Thought that I'd start this one as an offshoot to the "What are you Listening too..." thread, and also as I've seen so many great gigs in Norwich... So, what are your top 5 (or however many you want) bestest gigs that you've seen, and why? Mine would be (in no particular order)... 1. The Clash (Ipswich 1981) The London Calling Tour, this was The Clash at their very best, and they absolutely nailed it that night, I can still remember the lights going down and the opening chords of 'Clash City Rockers" being banged out as the gig began, all the favourites from the previous two albums were played but to be honest, the could have played anything that night and it would have been great! What a night! 2. The Pogues (Beautiful Days Festival 2010) A completely pissed up crowd (as should be at a Pogues gig) and a barnstormer of a set, Shane was obviously hammered slurring the words, but it didn't matter as most of the crowd knew all of the words anyway...beer flying everywhere, Irish music, Gandy would have loved it! 3. The Prodigy (Bury St Edmunds All Nighter 1994) The Prodigy when they were still good, still a dance band, came on at 2am, 'Charlie', 'Outta Space"...If ever there was a time to see The Prodigy live it was in the early '90's, and the only place to see them was at an all- nighter...mental night! 4. Black Grape (LCR 1994(ish) ) Shaun Ryder and Bez back with their new band after The Mondays and the LCR was rammed for this one, everyone totally synched into the music from the moment that the opening drumbeats played and Bez came dancing (cool as ****) to the front of the stage, definitely one of my favourites... 5. The Tidy Boys (Global Gathering 2006) Not really a band but nevertheless a musical performance, probably the best 'in the moment' DJ set that I have ever witnessed (and I've seen a few). They had the crowd eating out of their hand that night, it's perhaps the only time that I've seen DJ's so perfectly control their audience with the music, I actually have a recording of that night and it sounds as good today as it did then... So what were your top gigs (and why)?
1. Muse (Wembley Stadium, 2010) Just an absolutely brilliant gig, support from Biffy Clyro and White Lies was good too, but the main gig was beyond words. Somehow I'd managed to be standing about 3 rows from the front barriers, and it was just an incredible 2 hours. They weren't 'forced' into playing just their latest album, and they picked out a load of their back catalogue, including probably my 3 favourite songs, which was a very nice surprise. The stage design included a levitating UFO, and they had dancers hanging beneath balloons all around the pitch. 2. Frank Turner (Sheffield O2 Academy, 2012) The gig nearly didn't happen as Frank lost a dear friend that morning and wasn't sure if he could perform. He did, and it was a very emotional night, where he clearly put everything into it in memory of his friend. Great set and the crowd seemed to know every word of every song. 3. Reel Big Fish (Norwich LCR, 2010, 2009, 2008...) I went through a period of seeing these guys every time their unending tour rolled around to Norwich. Such a fun band, I never listen to their music between gigs, but they always produce a great live show. 4. Pendulum DJ Set (Plug, Sheffield, 2011) Sadly only a DJ set and not a full band performance, but it was just a mental night. I was in the club from about midnight, and they didn't get on stage until 4am. One of the best DJ sets I've seen (granted I've not seen many), and stumbling home at 6am in the daylight as people go to work is always fun. Muse at the Dome was also pretty special, although being seated was a pain, can't think of any others right now.
Saw my idols Freddie Mercury and Queen, Magic Tour, Knebworth Park 1986. As dusk fell thousands below saw a yellow helicopter circle the crowd before landing behind the massive stage. I'll never forget that moment when Freddie burst onto the stage and the crowd erupted. Freddie was a magnificent showman and always played the crowd fantastically. When they played Radio Ga Ga every one to a man raised their arms into the air and clapped in unison, the hairs on my neck stood up that moment will live we me forever. See approx 2 minutes in here: [video=youtube;pSrF95IpM0M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSrF95IpM0M[/video] The quality's not brilliant but hopefully you'll grasp what I'm trying to get across RIP Freddie
Mmm, good question. Like u I can't put them in order because they were good for very different reasons; Pulp (1996 Cambridge corn exchange)- my first ever gig, lucky to see a relatively small band who knew they were going places, just before they became huge. Made me shift from enjoying music to loving it. Prodigy (1996 reading festival) for completely opposite reasons to u. The first really big budget production, superstar band I saw. Idlewild (1998 reading festival) they were on the second tent in th mid afternoon. Had never heard of them, Absolutely fantastic surprise highlight of th weekend. Low-fidelity All Stars (2001 Warwick university). Me and all my housemates had all loved them before we met and they soundtracked my previous year. They were well past their peak when we saw them but top top night. Snow Patrol (2002 Colchester Oliver Twist) first gig I went with my (now) wife. She knew the band members, which made me think she shared my passion for the music scene. Turns out she hates music, but it was a bluff that's worked out pretty well for me.
I saw the Pendulum DJs do a set in the dance tent at Beautiful Days, we were on it for that one, and yes, a great set, one of the best that I've seen, perhaps because I didn't know what to expect added to it, still going at 4am, great night!
Did Sub focus support them? I saw them in London... maybe 2010, with the full band. Very good... I'd forgotten about them... I've seen too many bands I forget now!
As a fully paid up member of the Soul club the best ever live gig I have been to is Luther Vandross at the Wembley arena in 1989. I have had the privilege of seeing him perform live many times both here and in the States with the likes of Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross and Anita Baker amongst others but this first live performance just blew me away. His phenominal range of vocals were just sublime and he soon had the crowd eating out of his hand by the end of his first number. I have been lucky enough to have seen some of the great male Soul Singers perform live down the years but the performance that Luther gave on stage that night was 'So Amazing'. I proposed to my girlfriend that night and we have been happily married ever since and we are still in love with Luther. RIP
Sound like a very special night and one that you'll never forget That's the beauty of music imo, it can set the backdrop to so much of our lives, I can hear a certain tune and remember exactly where I was when I first heard it, or the best time that I heard it and who I was with at that time etc... I do prefer seeing a live band playing in a small, sweaty club or pub, smoke hanging in the air (well, not these days, but you know what I mean), chatting to the band at the bar afterwards...that's what it's all about.
I saw Foo Fighters in 2011 at MK bowl which was a dump of a venue but once Dave Grohl started playing, your surroundings were irrelevant. I saw Biffy Clyro a couple of weeks ago and off to see Muse and Kings of Leon this summer. U2 were amazing at the Don Valley stadium a few years ago. Coldplay were sensational on the mylo xyloto tour last summer. Concerts are so much better than football matches because you are guaranteed a quality of entertainment providing your taste in music is good.
Music is completely subjective that's the beauty of it no one can say that one taste is better than another!
This is what The Prodigy were all about... Pay Close Attention! [video=youtube;a4eav7dFvc8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4eav7dFvc8[/video]
As the late great Frank Zappa once said... "Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST.â ― Frank Zappa
Elbow are also fantastic live. Grounds for divorce and one day like this are big tunes. They also mix it up with classy and subtle tracks like glitter ball. Also seen the killers, chili peppers and Weller. We saw Travis in sherwood forest a few years back and it tipped it down. It didn't matter because they played a great set. Why does it rain on me was fabulous given the weather conditions. I also love live comedy which really sorts out the men from the boys.
This was playing on the juke box when I first laid eyes on the woman I was to marry. Rohypnol is a wonderful drug, and she had easy access to it at the time. [video=youtube;EfFQ7d3GqEE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfFQ7d3GqEE[/video] I haven't attended gigs for years, and all that I have are melded together. Who could choose? Free were awesome, at the Gala and the Lad's Club, the Who, Family, Jethro Tull, Arthur Brown setting light to himself, Taste, Pink Floyd.Amen Corner, Chicken Shack, hell, even Gary Glitter. Can't get any in order in my head, have more chance of discovering the meaning of life, but many, many great days and nights.
JWM, you'll get no argument from me on that! I wonder if I'm maybe a little unusual in my taste for music! There is not one genre of music that I don't enjoy something of, from Chas n Dave's "Gercha" Through Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Big Bill Broonzy, all the way through to John Williams playing Mozart's "Variations on a Theme!"
I took my father to watch The Shadows in Cardiff in 2004. So glad I did, it was his favourite band during his teens and he sadly passed away a couple of years later. Fantastic and witty musicians who gave my dad a wonderful few hours that I will always treasure.
The Who at the Valley in '76. just magic (and wet). support acts were Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Little Feet and Widdowmaker. best musical i have ever seen is Rock of Ages, just sensational. it was a present for my 67th birthday and i was on my feet and screaming in the second half.
