed good. Who knows if it was.
The Bands last concert The Last Waltz- Ended up working it completely by accident, it was even better live than the video makes it out to be.
U2 Joshua Tour- Again, I was working on it. Wasn't U2 that I enjoyed though. B.B. King was the opening act and he was really in his prime back then.
Tom Waites at MaCabes Guitar Shop- He hadn't made a album yet and I was dating his sister, Terri. She dragged me down to MaCabes and I was mesmerized by his performance.
George Harrison with Ravi Shankar- George Harrison was having voice problems and ended up giving the entire concert over to Ravi Shankar and his wife. Only time I had ever heard a Indian orchestra and it was fantastic.
A problem arises in that picking one ahead of the other....it's very hard. In no piticular order but in my top five 1.) Tommy Bolin with "The James Gang" circa 1973? Cant be sure now. They were 2nd on the bill to J. Giels. Go figure!! *S* Bolin....he Had like this aura that enveloped him. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before from a player or since. He just smoked but in a really controlled almost zen like way. It was very bizzare in that Bolin STOLE the show from Climax blues band and a killer set by J. Giels. Just Obliterated Everyone else. I was like in a fog for about 3 weeks after that concert.
2.) Kansas circa 1986? The Power tour with Steve Morse. *Warm Smile* Steve Walsh was like at nearly a vocal peak at that time, He was like on prescription speed also, seemed to be, it was one for the ages from Walsh BUT it was Morse who just took the show away from the rest of the band. He asked for more Gain right off the bat and He kept it through out. He walked ALL over Rich Williams But Rich was like cool with it. "Seemed to be." Morse was almost like he Had something to prove that night. Amazing!!
3.) Gary Moore near the end of His Wild Frontier tour in Milw. There are no words to describe that night. A Friend and I purposely did Not drink. We may of had one 12 oz. beer to take the edge off when we first got there. He recorded it. Havnt heard it in a long, Long time. He does a 19 1/2 min. version of "The Loaner" to end the concert. Are You Kidding me Moore!!?? THAT was my single Moment at any concert. Those 19+ minutes. Morse's night in Rochester, MN.is more in grained within me BUT that encore of The Loaner......................there are no words. There truly arent. Never again would I See a player spill his insides out like that. Like other worldly. Not of this earth. Robin Trower in his blood or something along those lines. Insane experience!!
4.) Lenny Ball. They were a local act in the early 70's in and around La Crosse, Wi. This cat was off the charts. Should of made it big. It was a sat night at a bar called the factory. I caught all of the 2nd set. In about 3-4 yrs He quit playing. The effect He Had on me that night with his playing I Cant explain it. An unreal guitarist!!
5.) Wishbone Ash circa 1973? Not sure anymore. *S* The first bigtime rock band I ever saw. What I took away from that concert was Steve Upton, Ash's drummer. Without trying too he made that show HIS. It was like tonight is mine. Totally Blew my mind.
Never saw Page, Trower, Stevie or Marino. Dumb A..!! that I am. HAD chances at seeing all four of them many times. There is much regret there.
1- Jackson Browne, Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, Cow Palace, 1975 2- "Last Waltz" Concert, Winterland, 1976 3- George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, Long Beach Arena, 1974 4- Yes, Hollywood Bowl, 1975 5- Elton John and Joe Walsh, Dodger Stadium, 1976. Note: this one wins honorable mention. The music was OK (Joe Walsh was great), but it was loads of fun on the field, the grass was green (if you know what I mean) and I think I got laid
1972 winterland humble pie/mahavishnu orchestra 1971 winterland allman bros w duane/ma tuck/wet willy 1970 LA Angles stadium blues image/leon russell fronting joe cockers mad dog big band/john sebastion/who doing live at leeds 1969 devonshire downs (L.A.'s woodstock)hendrix,airplane, credence,3 days of bad drugs and bad girls.... 1969 Led Zep/Brian Auger rose palace pasadena held less than 2000 people first tour people in shock 1968 shrine ten yrs after/jeff beck w rod/moody blues 1968 Shrine dr john/velvet underground/electric flag
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