The BEST and WORST Concerts you've seen in person

[Buster]

best...def leppard hysteria tour in the round,in your face 1988
prince purple rain


worst...the freaking cars.heartbeat city tour...half the crowd was cheering and half were booing...the cheerers were cheering the booing

 

[cutacrossshorty]

Some Bests (in chronological order):

Bob Dylan and The Band - (1974?) matinee @Boston Garden (Most of the gig can be heard on "Love Songs for America" bootleg)

Mott The Hoople - (1974) Orpheum, Boston (late show)

Faces - (1975) Boston Garden

Iggy Pop (w/Bowie) - (1977?) Harvard Sq theater

Clash - (1981) Bonds Itn'l Casino (Times Sq) - Last 2 shows of the 16 day run. Went on stage during the matinee gig.

English Beat - (1982) @Opera House, Boston

Pearl Jam - (2005) @Wachovia Center, Philadelphia

(Mott The Hoople & The Faces were 2 of the best live rock acts anyone could ever see. Unfortunately, both bands broke up after about 5 years. None were better live).

Worst :
Van Morrison - (1971?) Harvard Stadium. I believe he was nowhere to be found. As a result, the middle act had to keep playing. They (Ian & Sylvia)were the equivalent of a human sleeping pill. When Van Morrison finally hit the stage, he didn't have it. The crowd left in droves after about the 4th number (Brown Eyed Girl). There wasn't a single attendee that didn't go home disappointed.

Possible worst (for some, but I enjoyed it)
Lou Reed - (1978?) West Hartford, Ct - Place was full. The opening act got booed mercilessly (deservedly so). I think this pissed Lou off. Lou Reed and his band played 2 numbers and left the stage (for about 20 minutes). Some of the crowd thinned out. Came back and did the same (played a song or 2 and left). Did this a few more times until there were only a hundred or so left in the place. Then closed with a 20 minute version of "Sister Ray".

 

[burrito]

BEST: Allman Brothers, Miami Zoo 1988
RUNNERS UP: Stones, Heart, Thoroughgood -- Boulder 1982
The Who, Pretenders -- KC 1981

WORST: Alabama -- Hearnes Center 1984

 

[WharfRat+]

I have too many bests and have been too too many concerts, for the most part the "bests" are ones in small venues

I saw Dave mathews right before he became huge in Ottawa at barrymores, a very small club.

Also Ben Harper, in montreal at metropolis.

Ive seen some great BIG shows also.

Phish 1995 on an airforce base in Plattsburgh new york. 200 000 people!!!!!!!

Also Phish on New years eve 1999, in Naples Florida on an Indian base.

On new years eve they played from 11pm to SUNRISE. (NO JOKE)

SS- would have never guessed you were a Head. I was also at CLifford Ball, but missed Big Cypress.


My best shows are: Paul McCartney @ MSG, Roger Waters @ MSG, and every Ween show I've seen.

Best concert moment: Neil Young playing a 25 minute Down By the River at Jones Beach which is right on the water off Long Island. Chills.

Worst is tough b/c I don't go see bands I don't like. Probably Dave Matthews in 1995 (only time i've seen him)

 

[bellyputter]

worst--- Helen Reddy--- original MGM Grand(Ballys)---1976

 

[RobFunk]

best stevie nicks
worst tim mcgraw

Yes sir, I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I knew it'd be bad but I was just trying to make my GF happy so I went.

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

One of the best...Manhatten Transfer at the Alladin..1983

 

[kid44]

Another of my best was Stevie Ray Vaughn, Clapton and Buddy Guy at Alpine Valley. Half hour after the show Stevie dies. Never forget. Still have a virgin ticket from that show. Came in the back from the ski lodge and walked right by the helicopters that he ended up crashing in. What a waste. Finally turned his life around to find his demise in the side of a ski hill. Stevie is my all time favorite.

 

[BadCo]

Was just starting to date this gal so I let her drag me to a Madona concert,man did it suck.

Worst performance I guess would be a band called Slade but they were just an opener for Golden Earring at Winterland but damn man they were god awful and got booed and ran off stage.

The lead singer almost started crying an told us to fuck ourselves.

As far as the best to hard to pin point.

Skynyrd,Savoy Brown,Jethro Tull,BTO,Jeff Beck,Floyd,Santana,very early Journey(fuck Steve Perry),Zappa,Faces,Clapton.

To name a few.

 

[BadCo]

Faces - (1975) Boston Garden



(Mott The Hoople & The Faces were 2 of the best live rock acts anyone could ever see. Unfortunately, both bands broke up after about 5 years. None were better live).

Hey shorty I know we talked already about Faces as I saw the last two nights of their their final tour in 1975 as it ended in Hawaii and Woody went on to be a Stones.

Was Frampton the opening act when you saw them?

Was in like Oct. 75 he opened for Faces and by summer of 76 he was the headliner for Day on the Green as I had moved to Ca. in 76.

What a difference a few months and a live album made huh?

 

[jacob]

best live performers:

ben harper and the innocent criminals
dave matthews band
g. love and special sauce
widespread panic

those are my top

 

[kingbill]

Best Lollapalooza 92 -Barrie Ontario - Un f'n believable

I'm not a Rock Guy but this concert was sick...Ministry stole the show...
Rage, Ministry, Ice Cube...

Worst - Tie - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch - 1990ish
Tiffany with Back Street Boys Opening - 1990?
...Oh the stupid things we do for girls when you're a teenager...

 

[JoeFalls]

best: grateful dead at the alladin

worst: steven stills
i did pass out during a bob dylan concert

 

[applepicks]

Best Lollapalooza 92 -Barrie Ontario - Un f'n believable

I'm not a Rock Guy but this concert was sick...Ministry stole the show...
Rage, Ministry, Ice Cube...

Worst - Tie - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch - 1990ish
Tiffany with Back Street Boys Opening - 1990?
...Oh the stupid things we do for girls when you're a teenager...

Can't believe I forgot this band. Ministry and Skinny Puppy in early 90's at state theater in Detroit was sick. Don't think my feet touched the floor the entire show. UNREAL.

 

[cutacrossshorty]

Hey shorty I know we talked already about Faces as I saw the last two nights of their their final tour in 1975 as it ended in Hawaii and Woody went on to be a Stones.

Was Frampton the opening act when you saw them?

Was in like Oct. 75 he opened for Faces and by summer of 76 he was the headliner for Day on the Green as I had moved to Ca. in 76.

What a difference a few months and a live album made huh?

Yes, Fall of '75 and Frampton was the opener and did all the stuff that ended up on his Live album. He was okay that night, but the Faces were unreal on many levels.

 

[Buster]

left out one of the best...the very first ozzy tour on his own..

was met by a shitload of jesus freaks in the parking lot...

ozzy proceeded to take off his shirt and scratch himself to where he was bleeding when he took his shirt off and then he hung a midget live on stage... i will hate it when ozzy dies...

 

[Buster]

bless you randy..........

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wXapGeihiQg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wXapGeihiQg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[5teamparlay]

Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time tour '87.

If you weren't or are not a metal fan may be hard to believe but Dickinson on vocals was unreal and band was so tight on every song. The had so many great songs from previous albums to play from and did all night. Power actually went out at one point from heat,voltage etc.

Worst was Sting several years ago. Had an arrogant, holy than though attitude on stage and came out in his music. Very let down by show.

happy 55th bruce:

[h=1]Bruce Dickinson — Singer[/h] <section class="span12 user-info">

Birthday	<span2>August 7</span2><span2>, </span2><span2>1958</span2>
Birthplace	<span2>England</span2>
Age	55 years old
Birth Sign	<span2>Leo</span2>

<tbody>
</tbody>

</section>

 

[Brock Landers]

Great thread!!!!

 

[REDEYE]

best- Foo Fighters

worst- probably a country concert I got dragged in to