Seeing Paul McCartney here in Nashville last month in a small (4500) venue, from mere feet away with an early entry ticket, and no phones allowed. I had some great concert experiences this year, but that one can likely never be reproduced for several reasons.
Ozzfest ‘97, Columbus OH. Ozzy couldn’t make it, so all of the main stage bands got together and jammed Ozzy covers with his band. Members of Pantera, Fear Factory, Machine Head, Type O Negative and Marylin Manson all jammed together and traded off on vocals. It was amazing.
The Minuteman show I went to back in October, 1985. I didn't know them that well and my friend convinced me to go. I was absolutely blown away by the band and spent the next few days getting as many of their records as I could find so I'd know the music the next time I saw them. Unfortunately, D. Boon died two months after the show.
Foo Fighters, Feb. 2022, at the Fonda. Private show/party for the release of their movie. Danced with Kesha and met Paul Stanley and Sean Evans amongst others. Last time I got to see Taylor too.
Seeing Paul McCartney for the first time at Petco Park with my grandfather, dad, and older brother (it was my brother’s 1st concert and my 3rd) in 2019. Also seeing McCartney at SoFi Stadium.
Another would be seeing Ringo at the Greek Theatre. I could go on and on but my last one would by Jelly Roll because I got to see him with both my parents and my brother. And he brought out a bunch of people, like Shinedown, Public Enemy, and another country artist I don’t know the name of.
Honorable Mention: Oasis. I got to see them with my brother in September.
My moment is also from a Dead and co show. Night 1 Boulder 2023 there was a double rainbow over the stadium was they transitioned to Hey Jude from dear Mr fantasy and the whole crowd was singing and it was a wonderful moment
Deftones in 2000. Chino leaning into my face and sharing the mic for every chorus on My Own Summer. Staring straight into each other’s face and screaming “shove it, shove it, shove it!” over and over. It was awesome.
Pink Floyd-Animals. They had the pig on the cover of the album hidden in the rafters of the coliseum. The front curtain dropped and you could see eyes. The thing proceeded to float out above the crowd and floated around the venue. It was a trip! (This was in the olden days).
I was the biggest AC/DC fan in the world at the young age of 13, and my dad had told me he couldn’t get tickets when they were playing our area.
The day of the show he picked me up from basketball practice, and told me we were going to my brothers game. He handed me an AC/DC DVD boxset I had ordered that just arrived, that had a bunch of replica tickets in it. While I’m going through them, he pulls an envelope from his visor and says “does it have any that look like this?” Sure enough, 2 tickets to that nights show!
The intro and them coming on stage is one of the first times I can remember getting overcome with emotion at a show, I cried like a baby! It was an amazing show, and one of the best surprises ever.
Love my dad, we just saw AC/DC again this past summer 🤘❤️
Billy Strings Night 2 at the Ryman in 2022. Set 2 Bob Weir came out and they did an entire Dead set. It was incredible. Billy hasn't played a dead song live since that night.
It would have to be The Ramones and Patti Smith at the Paramount theatre in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania.A small venue and the spitting ,oh the spitting.Wish I could relive it as my memories have somewhat faded.Also The Plasmatics at the West Side theater in Scranton in 1981.They were at the height of their notiriety then and I don’t remember the show that well.
Halloween night, 2001. Right after 9/11 so we were all still pretty shell-shocked. Outdoor show on the river featuring Live. Right in the middle of Lightning Crashes, there was a huge shooting star, and also lightning was flickering over the river the whole time. It was incredible.
When Elvis walked out on stage June 18, 1977. It truly was electric. I was crying and haven't cried under those circumstances since. People were losing their minds. It truly was something that hasn't been reproduced in my concert going.
Lollapalooza 1991. I wish I had paid more attention to the Butthole Surfers and Siouxsie and the Bandshees. Would love to experience Jane's in their prime again
Queen, 1986 Wembley Stadium, Freddie doing the Ay-Oh! call and response to us/with us. There have been many moments since, but none have ever quite reached that.
Hearing Clapton play “Layla”. Such a great moment. He probably plays it every show but it was one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had. I love that song
Phil Collins walking up the steps to his kit and blowing everyone away with incredible vocals. I’m lucky to have caught a couple of those shows that tour… in the same vein is Elton John. Neil Diamond. They are productions. Elaborate. There’s a lot to be said for the relaxed Jamband scene and by that I mean Grateful Dead tangent… a big part of the experience is being with likeminded people. Maybe not now so much but it used to be ✌🏼
Mick Jagger coming on stage, “I know the suns been beatin’ down on your heads all day, but lets ROCK AND ROLL! And they open with Jumping Jack Flash. Jacksonville Fla, 1975.
Not exactly a concert, but Underworld at Coachella in 2006. I was completely sober, and it was the closest thing I’ve had to religious experience in my life.
Yo La Tengo had Cyndi Lauper and Antietam opening for them for free show at Union Square NYC around 1995. Other than the amazing lineup, for the encore, YLT did “speeding motorcycle” with lightning flashing in the sky behind them. Never figured out how they manage that.
The night Stevie Ray Vaughn died. The man was sober a few years. Clapton himself said he needed to self talk positivity to take the stage that night. Walking out, we all talked about Stevie and not Eric that night. It was the greatest performance I have ever seen. Oh, it was about 6 hours long that night too.
Curve, 1992, Belfast. Queues on both sides of the stage as people politely took turns stagediving all night, then catching the rest for a while. That was so much fun, totally surrounded by like-minded souls looking after each other's vibe. The bass was wicked too
Hearing Jungleland live in 2009. It was my first major concert and my first Bruce Springsteen gig. It was also Clarence's last time in Ireland. I wasn't a huge, huge fan at the time but I was with my da and some of his friends. I didn't appreciate just how incredible it was at the time but now I'd go back and soak in every minute of that sax solo.
There was this wonderful songwriter that was a one hit wonder in the 90’s. Her name was Jill sobule. I happened to meet her at that time when I was a teenager. Every decade or so I’d run into her. She was opening for my favorite singer, another great writer, Billy Bragg. He’d met me outside and let me come in for the sound check and drinks, so already a great night. Jill opened and she had this thing she’d do. She’d get audience members, who knew her songs, to get on stage and sing with her. She’d recognized me and pulled me on stage I don’t sing but it was great fun. Sadly she passed this year and I’m sad I won’t see her again. It’s not like she knew me but every time I’d see her she’d say I know you from somewhere. And Billy is always Billy. He’s a class act too. He paid for us to do one of those Photo Booth things and just has time for his people.
U2, Vegas.
Taylor swift. Slc, red tour.
cranberries first tour, slc.
jessi Alexander, Sundance.
Ministry, slc.
sundays . Cocteau twins. Smashing pumpkins second album.
oasis. first tour.
mazzy star.
Alice in chains, rage, tool, front 242 lollapolooza
Velvet Sea, Phish , Big Cypress, 1/1/2000 I went to my knees when the first notes hit. Sun was coming up, hadn’t rested in three days. Goosebumps thinking about it.
Oh, there's so many, it's hard to pick just one. I wish I could see Nine Inch Nails for the very first time again. We had such good seats in a small-ish venue. It was the Downward Spiral tour and it was amazing from start to finish. In more recent years, the moment during the RTJ show when Zack de la Rocha surprise hit the stage. We didn't know he would be there, I was right in front of him, and it was straight magic on that stage. That whole show was phenomenal and is one of the best concerts I've ever been to. What a performance and what a great crowd to share it with.
I was at one of Mike Nesmith’s last shows before he passed away. There was this moment during Daydream Believer where the whole audience was singing along, Mike and Micky were clearly emotional and the connection between all of us felt almost spiritual.
System of a Down Gorge 1999-2000? Can't remember but System of a down were there as part of Ozzfest. Friend and I were 15-20 rows back from the stage and they were hosing us down with water because it was so hot out... great show.
Then in go and watch muse. - they on after, but I didn't know anything about them so went and watched orbital for about the 4th time. They were alright, but I have always kicked myself for missing muse.
Peak Rush experience: Pine Knob, Michigan. A beautiful summer evening outdoors. 3rd row center orchestra pit seats. Snakes and Arrows tour. My son and I. After 100's of concerts, I look back at that evening as heaven sent. He agrees!
The Cult on their Electric Tour at Wembley Arena in 1987.
Kicked off with "Nirvana", set list drawn from "Love" and "Electric", the whole arena singing the chorus of "Peace Dog" like we were going to war, transcendental moment during "(She Sells) Sanctuary" and final encore of "Born To Be Wild". The seats around us were destroyed from people dancing.
2nd night of Metallica in Chicago for M72 tour. Playing Enter Sandman as the final song or Call of Ktulu. It is just so beautiful hearing both of them live in person. I almost cried hearing Ktulu though given that it's such a beautiful instrumental piece that I thought I would never hear in person. Sandman just with how badass it was when the entire stadium was singing it and you legit could not hear James singing it.
At the Amnesty concert in Atlanta in 1986, seeing/hearing U2 perform "Pride (in the Name of Love)" in MLK's hometown and the crowd singing along with incredible fervor. It was a religious experience.
RATM - Hollywood Palladium- packed to the brim. No seats at that venue. Bullet to the Head and Tom Morello about to hit that riff about 2/3 into the song. Place went nuts. Electric with kindred spirits flailing their arms and bodies everywhere.
For me there are two but many decades apart. The first one is the Who in about 1978. The first and only time I’ve seen them. First concert with laser lights and they hitting a huge disco ball mounted in the middle of the stadium. Absolutely an amazing experience.
The second one was at an outdoor concert at a winery that I’ve seen many shows at over the years and was just a few years ago. It’s was the second time Robert Plant played there and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. He did a Zeppelin medley for the last several minutes of the show and it sounded incredible.
Dee Snider crawling out of the sewers in '86. I was 13 and my best friend was next to me amd it's still one of my favorite concerts. Dee said he now knows why they call Wisconsin the dairy state.
Saw Opeth and Nevermore. Blackwater Park tour/Dead Heart in a Dead World. I was with a friend. We didnt stay for all of nevermore. I wish I had that back.
Joni Jam at The Gorge June 2024. I’d relive that weekend a thousand times over if I could. My favourite moment was when Marcus Mumford sings “California” to Joni. It was a sonic boom through the canyon. A really loving and playful take on a legendary song.
But it’s more than just the concert. Camping in the RV area listening to the soundcheck Friday mid afternoon. Hearing Brandi Carlile’s voice (headliner and master organizer of the weekend) THEN we hear Sarah McLachlan’s voice (surprise guest for the weekend) and THEN we heard ANNIE FREAKING LENNOX start singing. Our whole camp went CRAZY
Either Anders Osborne at a small music festival in NY with my two college roommates, we had some really amazing acid and he pulled out all the right stuff.
Or
KGLW at Red Rocks night 3 in 2022/set 3 2023 - such a peak.
Definitely seeing 1D in 2015. I went with a friend and her daughters, wasn't a big fan at the time. Became a fan, especially of Liam, in the last 3 years. I want to go back and appreciate seeing them live.
All The Best Festival. 3 connected all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic filled with nothing but John Prine and his fans. 4 nights of Todd Snider, Steve Earl, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Paul Thorn, Nathaniel Rateliff, Brandi Carlisle, and many more.
Lined up for the festival hours before the gates open, outran enough people to be center on the rail for Pearl Jam. Sat through all the bands, waited 12 hours for them to finally come on: a high five from Eddie Veddar was more than worth it.
Probably Van Halen at Rock USA in 2013, Ozzy at Rock USA in 2017, or Soundgarden at Northern Invasion in 2017. Would be nice to go see any of those one last time.
Sunday, May 21, 1989.
The first concert I can remember going to was at Six Flags Over Ga. Samantha Fox opened for Cheap Trick.
My mom brought me and we were 5 rows from the stage.
Rick Nielsen tossed picks the entire show toward us. One landed at my foot and the adult in front of me lunged and snagged it.
I’d go back in time to kick that guy in the nuts.
Tom Petty played about 30 or so shows at a small theatre in Hollywood(Fonda Theatre…1400 capacity) sometime around 2013/2014. I was lucky enough to go to one. Outstanding show.
The Replacements breaking up on stage at Taste of Chicago. This time though, I'd make sure to introduce myself to two friends that were there, but who I only met in real life a decade and a half later.
Actually, pre-concert…Camden summit for Linkin Park in 2012. We got to meet the band and Chester sang for us. The actual concert was also awesome also.
Motörhead, early tour. Before crush barriers. I was touching the stage and Lemmy was inches away, dry ice smoke up to his waist, head back. In my head he was playing Ace of Spades (possibly not written then). It wasn’t my first gig and I remember wondering if it would ever get better than this, and it never really did. Magic moment.
I was a Marillion fan for 18 years before I flew from 🇦🇺 to 🇬🇧 to see them four times over six nights. Loved every minute of it. That was 24 years ago and I wish I could go back to that moment.
Slaughter. Mark Slaughter stepping off stage in front of me - straight for me - I screamed I danced I took selfies - Mark was so much taller and squatted a bit to be in the photos. Now this was my super crush from the 90s. I LOVED Mark. So fast forward 20+ years it was still all that I imagined.
Seeing Metallica play ‘until it sleeps’ this April. It was worth 100 hours of therapy. I went not expecting to hear it. When James said ‘This next one, it’s about cancer’ I burst into tears. Being there, hearing those words I had identified so strongly with during my mom’s fight, the words I would scream alone in my car when it all got too much, it was like a dam broke inside me. I don’t know why it hit so differently live, but I’m glad it did. I walked out of that concert with part of the weight off my shoulders.
Being front row at Deftones in the late 90s (before barriers) being right in front of Chino and him using my hand to balance as he screamed out into the crowd. Hell of a gig
Alexisonfire in 2005, opening for hot water music, masquerade in Atlanta, heaven.
Silverchair 2007, smaller club in Columbus Ohio.
I have been to so many concerts and still actively go, but these experiences really solidified the magic of live music and I am really happy that the culture is continuing strong in so many ways.
Mine would be Springsteen at the Goffertpark in Nijmegen 2013. It’s a big venue and at the last, let’s say 45 minutes of the concert it started to pour down from above really hard. Bruce like the entertainer that he is kept going till curfew (23:00) exactly in the pouring rain himself. During the encores Twist and Shout and Shout he kept asking for “more rain, more rain!’ and shouting “it still isn’t raining hard enough!” To which he started to play again and again! It was so magical and the crowd kept dancing in the rain till the very end. The funny thing was I didn’t notice I was soaking wet until we got in the car like an hour later!
The My Chemical Romance Concert I went to 7/19/2025… it’s changed my life and rewired my brain chemistry. I even started making moves to change my career because of that concert… it made me realize I wasn’t happy with my life they way it is, not as happy as I was standing at that concert…. So something I had been on the fence about for years, I decided after that show, I was finally going to do it, to leave my 5 years career path and do something completely different, that will actually make me happy.
Foo Fighters on Halloween in NYC when Krock still existed. They came out dressed as the Hives and played Hate to say i told you do. It was the supper club a smaller venue. It was amazing.
Mine would be The Grateful Dead at Red Rocks, 1983; the moment I met my wife. And we just celebrated our 40th anniversary.
Wow. Now that’s a wonderful memory
And the award goes to…
Aww, that’s mine too! But we are Phish at the Thomas and Mack Center. 09/29/2000. We left Las Vegas together and never looked back.
Seeing Paul McCartney here in Nashville last month in a small (4500) venue, from mere feet away with an early entry ticket, and no phones allowed. I had some great concert experiences this year, but that one can likely never be reproduced for several reasons.
Ozzfest ‘97, Columbus OH. Ozzy couldn’t make it, so all of the main stage bands got together and jammed Ozzy covers with his band. Members of Pantera, Fear Factory, Machine Head, Type O Negative and Marylin Manson all jammed together and traded off on vocals. It was amazing.
The Minuteman show I went to back in October, 1985. I didn't know them that well and my friend convinced me to go. I was absolutely blown away by the band and spent the next few days getting as many of their records as I could find so I'd know the music the next time I saw them. Unfortunately, D. Boon died two months after the show.
Definitely on my “I wish I’d gotten to see them” list.
RIP Boon. A great talent, gone too soon.
I bet so many people missed The Minutemen back in the day
Foo Fighters, Feb. 2022, at the Fonda. Private show/party for the release of their movie. Danced with Kesha and met Paul Stanley and Sean Evans amongst others. Last time I got to see Taylor too.
New years Fillmore Jimi Hendrix
Seeing Paul McCartney for the first time at Petco Park with my grandfather, dad, and older brother (it was my brother’s 1st concert and my 3rd) in 2019. Also seeing McCartney at SoFi Stadium.
Another would be seeing Ringo at the Greek Theatre. I could go on and on but my last one would by Jelly Roll because I got to see him with both my parents and my brother. And he brought out a bunch of people, like Shinedown, Public Enemy, and another country artist I don’t know the name of.
Honorable Mention: Oasis. I got to see them with my brother in September.
Same two Beatles I was able to see.
Me too
I saw Oasis in September too. Truly a great experience in Mexico City.
R.e.m. monster tour.
night 2 of GD60 in Golden Gate Park 2025
My moment is also from a Dead and co show. Night 1 Boulder 2023 there was a double rainbow over the stadium was they transitioned to Hey Jude from dear Mr fantasy and the whole crowd was singing and it was a wonderful moment
I was at that show too! Believe it or not I’ve been to 2 Dead & Co shows with a double rainbow. The other was in Philly.
Not a bad pick. That Morning Dew 🫠
Deftones in 2000. Chino leaning into my face and sharing the mic for every chorus on My Own Summer. Staring straight into each other’s face and screaming “shove it, shove it, shove it!” over and over. It was awesome.
He did that to me during Korea in 2005
Got to help with Rocket Skates at Orionfest in 2013
Pink Floyd-Animals. They had the pig on the cover of the album hidden in the rafters of the coliseum. The front curtain dropped and you could see eyes. The thing proceeded to float out above the crowd and floated around the venue. It was a trip! (This was in the olden days).
I was at Roger Waters (Coachella 2008) when he lost his pig 😊
We caught the Roger waters "Us and Them" tour. The pig lives! That was an amazing show!
My first Phish show (maybe that whole 4 day run tbh)
And what run was that? I came to say Hampton fluffhead 09 would be my slow or that whole weekend was great.
AC/DC in 2009
I was the biggest AC/DC fan in the world at the young age of 13, and my dad had told me he couldn’t get tickets when they were playing our area.
The day of the show he picked me up from basketball practice, and told me we were going to my brothers game. He handed me an AC/DC DVD boxset I had ordered that just arrived, that had a bunch of replica tickets in it. While I’m going through them, he pulls an envelope from his visor and says “does it have any that look like this?” Sure enough, 2 tickets to that nights show!
The intro and them coming on stage is one of the first times I can remember getting overcome with emotion at a show, I cried like a baby! It was an amazing show, and one of the best surprises ever.
Love my dad, we just saw AC/DC again this past summer 🤘❤️
November 1980 with my girlfriend, now wife, the Back in Black tour. Angus was carried on a roadies' shoulder and played right in front of us.
Either of the glasto McCartney's. Both shows sublime.
Rage against the machine 1997! The highest energy show I’ve ever been to. This time I’d ditch my friends and go up closer in the crowd.
Not a single event but watching Derek Trucks grow up on stage… underrated musician.
I shared a bill with him once and got to see his band perform up close and personal.
What a talent that guy is!
Billy Strings Night 2 at the Ryman in 2022. Set 2 Bob Weir came out and they did an entire Dead set. It was incredible. Billy hasn't played a dead song live since that night.
All of mine would be Prince as well. Specifically, though, if I had to pick one, it'd be him covering Joan Osbourne's "One Of Us" in 1998.
That was the tour they put out a cardboard cut out of Prince at his mic before the show ad you walked in. Haha.
Childish Gambino's New World Tour
When he came out in the helmet to hearts were meant to fly I knew this was going to be the best concert of my life. I still talk about it.
It would have to be The Ramones and Patti Smith at the Paramount theatre in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania.A small venue and the spitting ,oh the spitting.Wish I could relive it as my memories have somewhat faded.Also The Plasmatics at the West Side theater in Scranton in 1981.They were at the height of their notiriety then and I don’t remember the show that well.
I'd for sure get Ray and Dave Davies back together for one more Kinks show or 3 hour acoustic set.
I could die happy.
Their concerts are my favorite music memories.
NIИ - self destruct w/marilyn Manson and Jim rose in 1994
That tour was insane. I saw NIN many times since then but none of them held a candle to the energy and chaos of that tour.
Halloween night, 2001. Right after 9/11 so we were all still pretty shell-shocked. Outdoor show on the river featuring Live. Right in the middle of Lightning Crashes, there was a huge shooting star, and also lightning was flickering over the river the whole time. It was incredible.
wen joe jonas handed me his tambourine in tampa! i am pretty sure i blacked out!
The first time I saw Genesis with Peter Gabriel.
When Elvis walked out on stage June 18, 1977. It truly was electric. I was crying and haven't cried under those circumstances since. People were losing their minds. It truly was something that hasn't been reproduced in my concert going.
Lollapalooza 1991. I wish I had paid more attention to the Butthole Surfers and Siouxsie and the Bandshees. Would love to experience Jane's in their prime again
Talking Heads Stop Making Sense at Forest Hills.
Queen, 1986 Wembley Stadium, Freddie doing the Ay-Oh! call and response to us/with us. There have been many moments since, but none have ever quite reached that.
Hearing Clapton play “Layla”. Such a great moment. He probably plays it every show but it was one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had. I love that song
I was front row center for Clapton's 2005 tour w/Billy Preston on keys . 2.5 hrs of perfection
Watching Metallica open for Ozzy Osbourne, touring for Master of Puppets with Cliff still with them. Kemper Arena
I saw that tour at the Cow Palace in SF. The first time I saw them was in 85 at Day on the green.
Grateful Dead 5/9/77. To the moon and beyond.
Phil Collins walking up the steps to his kit and blowing everyone away with incredible vocals. I’m lucky to have caught a couple of those shows that tour… in the same vein is Elton John. Neil Diamond. They are productions. Elaborate. There’s a lot to be said for the relaxed Jamband scene and by that I mean Grateful Dead tangent… a big part of the experience is being with likeminded people. Maybe not now so much but it used to be ✌🏼
Mick Jagger coming on stage, “I know the suns been beatin’ down on your heads all day, but lets ROCK AND ROLL! And they open with Jumping Jack Flash. Jacksonville Fla, 1975.
Sabbaths Back to the Beginning show end to end.
I came to say the same thing
Ministry playing supernaut lollapalooza 92
The Police on their Synchronicity tour. We didnt have any idea that they were going to disband the next year 😞
Phish NYE 1999 into 2000.
Alice In Chains with opener Screaming Trees, April 1992.
Not exactly a concert, but Underworld at Coachella in 2006. I was completely sober, and it was the closest thing I’ve had to religious experience in my life.
Yo La Tengo had Cyndi Lauper and Antietam opening for them for free show at Union Square NYC around 1995. Other than the amazing lineup, for the encore, YLT did “speeding motorcycle” with lightning flashing in the sky behind them. Never figured out how they manage that.
The night Stevie Ray Vaughn died. The man was sober a few years. Clapton himself said he needed to self talk positivity to take the stage that night. Walking out, we all talked about Stevie and not Eric that night. It was the greatest performance I have ever seen. Oh, it was about 6 hours long that night too.
Curve, 1992, Belfast. Queues on both sides of the stage as people politely took turns stagediving all night, then catching the rest for a while. That was so much fun, totally surrounded by like-minded souls looking after each other's vibe. The bass was wicked too
Hearing Jungleland live in 2009. It was my first major concert and my first Bruce Springsteen gig. It was also Clarence's last time in Ireland. I wasn't a huge, huge fan at the time but I was with my da and some of his friends. I didn't appreciate just how incredible it was at the time but now I'd go back and soak in every minute of that sax solo.
There was this wonderful songwriter that was a one hit wonder in the 90’s. Her name was Jill sobule. I happened to meet her at that time when I was a teenager. Every decade or so I’d run into her. She was opening for my favorite singer, another great writer, Billy Bragg. He’d met me outside and let me come in for the sound check and drinks, so already a great night. Jill opened and she had this thing she’d do. She’d get audience members, who knew her songs, to get on stage and sing with her. She’d recognized me and pulled me on stage I don’t sing but it was great fun. Sadly she passed this year and I’m sad I won’t see her again. It’s not like she knew me but every time I’d see her she’d say I know you from somewhere. And Billy is always Billy. He’s a class act too. He paid for us to do one of those Photo Booth things and just has time for his people.
Sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing
Talking my way into CBGBs to see Sonic Youth.
Making eye contact w my favorite artists and having them smile at me
Stevie Ray Vaughn sitting in the wings playing his guitar while the fabulous thunderbirds were the warm up band.
Seeing Bowie for the first time
Madonna Blond Ambition tour 1990
Iron Maiden - Flight 666
10/11/83 Madison Square Garden Grateful Dead playing Saint Stephen
Pantera's final tour, being blasted with waves of pyro heat while in a giant, sweaty, walking mess of a crowd! Primal drunken chaos!
The first time I saw Rage Against the Machine. September 19, 1996. Detroit, Michigan.
Natalie Merchant in a small little venue before she disappeared. NYC meat district and a dumpy little place. I don’t know how he got the tickets
Daft Punk Vegoose 07
Prince singing the long version of Purple Rain to close out his Musicology tour.
Iron Maiden. 1985 at Tucson Convention Center.🤘
Led Zep 10th row MSG circa 76 or 77. Queen 3d row Beacon Theater circa 75 or 76.
Seeing the Rolling Stones do Gimme Shelter.
U2, Vegas.
Taylor swift. Slc, red tour.
cranberries first tour, slc.
jessi Alexander, Sundance.
Ministry, slc.
sundays . Cocteau twins. Smashing pumpkins second album.
oasis. first tour.
mazzy star.
Alice in chains, rage, tool, front 242 lollapolooza
Sting.
the list goes on.
Velvet Sea, Phish , Big Cypress, 1/1/2000 I went to my knees when the first notes hit. Sun was coming up, hadn’t rested in three days. Goosebumps thinking about it.
Nirvana
Helmet
Fitz of Depression
Seattle Center Arena 1992 or 1993
Oh, there's so many, it's hard to pick just one. I wish I could see Nine Inch Nails for the very first time again. We had such good seats in a small-ish venue. It was the Downward Spiral tour and it was amazing from start to finish. In more recent years, the moment during the RTJ show when Zack de la Rocha surprise hit the stage. We didn't know he would be there, I was right in front of him, and it was straight magic on that stage. That whole show was phenomenal and is one of the best concerts I've ever been to. What a performance and what a great crowd to share it with.
Boy that Trent Reznor is smoking hot.
Jimmy Buffett and Fingers Taylor, playing an all acoustic concert, at a small historic theater.
I randomly saw Motorhead as a kid and paid them no mind because I hadn't heard the word that Lemmy is God.
I was at one of Mike Nesmith’s last shows before he passed away. There was this moment during Daydream Believer where the whole audience was singing along, Mike and Micky were clearly emotional and the connection between all of us felt almost spiritual.
I read this to my wife and nearly started crying.
US Festival 1983
Day 1 And Day 2
Heavy Metal Sunday, Eclipsed Day 1 And Day 3 By More Than Double…
350,000+ Headbangers!!!
Phish @ Big Cypress NYE 1999
System of a Down Gorge 1999-2000? Can't remember but System of a down were there as part of Ozzfest. Friend and I were 15-20 rows back from the stage and they were hosing us down with water because it was so hot out... great show.
Hendrix, just months before he passed.
The recording of Pearl Jam unplugged show.
Radiohead, Glastonbury 2004.
Was great.
Then in go and watch muse. - they on after, but I didn't know anything about them so went and watched orbital for about the 4th time. They were alright, but I have always kicked myself for missing muse.
Dj Shadow and Cut Chemist spinning Africa Bambata's vinal. I honestly can't remember what year this was but still the best show I've been to.
David Gilmour coming back from intermission with Sorrow, Hollywood Bowl 2024, when he shot me out of a cannon and into space.
Van halen opening for sabbath 77 philly spectrum.
Seeing the Smiths take the stage at sunset in an outdoor venue in the summer of 1985.
Peak Rush experience: Pine Knob, Michigan. A beautiful summer evening outdoors. 3rd row center orchestra pit seats. Snakes and Arrows tour. My son and I. After 100's of concerts, I look back at that evening as heaven sent. He agrees!
The Cult on their Electric Tour at Wembley Arena in 1987.
Kicked off with "Nirvana", set list drawn from "Love" and "Electric", the whole arena singing the chorus of "Peace Dog" like we were going to war, transcendental moment during "(She Sells) Sanctuary" and final encore of "Born To Be Wild". The seats around us were destroyed from people dancing.
Jerry singing Morning Dew on 9/18/87.
McCartney in 2014-i started weeping during And I love her.
2nd night of Metallica in Chicago for M72 tour. Playing Enter Sandman as the final song or Call of Ktulu. It is just so beautiful hearing both of them live in person. I almost cried hearing Ktulu though given that it's such a beautiful instrumental piece that I thought I would never hear in person. Sandman just with how badass it was when the entire stadium was singing it and you legit could not hear James singing it.
U2 Zoo TV at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama in 1992.
May 10, 1995. Page & Plant in Phoenix. Magnificent!
Big Cypress - phish. Best experience ever
My first phish show - Nov 2 1998
My first Billy Strings show in 2021. I felt pure cosmic energy that night and have been chasing the dragon ever since.
At the Amnesty concert in Atlanta in 1986, seeing/hearing U2 perform "Pride (in the Name of Love)" in MLK's hometown and the crowd singing along with incredible fervor. It was a religious experience.
RATM - Hollywood Palladium- packed to the brim. No seats at that venue. Bullet to the Head and Tom Morello about to hit that riff about 2/3 into the song. Place went nuts. Electric with kindred spirits flailing their arms and bodies everywhere.
Freddie Mercury singing Bohemian Rhapsody- Elland Road 1982
mine would be George Michael 2008 25live tour when he came to toronto and vancouver i saw both shows
I wasn’t there, but seeing Korn or DMX at Woodstock 99 would’ve been crazy
For me there are two but many decades apart. The first one is the Who in about 1978. The first and only time I’ve seen them. First concert with laser lights and they hitting a huge disco ball mounted in the middle of the stadium. Absolutely an amazing experience. The second one was at an outdoor concert at a winery that I’ve seen many shows at over the years and was just a few years ago. It’s was the second time Robert Plant played there and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. He did a Zeppelin medley for the last several minutes of the show and it sounded incredible.
Skrillex Ultra 25 or Phish NYE 2010 with the meat stick gag
I never made it to a Linkin Park concert, I’d kill to go back and go to one.
https://youtu.be/58Sr2RwB2c0?si=TdtjjuqnjVFYzAXd
Not leaving early to beat Atlanta traffic at Soundgarden concert in 2017, thinking I’ll get to see them again
Lolapalooza '95 in Vancouver. Hole, Beck, Sinead O'Connor, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Coolio, and many others.
Pink Floyd and 72
The finale of the Damaged Justice tour @ Red Rocks CO.
Dee Snider crawling out of the sewers in '86. I was 13 and my best friend was next to me amd it's still one of my favorite concerts. Dee said he now knows why they call Wisconsin the dairy state.
Lollapalooza in 96. I wasn’t huge into Soundgarden so I didn’t pay much attention. Now I wish I’d taken the time to pay attention.
Prince, Anotherloverholenyohead, Birthday Show, Detroit, Michigan (Yellow Suit Show)
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1990.
Woodstock 99. It really was the time of my life
Saw Opeth and Nevermore. Blackwater Park tour/Dead Heart in a Dead World. I was with a friend. We didnt stay for all of nevermore. I wish I had that back.
Lalapalooza 96 because soundgarden, metallica, devo …
Joni Jam at The Gorge June 2024. I’d relive that weekend a thousand times over if I could. My favourite moment was when Marcus Mumford sings “California” to Joni. It was a sonic boom through the canyon. A really loving and playful take on a legendary song.
But it’s more than just the concert. Camping in the RV area listening to the soundcheck Friday mid afternoon. Hearing Brandi Carlile’s voice (headliner and master organizer of the weekend) THEN we hear Sarah McLachlan’s voice (surprise guest for the weekend) and THEN we heard ANNIE FREAKING LENNOX start singing. Our whole camp went CRAZY
That Neil Young concert in Pittsburgh back in the very early 2000s when i took so much acid i passed out for about 5 seconds...
Knowing what i know now, Id love to re-live that.
Sept 10, 1979. Kiss Dynasty Tour. Huntington WV.
Either Anders Osborne at a small music festival in NY with my two college roommates, we had some really amazing acid and he pulled out all the right stuff.
Or
KGLW at Red Rocks night 3 in 2022/set 3 2023 - such a peak.
Definitely seeing 1D in 2015. I went with a friend and her daughters, wasn't a big fan at the time. Became a fan, especially of Liam, in the last 3 years. I want to go back and appreciate seeing them live.
The first time I reached the stage and shook hands with Stevie Nicks at Jones Beach Theater, NY, 1989! First of many!
The first time seeing Born to Run live, 1999, in NJ with the house lights up
Magical indeed
Watching Thin Lizzy in 1983
Misread this as where would I relieve myself at a concert and was a bit confused.
All of back to the beginning from July
All The Best Festival. 3 connected all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic filled with nothing but John Prine and his fans. 4 nights of Todd Snider, Steve Earl, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Paul Thorn, Nathaniel Rateliff, Brandi Carlisle, and many more.
AC/DC at Valle Hovin in 2009, Jean Michel Jarre in Oslo Spektrum in 2011, or Jeff Beck at Sentrum Scene in 2010.
Neil and Crazy Horse - Philly Spectrum. Rust Never Sleeps tour, Oct 1978. On acid
Nirvana, Hampshire College, 1990. This time, I'd stay sober enough to remember it.
Getting on stage with Chris Cornell!!!!
Meeting the Doobie Brothers pre show in Manchester (uk) 2017 👌🏻
Atoms for Peace “billed as ‘Thom York????’“ Coachella 2010 Sunday night
Bourbon and Beyond festival, 2022.
Lined up for the festival hours before the gates open, outran enough people to be center on the rail for Pearl Jam. Sat through all the bands, waited 12 hours for them to finally come on: a high five from Eddie Veddar was more than worth it.
Probably Van Halen at Rock USA in 2013, Ozzy at Rock USA in 2017, or Soundgarden at Northern Invasion in 2017. Would be nice to go see any of those one last time.
Seeing The Cure at the Troxy in London was one of the best concerts I’ve been too.
Can I pick a full festival? If so, Firefly Festival 2016
Weeknd just in July 2025.. Tool sometime early 2000.
The White Stripes at Stubbs 2003
Queen with Freddie Mercury riding on Superman's shoulders at Cobo Arena, Detroit.
Sunday, May 21, 1989. The first concert I can remember going to was at Six Flags Over Ga. Samantha Fox opened for Cheap Trick. My mom brought me and we were 5 rows from the stage. Rick Nielsen tossed picks the entire show toward us. One landed at my foot and the adult in front of me lunged and snagged it. I’d go back in time to kick that guy in the nuts.
Van Halen July 24,1982
Genesis Aug 22, 1982 Forest Hills Tennis Stadium..the entire Suppers Ready...EPIC
Live Aid, 1985
PHISH / MSG - New Year’s Eve
Tom Petty played about 30 or so shows at a small theatre in Hollywood(Fonda Theatre…1400 capacity) sometime around 2013/2014. I was lucky enough to go to one. Outstanding show.
the moment during the eras tour taylor played my favorite song of hers as a surprise song. of any song she could've played. it was a dream
Either Jan 10, 2011 or Jan 10,2014 seeing Linkin Park. 2011 was barricade. 2014 was M&G followed by show. RIP Chester.
The Replacements breaking up on stage at Taste of Chicago. This time though, I'd make sure to introduce myself to two friends that were there, but who I only met in real life a decade and a half later.
The Postal Service.
September 19 2023
Madison Square Garden NYC.
My husband surprised me with tickets for my birthday. Flew in from IN for the week.
We were 3rd & 4th in line at the door and we were center rail.
After one of the more slower and emotional songs, I said "Thank You." To Ben. The singer.
He blew me a kiss. I about died then and there. Lol.
NRBQ, Auburn University, 1980.
coldplay’s adventure of a lifetime performance during their nashville show this past summer
David Gilmour
Actually, pre-concert…Camden summit for Linkin Park in 2012. We got to meet the band and Chester sang for us. The actual concert was also awesome also.
RUSH R30 at The Woodlands Pavilion in Texas. I took my 12yr old son to his first concert. We had 2nd row pit seats.
Mine is Prince at Glam Slam after hours performance and also 2004 Musicology tour.
Motörhead, early tour. Before crush barriers. I was touching the stage and Lemmy was inches away, dry ice smoke up to his waist, head back. In my head he was playing Ace of Spades (possibly not written then). It wasn’t my first gig and I remember wondering if it would ever get better than this, and it never really did. Magic moment.
I was a Marillion fan for 18 years before I flew from 🇦🇺 to 🇬🇧 to see them four times over six nights. Loved every minute of it. That was 24 years ago and I wish I could go back to that moment.
Adele at the Ogden theater in Denver CO May of 2011.
LCD Soundsystem @ 3am on Barcelona beach
Oasis live25 Wembley 90,000 people arm in arm singing dont look back in anger, men, women, children, all crying. Incredible
Slaughter. Mark Slaughter stepping off stage in front of me - straight for me - I screamed I danced I took selfies - Mark was so much taller and squatted a bit to be in the photos. Now this was my super crush from the 90s. I LOVED Mark. So fast forward 20+ years it was still all that I imagined.
Prince the day after he won his Oscar.
Seeing Metallica play ‘until it sleeps’ this April. It was worth 100 hours of therapy. I went not expecting to hear it. When James said ‘This next one, it’s about cancer’ I burst into tears. Being there, hearing those words I had identified so strongly with during my mom’s fight, the words I would scream alone in my car when it all got too much, it was like a dam broke inside me. I don’t know why it hit so differently live, but I’m glad it did. I walked out of that concert with part of the weight off my shoulders.
Being front row at Deftones in the late 90s (before barriers) being right in front of Chino and him using my hand to balance as he screamed out into the crowd. Hell of a gig
The Undertones 1981. All heart, all soul.
Metallica or Audioslave at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Huge bands small venue.
Alexisonfire in 2005, opening for hot water music, masquerade in Atlanta, heaven. Silverchair 2007, smaller club in Columbus Ohio. I have been to so many concerts and still actively go, but these experiences really solidified the magic of live music and I am really happy that the culture is continuing strong in so many ways.
Mine would be Springsteen at the Goffertpark in Nijmegen 2013. It’s a big venue and at the last, let’s say 45 minutes of the concert it started to pour down from above really hard. Bruce like the entertainer that he is kept going till curfew (23:00) exactly in the pouring rain himself. During the encores Twist and Shout and Shout he kept asking for “more rain, more rain!’ and shouting “it still isn’t raining hard enough!” To which he started to play again and again! It was so magical and the crowd kept dancing in the rain till the very end. The funny thing was I didn’t notice I was soaking wet until we got in the car like an hour later!
The My Chemical Romance Concert I went to 7/19/2025… it’s changed my life and rewired my brain chemistry. I even started making moves to change my career because of that concert… it made me realize I wasn’t happy with my life they way it is, not as happy as I was standing at that concert…. So something I had been on the fence about for years, I decided after that show, I was finally going to do it, to leave my 5 years career path and do something completely different, that will actually make me happy.
Back in the late 80s I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan. This was in like an outdoor arena. I was like 30 ft from the stage. It was an awesome concert.
The first note of Dreamline - Rush 1991
Foo Fighters on Halloween in NYC when Krock still existed. They came out dressed as the Hives and played Hate to say i told you do. It was the supper club a smaller venue. It was amazing.