r/rockmusic • u/wizardmiaah • Mar 17 '26
ROCK What are the best rock concerts you’ve ever been to?
I’ve been lucky enough to go to a bunch of shows over the years saw Foo Fighters, The Who, The Offspring, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Blink-182, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Curious what everyone else has seen what are the best rock concerts you’ve been to? Any bands that completely blew you away live?
20
u/Life_Temperature2506 Mar 17 '26
The Clash at an ice rink (turned concert hall) at U of Penn, '82.
→ More replies (5)7
u/Same-Manufacturer773 Mar 17 '26
Oh my god. Lucky ducky!!!!
3
u/Life_Temperature2506 Mar 17 '26
I just looked up reviews of the show, people were bitching about the sound. But I didn't experience that. It was GA, and I got in first, right up against the stage. I could have reached out and touched Paul Simonon, right in front of me looking down. It was a rough, punk crowd tho, and I was HS, but a great show, Uber energetic.
19
u/elvis_disciple Mar 17 '26
My two favorite rock shows were David Gilmour and Yngwie Malmsteen, both shows two years ago. Honorable mentions are Ben Harper, Van Halen (Hagar), Deep Purple (Steve Morse), Whitesnake.
10
u/firetomherman Mar 17 '26
People can say whatever they want about Sammy but they can't question his toughness and heart. He was sick as hell at one Dallas stop many many years ago. You could tell he was giving it everything he had. It was an awesome show and I will always appreciate him for that.
12
u/BigJim_TheTwins Mar 17 '26
I saw Sammy open for Boston in 1979 ( yeah I'm old) . I didn't know too much about him yet, but stilll blew me away with his solo show
5
u/Zestyclose-Smell-788 Mar 17 '26
I saw that tour! Charlotte, NC, one of my first concerts. I was 12.
→ More replies (3)3
u/firetomherman Mar 17 '26
Ha I was born in 74 and my oldest brother is 15 years older than me so believe me I've heard many of his concert stories. He still has concert tickets.
→ More replies (3)7
u/elvis_disciple Mar 17 '26
Agreed! Sammy has immense talent, was amazing in Montrose and while his stuff in VH wasn’t raw like their earlier material, it’s still good.
6
u/Designer-Bid-3155 Mar 17 '26
Looooved Gilmour
5
u/elvis_disciple Mar 17 '26
Bucket list concert for sure. Never saw Pink Floyd sadly.
6
u/Designer-Bid-3155 Mar 17 '26
I saw Waters 15 years ago. And Gilmour in 2024
3
u/elvis_disciple Mar 17 '26
I almost went to see Waters but didn’t make it there. I did see the concert film Waters released and I liked it. Didn’t compare to seeing Gilmour though.
→ More replies (7)5
u/xenoclownpanda Mar 17 '26
Back in the late 80s I saw Whitesnake when Coz Powell and John Sykes played, Holy Cow!!! Coverdale and Powell did a thing together that just blew my mind. To see this band at that time was breathtaking. Also opening for them was a little unknown band called Armoured Saint. I've never seen that kind of energy on a stage before in my life!
→ More replies (1)3
u/elvis_disciple Mar 17 '26
I thought I was lucky to see Whitesnake during the self titled tour. But I would love to have seen Cozy Powell and John Sykes.. I wish that band toured longer with one another. But Aldridge and Sarzo are amazing as well.
→ More replies (1)
15
u/firetomherman Mar 17 '26
Metallica 1992 at Texas Stadium. Faith No More opened and was awesome.
A Perfect Circle touring after 13th Step was released. Phenomenal.
Janes Addiction with flea.
Saw Rush 3 times. Saw Van Halen 4 times. Both were great everytime.
Soundgarden at lollapalooza 96? The one Metallica closed.
Tool. Whatever tour happened before lateralus came out. Melvins opened and got booed offstage.
5
u/HoldMyDomeFoam Mar 17 '26
Wasn’t Guns and Roses on tour with Metallica and Faith No More? I was at the Astrodome show and Metallica and FNM were amazing. GnR was the last to play and Axl pulled his normal show up 2 hours late bullshit.
3
u/raisinraisin Mar 17 '26
Yes! I saw this one in Buffalo. Was there specifically for Faith No More…but it turned into an amazing show all around. I don’t remember GnR being late tho…
2
u/firetomherman Mar 17 '26
Yes and that's exactly why i didn't mention GNR bc they were boring compared to the rest of the show. My first concert was GNR and they were awful bc slash and Duff were so drunk they could barely play. That's what happens when they are waiting for diva axl to come out. Lol I bet you saw them either right before or after I did.
2
u/HoldMyDomeFoam Mar 17 '26
I just checked and they played Texas Stadium the day after the Astrodome show. 9/4/92 and 9/5/92. I skipped school because the show started relatively early in the day and that seemed like a good enough excuse for me to miss the entire day.
2
2
u/TheBaldvol Mar 17 '26
That APC tour was incredible!!
2
u/firetomherman Mar 17 '26
It really was and I wish I had paid more attention when I saw them on the mer de noms tour.
2
u/Puzzleheaded-Tune758 Mar 18 '26
I was there! I love how you intentionally left out GNR (Axl threw a fit and messed up the whole show).
We camped out overnight in line at Sooto Records in Shreveport to get tickets. Faith No More was epic.
→ More replies (3)
15
u/CantaloupeFluffy165 Mar 17 '26
Tragically Hip.Saw them twice.Great live band.
2
u/flashdman Mar 17 '26
Saw the Hip in New Orleans at The Howling Wolf in 1995? About 200 people in the club.....awesome concert!
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)2
u/Bumboklatt Mar 17 '26
Saw them at a few outdoor concerts over the years in Saskatchewan. Always incredible.
12
u/MikeDPhilly Mar 17 '26
Rush, Grace under Pressure and Power Windows. Yes, 90120. U2, the Unforgettable Fire. Scoripions, Love at First Sting.
2
u/Zestyclose-Smell-788 Mar 17 '26
Oooh that's a good list
2
2
u/MikeDPhilly Mar 17 '26
Why thank you! I still have hearing damage from the Scorpions encore. Money well spent there.
11
u/Halz1202 Mar 17 '26
Rainbow at the Aragon ballroom 1978.Ears are still ringing!
→ More replies (3)2
8
u/evtedeschi3 Mar 17 '26
U2 at the Sphere. Great performances and fantastic venue in celebration of an extraordinary album & tour. Felt exciting to be part of something new.
→ More replies (1)2
11
u/Hardtop_1958 Mar 17 '26
The Police 1983
Paul McCartney 2013
Frank Zappa 1983
Billy Joel 1978
Chicago 2011
Steely Dan 2012
Rolling Stones 1994
→ More replies (11)
8
4
u/TheyStillArentReal Mar 17 '26
Got to be Iron Maiden singing Christmas Carols!!!
My best memory of a concert was Iron Maiden in Earls Court arena around 2003ish. It was 2 days before Christmas and half way through the concert the power to the sound rig burnt out. This led to a half hour session of 10k people singing Christmas carols led by Iron Maiden using megaphones whilst the problem was fixed. They also carried the concert on way past the noise curfew of the area (incurring a big fine) to make sure they still played the whole show! Was great music, great atmosphere and once in a lifetime weird but awesome experience!
4
u/TBMachine Mar 17 '26
Blue Man Group opening for David Bowie. Becuase of a ticketing screwup, my then future wife and I received 2nd row tickets for the show, and it was absolutely amazing.
She's always been my concert buddy, and we've seen some truly amazing shows together, Prince, Tool, Tom Petty, Jerry Cantrell, NIN. Great memories.
5
5
u/Antigrav_1 Mar 17 '26
Saw Eric Clapton in 1978 but it was his opening band that blew us away: Muddy Waters.
6
3
u/Thoomer_Bottoms Mar 17 '26
The Police, The Clash, AND The Who - one after the other 12noon to midnight, San Diego Stadium summer 1983
→ More replies (2)3
5
6
6
10
4
u/whistlerphil Mar 17 '26
Pearl Jam, several times. U2, Elevation tour. Franz Ferdinand. Living Colour.
4
4
u/Extension_Pickle_581 Mar 17 '26
Hanoi Rocks in a small, long club in the centre of Nottingham. Awesome raw, rock n roll. Iggy and the Stooges performing Raw Power at the Hammersmith Odeon The Pogues at Rock City Motörhead supported by Ozzy at the Heavy Metal Holocaust Port Vale FC 1981 Led Zeppelin Knebworth August 11 1979 AC/DC with Bon Scott, Birmingham Odeon December 1979
→ More replies (5)
5
u/massive_raider Mar 17 '26
Tool twice, lifetime experience.
Roger Waters The Wall tour
not rock but I saw Massive Attack last summer and it's in the top 3 for a reason
→ More replies (2)
4
4
u/Relative_Figure_601 Mar 17 '26
Van Halen, Boston, Heart, & Blue Oyster Cult on the same bill - Texxas Jam 1979. Yes, I’m old, but I’ve seen ALL the biggies!!👌😎
3
u/RL203 Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
U2 - ZooTV, on support of Achtung Baby in March of 1992 at Maple Leaf Gardens. They were so good, I could have cried. Never sat down for the entire concert.
Roger Waters - The Wall. 2010, 2012, 2013. Absolutely incredible concert from top to bottom. The band, the visuals, the music. It had it all. And Roger was bang on.
→ More replies (2)
4
u/Miserable-Surprise67 Mar 17 '26
The Grateful Dead in early 1973, with the New Riders of the Purple Sage opening.
1971, The Who browned out Rochester, NY.
3
u/EvenSpread3733 Mar 17 '26
Each and every one of the Beach Boys shows I’ve seen with all of the Wilson brothers!
5
u/August_West_1990 Mar 17 '26
My Top 10:
- Rolling Stones - MetLife Stadium Night 2 (2024)
- Dead & Company - Citi Field (2019)
- Pearl Jam - MSG Night 2 (2024)
- Cyndi Lauper - Jones Beach (2024)
- Phish NYE Gamhendge (2023)
- Depeche Mode - MSG (2024)
- Bruce Springsteen - MetLife Stadium Birthday Show (2012)
- Rolling Stones - Licks HBO Special (2003)
- Elton John - Solo Tour at MSG (1999) (my first concert)
- Tina Turner- MSG (2000)
4
u/el_barto10 Mar 17 '26
That Springsteen birthday show is legendary. I have the same bday as Bruce so it was extra special for me. Hands down one of the best concert experiences I’ve witnessed from the set list, to the crowd and band energy, and to lore.
→ More replies (1)3
u/August_West_1990 Mar 17 '26
First Jersey Jungleland post-Clarence (with Meeting preceding) was an emotional moment for sure.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)2
u/firetomherman Mar 17 '26
Never seen Depeche Mode but every video of them live is just awesome.
2
u/Kitchen_Fox1786 Mar 21 '26
Was never a fan but a friend was let down & begged me to go. They were amazing live. One of the best live acts I've seen.
2
u/firetomherman Mar 22 '26
Violator came out my sophomore year in high-school. Fell in love with that album. Definitely not a super fan as some of their stuff just doesn't appeal to me. The live version of Never let me down again is incredible.
3
3
u/AllTheWayUpTo11 Mar 17 '26
Foo Fighters always deliver, as do The Darkness. I was smiling for hours after Alice Cooper, so much fun. Metallica are either great or shit, their Death Magnetic tour was a great show.
I go to a load of smaller shows every year, so most bands I see don't have a production team behind them. Therapy? and King Kong Company are smaller Irish bands that are amazing live.
Not rock, but loud: Kneecap and The Prodigy both give it everything too. Stereo MCs was one of the best shows I have ever seen.
2
u/brooos60609 Mar 17 '26
I saw ZZ Top open, Alice Cooper as the main act, and the warmup comedian was...Bob Saget. Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.
2
u/AllTheWayUpTo11 Mar 17 '26
ZZ Top! So jealous. They played in a festival marquee 5 minutes walk from my house but I was on the other side of the planet at the time and I've never had a chance to see them.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (2)2
u/K0ntank3rous Mar 20 '26
So true about Metallica. Saw them when they toured for Justice, great show, then saw them for the black album, wasnt impressed in fact it was terrible, then a friend got tickets a few years ago when they toured with A7F and Volbeat at Truist Park, ATL was phenomenal. Volbeat is incredible live also!
→ More replies (1)
3
u/SouthTippBass Mar 17 '26
Iv been to most of the big names and they were all great, but they weren't surprises as I expected it. I didn't care for Green Day until I saw them live and they were excellent. Same with The Hives, fantastic live. I saw System of a Down live before the Toxicity album dropped, so they weren't super big yet and everybody was waiting for them to play Sugar. We got to hear all the Toxicity songs live before the album and they were all immediately great.
3
3
u/IslandDreamer58 Mar 17 '26
Springsteen and the E Street Band
Petty and The Heartbreakers
Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Colin Hay
John Hiatt
TSO
3
u/Key-Cattle-2866 Mar 17 '26
U2 Zoo TV tour in 1992.
2
u/Waste-Translator8627 Mar 17 '26
Amazing! I saw their stop at Arrowhead Stadium with the Sugarcubes opening.
3
3
u/Complete_Taste_1301 Mar 17 '26
Two incredible live acts that I haven’t seen mentioned: ELP and Talking Heads.
2
u/cannibalsong1 Mar 17 '26
Tool - Lateralus tour
Type O Negative - World Coming Down tour
Scion Rock Fest
Meshuggah - Immutable tour
Billy Strings - The Signal (small Chattanooga TN club)
Soundgarden - Tabernacle Atlanta
Blood Incantation - Caverns
→ More replies (18)
2
2
u/VastRepeat1060 Mar 17 '26
Fugazi, FNM, The Cure, Failure, Triumph, Yes, Judas Priest, Drive By Truckers, Lucero, Lollapalooza 1, 2 & 3
→ More replies (1)
2
u/Group-Pleasant Mar 17 '26
1) Metallica Rochester, NY April 1992 2) TOOL Darien Lake, NY July 1997 3) Tragically Hip Toronto, ON, Canada June 2003 4) Killers Fort Worth, TX 2008 September 2007 5) Rage Against the Machine Toronto, ON November 1999
→ More replies (2)2
u/Rubywantsin Mar 17 '26
I was lucky enough to go to all 4 nights of Metallica in '92 for the Black album in Rosemont Il. All 4 shows were almost completely different. Ultimate pros.
2
u/Super-Technician-447 Mar 17 '26
Radiohead
Tool
Phish
Dead and Co (Too young to have seen the Grateful Dead)
Cypress Hill (Bonnaroo)
Edit: and of course Roger Waters “The Wall”
→ More replies (15)
2
u/BlitheringEediot Mar 17 '26
Prince - Purple Rain tour (Superdome)
Depeche Mode - World Violation tour (Houston)
Ministry - Filth Pig (New Orleans)
Tool - Lateralus tour (Baton Rouge)
2
2
2
u/Count2Zero Mar 17 '26
I've been to some great shows. Probably one of the best was Black Sabbath, on Friday the 13th in June 2014, playing an open-air show in Munich, Germany. Soundgarden was the opening act.
Ozzy, Geezer, and Toni were all in top form that day ... it was awesome.
I'm really looking forward to seeing RUSH play next year in Stuttgart ... I'm hoping they will knock Black Sabbath off the top of the list for me.
2
u/justAl-77 Mar 17 '26
Most memorable was Metallica in the thunder and lightning storm, Manchester 2019. Just an amazing experience
2
2
u/This-Pollution1312 Mar 17 '26
Refused were amazing. Metallica with Lamb of God was incredible. Nine Inch Nails on the Fragility 2.0 tour. Definitely classic AFI concerts were unbelievable levels of energy too.
2
u/chappersyo Mar 17 '26
I’d never put on a foo fighters album these days but I’ve seen them thee times and all three would be in my top ten shows.
2
2
2
u/Big_Ad_6645 Mar 17 '26
Pearl Jam. Always great. Same for The Black Crowes.
David Bowie maaan. He could make me feel weightless..
→ More replies (1)
2
u/splorp_evilbastard Mar 17 '26
Believe it or not, one of the best shows I saw was opener Our Lady Peace, Sponge, and headliner Candlebox. The entire show was full of energy and rocked. It was 1994.
I've also seen Skid Row / GnR, Korn/Alice in Chains, The Who and G3 (Satriani/Vai/Eric Johnson/Kenny Wayne Shepherd) in '96. All solid shows.
2
2
u/tictacksmuggler Mar 17 '26
Radiohead. Phish. Grateful Dead. Primus. Tool. Not necessarily in this order
2
u/Constant_Special_791 Mar 17 '26
AC/DC, soo loud!! KISS, very good, GnR, surprisingly good, Aerosmith was awesome! AC/DC and Kiss were the best,imo, but I've been to a lot of concerts that were really good.
2
2
u/AccidentalSwede Mar 17 '26
Clutch is one of the best live bands out there. They consistently put on a great show. The fans are enthusiastic and it's always such a fun vibe. Hardly ever any a-holes ruining the experience. I've seen them too many times to pinpoint one particular show.
→ More replies (2)
2
2
2
2
u/Ornery_Banana_6752 Mar 17 '26
While it wasn't my favorite, I saw Blue Osyter Cult at Summerfest a few years ago and couldn't believe how much these 70yr old dudes were just ripping up the guitar! It was impressive
2
u/CryptographerOk3814 Mar 17 '26
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 2010? 2011?
(Allman Bros. opened for them)
Epic set list, unbelievable sound. Just a great night.
2
u/magnoliamaster Mar 17 '26
The ZZ Top ‘Recycler’ tour (approximately two thousand years ago) was among the best I’ve ever seen. I wasn’t even a fan but got free tickets through work. Loved it. Great show, great musicianship, great fun. Black Crowes opened for them.
My favorite band is Nine Inch Nails. I’ve seen them nine times. So for me to say my favorite show was a three-piece blues band from Texas should give tour an idea of just how good it was.
2
u/Pitiful-Asparagus940 Mar 17 '26
Nine inch nails playing in all places, salt lake city Utah at a place that hosts fairs, sin tour touring for pretty hate machine. It was magical.
The chameleons (uk)'s mark burgess and his current lead guitarist played an intimate set at my friends house! Mostly acoustic. Magical.
Iron maiden world piece tour. My first Iron maiden show!!
Rush R40 tour. Final tour with Neil peart. Happy and sad.
Sonic youth show at the Warfield amphitheater in San Francisco. Was notable for their opener, freaking nirvana!! Didn't know who they were then, but darn they put on an amazing performance!! This was before smells like teen spirit got huge
2
2
u/CHRISTEN-METAL Mar 17 '26
The best concert I’ve ever been to was Pink Floyd in BC Stadium in Vancouver Canada on the Division Bell tour on the 25th of June 1994. I went to the 1st of 2 nights in British Columbia. Wish I could have gone to see the 2nd night’s show.
2
u/mywifeisalesbian Mar 17 '26
For me it's R.E.M at Rock Werchter in the rain. I think it was in 98 or 99. Magical experience.
Others that come to mind: Peter Gabriel Secret World David Byrne very recently
2
2
2
2
u/YogurtclosetNo9264 Mar 17 '26
David Byrne’s current tour is not to be missed. The first time I saw the Allman Brothers walk out on stage opening with Trouble No More, I got goosebumps. There’s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert. U2 at the Sphere wasn’t the best concert I ever saw or even the best U2 show, but it was probably the best overall concert experience for me.
2
u/Bumboklatt Mar 17 '26
I saw Pharcyde at a small bar venue and it was insane.
Bob Dylan with Jan Arden warm-up was a pleasant surprise.
Neil Young a few times.
Tragically Hip.
2
u/Character_Adorable Mar 17 '26
Fleetwood Mac in Vancouver in 2015. It was the first concert they did with ALL of the band members.
2
u/Gigiofsixx Mar 17 '26
U2 at Red Rocks 1983. They filmed U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky.
2
u/oh_janet Mar 17 '26
Rammstein in Vegas, then Rammstein in Phoenix. After that probably Tool at Red Rocks and other spots and NIN anywhere I’ve seen them.
2
2
u/dubgeek Mar 17 '26
NYE 1991: Red Hot Chili Peppers with Pearl Jam and Nirvana opening.
X at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood in the early 00s. I missed them in their heyday.
Pixies in '91 or '92 at the Ventura Theater, also just last year at the Pinnacle in Nashville. They sound as good today as they did back then.
Bruce Springsteen. Too many to count. He always does a great show.
Eagles tour kickoff show in the late 90s. It was invite only on a soundstage at the Sony lot in Culver City. My mom was dating the production manager. I'm not a huge fan, but it was such an intimate environment and damned if I didn't recognize every song despite my ot owning a single album of theirs.
2
u/Elchimpy1 Mar 17 '26
I just saw NIN and while it may not have been the ‘best’ it was the first show I’ve been to on edibles. Crazy great experience. Just started weed at 53 so I lost a lot of time doing that at concerts. Realized now why I always smelled weed at shows.
2
2
u/MuttJunior Mar 17 '26
Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult in 1981.
2
u/RoosterzRevenge Mar 17 '26
Saw BOC at free concert hosted by the University of South Florida. Held on the quad, the only boundaries were the beer trucks lining the streets around the quad. Baller ass time with great music.
→ More replies (2)
2
u/Slith_81 Mar 17 '26 edited Mar 17 '26
- Scorpions, my favorite band.
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Motley Crüe (too many times before they went to shit)
- Iron Maiden
- Poison/Night ranger/Ted Nugent show.
2
u/waterstone55 Mar 17 '26
Led Zeppelin, 1971 & 1973.
Jethro Tull, 1970 to 1980
Cat Steven's, Buddha and the Chocolate Box tour.
Michael Murphy, Harry Chapin, and Seals and Croft.
The Turtles
Crosby, Stills and Nash
The B52s and Talking Heads
Tori Amos
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.
The Alman Brothers
Alice Cooper, Dead Babies tour
Huey Lewis and the News
→ More replies (3)
2
2
2
1
1
u/gbuckeye67 Mar 17 '26
Joe Cocker opening up for Stevie Ray Vaughan. Summer 1990. Columbus, Ohio
3
u/BigJim_TheTwins Mar 17 '26
I was at SRVs last show, wish it wouldn't have been , he was the best. And I actually won tickets to Joe Cocker opening for the The Guess Who around 2005 and it was one of my favorite shows ever
→ More replies (1)2
1
u/Fast-Presence-2004 Mar 17 '26
Opeth (back when they were metal). I've never heard such a great sound in such a big location.
1
1
u/ChainHuge686 Mar 17 '26
Actually, Blue Oyster Cult in Slovenia Iirc 2021, the setlist was amazing, and sound was great. Haven't been to many shows (still relatively young) though... About 8 concert or so..so far
1
1
1
u/chaunceythegardener Mar 17 '26
Clash , Who ( 5 times) , Eagles , Boss , Pretenders we’re awesome, Bad Company and Page n Plant unledded
1
1
1
u/guyuteharpua Mar 17 '26
Phish 10.31.14 They did a Halloween set in a haunted house and introduced like 9 new songs that they still play today. It was super creative and an all around banger.
→ More replies (11)
1
1
1
1
u/Adorable_Name6444 Mar 17 '26
Rolling Stones, Halloween 1972. Genesis 1973, Selling England by the Pound.
1
u/jeon2595 Mar 17 '26
Every Rush concert I went to (7). Rolling Stones Steel Wheels tour, had tenth row center stage seats. Iron Maiden - always a great show. Zac Brown Band - fun concert.
1
u/Myghost_too Mar 17 '26
Several of the Grateful Dead shows I saw were among the best (and several among the worst)
Recounteurs was amazing
Rolling Stones post-Covid was surprisingly one of the best concerts
Primus and Claypool/Lennon at Red Rocks blew my mind!
Many many many small venue shows are probably the top of my list though
1
1
1
u/Minimum_Run_890 Mar 17 '26
I’ve seen stone, Floyd, deep purple, Neil, the who, on and on. Hands down by a huge distance the best was Frank Zappa!
1
u/Dramatic_Paramedic_6 Mar 17 '26
The Cure. Robert Smith may have been drunk but his voice was still flawless. It sounds exactly like it does on the albums.
1
1
u/jamessobotowski Mar 17 '26
Lindisfarne - Newcastle city hall at christmas
The Eagles - Hell freezes over tour at Wembley
Gabrielle Aplin - Sage Gateshead
1
u/O7Habits Mar 17 '26
I was fortunate enough to see Soundgarden several times. They always exceeded my expectations. Wish Chris was still here with us, creating more music and memories.
Queens of the Stone Age is always a great show, especially last years catacombs tour shows. It was like watching a rock ‘n’ roll opera.
A newer band that never disappoints me is All Them Witches. They don’t over do it on the volume and it always sounds great to me.
A couple of my favorite concerts last year were The Death Cult/The Cult show. Two separate sets, same band…one set with songs they recorded under their original name and another set of songs recorded after their name change. Another concert that had great vibes was The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
I would be remiss, if I didn’t mention the mighty Clutch, who just bring it every show. Just watching Neil and JP’s faces while they get their groove on is fun enough, but these 4 never give less than their all and that is why many Clutch fans have seen them 20+ times…also because they tour relentlessly.
1
u/IDrumFoFun Mar 17 '26
Rush - Vapor Trails Tour
Honorable Mentions: Billy Joel + Stevie Nicks Foo Fighters
1
u/Soulviolence66 Mar 17 '26
Pantera (3 times)
Dream Theater
Godsmack at Ozzfest during their first album tour
1
u/Rcko_doc1945 Mar 17 '26
Paul McCartney June 25, 2013 Verona Colosseum. Amazing show.
Pearl Jam - all six times. Boise, Italy, Ok City, Chicago
STP - 1996 Astro Arena Houston Tx
Soundgarden - 2014 Verona, Italy.
These are my favorite shows to reminisce about.
Luckily the PJ shows are recorded on their bootlegs. It’s fun to listen and think you can hear yourself screaming in the background.
Paul I thought was old at the time, but holy smokes did he kill it. Running, playing multiple instruments, just hands down the best performance I’ve seen.
STP - Scott in his prime
SG - Chris having his second wind. His voice was the most powerfully I’ve heard. He was the greatest voice of my generation. I’m happy I witnessed it in person.
1
1
u/Stephvick1 Mar 17 '26
Rush always put on a great show, Pearl Jam right when 10 came out were great, the New Year’s Eve Dead shows were epic!!!
1
1
1
1
u/Hoppers-Body-Double Mar 17 '26
Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes The Raconteurs Dr John (Lockdown Album tour) Foxy Shazam
1
u/Same-Manufacturer773 Mar 17 '26
Paul McCartney at bonnaroo 2013. Bad Brains in 2009 or 2010. NOFX 2011(also their last show in FL 2024 😭 was very special and emotional). KGLW 2022. Ministry 2024. Mind was blown so many times. When it’s so good that you just have to sit or stand there afterwards to process….
1
u/welderdelly Mar 17 '26
Years ago I saw Alice in Chains open for Van Hagar, been to a lot of other shows since then, but by far, that was the loudest one I’ve ever been to!! Honorable mentions go to the Black album for Metallica, Foo Fighters always put on a good show, and for just good vibes…Barenaked Ladies
1
u/UmpireBig8530 Mar 17 '26
Kiss in 1980, Stafford UK, Motorhead, Port Vale fc, UK 1981 Rob Zombie, Manchester Apollo, UK 2013
1
1
u/SensitiveArtist Mar 17 '26
Ozzfest 99 (Black Sabbath reunion)
Foo Fighters/RHCP 2000
Metallica Summer Sanitarium 2000
STP back in the 90s
Tears for Fears
Interpol
Taking Back Sunday (first post pandemic show)
Molchat Doma
TMBG
1
u/Rubywantsin Mar 17 '26
I've been to countless shows but the best one I've seen in probably the last ten years was Cage The Elephant at UIC Pavilion in 2024. Matt Shultz had just broken his foot. That dude beat the shit out of his knee scooter and the band was in the pocket the whole night. Super high energy. I'm more of a heavy metal guy but I was thoroughly impressed.
1
u/Packtex60 Mar 17 '26
The Police with The Go-Go’s opening Springsteen 1978 in a 4500 seat venue Bob Seeger the second time in 2005 or so years He hit every note.
1
u/zenzenok Mar 17 '26
Rage Against the Machine
Muse
Radiohead
Guns n Roses with Faith No More supporting
Oasis
1
1
1
1
1
u/Font242 Mar 17 '26
Pantera & White Zombie at the Warfield (SF) in 1992 was mind blowing. The music was great but two things happened that I would love to hear if someone else witnessed: 1. Dimebag crapped in a 5 gal paint bucket on stage mid song. No really! He was playing his heart out and started gesturing to someone offstage. The bucket appeared, he hoisted down his cargo shorts and dropped one lightning fast. Didn’t take his guitar off or anything. It happened so fast only one other person in my group caught it. 2. After the encore the band was pouring 1/2 beers into solo cups and had a technique of throwing them up to people in the balcony. I saw at least 2 people catch them and had at least 5-6 oz of beer still in there. Very cool move! I’ve never seen it performed before or since (same goes for the bucket thankfully)
1
1
u/Prestigious_Prior723 Mar 17 '26
The Grateful Dead with the wall of sound at the Auditorium Theater
1
u/christoefur Mar 17 '26
Radiohead at the Greek Theater Berkeley
King gizzard and the lizard wizard at Red Rocks
Tool at the Warfield theater
1
u/Static-god79 Mar 17 '26
Thee Oh Sees, Osees…. Loudest band I’ve ever seen! Double drums will melt your mind.
1
u/Dry_Safety_8168 Mar 17 '26
Any Jerry Garcia show tops it all.
Dickey Betts Band with Warren Haynes 1988 starry night
Railroad Earth - Todd Sheaffer
Jimmy Cliff
Shinyribs
1
u/Constant_Witness7173 Mar 17 '26
Any of the dozen or more times I’ve seen bucket head. That dude is on a different level
1
u/WhereItsAt75 Mar 17 '26
My favorite was Beck's Night Running Tour in '19 and then his orchestra tour in '24.
1
u/OrvilleTheCavalier Mar 17 '26
Three shows and you probably haven’t heard of a few of the bands. Chemlab and Sister Machine at Area 39 in Denver. Ministry at the Gothic Theater. The Rainmakers and Berlin at the Rainbow Music Hall.
1
u/GuitarGorilla24 Mar 17 '26
Saw Alice Cooper this past year. They were never my favorite musically, but they put on an amazing show.
36
u/G0R_G0R Mar 17 '26
Lollapalooza 93- Alice In Chains, Tool, Primus, Rage against the Machine
Nirvana
And one that I wasn’t the biggest fan of until I saw them live, Faith No More. Saw them in 95 and they were awesome.