Best Concert

[jonf]

Seeing the Coldplay thread, I was wondering what was the best concert you've seen?

For me, it has to be Franz Ferdinand. Saw them in Vancouver this past October, and they just put on an awesome show. We had seats up in the balcony, but we managed to sneak our way down to the front, right up against the stage. Awesome performance.

[spackler]

Blues Traveller, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and then for THREE HOURS Neil Young at the ex in TO in 1994 and he was backed by Booker T and the MGs. I've been to a lot of concerts, nothing even comes close to that one. The guys from the other bands were crowding the stage for Neil's entire set, and then they played with him for the encores. He did a 20 minute version of Down by the River that just blew away 50,000 people. Awesome.

[Colby]

I saw Pink Floyd twice, just amazing both times.

For volume, AC/DC in the late 80's early 90's

[jonf]

I saw Pink Floyd twice, just amazing both times.

may i kiss your feet?

[LobWedge]

Saw Dire Straits at Lansdowne on the "On Every Street" tour. Tightest playing I've ever seen. Absolutely pure.

Best show I ever saw was Springsteen & The E Street Band in 2000 at ACC. He was just out touring. In fact he hadn't cut an album since Born in the USA. They were playing the first of 3 shows in TO before heading to NYC to play 10 sold out shows. Absolutely rocked the house for 2 1/2 hours, and then played a 1 hour encore!

[Andru]

Michael Jackson the Victory Tour CNE Toronto.... Ahh I couldn't resist.

[jonf]

Michael Jackson the Victory Tour CNE Toronto.... Ahh I couldn't resist.

Hey, the man(?) is a showman - a freak - but a showman.

[Colby]

may i kiss your feet?

LOL. Both times were at BC Place.

I also saw Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson at the QE. Mellisa Etheridge at the Orpheum on her first tour was also excellent!

Tom Petty and Bob Dylan at the Tacoma Dome was spectacular!

[fireice]

It's always so hard to pick just one, here's a few of my favorites:

Shane MacGowan in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom 95.
Guns n' Roses w/ Skid Row CNE in TO -91
Pearl Jam at the Robert Guertin Arena-93
Ben Harper w/ Jack Johnson in Vancouver- 2001
Ben Harper in Portsmouth, England 97
Steve Earle Dublin, Ireland 97
Bruce "Born in the USA" tour back in 84.

spackler,
Was at that Neil Young, Blues Traveller, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam show back in 94 definitely on my list also.

[SGH]

Colby,
I second the request to kiss your feet, being only 22, I can only dream of being able to see Floyd live - unfortunately, I don't see a reunion tour happening anytime soon.

In regards to my favour concert, I'd have to rank my top three as follows:
1. The Rolling Stones this past August in Ottawa
2. Metallica, Summer Sanitarium Tour in Toronto
3. Van Halen, (technically Van Haggar) in Toronto

Saw Ozzy twice, and AC/DC once before, but nothing has beaten the Stones to date, just a classic bunch of performers.

[jonf]

LOL. Both times were at BC Place.

I also saw Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson at the QE. Mellisa Etheridge at the Orpheum on her first tour was also excellent!

Tom Petty and Bob Dylan at the Tacoma Dome was spectacular!

If I could choose one band from the past or present to see, it would be pink floyd, without a doubt. I would have given anything to see them at Live 8, even if it was just four songs. Did I mention I am still in awe of you? What tours did you get to see? did you see the Wall?

[italfrank]

NOBODY beats the Dave Matthews Band. Saw two 3 hour concerts back to back at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh which is an incredibly good venue. Anyways, you may be saying no big deal because it was two concerts but with the same setlist, stage etc., but unlike Coldplay and other bands, he doesn't play the same songs two nights in a row so essentially it was like a 6 hour concert. Absolutley phenomenal energy! EVERYBODY is literally dancing all over the place, in their seats, and the aisles are always full of people dancing as well. DMB concerts are by far the best concerts I have ever been witness to and I have seen my fair share.

[fireice]

DMB definitely puts on amazing shows. Saw them at the Gorge in 99, amazing show and venue, if you ever get to see a show there do so.

[Kilroy]

I saw Pink Floyd in Montreal (Animals Tour). Waaay up there to be sure.
Peter Gabriel whom I have seen 5 times, has to be my personal favorite live performer though.

[jonf]

looks like i've got a lot of feet to be kissing

[little brit]

The Eagles at the Corel centre were really great

[Pinshark]

For pure spectacle the Stones in Ottawa This summer would do it for me. But I think my all time fave so for has to be David Gilmour at Ontario Place......Being only 25 This was the closest thing to Pink Floyd concert I will ever get to. And for me it was close enough complete with a flying pig.

[Colby]

Colby,
I second the request to kiss your feet, being only 22, I can only dream of being able to see Floyd live - unfortunately, I don't see a reunion tour happening anytime soon.

In regards to my favour concert, I'd have to rank my top three as follows:
1. The Rolling Stones this past August in Ottawa
2. Metallica, Summer Sanitarium Tour in Toronto
3. Van Halen, (technically Van Haggar) in Toronto

Saw Ozzy twice, and AC/DC once before, but nothing has beaten the Stones to date, just a classic bunch of performers.

I saw Van Halen a few times in Seattle when Sammy first joined the band. BTO opened for them, lol!

[East Coast Golf]

NOBODY beats the Dave Matthews Band. Saw two 3 hour concerts back to back at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh which is an incredibly good venue. Anyways, you may be saying no big deal because it was two concerts but with the same setlist, stage etc., but unlike Coldplay and other bands, he doesn't play the same songs two nights in a row so essentially it was like a 6 hour concert. Absolutley phenomenal energy! EVERYBODY is literally dancing all over the place, in their seats, and the aisles are always full of people dancing as well. DMB concerts are by far the best concerts I have ever been witness to and I have seen my fair share.

, I am very glad you enjoyed the shows so much, DMB put on a great live show and sound amazing. They do mix up their set lists, but not 100%. I have seen them play back to back 3 times (10 times total) and they do tend to repeat 4 or 5 songs. Better than most bands though. They are getting worse as far as energy and crowds go as the years go on. Last year's TO show was the worst by far.

Pearl Jam put on great shows
Coldplay was good in Ottawa last week
Oasis decent
Phish is my favourite band, so I am bias, but they put on the best live shows.
Cake
Ben Harper
Ben Folds
Medeski Martin & Wood
Grand Theft Bus

all amazing.

Cheers

[Nat Williams]

Big Shows ... The stones & AC/DC were some of the best for me.

Best small concert ever ... The Headstones when they were in Manotick, not too many ppl showed up, but it was outdoors, and they put on one hell of a show.

Band I wish I'd seen ... Guns In Roses, even if I get a chance, Axel is past his prime, and it wouldn't be the original band

[el tigre]

My favourite concerts (in no particular order):

Stevie Ray Vaughan @ Jarry Park
Frank Zappa @ Montreal Forum
Kim Mitchell @ Harbourfront Park (Hamilton)
Doobie Brothers @ Civic Centre (by far the loudest concert)
Matthew Good Band @ Bluesfest
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers @ Barrymore's
Dread Zeppelin @ Barrymore's
David Wilcox @ some bar in Ottawa I don't remember
Loreena McKennitt @ North Gower Community Centre
Max Webster @ Gloucester High School

[jonf]

Have to revive this thread after Sunday. Just got back from GM Place where I saw The Who - Daltry and Townshend put on an AWESOME show. I was a bit skeptical (figured it would be one of those mediocre at best farewell tours where they struggle to get throught the songs without their voices cracking horribly). They played at least a 2 hour set, and didn't miss a beat - Daltry's voice was clear as ever, and Townshend is still a wicked guitarist/showman (no guitar smashing or slides across the stage though).

The band had some big shoes to fill (Moon and Entwistle being the best rock drummer and bassist ever) but Zach Starkey didn't seem out of place and Pete's brother (guitar) did a fine job as well.

I just can't say how impressed I was. And I'm so glad to have seen them while they still had it in them (though apparently they aren't getting along very well, so this might be the last tour they play for a while). I'm a huge classic rock fan but given my age, haven't really gotten to see any of the greats, so it was in sweet to see these guys rock out.

[mpare]

Here's something different. Dizzy Gillespie in Sackville, N.B. in the late 70s or early 80s. The man could blow a horn.

[ghaakman]

Eagles at CC. Excellent show plus it was free!!

[Go_Leafs_Go]

Sarstock in T.O. a couple years ago. Even if the Stones or AC/DC never rocked, just for the shear number of performers.
Also, Great Big Sea. Seen them about 6 times so I'm a little biased I guess, but they really can work the crowd.

[Weazl]

Sarstock in T.O. a couple years ago. Even if the Stones or AC/DC never rocked, just for the shear number of performers.
Also, Great Big Sea. Seen them about 6 times so I'm a little biased I guess, but they really can work the crowd.

Hey, I've seen GBS like 6 times too, what a fun live band! Cheers,

[John]

I've got to agree with EasCoastGolf, i've seen Phish numerous times before they broke up again and they are amazing live. Unmatched energy and quality. Other than Phish the Flaming Lips and Ween are both bands i've seen many times and i love seeing them live.

Actually biggest surprise enjoyment from a concert was the set that Dicky Betts put on at Bluesfest this year, it was absolutely amazing.

[Rando]

Hey El tigre would have loved to see Zappa. Been to so many concerts but my favs would be Led Zepplin , Jethro Tull in the early 70's, Clapton, Van Morrison. Saw Jimi Hendrix at the Capital Theater in Ottaw in 67 - amazing.

[larry]

Johnny Winter at the Montreal Forum sometime mid 70s.