Memorable Live Shows You’ve Seen
 

Just throw out bands you’ve seen live that you really enjoyed.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Van Halen at HP Pavilion, San Jose

Stanley Clarke at Yoshi’s, Oakland

Chris Duarte Group at Biscuits & Blues, San Francisco

Wynton Marsalis at Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & G3

Smokin’ Joe Kubek at Biscuits & Blues, San Francisco

Jimmie Vaughan at B.B. King’s Blues Bar & Grill, New York City

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago

Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Vaughan and Buddy Guy at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin

Robert Cray at Yoshi’s, San Francisco

AC/DC at Allstate Arena, Chicago

ZZ Top at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville

Van Halen at Oracle Arena, Oakland

I saw Weird Al live twice: once in Buffalo, NY and once at Tag's Outdoor Stage in Big Flats, NY. Seeing Weird Al live is amazing. :) And the real amazing thing is that he gives such a spectacular performance despite the ticket costs being really reasonable.

What, no one here has ever been to a live musical performance besides Jennifer and I?

I also saw Three Dog Night live at Dunn Field in Elmira, NY. It's amazing that they still sound like their albums after all these years. :D

I've been to see Spamalot in London with my best friend.
And next year I will be going to London again to see Rush Live (Clockwork Angels 2013 Tour).

I've gone to other live events but they are pretty shameful, (I don't think anyone wants to know about the time I went to see Pop Idol or S Club 7 live! (I was a different kid back then thats for sure! XD))

Okay, I'll throw in.

Kids In The Hall.

Van Halen with Sammy.

Twisted Sister(shut up, it was a great show).

Weird Al(the '94 show in particular back with the hair, the moustache and the glasses).

I've seen over 100 shows, all the classics and these stood out to me as great.

Seeing Primus at the 2011 Soundwave Festival was probably one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had. Going into it, I'd never heard of Primus in my life, and never heard anything from them. I was just expecting another rock or metal band, like so many other acts on the bill. Man, was I wrong. I was just instantly wowed by those guys, especially the stuff that Les was doing on bass. It was a performance with so much personality, character and energy in it, and it was infectious.

But what made it so special was the fact that so many other people in the crowd had evidently never been exposed to Primus before, either. And you could tell that the majority of the crowd were sharing that same awestruck reaction you were, and that you were all making this musical discovery together.

Probably one of the best hours of my life; a really, really cool moment.

Take me with you...

I saw it with my family. We also went to see Avenue Q. Both great shows, everyone should see them.

The opening of the Amsterdam Arena stadium when I was a kid. Probably one of the few events I've been to that I still remember, and the only time I've been there.

Does seeing the show on video count?

Not really, but I'm sure some of us would be interested to hear what you have to say anyway. Any video/DVD in particular?

Primus and Rush do put on great shows. Very good sound, though not much visually going on at either.

A DVD toss in? No contest to me, "Imaginations Through The Looking Glass". Blind Guardian in Coburg(followed by Rock In Rio, Iron Maiden).

These were all mostly either in Dublin or Belfast so there's not really any point in typing out the locations.

Alkaline Trio
Rancid
NOFX
Bon Jovi
Nickleback
Steve Vai
Divine Comedy
The Killers
Brian Wilson
Daft Punk
Dropkick Murphys
Reel Big Fish
The Offspring
Green Day
Muse
Snow Patrol
The Bravery
Scissor Sisters
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
The Who
James Brown
Iron Maiden
Rufus Wainwright
Franz Ferdinand
The Prodigy

Worth noting that I saw Metallica at Reading festival and they were horrendous, dunno how they still draw a crowd at all. Same goes for Oasis at Slane castle, it was like a month before they broke up forever and ever amen.

Jonathan Coulton last Friday night at the Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He did sing both of the Portal songs, and it was a great set overall. Lots of fun.

I went to Stevie Ray Vaughan’s two final shows at Alpine Valley. He tore the entire place apart. Less then ten hours later, the news of his death was all over the place. It hit me like a train.

I think i'd prefer to see VH with Sammy, Roth's great fun and one of the worlds best showmen but he just doesn't have the pipes. Sammy's effortless, and dare I say it probably has more respect for his audience.

The only thing with them was that you could definitely tell it was Sammy with Michael and Eddie with Alex. It was right before the breakup that I completely expected. Great set...except they closed with When It's Love... which was a bit odd for a concert pace.

I'm actually interested in knowing what you think of Nickelback. I always suspected you'd be the type of guy who would hate everything about the band...

Year?

You suspect right, they suck-diddily-uck! But let me tell you this, they are one of the tightest bands i've ever seen live, was very impressed. They're just a wee bit too indulgent in their own shit, also "Rock Star".

2005, I think. They were promoting the Early Days stuff at the time. Great show, had a few opportunities to see them since but haven't bothered because they haven't put out a record I really really like since Dance of Death.

I'd love to contribute to this, but NO ONE ever comes anywhere near Maine. They get to Boston, MA...then end the tour.

I'm finally going to my first concert this August(Barenaked Ladies/Blues Traveler, Last Summer On Earth Tour), but I'm sure the only reason THAT'S coming here is because the band is Canadian.