Best gig you have ever been to?
- Thread starter Pingu
- Start date
Sirena
Don't monkey with the buzzsaw
Either Bob Dylan in Manchester in 2002, or one of a few storming Oysterband gigs I've been to, most recently them and June Tabor in Exeter Cathedral. It was ridiculously good.
I saw Bob Dylan play on a stage carved out of ice on top of a mountain (that you needed to get 2 cable cars to reach) in Austria. This would have been in mid 90s.
It was probably the most exotic gig I'd been to and it was only a few hundred people and I'd had a spliff, so it should have been amazing but it wasn't really.....
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
Super Furry Animals doing Fuzzy Logic and Radiator back to back last year was the best thing I've seen in a long while. They should be ranked alongside Radiohead for artistry and musical ambition IMO, and even Radiohead don't have anything as devastating as 'Mountain People' in their canon.
Johnny Canuck3
Well-Known Member
Old days: Jethro Tull, with The Eagles as the opening act [they were pretty much unknown at the time], in 1971 or 1972.
Middle days: Urban Sax, Art of Noise, the Dead Kennedys, the Residents, John Cale, the Rolling Stones in Seattle etc.
New days: the Shambhala Music Festival - all of it.
Middle days: Urban Sax, Art of Noise, the Dead Kennedys, the Residents, John Cale, the Rolling Stones in Seattle etc.
New days: the Shambhala Music Festival - all of it.
isvicthere?
a.k.a. floppybollocks
Chemical Brothers, Glasto, 2007
Rolling Stones, Wembley Stadium, 1999
Primal Scream, all-nighter, Brixton Academy, 1997 (where I first encountered Spiritualized)
Mindless Drug Hoover, Berlin, 1997 (where I was support act, and - even if I say so myself - I did a stormer)
Gil Scott-Heron, GLC Jobs and Environment Festival, South Bank, 1985, Manchester International, 1986
The Jam, Bridlington Spa, 1979
The Understones, Hull University, 1979
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, the Venue, Kensington, 1977 (my first London gig!)
The Clash, Southampton Top Rank, 1977 and Leeds University, 1978
Lynrd Skynrd, Portsmouth Guildhall, 1977, about two months before their fatal plane crash
Elton John, Southampton Gaumont, 1976 (it was a couple of weeks after Saints won the FA Cup, and Elton John seemed to plug into that energy)
Barclay James Harvest, Southampton Guildhall, 1975 (my first gig!)
Rolling Stones, Wembley Stadium, 1999
Primal Scream, all-nighter, Brixton Academy, 1997 (where I first encountered Spiritualized)
Mindless Drug Hoover, Berlin, 1997 (where I was support act, and - even if I say so myself - I did a stormer)
Gil Scott-Heron, GLC Jobs and Environment Festival, South Bank, 1985, Manchester International, 1986
The Jam, Bridlington Spa, 1979
The Understones, Hull University, 1979
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, the Venue, Kensington, 1977 (my first London gig!)
The Clash, Southampton Top Rank, 1977 and Leeds University, 1978
Lynrd Skynrd, Portsmouth Guildhall, 1977, about two months before their fatal plane crash
Elton John, Southampton Gaumont, 1976 (it was a couple of weeks after Saints won the FA Cup, and Elton John seemed to plug into that energy)
Barclay James Harvest, Southampton Guildhall, 1975 (my first gig!)
Voley
🐀
Some crackers there vic. The Jam were one of my first gigs. Cornwall Coliseum, Beat Surrender tour, their last. They were superb. I was 14 I think.
That was a great night. Spiritualized on at about 2am as surprise guests. I would've paid just to see them. Had no idea they were on.
isvicthere?
a.k.a. floppybollocks
I think I've missed a few, too: Van Morrison, the Fall, Dr. Feelgood, Sleaford Mods, Graham Parker and the Rumour, Dylan at Blackbushe Airport, 1978...
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Ooh. Tell me about the Urban Sax Johnny Canuck3.
TheHoodedClaw
acknowledging ur soup leg
The Smiths, Barrowland Ballroom, Queen is Dead tour, 1986
New Order, Barrowland Ballroom, 1987
REM (with The Blue Aeroplanes) Barrowland Ballroom, 1989
Pixies, Barrowland Ballroom, 1990
My Bloody Valentine (with Teenage Fanclub), Barrowland Ballroom, 1991
Chemical Brothers followed by Leftfield, a big tent at T in the Park the last year it was held at Strathclyde Park, 1996
Fair to say I had a favourite venue back then...
New Order, Barrowland Ballroom, 1987
REM (with The Blue Aeroplanes) Barrowland Ballroom, 1989
Pixies, Barrowland Ballroom, 1990
My Bloody Valentine (with Teenage Fanclub), Barrowland Ballroom, 1991
Chemical Brothers followed by Leftfield, a big tent at T in the Park the last year it was held at Strathclyde Park, 1996
Fair to say I had a favourite venue back then...
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Impossible to say just one. Prince, 3121 tour, all seven nights I saw in London (around 2007). Each, slightly different and included some truly unusual covers like Whole Lotta Love, Play that Funky Music, and Come Together. His later shows at Hop Farm (Kent) and Malahide Castle (Dublin) in 2011 were also tremendous. He was in a really spiritual mood on the Dublin night, and did a real gospelly show. I still think that for me, his final tour, Piano & A Microphone would have been a true pinnacle for me. Or Lovesexy tour from '88. Did anyone attend those shows?
The White Stripes - Ally Pally around 2005 - pure dynamite!
James Brown - I have seen a few times and he was always brilliant
Blur - believe it or not, one of the best live bands I have ever seen - only saw them once in Dalymount Park, Dublin in around 1994
Stevie Wonder's shows in London around 2008 were extraordinary. I attended two of those.
Bjork at the Harpa Music hall, Reykjavik was incredible. Quite an intimate show and small venue. I've seen her a few times but this was the best performance, and really special to see her in Iceland. This was the Biophilia tour, with excerpts of recorded voice from David Attenburgh
Beck - around 1999/ 2000 in London - amazing - this was part of his Midnite Vultures tour, as some critics hailed, 'the best Prince album since Sign O'The Times' - he really is one of the best out there
Leonard Cohen, Dublin 2013 - two and a half hours of pure heaven.
The White Stripes - Ally Pally around 2005 - pure dynamite!
James Brown - I have seen a few times and he was always brilliant
Blur - believe it or not, one of the best live bands I have ever seen - only saw them once in Dalymount Park, Dublin in around 1994
Stevie Wonder's shows in London around 2008 were extraordinary. I attended two of those.
Bjork at the Harpa Music hall, Reykjavik was incredible. Quite an intimate show and small venue. I've seen her a few times but this was the best performance, and really special to see her in Iceland. This was the Biophilia tour, with excerpts of recorded voice from David Attenburgh
Beck - around 1999/ 2000 in London - amazing - this was part of his Midnite Vultures tour, as some critics hailed, 'the best Prince album since Sign O'The Times' - he really is one of the best out there
Leonard Cohen, Dublin 2013 - two and a half hours of pure heaven.
Johnny Canuck3
Well-Known Member
It was at Expo 86. There was this plaza area. It was at night. The Urban Sax members descended down the sides of the buildings on ropes, playing saxophones as they descended. They were in costumes - shiny silver, as I recall. The whole experience was mind-boggling. It was unlike anything I'd seen or heard up to that point in my life.
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Definitely the best. Unfortunately Mika the lead Bat died this last month which was a massive shock. Everyone should go type "theee bat" into YouTube now as a tribute and enjoy theee madness.
Cloo
Banana for scale
Underworld at Reading '96 - can't even say why it was so good, it just was totally amazing
Smashing Pumpkins, don't know the year, it was the Mellon Collie tour and a double acoustic/electric gig - I'd seen them at Reading a few years before when they weren't very impressive, but they were totally on fire this time.
Elastica, secret gig at the Garage, must have been 1996 - this was partially context, as I'd just got my A-level results that day (they were good), just dyed my hair bright pink, but they were pretty damn on fire as well.
As you can tell, I did most of my gigging in the 90s.
Other highlights: Queens of the Stone Age, Green Day (circa Dookie), My Life Story, Beastie Boys (circa Ill Communication)
Smashing Pumpkins, don't know the year, it was the Mellon Collie tour and a double acoustic/electric gig - I'd seen them at Reading a few years before when they weren't very impressive, but they were totally on fire this time.
Elastica, secret gig at the Garage, must have been 1996 - this was partially context, as I'd just got my A-level results that day (they were good), just dyed my hair bright pink, but they were pretty damn on fire as well.
As you can tell, I did most of my gigging in the 90s.
Other highlights: Queens of the Stone Age, Green Day (circa Dookie), My Life Story, Beastie Boys (circa Ill Communication)
Kaka Tim
Half Arsed and Slapdash till I Die
totally. Was very shocked when i heard about mika. She was five foot nothing of pure rock'n'roll energy - and was so lovely, freindly and smiley with everyone afterwards
isvicthere?
a.k.a. floppybollocks
stockwelljonny
Wait here I have gone to get help
George Clinton Royal Festival Hall 2008
Lou Reed Shepherds Bush Empire 1996
Bob Dylan Royal Albert Hall 2015
Blur v festival 1998
Lou Reed Shepherds Bush Empire 1996
Bob Dylan Royal Albert Hall 2015
Blur v festival 1998
TheHoodedClaw
acknowledging ur soup leg
You're not by any chance... from Glasgow?
Actually no! But it's only an hour on the train.
Ming
I shot a man in Reno...
Any Surfing Brides gig from 1992 to 1995 at The Station Tavern Latimer Road in Shepherds Bush on a Sunday night. Ridiculously good lost band (Jez Coad the lead guitarist went on to produce and write with Simple Minds).
The Black Crowes at the Marquee in 1990 (first tour).
Nick Cave in Vancouver 2013.
Metallica at the Manchester Apollo on the Master of Puppets tour.
Guns and Roses at the Manchester Apollo on the Appetite for Destruction tour (with Faster Pussycat supporting).
Bill Hicks at The Neptune Theatre in Liverpool (still got the ticket stub).
The Black Crowes at the Marquee in 1990 (first tour).
Nick Cave in Vancouver 2013.
Metallica at the Manchester Apollo on the Master of Puppets tour.
Guns and Roses at the Manchester Apollo on the Appetite for Destruction tour (with Faster Pussycat supporting).
Bill Hicks at The Neptune Theatre in Liverpool (still got the ticket stub).
hash tag
Books, not bombs
Rammestein were my biggest single disappointment. I saw them a few years back at the 02; the omens were bad. Horrendeous venue, checked by sniffer dogs on the way in and then offered ear plugs WTF!. I expected them to rock, but they were all show.
As for best gig, I have seen a few but good for differing reasons. Prodigy a few years at Kentish Town certainly rocked. Eurythmics were much better than expected. There may be rose tinted specs involved and it might appear much better than it was; The Who at Charlton, who were such an incredible live band indoors and out. Have also seen Zeppelin play some blinders Floyd were good but were mainly for show......
nastybobby
Well-Known Member
One gig that stands out was The Wedding Present on a stage in the middle of the boating lake in Lister Park,Bradford, late 80's.
The gig was stopped mid set when quite a few fans waded out to the stage and attempted a soggy stage invasion.
Probably my favourite was the first time I saw Happy Mondays supporting New Order at the Tower Ballroom, Brum in 86 (I think). Wonderstuff were bottom of the bill, but only played a couple of songs. My mate's car broke down on the M6 on the way back, which meant a very expensive taxi journey home. Still made it into work at 7:45am the next morning though, albeit somewhat 'substance assisted' from the night before. Crashed heavily after dinner and my workmates covered for me while I had a sleep in the toilets for most of the afternoon.
The gig was stopped mid set when quite a few fans waded out to the stage and attempted a soggy stage invasion.
Probably my favourite was the first time I saw Happy Mondays supporting New Order at the Tower Ballroom, Brum in 86 (I think). Wonderstuff were bottom of the bill, but only played a couple of songs. My mate's car broke down on the M6 on the way back, which meant a very expensive taxi journey home. Still made it into work at 7:45am the next morning though, albeit somewhat 'substance assisted' from the night before. Crashed heavily after dinner and my workmates covered for me while I had a sleep in the toilets for most of the afternoon.
mojo pixy
...שלא נמצא בשמאל
Too many as for most posters, but a few that stand out for me are..
Anthrax / Metal Church / Living Colour, Hammersmith Odeon, 15/2/87. The first Big Show I ever went to, I was 14 and me and my best friend met the bass player from Metal Church on the tube, on the way there. Blew my wee mind.
Shame they kept the seats in the stalls though, in those days.
Napalm Death / Bolt Thrower / Carcass / Morbid Angel at the Kilburn National, 16/11/89. Considerably more seasoned by this point, and it was total fucking chaos. Got shoved off the stage at different times by a pissed off Trey Azagthoth and a grinning Lee Dorian
For general mosh pit fun beyond metal, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine were always a top draw.
I've seen some wonderful, sublime, transcendent orchestral performances of symphonies, suites, concertos and the like. No circle pits or class A drug use for those, usually, but lovely vibes altogether.
One last blast: Inner Terrestrials playing in a medium-sized tent at the Small World festival in 2009, blew the power supply three times and had to hook up a second before they could properly get going. Then the audience nearly had the tent down with all the bouncing. Drowned out everything else in the whole field
Anthrax / Metal Church / Living Colour, Hammersmith Odeon, 15/2/87. The first Big Show I ever went to, I was 14 and me and my best friend met the bass player from Metal Church on the tube, on the way there. Blew my wee mind.
Shame they kept the seats in the stalls though, in those days.
Napalm Death / Bolt Thrower / Carcass / Morbid Angel at the Kilburn National, 16/11/89. Considerably more seasoned by this point, and it was total fucking chaos. Got shoved off the stage at different times by a pissed off Trey Azagthoth and a grinning Lee Dorian
For general mosh pit fun beyond metal, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine were always a top draw.
I've seen some wonderful, sublime, transcendent orchestral performances of symphonies, suites, concertos and the like. No circle pits or class A drug use for those, usually, but lovely vibes altogether.
One last blast: Inner Terrestrials playing in a medium-sized tent at the Small World festival in 2009, blew the power supply three times and had to hook up a second before they could properly get going. Then the audience nearly had the tent down with all the bouncing. Drowned out everything else in the whole field
mojo pixy
...שלא נמצא בשמאל
I want to add Quirk at The Drome near London Bridge, some time in June 2000. I'd gone by myself because none of my friends were up for a night out that weekend, I just needed to see this show, because Quirk didn't play as Quirk all that often.
They were due on at 4.30am. Half an hour beforehand, some random man strode up to me and offered me acid, which I accepted without hesitation. Then I watched the show coming up and it was one of the strangest things I've ever seen. Tim Healy and Mark Allen just played grinning from behind their equipment, as some person with a cow mask on danced about on stage as he smeared himself in cream, ironed a cow costume and put it on.
Anyway I danced myself silly to a load of my favourite weird techno tunes, then bounced home on foot to Tooting in the sunshine, tripping balls.
They were due on at 4.30am. Half an hour beforehand, some random man strode up to me and offered me acid, which I accepted without hesitation. Then I watched the show coming up and it was one of the strangest things I've ever seen. Tim Healy and Mark Allen just played grinning from behind their equipment, as some person with a cow mask on danced about on stage as he smeared himself in cream, ironed a cow costume and put it on.
Anyway I danced myself silly to a load of my favourite weird techno tunes, then bounced home on foot to Tooting in the sunshine, tripping balls.
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Further to my previous answers professionals/rich kids at o2 academy 23/6/16
Gerry1time
Did a wee in Dirac's toilet
I used to keep a list back when I was going to gigs all the time, but I'm so far away from those days now I've no way of knowing whether a gig these days would be better or worse. Still, at the time the list was:
Prodigy, Wolverhampton, October 1996
Skunk Anansie, Phoenix Festival, July 1996
Korn, Wolverhampton, November 1996
A list that's admittedly all around the same time. Still, do think the Prodigy at that time will be had to beat. Utterly immense.
Since then, Pet Shop Boys Glastonbury 2000 was pretty special, and Faithless Glastonbury 2002 was incredible as well, especially when they played God Is A DJ.
Prodigy, Wolverhampton, October 1996
Skunk Anansie, Phoenix Festival, July 1996
Korn, Wolverhampton, November 1996
A list that's admittedly all around the same time. Still, do think the Prodigy at that time will be had to beat. Utterly immense.
Since then, Pet Shop Boys Glastonbury 2000 was pretty special, and Faithless Glastonbury 2002 was incredible as well, especially when they played God Is A DJ.
if i forgot to mention METALLICA earlier, just saw them once (aka, lost my Metallica live virginity in 2009). They are fucking SAVAGE LIVE!!! Off the scale brilliant!!!
Doctor Carrot
Marxist Henchman
Was trying to think how to answer this as most gigs kind of mash into one as I've never really been to see huge bands and artists like have been mentioned a lot in this thread. However, I answered this on Monday by seeing !!! (that's their name in case anyone's wonderin).
I guess many aspects can affect what makes a superb gig, like how you feel about your own life at the time, venue, the atmosphere and of course the band itself. For me that gig tops the lot though. They played with so much energy, passion and fun. I don't think I've ever danced like that, felt so alive and just so into it. I remember thinking at times that this is it, this is what living and being alive is! I felt absolutely buzzing when I left the place and have been a buzz for days afterwards.
I guess many aspects can affect what makes a superb gig, like how you feel about your own life at the time, venue, the atmosphere and of course the band itself. For me that gig tops the lot though. They played with so much energy, passion and fun. I don't think I've ever danced like that, felt so alive and just so into it. I remember thinking at times that this is it, this is what living and being alive is! I felt absolutely buzzing when I left the place and have been a buzz for days afterwards.
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