Whats the best and worst act you've seen in concert?

[TZ]

LynnSine's Elton John thread got me thinking. I've seen various artists of all types over the years
including the Rolling Stones,The Who, Brooks+Dunn, Whitney Houston, Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, George Straight, Power Station.

I would say for best act its a tie between the Rolling Stones and the Dixie Chicks, because of how entertaining they are on stage.
As for the worst..Whitney Houston..Hands down. All she did was sit and sing..I could get that from a CD....:eyes:

[MissMillie]

1. Best: Peter Gabriel, without a doubt

Creative, energetic, and spot-on musically.

Worst: Stevie Ray Vaughn: and it pains me to say that because he was brilliant. But at the time, he was drunk as a skunk and pretty much worthless.

[driver8]

68. I would go with Peter Gabriel, also.

He put on an amazing show, and his vocals were amazing. Not only that, the band he had with him was incredible!!

[emad]

2. Worst: New York Dolls being arrested on stage in London for

acts of gross lewdness.

[youthere]

3. Worst : KISS when I was in eigth grade BEST: Green Day

[terrya]

4. One of the best I've seen was Annie Lennox

God, she put on a FABULOUS show. The audience went wild over her.

[mtnester]

101. We saw her two summers ago, she opened for Sting

she was AMAZING

One of my ultimate shows would be the Pretenders, Annie Lennox, Pink and Concrete Blonde.

[flvegan]

5. Best: the Beastie Boys

Every time I've seen them, they've been incredible.

Worst: Disturbed. Not because it was *bad* per se, but it was lip-synched. It was part of one of those all-day festivals with 15 bands, so I didn't feel ripped off, nor was I really there to see them. Still sucked.

[commander bunnypants]

6. The Who

Hands down

Journey the frickin worst

CB

[TZ]

9. The Who

are very good in concert. I have them just below the Stones and the Dixie Chicks in my book..

[commander bunnypants]

12. Larf

I got them right above

CB

[SKKY]

7. Best = U2 "Zooropa Tour". Worst = Living Colour

[av8rdave]

27. They're Zoo TV tour was awesome as well

Bush Sr was Pres at the time. The show opened with a huge TV shot of him. They cut and spliced enough of pieces of his speech together so he incanted "We will we will rock you" in that inspiring monotone of his. Hilarious.

[av8rdave]

28. Their Zoo TV tour was awesome as well

Bush Sr was Pres at the time. The show opened with a huge TV shot of him. They cut and spliced enough of pieces of his speech together so he incanted "We will we will rock you" in that inspiring monotone of his. Hilarious.

[harmonicon]

69. what was bad about living colour?

I've never seen them, but when they were popular, they were my favourite band in the world. I must admit, when they did a sort of reunion thing about 10 years ago, I took pass. My brother saw them in the late 80's though and said they were great.

[SKKY]

75. Ok, Corey Glover is/was an amazing singer.

It was the other musicians. Vernon Reid, for all his prowess, played very, very sloppy. It was difficult to tell what song was being played until Corey started singing. Maybe we saw them on a bad day, but strictly from a musical standpoint, they were just awful. And I know it wasn't the sound system because all the other bands that played before and after them were spot on.

[harmonicon]

84. that's too bad.

I agree that Corey Glover is just the best though.

[tinymontgomery]

8. Ted Negent

Biggest regret I'll ever have is spending money to see that POS. This was in the 70's, I still have no idea why I wanted to see him, I was a Dead, Dylan, Beatles etc fan (still am).

[bbernardini]

10. 5 way tie for best:

1. Was (Not Was) in a small club in Philadelphia a few years ago.
2. Todd Rundgren - Power TR-iO tour when Jesse Gress came onstage halfway through and played until the end of the show.
3. Jim Boggia - Any performance.
4. Mike Keneally - Any performance.
5. Genesis - Reunion tour last September.

Worst? Probably Dave Matthews. Sound was crap, performance was boring, crowd was stupid.

[lightningandsnow]

11. Best: 3 way tie:

The Dixie Chicks, the Indigo Girls, and Cliks (I saw IG and the Cliks in the same concert!)

Worst: Billy Talent. I did not go voluntarily - it was with my family. They sounded like crap - can't play live at all.

[Bennyboy]

13. Lots of bests...only a few worsts....

grateful dead, the Who (with Moon)The Stones (Some Girls) Springsteen, The Highwaymen, String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon

The Worst: The Guess Who. Steve Miller Band (after Abracadabra)Genesis, Phil Collins.

[bif]

14. Worst=Grateful Dead. I was grateful when it ended

One of the most boring concerts ever. Best? Eddie Palmieri...Chucho Valdez...Tommy Flannagan. Too many to mention them all.

[Bennyboy]

24. Any chance you have the date or venue?

even approximate date and venue?

[bif]

33. Probably around 1975. Cobo Hall-Detroit

[Bennyboy]

40. Some info...

Pretty basic show. http://www.setlists.net/?show_id=0986 The two people tht made comments did not seem to care much for it either. And usually, if the show is a good one there are many comments.

[bif]

42. Wow, you must be quite the Deadhead

I had no idea you could download all of their concerts. One of the reasons I was dissapointed was I was expecting them to do more of their hits. I was just barely into them, so for all I know, those could have been some of their hits. Just not the ones I was familiar with.

[Bennyboy]

47. Yeah..The Dead are the most researched band ever.....

And if you went for Truckin' and Casey Jones (or later, Touch of Grey) you were more likely than not to be dissapointed. That was the thing about them (and modern jambands)was that they were always diffeent. Songs even changed totally over time. Setlists always changed.

And there was someone at every show to document it and tape it.

[harmonicon]

70. it's sacrilege to compare the grateful dead to "jam bands" NT

[Bennyboy]

80. Not really...they have the same ethos and most

cite the Grateful Dead MAJOR influences. I know this, when I am watching String Cheese Incident with a good number of the Grateful Dead family (Mountain Girl, John Barlow,Wavy gravy. Ken Kesey etc) it is as if Jerry is smiling down from the heavens. That is why Bob Weir tours with Keller Williams and String Cheese and has played with Moe and Railroad Earth. That is why Phil Lesh has Trey play with him and the guys from Moe and Phish and String Chesses in his bands. It is why Warrren Haynes has been in Phil's band, been in the Dead and plays with the Allman Brothers.

Jambands are all about the musical exploration, taking chances musically. It is really an unfair label, Jambands, but that is what we are stuck with to describe the style of music that is not so rehearsed that all of the life is sucked out of it. There are so many different styles that fit under that jamband umbrella, from Funk, jazz, bluegrass, reggae,rock and roll, Hip hop and any other genre you can find. But, they jam the songs out. So they are unique every time.

Some are, like the Grateful Dead, a totally a different thing and are completely unique like String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Spearhead, Phish and a few others.

[harmonicon]

85. two main points

these are things the dead had going for them that none of the other bands do:

1. time. When they started doing what they were doing, it was totally new. There's no way to compare an imitator to the original. More importantly, they were part of all of this history happening. They were the first band to use instruments with active electronics. The first to use midi guitars, in ear monitors, etc. They were a huge part of technological innovation in music that so many others have benefited from.

I would also say, they basically predate rock and roll - not the band, but the band members. No one from these other bands was around for the folk revival which predated the rock explosion. Old and in the Way weren't some sort of new grass revival, but part of genuine bluegrass revival. Sure, Bob Weir can play with people, but fucking Vassar Clements played with Jerry Garcia. Phil Lesh studied with Alvin Lucier, who is one of the grandfathers of American experimental classical music, and plays on one of his records. He was there at the inception.

2. songs!! They had the BEST songs. Is there one of these bands that you've mentioned that's ever done anything like Ripple? Attics of My Life? No fucking way. Hunter/Garcia were unstoppable.

[Bennyboy]

97. Unbroken Chain.......

It is all the continuation of that thing. The people that play music that not so much entertains you but gets into you mind. SCI has played with Olatunji, Del McCourey, David Grisman, Peter Rowan and many others. It is all part of the chain. And to have said Jerry's dead that's it...well you have missed out on an awful lot.

I saw the Dead over 500 times (yeah 500)and loved them dearly. But I got into other things since, and some of that music means as much to me now as the Dead's music. Some of it is pure wankery, but some is jsut incredible on the lines of Ripple or Attics or Dark Star.


You can still dig the old stuff and embrace the new. For me, it is great to see that some kid is at a Moe show wearing a grateful dead shirt and knowing that there is no way they are old enough to have ever seen them. But these bands are the ones the kids get into now and they get into the Dead by way of that.

UNBROKEN CHAIN.

[harmonicon]

98. I could argue about this forever, but I won't bother

you think you're right, and I think I'm right.
















but I'm always right, damn it!! :P

[Bennyboy]

99. Tell ya what......

Download and listen to this show http://www.archive.org/details/sci2003-08-01.mk41v.flac16 From Hornings Hideout on Jerry's Birthday and tell me it is not incredible. A couple of the songs are co-written by Robt Hunter and John Barlow with SCI.

[Bennyboy]

115. Proof of the Unbroken chain....

Martin Fierro died today. he was a major link in that chain. he played with Chuck Berry, Jerry and with new Monsoon and String Cheese Incident. he was in one of the first "jambands", Zero with Jerry Garcia's favorite guitar player Steve Kimock.

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/Story.aspx?StoryID=13274 Some of Martin Music is in linked in the article....And I linked him witht he GD in the thread about Martin.....

[flygal]

15. Bob Dylan

He came to our smallish town and it was such big news - the next day the big news was what a let down it was. He played keyboard and you could not understand a single lyric. Lay ladie lay was completely rushed and mumbled. I just didn't sense any genius there. He only talked at the end introducing his band. About a third the audience had left by then.

[flygal]

16. forgot my best - Aha

If you can believe it. I loved it - they really were incredibly talented musicians and my God can the lead singer SING!! I went with a friend and was expecting lip syncing pop crap but it really impressed me.

[Beer Snob-50]

39. i saw dylan with tom petty and the heartbreakers as his backup band

when petty sang with him you could understand but when it was dylan alone, forget it!!

[BOSSHOG]

17. Best: Black Oak Arkansas in 1976

Nothing but energy, great music and borderline pornography for two hours with no breaks. Christ my wife couldn't wait to get my ass home that night.

Can't think of a definite WORST!

[mtnester]

53. Hmmm...let me think

Jim Dandy to the Rescue?

(I may be showing my age a bit)

[BOSSHOG]

102. Jim Dandy was "Getting Kinda Cocky"

on stage. Very good show, they put forth a lot of energy.

[mtnester]

108. Boss, thanks for that memory and smile

I have not thought about that song in YEARS (OK, so it is sort of an earworm right now, but that is OK)


Here are two Black Oak Arkansas clips, just for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGAPhLK8qdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPsaGPzCHkQ



:)

[BOSSHOG]

109. Thank you Very Much

I had to break out my Black Oak Cassette and crank up Uncle Lijah and When Electricity came to Arkansas, Lord have Mercy on My Soul and of course, Hot Rod. Lordy did Jim Dandy camp that one up. Thanks again.

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. Best: Rush, Pink Floyd, Zappa, Gensis (when they were good); Worst: Vinnie Vincent Invasion

And Heart gets a good nod for second worse show I've ever seen. It was still watchable, though.

Vinnie Vincent holds the record for being the only show I ever would have walked out on, but I couldn't, because he was opening for Alice Cooper and I was third row from the front on the chairless floor and I wasn't giving up that spot for nothin'.

Alice Cooper, by the way, was fucking awesome!

[Strawman]

22. The Boyz are Gonna Suck

Vinnie Vincent Invasion. Wow. That had to be brutal.

When did you see Zappa? That's a show I wish I could have seen. I got into Zappa my senior year of HS in 1989, shortly after he did that "Broadway The Hardway" tour (1988?) that, I think, was his last...at least in my neck of the woods.

[Rabrrrrrr]

23. I just squeezed Zappa in - saw him in '84.

Couldn't see him on the '88 tour at all. And then he died.

I'm glad I got to see him at least once.

And Vinnie Vincent WAS brutally awful. Pure crap. Far worse than Autograph or Dokken, who were also really bad opening bands. But Vinnie was bad on a level I've never seen in a performance.

And not bad because it was poorly performed - it was in tune, on rhythm, etc. But the music - Christ, the music. Just awful. Every solo was the top four frets, justasgoddamnedfastashecoulkdpossiblyplaythem. Yeah, Vinnie, that's a real interesting way to put together 40 minutes of music.

:eyes:

[jus_the_facts]

111. Alice put on a freaky awesome show.... Ace Frehley was supposed to play too...

....as second headliner and he didn't fuckin' show up...Alice blew the roof off the place though. :hi:

[graywarrior]

19. Worst by far: Ted Nugent

Best: Toss up between Queen and Dylan, altho Alman Bro's kicked ass every time I saw them (which was at least 20)

[fight4my3sons]

20. so many bests:

Grateful Dead, Toots & the Maytals, The Wailers, RATM, 311, Santana, Prodigy, The Crystal Method, Bad Religion, Paul Simon, Ziggy Marley

Worst: New Kids on the Block (had to take my little sister back in high school and it was not my style of music at all)

[mtnester]

21. Worst - Def Leppard

Best - Black Crowes in a VERY small club called Mecca in Columbus a few years back...OMG it was a great 3 hours. If you saw someone sitting on top of the cigarette machine, that was me.

[Justyce]

74. I loved Def Leppard live. They had a crappy sound man, but they were awesome. nt

[Initech]

25. Best = Tool

I saw Tool's show back in December, and I have seen a lot of concerts. But Tool's stage show is simply fucking mind-blowing, and I saw it in a smaller venue where it was even more amazing. There's nothing that can accurately recreate it on TV.

Worst was the Wu-Tang Clan. Dont get me wrong, I love Wu Tang, but their stage show wasn't all that memorable. There were so many people on stage during their show that you couldn't tell who the members of the group were.

[Jimbo S]

26. Best: Stadium - U2 Zoo, Club - Beatfarmers

I heard The Cars put on a lame show.

[MotorCityMan]

29. Best: J Geils Band Worst: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Maybe it's a Detroit thing, as they have always been pretty popular here, even before they really took off with the "Love Stinks" and "Freeze-Frame" albums. I wouldn't say they were the best sounding or most talented band that I have seen, but J. Geils was the most fun I have had at a concert. Peter Wolf was very energetic and great at getting the crowd going. Have seen them 3 times, and was at one of the concerts where they recorded their live "It's Showtime" album.

Joan Jett was an opening act for, I think, Pat Benatar. This was in the 80s when "I Love Rock and Roll" first took off. Joan seemed quite f*cked up and sounded awful. And I LIKE a lot of Joan's music, although I never really cared for "I Love Rock and Roll".

[Coyote_Bandit]

30. Best

Johnny Cash - once in a concert hall venue and once in a small dinner theater - very different performances with one being more entertaining and one being far more intimate.

Also good - Jimmy Buffet, John Denver and the Cher retirement tour.

Worst without a doubt was Dylan in an outdoor concert. At his best he is hard to understand. Add traffic and weather issues and a bad outdoor sound mix and you have a frickin disaster.

[OmahaBlueDog]

91. One of my best memories..

was seeing Johnny Cash perform outdoors in Washington DC on July 4, 1976. I still remember him saying the woord "bleep" in "Boy Named Sue" and then adding "sorry, folks, it's a G-rated show. "

[Coyote_Bandit]

96. I remember seeing some video of that performance

at the time. What a wonderful memory. You should know that I'm officially jealous.....

[qb]

31. Best & Worst: 1992 Lollapalooza, Harriet Island St. Paul

Best: Ministry (cool stage decorations and jammin' music, but way too short)
Worst: Soundgarden, when they tried (& fortunately failed) to get the crowd to shout along to the "Fuck the Police" line in Body Count's "Cop Killer"

Best message on overhead message board: "If you're pro choice then why the fuck are you eating Domino's pizza?"

[myrna minx]

112. I was at the 1991 Lollapalooza at Harriet Island

and it was amazing!:hi: I remember trying to get something to drink and I completely missed the buthole surfers, though. All I'll say is that Jane's addiction's fans are very devoted.

[Cabcere]

32. I'm jealous of all of you.

:cry: The Who, Pink Floyd, The Stones, Dylan...*sigh*

I've never even really been to a "real" concert. :(

[TZ]

34. Aw man.

Well if you end up back in this area after college. I'll make sure I get you to one. No one should miss the fun of a live concert...
PS, my younger sister lives 5 miles from Nissan...:hi:

[MotorCityMan]

36. They are all certainly a hell of a lot more expensive

than they were 20-25 years ago when I went all the time.

And you HAD to buy a jersey (they were about $10-$15) and wear it to school the next day.

I was even lucky enough to see Barbra Streisand for free since a friend of mine won tickets to one of her Detroit shows in the early 90s. We had great seats, her voice was incredible, and she put on a hell of show.

[BeachBaby]

35. ....

Best: Pink Floyd, without question
Worst: Barney

[TZ]

37. Uh Barney?

Oh noes......You poor thing..you must be so traumatized...:yoiks:

[jobycom]

38. Same concert--Best: Cheap Trick. Worst: Allman Brothers.

People were yawning and booing during the ABs. Cheap Trick was so wild they kept coming out for encores after the lights had come up. By the end they were playing old Beatles and Stones songs, with the audience singing along, almost like a giant campfire singalong. My ears have been ringing ever since, and my voice still hasn't recovered.

The concert was in 84, I think, in Mobile, AL. All day outdoor affair. Leon Redbone, Jimmy Hall (of Wet Willie fame--he was awesome, and since he was from Mobile, the crowd loved him), Charlie Daniels, the Allman Brothers, and Cheap Trick.

[Rob H.]

44. I was gonna mention Cheap Trick for my best, too

They performed an on-campus outdoor concert in the spring of 1986 when I was in college and put on a FANTASTIC show. There weren't tons of people there, but they played full-out as if they were in a stadium full of thousands of people. They were the first big-name band I'd ever seen live--and it was free!

Edit: shpelling

[SoxFan]

83. They always go full tilt

I saw Cheap Trick at an all-day outdoor show in NH back in 1984. This was during that period where they were out of the limelight, after Buddokan but before "The Flame". For some weird reason, the bill included the Lines (a Cheap Trickish power-pop act from Boston), Lita Ford, Ratt, and Twisted Sister. Twisted Sister and Ratt were at the peak of their careers, but Cheap trick went last. The crowd of 15,000 had dwindled to maybe 3,000 by the time they went on, but they rolled out a fantastic show, and the crowd responded in kind. Show biz troupers in the best sense of the term!

Twisted Sister was actually a lot of fun, but Lita and Ratt absoultely chomped the log.

[auburngrad82]

41. The worst was the Firm, late 80s in Atlanta

Rolling Stone Magazine listed two or three of the Firm's concerts that year as the worst of the year. Apparently they didn't believe in sound checks. It was a shame. Jimmy Page and Paul Rogers on stage together and they sucked.

[MonkeyFunk]

43. Best is hard to say

I've seen a LOT of great shows.

Worst? Probably had to be The Cars back around '80. Totally sucked.

One of the disappointments was Nina Simone - I had front-row seats. She was so old and infirm that she really could only play about 20 minutes. But it was still awesome to see her, and she was very apologetic about her condition, so I forgave her.

Edit: wait, I remember the worst! Jorma Kaukonen, in the early 80s. His first set was acoustic and everyone loved it. Second set was electric noise - the place just cleared out. Nobody stayed to hear it.

[MrCoffee]

45. Best: Pearl Jam Worst: 10,000 Maniacs

I saw 10,000 Maniacs at an outdoor show in Houston in August. Natalie Merchant spent all of the time between songs whining about how hot it was, and how the mosquitos were eating her.


You know what, Natalie, shut the hell up! We're out in the hot and bug infested air right there with you, but the difference is that WE paid YOU for the privilege, so shut the hell up and sing "Hey Jack Kerouac" before I throw something at you.

[kwassa]

46. Best: Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, Worst: Led Zeppelin

Led Zep was beat out by their opening act, Grand Funk Railroad. October, 1969. They just were underwhelming live. I think they got better, but they weren't then. Myself and friends completely lost interest in the band.

Talking Heads at the Greek in 1983, spine-chilling concert. Jonathan Demme was also in the audience and decided to make a movie about them. The concert was better.

Stones at a Masonic Hall in Detroit in 1979, "Some Girls" tour, 5000 seat opera house, unannounced concert on the big tour of stadiums. Front row balcony, close to the stage. They were like a force of nature, just great live.

[HughBeaumont]

48. Here's mine . . .

BEST:

Mr. Bungle. 3/29/92. Empire club.

The show was sold out and it was for their first album, so all of them were in costume. Even though their music turned and twisted genre after genre, time signature after time signature, we knew every change, every hat drop, every lyric. The pit was as frantic as I've ever seen a packed Empire. They performed every track except "Egg" and covered "24000 Baci" (Adriano Celentano), "Citta Violenta" (Ennio Morricone), "Time" (Alan Parsons Project) and "The Stroke" (Billy Squier). Patton threw liquor bottles into the audience.

They just don't have shows like that anymore.

Runners Up:

Run/DMC. Gravity Games 2001. SO glad I got to see them before one of music's most undeserved tragedies occurred. They were just unbelieveable to see live and I about lost it when they played "King Of Rock".

Primus/Tad. 1991. Babylon A Go Go. Wall to wall packed with people. Primus only played 40 minutes, since the weight of the amount of people couldn't be handled by the club's floor. You missed a song if you had to go to the restroom. This was the Sailing tour, where he first busted out the Carl T 6. Damn.

Yes. 1991. Union Tour. Jaw-dropping sound from every instrument. All 8 classic members (Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe, White, Rabin, Squire and Kaye). All the great songs were played and I had great seats. Best arena show I've ever been to bar none.

High on Fire. Clothing Store, Euclid Avenue, 2002. Result of an aborted gig due to opening band singer's stupidity of ripping the lighting rig down, thus ending the show before HOF could get on stage. They set up shop way down the road, played 2 songs and the cops stopped the show. Got to hear "Last" and an early version of "Surrounded by Theives". Ethereal.

High on Fire/Mastodon/3-song Burnt By the Sun set/Keelhaul. 2002. Grog Shop. First Mastodon viewing, immediately became a fan. HOF blew the place up as usual.

Neurosis, Peabody's. 1996. Through Silver and Blood tour. My hair stood on end after the show.

godspeed you black emperor. 2004. Beachland Ballroom. Packed wall to wall with record store clerks from far and wide, the best post-rock show I've ever seen. Visuals and the musicianship were great, volume was loud and clear. Beachland's acoustics resonate; the perfect band to play in this venue.

WORST:

hole. 1995. Nautica Stage. Opening for NIN. So fucking bad I refuse to boldface or capitalize their name. Shitbad songs. Crapola sound. Poor lighting. The heroin and fake tit laced abomination called Courtney Love. I can think of five BAD local bands that deserve to be signed before hole and I live in CLEVELAND, ferchrissakes. That was without a doubt the worst goddamned disgrace of a show I've ever seen, bar none, and I've seen some pretty craptacular bands (some that way on purpose).

Runners up -
Limp Bizkit (Would qualify for the absolute worst, but let's face it, you can't top the Queen. Unbelievable that these Jacksonville mooks sold as many records as they did playing such horrid fourth-rate Korncrap. America's youth really must be that stupid.)
Marilyn Manson (Nice guy, great views, but his music is below average and live show very overrated)
Mushroomhead (bad Faith No More played in makeup and jumpsuits)
Slipknot (ham-fisted, horrible sound, stopped their show two songs in to get in a fight with Mushroomhead fans. Unbelievably DUMB on so many levels. I wouldn't even have liked this as a 14 year old.)
The Bronx (boring boring BORING-ass three-chord fratcore band that inexplicably seems to regularly open tours of bands I like. Singer is a Bewsh supporter, so fuck them)

[MrCoffee]

49. ahhh...hole in 95...did she come back for an encore, stage dive, and claim someone fingered her?

She did in Austin, and I heard that it was part of her regular thing.


Charming woman.

[dembotoz]

50. best-Hendrix (yes I really am that old)

or maybe because it was my first concert.

Worst
Stevie Nicks ranks right up there.
Elton john-piano man tour with what his name--did not want to go. Slept thru most of it.

[Recursion]

51. Best: Tom Waits. Worst: Poison

Runners up for "best" were Eddie From Ohio, Cake, U2, BNL, and Barry Manilow (I don't like his music either, but he's absolutely ****ing incredible in concert).

[Chovexani]

52. The best

1. Janet Jackson. I saw her when she did the Velvet Rope tour and that woman puts on a damn good show.

2. Smashing Pumpkins. That was the tour they did promoting Mellon Collie. Sadly, the show I was initially supposed to see was cancelled because of the Jonathan Melvoin incident but I ended up seeing them a few months later and it was definitely worth it. The energy was unbelievable.

3. Tied between Tori Amos and DespairsRay, a Japanese band. Both of those concerts were awesome because they were in smaller venues and were far more intimate than your average arena show. When you can look into the artist's eyes, it's pretty freaking special.

The worst...that would be Psycho le Cemu, another Japanese band. It wasn't so much the band's fault as the venue. It was way too small for the number of people in attendence and jammed pack way too tight. The acoustics were awful, too. That was a miserable experience that I don't ever want to repeat.

[Taverner]

54. Best Act: The Grateful Dead. Worst Act: The Grateful Dead

[ET Awful]

67. I was gonna say that :) n/t

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

72. Great if you're high, bad if they are?

My ma saw them, and she said they were just too fucked up to play well by sober standards.

[Taverner]

79. Nah - bad if Jerry was so wasted he couldn't play

Great if he was just wasted enough to play

[fizzgig]

55. best: the cure, july 2005 (?)

it was the curiosa festival. i got a seat in the eighth row because i went by myself. i danced, had a few drinks, sang and screamed myself hoarse. it was a fantastic show. i'm hoping their show in may (at red rocks!!!!) is just as amazing.

runner up: green day in 2004 and 2005. amazing energy and the showmanship and energy was just amazing

worst: hmmmm...i would say a tie between godsmack and disturbed. they toured with stp probably five or six years ago. stp was amazing, but the other two bands just sucked

[ronnykmarshall]

56. Lots of best

Best: Madonna 1990, Stevie Nicks 1981 & all of her 2000's shows, Barbra Streisand, Gipsy Kings, Cher & Celine Dion's Vegas show.

Worst: All the damn heavy metal concerts my friend drug me to when I was a teenager.

[intheflow]

57. Best = Clapton, Worst = Paul Simon

I saw them a month apart in the summer of 2001. Brian Wilson was Simon's opening act and was excellent (surprizingly enough). But Paul Simon wasn't even mediocre. I was very disappointed.

As for Clapton, he inspired my own creativity, I've been referring to that concert in writings for years now. Another contender for best concert might be Melissa Etheridge; I saw her in a very intimate setting, an auditorium that seats maybe 300 people. It was right on the cusp of her getting famous and she was fabulous! Saw her a year later in a stadium and it just sucked in comparison--plus the tickets cost me 3x the original concert. :(

[MonkeyFunk]

78. I saw Brian Wilson/Paul Simon on that same tour

yeah, he was a let down.

[grannylib]

58. Hmmm...best would be a tie between Neil Young/Crazy Horse

"Rust Never Sleeps" tour and Zeppelin on my 18th birthday...Worst would probably be Neil/Shocking Pinks on the "Trans" tour; really really disappointing.

[grace0418]

59. Best: Neil Finn, Crowded House Worst: Ministry

I love Ministry but that was a terrible show. Very disappointed.

But Neil Finn never lets me down. sigh...

[Blarch]

60. Best...

Rage Against the Machine.



Worst..WASP

[madinmaryland]

61. No bad ones.

How about this group...



Saw them in 1979.

:)

[hellbound-liberal]

62. Best Concert: Bruce Springsteen's Vote for Change Tour-2004: Wahington, DC

With Bruce, The Dixie Chicks, R.E.M., John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, The Dave Matthews Band. James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt (together). The highlight of the show was Bruce doing Man in the Moon with R.E.M. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SORvqufVe6c

[abq e streeter]

63. Best: the E Street band in '75 and '78; very few others even close

but Leon Russell, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, Los Lobos, Rancid, Mitch Ryder,Stevie Ray Vaughn and Alice Cooper are others that were outstanding. Dylan and the Band in '74 probably # 2 behind my first two Springsteen concerts. Worst? The Airplane ( with the exception of Papa John Creech) were pretty disappointing. Jerry Lee Lewis, Lou Ann Barton, Leon Russell (the second time) and the Smithereens too-- all for the same reason: too drunk to play worth a damn.

[abq e streeter]

64. Also seen some absolutely amazing blues in bars; not really " concerts" but...

Junior Wells, Big Walter Horton, Tommy Castro, JB Hutto and the Hawks, Son Seals, Koko Taylor...

[maveric]

65. Best: Jethro Tull, 1973. Worst: Pat Travers, 1980

This was Tull's supposed farewell concert on their "Fair well Tour". The band was supposedly breaking up...
The show was fantastic. Great musicians and theatrics.

Travers he falling asleep half way through. I had to walk out shortly after I caught myself nodding.

[Roon]

66. Roger Waters radio KAOS tour was the best show I have ever seen

The worst, would be Rainbow opening up for Blue Oyster Cult. Terrible show. If I wasn't with my friends, I would have left.

[drmeow]

87. AMEN to KAOS - awesome show! n/t

[Roon]

89. The shows he is putting on today

doesn't even match up to radio KAOS. Not even close, I dare say, BORING!!

[drmeow]

93. Bummer!

Although I've pretty much stopped going to concerts, he could have brought me out. And as I mentioned in my full post in this thread, I'm actually not that much of a Waters fan but he did put on great shows (saw Pros and Cons, too - not as good as KAOS but still pretty good). Pieces of KAOS still play in my head despite the mind-altering substances!

[Roon]

94. Nice! eom

[x-g.o.p.er]

71. Best: Sringsteen worst: Los Lobos

[Justyce]

73. Best: Journey or Boston. Worst: Hank Williams Jr.

The man is tone deaf and is an ass when he's drunk...

[guitar man]

76. let me think.....

I'd have to say the best I've seen is Govt Mule...3 hours of incredible music, never a dull moment...:applause:

The worst was Hank Williams Jr. I saw him abot 20 years ago and he couldn't even stand up, muddled his way through 4 or 5 songs, fell off his stool and had to be helped off the stage...:thumbsdown:

[hobbit709]

77. Best: Hendrix, Zappa, Lightning Hopkins

Worst: Nugent at the Dillo

[harmonicon]

81. sorta depends

There are loads and loads of bands that I've seen in bars and clubs that were just horrible. Same goes for forgettable bands at festivals where I went to see something else.

The best are also likely bands that I saw in a club some time. I remember seeing Trembling Blue Stars at a club in New York (the mercury lounge, I think it was) in 2001, and they were insanely good. I gave Bobby Wratten a hug. Man Planet were always excellent too. Back in the day (in the 90's) I saw some really incredible Kill Hannah shows in Chicago.

Of sorta big name bands, the best was definitely Echo and the Bunnymen in 1997. They'd sorta reunited and were playing shows for the first time in 8 years. No new album was out yet, and they hadn't advertised the tour. You just sorta had to find out a few days before hand. A friend and I drove the 3 hours or whatever it was to see them, not even knowing if we could get tickets, and it was fantastic.

I'd say the worst was Depeche Mode. That was also late 90's some time. 1/2 the problem was the crowd, but the band also kinda sucked. Dave Gahan prancing around and shaking his ass in plastic trousers, back up singers, backing band..... all just so blah. I hate any concert where the audience is expected to clap their hands in unison or sing along.

Also bad was Santana, from around the same time. I think the guy is a good guitar player, but it was just really lack-luster. Rusted Root opened, and I went with my brother. We really liked Rusted Root, and after about 30 minutes of Santana, we decided to leave - it just wasn't going to compare.

[SoxFan]

82. U2, Unforgettable Fire tour, 1985

The show where the lighting rig almost fell into the frint rows.

Strong runners-up:

The Alarm, "Spirit of '86" tour, opening for pat benatar, of all people.
The Kinks, 1983 tour

Worst:

Ratt
Lita Ford

[bookworm65t]

86. a surprise for me was...

I have gone to many rock concerts, but no one has topped the concert I went to with Yo Yo Ma. He completely electrified the audience.

Worst: Bon Jovi

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

88. My Morrissey, of course (best)

I really can't think of any bad ones. I am not a huge concertgoer, though.

[OmahaBlueDog]

90. Great question! Best: Foghat, Worst: Tie

The best concert I ever saw was Foghat in 1981. I am not a Foghat fan, and they were the middle act on a triple bill of Shooting Star, Foghat, and Blue Oyster Cult. I'd gone to see BOC. Foghat was incredible. They blew the place away doing "Slow Ride", and rocked "Fool for the City." They were just clicking that night. I've seen a lot of great acts (McCartney, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, Genesis, Bob Seger, Steely Dan, Jefferson Starship, Black Sabbath, Jimmy Buffett, Dimeola/Delucia/McLaughlin), but that was the best performance, period.

There is a two way tie for worst. I saw Aja in 1983. I had the same problem the OP had with Whitney Houston -- I might as well have gone home and put on the album. Except for the solos by Carl Palmer and Steve Howe, it was a waste. The second was in either 89 or 90. We saw Bonnie Raitt at the old Miami Marine Stadium. Jimmy Buffet had done a successful concert film there a year or two earlier, and I think they were figuring they might get the same vibe. The problems started with the opening act, John Prine. He was a big Bonnie favorite, but he was just not connecting with the crowd. Then Bonnie came out, and threw a hissy when the people on the inner tubes by the stage were distracting her during one of her ballads. I see her point, but what the Hell did she expect in this venue. She went on and did the show, and it was OK, but overall, it was a huge disappointment.

[drmeow]

92. I agree with Roon

Although Pink Floyd was damn good, Roger Waters' Radio KAOS tour was the absolute best concert I have ever seen ... and I'm not even that big of a Waters fan (also saw Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking - another good show). Radio KAOS wasn't a mere concert, it was a performance!

Other standouts:
Live - great stage show
Erasure - how can you go wrong with Andy Bell in NYC singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow in a white corset and red platform shoes with a crowd of mostly drag queens swaying right up against the barrier in the front row - I had SO much fun! And what a show they put on.
Scorpions - went to see Foreigner, Loverboy, Scorpions, and Iron Maiden in 82 or 83. Scorpions blew everyone away
Tears for Fears - 8th row center seats and at the time one of my favorite bands (still up there)
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young - smallish venue, originally wasn't supposed to be with Young who showed up by surprise (T-shirt doesn't list his name), Greenpeace benefit, great show
Midnight Oil - worst part of both times I saw them was that the venues cut them off at a certain time which was too early for both the band and the audience.

I could go on listing shows - I've seen so many great ones.

Worst:
Loverboy - BORING, BORING, BORING not to mention way late. I hated Iron Maiden at that show, too, but that may have been because I just didn't like their music
Depeche Mode - the concert was mediocre but my friend enjoyed it (I think it was the first or one of the first concerts she'd ever see) but for a band of that stature they put on an incredibly boring show. I heard that their shows really range from great to crap and the night before had been phenomenal. I hate bands like that. Their opening act - Stabbing Westward - was much better.
Berlin - I never really liked the song "Sex" and the spectacle of Terri Nunn writhing on the stage to it was just gross.

[nicktom]

95. Worst ever, Bad Company

probably in the late 70's, to this day the only concert I actually walked out of before it was over. I was never a big fan but they did have a few hits back in the day.

I've had many that stand out above others (The Who, Pink Floyd, ELP, Tull, Linda Ronstadt/Jackson Browne/Eagles in one show) but the one concert that I will always remember is the Paul McCartney & Wings Band on the Run show. Being a huge Beatle fan it was special to see an actual Beatle perform live an entire concert since the mid sixties. I realize he's been back many times since but it was one of those "you had to be there" moments.

[camillus]

100. Ughh, hard to remember, but here's a shot

THE GOOD:

Cramps, with Kid Congo Powers, after their 2nd LP, at a small club in Portland, OR

Kinks, on tour ca. 1980, with the live album "One for the Road" being a result and pretty good too.

999, at a medium sized club venue in Portland, again ca. 1980.

The Gun Club, ca. 1983, Eugene and Portland. Amazing !

THE BAD:

Not many, as I generally know what I like and avoid the rest.

Eric Clapton, ca. 2004. Truly boring and truly expensive.

Bruce Springsteen, ca. 2005. Show was actually pretty good, and I have no real probs with the guy, but after 90 minutes I'm bored with anyone. This show went on forever ! I wouldn't want to sit through 2+ hours of Presley, much less anyone else.

THE UGLY:

Just one entry here:

Johnny Thunders, ca. 1980, very small alt rock club in Portland. Played a bunch of 15 minute sets. In between time was drug time, the guy could barely last for a few minutes without stimulation, but was otherwise a good show. Had to be there I guess.

THE VIDEO:

The Yardbirds, ca. March 1967 Germany. Wasn't there, but the CD "Cumular Limits" has it: Four songs, live with Jimmy page.
This is super hot with "Shapes of Things", "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago", "Over, Under, Sideways, Down", and "I'm a Man".

[Dulcinea]

103. Here goes....

Best: Springsteen, 1984, Born in the USA tour, Three Rivers Stadium. I didn't sit down for 3 hours!

Also, U2, Joshua Tree tour, 1987, same venue. Amazing show! Bono had a broken arm & still was great.

Worst: Billy Squier (remember him?) Terrible. Boring.
He was playing in Pittsburgh with a local hero, Donnie Iris. Donnie blew him off the stage.

Honorable mentions: Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello, Stone Temple Pilots.

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

104. Best .....Eric Clapton...mid 90s....Worst .....Ozzie Osborne circa '83

[EstimatedProphet]

105. Best: Dead 04/05/95 Worst: Black Oak Arkansas/Iron Butterfly

[Bennyboy]

107. Here it is 4-05-95

http://www.setlists.net/?search=true&venue=&city=&state=&month=4&day=5&year=95&songs=&submit=Search

Got some pretty good comments about this one.

[EstimatedProphet]

114. 3 drummers!

During Matilda, willie Green came on to play with Hart&Kreutzman. DAMN!

Also, Morning Dew just blew me away. Stunning! And they opened with Here Comes sunshine a capella. I hated that song until I heard it that night, and I've loved it ever since!

[Zavulon]

106. Nazareth was the best, and Nazareth was the worst.

I saw them on their Snakes and Ladders tour when they headlined, and they were phenomenal. Best show I've ever seen.

Later that year, they were the opening act in a Nazareth-Saga-Kansas lineup, and they fucking sucked. Their playing was lethargic and off, and they didn't even address the crowd once. They were almost as bad as Saga that night. Fortunately, Kansas actually put on a good show and saved the night.

To be fair to Nazareth, though, if I were in a well-established band and had to take the stage before Saga did, I'd be pissed too.

[jus_the_facts]

110. Worst: Dokken ..... Best: Metallica.

[MAGICBULLET]

113. Best...

Brown, that funky man who taught me how to do the popcorn and the mashed potatos! Live he was amazing!!!!

a close second is George Clinton and his mothership, the loudest show I've ever seen, EVER, so funkadelic


Worst...
Poison and Warrant together - I'm embarassed, no need to go any further

[stuntcat]

116. my best was Prince

He's a total showman so his concerts are great anyway, but also I love him so much I kept crying both times I saw him :blush:
I don't remember not liking any concerts.. once at Fiona Apple I had a miserable time because my husband was in a shitty mood but the other times I saw her (without him) were great.

[bluecrush]

117. Best: Michael Jackson in the 80's; Chicago the worst

but they were playing in oxygen thin Denver and they just got off the plane.

[Forkboy]

118. Worst - The Cars. Best - Ed Hall.

[AwakeAtLast]

119. Best: R. E. M. Worst : 2-way tie between DGeneration and Gin Blossoms

DGeneration opened for KISS in '94 or so. Just total suckage.

I saw Gin Blossoms around the time they were about to break up. They almost started fighting on stage. Goo-goo dolls opened for them and they were good!

[LibDemAlways]

120. Best would be a tie between

Elton John Dodger Stadium 1975, Springsteen in 88, and Green Day in 05.

Worst was some emo bands my daughter wanted to see in 06. She was too young to be in there alone, so I bought a ticket. Horrible.

[Zorra]

121. Best: Kansas. Worst: Patti Smith, who was so wasted she could barely

stand up, and had to leave the stage half an hour while her Guitar player Lenny Kaye played and sang classic rock cover tunes.