Best and worst live experiences

[Hysteria]

I'm interested to hear about your best and worst experiences in seeing bands live. And by 'best' I don't just mean "omg I love *insert band here* they're just totally awesome blah blah blah" I want real reasons why they were especially good. What kind of show did they put on? The best live bands make their shows just as much about the music as the performance.

The best live band I've ever seen was Marilyn Manson in October last year. They were amazing. The three key things that made them special were:
1. Good musical performance
2. The multiple costume/prop changes
3. Interaction with the audience

Manson himself must have changed outfits half a dozen times during their THREE HOUR set. There was a walkway coming from the stage on which he spent most of the show. They had a fake boxing ring, a pull down microphone, ummm 'misuse' of a bible (I wont go into further details regarding that), a giant pedestal amongst other things. It was amazing the amount of effort that went into just props and costumes!

Manson talked to the crowd throughout the show and pulled someone up on stage at some point. He came down to the front of the mosh pit (where I was ) and practically leapt into the pit.
After the show the band members threw out their guitar picks and drum sticks (as many bands do). I got Rob Holliday's guitar pick Some of the band hung around after to meet the fans too which was nice

Basically the performance was more like a trip to a very disturbing theatre than anything else something I will never ever forget.

A close runner up is the last Muse gig I went to (November 2007). Anybody who has seen Muse live knows they're something special. Matt in particular knows how to entertain his fans. The use of pyrotechnics, giant floating balls, balloons, streamers, AV screens, smoke.. everything is so over the top. It's great.


Worst band I've seen was a band called The Spazzys. Ironically they were the support act for Marilyn Manson, my favourite show! A more inappropriate support act could not have been chosen! They're a female trio (nothing against girl bands btw) with little to no musical talent and... were painful to watch really. They sounded band and didn't make any effort to interact or make their show interesting in any way.

[vampiricduck]

One of the best perfrmances I have ever seen live was Bruce Sprinsteen with the Seeger Sessions Band last year in Dublin. It really was just brilliant. You know the thing where a band come onstage and above all else, they just have fun and invest so much of themselves in their performance that the room seems to shake with the atmosphere? it was like that, and I had only ever seen it once or twice before, but they really rocked the entire building, it was brilliant.

In terms of worst, I went to see Scissos Sisters a few years ago and Franz Ferdianand were supporting them. Though I'm a big FF fan, I was surprised and disappointed by their set. It was full of hits, but there was very little energy or focus there, and I felt a bit down after it because I had looked forward to seeing them so much.

Also, when I went to oxegen this year, I saw MGMT. Or rather, I saw parts of it. It wasn't the band that caused the issue, more like the audience. People pushed and shoved and spilled and jostled, to the extent where there was just no peace. And I was down the back, where that kind of things suually isn't as pronounced. It took some of the fun out of it. I love th ejumping around at a concert, but these were just peopel coming and gonig, doing nothing and generally being in the way. That drives me nuts. On top of that, some idiots decided to climb the pileons in the tent and almost got electrocuted, so the band walked offstage early. Absolute nightmare and total mess.

[Hysteria]

Also, when I went to oxegen this year, I saw MGMT. Or rather, I saw parts of it. It wasn't the band that caused the issue, more like the audience. People pushed and shoved and spilled and jostled, to the extent where there was just no peace. And I was down the back, where that kind of things suually isn't as pronounced. It took some of the fun out of it. I love th ejumping around at a concert, but these were just peopel coming and gonig, doing nothing and generally being in the way. That drives me nuts. On top of that, some idiots decided to climb the pileons in the tent and almost got electrocuted, so the band walked offstage early. Absolute nightmare and total mess.

Wow that sucks. I've been to a few festivals with totally arrogant crowd members. Like they're only there to make other people have a bad time. Had the total opposite too where people just look like they're having no fun and don't get into it. Both are pretty annoying for folks like me who like to have fun and jump around (without hurting anyone of course)

[Wizard_Pupil]

Well, my worst live experiences....

Cyndy Lauper live::

-I was beated by the police (monkeys and beasts those ***)
-Cindy get upset and insulted the audience leaving the teather for a while, then she returned.
But I was 14 and never cared about that, had TONS of fun. BUt that was not fun...but God saved me from broken bones or worse injuries.


Bon Jovi live:
-I almost die suffocated by the crowd.

Gus n Roses live
-I almost die too , suffocated, famelic, tired...long story...
Good that the guys only played an hour... good for me, but bad for the concert XDD

REO Speed wagon
I almost die crushed by the crowd.
Those were tough times here for concerts.

But had tons of fun. Wizard Pupil survived rock concerts!!!
Ohhhh I was young XD

[vampiricduck]

Originally Posted by Hysteria

Wow that sucks. I've been to a few festivals with totally arrogant crowd members. Like they're only there to make other people have a bad time. Had the total opposite too where people just look like they're having no fun and don't get into it. Both are pretty annoying for folks like me who like to have fun and jump around (without hurting anyone of course)

Exactly. That's what you're looking for, someone who gets the fun without causing too much of a riot, or without people standing there giving you funny looks because you're enjoying yourself!

Sometimes I think its the people, and not the band, that make the night good. My least favourite thing ever, and its always going to happen, is over filling the standing areas. Movement is vital to success at a concert, and being squished to within an inch of your life is detrimental!!

[Saoirse]

Okay well both the best and worst concerts of my life came within 3 hours of each other,
the best concert of my life was:

Rage Against The Machine, 13th July 2008 Oxegen Music Festival, Co. Kildare
Rage played one of the best sets i have ever heard, they played all of their best songs in my opinion, there was an estimated 40,000 +people at it making it the largest crowd that night, beating hard competition from the Chemical Brothers. While rage didnt interect much with the crowd, the liveliness of Zach along with the bass lines really got the crowd pumping, and toms guitar techs just sent everyone over the edge. I also think the concert was improved by Kaiser Chiefs who had an hour and a half set before rage. (cant remember kaiser lead singers name) but the lead went absoulutley nuts, went crowd surfing, and climbed the tower up to the overhead amps, this got everybody in the mood for one big concert.

Kings of Leon, 11th July 2008 Oxegen Music Festival, Co. Kildare
Close Second, unlike the rage concert i got up close for this one, i heard rumours of 60,000 people at this, but i got right up to the barrier, with only the golden pit betweent me and the stage. Me and a friend, held our ground through 3 whole concerts for this (one of which was the worst concert i attended) to get this prime location, unfortunatley as the crowd swelled and the shoving began, i bruised 2 ribs during kings of leon, why you say was this the 2nd greatest concert? because with the extreme heat, security started handing out cups of water, these served as great crowd pleasers when thrown, getting everybody nice and wet, then security started pulling people out of the crowd for their safety, me and my friend saw this as our oportunity, and got pulled out, and through great cunning, made our way into the golden pit, from nearly a 2 hour set me and my friend spent 1hr 30mins in the pit, while people queed for hours to get in the set KoL played was phenominal and they really got down and talked with the crowd

Worst experience
Interpol 11th July 2008 Oxegen Music Festival, Co. Kildare
3rd concert waited in for KoL(see above), the set they played was boring, the're interaction was minimal, i believe that they knew that the majority of the gathered crowd was waiting for kings of leon who were headlinging after them. bad, boring experience, but in the end the boredom was worth it completly

[vampiricduck]

Originally Posted by Luigi_Potter

Kings of Leon, 11th July 2008 Oxegen Music Festival, Co. Kildare
Close Second, unlike the rage concert i got up close for this one, i heard rumours of 60,000 people at this, but i got right up to the barrier, with only the golden pit betweent me and the stage. Me and a friend, held our ground through 3 whole concerts for this (one of which was the worst concert i attended) to get this prime location, unfortunatley as the crowd swelled and the shoving began, i bruised 2 ribs during kings of leon, why you say was this the 2nd greatest concert? because with the extreme heat, security started handing out cups of water, these served as great crowd pleasers when thrown, getting everybody nice and wet, then security started pulling people out of the crowd for their safety, me and my friend saw this as our oportunity, and got pulled out, and through great cunning, made our way into the golden pit, from nearly a 2 hour set me and my friend spent 1hr 30mins in the pit, while people queed for hours to get in the set KoL played was phenominal and they really got down and talked with the crowd

Kings of Leon were fantastic that night. It was an excellent setlist and concert. I was farther back for it, but I do remember there being a serious problem with drugs farther back, and people got very rowdy. it was fairly nasty to be stuck in the middle of, so that was what detracted from it for me personally.

The following day though, I stayed in the pit during Newton Faulkner, Counting Crows, Amy Winehouse, Stereophonics, REM and The Verve. I never left. I was so so tired by the end. It was a brilliant day, but again, crowd crushing during Amy Winehouse became very dangerous, and I really hate that.

[Hysteria]

Sometimes I think its the people, and not the band, that make the night good.

I totally agree. The best shows I've been to -Marilyn Manson, Muse, Disturbed, Bullet For My Valentine- all had awesome crowd involvement. Sure it was a bit squishy but totally worth it.

Something that can make the show a downer is security. I understand they're there for a rewason and 99% of the time they do their job well. However there is one venue in my town (called HQ) that has the worst security. The last show I went to a security guard tacked a roadie who was going to jump off the stage. Total overreaction and it got so intense the band had to stop midway through their song. They weren't happy. This show was being filmed for a dvd too, no doubt that footage will make it on.
At the same venue a few years before that I saw Atreyu and 36 Crazyfists. Great great show but the security assumed we in the mosh pit were all too hot so kept spraying us with water bottles. Nice thought but nobody asked for that (I was in a jumper and wasn't hot!) and they kept spraying us right in the eyes! Argh. A mate of mine has been to some other shows there and he's said similar things regarding the security. I'm seeing DragonForce at HQ next month, hopefully the security don't ruin that one.

[vampiricduck]

Security tend to get heavy handed at DragonForce gigs, or so I've heard. They came to Dublin a year or two ago I think, and my friends came out and said "Great gig, but security were really mean."

Actually, at Oxegen during Rage Against the Machine, the crowd in the mosh pit got very bad and started screaming at a bouncer. He was trying to take a girl out because she could barely breathe, but she didn't want to go, and the entire pit started screaming "Rage Against the Machine!!" at him. It was frightening for the guy I'd imagine, and definitely an example of crowd control gone wrong.

Security definitely has to be taken into account for the good atmosphere, sometimes things get ridiculous when all you want is to have fun really.

[Hysteria]

But the thing is bands don't bring their own security, it's provided by the venue and this venue has a rep for dodgy security. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

I get what you mean about trouble breathing. A few times I've asked to be pulled out because I'm close to passing out (every single time that's happened the medics have assumed I was on drugs ).

Another good show I saw was Mindless Self Indulgence in March this year. They interacted very well with the audience. It was at a festival and Jimmy (the lead singer) jumped stages to go and see the other people on the other side. Granted they were less than impressed when he started to give them a hard time over their music taste (they were waiting for Thursday) but none the less it was amusing for us fans

[Saoirse]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

Kings of Leon were fantastic that night. It was an excellent setlist and concert. I was farther back for it, but I do remember there being a serious problem with drugs farther back, and people got very rowdy. it was fairly nasty to be stuck in the middle of, so that was what detracted from it for me personally.

The following day though, I stayed in the pit during Newton Faulkner, Counting Crows, Amy Winehouse, Stereophonics, REM and The Verve. I never left. I was so so tired by the end. It was a brilliant day, but again, crowd crushing during Amy Winehouse became very dangerous, and I really hate that.

yeah, i heard drugs was a big problem, and also was offered some at the zutons, but vampiric, staurday had a great line up, i was there for newton faulkner, counting crow, stereophonics at main stage, all great except for counting crows, who were really boring, but in the pit would have been amazing for rem and the verve, i envy you

Actually, at Oxegen during Rage Against the Machine, the crowd in the mosh pit got very bad and started screaming at a bouncer. He was trying to take a girl out because she could barely breathe, but she didn't want to go, and the entire pit started screaming "Rage Against the Machine!!" at him. It was frightening for the guy I'd imagine, and definitely an example of crowd control gone wrong.

I heard about that, my friend was right beside it when it happened, unfortunatley we were seperated during the course of the day, did you see the security gaurd that fell and smashed his head off one of the barriers? i heard lots of people say that was one of their highlights of the rage concert, cause it was during killing in the name, during the "f*ck you, i wont do what you tell me" bit of the song

[Fawkesfan1]

Oooh, this will be good ...

Bad experience... I remember going to a Genesis concert for my birthday one year, and it was the ABSOLUTE WORST live music experience that I EVER had... I even protested afterwords -- I didn't listen to any of their music or any of Phil Collins' music for around two years due to that. I know that may be a little extreme -- but it was THAT BAD.

The acoustics were just dreadful, not to mention that Phil was drunker than a skunk that night and he was going on and on about his ex-wife. It was just ridiculous. I couldn't even enjoy the concert ONE bit.


As for my best one... it didn't have the best acoustics either, but I SURE did have a ball... it wasn't a music concert per say... but when I went to go see the Smothers Brothers (a comedy team that I grew up with, via reruns), it took me back to being a kid again . They were just as funny as ever, and I got to ACTUALLY appreciate their comedy that much more, since I was older. I'll NEVER EVER forget that experience, it was truly breathtaking.

[vampiricduck]

Originally Posted by Luigi_Potter

yeah, i heard drugs was a big problem, and also was offered some at the zutons, but vampiric, staurday had a great line up, i was there for newton faulkner, counting crow, stereophonics at main stage, all great except for counting crows, who were really boring, but in the pit would have been amazing for rem and the verve, i envy you

My dear, it wasn't just the pit, it was the front row of the pit!! There was nothing between me and REM but security! Breathtaking view and everyone was so tense with excitment! I could see myself in loads of MTV2's Oxegen Coverage. It was so weird because you always want to be that person, and then suddenly you are. It seems really small, but I was like "I've made it!"

Yeah, yeah, sad, I know.

Originally Posted by Fawkesfan1

As for my best one... it didn't have the best acoustics either, but I SURE did have a ball... it wasn't a music concert per say... but when I went to go see the Smothers Brothers (a comedy team that I grew up with, via reruns), it took me back to being a kid again . They were just as funny as ever, and I got to ACTUALLY appreciate their comedy that much more, since I was older. I'll NEVER EVER forget that experience, it was truly breathtaking.

I do so love moments like that. I went to see Des Bishop in Cork a few months back and his talks about old poverty in the country actually had me rolling on the floor. I seriously thought my ribs were trying to constrict my lungs into submission..

[Saoirse]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

My dear, it wasn't just the pit, it was the front row of the pit!! There was nothing between me and REM but security! Breathtaking view and everyone was so tense with excitment! I could see myself in loads of MTV2's Oxegen Coverage. It was so weird because you always want to be that person, and then suddenly you are. It seems really small, but I was like "I've made it!"

Yeah, yeah, sad, I know.

yeah i saw myself on mtv2 at the kings of leon concert, it made the whole thing so much better, to know that there is your 2 second clip of fame, and only you and a few select people will know its you, but its there it exisists and thats all there is to it. dang security impededing your rem moment grr

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

My dear, it wasn't just the pit, it was the front row of the pit!! There was nothing between me and REM but security! Breathtaking view and everyone was so tense with excitment! I could see myself in loads of MTV2's Oxegen Coverage. It was so weird because you always want to be that person, and then suddenly you are. It seems really small, but I was like "I've made it!"

Yeah, yeah, sad, I know.



I do so love moments like that. I went to see Des Bishop in Cork a few months back and his talks about old poverty in the country actually had me rolling on the floor. I seriously thought my ribs were trying to constrict my lungs into submission..

Yea same here... there's just something special about those . Something that just takes your breath away. It's just incredible...

[Ceilidh_ann]

I'm lucky that I've never had a bad experience at a concert. All 4 that I've been to were amazing.

Franz Ferdinand - I was 14, the band hadn't been around for long and I was so entranced by them. We jumped up and down for a straight hour singing along to everything.
Muse - They might just be the best live band at the moment.
Rufus Wainwright - He really knows how to get involved with the audience, he had a good laugh and engaged with everyone. At the end he did his Judy Garland bit which is always worth seeing. He looks better in heels and tights than I do!
My Chemical Romance - 3000 people jumping up and down to Teenagers, one of them my dad - priceless.

[vampiricduck]

Originally Posted by Fawkesfan1

Yea same here... there's just something special about those . Something that just takes your breath away. It's just incredible...

Of course, the fact that you're incapable of breathing and think that at any moment you might pass out, doesn't mean anything.

I was just thinking over the time I saw Alabama 3. I don't know have any of you heard of them (Their best known work is the theme song from the Sopranos), but they're a very different type of band. I can't list what their genre is- they swap between country, film, rap, rock, metal, and even dance. One of their songs (Hello, I'm Johnny Cash) is a song made of Johnny Cash lyrics only. I remember just standing there watching them, and they really know how to rile the crowd, and all I could think was "wow". I was looking around and I saw the huge variation in their fan base. There were young people there dressed as goths, middle aged people with their respective partners, people who were so high they had no real idea of what was going on, and I just couldn't help thinking that they really bridge a gap.

The fact that they rocked the place out was really what made it though. My philosophical thinking had nothing to do with it, really.

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

Of course, the fact that you're incapable of breathing and think that at any moment you might pass out, doesn't mean anything.

I was just thinking over the time I saw Alabama 3. I don't know have any of you heard of them (Their best known work is the theme song from the Sopranos), but they're a very different type of band. I can't list what their genre is- they swap between country, film, rap, rock, metal, and even dance. One of their songs (Hello, I'm Johnny Cash) is a song made of Johnny Cash lyrics only. I remember just standing there watching them, and they really know how to rile the crowd, and all I could think was "wow". I was looking around and I saw the huge variation in their fan base. There were young people there dressed as goths, middle aged people with their respective partners, people who were so high they had no real idea of what was going on, and I just couldn't help thinking that they really bridge a gap.

The fact that they rocked the place out was really what made it though. My philosophical thinking had nothing to do with it, really.

Yep I know -- basically you're just in the moment. As for bridging a gap... a lot of older bands seem to be really good at doing that. It's just awesome to see younger generations get interested in them.

The same happened when I saw the Smothers brothers... there were younger people there who laughed their butts off during it. It was just incredible to see .

I really got a kick out of it. Just the fact that those two were still able to make an audience laugh, like a band could make an audience feel involved... was really cool in and of itself .

[vampiricduck]

Originally Posted by Fawkesfan1

I really got a kick out of it. Just the fact that those two were still able to make an audience laugh, like a band could make an audience feel involved... was really cool in and of itself .

That's one of the real things that never changes about certain bands. You can have all the great songs in the world, but a show won't be great unless you show the crowd that you're there for them. It's why I love tiny gigs in dingy bars. Bob Dylan still does it too. No matter how many times I see him, he blows me away with the sarcastic interfacing. Even though he barely talks to the crowd, each of the songs on his set lists make sincere sense when you think them through.

Springsteen definitely did it for me though. Everything in that show was about the crowd. The music almost didn't matter, they just played and played and played and played and it was the most fun I have ever had with my parents- fact.

REM are another one who are great for crowd interactions. The came to Dublin about four years ago and had everybody sing anti establishment songs by putting up subtitles on screens. Now that was great!

[Fawkesfan1]

Originally Posted by vampiricduck

That's one of the real things that never changes about certain bands. You can have all the great songs in the world, but a show won't be great unless you show the crowd that you're there for them. It's why I love tiny gigs in dingy bars. Bob Dylan still does it too. No matter how many times I see him, he blows me away with the sarcastic interfacing. Even though he barely talks to the crowd, each of the songs on his set lists make sincere sense when you think them through.

Springsteen definitely did it for me though. Everything in that show was about the crowd. The music almost didn't matter, they just played and played and played and played and it was the most fun I have ever had with my parents- fact.

REM are another one who are great for crowd interactions. The came to Dublin about four years ago and had everybody sing anti establishment songs by putting up subtitles on screens. Now that was great!

Yep that's pretty cool. When you're able to enjoy the concert for what it is, pure entertainment -- entertainment for the masses . Not just something that you go to -- but a true experience for both your heart and soul .