Pajiba

Oh, I've been hoping you'd address this. Live music is transcendent when done right (and a goddamned ripoff when done wrong).

Top five:

1. Nine Inch Nails, USBank Arena (Cincinnati), 2006. The man is a technical genius - I have never heard such loud music sound so bloody crystal clear (I also punched a crowd-surfer in the kidney. Totally worth my $$ that night).

2. HFStival, Raven Stadium (Baltimore), 1999. God, I miss WHFS (awesome defunct rock station in DC). I saw so many bands that day, I can't even remember them all. Some sucked (Goo Goo Dolls and Sugar Ray, I'm looking at you), some were nostalgic (Anthony Kiedis can't sing for shit anymore, but I still love me some Chili Peppers), and some were mindblowing in a completely unexpected fashion. Offspring ROCKED - 75,000 people on their feet. No other band all day got that kind of response, it was unreal.

3. They Might be Giants, Newport Music Hall (Columbus, OH), 2001. Holy Crap, The Giants are so great live. Not only did I get to see OkGO before they exploded on YouTube (they kicked ass), BUT a huge storm knocked the power out halfway thru The Giants set - so John and John played an acoustic mini set on guitar and accordian (including "Istanbul"), THEN they band sent us away for two hours until they could get a generator - after which they played ANOTHER full set. Incredible.

4. Dave Matthews Band, Nissan Pavilion (N. VA), 1998. Suck it, I loved them then and I love them now. For me, nothing beats a smotheringly hot August night in Virginia, surrounded by your best friends, sweating like hogs and dancing like fools to "Tripping Billies." The ganja smoke hung green in the air, and all was well.

5. Better than Ezra - any of the five times I've seen them. Suck it again, I can't help it, I love this band and they ROCK the club venue format. Kevin Griffin is delicious on guitar - and very indulgent of my 17-year-old self hustling for an autograph after the show (1998).

Biggest Dissapointment - I only really go see bands I love, but about half the bands at HFStival blew (most of which have since dissapeared from the scene, like Mighty Mighty Bosstones or Lit)

Most Anticipated - I will lose my shit when I eventually get to see my beloved Dresden Dolls live. They are magnificent.

Top 5:



1. Bishop Allen - Summer 2006 (Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet)
My girlfriend and I drove 6 hours to Milwaukee to see these guys play a 45 minute set. I had no reason to believe they'd ever play where I live (Des Moines, IA) so we made the trip, and it was worth it. Nice intimate setting (fewer than 40 people). Surprisingly, they've played two gigs in Des Moines since then. Still, worth it.



2. Rilo Kiley - Fall 2004 (Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground)
Caused me to fall in love with Jenny Lewis for a good while. Eventually I snapped out of it, when she released her solo album. I was in a trace the entire show.



3. Sufjan Stevens - Fall 2006 (St. Louis - Pageant Theater)



4. Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - Winter 2003 (Omaha, NE - Ranch Bowl)
First and only concert I've ever attended solo. I had a great time, met some cool people, and simply rocked out really hard. These guys aren't a great band, but they are a great live band.



5. Ben Folds - Summer 2002 (Lincoln, NE - Rococo Theater)




Most Disappointing

Ben Folds - Summer 2006 (Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom)
By this point, my Ben Folds fandom had pretty much come to a close, and this concert gave it a resounding THUD. Ben played in a musty old gym, with 10 million screaming pre teen girls, and he played the SAME SONGS he plays every show. This was my 8th Ben Folds show, and unless he goes back to playing nice quiet theaters, it'll probably be my last.



Most Anticipated

Barenaked Ladies
Always wanted to see these guys. Maybe someday. I have a few of their live shows on my iPod, and they have great energy.

1. Janes Addiction, Lollapalooza, 1992, Boston. Abso-fucking-lutely unreal. When they played "Nothing's Shocking", I thought "This is it. I could die here knowing I've never experienced anything better."

2. Living Colour, Orpheum Theater, Boston, 1991 - right after Time's Up came out. The best energy I've seen in a live show.

3. TIE:
Fishbone, Boston, Orpheum Theater, Boston, 1993 - Fishbone, Primus and Public Enemy. 'nuff said. AND
Son Volt - Madison, WI, 1994. Aw, man, made me pine for Uncle Tupelo.

4. Jeff Buckley, Avalon, Boston, 1996. Oh. My. GOD. Could this man sing. One of the few famous people deaths I was genuinely upset by. Plus, Juliana Hatfield opened!

5. Helmet, Framingham, MA, 1995 - Math rock brilliance. Sausage (another Claypool act) opened for them and was hilarious.

Most Disappointing: Mr. Bungle, Madison, WI, 1996. As a massive Mike Patton fan, an unbelievable disappointment. I felt like he was mocking the audience, and sang almost incoherently. Runner up - G n' R, Foxboro MA, 1992. Ugh. Sucked.

The Band I've Always Wanted to See but Haven't: Uncle Tupelo. Will never happen. Breaks my heart. Runner up for a band that still exists? DJ Shadow.

Runner up greats: NIN, Ministry, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Sonic Youth, Paul Simon, Ladysmith, Bela Fleck, Metallica, Faith No More, Indigo Girls, Adrian Legg, Rocket From the Crypt, Social Distortion.

1. Metallica, L'amours in Brooklyn 1985 -back when they were still a killing machine.

2. Anthrax/Exodus, The Ritz, NYC 1986 -the birth of "moshing", back before it became trendy & gay

3. Aerosmith/Deep Purple/GnR, Giants Stadium 1988 -GnR were still "new" & Aerosmith was still "cool".

4. Kiss, MSG 1996- first reunion tour, Saturday night, NYC, electricity in the air...'nuff said

5. Sunn0))), House Of Blues Vegas 2006- loudest-show-ever

Disappointment-Metallica, Giants Stadium 1992 -20 minute crowd participation raps = Dullsville. It's over, Johnny.

Band I always wanted to see- The Ramones, too late for that now.

Fuck. I'm going to have to sub in one to tie for #1: 1992, BU Hockey Arena: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam. Together. Read that again. I shit you not.

U2 - Continental Airlines Arena - 1987 the Joshua Tree tour - it was the first time a concert became a religious experience for my fragile young mind.

siouxsie and the banshees - radio city music hall, 1988 - she came down this catwalk spiderweb strung across the back of the stage for the opener and the two mohawked gay men in matching leather vests over shirtless chests sitting in front of me nearly exploded in squeals.

depeche mode, giants stadium, 1990 - Violator tour; when alternative music finally became stadium sized. they completely rocked.

Grateful Dead, RFK Stadium, 1991 - three hits of california acid, a Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's>Estimated>Dark Star opened the second set and permanently altered all reality since.

Radiohead, LA Greek Theatre, 2001 Kid A tour. Radiohead did two US shows after the release of kid A one @ Roseland, NYC and one in LA (where i lived) back in 2000 (they toured the states extensively after the release of amnesiac a year and a half later instead) and this was the most anticipated release of any band for that entire year. needless to say i and countless others tried in vain to get a ticket for this show. message boards, craigslist, newspaper ads, whatever. it was madness. but my friend samantha (i'll never forget you for this sam, thanks wherever you are) scored a tic by calling ticketmaster and got not a nosebleed, but two honest to god 15th row floor seats at the greek theatre in hollywood. I sat near Beck and Winona Ryder. Whatevs. During the encore Thom dedicated the song 'climbing up the walls' to the literally thousands of fans that, without tickets, had taken to the trees and woods of Griffith Park surrounding the venue. We in the audience proper were stunned at the dedication, having no idea they were even there, and in unison turned around and saw hundreds of lighters and heard a huge cheer erupt outside the venue up the hills from the dusty trails covered in vines twisting into the darkness behind us. i think i can speak for the whole audience when i claim that as one of the most incredible concert moments in my life.

Well, my memory is not as good as many others (definitely NOT due to drug use in college, or thereafter. ok, maybe I lie) so I'm going to only speak to recent shows.

Cat Power, The Gray Eagel, Asheville, NC, 2007: A solo performance, and so moving that I found myself crying uncontrollably. Note to self: never bawl during a rock show. SO not cool.
Sidenote: Saw her with her backup band (AWESOME) at THe Orange Peel a few weeks later; 1st half was great, second half she was tanked and couldn't remember most of the words. That sucked.

Greatest upcoming concert experience:
The Smashing Pumpkins in Asheville NC for a residency!!! OOhhh, I just pajiba'ed in my pants. Will report back in early July, if I ever come down.

1. Sigor Ros/Bjork, Coney Island in 2004 (I think): Bjork didn't interact with the crowd much, but the passion in her voice and the orchestration of each song negated that fact.

2. Rodger Waters, Wachovia Center in Philly, this past weekend: I'm not as familiar with Pink Floyd as I could be, so listening to the first hour was intriguing and such a fun way to get to know their stuff. Then the next hour was dedicated to just The Dark Side of the Moon, which was an experience I'll never forget.

3. Tori Amos, Electric Factory in Philly 1998: This was my first real concert, during the Choirgirl Hotel Tour. Watching Tori belt out her songs with that much power, while gyrating on her piano stool and playing the piano AND I what think was a harpsichord, was surreal. Bitch can SANG.

4. Green Day, Wachovia Center in Philly 2005: not only did they sound better than their albums, but Billy Joe Armstrong was the most energetic performer I've seen to date. Every single song, every shout out and story, every time they encouraged the stadium to sing along...it was all for us. They catered completely to the audience, and their enthusiasm for their music was infectious.

5. Tom Petty, Tweeter Center in Camden, NJ 2004: He was just as badass in person as I imagined, and you could tell that he lives for performing live.

Most Disappointing: The last DMB concert I went to, back in 2005. Mainly because I realized that I was sick of seeing him live. I have to give them props though, their concerts were always a great time.

The Band I've Always Wanted to See: Radiohead or Arcade Fire. It kills me that I haven't seen them yet.

1. The Hold Steady -- Lee's Palace, Toronto, Summer 2006: It was really hot and both me and my boyfriend and the couple we came in with had been reluctant to go out, but it was totally worth it.

2. The Wrens -- The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, 2004: I didn't know them too well, but my friend had a spare ticket. At one point the keyboard guy broke his stool. It was great.

3. The Constantines/The Weakerthans -- Lee's Palace, Toronto, April 2005: I'd never been a big fan of the Constantines, but they totally won me over, playing til they literally bled. It was the first time I'd seen the Weakerthans play, and everyone else was excited as I was, and I walked out giddy and talking too loud.

4. The Arcade Fire -- The Music Hall, Toronto, also in April or May 2005: This was at the height of Funeral's popularity. They added a third show which sold out in minutes and I managed to get tickets. The openers were Final Fantasy and Wolf Parade, before they got big. EVERYONE was there, it was amazing, plus the Arcade Fire-walking-through-the-theatre magic.

5. Elvis Costello -- Calgary Folk Festival, Summer 2003(?): I was so excited to get to see him live period, and then it was an acoustic show and he sounded great and I was like thirty feet away and oh man he sang Alison.

Honourable mentions: The Decemberists -- way fun; Buddy Guy, who is really old but still AMAZING; and Jenny Lewis, whose solo album I was kind of meh on, but the material sounded way better live.

Most Disappointing: The New Pornographers. Musically they were great (I would listen to Neko Case sing the phone book), but their banter was painfully awkward and it was an early show on Thanksgiving so the energy was just really weird, plus it was in Toronto, the city of no one dancing at shows ever.

Band I've Always Wanted to See but Haven't: Wilco 6 years ago. I'd probably take them now.

The commentary hits home: I'm old and grumpy and don't like going to live shows any more. DR, I also have a Little Rock show, but it's not as cool as yours.

1) REM, a roadhouse outside Memphis, 1986: The only time I've seen them live; they were touring on Document, and I'd never heard anything like them.

2) Counting Crows and Cake, 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C., 1996: The Crows were touring on August & Everything After, and no one except Californians had heard of Cake yet. Simply fantastic.

3) Fleetwood Mac, San Jose, 2006: The fulfillment of an old promise to my sister, who gave me her Rumours album in 1980. I called her on my cell so she could hear "Go Your Own Way," and we wept like children.

4) Chris Isaak and the Silvertones: anywhere, any time. These guys tour constantly and never phone it in, ever, ever, ever.

5) Def Leppard: Little Rock, AR, 1983 on the Pyromania tour; my first real concert. I think Billy Squier opened for them.

Most Disappointing: Cake, at Slim's in San Francisco, circa 2003. John McCrea got pissy because the crowd wouldn't shut up during the songs; he sort of forgot that we paid him to sing and that it's a bar. Also, they wore stupid cowboy hats. And they pretty much phoned it in.

Band I've Always Wanted to See But Haven't: Pearl Jam. They helped me through and out of my first marriage, but as they became popular, I mostly stopped going to large-venue shows.

1. They Might Be Giants, Chicago, 1993 or something

They played all my faves, I danced so happily and hard to "Don't Let's Start" that my dance partner thought i was having a spazattack, which I was

2. Tori Amos, New York, 1998 or something

She absolutely filled MSG with her essence. You could hear a pin drop during "Me and a Gun" Again, I went into spazattack mode during "Leather?

3. Madonna, Chicago, 2005?

What can I say? A truly awesome experience. I had an out body experience during "Crazy For You"

4. Liz Phair, Baltimore, 1999 or something
--In n intimate setting, she was confident and fantastic. My neck hurt fr a week from all my manic head bobbing and swaying

5.Blondie, NYC, 2003

Debbie and the boys rocked hard,--Fade Away and Radiate

Most disappointing: Morrissey, San Francisco, 1999, maybe?

Moz was totally mopey and whiny(which i giess is to be expected) he pretty much only sang songs from whatever forgattable album he had out at the time, and kept yelling at the audience. He unenthusiastically sang two Smiths classics. Blah, Morrissey!

Haha, this was the comment diversion I was waiting for, since I'm one of those "I-can't-believe-Ticketmaster-charged-me-this-much-for-stupid-fees-but-I-NEED-to-see-them" people. Granted, I'm still picky about my concerts, but some people are really worth seeing live. Mine would have to be...

1) Jamie Cullum, Chicago, September 2006. Hands-down, one of the best performers I have ever seen. He also travels with his studio musicians, which I think adds a lot to the live performances, since they truly know each others' musical styles in any setting.

2) Michael Bublé, Las Vegas, February 2006. Yeah, yeah, I know, he's not "Pajiba-cool" (or, as many of my friends would argue, not cool at all), but I grew up on a lot of this kind of music, and I think he puts on a great live show. He's pretty much been on tour every year since, what, 2003, and I respect that in a performer. Plus, he's hot, his band's hot, and they're also a great group of people to hang out with. (Superficial, yes, but it's the truth).

3) Rufus Wainwright, Chicago, October 2005. A great show at my school by an amazing performer. I've liked him for years and he did an amazing set. He's also funny as hell between songs.

4) Phantom Planet, Chicago, 2003. I think this was a few years before Jason Schwartzman left the band. Which, uh, bonus for me, since getting to hear Max Fisher on the drums was basically my whole motivation beind getting their album in the first place. Actually they weren't the best part of this concert, though--their opening act was a local group, Torben Floor, and I fell in love with them immediately.

5) Journey (Steve Perry-less Journey, unfortunately), July 2006. Yeah, it's Journey, but it's still the first concert I went to with my boyfriend/guy I'm gonna marry, so, a bit of sentimental value there. Plus, neither of us knew Steve Perry had left the band, nor that the new (but now-replaced) singer of Journey was also named Steve, so at the time we were like, "Shit, Steve Perry's out sick at OUR show? WTF!!!" However, still, I like their songs, cheesy as they may be, and where else are you gonna see spandex, crunchy bangs, and a shitload of mullets? (Sidenote--Journey opened for Def Leppard. I didn't see them, but part of me wanted to just see the drummer).

Most disappointing--Any really, really shitty opening act I've had to sit through. Nine times out of ten, they're really, really shitty. Can't think of anyone who was truly disappointing though.

Band I've always wanted to see but haven't: Travis. But they are back on the road with a new CD, so one way or another, I'm seeing them live. Oh, and Jeff Buckley, but I can't.

1. Bjork. Simply amazing. It was a small, intimate venue and a perfect showcase for a woman who is the ultimate rock fairy. Or elf. Whatever - it was an absolutely magical experience.

2. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Although they have been tainted by association with Clueless (awesome though that movie was), the Bosstones kinda rocked when I was a freshman in college. That concert was also my first-ever mosh pit and it was brilliant - bruises and all!

3. Rage Against the Machine - we had sit-down seats, so the experience was a bit tainted, but it was still awesome.

4. Nancy Boy at Spy Bar in New York. Nancy Boy were the semi-seminal fashion industry band of the mid-nineties. They never got big, but they were proper scensters and the gig at Spy was a perfect balance of rock and cooler-than-though.

5. Sting. Whatever - I know that makes me lame as hell, but I used to love the man and I saw him in a small-ish venue before he became all world music, tantric yoga icky. Good times indeed.

Show I wish I could see: Madonna (pre-Esther) and the Beatles.

Bonus: Show I could have seen, but didn't because like a dumb-ass I sold my ticket to buy a strapless bra for the prom: Soundgarden in Seattle in 1994. Like I said, I'm a dumb ass.

Top 5:

1)Richard Thompson, Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS 1990
2)Lyle Lovett, JKH Hall, Springfield MO 1990
3)Adam Again, Cornerstone Festival, 1993
4)Robert Randolph, Cornerstone Festival, 2003
5)Vigilantes of Love, Cornerstone Festival, 1991

Biggest disappointment:
Sam Phillips, Buffalo Tom, Counting Crows, JKH Hall, Springfield MO, 1990 Really not that bad musically, but a suck crowd that almost ruined the show.

Weezer: 2002 It was worth a horrific day in the sun in August to see them. So so so worth it.

Dave Matthews Band: 1995 At the Mann Center in Philly, which is small, in 1995 when they were small. The show was amazing and directly contributed to why I now see them every summer.

Liz Phair: 2003 There is no cooler rocker chick than Liz Phair. She looks like she could beat someone up on the street after a night of beers. I love that about her.

The Beastie Boys: 2001 I've never seen anyone with more energy than the three of them running around in orange jumpsuits. Normally that would be cheesy; but for some reason it works for them.
*sidenote: the Roots opened that show, which was great, so it was more a two for one deal

The Dropkick Murphys: 2004 In a tiny little bar in Allentown, PA. If you've never been on stage with a bunch of rowdy kids from Boston and a bagpipe player you are missing out. Go find out where the next show is and buy tickets.

Most Disapponiting: 1998 Horde Fest, thought it would be great, the highlight was 311, take that for what it is worth.

Band I always wanted to see: It is to the point of being cliche; but it is U2, how could you not want to see them?

I don't see too many concerts, but here goes:

1) Wilco. Saw them last year at the Ottawa Bluesfest. Incredible concert. They played a couple songs off their new album ("Impossible Germany" was breathtaking) and a surprising amount of songs off Being There. Jeff Tweedy made fun of the middle aged White people sitting in the expensive seats.

2) Joel Plaskett Emergency. Saw them in my home town of Sackville, NB. They opened for Sloan, but were way better.

3) Grand Theft Bus. Saw them in Fredericton, NB last year when I lived there. I was pretty loaded by the time I got to the show, but I seem to remember having a good time and enjoying the band.

4) Sloan. Same show as Joel PLaskett. It was alright.

I've only seen one other concert and I'm using it as my most disappointing. It was Alexisonfire in Moncton, NB. I don't even like this band. I just went because it was cheap ($10, I think) and my friends were going.

As for someone I'd like to see but haven't, for people who are alive it would be Ryan Adams (I'm sure his performances have gotten better since Dustin's experience) and for people who are dead it would be a toss-up between Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith.

If only this diversion came a little over a month from now because I'm seeing Bob Dylan, Cat Power and The White Stripes in July.

1. Jane's Addiction - Universal Amp. LA 1990. Some shit band called Nine Inch Nails opened for them. They decimated the stage. BOTH. And, I was there with some hot chick I'd just met.

2. Roots - House of Blues Hollywood, CA 2004. Damn, I love these guys.

3. Ne Lumat - Ramones cover band. Helsinki, Finland. 1991. It was cold. I was smashed. I met the band. They dedicated, "Somebody Put something in my Drink" to me. About 1,500 Finnish drunks went crazy!

4. Eagles - 1st reunion tour. (yr??) It was just cool to see and hear these guys live under a full moon during the warm SoCal summer.

5. Blues Traveller - early 90's Ventura Theatre, Ventura, CA They were these fat guys that jammed for about 3.5 hours. Drunk and sweaty. Hippie chicks doing their noodle dancing.

This kills me to say, because they're my favorite band of all time. The Who. Coliseum, Los Angeles 1989. Anytime I want to listen to the Who live, I just put on Live at Leeds. Or, watch the video of them blowing the Rolling Stones of the stage during a Rolling Stones TV program. Forgot what it's called. Honestly, I don't think there's a better live band from that era.

Most Anticipated - Pearl Jam. I'd like to see them in a small venue. Don't know if that'll happen, though.

1. Ryan Adams - Wiltern Theater, 2005. What the fuck with Ryan Adams is that he's insane. Brilliant, but insane. This was a killer show, though. It just depends on his mood. You could have heard a pin drop during the quiet moments, the crowd was so reverent. Amazing.

2. The Raconteurs - ACL 2006. They rocked my face off. I was a casual fan until I saw their set, and now I am Jack White's bitch.

3. Live - Tampa, sometime in 1995 (all I can remember was it was my senior year in high school). Make fun of Live all you want, they used to put on a great show. This show was a transcendent music moment for me.

4. Josh Ritter - El Rey, March 2007. Acoustic solo show. Amazing performer who told some seriously hilarious stories. The songwriting really stood out with just him and an acoustic guitar.

5. Arcade Fire - Greek Theater, last week. There is something about the community the Arcade Fire's music creates. Every person in this venue was completely engaged, which is rare. Singing along to Wake Up with 7,000 other people? Unforgettable.

Most Disappointing: The Shins, all three times I've seen them. They are not a good live act.

The Band I've Always Wanted to See but Haven't: Pearl Jam. I know I could still see them, but I want to see early Vs.-era Pearl Jam and I missed out on it, which will always haunt me.

I don't usually play, because endless cycles of lists = yawn and I expect mine will = double-yawn since I'm not nearly as fascinating as as rest of you--BUT I HAVE NEVER NEEDED A DIVERSION MORE.

Best concert experiences:

1. Supertramp farewell tour, Ottawa (can't be bothered to look up date but had to be early 80s).

Yes, I am that old. Of course, I was a kid at the time but my mom dragged me, my brother and a friend to it because she felt it was so important. And I have been grateful to her ever since (love the 'Tramp). Was it all that great? Who the fuck can remember back that far? It was my first concert and that shit stays with you.

2. Shriekback, Ottawa (date: again, can't be sure but it was the mid-80s, I was about 16).

Saw them about three times back then, but one concert stands out. It's so long ago I can't recall the details but I was hopped up on joy for days after one particular show (and no, hadn't dropped anything). They always played little intimate bar/club venues and there was something very surreal about the sea of black the audience made.

3. Loreena McKennitt, Bishop's Uiversity, 1989.

First, shut up. Second, back then her shit was something relatively original (on the general North American scene, anyway) and the entire audience was stricken. I mean, absolutely stricken to silence. I have never since experienced that kind of crowd communion. I was an usher at the show so watched it from the read, standing-up, and it was one of the rare times I wished it just wouldn't end. Again--shut.up.

4. Nicola Conti, Ottawa, 2003 (?) It wasn't so much that it was a great show, but I'd been playing his stuff to rags for the past while and was hyped to see him in person. Plus, I was just in the right mood that night to sit and listen to him and watch him spin. And they were serving oysters. Normally DJ shows are the least interesting (IMO) but this one was memorable.

5. Billy Bragg, Montreal, mid-80s (again, some time in my high school years).

Great show, surrounded by hundreds of hot, sensitive guys, and I was feeling particularly teenaged-invincible and beyond cool because I had snuck out of town to see a Bragg concert (!) and eat waffles at 2am on the Plateau afterwards. Ah, youth. I'm sure we all have at least one post/choice like this one.

Most Disappointing:

Jethro Tull, Ottawa, early aughts (date fuzzy). I guess it goes without saying that aging bands are generally past their prime (with some exceptions) and are bound to be a let-down. This one was (although I'd do it again, I was happy to see them live for the sake of). Ian Anderson's voice had gone to pot--age, wear and exhaustion. Band was lifeless. Sad.

The Band I've Always Wanted to See but Haven't:

The Stranglers, Ottawa, 1996. This could actually be entitled The Band That Got Away, since I had tickets, was completely psyched to FINALLY be seeing them after 20 years of rabid devotion--but I messed up my dates and showed up at the club the evening after they played. Please don't laugh at me, I'm still smarting (and I am known as Ms. Organization so I'm not sure how it happened). Consolation: sour grapes (see Jethro Tull, above, and aging bands).

1. Steven Malkmus and the Jicks, High Dive,Champaign-Urbana,IL - Holloween 2001? -Steven with a pith helmet and mustache rocked my world.

2. Apples in Stereo, Little Brother's, Columbus,OH - 2007 ties with the show in IL in 2000? Helps when Robert remembers that you requested the same song 7 years before.

3. Belle & Sebastian, Fox, Detroit, MI - 2002?

4. Beulah, Murat, Indianapolis, IN - 2002? - Paid $30 to see them open for Cake and were so awesome I didn't even feel the need to stay and watch the headliners whole act.

5. Morrisey, Palace Theater, Columbus, OH - 2007 -Expected disappointment from this one and ended up having a great time. Anytime 40 year olds are throwing themselves on stage to touch the singer and them getting thrown off is awesome. Plus he took of his shirt and threw it in the audience. Free ticket helped this one too.

Disappointing: Belle & Sebastian, Columbus, OH - 2004 - Assigned seats and lack of dancing people made this boring. especially after the last show I saw.

Want to see: Pulp. I was so jealous when my brother got to see them at Wembley in 1998. While I did get a t-shirt, I would still love to see them myself one day.

Five Most Memorable:

1. Midnight Oil, Poplar Creek, IL 2000 (Blue Sky Mine tour). Peter Garrett, give up politics please!

2. Emerson Lake & Palmer w. London Symphony Orchestra, Madison Square Garden (79 or so) a tie with ELP in Milwaukee (Riverside Theater) in 1998 or 9...I had the privilege of being back stage and sat on Carl Palmer's drum case for most of show--I liken the experience to the story of a frigid person sitting on a washing machine and begging for another cycle.

3. U2, St. Louis 2005. I came to appreciate U2 late in life. There are a multitude of reasons why this show but suffice to say, this night was amazing.

4. REM, Radio City early 90s. Veritable best of but band was so spot on, and sound was spectacular

5. South Side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, late 70s, The Ritz NYC. One of first concerts in tight hall, had never seen the meshing of horns with guitar until then. Crowd was on fire.

Worst Show Ever:
Bob Dylan, Summerfest (Marcus Ampitheatre) 1990. Not only did he suck in terms of lack of energy, he refused to acknolwedge the crowd.

One Show to Dream Of:
Tie: Green Day Bullet in a Bible (2005) and U2 Slayne Castle show.

YAY! Here we go:

1. The White Stripes, 05/18/2007 - Cannery Ballroom, Nashville TN. Jolene and Ball and Biscuit stand out, but the whole show...just amazing. Jack White was a caged animal set free, Meg seemed accustomed to the madness. A truly beautiful experience.

2. Beck, 06/14/2003 - Red Rocks, Morrison, CO. Sea Change tour. Both the album and the show affected me deeply. I left this one with "that feeling"

3. The Pixies, 10/06/2004 - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN. Kim said she didn't feel like singing...but she did.

4. Ben Folds, 11/13/2005 - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN. Should have been called "Sing Along with Ben Folds". The entire crowd knew every word of every song.

5. Suzanne Vega, 08/09/2003 - Exit In, Nashville, TN. I'm prepared for crucifixion on this one, but she was absolutely amazing. She engaged me in a way that few performers have.

Most disappointing...Nine Inch Nails, 06/18/2000 - Pepsi Center, Denver, CO. This probably wouldn't have been so bad, but A Perfect Circle opened for them and *completely* stole the show.

Band I've always wanted to see...There are a few, but I'm going with U2

Um, re. Stranglers, that should be 2006, not 1996.

Of course.

Top Five
1: HURT, Little Rock, AR, 2007. The opening bands were so-so, but this performance was the one that shot Hurt to the top of my favorite bands list. They were incredible live, so much energy and passion. The lead singer left the stage and went around the club playing violin on one song. Plus I got to meet the guys after the show.

2: Disturbed, San Diego, 2006. My love of Disturbed comes and goes, but I would jump on the chance to see them again without question. It was just amazing. David is so hypnotic.

3: Breaking Benjamin, w/ Theory of a Deadman and The Exies, Los Angeles, 2005. I was already a big BB fan, and their performance was good. Not mind-blowing, and didn't make me love them more, but it did introduce me to Theory, now one of my favorites. And I got to meet the Theory boys afterwards.

4: Evanescence, Little Rock, 2007. Solid show, with Finger Eleven a good opener. Also not mind-blowing, but it was at the Altel Arena, the biggest venue I've seen a show at so far, so it was quite different from the atmospheres at the other shows, which I liked much better.

5: Berlin w/ The Switchblade Kittens, 1999. That's a guess on that year, I'm really not quite sure. I barely knew who Berlin was, but it introduced me to the Kittens, and I just adore them in all their insanity.

Band I Most Want to See: Dixie Chicks. I've become a big damn DC fangirl this year, and I'd love to see them live.

1 Metallica 1986 Felt Forum
2 Prince 2006 Rio Hotel Las Vegas
3 Lalpalooza 1996 Syracuse NY
4 Rolling Stones 1989 Syracuse NY
5 Pink Floyd 1988 Giant Stadium

Someone mentioned that Giant Stadium show with G+R
Deep Purple and Aerosmith......Guns arrived that day.

Guns was also my most disappointing show when they played in the early 90s on the double bill with Metallica, after watching Metallica kill for over 2 hours Guns came on and just seemed pointless, we left. 2 years ago I also saw Springsteen at Giant Stadium, I had wanted to see him for years, fianlly had my chance, I dont know if it was the seats or the sound system but it was horrible, I left that show also.

Foo Fighters - 2005/6 - 9:30 Club (Washington, DC) - Taking a break from their stadium tour, the band let it all out playing Grohl's home town.

Pearl Jam - 2000 - Glen Helen Pavilion (San Bernadino, CA) - My first Pearl Jam concet, outside in November. Absolutely fantastic. Having seen them since, Pearl Jam should definitely be heard outdoors.

Singleskin - 2001 - The Liquid Room (Edinburgh, UK) - A tiny little Scottish band playing a little underground club. Best energy and sound of any concert I've been two, they absolutely owned that room at the end.

KROQ Weenie Roast - 1999 - Irvine Meadows (Irvine, CA) - My first festival.

Stone Temple Pilots - 2000 - Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim, CA) - Techincally, this was part of the KROQ Weenie Roast that year, but the rest of the day was somewhat of a letdown. However, this was STP right before the bottom gave out the last time, before the heroin took too much of a toll. Weiland sung his heart out.

Honorable (Recent) Mentions - Bloc Party (9:30 Club, Washington, DC), The Pippets (Black Cat, Washington, DC)

Worst Concert - Interpol - 9:30 Club (Washington, DC) - The crowd killed the concert. Never before have a seen a crowd to sap a room of its energy. Of course, with a room of pretentious hipsters, what do you expect? (Thankfully, I didn't pay for the tix)

Biggest Haven't Seen - Would have liked to have seen Rage Against the Machine.

Biggest Haven't Seen that would Require Black Magic to Fulfill - Sublime

OH SHIT! Lennyx. I was IN the trees for that Radiohead show at the Greek and was planning on listing it as one of my five. I saw (more accurately, heard, you can't see much) a bunch of shows up there when I was too poor to pay. That was without a doubt the best.

The other 4 in no particular order...

Ani Difranco - Summerstage NYC 1997 (?). First time seeing her live. Front row. Dead center.

Chris Whitley - I saw him twenty or thirty times before he passed but the two most memorable were his solo show @ the Tin Angel in Philly - 1998? and the Troubadour gig in LA with Sebastian Steinberg and Yuval Gabay from Soul Coughing 200? which was ridiculous in every sense of the word.

T Bone Burnett - 2006 Town Hall NYC.

I don't watch a whole lot of live music, but I have some favorites; these are in no kind of order.

1. Run DMC, University of Nebraska Big Red Welcome, 1997. Yes, they played at Big Red Welcome. Yes, they were greeting by thousands of cheering....cornhuskers, crowded into a walled off street in downtown Lincoln, nearly all of them gnawing on corndogs and carrying bags with free razors and deodorant and Visa applications. Yes, it rocked my little sophomore face off. Except we didn't say that back then.

2. Sugarhill Gang, University of Nebraska Big Red Welcome, 1998. Yes, *the* Sugarhill Gang. Yes, they played at Big Red Welcome. Yes, they were greeted by thousands of cheering cornhuskers. Yes, it rocked my little junior face off. What can I say? UNL was good to us back then.

3. For serious now, Martin Sexton, Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA, something like 2005. I have to say I can take or leave his recorded music but seriously, can that man do amazing things with his voice. And he's about the best live performer imaginable. He loves his audiences, and always interacts directly with the crowd.

4. David Jacobs-Strain, Eddie's Attic, Decatur, GA. Man can that kid play. He's something else. If you can catch him live, you won't regret it. At least if you like the blues at all.

5. Eh. I don't really have any more. I've seen plenty of good shows, but none I would say were best-ever.

MOST DISAPPOINTING: The Shins, 2005, Athens, GA. I sorta resisted liking the Shins, because they were oh, so Emo and oh, so Braffian, and oh, so Trendy, but I finally gave in because it really is just good music. Until I saw them live. Buncha whiny pissants. The lead singer, whatshisface, got really ruffled by the frat boys in the crowd singing along to every song, so he turned stone-faced and tantrumed through the rest of the show. Not that I wasn't irked by the singalong, myself, but seriously, don't punish the rest of the audience.

In no order of preference for the top 5:
1) Billy Bragg, St. Francis Xavier Hall in Dublin in 1985. Words can't describe. He never fails to disappoint live. But you never forget your first time and I will never forget the rush I got from hearing the songs, the banter, the guitar.
2) Leonard Cohen, Joe's Pub New York LAST MONTH!!!! He came on to introduce Anjani and recited Tower of Song and sang 2 songs with her during the act and I never thought I would get to see him live, ever. I was crying just because it was him for the 2 songs so I don't even remember what he sang.
3) U2, The War Tour, also at the St. Francis Xavier Hall in Dublin in 1982. It was the first time I had to pay see them play because their earlier gigs were in places where you could just show up or sneak in. It was worth the exorbitant (we thought) 5 punts (about $3.00 in 1985 money).
4) The Pogues: any time you see them. They give their all. In March, Shane broke his leg and was clearly heavily medicated (yes, in addition to the booze) and even had to leave the stage every couple of songs,but the whole hall rocked just like we did in the 80s.
5) David Bowie, Milwaukee, 1990. Because it's Bowie for God's sake.
Most disappointing: Coldplay at United Center, Chicago last year. They seemed to be phoning it in. Zero stage presence for a big venue.

Most anticipated: The Clash, even though it's cheating since it's impossible (but I did get to see Joe stand in for Shane in the Pogue's 1987 tour). If I have to pick an act that's still around, I still have to cheat and say Jarvis Cocker doing Pulp songs. I've seen him "Pulp-free", but I'm not sure my life is complete until I see him do Common People and Disco 2000 in the flesh.

1. The Boss. (1978 - Georgetown University) Bruce before he became Rock Poet Laureat. Helped him unload his amps. Pure adrenaline rock!
2. Bette Midler (1974 - Albuquerque, NM) She was thoroughly pissed off about anything and everything and still gave an indelible performance. Sure, sometimes she only comes within spitting distance of the pitch but no one puts on a live show like La Divina.

3. The Ramones (1977 - CBGB and OMFUG) The birth, baptism, confirmation, and extreme unction of alt/punk rock.

4. Tammy Wynette (1974 - Nashville) No one ever did or ever will again pour their whole being into each and every song.

5. Lyle Lovett (~1980 - after hours club in NYC) Minus the big band but unplugged before it became a verb and an adjective.

Most disappointing: Every single one of the stadium tours by almost every rock band. Too muddled, over-ampd and claustrophobic while surrounded by stoners too far gone to appreciate the music.

Oh, oh! I can't help myself. I'm going to Bonnaroo, so here are the acts that I am REALLY looking forward to:

The Police
Tool
White Stripes
Clutch
The Roots
String Cheese Incident (shut up; i've gotta get my jam band from somewhere)
Aesop Rock
El-P
Brazilian Girls
Gillian Welch
Ziggy Marley
Ben Harper
The Flaming Lips (Hell YES)
Ween
Galactic (maybe)
Wilco
The Decemberists
Feist
Bob Weir
Ornette Coleman

God, there are so many bands playing that I haven't heard of as well, so I might die from exhaustion before I get home. Here's hopin'!

1 Metallica 1986 Felt Forum
2 Prince 2006 Rio Hotel Las Vegas
3 Lalpalooza 1996 Syracuse NY
4 Rolling Stones 1989 Syracuse NY
5 Pink Floyd 1988 Giant Stadium

Someone mentioned that Giant Stadium show with G+R
Deep Purple and Aerosmith......Guns arrived that day.

Guns was also my most disappointing show when they played in the early 90s on the double bill with Metallica, after watching Metallica kill for over 2 hours Guns came on and just seemed pointless, we left. 2 years ago I also saw Springsteen at Giant Stadium, I had wanted to see him for years, fianlly had my chance, I dont know if it was the seats or the sound system but it was horrible, I left that show also.

Best concerts:

1. Tori Amos, Shea's Theater, Buffalo, NY, 2003: I went by myself, it was amazing. It was the first and only time I've ever seen her and she is just so fabulous live. Her version of iiee was haunting.

2. Barenaked Ladies, HSBC Arena, New Years Eve 1999, Buffalo, NY: Just a good time. They began the concert with a cover of George Michael's Careless Whisper, and it just got better after that. It was also about 3 hours in length. Fabulous.

3. Patti Smith, Buffalo NY, 2002: It was after a Ralph Nader speech, and she just rocked the joint. It was so close up and personal, and I love her.

4. The Lowest of the Low and the Weakerthans, Niagara Falls, 2001: good solid rock. Any Lowest of the Low show is solid, and I've seen them several times. I've also seen Ron Hawkins solo and it's some great country rock.

5. Bruce Cockburn, Buffalo, NY, 2004: The highlight of this show for me was the fact that I sat next to Ani DiFranco the entire time, but Bruce is the man. No one plays a guitar like he does.

I've just realized that there are a lot of Canadians on my list. I guess it's because I lived most of my life in Buffalo.

Most Disappointing: The Tragically Hip. They sucked live. The only song I really enjoyed was Fireworks, because how can you not?

Show I'd LOVE to see: Radiohead.

1) Jane's Addiction - 1990 - Aragon Brawlroom, Chicago - this was the Ritual de lo Habitual tour. Henry Rollins opened. By the end of the show a full on beer fight was happening in the back and 10 rows of folding chairs had been stomped flat for the pit...

2) The Onion Cellar - 2006 - ART, Cambridge, MA - this was a live music / drama / art show by the Dresden Dolls with some actors as well. Very intimate, unpredictable and surprisingly poignant and involving. I can't believe they did this show 20 odd times.

3) Tribe - 1994 - Clark Univ, Worcester, MA - a small college rock band from Boston that broke up in 95. Aside from the fact that I knew every song they played, I loved that I was about 3' away from the lead singer, front and center (there were only 100 or so folks in the space).

4) Lollapalooza 1 - 1991 - Mansfield, MA - something about an open, muddy mosh pit on a hill, Jane's Addiction and Nine Inch Nails...

5) Pink Floyd - 1988 - Foxboro, MA - My first ever concert, it didn't matter that there was no Roger Waters when they played Run Like Hell as an encore.

Disappointing - Sleater-Kinney - 2005 - I really was into this band, and the show was only OK. They played very little off of anything but their recent album and the show was over too quickly. I'm most disappointed to hear that they've since split.

Top 5

1) Natalie Merchant (2003?)- pretty largish venue but she was engaging and charming and the music was just fantastic

2) Smashing Pumpkins (1993ish) - tiny venue at the Univ. of IA campus - loud, crazy fun

3) The Black Crowes (1993-4ish) - smallish venue in IA, I wore boots and still left with a broken toe.

4) Angelique Kidjo - (2006) - a club in San Francisco. She was beautiful and talked to the crowd and most everyone there seemed to really want to be there.

5) Willie Nelson from the outside of the stadium for a Farm Aid show - sat outside with friends drinking beers and listening.

Most disappointing - I went to Lilith Fair in SF in 1998(or 97?). We were way up the hill at Shorline and it was a bit boring.

Still want to see - I have seen Prince in a huge stadiums, I would love to catch him in one of the small "surprise" shows that he does.

Almost forgot, most dissapointing... Whitley takes this one too. June 2000. The night before I moved from NYC to LA, Bowery Ballroom, brought a whole bunch of friends who'd never heard him but had heard me go on and on and on about how brilliant he was. He came out so wasted he couldn't stand. Most of my freinds left before it was over. Sigh.

Still haven't seen but wanna - Stevie Mother Fucking Wonder.

Top 5:

1. Pearl Jam (pick from any one of 8 times I've seen them)...They are one of only a few bands that truly appreciate every show they get to play.

2. Beck....Tweeter Center 2005...8 people on stage sitting down to a snack while Beck does a couple accoustic songs...then plates and drinks start clinking as he settles out of one song and next thing you know an entire song is being done using noises from dishes and a kick drum. The man is a genius at his live shows!

3. Beck...2007 Tower Theater...Same people on stage (basically) and dead center in the stage is a marionette performance step-for-step, identical to the show. ::See last sentence of previous entry::

4. Chris Cornell...2007 Grape Street Philadelphia...a private show of only 5 or 6 songs, but there were 75 people on the room including the on-air and club staff and a 2 hour interview was sliced in between the songs. This guy has the voice to end all voices. ::Placed at 4th only because it was so short and no pictures were allowed once he was on stage::

5. R.E.M...1995...Monster Tour, Corestates Spectrum, Philadelphia...My first unsupervised concert. Me, my best friend Rich, floor seats. Michael Stipe before he started trying too hard. Need I say more?

Most Disappointing...Color Me Bad and the Party...1990, New Castle County Fair...I only went because my sister wanted to go. I hide nothing.

I've always wanted to see...{{TIE}} Genesis with Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd with RW {Bigscreen via satellite in Philly at Live8 doesn't count}, Tony Bennett.

Wow...look what happens when i stay on topic!! :) Nothing inflammatory. At least...nothing until someone sees that I went and saw Color Me Bad. I should have lied and said marky mark or something...

Top Five:

1. Muse/My Chemical Romance, W&M Hall VA, 2007: This was my husband and my first live concert in a really long time (We're new parents.), and both bands put on a wicked show. Muse rocked the house, and Gerard Way is a truly enthusiastic entertainer. Lately, bands seem so self-absorbed they don't even acknowledge the audience in concert, but MCR went out of their way to give us a good, old-fashioned rock concert with sing alongs, shout-outs, pyrotechnics, confetti, and fireworks. And booty shaking from the lead singer.

2. Harry Connick Jr., The Mosque (Landmark Theater, whatever) in Richmond, VA, 2000: Okay, whoo! Other side of the spectrum entirely. HCJ is phenomenal live, especially with a full horn section backing him. His voice is near pitch perfect. He's a great band leader, piano player, and entertainer. My only complaint was being squished into the tiny seats next to a rather larger man who was overflowing into my personal space.

3. A bunch of NOLA jazz musicians, Preservation Hall, 2004: If you get a chance to visit NOLA, pay a visit to Preservation Hall. We waited over an hour to get in, and then sat on uncomfortable benches in a poorly lit, hot room. But the experience of watching a bunch of guys who clearly love music jam and take requests and encourage the audience to help sing along was worth it. I could have stayed for hours, but we wanted to give up our seats to someone else waiting outside.

2. Tie between R.E.M. in RVA 1995 and The Cure at the USAir Arena 1992: Both of these bands had an enormous impact on my adolescence and so seeing them live was akin to a religious experience. The shows could have been utter crap, but I was in heaven just being in the band's presence.

1. Tori Amos, The Mosque in RVA 1998: I've probably seen Tori the most of any artist, and this concert by far the best experience seeing her live. It was on her Plugged Tour supporting From The Choirgirl Hotel and the first outing with a backing band. I had incredible seats with a perfect view from above of her hands on the keyboard. Her performance was spot on. She's not quite duplicated the experience since for me.

(Honorable Mentions: Sting, any of the five times I've seen him; Curve in 1998, DMB back in the early 90's when they were the house band at the Flood Zone, Live in 1995, Pink Floyd in 1994, and of course, Tori in 1994 and 1995. I'm sure I'm leaving something out. In my old age, my memory has faded. Ha, ha.)

Most Disappointing: Smashing Pumpkins at W&M Hall in 1994. Billy Corgan is a motherfucker. He seemed bored out of his mind the entire time, like he was doing us all an enormous favor just by being there. When the band returned after an unexplained 20 minute absence from the stage, he told the audience to "Tell all those people who left (There were quite a few that bailed.) 'FUCK YOU'!" Finally, after a roll of toilet paper flew on stage, Billy walked out in the middle of the song leaving the band to finish up without him.

Oh and when M'chelle Ndegeocello opened for Sting once she freaked out in the middle of her set and threw the mic stand into the orchestra pit, walked off, and didn't come back. Again, the band was left to wrap the song up sans singer. It was weird.

The Band I've Always Wanted to See: Oh totally, Madonna. But only if I could go back in a time machine to the Blonde Ambition Tour.

Top 5, in no particular order:

Rolling Stones, 1997 at Owen Field in Norman, Oklahoma

Bare Naked Ladies, Beale Street Music Festival 2007 -- A guy dropped his pants on the bluff overlooking the Island at the behest of the band. That's a god show.

They Might be Giants, 2002 Tulsa, OK: Great example of the "intimate setting" Dustin mentioned. 500 people in a club, all standing pressing up against the stage. Awesome.

Blues Traveler, 2004, Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK -- John Popper played the fiddle lead to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" on the harmonica. Show stopper.

Keller Williams, Beale Street Music festival, Memphis, TN 2007 -- If you haven't seen Keller, just f-ing go. Don't even take a second thought about it.

Honorable Mention: Counting Crows

Most Dissappointing: 36 Mafia. Maybe I am "out of touch" with rap culture, but I feel that at a concert, I should get to hear full length songs. 36 would play 30 seconds of something, end with a big BOOM from the DAT machine and then start jawing with the audience. Whatever.

Would love to see? Southern Culture on the Skids

Dammit! Prince...need Prince on there too. i know he's all into the god god god thing now...but just the CHANCE to hear Darling Nikki live would be good enough for me.

1. Replacements, 1988. Least appreciated band of all time, next to Big Star
2. Emmy Lou Harris and Patty Griffin, Boston, 2002
3. The Suburbs, 1986. You've never heard of them, but they were part of the Minneapolis scene in the early 80's
4. Elvis Costello, w/'Mats opening, sometime in the 90's (mighty like a rose tour, I think) OK, so he was fat and bearded, the show was truly amazing. It was also the last Replacements tour, and they had gone back to playing REM covers and Wizard of Oz tunes.
3. Tie: Springsteen and U2, 1984

honorable mention: Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Kinks, Lucinda williams, TMBG, Jeff Beck

Worst show ever: The Grateful Dead w/Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, 1986, Akron, OH; The Dead just chomped and the deadheads were completely oblivious to the fact that jerry couldn't play or find the microphone -"Jerry's on fire, man- on fire!!", sobbed the guy next to me. After that, i never trusted another Deadhead's opinion in music

Wish I could see: Radiohead, Ben Folds, Pixies, Wilco, Neil Young, Dino Jr

Prince doesnt play darling nikki anymore.......according to him "He dont cuss no more"

Five Best:

AC/DC, Spring, 1996 - One of my top five bands since I was about 10. Completely awesome show. I couldn't believe their energy.

U2, May 2001 - Fell in love with them early on, but never got to see them till college. I was really close to the stage and even though Bono's voice sucked, it was killer.

The Barenaked Ladies, New Year's Eve, 2000 or 2001 (can't remember) - They opened with Careless Whisper. It was an exhilarating, hilarious show.

The Tea Party, can't remember the year - Their cover of Hallelujah basically floored me.

Metallica, summer 1997 - Jerry Cantrell opened. I was completely obsessed with them at the time, and they played Sanitarium, my fave song.

Most Disappointing:

Tori Amos, summer, 2005 - It was at an outside arena and I could barely hear her. I love this woman, but I was totally crushed.

Most Anticipated: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Oh please, Nick, come to the States, I beg you!

JULIE!!! You rock!!! Roger was amazing this weekend! I saw him on Friday night. Rolled up there with 12 people. i ended up voluntarily sitting up in section 210 because my friend Mark's mother gets Vertigo...so SHE got to sit in 106. Who cares! It was still brilliant. Got some sick pictures of the cieling prsim on my phone.

Geez, that thread took off like a fucking rocket ... like you were all poised and ... [replaces sunglasses] waiting.

Need to add an honorable mention to Liz Phair at a tiny venue in SF about two years ago; just her and her guitarman, unplugged, for about an hour, in front of a couple hundred people.

I have to agree with everyone who listed The Barenaked Ladies, I've seen them three or four times and they always perform with so much energy and humor. I thought I was going to bruise my ribs laughing when I saw them at the Tower Theater...they had some dude dressed up as god who walked around and let the audience ask the band questions. And I love how they always showcase each band member and let them have the stage to themselves, the skinny red-haired guy on the big bass is a fantastic solo act.

Ranylt: Who says having been to secondary school in the 1980s makes us old? Fuck them! Unless of course, you're super clever (which is possible) and went to secondary school when you were an infant and you actually think early 30s = old, in which case, Fuck you (joke). By the way, snap on Billy Bragg. Possibly the consistently best live performer I have ever seen.

No particular order:

Rolling Stones 2006--everything I'd hoped the stones would be and more

Madonna--2001 in London. What can I say? Girlfriend puts together quite the show and gives it her all

Aerosmith--1997. They absolutely rocked out and I loved them for it. At one point I thought Joe Perry was do-able during this concert and then I realized he's almost 40 years older than me...ewww.

Rusted Roots--1996. OMG. Room of less than 1000, all acoustic. I was positively amazed and had never seen anything like them.

U2--around achtung baby. I can't remember if there was an actual tour with that album. Anyways...it's u2, do you really have to say more?

Most disappointing....nothing comes to mind. I always felt like I got what I expected and was sometimes pleasantly surprised.

still really want to see REM (I realize this is probably a pipe dream), Wilco and Barbara Streisand because one of these times it is ACTUALLY going to be her farewell and final concert.

And fine, I'll admit it. I almost bought Christina Aguilera tickets in february and I regret that I didn't.

1. They Might Be Giants, 1996ish Rochester, NY
2. Ramones, 1995 Rochester
3. The Cure, Pixies, Love and Rockets, 1989 Toronto
4. Lollapalooza 1992, Saratoga Springs
5. Meat Beat Manifesto, 1996 Rochester

New Order sucked live, no shock there. Ween was terrible too--so very insolent!

Would have liked to have seen Nirvana. Would still like to see Wilco and Modest Mouse

Hee Pissboy! I was there on Saturday (I was in the 200's as well, I loved our view of the visual effects)...I almost passed out when he closed the show with Comfortably Numb. I spent the 15 minutes in between his 1st set and Dark Side talking to a guy who was NOT pleased with Waters' anti-Bush stance. :)

This is a great topic! Fun reading people's entries.

1. Nirvana, Xray Cafe, Portland, 1988-ish? Yep, I'm one of the lucky ones who got to see them- Right before they got really big, and I almost didn't go to this concert.

2. Metallica- BTA (Before They were Assholes)- 1998, 1999- they could really rock. Ironically, really great with the audience.

3. Bumbershoot 97?-Seattle- A potpurri of mid 90s mainstream rock- Offspring (awesome), No Doubt (honestly, she was adorable), Matchbox 20 (mmmm....not so much, huh?), Radiohead (Yorke never looked up) and Foo Fighters- Dave Grohl kicked ass.

4. Fiona Apple- 1999, Portland. She was high as a kite but she rocked that piano. Small venue helped.

5. Ben Harper, 2000-ish, Portland. It was outdoors, it rained the whole time, I was wasted. He played for what seemed 4 hours. Fantastic show.

Overrated-
Going to disagree with 2006 NIN- I also saw that run, and felt it was very commercialized. Why is Trent still so unhappy?
No Doubt 2004, very slick and practiced. left halfway through.

Someday I'll see the Stones and Pearl Jam. I wish I had seen the Dead and U2 pre-Zooropa.

This is the kind of question where I will undoubtedly regret my answers upon further recollection, but here goes off the top of my head--

1. The Pogues at the Ritz NYC 1987--MacGowan was only semi-incoherent.
2. Paul Simon in Central Park NYC 1991--the logistics were just a mess, but the show was spectacular.
3. Bill Staines at the University of Montana 1992
4. John Prine/Heather Eatman at the Masonic Temple in Spokane, WA 1995
5. Jackson Browne in Spokane during the I'm Alive tour--sometime in the nineties.

Biggest disappointment--Bright Eyes, Seattle 2005

Would love to have caught SRV or Warren Zevon--RIP.

Be adequite :)

(a) I love your name and

(b) I saw no doubt in 1995.....and you're right. Gwen was adorable. I remember thinking she was the coolest most unique punk rock girl EVER. (mind you I was 16) but, I still have a soft spot for her just because of that concert.

5 best shows:
1-rage against the machine-bercy-paris-summer 1993. i'm fuzzy on the date but i remember being breathless at the intensity of zach delarocha's performance. that and i had never seen a performer strip nekkid in front of 10,000 people to make a point.

2-velvet underground-la cigalle-paris-summer 1993. after listening to my parents talk about how amazing VU was for a lifetime, i was finally able to understand what they meant. and i was with my dad, a great father-daughter moment of bonding and mind melding. lou and john cale jammed out white light in a way that made me have an out of body experience. not to mention maureen's charming rendition of I'm Sticking with You, a rarity for VU apparently.

3-the changes-metro-chicago-february 2007, it was a snowy and horrid chicago winter night. not a lot of people were brave enough to venture out that night. their loss because the changes ROCKED the house to the ground with a tight set of incredible melodies and a tight rythym section. that and the crazy dancing. fun!

4-dizzee rascal-double door-chicago-july 2006. i've never thrown down to flow and fat garage bass beats that vibrated the very centre of the central nervous system like that before. dizzee's manic energy fed to the crowd, it was packed and hot as hell but no one cared, we just kept pushing him to give us more.

5-chemical brothers-aragon ballroom-chicago-summer of 1998, i think. holy shit. that's i can say.

most disappointing: hands down, smashing pumpkins, every time. they're from chicago and i remember how big they were when i was in high school before they released gish. i swear they were good then. after high school, every time i saw them play, all i could think was that billy whines, darcy can't play bass for shit and they have suck ass acoustics every time they play. that and i resented the fact they relied on the magic of the recording studio.

the band i always wanted to see but didn't: led zeppelin. my mom and dad have some great stories about seeing them before they hit it big in the u.s. and every time they tell a story, i just wish i could have been there to witness it.

1. Bob Mould - Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis 1997 An acoustic show, front row seats, maybe 200 people total. Also, it was something like my fourth or fifth date with my boyfriend that I was head overheels in love with, and he played "our" song.

2. Wilco - First Avenue, Minneapolis 2001 (I think)
This is actually more memorable for the fact that it was the only show I've ever gone to alone because my brother was still 6 months away from being 21 and that I fainted from the smoke/lack of oxygen, but it was also a really damn good show.

3. Weezer - Wild Stadium, St. Paul 2002 or 2003
A really really fun concert with crap security that meant my brother and I could sneak down to the better seats with no problem and jump up and down to our hearts' content.

4. Paul McCartney - Colosseum, Rome my birthday, 2003
This concert I actually watched from above in a park, as the concert was only for about 500 pepole. The next day he played the "public" concert for something like 500,000 people in the streets. But that night, we could see him, hear everything, and we were lying on the grass with the stars above, and I seriously can't imagine a better birthday than one that ends with hearing Hey, Jude live.

5.Jon Spencer Alberobello, Italy 2006
Dude, if you can get a couple thousand people 2/3ds of who probably have no idea who you are, and can't understand one word you're saying to obey your every word, then...your concert kicks some serious ass. Seriously amazing.

Concert I haven't seen but would like to...
Rufus Wainwright and/or Ben Folds Rufus has a nasty tendency to have concerts either the week before or the week after I am in cities, and Ben Folds was the opener for Counting Crows both times I went to see them...up until the date that I saw them.

Oh! This is a GOOD one!

No particular order:

Queens of the Stone Age/Distillers - Warfield SF, Ca. October 2003 - The best rock show I've ever been too. Such a small venue - and my absolute favorite -, you could feel the music just pumping through your chest. I really love this band too. Live, they are a knock out everytime. And Gene Simmons was right behind us in the box seats and it was cool to catch his eye and share that trade mark dirty grin.

Beastie Boys - Oakland Arena 1998 (?) Whenever Hello Nasty was huge . . . - Still ranks as one of the very best shows I've seen. Waited up all night in line to get tickets. 2nd row. So awesome! Such energy. Happy to have caught them at a high point.

Tool - Oakland Arena - Sept. 2006 - Long time fave band that it took me many years to finally see in concert. Everything I'd hoped it would be. Maynard was even rather genial to the crowd.

TV on the Radio - The Library, Sacramento, Ca. Sept. 2006 - This has to be my top one or two bands in recent years. The venue was the size of a postage stamp. You could literally step onto the stage. A lot about the show, i.e. the rude hipster crowd, sucked, but the music and energy was fierce. I was transfixed. And Tunde walked off stage at the end and had to squeeze past me to get through the crowd. I had Tunde sweat all over me. I saw them at the Fillmore in March, but it just couldn't beat the intimacy of the Library.

Tie: Ani DiFranco July 4th in San Jose 1998/Tricky Warfield, SF, Ca. 1998: Tough to pick out of these two. Ani had fireworks going off behind her stage and it was the first time I ever saw her live. Amazing show with the Rebirth Brass Band. Tricky was a long time love I finally got to see and had the chance to meet him. Both were in the same year. 1998 was a good year for shows. =)

Biggest disappointment: Janes Addiction, Lollapalooza 2002 . . . (?) I'm awful with dates. Whenever the last one at Shoreline in Mountainview, Ca. was. Most of the day was really great, but these guys were just phoning it in that night. We left in the middle of their set and I had been really excited to see them at the start of the day.

Anticipated bands: The Roots. But I get to see them at Rock the Bells this summer. Woot! Portishead. And Radiohead. One of these days . . .

5. Go Betty Go/One Word Solution/Audioslave/Janes Addiction, Lollapalooza 2004 in Portland. Amid a sea of emo crap, these four bands dared stand the test of quality. But seriously, out of 100 bands, only four that didn't suck.
4. Dresden Dolls, NARAL benefit in Portland, summer 2004. Had never heard of the band, and was somewhat disappointed when they were setting up their keyboard at a rock show. Turns out their version of "War Pigs" was their way of telling me to Eat the Big One.
3. Death Angel, 2004 in Portland. My high school heroes reunited. It was my 15-year-old dream come true that didn't involve nudity!
2. Joey Ramone, Two Grey Hills High School in Tuba City, Arizona, October 1996. It was well after The Ramones broke up, but Joey playing in a high school auditorium with only about 300 people jumping around.
1. Fugazi at Bricks in Salt Lake City, 2001. Also the (Easter) weekend I realized I am one of those freaks who will drive 10 hours (from Missoula, Montana) for a show but it was un-freakin'-believably worth it!

Most Disappointing: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, October 2006 in Tempe. It may have had more to do with the 110 degrees, but live, these guys don't have much.

Show I wish I could see: I would sever a pinky, feed it to rats then eat the rats, if it meant I could finally see the Marked Men play live.

1) Sleater-Kinney - The Ventura Theater May 2004. I could fill my whole five with SK shows, but I won't. My favorite band then and always, I hit up three of their California shows this tour, Ventura was the first. It had been a long time since I had last seen them, and it was an ace set, filled with new songs that would become their last record, The Woods. I'll always remember waiting outside the venue forever so I could blurt out to Corin, "youguysplayedanawesomesetyou'relikethebestbandever" to which I got a polite, "thanks."



2)The Gossip - The Troubadour 2004. The Gossip are one of those bands that you have to see live. Non-stop dance party. Awesome fun.


3) Erase Errata - the Che Cafe March 2005. the lead singer offered me a hit before the show. (I refused, but still felt super cool.) I love this venue, I love this band, and everyone in attendance was dancing dancing dancing.


4) Billy Joel - LA Staples Center, 2006. I love Billy Joel. I hate LA and the Staples Center. Still, the culmination of all my childhood hopes and dreams as I got to get drunk to Uptown Girl and Scenes From an Italian Restaurant.


5) Lou Reed - The Wiltern, 2004. I can never decide whether the best part was when he explained that Sweet Jane was actually four chords, or when he told off a brawling duo in the balcony during the encore, Lou Reed-style.

And by far the most disappointing show ever - The Unicorns at the San Diego Epicentre, I think sometime in 2004 or 2005. Their cutesy little album was pretty catchy, but they spent most of their set conversing with some heckler in the audience and telling ghost stories. SNORE. And they gave us orange juice just because. Which was probably the best part of the show.



And now I feel old because my weekend consisted of watching the Futurama marathon and drinking Guinness. Sigh.

Paddy: lol. Actually I bid my early 30's adieu some time ago, sniff. I'll be 37 in August.

That said, I am in envious awe of the older posters who got to see, say, ELP in their prime...

(40 is the new 30! 40 is the new 30!)

1. Sleater-Kinney, August '06, at Webster Hall, their last NYC show. Just a fucking power-house of a show. Plus it was like 106 in New York City, but my fiance and I snuck around some audio equipment on the balcony and were about ten feet from the stage, by a drafty door. Heaven.

2. Smashing Pumpkins, October '96, Rosemont Horizon. I had had tickets to a show at MSG earlier that year, but Jimmy Chamberlin and Jonathon Melvoin ODed the night before, leaving Melvoin dead and my favorite band from my high school years in turmoil. So it was pretty sweet when I finally got to see them several months later, at the height of their rockingness. The only arena show I've ever really liked.

3. The Hold Steady, Ocober '06, Irving Plaza. The night before Boys and Girls in America came out, kind of a victory lap for the band and they invited everyone to an after party when the show ended.

4. Green Day, October '04, Irving Plaza, the night before American Idiot came out. I had no idea Green Day had an album like American Idiot up their sleeves still, and hadn't bothered looking around the internet for any leaks yet. I was really astounded by this show.

5. Andrew WK/Flogging Molly, October '02, Irving Plaza. I got concussed by a crowd surfer while on my way onstage, and wrenched my knee trying to get over the security fence. Mostly memorable for being a Sunday night, and everyone at the office gawking at how much I kicked my own ass on a Sunday.

Most disappointing: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Columbus, April 2000. Just not very good. I've been mystified by their reputation as a live band ever since.

Band I want to see: I can't believe I've never seen Radiohead.

1. The Cure, Mobile, AL. 1996-ish? First time to see them, and in my home town! Amazing show, played for over 3 1/2 hours, old and new, gorgeous lush songs and fun early boppy songs and all the ones in between. Robert Smith was doing this thing where he'd wear the jersey of the local hockey team for whatever city they were playing, so he was wearing the Mobile Mysticks jersey. I'm all gaga again just remembering.

2. Firewater, some little dingy bar, Atlanta, GA. 2002. Loved this (now sadly defunct) band since I was 20. If you don't know them, check them out. You will not regret. Not a shit ton of people there, but enough for the place to feel full and energized. Met Tod A, told him I'd driven 8 hours just to see them so would he please play Bourbon and Division, and they did, and he dedicated it to me and it was wonderful. I was with my ex and we were still in love and happy and he teased me about being a star-struck teeny bopper but I didn't care. On the way back home we went to Hank Williams home, too, which was cool.

3. Lollapalooza, New Orleans, LA 1993. I was, what , 15? My dad dropped us off, it was the first big concert I ever went to. Tool, Alice In Chains, Dinosaur, Jr., Fishbone, Primus, Babes in Toyland, Arrested Development. Tool was on the *side* stage, y'all. I'm old.

4. Bob Dylan, Biloxi, Mississippi. 1994? Went with my dad and my little sister and her friends and a friend of my dad's. There was some huge biker convention at the beach and they were all there, smokin and drinkin and lookin rowdy but were super nice and my dad and I hung out and I thought he was the coolest dad in the world. Still do. Dylan was apparently fairly sober, and coherent, and having a blast.

5. Marilyn Manson, Biloxi, MS. 1997? With Helmet and Rasputina. Helmet was fantastic, Rasputina was fantastic, and Marilyn Manson was un-fucking-believable. Whether you like the music or not (I did), the sets and costumes and sheer energy of that man are (were?) amazing. He'd switch up the entire stage from song to song, at one point crawling around on leg and hand stilts like a 15-foot spider, and fast! So much fun.

Honorable Mentions: Buzzov*en, Erasure, GWAR, Bright Eyes (shut up), and Fugazi.

Biggest Disappointment: Ani DiFranco, House of Blues, New Orleans, this past year. Ugh. Her fans fucking suck. They were hushing everyone. At a concert. For fucking TALKING! They're like some horrid cult, telling us it was "disrespectful to speak while Ani plays." She's on a stage, she can't hear me, you stupid hippy! Argh, I get so irritated just thinking about them. Also, all the lesbians were pissed off bc she's pregnant, and some left cause she'd "sold out." Whatever, her new stuff blows anyway.

Wish I could see: Morphine, but he died. So The Police, and yes! They're reuniting! And touring! And coming to New Orleans! And my boy surprised me with tickets!! I am happy!

I'm one of those people who isn't a fan of live music for the most part--the sound is often not so great and my claustrophobia gets the better of me. However, I've been to a few shows and had a rocking good time (please don't laugh too hard at me.)

1. Billy Idol (Bank of America Pavillion, Boston, 9/2003) He totally rocked out hardcore the entire show. It was a great atmosphere--both leather-clad bikers and what appeared to be suburban soccer-moms all drunk and screaming along to Billy's best together while he ran around the stage shirtless. Yum! (Chris Robinson was the opening act...and let's just say I was glad when he was finally done.)

2. Poison (Hershey Pavillion, Hershey PA, 6/2000) I LOVED Poison, and I got the tickets as a HS grad gift. They were the headliners, and even though it had been raining all day, and pretty much the moment their set started the skies opened up and drenched us all, the enthusiasm was incredible. They put on a kickass live show.

3. Dexter Freebish (Avalon, Boston, spring of 2001) They were opening for Everlast, and they put on a great show. Also, they were hot.

4. Bow Thayer (Lizard Lounge, Cambridge MA, spring 2007) I'm sure few if any of you have heard of Bow, but he is an amazing folk/rock musician. His banjo player was phenomenal.

Most Disappointing: Probably Elvis Costello (Fleet Pavillion, Boston, fall 2003) I was probably disappointed less because the music wasn't great, and more because I had no idea who Elvis Costello was at the time, and was startled by the fact that he didn't really banter or anything--just came out, played for 2 hours, and then was done.

Most Want to See that is Still Possible: Wilco. Although I'd be the one screaming for stuff off of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Most Want to See that Would Require Black Magic or a Time Machine: The Beatles. Or maybe Elvis.

Oh, whatever, Ranylt. If you're old, they I'm a couple years shy of old, and I refuse to accept that. Ergo, you are not old. HA! Even if I haven't been to a concert in ten years.

Considering I haven't seen that many concerts (I know I hate me) And it appears I have seen all my concerts in 2006 Here's my list:
1. The Stills-The Social Orlando 2006
2. Stars-Siren Music Festival 2006 NYC
3. Keane-Hard Rock Live Orlando 2005
4 Coldplay-The Oakdale, Connecticut 2004 (before they were so big. It was awesome)
5. Ed Harcourt-Bowery Ballroom NYC 2003
Biggest Disappointment-Third Eye Blind 96 They suck live
Band I want to see-The Shins and I would love to see U2.

1. Ani Difranco w/Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in Buffalo-hell if I know the year [to avoid revealing the freak that I am, I will not list her as all of my top 5..oh wait I just revealed my freakishness anyway...damn]
2. Genesis-early 90s-Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana.
3. Live and Counting Crows-Deer Creek, Noblesville, Indiana.
4. REM-Millwakee, Wisconsin (mid 90s?)
5. Billy Joel-Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana-sometime in late 80s, first concert.

Most disappointing: Violent Femmes- early 90s-Wisconsin? It was actually a B-52s concert but somehow I didn't know that until I got there.

Most anticipated: Rage Against the Machine (minus Wu Tang Clan this time) in Indianapolis...instead they broke up.

1. Ben Folds, The Palace in Los Angeles, November 13, 2002. It was the Ben Folds Live tour, with just him and a piano. Awesome show, capped with William Shatner coming onstage with a big beard, giving a fire and brimstone sermon, and then segueing into "In Love." Spectacular show top to bottom.

2. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, The Spectrum in Philly, circa 1995. Rusted Root, who was a relative unknown at the time (at least, to me and my friends), opened with an amazing live set. Page and Plant then put on a simply stupefying show, magnified by the fact that I was second row and repeatedly made eye contact with Robert Plant. Still gives me chills. And to my friends who continually mock me when I tell them this was the second best performance I've ever seen, I still say "fuck off."

3. Bruce Hornsby (yeah, I said Bruce Hornsby!), the now-no-more Valley Forge Music Fair, circa 1994. A very small and intimate theater-in-the-round, Hornsby was at the top of his game, with the tightest live band I've ever seen, playing all of his hits, various covers, and requests from the audience. Cool as shit (plus, I got to hang out on his tour bus afterwards, without even having to give him a BJ!).

4. Rage Against the Machine, someplace in Jersey, circa 1992. They were the opening act of that year's Lollapalooza. I had never heard of the band (they were at least half-a-year form breaking big) and I've never had such a strong experience of being into a band I was just seeing and hearing for the first time. The energy was fucking electric. I got the CD as soon as I got home and spent the next 6 months telling everyone I knew that these guys were the shit and that they should get on board with the Rage now.

5. I gotta' go with a cluster-fuck tie here of various bands I saw at Woodstock 94, particularly Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Peter Gabriel. An amazing weekend (I think I saw 28 bands in total), and these four in particular put on absolutely unforgettable shows.

Most disappointing - Meatloaf, the Spectrum in Philly, 1994. Yes, expectations never should've been high, but I was a big fan of his two Bat Out of Hell CDs, and on those CDs, the man's got some singing chops. But it was the absolute worst vocal performance I have ever heard at a non-karaoke show. Abysmal.

Show I desperately want/need to see - Beastie Boys. I've had tickets for them three times and have missed seeing them for various reasons (although I have been at a Dali Lahma reading they were at, but that's not the same). I will see them before I die.

In no particular order

1) Stray Cats / Busboys -- 1982, Normal, IL
Yeah--I said it, and I'm not ashamed. It's fun when you aren't expecting much and the place rocks! Plus every concert is cool when you are in high school.

2)Justin Timberlake / Pink -- March 2007, Nashville.
Ebayed some tix and sat next to his MF'n Momma. You know the seats are good when you are sittin by Momma. And Pink is badass (hoonoo?). Plus the memory is still fresh.

3) Every DMB and U2 show I have ever had the privilege to attend no matter how crappy my seats have been. (2 DMB shows this summer!)

4) Rolling Stones / J.Geils / The Chieftans/ George Thorogood -- Slayne Castle, Ireland 1982.
Every concert is good when you are on vaca. Even though Mick was 2 hrs late. It was more of the experience than the music. (Summer of Love, baby!)

5)Jeff Healy Band / Peoria, IL , circa 1992(?)
That blind dude can rock!

Honorable Mention:
Jimmy Buffet -- Alpine Valley, WI, 1996
It was pouring down f***king rain the whole night and we were beyond soaked. There comes a point where it just becomes funny so we had a great time, got drunk and listened to some tunes.

TK - No, we are not old. Believe me, I know.

(I do get addletwitted, though, working on a campus. I was having a beer the other day with three much younger types, and NONE of them had ever heard of Barbarella.)

Damn, I haven't been to a concert in forever.

1. R.E.M, 1996: There was this little English group no one had heard of called Radiohead as the opening act.

2. Al Green, Indianapolis Jazz Fest, 1999: A group of teenage metalheads were right next to me. They all had their hands in the air, crying and singing along to "Amazing Grace."

3. Pearl Jam, Solider Field, 1996: First show I ever saw.

4. Horde Fest, 1998(?): I don't remember most of the bands, but on the jam band stage for about half an hour was Les Claypool, Mark Sandman from Morphine and Medeski, Martin & Wood. Surreal.

5. Rage Against the Machine/Wu-Tang Clan, 1997(?): Weirdest mix in the crowd between the two groups of fans. Nice appearance by Tom Morello's mom.

I don't really have a most disappointing, but the most embarrassing would have to be Tonic, The Verve Pipe and K's Choice at the Vic sometime last 90s. One hit wonder night apparently.

1. Nine Inch Nails in '93 or '94. Started in row 5, ended up getting moshed back to 30 or so. Incredible show, that stage was a wreck of smashed equipment by the time it was over.

2. Weezer - The Ogden(?)in Denver on the Pinkerton album. Incredible show. I was surprised they were that good live.

3. BNL - I've seen them 4 times, every show was awesome.

4. Tori Amos - In Chicago at the taping of her Soundstage special on PBS during the Scarlet's Walk tour. I wish I could get that complete show on DVD. I wish I could get it on DVD PERIOD instead of the VHS recording I have. Third time seeing her and because it was a filmed concert it was like a greatest hits show. Some of the songs were played twice for the taping like Bliss and A Sorta Fairytale.

5. Metallica - Load tour. First time seeing them and the show was a killer. People were on fire, riggings collapsed, and at the end Metallica played acoustically with just the emergency lights flashing to illuminate them. It was all a put on of course but still awesome.

Most Wanted: Sublime. I got into them right after Brad Knowles died.

Worst Experience - Creed - Fieldhouse in Boulder, CO
They were the headliner on a triple bill with Our Lady Peace and Oleander. OLP was awesome, Oleander was very good, then Creed came out and about 4 songs we couldn't take anymore. Stapp's stage persona is a cross between Jesus Christ and Jim Morrison. What a tool. I didn't like them must to begin with but after that I flat out hated that band.

1. Babyshmbles (2006), The Mill in Preston.
I was completely rat arsed and jumped around like a nutter. Following the brilliant gig, me and my friend Becky managed to get on Pete's Bus. He sang some more songs and I got my arm autographed - which at the time seemed really awesome. I stayed up all night and went straight to uni still in my Babyshambles t- shirt, there I was greeted with horror that I had met that "awful" Pete Doherty.

2. Eminem (2003) Milton Keyes
The best memory I have of my questionable rap phase was this concert which featured Xzibit, 50 cent and D12 as support acts. Me and my sister spent the whole, boiling day making our way to the front where we got in the "golden" circle on account of me being so small I was getting squashed. Eminem was brilliant, the crowd were well up for it, and he touched. My. Hand.
Also the fifth Harry Potter book came out that day. I am so thug.

3. Babyshambles (2006) The Academy, Manchester
The band were great and the support act was the brilliant "The View". Plus Pete was on very good form, he even broke up a fight in the crowd. It was very sweaty though.

4. Spice Girls (1998) Paris
No cool points for this I know, however I was a twelve year old girl, so at the time it was the greatest thing ever. Plus it involved a trip to Paris - so Yay!

5. Artic Monkeys (2005) The Ritz, Manchester
A few months before they hit so big that they're extremely difficult to get tickets for, I saw them. And it was awesome.

I would like to add that in my short little life I have also seen Meat Loaf three times, Bon Jovi and Simply Red. Why these didn't make my cool list I can't imagine.

Most disappointing - Eminem (2005) because it was cancelled. Yeah you can refund my money but you'll never take away the pain!!!

Band I want to see but haven't - My favourite band ever, The Libertines. This isn't likely because they split up a few years ago when Pete went to prison for burgling Carl's flat and then was thrown out of the band for being a crack addict. Apparently they're friends again and played a small gig together in London recently...so I can dream!

I would also sell my nana - if anyone wanted her that is - to see Morrisey.

Most disappointing: WOLFMOTHER. Man, their CD is so good, and their live performance was like three overly tall 5 year olds strung out on pixie sticks. Horrendous! I still rock that CD, tho! I am a whore for music.

Nexus - I was listening to Wolfmother in my car last week while stuck in rush hour traffic. I was apparently rocking out a little TOO hard, because the car next to me beeped, rolled down her window and the girl looked at me (while giggling uncontrollably) and said "I have to ask - WHAT are you listening to??"

I was the picture definition of "sheepish".

Prince - Purple Rain Tour 1985
Amy Winehouse - Minneapolis 2007
Peter Gabriel - Womad Tour, Atlanta 1994
Deelite - Atlanta 1994
War - Atlanta 1994

Most disappointing: My stepdaughter's piano recital (30 kids, 5 songs)

Liked to have seen: Janis Joplin

1. The Weakerthans, Murder By Death, The El Rey, 2004
2. The Pixies, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Spoon, Street Scene, 2005
3. The Books, Malibu Performing Arts Center, 2007
4. The Shins, Modest Mouse, Silversun Pickups, UCSD, 2006-7
5.Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sleater Kinney, Coachella, 2006

Most Disappointing: Bright Eyes, 2007
Still haven't seen: The Decemberists

i'm not one for exact dates...

1) THE CURE Wish Tour; Sacramento, CA; early 90s;
Robert wept during the singing of 'from the edge of the deep green sea'--talk about intense!

2) PEARL JAM Sacramento, CA; 94-95?; the last full concert they played before Eddie got sick and Neil Young took over...the show had ended and Eddie came back on stage to sing 'yellow ledbetter'--stunning!

3) JANE'S ADDICTION Nothing's Shocking Tour; Fillmore, San Francisco; early 90s; the best of the best in freak shows--beautiful!

4) STONE TEMPLE PILOTS Purple Tour; Sacramento, CA; 94-95? a really good time!!

5) THE POLICE Sacramento, CA; very early 80s; my first concert!

most disappointing: ?? it/they probably sucked so much i've erased it from my mind.

want to see: THE WHITE STRIPES, DOVES, OASIS

"Most disappointing: My stepdaughter's piano recital (30 kids, 5 songs)"

This cracked me up. I've been in/seen so many recitals, and I love it when you have 12 out of 15 kids do the same song in the span of an hour.

I'm a latecomer to the music scene, so these are all recent. Top 5 in no order:

Andrew Bird (2006, The Aladdin Theater, Portland OR): the seats were packed and people were standing wherever they could find space. It was a gorgeous, mesmerizing set with perfect sound and the audience was rapt during the songs- you could hear a pin drop.

U2 (2001, Rose Garden, Portland OR): I've been in love with U2 since high school, yea these many years, and this was the first (& only) time I've seen them live. The show was amazing, of course, but what really sent me over the edge (heh..) was Bono's dramatic exit. Security guards forced a path through the middle of the pit and Bono jaunted out through that path. I was standing there, arms folded, a grin stretching from ear to ear, when he walked by and smiled, reached out his hand & touched me on my shoulder. Jesus could have told me to pick up my cot & walk and I wouldn't have been any more excited.

Dr. Dog (2007, Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR - see a pattern?): I was kinda, meh, about their album, but their live show rocked my panties off. Craazy energy! I was ready to follow them anywhere on the road.

Radiohead (2003, White River Amphitheatre, Auburn WA): Amazing, amazing show. Thom Yorke is a genius of emotion.

Grandaddy (2003?, The Aladdin Theater, Portland OR): Brilliant, thoughtful show. They did nothing overt, but afterward I wanted to go out & save the world.

Worst show:

Death Cab for Cutie (2002, The Crystal Ballroom, Portland OR): The Dismemberment Plan opened & blew the place down, even did a little DCFC parody of "Guinevere," but when DCFC took the stage they sucked eggs. Spent most of their time with their backs to the audience. So little energy; guess there's something to that "shoe-gazer" term.

If I could turn back time: Would love to have seen Elliott Smith. My husband saw him a few times, back in the day, and I'm always green with envy when I think about it.

While I still got time: M.Mard. That man is just magic.

Oh, God TK, if I had a penny for everytime I get a funny look while listening to music in my truck...let's just say I'd have a lot of motherfuckin' pennies. Love the Wolfmother album; NEVER see them live. Also, another truck rocking experience: LCD Soundsystem. Any album, but the recent, Sound of Silver, is fantabulous.

1. Sleater-Kinney- 2005, Nashville, and 2006 Louisville KY. The best live shows i have ever seen. Nashville was probably the better show, but only because the vocals were turned down too low at the KY show. on the other hand, the KY show was one if their last 5, which gave it a really intense level of urgency to know it could be the last time i got to see my favorite band perform. plus, i got to say hello and take a picture with corin tucker because she was at a table selling t-shirts, which left me shaky for the rest of the night.
2. The White Stripes-2007, Nashville. only 2 days notice, and their 1st show in 2 years. words fail me. it was just...raw
3. rage against the machine-Nashville, 1997(ish). 5th row center. i had bruises the next day.
4. Patty Griffin-2002, Nashville. somehow made me reflect on my life while i was hanging on every word sung. her voice breaks my heart.
5. Tori Amos- 1994, Nashville. my first concert, and i was never the same.

i still NEED to see P.J. Harvey
bright eyes was disappointing. i was was there to hear songs from i'm wide awake it's morning, and he only played 2 of them.

1. Tori Amos, DC, 1998. Playing with a full band for the first time. If the fuckhead boyfriend of the girl sitting in front of me would've shut his mouth during "Me and a Gun" it would've been a perfect show.

2. Ani Difranco, Meyerhoff Theatre, Baltimore, 199?. First and favorite Ani show. Andy Stochansky was playing drums on that tour, and they had a great rapport.

3. Mike Doughty, Fletchers, Baltimore, 2003(?). Making up for missing Soul Coughing when they played Baltimore a few years earlier. My friends were late, we were stuck in the back by the bar with the assholes who were paying no attention to the show, but it was still great. He's an incredibly engaging showman.

4. G. Love and Special Sauce, Bohager's, Baltimore, 1999. Much fun - G. Love is sexy as hell, the music was good, and local blues/soul singer Kelly Bell guested on a couple songs, which was awesome.

5. Cesaria Evora, Skopje, Macedonia, 2002. The concert hall was unbearably hot, crowded, smelly, and the seats were uncomfortable. But between her voice and her incredible presence, Evora had the crowd in the palm of her hand the whole time.

Most disappointing: Ani Difranco, Pier 6, Baltimore, I forget when. Mostly down to the audience being crap that night.

Show I want to see: Virgin Festival, Baltimore. Dear god I hope I get a job soon so I can afford to go. But then watch Modest Mouse, Amy Winehouse, M.I.A. and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs end up playing at exactly the same time.

Bless you for this comment diversion. There is no music I love more than live music from my favorite artists.

Top 5:
1. David Bowie at the Roseland Ballroom 2002 - My husband and I were close enough to see just how much stage makeup he and the band were wearing. Bowie opened the show by playing the ENTIRE Low album live, something I thought I would never live to see. The second part of the show consisted of some old favorites and new songs from the Heathen album. Oh, and he threw himself against the microphone stand like it was a stripper pole during Gemini Spacecraft. Awesome.

2. Bauhaus at the Coachella Valley Music Festival 2005 - I never thought I would get to see the gothic godfathers live so I dragged my dear sweet husband literally across the country to see Bauhaus perform live for measly hour (which began with Peter Murphy hanging upside down for the full 9 minutes of Bela Lugosi's Dead). They hit me like a bolt of fucking lightning. One of my good friends describes their live sound best, "It's like an earthquake or tidal wave -- rumbling toward you in waves and tremors, aggressive but not coarse. Smooth and undulating, with fractures and fissures erupting all around you. Sweeps you up. It's dangerous yet completely compelling and almost womblike." I refused to blend in with the black-clad crowd and wore all white.

3. Bauhaus at Verizon Wireless Center in Atlanta - An amphitheatre is not the best place to see Bauhaus, but it's friggin' Bauhaus so who cares, right? Still an orgasmic show. My friend and I were wearing red boas and got some amused glances from the band members.

4. Red Elvises at the Bamboo Room in Ft. Lauderdale - If you like live music, you MUST see this band. They make everyone get up and dance and it's actually fun instead of annoying.

5. The Decemberists at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando - Totally blew away my expectations of their live show. I love the Decemberists, but I expected them to be pretentious in concert. I was wrong. They were so much fun and they covered Brian Eno's I'll Come Running - one of my favorite Eno songs.

Honorable Mention - Nine Inch Nails at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Atlanta - First time I've seen them live. They were great! One of the more amazing experiences of my life is 10,000+ people singing every word to Head Like A Hole. I would definitely see them live again, preferably in a small club or at least in the pit.

Most Disappointing:
Iggy Pop at some sleazy club in Ft. Lauderdale - Only disappointing because the sound was shitty. Iggy always rules, despite the sound. However, he did a stage dive and the crowd surfed him up to the balcony where my husband and I were watching the show. So that nearly made up for the sound. Oh and FYI, Iggy doesn't sweat, he slimes.

The Band I've Always Wanted To See But Haven't:
David J - He is the bassist for Bauhaus and Love & Rockets. His solo music is fucking brilliant. If he came within driving distance I would so be there.

In no particular order, my 5 best:

1) Billy Joel, New Year's Eve 1992 - We were 10th row floor, Billy played for more than 3 hours (10 - 1 or so) and brought the house down.

2) Cracker/Gin Blossoms/Spin Doctors, Jones Beach, Summer 1994 - the Spin Doctors flat out sucked but the Blossoms and Cracker were both in fine form.

3) Tracy Chapman 11/05 - the lady puts on a great show.

4) TMBG, early 2000s - they started by playing the entire "Flood" album, in order, and then played for another 2 hours.

5) Every Eddie from Ohio show I've ever seen. You may never have heard of them, but I think they're one of the best live bands I've ever seen. Highly talented, very funny, and great readers of the audience.

Honorable mention to The Indigo Girls and Dar Williams, neither of whom has ever disappointed me.

Worst concert? Lollapalooza '94 - record cold, pouring rain for 2 hours, and Billy Corgan stops the Smashing Pumpkins set to curse out the audience for no particular reason.

Who I'd love to see live?

Time Machine version: the Grateful Dead (with Jerry, of course), the Beatles, Jim Croce

Current acts? Counting Crows

1. Tori Amos, DC, 1998. Playing with a full band for the first time. If the jerkface boyfriend of the girl sitting in front of me would've shut his mouth during "Me and a Gun" it would've been a perfect show.

2. Ani Difranco, Meyerhoff Theatre, Baltimore, 199?. First and favorite Ani show. Andy Stochansky was playing drums on that tour, and they had a great rapport.

3. Mike Doughty, Fletchers, Baltimore, 2003(?). Making up for missing Soul Coughing when they played Baltimore a few years earlier. My friends were late, we were stuck in the back by the bar with the assholes who were paying no attention to the show, but it was still great. He's an incredibly engaging showman.

4. G. Love and Special Sauce, Bohager's, Baltimore, 1999. Much fun - G. Love is sexy as hell, the music was good, and local blues/soul singer Kelly Bell guested on a couple songs, which was awesome.

5. Cesaria Evora, Skopje, Macedonia, 2002. The concert hall was unbearably hot, crowded, smelly, and the seats were uncomfortable. But between her voice and her incredible presence, Evora had the crowd in the palm of her hand the whole time.

Most disappointing: Ani Difranco, Pier 6, Baltimore, I forget when. Mostly down to the audience being crap that night.

Show I want to see: Virgin Festival, Baltimore. Dear god I hope I get a job soon so I can afford to go. But then watch Modest Mouse, Amy Winehouse, M.I.A. and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs end up playing at exactly the same time.

Ok I haven't seen as many concerts as everyone here, and my music taste was infiltrated with boy bands in my younger years, so give me a break.

1)NIN-San Diego, 2005?, Soma. This was my first time seeing Trent in concert and he was so great. He sang acapella during "Something I can never have" and the whole place was silent. My fiancee and I both teared up at how my emotion he had in his voice. Best concert experience ever.


2)Damage Plan-San Diego, 2005?, Soma. I wasn't a huge Pantera fan but my fiancee was so we went with friends. We went t an autograph signing before at Tower Records, and Dimebag Darrell told me I was beautiful and asked me to come to the after party with them, to my fiancee's horror. It was a great show, and I was in awe of Dimebag's solos. I was upset when he was killed, such a tragedy.


3)Dresden Dolls-San Diego, 2005?, Soma. They opened for NIN, I had never heard of them...have loved them ever since.


4)Billy Idol-San Diego, 2004?, Viejas Concerts int he Park. Love, love, love Billy Idol. He sounded great, looked great, and had everyone dancing. Side note- People watching was great at this concert, a guy in front of us was in full S & M gear, he looked like the gimp from PF.


5)Slayer-San Diego, 2005, Soma. I am not a Slayer fan, my fiancee is, but I have to admit in concert they are pretty electrifying and extremely louder than I anticipated. I got pushed into the mosh pit and punched in the cheek, it was fun though.


6)Most disappointing was Willy Nelson in San Diego 2002? at some country fest. I was really excited to see him and he just was a complee let down for me. Can't pin point why, he just was.


7)I know I will get shunned for this, but I have always wanted to see Justin Timberlake. I don't care what you say I love him! I think he is a talented muscian and I look forward to draging my fiancee to watch him Bring Sexy Back!

1) Wilco: Kalamazoo, MI, February 2005

The first of four eventual times I would see them, and still the best. A Ghost is Born had just won a Grammy, they opened with Via Chicago (it takes balls to have the first words you utter at a show be "I dreamed about killing you again last night, and it felt alright to me"), the fantastically weird Detholz opened, and the encore was amazing cover after amazing cover. Even in the balcony seats we had, it was unbelievable.

2) The Flaming Lips/New Pornographers: Lollapalooza, August 2006

The Lips have a legendary live show that didn't disappoint, complete with santas, aliens, confetti guns, Wayne Coyne in a bubble, giant balloons, and anything else that could result in sensory overload. Entire set was phenomenal with singalongs, jumping, dancing, crowd surfing, et al, but it was made near perfect from the moment the countdown began into "Do You Realize???", which was akin to a religious experience (though my memories may be shaded by the contact high)... the energy led right into the New Pornos' set right clear across Grant Park, which rocked hard despite the lack of Neko Case and Dan Bejar... worked through the crowd high-fiving everyone during "The Slow Descent into Alcoholism" in time to be front and center for "Sing Me Spanish Techno". Definitely the best one-two punch of an amazing weekend.

3) Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Detroit, MI, April 2007

Makes the list solely based on the fact that it managed to not disappoint in spite of a set clocking in at just about an hour and equipment problems preventing the encore, which would have featured my personal favorite "Walkin To Do". Incredibly energetic show (I can't think of any other band I've seen move quite as much on stage) in a small venue, with great banter to boot. Also notable as my first post 21 show- my friend and I got PBRs to celebrate- as well as having been attended on Monday of finals week with campus an hour away and half of the folks I went with having early morning finals.

4) The White Stripes: Detroit, MI, October 2005

I skipped out on the first UM-MSU game the Spartans had a chance of winning in years for this, and it was well worth it (and not just because MSU lost). Once Jack White got started on the guitar, he didn't stop, making it feel like one continuous medley... save for stopping for Meg to play "Passive Manipulation" on the tymps (twice?!) and to switch to piano for "My Doorbell" and "Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)", the chorus of the latter being belted out by myself and my roommate and possibly nobody else in the theater.

5) The Mountain Goats: Kalamazoo, MI September 2006

Amazing for being one of the most intense "quiet" shows I've ever been at (the crowd literally mouthed along with the songs at some points, which was chilling), but also for so many strange reasons- running into my best friend from kindergarten, having John Darnielle standing literally shoulder to shoulder with us during the opener sipping a beer and spastically rocking out, my friend inexplicably passing out midway through the show and having to be carried out and checked out in the back of an ambulance, getting back in time to chant 'hail satan' in the doorway during the encore and tell John he rocked as he rushed offstage, and finally driving on the wrong side of the road for about a mile on the way home.

Biggest Disappointment: Stars at Lolla 2006. Possibly just not a great outdoor festival band, but "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" completely failed to move me as a heart wrenching breakup anthem should.

Dream to See: Billy Bragg. My life will not be complete until I can stand in a crowd of people screaming the near perfect lyrics to "A New England" right along with the now-middle aged man who wrote them, standing alone on a stage with guitar and amp and still rocking harder than half the bands out there today.

Oh I LOVE this comment diversion!! Ok, these are based sheerly on performace and style.

5.) Alanis Morisette; 1995; Dallas, TX - Now don't get me wrong, I know that she's not THAT great an artist. But I was 14 and drunk for the very first time and she was still so angst-y. And what else could a 14 year old girl need more than someone who inspires such emotion and, well, angst? Nothing, I tell you! And so there she is on my top five because beer + angst at 14 just can't be beat.

4.) George Staight; 2006; Frisco, TX - I know, not what you'd expect on this site, but he was just so... great! And there wasn't a lot of flashing lights or pyrotechnics. It was just George, his guitar, the Ace in the Hole Band, and a stage. And when you're great in concert without all the fanfare nowadays, well that's just an accomplishment.

3.) Dwight Yoakum; 2006; Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, TX - I know, I know... ANOTHER country guy. But much like George, Dwight didn't have all that BS that most concerts come with now. He was just up there putting his heart into it. And dancing around. And just having fun WITH all of us. Some of it is the venue, but a lot of it was Dwight.

2.) Jibe; 2004; Fort Worth, TX - A local band that was thisclose to making it huge. They rocked. I miss them. It was amazing, one of their last concerts, and no one will ever be as great as they were.

1.) Old 97's; 2006; Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, TX - They were just awesome. I had never been to a concert before and still had that "high" from seeing a band a week later. Rhett Miller was just balls-out fantastic and the rest of the band was right there with him. I can't wait until I get to see them again, but until then... we'll always have Billy Bob's.

It's hard enough for me to remember what shows I've been to this year, so I'll just do the top three of the year and throw in two that were really good at the time.

Beirut- Urbana (Fall 2006). I think this show was like two hours late or something because they got stuck in traffic (the tollway takes longer during rush hour, who knew?!?). There weren't very many people there even though it was on a Friday. But it was still a decently high energy show, the openers were actually good (so rare), and no girls threw themselves at Zach Condon.

Of Montreal- Urbana (Fall 2006)- they always put on a pretty good live show, the openers sucked though minus Headlights.

Andrew Bird- Urban (Spring 2006)- Even though I'm from Chicagoland area, I've never seen him live before. It was one of the better shows of the year, and I totally want to see him in Chicago and not mid-week now.

The Cure (?)- I was 15 and really into being a poseur goth. I think the Cure play basically the same set list at every show and don't really do all th