@kitty56 You just jogged my memory. Saw Don McLean about 10 years ago at the State St. Theater in Falls Church. Wonderful show with good acoustics, and Don did a tremendous job with his entire catalog of songs. I saw the Association back around 1980 at a college activities convention. They were fantastic live.
Best “leaving feeling on top of the world” concert - Coldplay, at the United Center with 20,000 of my closest friends. Hoping for a repeat this summer seeing them perform at Soldier Field.
Went to many concerts in my youth. Concerts were much more affordable. Feel bad that my kids have not been able to have those experiences due to ticket prices. . Some favorites:
- Bruce at winterland in San Francisco, floor seats
- Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young the night Nixon resigned
- Joni Mitchell
- Eddie Vedder singing with Bruce at the rock for change show
- Dylan and the Dead in DC
- Elton John
And many more…
@mom2and Ain’t that sad? It used to cost less than $20 to see a great live show. Nowadays I hear people paying hundreds or even thousands for a show at a large venue. That’s crazy.
I remembered a couple of others–B.B. King at Strathmore in Maryland–we were behind the band, but it was still great.
Saw Arlo Guthrie at a craft fair–he was great, must have been pretty hungry at that point.
I know! Many shows were way less $20 and many less than $10. We used to sit on the rocks in Central Park outside Wolman Rink to hear the shows when we didn’t have enough cash. Basically, half a day of work could get you a ticket. Just googled an article about CSNY’s 1974 tour where average ticket price was $7.50 which is about $36 in 2014 dollars. Most shows these days cost way more than $36 even if you don’t have to pay scalper prices.
I love the Strathmore. What a wonderful venue. I saw Pat Metheny there a couple of years ago, and have been looking another opportunity to go back.
Ah, the good old days…
I’ll probably change the ranking of these at some point, but here goes nothing.
Best:
1.) REM and 10,000 Maniacs in about 1986 in UIUC auditorium. 3rd Row center. (Roommate waited in line for 24+ hours and I ferried him food.)
2.) Wilco outdoors at Pritzker Pavilion, 2007 (the first time they played there.) - Great Show, beautiful night, Sierra Nevada on tap.
3.) UB 40 opening for the Police 1983. Last show on the tour. UB 40 blew the place apart, the Police just phoned it in. Probably couldn’t top their opening act anyway.
4.) Bob Mould - Outdoors at Goose Island 2000. - Did a solo encore with an electric guitar that was great.
5.) John Wesley Harding, Poi Dog Pondering, Los Lobos, Lou Reed, - Outdoors 1992. I am a massive Lou Reed fan, but I must be fair, Los Lobos blew him away that night.
Other Notables:
1.) Todd Rundgren (1986, 1987) - Puts on a great show.
2.) T-Bone Burnett (1984) - Vastly underrated as a performer
3.) Elvis Costello (1984) - Was with my wife, (although not married at the time.) “He’s looking at me! He’s singing directly to me” *
4.) The original Farm Aid show - Still in college, rainy day, needed to learn how to pace myself…
5.) Barenaked Ladies at the Fillmore - always wanted to see a show there due to the history.
And on the downside, one show that gave me the strongest opening line I wrote during high school.
“Head East! I should have!”
- Just asked Mr. Google and he reminded me that T-Bone Burnett opened for Elvis Costello and I should probably move this show up. Oh well, on any given day the list would be different.
Many. It is fantastic. The best was Huey Lewis and the News with the Tower of Power. Played several numbers together. Also James Taylor, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett all wonderful at Red Rocks.
Best stadium show ever? Pure Prairie League, Linda Rondtstat, and the Eagles.
@NEPatsGirl We had other reasons to be in CO so it made it easier for us. But CO is a good vacation spot with many other things to do. Austin City Limits or SXSW are something I’d like to do at some point, too.
Talking Heads @ the Roxy (Hollywood) 1979 and 1990 @ Pantages
Ramones @ the Roxy 1978
X @ Club 88 1980
Der Fleidermaus Munich Opera 1978
La Sacre du Printemps (2006 La Phil-Salonen)
D’s (aka precious darling) November 15 Paris concert (just us and the organizers since it had been “cancelled” due to the attacks.) Thrilling and moving nonetheless.
I’m wondering how many of these performances that are “the best” are “the best” due to our state of mind. I know that for me all of my examples have to do to being in the best frame of mind in the right place at the right time. I remember being utterly exalted at the end of all the aforementioned concerts.
Someone mentioned Wollman Rink in Central Park. I saw lots of concerts there over the years it was in existence and so true it was really inexpensive to go to venues and see live performances, even places like The Bottom Line and The Bitter End with cover charges. I saw many concerts at the Fillmore East and in my memory there were lots of concerts along with notable prominent speakers on a regular basis in college. Some of that still exists but not so often and with much more security and screening. My older d heard President Clinton speak, post-presidency and you had to pre-register, arrive x number of hours early for screening, could not bring anything into the lecture hall. We all can understand the reasoning why of course.
My favorite big show was The Who at The Gorge Amphitheater, but my all-time favorites involved small venues and a bit of kismet.
I was skiing at Greek Peak in Marathon, NY, on a Tuesday night. They used to have an open mike night in the lodge every Tuesday, when in walked Harry Chapin who had been skiing there also. He played for two hours.
BB King’s band, sans BB, at the Haunt in Ithaca. Musicians having fun.
The most fun, raucous dance party I have ever seen was when Gary U.S. Bonds played in the West Gym at SUNY Binghamton.
I was at a small bar/pizza place in Va Beach, when in walked Cheap Trick and they played for about an hour.
I still have one of my Woodstock tickets (because they didn’t collect them on the Saturday.) It was $7.00 for the day and it’s stamped on the back “Sold at Discount $6.50.” Woodstock wasn’t the best live show ever from my perspective. Too much other stuff going on, weather, culture, etc. to focus on the music.
Really good shows I remember-- Dire Straits sometime in the 80s. Wasn’t really that interested but went with a friend and it was fantastic. Jackson Browne opening for Joni Mitchell sometime in the early 70s. I had never heard him or heard of him before that show and I loved it. The Who in Pittsburgh, PA about 1970. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 2004. Paul Simon in the 90s. Steve Goodman at Passim in Cambridge. Asleep at the Wheel. John Prine.
I saw Don McLean at the Iona College theater about 15 years ago. It was small and intimate. It turned out that’s were he’d gone to college and they were giving him an honorary doctorate.
Was anyone else at the folk festivals held at Ohio University in 1971 and 1972? They were two day events…and were fabulous. Lots of terrific performers.
I enjoyed seeing Elvis live in concerts in Hawaii. We had great seats. Saw him at least two years, maybe more.
Also enjoy listening to Handel’s Messuah performed by local church. There are some very talented soloists–one was Quinn Kelsey, who has gone on to perform opera internationally. One is a surgeon. Not sure about the others, but they all have lovely voices and the performance is free and church is always packed, with some folks listening in doorways.
The 2SM Moove Victoria Park concert, Sydney, Australia 18 Feb 1979. Dragon, Split Enz, The Angels, Kevin Borich, Sports. An amazing free outdoor concert for 60,000+ on a hot, sunny Sunday at the end of summer. I had never before seen so many people in one place (with so few bathrooms!).
Someone mentioned Woodstock. I almost forgot about Woodstock2 that I attended in 94’ for three days. “Forgot” might be misleading lol. Crazy three days of rain and mud. I vaguely remember seeing Aerosmith play on the Main Stage Saturday in the middle of the night with fireworks (like 2 am or something). Security lost all control by mid-day Saturday, people tore down the fences and it became a free-for-all. Sheryl Crowe, Joe Cocker, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Santana…can’t remember everyone we saw. Might not have been my best concert but it is a memorable one.