What are the best music concerts of all time?
Wilco + Yo La Tengo (albeit under pseudonyms) would genuinely be up there for me.The Pawnee Eagleton Unity Concert
It doesn't get any better than that. I mean, L'il Sebastian hologram ánd a Duke Silver appearance?The Pawnee Eagleton Unity Concert
I was at that. Just turned 16, it was only the third gig I'd ever been to. Was incredible, and watching the video, I can't believe I ever went to something like that, as I've never been to a stadium gig since. Obviously, almost immediately after that, they became a steaming pile of shite, but at that moment they were a phenomenon.Best (favourite) I’ve ever seen were
1. Oasis at Main Road. Incredible atmosphere.
2. Orbital at glasto 1994
3. Muse at O2 in 2019
Gig I wish I’d most been at was Chemical Brothers at Glasto 2019. Watched that on iplayer and it rocked.
Agreed that Main Road was Oasis absolute peak. I actually saw them in derby a few years earlier and that was a fantastic raw gig but the air at Main Road was electric.I was at that. Just turned 16, it was only the third gig I'd ever been to. Was incredible, and watching the video, I can't believe I ever went to something like that, as I've never been to a stadium gig since. Obviously, almost immediately after that, they became a steaming pile of shite, but at that moment they were a phenomenon.
A year later I saw Foo Fighters at the Apollo, at the height of their powers (again, almost everything they released after that was pretty rubbish).
Reading Festival in 1998 was unbelievable. Headliners were Beastie Boys, Page and Plant, New Order, Prodigy. Smaller stages had Spiritualized (before Jason Pierce sacked the band and became boring), Mogwai, Grandaddy, Sleater Kinney, Elliot Smith, Yo La Tengo, etc. It was so up my street, I never went to another festival, as I'd come to the false impression that they were all meant to be as good, and any other line-up paled in comparison.
Yeah, they were still playing the Ladies and Gentlemen stuff at Reading 98. Really good, although I had to choose between them and New Order, as they were playing at the same time. Chose wisely given how Pierce destroyed the band shortly afterwards.Agreed that Main Road was Oasis absolute peak. I actually saw them in derby a few years earlier and that was a fantastic raw gig but the air at Main Road was electric.
I would actually place Spiritualised on their ladies and gentleman tour at rock city in notts as another great. They were brilliant.
I saw Cat Power back in 1999 and she was obviously terrified of being on stage. Kept trying to walk off, but members of Sleater Kinney were in the wings making sure she played on! A few years later she's on Jules Holland looking like a natural.Thinking about it, another of my all time favourites was Goldfrapp at the Heavenly Social in Nottingham, right at the start of their career, playing Felt Mountain.
There were literally only about 20-30 people there, crammed in a tiny room and it was the most intimate gig I’ve ever been to. Alison was visibly shaking with nerves when she came out.
Wow, you've seen Elliott Smith AND Cat Power live???I saw Cat Power back in 1999 and she was obviously terrified of being on stage. Kept trying to walk off, but members of Sleater Kinney were in the wings making sure she played on! A few years later she's on Jules Holland looking like a natural.
Neither were particular great live performers, to be honest! I love Moon Pix, and that was what she played mainly, but she was so ill at ease, and that was my main memory of it. After the gig, I went back stage (if you can call it that, it wasn't hard to get into), and she just kind of stood by herself in a corner looking painfully shy. I would have loved to have talked to her, but I was too much in awe, I probably would have made a tit of myself.Wow, you've seen Elliott Smith AND Cat Power live???
How was Elliott live? I've seen a couple of grainy videos from that Reading set, not the best audio quality though.
And Cat Power in 99, so that's Moon Pix era then, how was that? Where was the gig?
Cool, thanks for sharing. The Hot Rock-era Sleater-Kinney as well! Nice.Neither were particular great live performers, to be honest! I love Moon Pix, and that was what she played mainly, but she was so ill at ease, and that was my main memory of it. After the gig, I went back stage (if you can call it that, it wasn't hard to get into), and she just kind of stood by herself in a corner looking painfully shy. I would have loved to have talked to her, but I was too much in awe, I probably would have made a tit of myself.
I met Carrie Brownstein on the street in Manchester a few days earlier though and had a nice chat with her. Then she kept looking at me and smiling during their set. I honestly didn't know how to react!
A good few years later my mates went to All Tomorrow's Parties and one of my friend's dads spent half an hour sat with a young woman talking about the bands he'd been watching. When she left, my friend asked him what on earth he'd been talking to Cat Power all this time about. He had no idea it was her!
Edit: it was a '10 years of Matador Records' weekender in London when I saw Cat Power. Sharing a bill (and that back room) with Yo La Tengo, Sleater Kinney, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Cornelius etc.
Yeah, I was spoiled as a teenager! The Hot Rock is still my favourite album of theirs.Cool, thanks for sharing. The Hot Rock-era Sleater-Kinney as well! Nice.
Well you win. I saw ac/dc with Brian’s first tour. But you seen Bon Scott and the biggest musical regret in my life -not seeing Led ZeppelinAC DC Live in Paris 1979 , Bons last gig
Queen Live Aid
The Who Live at Leeds 1970
Led Zep Earls Court 1975
Pulp Glastonbury 1995
I saw him up at Leeds in the same year and it was pretty good.I was a kid at Michael Jackson at Wembley in '88. Doesn't get any more iconic than that. Saw Prince a few times; can honestly say he consistently put on the best shows.