Best music gig you ever saw?

Dazzler · Post by **Dazzler** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:54 am

Apart from seeing Big Country at Mechanics about 8 or 9 years ago,I have never been to a major gig of any one act.
However,I did go to a festival in Germany in 85 where such acts as The Cult,The Damned,Helen Schneider,Scorpions,Kraftwerk and some other European acts.
I enjoyed The Cult & Scorpions who were surprisingly good but most other acts were just plain awful.

Mind you,I only went for the beer.
Oh and the crack.
If you know what I mean ?

Duffer_ · Post by **Duffer_** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:05 am

Stone Roses - Empress Ballroom
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Aids benefit King Tuts
House Of Love - Preston Guild Hall
I Am Kloot - Brudenell Social
The Fall - Queen Margarets Glasgow

UTC!

Garforth Claret · Post by **Garforth Claret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:28 am

Struggle to pick one, so tried to narrow it down from a long list. Years may not be as stated!!

Genesis Chester 1982 - all standing, got to front, classic set.

Supertramp - Earls Court 1983 huge screen above stage playing in tandem with music great spectacle.

R.E.M. 1983 Manchester gallery - when Michael Stipe has hair and covered the Murmur set, Radio Free Europe and all that

Pink Floyd 1980s Maine Rd - always an event

Peter Gabriel 1983 - Manchester - felt his was the best voice I ever heard at a concert and that thought has always stayed with me

Stone Roses - 2016 Leeds - seen all the comeback tours and this one was seriously top quality

John Martyn - every time I every saw him, loved the man and his songs

And so it's clear I am not stuck in the past

Catfish and the Bottlemen Sheffield 2017 they are a talented band with a cracking live set and my new obsession

BarstewardsEnquiry · Post by **BarstewardsEnquiry** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:36 am

Claret-On-A-T-Rex wrote:The Stone Roses - Razzmatazz in Barcelona on June 9th 2012.
No "stadium view" for me, I was down the front and close enough to have reached out and touched Ian Brown.
No "top lad" mancs hassling us and the beers were 3 euros a pop.
Also, it was my 40th Birthday on the 10th so it was the perfect way to slip into old age.

Wouldn't say the best but probably the most memorable for me was Spike Island

Vintage Claret · Post by **Vintage Claret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:51 am

HiroshimaClaret wrote:Queen live must have been one HELL of an experience. Never lucky (OR OLD ENOUGH )enough to have had the pleasure.

Agree with you there HC, Queen are one band I regret never seeing perform live (though I am old enough

)

todclaret · Post by **todclaret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:07 am

Screaming Females in Jersey City last year. Gig was in Monty Hall, a tiny place, about the size of the Park View.
Being such an intimate venue I got to meet the band and they were so nice that I'm going back next month

Grumps · Post by **Grumps** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:53 am

Another vote for Springsteen, 4th July 85 at Wembley, seen him many times since, but first was the best

CnBtruntru · Post by **CnBtruntru** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:58 am

COBBLE wrote:Impossible because I enjoyed so many, but I would select Bruce Springsteen at Roundhay Park in Leeds c. 1985 with Nils
Lofgren. Bruce just didn't want to stop and everyone appreciated that.

Totally agree Bruce at Roundhay, he was absolutely brilliant.

Jeffbfc · Post by **Jeffbfc** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:25 pm

From my youth, AC/DC on the Back in Black Tour 1980 at the Manchester Apollo still my favourite concert.
The night after was Motorhead on the Ace of Spades tour which was also a great night.
In more recent years, Rush the Time Machine Tour simply brilliant.

bob-the-scutter · Post by **bob-the-scutter** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:27 pm

Genesis. Knebworth 1978 & 1992. And Old Trafford 2007. (Or any of the 30 odd times I saw them)
ACDC Donnington 1981
Lynryd Skynryd & the Stones. Knebworth 1976

!aiboforceN · Post by **!aiboforceN** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:37 pm

Hard to pick a favourite - but I loved Gary Numan at Hammersmith Apollo - final night of the 2 year Splinter tour 28 Nov 2014
Chemical Brothers at the Roundhouse 2016
Marillion at the UEA back in the mid-80s

Blackrod · Post by **Blackrod** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:49 pm

The Cure 1988 NEC Amazing atmosphere

Deardeary · Post by **Deardeary** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:50 pm

Joy Division at King George’s, life changing.
Interpol at Blackpool, brooding brilliance

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:52 pm

I'd say Chris Cornell in Gran Teatre Liceu, Barcelona in 2016. He was a very talented musician and had such a great voice. Sadly missed!

ottclaret · Post by **ottclaret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:11 pm

Thin Lizzy, Sheffield City Hall, Live & Dangerous tour (1978/9?).

Never forget the moment the police siren and lights above drum kit starting the gig with Jailbreak. Our row of seats didn't last long.

That was first of 5 times I saw Lizzy, last was Cornwall Coliseum, not long before they broke up.

So sad that Phil Lynott self destructed - great songwriter and showman.

NRC · Post by **NRC** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:35 pm

As the OP says music gig, not band I’m going to say the Freddie Mercury tribute - just edged Live Aid for me

Best Rock gig - Queen Liverpool Empire 1975. A Night at the Opera Tour
Best in the last 10 years - a private company gig by Paul McCartney (10,000 people though!). Next best thing to The Beatles

starting_11 · Post by **starting_11** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:38 pm

duncandisorderly wrote:That explains everything. FFS.

Anyway; Slayer at Donington 2004ish - they'd been bumped from the main stage to a small tent and it was the most intense hour of metal I'd ever experienced.
Also The Prodigy at Leeds Festival about 2009.

Hah. The ******* BALLS you must have to be slagging my music off when thats your ******* list. Prick.

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:57 pm

Live 8. Some acts on I'd never plan to see but some absolute legends. As an eclectic mix it's was superb and all for the price of a £1.50 text message.

Individually it's really tough to split the 1st time I saw Dylan 1996, Blur 1995 and The Stone Roses warm up gig in Halifax last year.

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:58 pm

My 1st ever gig was Dire Straits in 1992 which was also excellent

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:09 pm

Deardeary wrote:Joy Division at King George’s, life changing.
Interpol at Blackpool, brooding brilliance

Could have been stood next to you at Blackpool matey! Seen em loads of times including a gig they did in Barcelona in 2005 which was on the weekend of st Georges day which the Catalans celebrate! Made for a great weekend. Saw Paul Banks solo in Manchester around 5 years ago. Very good too.

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:10 pm

Crass- Nelson Railway workers. Left a massive impression on me.

CoolClaret · Post by **CoolClaret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:24 pm

My mates gig @ a battle of the bands in Blackburn circa 2010....

They were probably s***e but with how mangled I was, it may as well have been peak Pink Floyd

hampsteadclaret · Post by **hampsteadclaret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:40 pm

1] seen Bruce S. 13 times, one of them - probably the Ricoh Arena, Coventry when he and the E St. Band included the whole of the 'Born to Run' album - just an amazing night.

2] Marvin Gaye at the Apollo, London.

3] Johnny Cash at the Royal Albert Hall.

4] Prince - Wembley Arena.

5] U2 at Twickenham..

The Hung Juror · Post by **The Hung Juror** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:53 pm

The Smiths - Salford University
The Clash - Hammersmith Palais
The Men They Couldn't Hang - Manchester International
Half Man Half Biscuit - Cats Whiskers

I'd pay an inordinate amount of money to go back and relive any one of those.

duncandisorderly · Post by **duncandisorderly** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:57 pm

starting_11 wrote:Hah. The ******* BALLS you must have to be slagging my music off when thats your ******* list. Prick.

Kid Rock.

Claret-On-A-T-Rex · Post by **Claret-On-A-T-Rex** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:01 pm

TheFamilyCat wrote:Close enough to pass him a bucket to carry a tune in?

You don't go to see The Stone Roses to hear Ian Brown sing any more than you go to watch him riding a unicorn and wearing a scarf made out of rainbows.

claretabroad · Post by **claretabroad** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:05 pm

Some highlights:

Mogwai @ The Duchess of York, dirty Leeds circa 98. First time I thought I'd made myself truly deaf. Astonishing.
My Bloody Valentine - A sonic assault. I saw a girl curled up in the foetal position crying.
Shellac - Just after John Peel had died. End of Radio was the best lament I've heard for him
Arabstrap - Incredible
Low - Before they turned the electric on. Secret Name tour. Haunting, close harmonies
Total Sound Group Direct Action Committee - So much fun and audience participation on stage, playing instruments

The best:
The Pixies - Edinburgh. Everyone was worried about what they would be like after reforming. That anxiety lasted about 5 seconds into the first song then we knew it was going to be amazing. It was.

Clarinetclaret · Post by **Clarinetclaret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:37 pm

Vera Lynn, Bengal 1944.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 4:21 pm

Claret-On-A-T-Rex wrote:You don't go to see The Stone Roses to hear Ian Brown sing any more than you go to watch him riding a unicorn and wearing a scarf made out of rainbows.

At 70 quid a ticket I'd expect him to make an effort.

Beagleheart · Post by **Beagleheart** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:07 pm

Springsteen at Rounday Park in 1985 was my first ever gig and has set the tone for thirty+ years of rocking.

Skynyrd’s first two UK gigs after their reformation at the Town and Country in London on 1992 was akin to a spiritual experience.

Rammstein at Manchester Apollo were frankly astonishing.

I recently saw the Angelic Upstarts and the Anti-Nowhere League for the first time in and they blew my mind.

Best guitarists I have ever seen were Toto’s Steve Lukather playing in Paul Rodger’s band, Nils Lofgren whom I have seen three magical times and Peter Frampton in 2011 who played for three hours of utter magnificence.

I’ve never seen a bad Stranglers’ performance even when Paul Roberts was fronting the band.

Claretlad · Post by **Claretlad** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:26 pm

Black Sabbath at the Dreamland Margate 1970. Bob Dylan Newcastle St James Park 1984. Dylan again Manchester MEN Arena 2002. Levellers Manchester Academy 2002.

Yanquiclaret · Post by **Yanquiclaret** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:06 pm

Like many posters here I have been to 100's of gigs. Very hard to pick a best ever, so many different styles of music. Today I will say

James Brown & Wilson Pickett Palladium NYC 80/81. Both were magnificent.

bartons baggage · Post by **bartons baggage** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:10 pm

Roger Waters at Glastonbury,i think,..that is i was there i think.....

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 12:57 am

Big shout for Slack Alice early seventies at Bank Hall miners....the place was Bouncing!

BillyIngham'sShorts · Post by **BillyIngham'sShorts** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:08 am

Elvis Costello/Ruts - 1979 Locarno Bristol
Madness - 1986 Daytona Beach
The Smiths /Billy Bragg - Glastonbury 1984
Radio Head - Bristol Student Union 1993/4
Neds Atomic Dustbin/Marion/Blur - Glasto 93/95

Worst was Judas Priest 80 - why did i go to that!

BillyIngham'sShorts · Post by **BillyIngham'sShorts** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:17 am

Bobby Crush - Southall Town Hall 75

Lisa Savaroni - Blackpool Pier 74

Buggles - 1984

Bros 1982

Donny Osmond - TOTP studio 1977

David Soul - 1976 - Pebble Mill at One

WadingInDeeper · Post by **WadingInDeeper** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:37 am

To single out one it would be Levellers at Leeds town and country club in the mid 90s. Apart from nearly passing out in a Packed, sweltering, bouncing crowd.

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:44 am

Little Richard and the Everly Brothers, Bradford 1964.

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:22 am

The Smiths 'Queen is dead tour' '85 Universal Amphitheater Los Angeles.
David Bowie ' Thin White Duke' Stafford '76 ?
Oasis first US tour at the Whiskey in Hollywood.'94ish...very small venue/tons of hype/lots of drugs....they nailed it!
Many Nick Cave shows.....too tough to pick.

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:23 am

Lucky enough to have seen Bruce at the Ricoh for Born to Run in it's entirety.

Bruce again at the Etihad. The River followed by Point Blank was worth DOUBLE the ticket price alone.

Countless SLF gigs from Glasgows Barrowlands to the Ulster hall.

U2 Wembley Joshua Tree tour.

PiL at KGH about '82

what_no_pies · Post by **what_no_pies** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:01 am

The Music - The Last Dance. Their last ever gig and in their home town of Leeds. Special.

Gorillaz opening MIF at Manchester Opera House.

The White Stripes at Empress Ballroom, Blackpool.

John Grant at the Royal Albert Hall.

Best of 2017 was Superorganism at Band on the Wall - the guitarist is from Burnley too.

Go Kart Mozart · Post by **Go Kart Mozart** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 12:56 pm

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Manchester Apollo 1980. The first time. Privilidged to have seen them many times since.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers around 1983.

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 1:39 pm

As a 16 year old in 1970 attending a Rod Stewart and The Faces concert performed at a warehouse in Leeds.

Archie Claret · Post by **Archie Claret** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:01 pm

The Jam at the Rainbow, Finsbury Park 1980.....
Thin Lizzy, Hammersmith Odeon Xmas 1977.........£3 in the circle
The Pretenders, Hammersmith Palais July 1981..eve of the royal wedding. Chrissie at her finest

Later on the band I wished I’d seen was The Cult mid 80s

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:05 pm

starting_11 wrote:Kid Rock... believe it or not

2007 Dublin

Were the Crocketts supporting? Loved that band

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:10 pm

Ike and Tina Turner back in the sixties at Floral Hall .Southport. Then my interest turned to following the Super Clarets .

aclaretinstevenage · Post by **aclaretinstevenage** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:15 pm

Wishbone Ash Wembley arena 1970's
Yes - same venue same era
Santana - same venue same era
Springsteen 3 times in the 200's
Jackson Browne - RAH last year

Black Sabbath O2 last year

But for pure entertainment has to be KISS last year at the O2. Musically fine but not my favourite I just loved the show. A superb couple of hours

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:22 pm

Foo Fighters - Manchester Academy about 1998 - (Nothing left to lose tour) - Honestly i went off them a little after that, just were never the same in bigger venues
Queens of The Stone Age - Manchester Academy about 2001 - total sonic and visual assault
Public Service Broadcasting were pretty good last year over here.

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:37 pm

Archie Claret wrote:The Jam at the Rainbow, Finsbury Park 1980.....
Thin Lizzy, Hammersmith Odeon Xmas 1977.........£3 in the circle
The Pretenders, Hammersmith Palais July 1981..eve of the royal wedding. Chrissie at her finest

Later on the band I wished I’d seen was The Cult mid 80s

You shouldn't feel too bad about missing the cult. They were one of the most frustrating bands I've seen, playing most of their songs too slowly so that they were loud, accurate but lacking in the energy that Southern death cult had had a few years earlier.

Most irritating gig I went to was the police. They were fine, but Sara pope went the day before when the alarm were supporting and then the following night some other band came on instead. I was jealous as f.

Best probably the blue oyster cult at Newport centre. Then I've seen excellent live performances from the smiths, magnum, the scorpions.

There's a few on this list I'd love to have seen and you can add to that the chameleons amd the teardrop.

Spiral · Post by **Spiral** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 1:00 am

Walton wrote:Every time I've seen Pallbearer. The craftsmanship in those songs is so good.

Not seen them live so I suppose it's a bit dumb posting on this thread, like, but on a more general point I don't get the hype around Pallbearer. Don't get me wrong, they aren't bad, but every time I've tried getting into them (headphones blasting, eyes closed, no distractions etc) I've consistently found myself asking "yeah, nice, but why don't I just put on an Elder record?"