Who is the absolute best you've ever seen live?

Last night I saw the best concert I've ever seen, and I've seen lots of them, starting with Bobby Rydell at the local National Guard Armory in 1963. In between that and last night I saw Henrix, Stephen Stills, Cat Stevens, Janis Joplin and many more.

But last night we went to a small outdoor concert in Albuquerque to see Johnny Clegg, and I was absolutely overwhelmed by the entire show, clapping my hands off for an encore and feeling swept away by his music, his awesome band and the incredible songs themselves.

So, Johnny Clegg now ranks as the best I've ever seen live. Who would you put in that category?      (and, if you will, take a few minutes and check him out. I think you'll be amazed)

Tags: luckymudmusic.com

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Permalink Reply by Daniel T on January 7, 2013 at 2:27am

This has been the most brain wracking forum  posted yet.  Any "best of" list is hard enough.  A single performance?     Impossible I said.

Turning the question upside down I asked myself: 

" Who would you drop everything for, break a date ( "sure thing"), tell your boss to stuff it and call in even if it meant losing your job, if you heard they were playing tomorrow night?" Put that way, it was easy.

SEAN COSTELLO - Dinosaur BBQ, Syracuse , NY preferably with his dual keyboard line-up, but with the trio, or even solo,  without a doubt,  Sean Costello would be the one. No other guitar player, in any genre ,  made my jaw drop with more frequency, or left me with a bigger smile after a show than Sean Costello. He was even a great chap to talk to before or after. Sadly, we'll never get the chance again. R.I.P Sean

And now the list of 2nd best, in no particular order by either quality of show or date:

JEFF BUCKLEY - Cup 'a Joe , Raleigh, NC, Winter 1995  I still can't explain what I witnessed that night.

STEVIE RAY VAUGHN - NY State Fairgrounds, Summer 1989 5 shows total , and none were anything less than excellent, but this one stands out. Opener was Brian Setzer and he KILLED, absolutely nailed it.  Stevie was sober,happy, feeling great and went MEDIEVAL!!!!!

JEFF BECK - Eastman Theatre, Rochester NY, Summer 2011 He is the God of Strat players

RAINER PTCEK - Shifty's, Syracuse, NY, Friday, July 15th, 1988 After holding the table for 4 hours , guys were chomping at the bit waiting for a chance to get their money back.  3 songs into his 1st set, in the middle of a match, I put up my cue, paid the man and sat at a table up front. What I saw that night from a guy with just a slide on a National Steel Guitar, and a mic'ed piece of wood to keep the beat, changed my view of how a guitar could be played forever.

THE BACKSLIDERS (w/ Chip Robinson from Raleigh. There have been  3 bands, I know of, with that name)  - Any show. Saw them at the beginning  in Raleigh 1994, was there at the Brewery for the "Live" recording and at the end in Dallas 1999 as they were on route to their last SXSW showcase. Broke up shortly thereafter.  Listen to "Hey Sheriff" "live" just once and you will know one side of North Carolina Psyche.  Not the pretty one.

THE BEAT FARMERS - Any show. From the beginning in 1984,  till Country Dick died with his boots on in 1995. Most fun bar band I've seen. Who else but Country Dick Montana could get hundreds of people to sit in front of the stage with him, while he tells stories like we're all sitting around a campfire?  "Circle up Dirtbags! Ready for a story MAGGOTS!" And the boy's could ROCK! One of our early Alt-Country crossovers.

BOB DYLAN and ERIC CLAPTON - double bill Nuremburg, West Germany, 1978  When they were both still great, at the same time!

THE WHO - Nuremburg, West Germany, 1979  Hitler would love knowing his wonderful stadium, where he gave his most famous speeches, was turned into a Rock Music venue with all day concerts for 50,000 plus! Having lost Keith Moon the year before we were all wondering how they'd sound. Kenny Jones filled in admirably. They played for hours, with passion!

MERLEFEST - 1991-92-93-94-97-98-99-2001-03-09-10-11-12 It's the best music festival in the country.

CHICK COREA  and  HERBIE HANCOCK- duo Grand Pianos , Frankfurt, West Germany 1977

FRANK ZAPPA - Heidelburg , West Germany , 1978

LARRY CORYELL - The Jabberwocky, Syracuse , NY 1980

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO - Denton , TX 1998

JUNIOR BROWN - Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC 1996

WARREN ZEVON - Cat's Cradle 1996

DANNY MORRIS - Dinosaur BBQ, Syracuse , NY His cover of "Little Wing" is 2nd only to Stevie Ray's. Whoever said "Dick Dale invented every surf lick ever played, " never heard Mr. Morris. There were 20 people in the club, but Danny Morris played like he was possessed.

BUDDY GUY - ANY SHOW , but especially if you catch him at his own club "Legends" in Chicago.

PINK FLOYD - Many times, with, and without, Roger Waters. Roger may have written most of the songs, but David Gilmour's guitar will always be the signature sound of the band for me.

ANSON FUNDERBURGH with SAM MEYERS - The Basement, Durham , NC, 1995 Like seeing Stevie Ray in a bar before he was famous.

TOMMY EMMANUEL - 4 times, each show different, each amazing. One year I saw him on a Tuesday and drove 100 miles on Thursday to see him again. He beats his Maton guitars so badly, on stage he has 3 or 4 with various size holes in the soundboard. He scratches , pounds , caresses or coaxes sounds from those guitars never heard on this world before he came along.

LOREN BARRIGAR - May Memorial Unitarian Church, Syracuse, NY  summer 2003 Solo Acoustic guitar, tears welled as he played "Over the Rainbow". A Master player. When he plays with MARK MAZENGARB the duo is formidable.

RONNIE EARL -

DUKE ROBILLARD -

DANNY GATTON -

NILS LOFGREN - solo Acoustic

CLARENCE "GATEMOUTH" BROWN -

PHIL PETROFF (guitar) and LAKE EFFECT or NATURAL FACT w/ MIKE PETROFF (Harm.) Central NY area,  1984- present

MATT TARBELL - Has  dozens of  "signature" sounds he gets from his harmonicas, and he won't tell anyone how he does it. Like listening to a magician.

BRUUUUUUCE AKA "The BOSS" SPRINGSTEEN- How did he get way down here? 3-4 hour shows ?!?! I've seen him keep playing for 20 minutes after the house lights came on. They had to pull the breakers because local law prohibited shows from going past midnight. Even then the FANS kept singing! Fans sing the words to songs that haven't been released yet. OK, not that big a deal today, but back in '76 we couldn't steal it off the web.

I'll stop now. It would be very easy to list a hundred more (DANIELLE MIRAGLIA, NYS BLUES FEST,2011) see what I mean.

 

Permalink Reply by Michael Philips on March 18, 2013 at 2:36pm

Wow, can't believe you mentioned Danny Gatton AND Anson Funderburgh AND Duke Robillard AND Ronnie Earl.  I've seen all of them and have stolen licks from all of them except Danny Gatton because he was too crazy fast for me!

Permalink Reply by dave fulton on January 7, 2013 at 10:19am

The Clash at the Akron Civic Theater. Perfect.

Permalink Reply by Will James on January 7, 2013 at 6:21pm

I see this is turning into sort of a how many concerts have you been to thing. I've seen a whole lot, granted more when I was younger. My first concert was one of the best, The Who 1968 at The Tent (gone). Then a few years later, The Who 1969 (Tommy just released, played all of it). The later at Kleinhan's Music Hall in Buffalo before it became Philharmonic only. Also great ones there: Traffic & Cat Stevens, Procol Harum, Cactus, Kinks, Kris Kristofferson (STD just released), Mountain w/ Leslie West, CS&Y, The Band 1969 (although best show at our abandoned train station 1983 sans Robbie), Mickey Newbury (headline Carly Simon, I was the only one there to see Mickey). Also John Prine (Diamonds just out) at the old Riverboat in Toronto. At the Fillmore West: Seatrain, Buddy Rich & His Band, and Ten Years After in '70. Best lately, Hot Tuna w/ Charlie Musselwhite at UB and Neil Young (same as Jack couple years ago, maybe best of them all).

Permalink Reply by Lucky Mud on January 7, 2013 at 6:41pm

Will,

I see what you mean about volume vs the best so (since you mentioned it)  let's morph this instead into the first concert we ever saw. I can start, because mine...looking back....is downright embarrassing. It sure wasn't The Who. The rest of the band went to see The Who in Jacksonville, but I had to bag groceries at the Kwik Chek that night, and I thought the three dollar tickets were a little high. So, my first concert was when I caught Bobby Rydell at the local National Guard armory. Ah....Volare!

Mike

Permalink Reply by Jack on January 7, 2013 at 7:15pm

My first concert was Boston, 1976, the Aud, Buffalo.  Cheap Trick opened.  I was 16; exciting at that age, or maybe it was the Genny Cream Ales.

Second show was much better, Fleetwood Mac, Rumors tour, the Aud, 1977.  Kenny Loggins opened.  A great night.

Permalink Reply by Michael Philips on January 7, 2013 at 7:40pm

My first concert is pretty embarrassing too: Bobbie Gentry.  She sang "Harper Valley PTA" but I don't remember what else. Heh. 

Permalink Reply by Jeff Newport on January 8, 2013 at 6:41am

My eldest daughter's first concert was Tiffany. I still rub it in frequently.  My youngest daughter's first was Aerosmith.  For some odd reason we got to go backstage and hang with the band. StevenTyler was very gracious to my 13 year old daughter.

 

Pull out your Tiffany CD's for some wonderful memories.  :)

Permalink Reply by Will James on January 8, 2013 at 8:44am

Absolutely no need to be embarrassed about seeing Bobbie Gentry live; I wish I had. And Harper Valley PTA written by the great Tom T. Hall. Wonderful first concert.

Permalink Reply by Bill Kuhn on January 8, 2013 at 9:46am

For some reason that in retrospect I can't fathom, my first concert was actually pretty darn classy:

John Mayall at the (recently reopened) Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. Randall's Island was one of the 2 openers. I forget the other but I do recall they were booed offstage. Pretty shocking to a 1st time concert-goer. That must have been 1971. I recall everyone yelling for Mayall to play "Room to Move", and he was having none of it. "That  was a different band, mates!"

Permalink Reply by Dennis Darrow on January 8, 2013 at 2:55am

Gang of Four 1981.NRBQ with Big Al.Wilco.Bob Dylan {love and theft tour}.Iggy Pop 1987.The Cure 1981.These were all great shows i mamaged to get to.

Permalink Reply by Bill Long on January 8, 2013 at 3:40am

Frank Zappa. Great integration of music and stage presentation.

Bruce Springsteen at The Electric Ballroom, 1972. So much energy & potential.

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Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by No Depression Sep 24, 2012.