What are your top 5 concert experiences, and why?
Think of the live performances that moved you or are incredibly memorable for some reason... Try to limit it to your top 5 so that you can add a brief story behind the experience.
Please post your responses as a comment or respond directly by email.
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4 comments:
It was really hard, but I narrowed it down to these five:
5) Mute Math at the NorVa - Now, as great as it was to see Mute Math play a tiny show at Relative Theory Records in Norfolk, way before the LP and national tour, the last time I saw them was at the NorVa and that was an awesome show! I love the energy and the beats and how much they rock. It was so powerful and moving, I had one of the most worshipful experiences of my life at that concert during "Control." Very powerful.
4) Of a Revolution (O.A.R.) at Wolf Trap - Marc used to talk about how he went to a jazz and reggae festival at Wolf Trap (still one of my favorite venues) and he said to himself that all he really wanted to do was play a concert there someday. Well this was that day. The first time they played Wolf Trap was "a dream come true" Marc said later, and it was the best I ever heard them play live, and that's saying something.
3) Ben Folds at Matoaka Amphitheater - It was basically the most perfect day ever. Beautiful setting, sunny Sunday afternoon, open-air amphitheater right next to the lake, Ben's new album, which I thought was awesome. So close to the stage, and it was just him... just Ben. No band, just him, the piano, and nature. Beautiful.
2) U2 at MCI Center - an incredible awe-inspiring, powerful experience. An unbelievable concert, amazing music, great friends. Nothing more to say.
1) Rage Against the Machine at HFStival - Rage was one of my favorite bands at the time, so I was really pumped to see them. They were the last band to play on the main stage and were preceded by Blue Man Group and Stone Temple Pilots, who both put on amazing shows. And then the rain came. Torrents of freezing rain, causing thousands of loyal fans to scramble for cover or a poncho or huddle together to avoid hypothermia. But that made it that much better once Rage did start playing. It was insanely awesome. There is nothing like seeing Rage live...
Ok, so here's my list. Most of them are up there for reasons outside of "just the music." Enjoy!
5) Tonic acoustic show at the Norva -
Tonic played a stripped down, intimate acoustic show at the norva a few years ago. The audience was seated the whole time and the interaction between band members and the audience was unprecedented. Highlights included soldier's daughter, getting hit on by married, drunk, 30+ year old women, and playing 'name that tune' with the band... (we got sweet home alabama in 2 notes!)
4) Ultimate Fakebook at Vino's Brew Pub -
Ultimate Fakebook was one of my favorite small bands when I was in high school and their favorite place to play was Vino's in Little Rock. The last show I got to see in Little Rock was my 4th best concert experience not only because of the band but because of the crowd. UFB was a small independent band but they might as well have been U2 that night. Everyone knew every word to every song and everyone was on their feet jumping the entire night. It was so high energy that the lead singer stopped singing during a chorus and just said "wow." It was on their website after as the best concert they've ever played.
3) Dave Matthews Band at Virginia Beach Amphitheater -
Summer of 2001 I moved to VA from Arkansas with my family and some friends of mine. Scott, Andrew and myself all bought tickets to the July show back in the spring. Andrew was really homesick by July so 4 of his friends bought tix on ebay and drove through the night in a 2 door honda to surprise him. It was a great time to see them (right when Lillywhite had been leaked) They started with Crush, played a few Lillywhite songs, and played an incredible set.
2) U2 at MCI center -
Basically, see Dan's entry for this one... one thing i'll add is that we had horrible seats (behind the stage) and it was still arguably the best concert I've ever been to. If you see the U2 in 3D at IMAX you'll get a small glimpse of what we experienced.
1) Tommy Emmanuel at a house concert -
Now most people who read this will have never heard of Tommy Emmanuel. He's an Australian guitarist who basically was the opening ceremony of the Sydney olympics. The only person to have won the American flat picking and finger picking competitions opens for this guy... The first time I saw Tommy was at a house party with less than 50 people in a large living room, we were in the third row. Now fake the guitar here and there and he did things that I didn't know you could do with a guitar. The only way to understand is to experience it. He literally started to put me to sleep with a lullaby he wrote for his daughter and a few songs later had me almost jumping out of my chair when he played some of his more upbeat stuff. He has an independent thumb so he plays the bass with his thumb and the melody with his fingers... look him up on youtube and get a small taste... then go see him!!!
Nice dude! Those sound like some sweet shows! Wish I could have been there for those (granted I was for the U2... thanks for keeping me from killing that douche) And you're right, Tommy Emmanuel is one of the most amazing guitarists on the planet. If I had ever seen him in concert instead of just on DVD or YouTube, he would have made my list. He's like Mozart... freaking ridiculous.
Thanks for posting though, awesome to hear about your concerts.
5. Bob Dylan - Seen him 3 times, but the first one back in Nov. 2000 was probably my favorite because I went with my dad and he's the reason why I love Bob Dylan. We were in the second row, right in front of Bob, and he had an amazing back-up band at the time.
4. Phish - the 3 night run they played in Hampton in January of 2003, their return from the hiatus. It was pretty amazing just to experience the atmosphere of Phish shows and hear completely different, amazing music every night.
3. Smashing Pumpkins in 2000 - they rock. Enough said.
2. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Sitting in the 3rd row of a small theater in Dec. of 2003. Victor Wooten had an unreal solo and did things on the bass that I didn't think were possible. The whole thing was absolutely incredible.
1. Radiohead - Aug. 2001 right after Amnesiac was released. Outside in Grant Park in Chicago, under a full moon and the Chicago skyline, and a rare humidity free summer night. Beta Band opened for them. Couldn't have asked for a more perfect atmosphere, group of friends, or performance.
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