The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Gurt, the Dead village at every venue was like that from start to finish and you nailed many a memory. People selling tye-dyed shirts, Leines and pb&cheese sandwhiches out the back of their truck, strays walking around asking, "Need one!!", others touting that they had, "doses, shrooms, kine bud!!", tents everywhere. Your story reminded me of my first time at Alpine Valley. On the far left side of the village there is a path that winds it's way (along side a golf course?) toward the staging and there was a dude perched up in a very large, dead tree with a water bottle offering "vitamins". Anyone that opened their mouth received a shot. Was lucky enough to join a fatty circle with Mickey, Phil and Bob after the 2nd show that weekend and still managed to survive a torrential downpour.

Yeah, if it was Alpine 89, you probably got to camp onsite. That had to be wonderfully fun.

It never failed that after a great, great day in the parking lot, I'd realize that I still had a show to go to and then several hours of after-show to look forward to. It was always like, 'Oh yeah!" It seemed like I had already had such a great day. There's more!!

Still go to Phish when I can and used to do SCI, but as fun as those scenes are, and they're great in their own way (Phish at Deer Creek in 2010 with onsite camping was a blast!), they're still not what it once was when the fat man lead the band.

 

[The Rube]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

KISS: saw them on the first reunion tour, played/showed nothing newer than 76 or so. Awesome. 20th row main floor.
Dead: never saw 'em. The only real chance I had was the same weekend as Pearl Jam in Milwaukee '95, which I had 9th row main. At the time, couldn't pass that up. I don't regret it, but I do regret it, if you can understand that.

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

KISS in 1979. I was 11. They were still in makeup and still had the original lineup. Judas Priest was the opening act.

Not my first show, but I saw them in 1979 as well. I was 14. Priest was also the opener for my show. Turned me into a fan of theirs and to this day they are still one of my two or three favorite bands. I've seen Priest 7 times now. Saw KISS just one other time, the 1996 reunion at the Gund in Cleveland. That was fun.

Scooby, you and I have similar tastes in music, at least to a certain extent. I too saw Queensryche in '91 in Indy doing Mindcrime. Generally consider it the best show I've ever seen, although if pressed I can name a handful of others that would be in the running. Couldn't believe the small number of people in Indy. Love the opener for that show, Suicidal Tendencies.

 

[WeAreNDHockey]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

A show by a band that I really like that wasn't so hot was RUSH on the Signals tour in 1982. Saw them at Notre Dame and was not impressed. As a side note that was one of the few times I have missed a Notre Dame home game in the entire time time they have been members of the CCHA. Other than a year when I lived in PA I believe that night in 1982 is one of just 4 home games I have missed in the 22 seasons ND has been a CCHA member. I have seen a lot of baaaaad hockey.

 

[NMU8405]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

My first concert was Disturbed/Orgy (2001) at the CCCC in Portland Maine.

The best concert Ive attended was Muse (2010) at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

Ive seen Muse live 5 times now (Boston MA, Sterling Heights MI, Auburn Hills, MI, Milwaukee WI, Indianapolis IN). All the shows have blown me away. Arguably the best live band in the business today.

 

[Hopkinja]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

First concert - The Doobie Brothers my freshman year at Cornell

Worst Concert - The Cars. Just too loud and you couldn't hear the vocals. Every song sounded the same.

Best story: My boss' boss got me a ticket to the Springsteen "Human Touch" tour at the Spectrum. Unfortunately I was in Japan just a few days before the concert wrapping up a plant start-up and the customer wanted me in a one hour meeting in Japan three days after the concert. But...I wound up flying home the Tuesday before the concert and went to the concert on Friday night. The next morning I got back on a plane to Japan, went to the meeting on Monday, and then flew home the next day.

Best moment: My sophomore year, my sister was looking at colleges and came up to visit me and check out Cornell. I was able to get tickets for both of us to see The Kinks, during the "Low Budget" tour. One of my fraternity brothers came up with a scam and we all wound up in second row seats. During one song, the place was going crazy, everyone was clapping along, except my sister, who was so stoned that she simply was staring blindly into space. During a break in the lyrics, Ray Davies looked down at her and said "Whatsa matter, Luv? Don't like the music?" She just buried her face in her hands, totally embarrassed. Loved it.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Dead: never saw 'em. The only real chance I had was the same weekend as Pearl Jam in Milwaukee '95, which I had 9th row main. At the time, couldn't pass that up. I don't regret it, but I do regret it, if you can understand that.

You missed a great carnival in the lot, assuming that the show you passed on was at Soldier Field.

You also missed a horrible Grateful Dead show(s) as Jerry was in the process of literally dying on stage. His failing health made the shows in 95 hard to take. I still had a great time at the shows - only tour that my wife and I went out on together, but the shows were very uneven - from bad to horrible.

 

[The Rube]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

You missed a great carnival in the lot, assuming that the show you passed on was at Soldier Field.

You also missed a horrible Grateful Dead show(s) as Jerry was in the process of literally dying on stage. His failing health made the shows in 95 hard to take. I still had a great time at the shows - only tour that my wife and I went out on together, but the shows were very uneven - from bad to horrible.

It was the Soldier Field gig(s).

 

[MissThundercat]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Don't remember my first concert, but I remember my favorite:

Counting Crows in 2009. Great live show; Adam Duritz seemingly put all the band's songs in a blender so you ended up getting "Round Here" mixed with Murder of One, etc. For the Encore, they performed Mr. Jones, as I'm sure that's what most of the crowd came to hear.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

First concert: Iron Maiden 'Somewhere in time' tour Met Center 1987 - was a sophomore in HS and was hooked on Maiden after that show.

One of my all time favorites was Metallica in 1989 at the Met Center on the 'And justice for all' tour, Queensryche opened. Crazy show and crazy hair.

Monsters of Rock in 1988 at the Metrodome with Kingdom Come, Metallica, Dokken, Scorpions and Van Halen was pretty cool for a 17 year old.

I went to many others as well throughout the 90's and early 2000's, but not many in the last few years.

 

[DisplacedCornellian]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

I don't have nearly as many experiences as some who've posted here, but my most memorable (and recent) concert experience was the Foo Fighters at the Verizon Center in DC this past November. They put on a fine rock and roll show. Their entire set felt like an encore. Amazing energy, and Dave knows how to work a crowd.

Social Distortion opened for them, so that didn't suck either.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Def Leppard in 88 with opening act Tesla. Tesla was the better act musically. Leppard had an awesome stage show. That would probably be my #3.

So:

1. Kiss in 1979 and the reunion tour in c. 1995.
2. Queensryche in 1991.
3. Def Leppard / Tesla in 1988.

Kiss in 1979 and Def Leppard in 1988 were both at the old Met Center where the North Stars used to play.

Smaller Venue shows I'd have to pick.

1. Ace Frehley's Comet at First Avenue in c. 1987.
2. Paul Stanley's Solo tour in 2008 at a club in Twin Cities area, forget the club name. Small place.

I've seen Metallica twice but neither of those shows are as memorable as the ones I listed above.

 

[Jaws]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Been to many shows over the years. 1st was Beatles at the Met Aug 21,1965. God I wish I'd kept that Ticket stub. So you see I've been at it a while. Best of the last few years was Jeff Beck at the State last spring.Head and shoulders above anything else I went to last year. Mostly do club shows these days. Live music is the best.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Some of my favorite shows in no particular order...

Pink Floyd @ Camp Randall in 1994 • By far the best light show I ever saw. Man, I wish they'd tour again. The Pulse DVD captures it very well.

U2 @ Ames, Iowa in 1992 - ZooTV outdoor tour • Really liked the ZooTV tour for visuals and Achtung Baby was their best album. This was the best of the 3 Zoo shows that I saw.

U2 @ Rosemont Horizon 10/28 & 29/87 • U2 was my favorite band at this time and these were my first rock concerts. Stayed out drinking overnight to buy tickets with buddies. 17 years old. We thought we were so grown up. Ha!

Grateful Dead 9/6/91 Richfield, OH • Best Dead show I saw. Smokin' Fall tour in 91 and this show had many, many epic moments. I missed the first week of classes for this roadie and we camped in some forested campground. During the post show campfire, a skeleton on guitar and a demented monkey on bass sat in the branches above us and played along with the show on the boombox.


I'm sure I'm missing something that I really liked, but that's all I can think of right now.

 

[NMU8405]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Looking at checking out RHCP in Boston this summer, or Blink 182 in New Hampshire. Not too high on Blink. Im not a punk kid, or a 14 year old whore.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Ive only ever been to a few concerts in my life: Wilco (@ Purdue fall 2007? or maybe 06); Farm-Aid (St Louis 2009 I believe...went mostly for Wilco); Wilco (South Bend summer 2010..easily my favorite show Ive seen...also notice a trend?) and the last one was My Morning Jacket in Indianapolis in August 2011. Ive seen shows at small bars and stuff but those other 4 are really all Ive seen as far as real concerts. I dont really like huge crowds so it has to be a band I really want to see. I'm also usually broke and dont have tons of spare time so it has to be close to where I am living or coincide with a vacation or time I have money. The first Wilco show was a gift from my brother who is also a big Wilco fan. The Farm-Aid show was only 2 hours away in St Louis so it was an easy drive there and back in the same day. The other Wilco show as a gift back to my brother and it happened while I was home for a visit with family. Same story with My Morning Jacket (family lives in NE Indiana).

 

[gscott13]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

a small sampling...

Guns n Roses
Allman Brothers Band
Foo Fighters w/ Kid Rock, Primus, and Bustah Rhymes 1999
John Butler Trio
Amos Lee
Wilco
Rage Against the Machine
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
G Love & Special Sauce
State Radio
Black Crowes
Blues Traveler
Rusted Root
Carbon Leaf
The Decemberists
Pearl Jam
Nirvana
Ray Lamontagne
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals
Swollen Members

 

[The Rube]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Not in order:

AC/DC (three times)
Pearl Jam (twice)
Bad Religion (three times)
Rancid
Cake (twice)
Metallica
Kid Rock
The Cure (three times)
The Queers (twice)
Aerosmith
Jackyl
Rolling Stones
Wesley Willis (talk about a cult following there!)

countless $5 shows at First Ave involving small time punk bands, just for something to do on a weekend, and there are other bigger bands, too.

 

[duper]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

My first show (not including the various performances of the Chicago Symphony that I went to with my folks or school field trips) was John Cougar Mellencamp at Poplar Creek in Chicago in 1988. My favorite show was probably Ozomatli at the Fillmore in Denver around 2002-ish. The BoDeans at the same venue a couple of years later was also excellent. The show I use to try to impress people is Miles Davis at Symphony Hall in Chicago. I think that was about a year before he died. Probably 1990. Being a HS kid, I thought it was awesome that he played Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time.

Not embarrassed about any of the shows I have seen. Including the 2 Barenaked Ladies shows, the Scorpions around 1991 (way Way WAY past their "prime"), or the outrageous prices I paid to see the Police or James Taylor in recent years. Good times all.

One show I wish I had ponied up the bucks for: Van Morrison at Red Rocks.

The oddest billing I have seen was a twin bill with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Steve Earle. Lots of lesbians and rednecks in the crowd.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Re: The Concert Thread • So ya, thought ya, might like to, go to the show...

Here's a list that goes in a different direction than all of yours:

First: Joe Diffie and Travis Tritt at the Target Center when I was about 8 years old.
Garth Brooks, Double Live Tour, Target Center concert #5 (he had 7 shows in 7 days at the Target Center)
[several crappy rock concerts during the time when I lost my way]
Sawyer Brown with a special appearance by Toby Keith at some arena in Louisville during the National FFA Convention
Joe Nichols at Toby Keith's in SLP
Lee Brice at Toby Keith's in SLP
Sawyer Brown at a local small town street dance, which was pretty cool
Zach Brown Band at Country Jam last year
Eli Young Band at Toby Keith's in SLP
Eric Church and Toby Keith at MN State Fair
Brantley Gilbert in Green Bay
Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan at Xcel Energy Center

Future:
Eric Church and Brantley Gilbert at Target Center
Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw at Target Field

My favorite was probably Garth, but I was really too young to enjoy it. I am hoping to go to Vegas sometime in the next few years to see him again.