What was the best rock concert that you ever saw and why was it the best?
Me, I'd have to say Steve Ray Vaughan somewhere in the late eighties in Montreal. It was an outdoor concert in Montreal North and it was very windy that night. Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush was the opening act. For some reasons unknown to us, they started their set late and played a good one. When Steve Ray got on got on stage late in the evening, what a great show we experienced: Awesome, fantastic. The sound was so good.
Story was he arrived late from Texas because he attended his father's funerals. So when he got to that slow song that he used to play where he would throw a bit of personal life comments, that was real cool, the crowd was very quiet and attentive. And then once he finished sharing, he started wailing again on the guitar as the wind kept blowing. Cool, cool show. Got to love these outdoor concerts. This one is by far my best rock concert souvenir.
Chicago Transit Authority, Lowes State Theater, Syracuse, 1974.
The Stones in Boulder, 1982 was a close second.
Rick
Probably Pearl Jam at Randall's Island, NY...1996.
I've seen them many times...that was my favorite...Summer, outdoors, raining,good stuff...it was before the tragedy in Europe (fan death), so back in those days, things got crazy.
I saw Eddie solo a few tears ago in Albany...that was a close second because of the small venue.
Also, Godsmack...September 15(ish), 2001. While I'm not a huge fan, I must admit, the atmosphere was unlike anything I've been a part of. There was an incredible feeling of 'togetherness', since it was a few days after 911. The backdrop was a huge American flag. Sully Erna (lead singer) had the entire crowd flip the bird at a photo of who we thought was responsible at that time. Quite moving.
Going to go see the Shivering Denizens, playing live at my sons house....
I'll let you know how it turns out, later...
[flash width=420 height=315] http://www.youtube.com/v/ve2uIy5A8uA?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0 [/flash]
I never got to see any really famous bands.
Cheap Trick was pretty good (2nd row center stage).
Head East was always good music (to me in the mid-west). I saw them at the IL state fair back around 80 or so.
Jay Furgeson (Thunder Island) was a mighty fine show.
I would love to see Joe Bonamassa play live at the Royal Albert Music Hall. I have the DVD of it. Eric Clapton came out to play on a couple songs. It's awesome.
Acually, I can't stand the loudness anymore, nor the crowd of people. I'd just soon sit at home and watch the DVD at my own volumes.
Led Zeppelin, March 4th 1975 at the Dallas Memorial Auditorium.
I was in a group of six that went to the show in a "Good Times" van.
> What was the best rock concert that you ever saw and why was it the best?
>
September 20, 1969 at the Hollywood Bowl.
Santana, the Youngbloods and Janis Joplin (top-billed).
My older brother must have just gotten his license, and I wasn't 15 yet, so it must have been my first real concert.
I'm not really a "stuff" collector, but I kinda wish I had kept some of the old promo posters from back in the day. Jefferson Airplane! The Grassroots! Strawberry Alarm Clock!
Bob Dylan & The Band, February 6th 1974, Denver, Colorado.
YES - Kansas City, 1983
They are great musicians and not just a band.
Saw Jimi Hendrix live, Spokane 1969, my first concert of an international genius.
Saw Eric Burdon and Jimmy Witherspoon backed by the group to become know as War at the Satsop River rock festival and Pig Roast. Get frikin' down. "You know baby, I got blisters on my tounge. I know it fells good, but you don't give a damn where it comes from."
Saw Ian Anderson with Jethro Tull. Mad man with a flute.
Hard to say which was best. In their own way, all of them.
The Rolling Stones - Fort Worth Texas 1972
The Dallas Rehearsals, June 24, 1972 is rumored to be some takes on mp3 files floating around somewhere in cyberspace, maybe here:
http://chocoreve.blogspot.com/2006/08/rolling-stones-touring-party-1972.html
Probably the best concerts I've ever seen has to got to been to be The Who, 1982 tour and Jethro Tull at the Frankfurt Festhalle in 1984ish...
Oh, and there was the KROQ Weenie Roast 1997 that was pretty damn good too...
Jimi Hendrix, May 1970, the Field House on campus in Norman, Oklahoma.
After a weed-enhanced eternity, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding came out and banged around on the drums and bass. Jimi finally came out, turned his Marshalls up and played "Purple Haze" and "Fire".
He then told the audience, "Everbody that came here to hear those songs can leave now."
The guy next to me took an entire roll of 35mm pics before he realized he had the lens cover on.
Iron Butterfly
1969 (summer) at Tanglewood in the Berkshires. Managed to get in free with Press Passes since I was working with my college radio station. Center seats about 15 or 20 rows from the front.
Van Morrison at Montreux in 1980
Hey, I was at that Chicago concert. I grew up in Elmira and the best concerts were always in Syracuse or Cornell.
Best for me was the Summer Jam at Watkins Glenn, 1973 (at least as much as I can remember of it).
Bruce
Ozzfest Sept 96 Charleston, WV - awesome show, great lineup
Lynyrd Skynyrd March 97 Charleston, WV - I was a senior in high school. Several friends and I went. We were drinking in the parking building before the concert (we were early, the only car in the building at the time) and a car drove by, I held up my bottle of Jack Daniels and yelled "Skynyrd!". They stopped, got out and walked toward us (I thought they wanted to party with us). When they got within about 20 feet of me they pulled badges out (plain clothes cops). I sit my bottle down behind the tire (like they didn't see it) but they got it and our other bottles (except for the one hidden well under the backseat) and poured it all out right there in front of us. Had a great time though.
A radio station in Atlanta had a music festival every year that lasted throughout a weekend. I saw many great acts there (Kid Rock, Tom Petty, Offspring, many others). I remember when Tom Petty was on (this is an outdoor event) a small plane flew over with a banner behind it that said "Smoke rises, catch a buzz".
AC/DC March 2001 Charlotte, NC - another awesome show, those old guys jumped and ran around like they were in their 20's.
Nice!
Loews was a great venue. I saw Dylan and Todd Rundgren there, as well. Great sound and cozy.
Rick
Little Richard
Allentown Fairgrounds, 1964 +/-
Dave Clark V, The Searchers and the Kinks, first appearance in USA, Saylors Lake, 1964
Beach Boys, Allentown Fairgrounds Ag Hall (dance party), 1964
Dick Clark tour, Hometown, PA, 1964
Four Tops and many more, Lehigh University, 1966
Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels, Paul Revere and the Raiders, (dance party), 1966 warehouse in Queens or Brooklyn, I was the designated drunk driving home. We were halfway across Long Island before anyone explained that NYC was behind us, I always drove East to get to The City.
Jefferson Airplane, Cafe Au Go Go, NYC, 1967
Paul in PA
How About The Worst Concert ?
My dad drug the whole family to a Lawrence Welk Concert at the Allentown Fairgrounds. :'( :excruciating:
The only thing I care to remember was my dad backstage talking with Joe Feeny in Italian.
Paul in PA
