Good afternoon people!
Out of nowhere, Disarm by The Smashing Pumpkins got played on the radio. Made me think back to 1996 when I saw them live in Rotterdam. Amazing concert, probably the best concert I've been to.
Just curious: What has been the best concert you have ever been to? What made it so special?
Pink Floyd
Mulwala 70's
Have to be Prince!
Plenty of concerts stand out but one favourite was not really a 'concert'.
Got an invite to the 2000 Gold Coast Indy dinner on the Friday night. About 1000 people at the GC Convention Centre and the entertainment was… INXS.
Okay, it would have been better with Michael H but Jon Stevens was pretty damn good and this was 2 weeks after the Olympic Games, so the band was in peak form.
It was a real late night, as I recall…
TISM this year at Sydney Good Things was probably one of the best shows I’ve seen
Loudest I’ve ever been to was Gary Numan at the Metro in 2014
Longest one was Midnight Oil late last year in Sydney, 3 hours
John Fogerty in 2012 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre was pretty awesome too
Mine was probably TISM and Regurgitator shortly after Unit came out. In Manly somewhere I think?
Great show.
Definitely gorillaz. Best musical performance and atmosphere of any show I’ve been to by far.
Kendrick Lamar last December
One of the greatest nights of my life.
Same here friend
madness and mmbt in san bernadino CF in about 1998, open air auditorium, easily the best concert experience i have ever had
Coheed and Cambria
Kraftwerk - Hammersmith Palais, London, 29/6/1981
First and most memorable Led Zep at Sydney show ground I think (it was a very 70s experience;)). I was jammed in next to a massive speaker and my hearing has never recovered!
Bob Marley in 79 at Festival hall in Brisbane was at the peak of the street marches against the bjelke petersen govt and when he sang "stand up for you rights" the entire concert hall seemed ready to march on Parliament house which was just down the road and tear down the gates.
Festival hall was great because you were so close to the stage. These close up concerts were so much better than the later model of huge arenas where the performers are distant specs.
Michael Jackson.
Stevie Ray Vaughan, festival hall, Melbourne. What a player. Supported by fabulous Thunderbirds and weddings, parties, anything….and any gig by hunters and collectors at the espy, early-ish 80s. Brilliant, saw them many times.
Leonard Cohen in Perth, Pink Floyd in Fremantle, Moody Blues in Perth. Great shows, each of them.
I think I must be one of the very few that hate live concerts. much prefer to actually be able to hear the music. I think I have only been to half a dozen but can't say I enjoyed any of them despite everyone else I was with being ecstatic.
best - Stormzy, Glastonbury 2019, everyone was expecting him to fail as he didn't have enough material to headline but he blew it out of the park, it felt like being part of such a big social moment in the UK but didn't really amount to much in hindsight, but that banksy stab vest he came out in was iconic
worst - Eminem/Kendrick/others at Docklands Stadium in 2014, horrible acoustics, terrible crowd work from Eminem, it all felt very forced
Rolling Stones, Randwick Racecourse, 1972. Never seen a gig like it since.
Did I not mention I'm a boomer?
I've never been to a concert yet unfortunately.
Change that, if you can. It’s an experience that will be with you for a long time, as you can read here :)
Rolling Stones - Sydney Stadium 1965
(archives have venue as RAS?)
Jethro Tull - Royal Albert Hall 1971
I saw them in the mid 80's in Tel aviv.. Awesome
Oh man… so many good gig memories!
The Prodigy - Big Day Out, Sydney, 2009
Bring Me The Horizon - UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney, 2009
Franz Ferdinand - Future Music Festival, Sydney, 2010
Karnivool - Metro Theatre, Sydney, 2015
Opeth - Enmore Theatre, Sydney, 2015
DragonForce - The Basement, Canberra, 2017
Muse - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, 2017
Santana in the hunter valley. Made the notable opening act (Doobie Brothers) look like a b grade pub band.
The Killers put on a really good show, was amazing - and I've been to dozens of concerts and festivals over the years.
Yeah Brandon Flowers is a great entertainer
Thanks for your input :)
Only good thing about this thread is I now have an answer to "who buys that shit" when I see terrible music.
Opeth doing Deliverance/Damnation at the Sydney Opera House was pretty special.
Yes that was tops. Metro theatre.
Super intimate.
Pantera 2001 RTS tour.
The Main Event tour with John Farnham, Anthony Warlow and Olivia Newton John - all amazing singers at the top of their game, playing their solo hits and doing some random group songs in between.
A tough one as I've seen some great bands live but I would probably say Oasis in about 2003 in Sydney (Enmore Theatre).
They were due to play a much bigger venue a couple of years earlier but the tour got cancelled. By the time they did come the Wonderwall based enthusiasm for them in Australia had died down meaning they played Enmore which is an excellent venue.
They were fantastic and Liam Gallagher was at his arrogant, posturing best. A brilliant night where the crowd sang every song with them.
Acca Dacca Sydney, 2010 (mosh pit). My ears are still ringing!
Slipknot on Volume 3 Release night at the London Astoria. Intimate and epic.
Damn… That would have been unreal!
Got the album fully signed 24 minutes after release for the midnight launch and the show got filmed by MTV
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2oqsa2 Enjoy here it is.
Godskitchen 2008
I realised at a young age I’d spend way too much money on concerts and got myself a job at one of the main venues so I’d see everything free/paid. The ozbargain way! worked there over 10 years
Was that at Vodafone Park at the Melbourne Tennis Centre?
I do remember that one. De La Soul blew the roof off the tent, dividing the crowd in half - F*kc you over there, Party over here. Green Velvet was also good.
Aftershock 2016 in Sacramento CA. Anthrax, Meshuggah, Slayer, Tool back to back.
Playschool on tour.
Watching my 2yo having the time of her life in the toddler mosh pit was awesome. As were all the adult jokes from Alex.
Beat the crap out of any Wiggles concert I've been to.
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - The Arena, Brisbane, 1999
Spiritualized - The Arena, Brisbane, 2002
Nine Inch Nails - Alternative Nation, Brisbane, 1995
Janes Addiction - Festival Hall, Brisbane, 1991 (People were constantly getting on stage, causing mischief and then stage diving)
Nirvana/Violent Femmes - Festival Hall, Brisbane, 1992 (Barrier installed around stage to stop people stage diving)
Spiritualized - The Arena, Brisbane, 2002
An amazing show. Do you happen to remember who the supports were? Gota Cola were the local support but there was another international
Mylene Farmer, Paris 1999.
She is an amazing performer and more popular in France than Madonna. memorable because she has great hit and it was an amazing experience to be a Parisien for one night.
Bruce Springsteen in Nashville 2009. I've seen him multiple times since, but nothing comes close.
God I hope he didn't sing that deplorable Santa Claus song.
I can't think of any recording that I hate more. 🎅😖
Michael Jackson. Amazing production values and seeing him live. Great Entertainer / dancing.
Destroyer 666 at Max Watts in 2016. Perfect.
Rammstein were at the top of the live shows for a long time. All that fire..
Probably skunk Anansie, 1997 metro Sydney , does not get much better
BodyCount/Ice T Melbourne Festival Hall 1993. i used my school formal money to go. No idea how that show was all ages.
Portishead Brisbane Festival Hall - 1998. It was more solemn than any church service Ive attended.
The band I've been waiting a really long time to see and still in limbo - Rammstein
the band I waited for decades to see and was finally granted my wish - Kraftwerk.
I've been to a few really amazing concerts that were very enjoyable. I went to see Hans Zimmer and his band do a few tracks from movies he's done the soundtracks for. I've seen him twice now and the first time if I could've somehow magically paid more money on the spot to watch it all again I would've in a heart beat! Very very good show!
Architects @ Festival Hall, 2019
Definitely Linkin Park
I make an effort to go to as many gigs as I feel I can
Life's too short not to support acts.
Highlights.
Hans Zimmer
Prodigy
Linkin Park
Korn
Placebo
Enimem
Opeth
Lowlights
Eskimo joe
Chemical brothers
A great gig for me is where you almost don't rate a song in the studio and live it's totally different.
placebo ❤️
I wish I could go back in time and see Linkin Park… 🥺
Such a waste..
Same with Prodigy.
Hence motivation to see everyone who I'm interested in.
Placebo
Faithless with way out West as support
Trance Energy 2004 in Utrecht, Holland. 25000 clubbers
Most memorable concert I've ever seen was Oasis @ Melt 2009 because it sounded absolutely shite. You can find the whole concert (in beautiful 4:3) on YouTube. Couple of weeks later they broke up and haven't performed together since.
Foo Fighters 2011 tour was my first. Better than the 2014 one, but that may have been due to being further back.
Cog reunion tour in 2016
The Menzingers in Brisbane about 2 days before the lockdowns went into place everywhere. Was their last live show for about a year or so.
Pearl Jam headlining BDO (may have been the final one?)
Against Me! in, I want to say, 2016 or 17?
I used to be a big Cog fan, but they're just touring again and again on the back of the same two albums and an EP… been to a couple, been to them all really.
Also they're anxi-vaxxers sooooo
Separate the art from the artist
Why should we separate the art from the artist though?
We don't do that for any other industry. Why should art be exempt? If you found out your dentist was a peado (I use this example because most of the "separate art/artist" arguments are usually defending a peado or racist), would you still send your kids there?
Given what a personal expression of your take on the world your chosen form of art is, the art is intrinsically inseparable from the artist. I mean… have you listened to any Cog lyrics?
To "separate the art from the artist" is to both support and turn a blind eye, and sets a dangerous precedent. Also, I'm kinda curious as to where we draw the line here, because I think it's basically universally agreed that the comedy of Bill Cosby or the music of Lostprophets is no longer able to be appreciated due to the actions of the "artists".
Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant, it's not personal 😄
Edit: and their "art" was last released in 2008 so maybe some time for some new material regardless, not just two new songs in 15 years lol
@picklewizard: You've extended this way further than the example.
Cog don't get vaxxed. Who cares. I did. You probably did. Why are they somehow evil?
@Faro: They were spreading vaccine misinformation.
I don't care if you don't get vaxxed, but I do care if you tell others not to. Especially where you've potentially got more reach/influence.
Your example was simply "separate art/artist" which I'm just trying to illustrate is not possible to do.
@picklewizard: If I held a grudge against people who were antivaxxers and spread misinformation (albeit in good faith and acting out of fear and, sometimes, a place of trauma) I'd have alienated half the people I know given where I live, which is coincidentally not far from where Cog now reside (I think?)
Waging a war against people because of ideas doesn't win them to your side. It just causes more anger and divisiveness. That's why I simplified a plea for empathy and compassion for those with differing ideas as simply "art from artists", but now it's a thing because you're somehow trying to prove your point to me in a drawn out manner.
@Faro: Nah not really, I just have beef with the vax misinformation and the fact that they're flogging 15 year old material (from a fairly shallow back catalogue) and not doing anything new. It was sad to see one of my absolute all time favourite bands do both these things.
I just wished they'd channeled their anti-vax energy into making some new material.
Waging a war against people because of ideas doesn't win them to your side. It just causes more anger and divisiveness.
This is exactly what Cog did though!!
@picklewizard: So don't do what they did? Clearly it didn't win them fans. If what you've said is accurate, it cost them.
What misinformation did they spread?
@picklewizard: Did those views surprise you after hearing their lyrics though?
I think it'd be weirder, almost hypocrisy, if they didn't come out with something government-surveillance related.
@Faro: Honestly, it did kinda, but it's certainly added context. RATM are similarly politcally-charged but they were on the pro-vax side.
You can be anti-vax, again, I'm ok with this, it's the telling others (and spreading misinformation - plandemic, lols) not to that I've got beef with (and the no new material, again this isn't my only beef with them lol)
That said, we've come full circle - you cannot separate art from artist. By your own admission, they are intrinsically linked!
The Menzingers! Such a good band. I saw them support Pennywise in '13 (I think?) and they won me over there. Been a fan ever since. 'After the party' was an amazing album, and their earlier stuff is great too.
Probably my all time faves!
Great Forum question Lord Fart Bucket……thanks to everyone’s responses I’ve enjoyed a wonderful trip down memory lane :)
Soundgarden at Coogee bay hotel. Superunknown tour in 1994.
Defqon 2017
gnr, greenday, bon jovi, u2, midnight oil, rhcp.
This no name dude in Roma Street Parkland stage 2012 turn out to be Ed Sheeran basic free
mso star wars today
sent covid it been Townsville to host State of Origin opener we so many amazing acts is night went home book my covid let get life back to this (profanity) covid Jessica Mauboy and Busby Marou feel like precovid times
Rammstein at Big Day Out 2001. Best pyrotechnics show I've ever seen.
Pantera at thr horden in 2001 as well. They had these giant marijuana spot lights flashing everywhere (like the bat signal, but with a weed leaf) That concert was something else.
Rammstein in '01 were awesome. As were Powderfinger just before them, as they'd just won the Hottest 100 with My Happiness.
I can't say the same for Limp Bizkit later that night (Sydney). Worst vibe at a show I've ever felt. Such a tragic event.
Radiohead in 2012 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
The Okay Computer tour in 1998 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre was pretty special.
Maroon 5 Brisbane September 2015
Not concerts but I listed to a woman singing Ave Maria in the Pantheon in Rome and a group practicing the chorale from Beethoven’s ninth symphony in the Coliseum in Arles. We were unaware that this was going to happen and the singing, in those settings, made the music even more memorable. Just magic.
The acoustics in the Pantheon would be amazing…
Anyone see the screaming jets live at their peak? Not on the level of some of the band's here but for Aussie pub rock they didn't come much better.
Queen + AL at the Formula 1 in Singapore, 2016. Adam Lambert annoys me, but you can't beat the music itself and Brian May's talent with a guitar
Rock am Ring 2014.
The new owner of the Nürburgring didn’t extend the contract with the organisers so it was (potentially) going to be the last one at the Nürburgring.
Headliners: Iron Maiden, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park, Metallica
But also: Fall Out Boy, In Extremo, Mando, Nine Inch Nails, Of Mice & Men, Opeth, Queens of the Stone Age, Rob Zombie, Rudimental, The Offspring.
The crowds and vibe really made it special.
Mark Knopfler, Munich, 2005
Incredibly tasteful guitar work. Best I’ve ever seen. Singing was just so-so though.
Michael Jackson History 1996
86000 people rocked up, it was the most electrifying concert of my life. Whatever you say about the guys personal life, his music and stage performance was out of this world. I was privileged to be there
Others:
U2 , Metallica, Tool…and crowd surfing at Fear Factory
Was just telling my 6yo son about this one.
How I was 15 at the time and I wanted to go but parents couldn't afford it so I stayed at home all weekend trying to win tickets on some radio competition, call every hour…
Didn't win lol :p
Daft Punk Melbourne Myer Music Bowl in 2007 as number 1 and my number 2 would be Destiny Child in 2002.