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?
I'd have to check the actual list of the various pinkpop festivals i attended… i think they were there for one of the years (though my memory of that is a bit hazy). I saw Faithless there, i know that.
I was there too and also went to Sydney to see them again. Worst crowd in Sydney though, people were actually throwing around bottles of piss it was so (profanity) disgusting.
It wasn't well broadcasted, but after the concert they sold signed posters. I ended up scoring one (pretty much the main reason I went to see them again in Sydney).
At the time I wasn't the biggest fan of the opening acts; Muscles and The Presets weren't really my jam.
But yeah, that concert will never be beaten in my eyes.
Oh man, I never knew about the signed posters.
And nah, I’m definitely not into Muscles. But I am into SebastiAn, Kavinsky, Cut Copy and The Presets.
Oh man, I never knew about the signed posters.
Yeah they were kept pretty much on the down-low, I ended up reading about them on a forum. They only had like 100 per show so I was pretty stoked to score one!
Forgot about the other opening acts, I was too keen to see Daft Punk that I didn't really care about them. The fact Daft Punk ever hardly did live shows and that they're split up now makes that concert even more special.
At the time I wasn't the biggest fan of the opening acts; Muscles and The Presets weren't really my jam
theres a name i havent heard in years, what happened to Muscles?
Agreed. I had fab tickets also, the atmosphere was was next level.
Fence jumpers all night from SMMB. You’d see the security guards waiting for them but they were so many numbers at a time. Definitely a great concert.
Violent Femmes from Thebarton Theatre in 1990 also memorable. I was a very young grommet, almost got trampled in the pit. Amazing atmosphere as well.
Theo Parrish at Yellow Club in Tokyo also amazing. A cavernous club with multiple rooms with the best sound system I had ever heard.
so jealous. Never got to see DP live. Saw the Chamical Brothers twice though
I liked Bjork's show at a big day out ages ago. Loads of rappers that were playing later came and watched, she has a lot of diverse fans. Not her mainstage show but a show in a smaller stage she put on later.
I saw Bjork in the hordern pavilion in Sydney in 1996. Her Post tour.
The shadow set design, the driving bass lines, the crowd, her performance.
Astonishing.
Setlist:
01. Le Petit Chevalier
02. Headphones
03. Army Of Me
04. The Modern Things
05. Venus As A Boy
06. Human Behaviour
07. One Day
08. Charlene *
09. Isobel
10. Possibly Maybe
11. I Go Humble
12. Anchor Song
13. Hyperballad
14. Enjoy
15. I Miss You
16. Crying
17. Violently Happy
18. It's Oh So Quiet
Racist performer.
BIG DAY OUT… ahhh the good ole days!
Mike Oldfield doing Tubular Bells. My brother saw Queen, I wish I’d gone to that one.
Queen would have been amazing.
He loved it but it was incredibly loud.
Queen at Wembley would have been unbelievable.
My first and last concert in the back row on the Radio Gaga tour at the SYD entertainment centre.
Did you see Tubular Bells For Two, where just 2 blokes do the whole of Tubular Bells live?
Amazing.
Dave Matthews Band, Adelaide 2007.
I have seen many around the world in my 70 years of going to as many good concerts as I can, but this can never be topped for my wife and I.
First time I ever flew to other states to see multiple different shows was for that DMB tour. Shame Covid ruined the last tour :(
A lot of favourites due to different factors, hard to pick just 1.
Rammstein @ BDO 2011
Black Sabbath @ Tons of Rock 2016
Immortal @ Summer Breeze 2012
Andre Rieu @ Maastricht 2016
Tool @ Boondall 2002 or 2003
Muse @ Yokohama 2017
Wednesday 13 @ The Corner Hotel 2016
That's probably the shortest list I can do.
Jayzus, Andre Rieu rattled me reading that list. But hey, a good gig is a good gig.
He had Lou Bega come out and do Mambo no. 5. It was pretty epic.
He went with my mum
Tool during Lateralis era, man I'm jealous of that.
yes dude, tool fanatic here. I caught them on the 2001 lateralus tour at sydney entertainment centre, where they played disposition and reflection, plus the salival version of pushit
then they came back in 2002 and did disposition, reflection AND triad at the sydney ent cent
what an era. what a show. what a band
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tool/2002/sydney-entertainmen…
I've been patiently waiting for Rammstein to return to Oz. Have a young family so seeing this in Europe is not an option.
Neil Diamond - Chicago May 1982
Before Kanye became big, think it was just after Graduation released, he did a small show at a nightclub (was one of those ones inside Crown). The guy absolutely killed it, unbelievable performer
Was that in 2005 when he toured with U2?
Maybe, I remember it wasn’t that packed (the club), so it we could get right to the front and not be squashed
Graduation is his third album
His debut College Dropout already made him big
I remember this in Brisbane, there was hardly anyone there and he brought out De La Soul and Common
The Coolio, House of Pain and Naughty By Nature tour in 1994 was better in my opinion
I saw Kanye at Thebarton Theatre in 2006 after Late Registration dropped. It was heaps good.
Lady Gaga surprisingly blew the house down. She dumped so much money into her concert and it paid off.
Def one of the best ones I have been to!
Mrs Muzeeb went to that in Melbourne and nearly walked out. Lady gaga started 2 hours late. Maybe her fibromyalgia flared up. Who knows? She did love the concert though.
I saw Lady Gaga's Born this Way ball tour and ArtRave and loved both! I'm pretty sure in a documentary she talked about spending so much money on the tour she was actually losing money. With the amount of over the top costumes, pyrotechnics, stage setup, animatronics, etc, I'd believe it. Totally amazing tho!
INXS - Kick 1988 in Melbourne
What a year. World expo '88 on the Goldie and an epic album tour.
Good times.
I saw INXS Kick at Memorial Drive. I enjoyed RatCat support more though
.
That ain't bad 😉
Strapping young lad at the metro in Sydney in 2003
Showing my age, but for “Total Experience ” Pink Floyd, Sydney Entertainment Centre, 1988.
For the greatest fun, George Thorogood & The Destroyers at the Hordern Pavilion.
I was there too. The smoke haze outside was thick. Lotta people priming themselves for the peak Pink Floyd experience.
Saw The Offspring at the Horden. Went off.
Black Sabbath, 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' Tour 1974 - Adelaide - Memorial Drive
Ozzie in his prime.
Warm up band was Status Quo.
My old man went to the Sydney one, would have been sick.
No bats were harmed in this performance.
Awesome concert.
2 immediate faves-
Metallica Sydney Hordern 1989(?).
Confidence Man Sydney Enmore 2022.
Went to the Kingdom Hearts concert(s) in Sydney, one year after the other. Best things I've ever been to. Orchestra was amazing.
Love going to those type of performances (eg; play a movie, but orchestra plays the music)
I’ve seen Harry Potter, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Frozen, and all have been excellent. Also, lots of people dress up
Oh yeah I saw a couple of video game music ones at Town Hall and Opera house, pretty awesome.
Damn I’ve been to a lot of the MSO video game and movies but not Kingdom Hearts what a soundtrack. When was this?
SATURDAY, 7 JULY 2018 - Kingdom Hearts Orchestra - World Tour - Sydney Opera House
SATURDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2019 - Kingdom Hearts Orchestra -World of Tres- - Town Hall
They had some KH3 footage at the Opera House going as well during one of the songs, was pretty cool. All other times was footage from the various games.
The best concert i went to was …on my birthday.
4th of November, 79, when i was 17.
The 2SM Rocktober concert.
WOW!!!!!
So many bands rocking their hearts out, then that performance by Stevie Wright.
That is burned into my brain.
Some of the bands were Hush, Sherbet, Marcia Hines, Blackfeather, Stevie Wright, Ol ’55, Dragon, Colleen Hewett, Captain Matchbox, Jim Keays, Ted Mulry Gang, Mike Rudd, Richard Clapton, Doug Parkinson, Split Enz, Jon English, Jo Jo Zep, Russell Morris, Max Merritt, The Mixtures, Stars, Kevin Borich and Skyhooks among others.
Truly a memorable concert!!
So many fantastic names in that bunch.
Great gig. Nothing beats going on YouTube and reliving Stevie Wright performing Evie. I get chills every time I watch it.
Spy v Spy Cronulla Workers 85
Worst ever REM entertainment center.
Holy shit! I think I was there… REM, Sydney ent cent, it was the worst concert I have ever been too…
Michael Stipe came out, sang their latest album start to finish, none of their classic stuff. None of their hits. Latest album, start to finish, in order… left stage… 45min concert, tops
After they left stage, 5 mins later, lights were on and a roadie came out and said “that’s all everyone, concert is over, thanks for coming”.
Pretentious band lmao
sang their latest album start to finish, none of their classic stuff. None of their hits. Latest album, start to finish, in order
Im scared…. that was the one.. I didnt last more than 4-5 songs and left.
What year was that R.E.M Entertainment Centre concert? Was it in Sydney? I've searched setlist.fm for this show but can't find a concert that short…
I use to go see Spy vs Spy at all sorts of places here in Melbourne.
They were my favourite.
I'd come out with ringing ears from Craig's gravelly voice blasting through the speakers 2 metres away.
Meeting them out the back was a bonus, they were genuine guys.
I miss those days and that particular band.
yea saw em so many times… shame Mike died… no chance of a reunion :( but the current version f the band with Cliff back on drums is horrible.
I also saw Spy v Spy heaps in Adelaide, mainly at the great old Tivoli.
REM - also saw them twice, once with Go Betweens which was good, and one at the Ent Centre in Adelaide, same tour as you mentioned, and as bad a concert as I've ever seen. Just phoned it in, using the Australian leg to learn how to play again. Grant Lee Buffalo on support were awesome though.
Buena Vista Social Club, Sydney Opera House, February 2001. Just an amazing Cuban group. Ruben Gonzalez was 81 years old & looked confused, probably with dementia. His minder was busy in the wings trying to prevent him walking out on the stage. Then he came out to play with the band & it was the most amazing performance I have ever seen. Once he sat down at the piano with the band, it was like he was 21 years old again!
The opera house is great for smaller concerts. Saw Counting Crows there. It was fantastic (though slightly ruined by 2 girls yelling "play mrs jones" every damn 20 seconds!
I saw the Wombats there they were pretty great and never heard of them before that day
Buena Vista social club have some great songs. I downloaded an album of theres a while back by mistake on Apple tunes and enjoyed.
By mistake??
I once accidentally downloaded a Lumineers song.
I had to throw away my whole computer just to be safe
What made it so special?
Bcarp's reply nailed the brief. Some are just listing bands they've seen, but not why
The Wiggles 2004. Fruit salad brought the house down.
The slipknot remix got the necks crackin.
Saw them with kids so many times, then got to see them at the adults only show a few years ago and let me tell you that was another story completely.
Iron maiden - somewhere in time 2011
Pantera - great Souther trend kill
Edit:
I should add that the insane gig I went to was the 24hr of metal at the bat and ball in the early 2000s, got to see some aspiring Aussie metal bands there and mates living close to seggression and cryogenic made weekends fun when they practiced early in the piece.
Foo Fighters at Wembley stadium
Slayer/Megadeth at Challenge Stadium
A friend of mine was in Mortal Sin and supported Megadeath.
It’s hard to pick a good one, but there was a great Pantera concert in Newcastle where Silverchair were the warm up band who got booed soooo hard they left stage after one song. As he left the stage he yelled into the mic “you’re all a bunch of arseholes!” And the cheer that went up as he was walking off was deafening.
Best memory of concerts were Screaming Jets playing at the Bel Air hotel in Newcastle with Judge Mercy. Or going to see the Wiggles when they were called “ The Cockroaches” in a bar in Crows Nest, or that one time in Prahran in Melbourne going to watch Hunter and Collectors at an old church I think it was? Amazing.
The Jets were an awesome live band in the 90s. Dave Gleeson's a great front man.
Santana in Jerusalem at sultans pool overlooking the old city,1987. I lived in Jerusalem for 18 months or so.Wild times….
This night was scripted in heaven to live in legend for so many reasons but aside from that this was THE BEST gig I've ever seen. Everything was magically perfect
and
Marillion wembley arena 1988 (all time fave band) Saw them twice over 2 nights and heard the whole of misplaced childhood live.. simply brilliant
Ive seen hundreds of A list bands over the years, hard to pick 2 but these stand out
Worst
Big Country and Frank Zappa. Crap with a capital C
Loudest
I saw the Angels in Canberra or Sydney.. can't remember and they were so loud that and could not hear properly for 3 days afterwards
Coolest
My exes ex was the drummer in simple minds and I got to go backstage at a festival in Belgium to be in their caravan before they went on..many many bands played in those 2 days including u2.
Mel Gaynor???
I think that was him, either that or Jims Kerrs brother.. My memory is so hazy i cant even remember her name but i can remember how we got together and going to Tourhout together and doing this. I fancied her for AGES and thought i was out of her league but at a party once i had the guts to tell her i liked her a LOT and she said she also liked me.. happy days
I was off my face for that whole festival, my fist time really stoned too
Roger Waters - Us and Them tour…OMG!
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/157591/101327/4f513786…
A piccy you might like.
We got good seats at a nice discount.
This. Full Pink Floyd mode for the theatrics (that pig!), trip down memory lane to old favourites, and beautiful new songs. Went with a dear friend and fellow PF fan, lucky to have seats in a corporate box. Many tears, much joy.
Bon Jovi + The Choirboys @1987
Alic Cooper 1990 (Meet and Greet as well)
Joe Satriani 1990 (Meet and Greet as well)
Ah! the Flying in a Blue Dream tour - Stu Hamm on bass
- saw it at the Glasgow Barrowland
very good gig
Difficult to pick just one concert or artist but I'll go with Juno Reactor just for the contrast in my experiences with them.
Best: Juno Reactor, 2006 Shingawa. The concert was recorded for their Audio Visual Experience DVD. Was amazing to see and hear the full band up on a very full stage.
Worst: Juno Reactor, 2015 Brisbane. If you've been to any sort of dance events you know they headliners aren't on until the wee hours. We waited a very long time just to see Ben press play then "dance" around in the crowd. We lasted a couple of songs then left…
My most memorable was John Farnham with opening act of Masters Apprentices. Brilliant night. Must have been around 91, 92 as the Entertainment Centre was new.
I'll add a few more that were damn memorable.
Death Cab for Cutie in Enmore. It was a great show, just going off.
Placebo in Amsterdam. They got on stage and said "A lot of you want to hear us play Nancy Boy. You'll be disappointed." They didn't play the song. The concert was amazing.
Live (the band). Saw them in Rotterdam… then again in Sydney at the old entertainment centre. First concert I ever went to with my wife. Beautiful music.
To add a few in the bad category…
Bon Jovi in what is now qudos bank arena, it was just too loud.
John Legend, Sydney Entertainment Centre. It was short, mostly him yapping with a song in between every now and then. Felt like a waste of money.
On the dreadful - Bob Dylan's tour, maybe 6/8 years ago. Basically paying to watch him jam, with even worse mumbling than usual. Was in a 'country' style phase, so all his old songs were redone with a different beat and aesthetic. Hugely disappointing.
Saw Dylan at Ent Cent, mid 2000s I think, with Patti Smith as support act. He really doesn't give a shit anymore, I don't know why he tours. I get it, you'd be a bit bored of the same song for 50 yrs and want to mix it up, but faaaark, the goat singing…
I've seen the "legend", didn't deliver. No way I'm gonna see him again.
The Up In Smoke Tour
There will never be one like it ever again
Where did you see this? I would agree that there will never be the one like it again. The artists would have made bank from that tour.
Queen, The Works tour, Melbourne 1986-ish, 3rd row front and centre.
In chronological order going back five decades :
Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Abba.
The original Little River Band with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Old 55 and Sherbet.
U2.
John Farnham.
Norah Jones.
Eagles.
Oh and The Masters Apprentices played at my high school dance in the 1960s.
Tool 2002 (Lateralus tour)
Rage Against the Machine
Girl Talk (Enmore)
Prince
Nine Inch Nails
All in Sydney
Nine inch nails for me during their Year Zero tour. Blew me away. Tool obviously are always epic, I've lost count of how many times I've seen them but was too young for the Lateralis tour.
Best: KISS….. All day !
Worst: Bob Dylan… Arrogant t*t he was !
Daft Punk Alive Tour 2007.
Saw them at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne. Favourite venue, fantastic opening acts and the atmosphere during the show was amazing.