So let's get the ball rolling in here and talk about some acts we've seen live. Give us the rundown who, what, where, when, etc. I want all the dirty facts.

Who were you with?

Did you travel to the show or was it in your area?

What do you most remember about the band itself?

Who was the opening act?

Do you save your stubs?

Did you buy a t-shirt?

Did you abuse any alcohol or drugs?

I'll tell some of my stories if you tell some of yours!

- Halley Orchestra
- Saint Martin-In-The-Fields
- B. B. King
- Marilyn Manson
- Courtney Love & Hole
- Ministry
- Jesus Lizard
- Ministry

Well I’m sure you didn’t mean classical music, but dangabbit, that’s good stuff also, so anyhow: I’ve seen the Halley Orchestra of Manchester (England) countless times when I lived there, and the Saint Martin-In-The-Fields in London just once.

I’ve never been into pop music performances, but one time I got kinda Shanghaied into a goddamn A-HA concert of all things, in Birmingham – the Norwegian pop group that had a huge hit in the mid 80s with “Take On Me.” It was crap. I spent most of the time in a bar.

Saw B. B. King live once in Sacramento. It was extremely cool. He brought friends from the local neighborhood up on stage, including a woman who had been his childhood friend from way down south when he grew up. He wanted to marry her, and kept proposing to her, but she always turned him down. He brought it up again, but she said nope. Pretty funny. She had her granddaughter up on stage also. King was really cool to them, the audience loved it. The next day, my buddy got to work, and ran into a woman he worked with, and recognized her from the stage – she was that woman’s granddaughter! They started talking about it, and said they had gone out to dinner, and he’d proposed, she said nope. He had a ten-carat diamond ring. And incredible trailer. King would call her grandmother from the road all the time and propose. Could you believe my stupid grandmother saying no, she said? I could have been B. B. King’s granddaughter! Heheh. Too cool.

Then I went to see Marilyn Manson and Courtney Love’s Hole. Dude, that was a helluva show. Hole was on first, and was quite good. But what was best was Courtney Love’s attitude. I thought the audience would be dangerous crazy people – but OF COURSE, they were just KIDS. Just neurotic, frustrated, angsty, messed-up teenagers – white males, mostly. And they wanted Manson, and not Hole. So they called for Manson, and that got Love plenty pissed off. So she tore them a new one. I mean, she put them down so bad they just went quiet. It was funnier than hell. She said something along the lines of, “Yeah I know you boys want Manson, but the girls want Hole okay, so I suggest you shut the fuck up, or else you’re not gonna get any pussy went you get home tonight – for the few of you sad fucks that actually have a girlfriend, that is…”

Manson’s show was just enormous. Fires and lights and who knows what. It started with Manson strapped to a huge cross that was made up of TV sets that were blaring static noise. At the end of the show, he put the cross of fire (which got me thinking – holy crap, a burning cross! And I realized that the audience was 100% white).

He wore a strange thong-like codpiece thing, and leather pants that were way too small, and kept falling off him, so his butt-cheeks were exposed. At one point, he kinda grabbed the mike stand with his butt-cheeks. I’d hate to be a roadie for that band.

Another time, he lay down on his back, with his feet towards the audience, at the edge of the stage, pulled down his pants, and started motioning as if to put the microphone up his butt. I was looking at this through a pair of strong binoculars, and thought, “Why am I looking at a man about to put a microphone up his butt, through a binoculars?” while at the same time being very curious whether or not he would actually go through with it… I was in a group of people, and we’d been passing these binoculars back and forth, so quickly, I passed it on to the most conservative and reserved guy in our group, and watched his expression. And sure enough, he did it, and we could all rejoice about how this dude had seen Marilyn Manson insert a microphone up his anus, and threaten to tell his wife about it. Great times.

One thing Manson did that was awesome, was this crazy stilt-contraption he strapped on – hands and feet, that made him look like a bizarre stick-insect. It sounds really stupid and awkward, but it looked totally cool. He is a real showman.

Ministry was fantastic. The Jesus Lizard opened for them, and they were on FIRE. Their singer was a really small guy who was so full of energy, I was amazed. He was a real ass to the audience, proper punk style, and stage dove and did all this crazy shit. He ran into the audience, WAY out into it, into the mosh pit, the whole thing. One time he fell off the crowd onto the ground, and I thought for sure he would have been seriously injured, but he bounced back up like nothing had happened. The bastard must have been on meth. I was deeply impressed.

Ministry put on an amazing show. I understand they change their style around a lot. They were really big, dark, heavy. Sort of Bram Stalker’s Dracula. Their use of light was really cool. Strobes and throwing water out into the crowd. Really awesome.

We were at the edge of the mosh pit, which was very lively. I’m not a small guy, but the dudes I was there with were enormous, so I was hiding behind them -- but then a guy sailed out and hit one of them, so he decided fuckit, he was bleeding so might as well have some fun. This dude is a huge Mexican, and the mosh pit was filled with skinheads, most of them really scrawny, a few with a little bit of muscle, and their shirt off to display it – but the rest got the jeans, doc Martens, white t shirt and suspenders. Joel was stomping around like a drunken grizzly bear, and the skinheads were flying through the air like rag-dolls. It was a thing of beauty. One of them came flying right at me, and I got to slam him into the ground, hard, which felt pretty damn good.

Korn was pretty similar to Ministry, although I think the audience was even livelier then – but I got in later and didn’t get very close to the lively part of the crowd, with the mosh pit.

Dave Matthews Band, Giants Stadium

U2, Giants Stadium, Jones Beach, Meadowlands,

Metallica, Jones Beach, MSG, Nassau Colliseum

Jane's Addiction, Hammerstein Ballroom, SNL, Carson Daly Show

Lollapalooza (3 times)

Woodstock '99

plus:

All who performed at the MTV 20th anniversary party at the Hammerstein Ballroom August 2001.

lesser Known underground bands:

Bayside, The Continental

Pleasure Sinner, The Lion's Den

was supposed to see:

Marilyn Manson & Jane's Addiction at MSG New Year's Eve, but they cancelled.

need to see:

Nowhere Fast

Don't Run

All concerts I went to are vague.......I drank heavily.....and occasionally "passed the dutchy".

Let's see... national touring semi-big name concerts:

- "Weird" Al Yankovic (8th Grade)
- They Might Be Giants (Freshman Year, college - opening act Muckafergason)

Hard-working indie artists:

- Stuart Davis (8, possibly 9 times)
- Troubled Hubble (3-4 times)

Actually traveled about 200 miles to see Stuart play once - it was a friggin' awesome show. He's really incredible.

matchbox twenty
-went with roommate
-in area
-being my favorite
-Cool for August
-yes I do
-I bought 2
-nope

Harry Connick Jr.
-roommate
-in area
-*sigh*
-no one
-no
-no
-no

Vertical Horizon/Stroke 9
-best friend, 2 female friends
-traveled
-how down to earth they both were
-Cupcakes
-yes (VH)
-had a midori sour

Fuel/Olenadner/3 Doors Down
-3 gals
-traveled
-Fuel creeped me out
-N/A
-I think so
-no, a sticker
-didn't need to, everyone was smoking pot..blech

just going to list my favorite

Tori Amos
my mom
local
missed opening act, as was involved in auto accident on way there*
yes
2 shirts and a necklace
was driving, so definitely no substances

*had to slow for a toll booth and woman behind was on her cellphone, neglected to even try her brakes before her vehicle hit my mom's.

Originally posted by Bordick

need to see:

Nowhere Fast

I'm in luck, they're playing at CBGB's next Monday the 19th. The fuckers only tour the east coast, yet rarely play city gigs.

I haven't gone to a concert in ages..when i was younger i went to some..but really..a lot of bands don't fly to Hawaii...Most of the concerts I've seen were over 10 years ago...
They Might be Giants
Sonic Youth
Dead milkmen
Red Hot Chilipeppers
Blind Melon
Nirvana
Skinney Puppy
KMFDM
Skankin Pickle
Nine Inch Nails
Ministry
Radiohead
Fishbone
Dinosaur jr

bleh..bunch more can't think of em *shrug* I always had the most fun at the Ska concerts..just because its' really all about fun for those.

Best of the bunch was Sonic Youth I thinks..good music and fun times..We were standing right next to the pit in back of this HUGE guy..people would be flung his way and he was easily knock them away..it was fun watching him swat them away like flies. Though They Might be Giants was pretty fun also..huge conga line made up of the entire audience and what not..good times.

The best showmanship show was skinney puppy..lead singer stabbing himself and fake blood all over the crowd..funky neat props and a cool part where he had a shadow of himself on a screen and he'd copy the movements on the screen.

Ministry SUCKED..they started real real late..and during the long wait we got to hear a Hank Williams CD being played over and over for like 3 hours! Then he got on, went for about 30 minutes and they shut him down..seemed the concert was right next to military base and they had complained..we wanted the place to riot to try and get our money back, but people in hawaii don't do that sort of thing.

OMG Bebop! You have seen some truly incredible shows! And to have seen Nirvana!?! I'm so jealous!

My husband is a big Sonic Youth fan. He would be in heaven to see them live.

The Chili Peppers, NIN, Radiohead....holy cow...do you know how lucky you are that they came around you? Where I live we're lucky if we get one decent concert a year...and no one truly big EVER plays less than a two hour ride away from here.

Hmm... lessee... lots of geek rock:

- Alanis Morissette (or however you spell it)
- Bare Naked Ladies (best concert eva)
- Natalie Merchant (I don't really like her albums but damn is she good in person)
- Guster (who rules and gets no recog)
- Ryan Adams (blech)
- Boyz II Men (hey it was the 90's!)
- Montel Jordan (hey it was the 90's!)
- TLC (hey it was the 90's!)
- Mary J. Blige (better now than she was then)
- Ricki Martin (free ticket, I had no choice)
- Aerosmith
- Chicago

Okay keep in mind that I'm an old woman who was a teenager in the eighties when hair bands and heavy metal ruled....


Kiss
Black Sabbath
Ratt
Poison
Van Halen
Motley Crue
Sammy Hagar
Queensryche
Cinderella
Bryan Adams
Jefferson Starship
Katrina and the Waves
John Mellencamp
Dire Straits
Natalie Merchant
Bob Dylan
BB King
Harry and Tom Chapin

The first concert I ever saw was the Chapin brothers. I went with my aunt who was in college at the time. I was about 12. It was pretty great. If you don't know Harry Chapin was a folk singer who is most famous for Cats in the Cradle and Taxi. He and his brother Tom played in the round all acoustic. I loved it and at the end of the concert they sat at tables and signed autographs and gave kisses in return for donations to a charity they were supporting. Harry Chapin signed my ticket stub and kissed me! It's one of my coolest memories. He died about a year or two later. So sad. :(

After that the next concert I went to was Black Sabbath. It was when I was in 7th grade and it was all the rage to go to heavy metal shows. I don't remember much about it because I got incredibly drunk and stoned and just sat up in the high seats partying all night. I do remember that it was my first time at a loud show and I couldn't hear well for a couple days after.

After that were a string of bad hair bands...Ratt, Poison, Sammy Hagar, Queensryche...etc. They were all flavors of the week when I was a teenager. None of their shows stand out...except maybe for Hagar. He was a wild man on stage and he had this thing where he could climb out over the higher seats.


I remember Van Halen and Motley Crue as being really good shows. Lots of lights and cool effects. Again though...a concert for me back then was usually about how fucked up I could get...for free.

When I was about 17 I saw John Mellencamp on his Little Pink Houses tour. It was reserved seating and I got seats down on the floor...about three or four rows from the stage. I didn't get drunk or stoned and I had a GREAT time. He was in his prime and man did he rock. He played for about three hours and every minute was awesome. I remember him pulling girls up to dance and I was dancing on top of my chair. That was the BEST show I'd ever been to.

As I got older our arena stopped attracting bigger names. We got lucky though and in 1992 Dire Straits came. Man. Let me tell ya...if you ever get a chance to see Dire Straights go! They had no opener and they played for hours. It was incredible. Again...I stayed sober and just loved that show. Mark Knopfler is one talented guy. The best thing about the show was that he would tell these great stories before each song..some of them were about is experiences at other shows...but most of them were about the story behind the song and it was so cool. Gave their music so much more meaning.

Finally just a few years ago I saw Natalie Merchant and Bob Dylan together. Merchant was on first and she was unbelievable. Just her and a piano. It was when she was touring on her Ophelia album. She played the whole thing. Near the end a few people broke the line and got on stage during "Thank You"...she was very cool about it and even let people dance on her piano. When she almost done she said "Hey guys...don't do this to Bob...he really doesn't like it." It took about 10 minutes for security to get everyone off the stage and she just kept on playing through it.

Then Bob came on. His shows were with his band and very electric. It was really great. He did Knockin' On Heavens door and All Along The Watchtower and Maggies Farm. It was very cool.

BB King was great too. I took my husband for his birthday one year.

Dave has seen

Neil Young (three times)
The Meat Puppets
U2
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Muddy Waters
Suicidal Tendencies
Suzanne Vega

The last concert I've been to was in 1996 I think. My (back then) girlfriend wanted to see Bryan Adams so I had to go along ...
The show wasn't bad but not my kinda muzak.

Hey I forgot I saw Bryan Adams! Summer of '69 tour. It was good. I can't believe I forgot that. I wonder if I'm forgetting anything else?

I've seen TOOL twice. Once in Richmond, VA, once in Erie, PA. The shows were 3 months apart at the end of 2001. The first show was my first concert ever, and about an hour drive from where I used to live. Myself, my girlfriend, and a friend of mine from work attended it. Awesome show. The second show was an 8 hour drive, and 8 hours back after the show. My friend from work that went to the first show with me went with me to that show, and it was awesome as well, except for the fact that I was tired from driving, and I had a headache, but good times anyway. Got back home around 7am.:D Kind of had a bad experience at both shows as well, but I guess that is come to be expected going to a concert.

WHOOZYER!
Oh Mans! I saw Ratt too haha..crap show though..the lead singer was bored and at one point started looking at the amps and making little indentations with his fingernail. I also went to a couple big hair bands -Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith..but geez, if i got to see the bands you did when i was in 8th-9th grade, I woulda been so happy haha! I dreamed about them coming down :blat

Chili peppers came a bunch of times, I think they love the surf here- i only went the first time they came down though..good fun..my friends band opened for them, so it was a bit extra special at the time. The Blind Melon and Radiohead I had seen when i went to visit a friend in San Fran..but yeah..i guess quite a few good bands came down here. But you know..i always compared it to LA or what not..so i never thought we got a lot. I was a teen, I had to complain about somthing :)

But damn..i would LOOOVVEE To see U2 or Tom Petty..we rarely get the REAL big bands (except stuff i don't like such as Ricky Martin and what not)

bumped for newer members to see. Give us the lowdown!

Ok here we go.

The Offspring
Presidents of the United States of America
The Toadies
The Nixons
Hatebreed
Kittie
Caroline's Spine
Limp Bizkit
Deep Blue Something
Sugar Ray

I've been to a couple of festivals so I'm not quite sure who all was there.


Country artists

Chris Ledoux
Little Texas
Chely Wright
Rick Trevino