My biggest regret for this year is that I didn’t find out until too late that Brandi Carlisle and Old 97s were appearing together at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park. Would have loved to have seen them!
I went to see Arlo on Thanksgiving Night in 1995. My H and friends still tease me because I fell sound asleep during the concert. The next week, I found out I was pregnant with #4.
I won tickets to Steely Dan with Michael McDonald about 10 years ago. I can’t stand either so I gave the tickets to H and he took #2 son for his birthday. The kid hated it and hasn’t been to a concert since. He also asks us to turn off the radio when he’s the only kid in the car.
Since someone else opened the door, I will confess that I love Lady Gaga and would enjoy seeing her, I think.
@audiophile I’ve seen U2 twice so far on this tour. It’s worth it any weather. Brilliant show, and I’m still pinching myself that I got to hear that entire album live.
@twoinanddone The Hollywood Bowl is a perfect venue. I absolutely love going to shows there.
I’d love to see Led Zeppelin and Oasis if either band could work out their differences. Saw Robert Plant a couple years ago and he still sounds great.
Thanks @trojanchick99 they’re here next week, very tempted.
I also saw Plant a couple of years ago and he was great, but a lot of instrumental breaks—I have a feeling his voice would not be strong enough for a two hour Zep concert, though Jimmy could jam in between as well.
Saw Simon & Garfunkel, but never Paul solo. After his recent Colbert appearance, it is obvious he’s hasn’t lost it and would love to see him now. Have seen C,S & N twice and Neil Young solo once, but never C,S,N & Y—don’t think that’s gonna happen, though.
Recently saw Todd for the third time (great show, but mostly newer material until the encore). His new album has a cut called “Tin Foil Hat” with Donald Fagen which is very Steely Dan sounding.You’ll have to google the video he played at the concert, since I might be violating the tos here if I post a link (very political!).
For those on the fence about seeing Billy Joel at MSG, just do it. You’ll get your money’s worth and it is much cheaper than seeing Hamilton (though apples & oranges).
Thanks @doschicos. I stopped by the box office today, and was able to get tix 5 rows back and saved $100.
Not every great artist remains a great performer into late middle age and beyond. Leonard Cohen was clearly the exception. I’ve never seen Fleetwood Mac, but I would hesitate to try them now. And Dylan . . . no chance. I’m sorry I missed a couple of chances to see him when I was in my 20s.
I did see Neil Young once, really at the height of his career, touring in support of Harvest. I enjoyed it, but he was off-key more often than he was on-, which was definitely disappointing.
I would have loved to have seen the Doors. And the Clash. And Parliament during its heyday. And James Brown during his. I did get to see Tammy Wynette once, though!
There are lots of Latino artists I like, but many never perform where I live. I would love to see Carlos Vives and Mala Rodriguez, but I doubt that’s happening. And I really doubt I will ever get to see El Gran Silencio, one of my favorites of all, that doesn’t perform outside Mexico.
My biggest regret: I read a review of Cheri Knight’s second solo album, The Northeast Kingdom, that made it seem like I would love it. I ordered it from Amazon. A day later, I saw an announcement that she was playing at a bar that was half a block from my office the next night. I planned to go. But work was going badly the night of the show, and I wanted to finish something, so I never went. The record came the next day, and blew me away with how great it was. It didn’t sell well; Knight quit the music business; that was her last tour ever. There is video on YouTube of her from that tour, three or four songs, and it’s just great. I can’t believe I didn’t make it 500 feet for my only chance ever to see one of my favorite artists of all time.
I’d argue that at any point in the career of both Neil Young and Dylan, even in their heyday, their vocal quality wasn’t the draw. 
Was hoping this summer the Moody Blues with the 50th anniversary of “Days of Future Passed” would work with an orchestra again, but they aren’t (still going to see them). Would have loved to see Earth Wind and Fire with Chicago a couple of years ago, the brass sections did an extended jam together. Not a concert, but once on BB King’s channel on Sirius XM he said that he did a jam session with Jimmy Hendrix and Chicago’s brass section, but the tapes of it were lost or recorded over.
Lots of younger groups I would like to see, I would love to see the guy whose song was the theme song for “Big Little Lies”, would love to see Coldplay in concert (would love to see them backed by an orchestra), would probably enjoy Lady Gaga, she is a hoot besides being extremely talented (might stand out a bit, though:).
In non pop music, would love to see the Berlin Philharmonic in concert doing one of Beethoven’s symphonies or even better, his violin concerto with one of the top violin soloists playing it (added bonus, never would happen, a double header with the Korngold concerto). Unfortunately when they travel to NY they tend to play composers I don’t like or bore me (want my real dream? Not going to happen, but my son doing either concerto with them lol).
Would have loved to see Andres Segovia back in the day do the Bach partitas on classical guitar, they are amazing on violin and cello, but on guitar when he did it, amazing.
I just bought tickets for Guns n Roses. I hear they still put on a fantastic show. Can’t wait to find out! :ar!
I went to Hall and Oats last year. Have to say, they are old (as opposed to me, who looks just like I did when I was 21 and went to concerts). We spent a lot of the concert guessing their ages and whether the hair was real. Now at concerts there are big screens, and they do close ups Hmm, not necessarily the best idea. The music was good but they played about 1.5 hours (including the encores).
“:I went to Hall and Oats last year. Have to say, they are old (as opposed to me, who looks just like I did when I was 21 and went to concerts).”
lol…I feel the same way. Funniest line on aging I heard was the drummer of the Moody Blues, Graheme Edge, who said “back in the 60’s, my hair was brown, my teeth were white, and V (middle and index finger up) was for peace, these days my teeth are brown, my hair is white, and V is for Viagra” lol.
My other funny thought is I just read the Stones will be touring again, and the youngest of them is 70. There is a great line spoken by the hotshot manager in "Almost Famous " (Jimmie Fallon), when he says "Do you think Mick Jagger is going to be up there on the stage wiggling around when he is 50? " grin.
Me, I am glad they are still performing, heck Tony Bennet is 90 and still performing, what a way to go. Yeah, they can’t play the way they once did, but I can’t hear as well as back then (probably because I did go to concerts, anyone remember just how loud concerts were in the day? Once say the Kinks back in the 70’s at a County College gym, my ears hurt for a week!).
doschicos- I hear you about Dylan and vocal quality and agree. However, the concerts in recent years are truly a waste of time. You can’t even recognize any of the songs. He just slurs, and as has been pointed out above, even changes the melodies.
I agree @MomofWildChild. I did see him at Newport for his 50th reunion of his first performance there. Although it was nostalgic to hear his tunes, he is definitely well, well past his prime. I guess my point though is his voice was never really good.
Right, along with Neil Young, Kris Kristofferson, Mick Jagger, Jerry Jeff Walker, Bruce Springsteen, Leon Russell, and Waylon Jennings, just to name a few. Vocal purity/training/technique isn’t the draw of these artists and never was. But after a certain point, even their lyrical brilliance or other qualities can fade, making them even less compelling than ever.
I love Willie Nelson, but the last time I saw him, I felt he rushed through every song, “talked” them rather than sang them, and seemed like he just couldn’t wait to be done with the whole thing. It was in Austin more than a few years ago.
^Gotta disagree about Bruce. May not have a “pretty” voice, but he hits the correct notes, and does amazing singing while doing so. Saw him last summer, and he was in full, glorious voice. His singing is definitely a major part of the draw for his concerts and his recordings even now.
This is from the concert I saw last summer. Long spoken intro, but very lovely vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPcul80-FMc
and can still rock out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoAPf-6_x_8
I’ve heard such amazing things about the current U2 tour. Really regretting not hauling myself over to Houston (4-5 hours).
We saw Willie Nelson 7-8 years ago, I think. Small local venue and it was great.
I caught a bit of Dylan’s performance at Jazzfest several years ago. Meh. Springsteen at Jazzfest, OTOH, was great. As were Gaga and Tony Bennett. Steely Dan was good too–and I’m not a huge fan (husband is).
Carlos Santana - he played the national anthem last night for NBA finals and it was fire!
Bruno Mars - Super Bowl appearances have shown me he knows how to put on a show!
I saw Bruce Springsteen last year and was so impressed with how strong his vocals still are and the amount of energy he still has at 65+!
^ I know, right? Concert I was at was four hours long, and he was still singing strong at the end (Jersey Girl, for us Jersey girls ).
Elton John concert is at the top of my wish list. Whenever I hear “Your Song” I am transported back to the early '70s and my thirteen year old self.
The other artists who have that intense effect on me are James Taylor and Carole King and I got to see them from row 10 on the floor when they toured together a few years back.