Bands/artists you still can't believe you did get to see?
JH6056
Posts: 2,427
The "Bands you haven't seen yet" thread made me really appreciate a) my old age LOL! And b) the really unusual or epic artists I've been fortunate to see. I've seen many of you list astounding concerts (Cosmo comes to mind as someone who's seen legends) but which shows are your "Holy crap I actually SAW that!" shows?
My list would be:
Jackson 5 (with young Michael)
Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
Ella Fitzgerald (my mom ROCKED, she took me to great shows!)
Cheap Trick on Dream Police
The Cars on Candy O
The Clash (12 times!)
Rolling Stones on Tattoo You (front row at MSG)
U2 on Unforgettable Fire
The Pretenders on 2nd album tour
Talking Heads
Al Green when he first started doing "secular music" again
Nirvana on Nevermind
The Kills when hardly anyone had heard of them
Ray Charles at Willie Nelson's 70th birthday event
The Waterboys on Fisherman's Blues
Public Enemy
REM on Document and Green tours
EARTHA KITT!! (You have no idea how good she was, and I think she was in her late 70s when I saw her!)
Prince with Larry Graham and Chaka Khan
The Staple Singers
Cassandra Wilson on Blue Light Til Dawn
Ben Harper with Ali Farka Toure
Jeff Buckley at Sin-e
Devo in 80s
UNCLE TUPELO on No Depression
Stevie Wonder
Peter Gabriel on original So tour
Those are the ones that stand out as extraordinarily lucky events to witness. What are yours, even if they're more recent shows?
My list would be:
Jackson 5 (with young Michael)
Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
Ella Fitzgerald (my mom ROCKED, she took me to great shows!)
Cheap Trick on Dream Police
The Cars on Candy O
The Clash (12 times!)
Rolling Stones on Tattoo You (front row at MSG)
U2 on Unforgettable Fire
The Pretenders on 2nd album tour
Talking Heads
Al Green when he first started doing "secular music" again
Nirvana on Nevermind
The Kills when hardly anyone had heard of them
Ray Charles at Willie Nelson's 70th birthday event
The Waterboys on Fisherman's Blues
Public Enemy
REM on Document and Green tours
EARTHA KITT!! (You have no idea how good she was, and I think she was in her late 70s when I saw her!)
Prince with Larry Graham and Chaka Khan
The Staple Singers
Cassandra Wilson on Blue Light Til Dawn
Ben Harper with Ali Farka Toure
Jeff Buckley at Sin-e
Devo in 80s
UNCLE TUPELO on No Depression
Stevie Wonder
Peter Gabriel on original So tour
Those are the ones that stand out as extraordinarily lucky events to witness. What are yours, even if they're more recent shows?
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The Skatalites (the grandfathers of Ska)
Pearl Jam (finishing their 2006 European tour in my country)
The Waterboys (front row closing their set with one of my all-time favourite songs "Fisherman's Blues" in a idyllic Greek open venue)
Manu Chao (40.000 were there)
Mudhoney (front row and Mark laughing at me for taking crazy pictures during the show)
The National (front row took home the setlist and Matt stepped on my hand while singing and greeting people literally walking on the barricade)
Fistful of Mercy (rarity)
Gogol Bordello (bruised abdominals for standing 2 hours at the front very energetic show with a lot of guests on stage too)
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan (history one day after Valentine's day true romance)
The Avett Brothers (with a nice guy from North Carolina at the front first time for me meeting an American who suggested me buy one of my favourite t-shirts the setlist and a handshake with Scott)
Esperanza Spalding (a true talent in an amazing venue let's call it "theatrical" music)
Rain Dogs Revisited (Tiger Lilies and St. Vincent among others unfortunately Tom Waits didn't appear at the end)
Liam Finn (small gig in an underground English venue passion)
Lemonade On Stage (I've just discovered them love these guys real fun)
Mark Lanegan (played almost all of my requests)
Buena Vista Social Club (front row setlist picture with Barbarito Torres and Omara Portuondo (83) staring at me laughing and making some of her amazing Cuban dance movements)
Karma To Burn (proof that music is simple)
Jeff Buckley at Shepherds Bush empire & Glastonbury festival
Glen Hansard
Brad (3 Different Times)
RNDM
The Killers
Blue October
Eddie Vedder- 7/16/11
Brad- 4/21/12 (RSD Performance), 4/27/12, 8/10/12
Flight To Mars- 5/23/12
RNDM- 11/27/12
PEARL JAM- 12/6/13 I have finally seen Pearl Jam live!
Ed (solo)
Neutral Milk Hotel
Pantera (4x)
Phil Lesh with Trey Anastasio
The Police
The Postal Service
The Toadies
All were pretty incredible except for the Police and the Postal Service. Pantera in '98 was my first concert ever and still my favorite. NMH and Aquarium Rescue Unite are forthcoming ( I have tix) and I never thought I'd get the chance to see either of them.
And Pink Floyd.
Voivod/Soundgarden/Faith No More at The Ritz in NYC - 1/19/90
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble at The Ritz in NYC - 12/31/89
Widespread Panic when Michael Houser was still alive - 7/17/01 at The Beacon Theater in NYC
George Jones at Tramps in NYC in 1992
Uncle Tupelo opening for Bob Mould when UT was on their No Depression tour
Opeth at Terminal 5 in NYC when they played Blackwater Park front to back as the 1st set...1 of only 6 such shows they did in the world - April 2010
Bridge School Benefit - 15 different years so far - both days every time
Willie Nelson & Family at Radio City Music Hall in the mid-80s
Peter Gabriel on the So tour - 11/12/86
R.E.M./The Feelies at Felt Forum in NYC - 11/7/86
Rumer in a tiny NYC venue (Rockwood Music Hall) on her 1st USA tour...met her afterward at the merch table where she signed the vinyl of her 1st album
Cecil Taylor Trio at Knitting Factory in NYC
The Replacements at Toad's Place in New Haven CT on their All Shook Down tour
Sepultura with Max Cavalera still in the band (once for Arise & once for Chaos A.D.)
Saint Vitus at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn (band & venue with same name...awesome)
Metallica on the Damaged Justice tour in 1989
Clash of the Titans at MSG (Anthrax, Megadeth, & Slayer on same bill)
Patterson Hood & Mike Cooley at my friends' wedding reception in Virginia
Eyvind Kang & Jessika Kenney & Jessika's brother Gabe at my Uncle's wedding in Seattle
Grateful Dead twice in 1991
Every show I've seen at Red Rocks (Widespread Panic 7x, My Morning Jacket 2x, and Neil Young & Crazy Horse 2x)
Pearl Jam on my birthday in Boston
Levon Helm's Ramble at the Ryman - April 2010
Levon Helm's Ramble in Woodstock with Drive-By Truckers opening - June 2010
The Ramones at The Ritz in NYC in December 1989
Dave Brubeck (met him afterward)
Diamanda Galas (2x in NYC - Knitting Factory and Joe's Pub)
Austin City Limits Music Festival - the first one in 2002
Bruce Springsteen & the ESB for Bruce's first show after turning 50 - 9/24/99 at the Spectrum in Philly...he did 4 songs from his first album
Mudhoney & Flaming Lips at Roseland Ballroom in NYC in 1992 (met Matt Lukin & Mark Arm afterward)
Prince at MSG in February 2011 - the show where Prince kicked Kim Kardashian off his stage for not dancing...saw the whole thing
Jandek in NYC - he played 3 hours and I don't think he said one word to the audience all night!
- Al Swearengen
http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com
Peter Hook DJing in a club with a max capacity of 180
Sublime getting booed off stage with handfuls of mud in 1995
John Cale for 5 minutes before I got kicked out for sneaking in
Tim and Eric
British Sea Power
My Bloody Valentine
Iggy and the Stooges
The Replacements
Motley Crue (with the orginal members)
The Police
Oasis
Pearl Jam
The Wall and Quadrophenia played in their entirety (and in the same calendar year!)
London 2013 "The Dundas Hookers on Crack" Show
We have some of the same tours: Uncle Tupelo on No Depression, Peter Gabriel on So, REM on Life's Rich Pageant (didn't include on my list because it was my 1st REM show and I didn't "get" them yet, even though LRP is now my fave REM album) and Replacements on All Shook Down!! Awesome!!
Ok, I have to ask, you may be the 1st person I've ever "known" who saw this: did Stevie Ray Vaughn play Little Wing????? I know it's Jimi's song, and Mike McC can play the Hell out of it, but SRV's version will always be THE version in my eyes. Did you actually see it live???
And too crazy that you have Diamanda Galas on your list, I didn't include her in my "Can't believe I saw that" list, but she is on my music-related "I can't believe I DID that!" List... When I saw her in Boston my friend was doing her sound, and they'd taken a cab to the venue so I offered to drive them back to their hotel after and she said yes. Just as we were pulling out a Red Socks game had gotten out and we basically got stuck in the car in a sea of Red Socks fans, unable to really drive away for about 45 min. Her running commentary on what she noticed while stuck in a sea of Red Socks fans remains one of THE most entertaining 45 min ever, anywhere, and I've seen some amazing storytellers!
It's great that you got to listen to Diamanda Galas for 45 minutes! I can imagine that was quite an experience.
- Al Swearengen
http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com
The Afghan Whigs - I had to wait until the reunion to finally get a chance
Blind Melon (with Shannon) x2
Screaming Trees
Pantera
Sepultura (with Max)
Pride & Glory
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
Soundgarden Badmotorfinger tour
Alice In Chains Dirt tour
Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral tour
Both amazing to witness, definitely belong on this list.
Foo Fighters - Bamboozle 2012.
Bon Jovi - Bamboozle 2012 was my first time seeing them and I was blown away. Saw them 2 more times at Metlife over the summer, without Richie Sambora. Still a great 2 shows, even though they didn't change up the setlist. :?
Florida Georgia Line - don't judge me, but they're my favorite country band and I got to meet them and be 1 off the rail dead center for an amazing show a week ago.
I haven't been to many concerts.
2015: Global Citizen Festival
2016: Philly 1, Philly 2, MSG 1, MSG 2, Fenway 2
2018: Fenway 1, Fenway 2
2024: MSG 2, Philly 1, Philly 2, Fenway 1, Fenway 2
Bob Dylan from the front row and 4th row
RATM in their heyday (I was barely a teen!)
Neil Young only him and a guitar- no other help
LCD Soundsystem's last show at MSG (biggest dance party ever!)'
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
Barry McGuire and the New Christy Minstrals
The Beach Boys
Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
Buffalo Springfield
The Who (1967)
Blue Cheer
Jimi Hendrix Experience (twice)
Buddy Miles Express
Carlos Santana (1968)
Sons Of Champlin (twice)
Sun Ra and His Solar Arkestra (twice)
Miles Davis
Sandy Bull
Taj Mahal
Charlie Musselwhite
Harvey Mandel (three times)
Crosby Stills Nash and Young
Larry Coryell (three times)
New York Rock and Roll Ensemble
Paul Butterfield Blues Band (twice)
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
Link Wray
Jethro Tull (twice)
Cecil Taylor (twice)
Steve Lacy
Herb Ellis with Ray Brown
Laurindo Almeida
Kenny Burrell
R.E.M.
John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers Reunion (with Mick Taylor and John McVie)
Bob Dylan with Tom Petty and the Hearbreakers
The Go Go's
Romeo Void
Talking Heads
King Crimson (reformed with Adrian Belew)
Violent Femmes
U2
Psychedelic Furs (twice)
Dizzy Gillespie
McCoy Tyner
Freddie Hubbard
Leo Kottke
John Lee Hooker
Johnny Cash (w. June Carter Cash)
Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Paul Westerberg
Willie Nelson and Family
Pearl Jam
HO.LY.SHIT!!!!! Wow, that is QUITE a list! I don't even know where to start with the
Buffalo Springfield
The Who (1967)
Blue Cheer
Jimi Hendrix Experience (twice) (TWICE!)
Sun Ra and His Solar Arkestra (twice) (TWICE!)
Miles Davis
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
Link Wray
Johnny Cash (w. June Carter Cash)
Neil Young and Crazy Horse
60s Who, Jimi Hendrix, Sun Ra, Zappa and Miles are definitely in my "Top shows you would see if you had a time machine" (I'd also include a couple phases of Bowie, more Clash shows, Bob Marley, Mahalia Jackson and several more).
Do you keep anything from shows, other than unbelievable memories? Do you save ticket stubs or posters or anything?
Wow, that is quite a list!
I wish I'd seen Bowie. My brother same him around the time of Ziggy Startdust and he still gets that far away look in his eye when he tells about it.
And, holy crap! I knew I'd left an important one off- I saw the Clash in the mid eighties. Joe Strummer was super feisty that night and at one point yelled at the audience and told us to "all fuck off", gave us the finger and plowed into some great numbers from "London Calling".
It pains me to say that other than some of the ticket stubs from the 80's on, I have nothing but the memories. Back in the early Fillmore West Days they used to hand out (as in free!) posters and handbills for the shows. My walls were covered with them but when I moved away from home my folks got rid of them. :( I do have lots of memories of wach and every show- at least one thing if not many that stand out about each one- enough to fill a book (maybe some day...).
The one thing I do have is a handful of color slides I took of Jimi Hendrix and the Experience at Winterland from 1968. Only a handful of people have seen these and a couple of them (as luck would have it- I'm not a great photographer) are very, very good. I need to figure out what to do with them but I'm told that Experience Hendrix, LLC is very strict about putting out Hendrix images. I'm open to suggestions.
-Billy Joel at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto in April 2007 (was still living in Montreal)
-Roger Waters at the Bell Centre in June 2007 (the last concert I attended at this venue before moving out in Toronto)
-Iron Maiden "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour" in March 16, 2008: the show was the day after my parents & I came back from Mexico. I would have been really upset if I missed that show.
-Nine Inch Nails "Lights In The Sky" on August 5, 2008
-AC/DC at the Rogers Centre in November 2008
-Billy Joel/Elton John Face 2 Face Tour in May 2009
-Judas Priest playing British Steel in its entirety on July 9, 2009
-Green Day in Hamilton on July 16, 2009
-U2 at the Rogers Centre on September 17, 2009
-Metallica at the Air Canada Centre on October 26 & 27, 2009: I was more glad for October 26 because despite doing reserved seat, I managed to high five James Hetfield and Rob Trujillo as well as Chris Adler of Lamb of God.
-Paul McCartney on August 8, 2010
-Roger Waters in Buffalo on October 8, 2010
-Rammstein on May 8, 2011
-Foo Fighters on August 9, 2011
-Pearl Jam in September 11, 2011: Neil Young joined them on stage for Rockin' In The Free World
-Free Coldplay concert at the parking lot of MuchMusic Headquarters on September 21, 2011: who would have thought they used pyros, lasers and confettis for their free show?!
-Watch The Throne: Jay Z and Kanye West in Paris on June 1, 2012
-Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper on July 13, 2012
-John Fogerty in Oshawa on September 15, 2012
-Jack White on October 4, 2012
-Dave Matthews Band with Jimmy Cliff on December 7, 2012
-Alexisonfire at Sound Academy on December 28, 2012
-Soundgarden at Sound Academy on January 25, 2013
-Lady Gaga on February 8 & 9 (I won tickets on the 9th)
-Elton John in Las Vegas on April 30, 2013
-Orion Music and More Festival in Detroit on June 8 & 9: finally saw Red Hot Chili Peppers for the first time on June 8 and Metallica again on June 9. Metallica also played a surprise set on June 8 under the name Dehaan, playing Kill 'Em All in its entirety. I was totally uninterested in Dehaan and was not aware about Dehaan actually being Metallica until they were at the 2nd half of their set. I only found out about it when I wanted to check Tomahawk on the Fuel Stage and noticed this huge crowd at the Damage Inc. Stage, which was almost next to the Fuel stage. That's how I found about it.
-Nine Inch Nails Tension 2013 on October 4, 2013
-Chris Cornell at Massey Hall on November 6
-Gary Clark Jr. at Danforth Music Hall on November 18
I'm sure P!nk will be one for me to add when I see her on December 2 (tickets won in a contest).
-Billy Joel at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto in April 2007 (was still living in Montreal)
-Roger Waters at the Bell Centre in June 2007 (the last concert I attended at this venue before moving out in Toronto)
-Iron Maiden "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour" in March 16, 2008: the show was the day after my parents & I came back from Mexico. I would have been really upset if I missed that show.
-Nine Inch Nails "Lights In The Sky" on August 5, 2008
-AC/DC at the Rogers Centre in November 2008
-Billy Joel/Elton John Face 2 Face Tour in May 2009
-Judas Priest playing British Steel in its entirety on July 9, 2009
-Green Day in Hamilton on July 16, 2009
-U2 at the Rogers Centre on September 17, 2009
-Metallica at the Air Canada Centre on October 26 & 27, 2009: I was more glad for October 26 because despite doing reserved seat, I managed to high five James Hetfield and Rob Trujillo as well as Chris Adler of Lamb of God.
-Paul McCartney on August 8, 2010
-Roger Waters in Buffalo on October 8, 2010
-Rammstein on May 8, 2011
-Foo Fighters on August 9, 2011
-Pearl Jam in September 11, 2011: Neil Young joined them on stage for Rockin' In The Free World
-Free Coldplay concert at the parking lot of MuchMusic Headquarters on September 21, 2011: who would have thought they used pyros, lasers and confettis for their free show?!
-Watch The Throne: Jay Z and Kanye West in Paris on June 1, 2012
-Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper on July 13, 2012
-John Fogerty in Oshawa on September 15, 2012
-Jack White on October 4, 2012
-Dave Matthews Band with Jimmy Cliff on December 7, 2012
-Alexisonfire at Sound Academy on December 28, 2012
-Soundgarden at Sound Academy on January 25, 2013
-Lady Gaga on February 8 & 9 (I won tickets on the 9th)
-Elton John in Las Vegas on April 30, 2013
-Orion Music and More Festival in Detroit on June 8 & 9: finally saw Red Hot Chili Peppers for the first time on June 8 and Metallica again on June 9. Metallica also played a surprise set on June 8 under the name Dehaan, playing Kill 'Em All in its entirety. I was totally uninterested in Dehaan and was not aware about Dehaan actually being Metallica until they were at the 2nd half of their set. I only found out about it when I wanted to check Tomahawk on the Fuel Stage and noticed this huge crowd at the Damage Inc. Stage, which was almost next to the Fuel stage. That's how I found about it.
-Nine Inch Nails Tension 2013 on October 4, 2013
-Chris Cornell at Massey Hall on November 6
-Gary Clark Jr. at Danforth Music Hall on November 18
I'm sure P!nk will be one for me to add when I see her on December 2 (tickets won in a contest).
Thats awesome dude. Kudos to you, some legendary names there :corn:
Roger Waters The Wall (most amazing concert)
Roger Waters Darkside of the Moon
Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Never thought I'd hear Down by the River live, let alone with the Horse)
Paul McCartney
The Who
Stevie Wonder
Robert Plant
Clapton and Winwood
Clapton
Bob Dylan
Levon Helm
Phil Lesh and Friends w/ Bob Weir
Those are the ones I look back on as the wow, didn't think I'd have the chance.