What was the greatest live entertainment show you ever saw?

[cabo35]

In the late 50's there was some great live entertainment in Wildwood, N.J. Before they became famous, the Philly singers were at the Fairview, Hurricane and one other club I can't remember (maybe one of you youngsters who spent summers at the Jersey Shore will remember), all summer and most weekends. They included Bobby Rydell, Frankie Avalon, Chubby Checker and Fabian. Fabian was an average singer but a good entertainer. No smoke, no strobes, no props, no explosions, just great music.

The greatest live show I ever saw was Cher at the Garden State Arts Center. Every note and every move was electric. The crowd went crazy.

Tina Turner also knows how to rock the house live.

Ray Charles put on a great show especially when he sang patriotic songs

Bruce Springsteen put on some unbelievable shows at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park before he made it big.

Sorry, I just got lost in memory lane.....hope you do to. Just remembered the other club. It was the Rainbow.





.

[sschuler1]

I saw Tim Allen do his stand up routine in a little comedy club in Detroit before he made it big with "Home Improvement". He was hilarious.

Best concert I ever saw was the Doobie Brothers at Castle Farms in Northern Michigan. They performed with two complete drum sets. They rocked the house. Second best concert was John Cougar as the lead band for Heart. Again at Castle Farms.

[redwitch]

Almost any of the Bridge Concerts. These are done for the Bridge School in Mountain View. The Bridge School was founded Neil Young's wife for kids with severe physical impairments (their son as CP). The concerts are acoustic. Since they started in 1986, I've missed 3 of them. I think my two favorites were the one when Springsteen was there and the other was when Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were together again. Both were truly memorable.

My favorite large venue concert had to be The Police. Sting's voice is truly remarkable.

My favorite club performer is John Mayall. I never missed him when he played at Slim's in the City.

Favorite comedians is a toss-up -- Sinbad and Ellen DeGeneres. Oddly, they both compete the same year at the SF Comedy Competition. Sinbad won. Ellen came in second. They both put on a great show.

[ohiogolf]

As reported in another forum, Joe Cocker at concert at Music Hall in Cleveland with Rita Coolidge, the Delta Lady. It included Joe vomiting on stage and never missing a beat.

[Boomer]

What a great question! We may see a little history unfold.

The absolute very best ever was long, long ago. It had to have been early 70's. Maybe even late 60's.

Fellow baby boomer, Liza Minnelli was at Cincinnati Gardens. She was young. Really young. Me, too. She could sing and dance AT THE SAME TIME. She brought down the house in that old place. Even with the lousy acoustics. An incredibly powerful voice and an energy that did not stop. But here we are, all these many years later. Fellow boomers together. Whatinthehellwasthatwomanthinkingalltheseyears!!!!

I also saw ol' Jerry Lee Lewis at Cincinnati Gardens. He is just like you would think he would be. A wild man. My friend forced me to crash his dressing room with her. She wanted to give him a tie with a piano keyboard on it. And so we did.

I went through a country phase where I saw a few. Hank Williams, Jr. was among them. That concert was not much fun. The guy next to me kept wanting to fall in love. And he was so drunk that I was just worried that he was going to puke in my shoe. He kind of ruined that one.

Stevie Ray Vaughn was another one.

And then there was one of my all-time favorites, Mr. B. B. King.

Hey, thanks cabo35. I think I will go punch up the iPOD now and go back to work

Boomer

[chuckinca]

Rolling Stones - Soldier's Field, Chicago 1978

(thanks for the reminder Chelsea)

[Boomer]

Rolling Stones - Comiskey Park, Chicago 1978




Chuck,

I am so jealous of you that I can't stand it anymore! ;D

Boomer

[uujudy]

Maybe not the greatest, but definitely the most memorable would have to be Yul Brynner in The King & I in Philadelphia for my 35th birthday. I blubbered all the way through it. I always had a secret crush on Yul. :-*

[jimt49]

Three Madison Square Garden concerts separated by 33 years

Elvis - 6/72
Simon and Garfunkel - 12/03
McCartney - 10/05

[chelsea24]

I'm with you Chuck. The Rolling Stones, Soldier's Field Chicago. I have loved Mick Jagger since I was 14 and my hubby got us great seats. Then, I don't know what came over me, but I walked right up to the stage. Others were stopped and it was as if I was invisible, I got to the side of the stage just as Mick came strutting over that way and he leaned over and SANG RIGHT INTO MY FACE! OMG! I was 14 again and swooning! My husband couldn't believe I walked through the rows ahead of us and wasn't stopped. It was meant to be!

***For real Christmas spirit, don't miss the Rocketts at Christmas tour. I felt like a kid again.

[bimmertl]

It's a toss up for me. Bob Dylan and Paul Simon together around 1999 and Elton John at UCF last November. EJ was amazing!

[kyblue]

Woodstock - 1969. Richie Havens was the best I saw

[Peggy D]

At the Specturm in Philadelphia:

Elvis, The Beach Boys, John Denver

Steel Pier in Atlantic City, NJ:

Kenny Rogers and The First Addition (when he was a "nobody")

All put on a good show--Elvis was mesmerizing!!!

[Floridagal]

The best one I ever saw was back in the 70's. It was Neil Diamond at Madison Square Garden. He is my all time favorite.

[chelsea24]

***PeggyD I'm jealous! I never did get to see Elvis and would have loved too. That must have been wonderful. What a great memory! :bigthumbsup:

[marianne237]

Early 60's ... Frank Sinatra at the Chicago Ampitheater. Had seats in the nose bleed section. He wasn't someone I actually wanted to see at the time, but was my "steady boy friends" favorite. Well, that old guy really rocked and brought down the house. The air was electric. Buddy Rich was on the drums and I'd never known that drums could really be a musical instrument before that! Wow! What a memory!

And another great act though not a concert was Nureyev live on stage. Fantastic!

[Sidney Lanier]

The thread says 'live entertainment show,' so not necessarily music: We watched an acrobatic performance in Shanghai that absolutely stunned us; in fact, we found ourselves holding our breath during some of the acts. And the performers were all children, teens, maybe a few young adults who all came out to the lobby after the performance to greet the audience members and have photos taken. Smiling, sweet, delightful, and clearly unimpressed with themselves. I still get goose-bumps thinking about it!

[ejp52]

Pink Floyd 1971 Syria Mosque Pittsburgh,PA 8)
Best show ever.
2nd best concert,guitarist Roy Buchanan,1972 Syria Mosque Pittsburgh,PA 8)
Led Zepplin, 1975 Pittsburgh,Pa civic arena

[bowtie]

Elvis - Lake Tahoe, 1973

Not an ounce of fat on him.
Sounded better in person than any recording,
and I had them all.

Truly Great!

[bowtie]

Next to Elvis......

Danny Gatton (Guitarist)

Anyone ever see him?

[travelstiles]

I had second row seats to see Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Liza Minelli at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island around 1989-90(not sure of date). We were so close I could see the diamonds on Sammy's rings - he was the best, and Liza was a dynamo! I wore the t-shirt I bought at that show till it fell apart!

[l2ridehd]

I have seen many, Peter Paul and Mary, Crystal GAyle, Lee Greenwood, Melissa Manchester, Alabama, Irish Rovers, Celtic Women, Everly Brothers, Neil Diamond and probably a couple others. But the very best was at the Greek Theator in LA and it was Chris Issac. GREAT

[Boomer]

And another great act though not a concert was Nureyev live on stage. Fantastic!


Marianne,

You just reminded me.

I saw Mikhail Baryshnikov long before his stint on "Sex and the City."

I had forgotten. Hey! Maybe I do have a little class after all.

Boomer

[nONIE]

Without a doubt,
La Nuba Cirque du sole,

Phenomenal display of acrobatic artistry. And so close to the Villages in Downtown Disney.
(and they use no animals) :bigthumbsup:

[HankD]

In high school in the sixties I won front row tickets to the Hermans Hermits concert in Memphis, TN and then in the 80's I lucked into second row seats at the Hank Williams Jr. concert in Jacksonville, FL.
Both concerts were OUTSTANDING!! :hot: :clap2: 040

[Rokinronda]

I think, 1973? Elvis in Providence. Santana several times. Hub went to Woodstock, only to be turned away because of 60 mile traffic jam. He did see Janis Joplin 1968?at Rocky Point Park, RI. It is hard to choose a favorite. I have been to hundreds of concerts and enjoyed all!!

[billethkid]

We have been to many of them and for us the Beach Boys are #1...........

BTK

[chuckinca]

I'm with you Chuck. The Rolling Stones, Soldier's Field Chicago. I have loved Mick Jagger since I was 14 and my hubby got us great seats. Then, I don't know what came over me, but I walked right up to the stage. Others were stopped and it was as if I was invisible, I got to the side of the stage just as Mick came strutting over that way and he leaned over and SANG RIGHT INTO MY FACE! OMG! I was 14 again and swooning! My husband couldn't believe I walked through the rows ahead of us and wasn't stopped. It was meant to be!

***For real Christmas spirit, don't miss the Rocketts at Christmas tour. I felt like a kid again.



Chelsea:

Was that Soldier's Field - - - I better correct my post - at least I got the year and the Chicago part right!

I saw them again in Candlestick in SF in about 1981.

My wife recently mentioned that she has a patient, she is a dental hygienist in Oakland, that claims to have gone to over 700 Greatful Dead concerts!

[chuckinca]

I should also mention the Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Summer, Outdoors in a park, replica English Tudor Stage - truly a memory not to be forgotten. And I am, by no means, know for a classical education or inclination.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Shakespeare_Festival

[TallerTrees]

Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Bill Haley and the Comets, Bo Diddly, Eagles, Willie Nelson, Elton John. Drum roll -- Elton John Red Piano Concert in Las Vegas is the greatest show on earth.

[colleenj]

Bette Midler in Pittsburgh in the 90s- I was there to attend the Baseball All-Star game and found out Bette was doing a show in town. It was an outdoor arena and I had 2nd row seats- she put on a great show. Between the concert and the all-star game it was an incredible 4 days of entertainment.

[graciegirl]

Sammy Davis Junior. He sure worked for our money!

[Taltarzac]

Saw Eric Clapton in concert the Phoenix area around the Summer of 1974. Great show. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Clapton

[Mintjulep]

The Beatles,,, Memphis 1966

Also saw The Rolling Stones, The Zombies, Paul Revere and The Raiders, Hermans Hermits, Elvis, and many others back in the day. Concerts were my thing...

[dianerk]

BOTH versions of Hello Dolly on Broadway. Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey.

[MSNPA]

"O" Cirque de Solei at Las Vegas - absolutely breathtaking.

Sarah Brightman - Hershey, Pa. She is coming to Orlando in November and we are going. She is fabulous.

[Russ_Boston]

BTK - You must have seen the beach boys in the early days when they could still perform harmony live, they were great then. I saw them later and was very disappointed but perhaps the whole drug thing really racked them.

Early Springsteen at Providence College. The Who also in Providence.

The strangest was when we booed The Cars off the stage at Brown U. They were the first act and only a very local band at the time. Main act was Nils Lofgren (guitarest) now of Springsteen's band.

EJ was great in Vegas a few years ago.

I'll also throw a vote for Cirque de Soleil - I've seen them in Vegas and in Disney Downtown.

We also enjoy Broadway plays - musical mostly. Really enjoyed Chicago (the play).

[SteveFromNY]

I'm a bit of a late blooming Boss fan. Saw Springsteen in '03 on "The Rising" tour at Giant Stadium twice, again on his "Devil's and Dust" tour twice ('06 I think), and 3 times on the "Magic" tour. Third time is actually tonight at Giant Stadium. He is the best entertainer around today (IMHO).

Saw the Stones in Fenway 2nd night of their "Bigger Bang" tour ('05 or '06) The band wasn't tight, but they were INCREDIBLE anyway even without considering how old they were. "Sympathy for the Devil" was like seeing and hearing history!

Saw the Grateful Dead a few times in the early '70's. Quite memorable.

But probably the best were the series of Schaeffer Music Festivals that ran in the late 60's early 70's in Central Park. Al Kooper had split from Blood Sweat and Tears and was on his own with a 12 piece band and the music was fantastic! That one was the best.

[pqrstar]

Charo's performance in The Villages.
She is still very attractive, intelligent, personable and full of energy.
She also plays the classical guitar, . . . very impressive.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004819/bio

Also loved Cirque de Soleil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirque_de_soleil
Have seen them twice.


I think you can catch some of their older performances on TV or DVD rentals.
Worth it!

[Lil Dancer]

Aerosmith in Vancouver, Canada, in the early 70's. Also The Moody Blues, same time period - Knights in White Satin was memorable. Jefferson Airplane in Rochester, NY in late 60's was definitely the loudest concert I ever went to. Also saw Jim Morrison and The Doors in Rochester back then too. He threw a large microphone stand into the audience - he looked stoned out of his mind, but the music was just incredible. My friends went to Woodstock, and told me afterwards how great it was!

[chelsea24]

Charo? :o Really? :dontknow:

Lil Dancer, I would so loved to have seen Jim Morrison. He is timeless! :bigthumbsup:

[The Great Fumar]

FRANCIS LANGFORD


next to you know who ...she's the greatest.....

fumar

[redwitch]

And how could I forget my very first rock concert? Little did I know I was actually part of history in the making at the time -- the Monterey Pop Festival. Janis, Jimi, Morrison, the guy who did Purple People Eater, Otis Redding backed by Booker T & the MGs, Lou Rawls and so many others. I think nothing could ever surpass it. It was a very eclectic group that played that weekend -- from pop to rock to the introduction of acid rock. I still get chills remembering Janis belting out Ball & Chain while swigging on Southern Comfort. To have this black guy play the guitar upside down and then smash it to smithereens -- what an introduction to Jimi! And from Jimi to the Who. Definitely one of my most special memories.

[KathieI]

One of the best venues for live shows is the Hollywood Bowl, especially if you can get box seats.

Saw Elsa Fitzgerald there, who was outstanding, she was blind by that time and the night before she had fallen off the stage. Also Ray Charles was wonderful, too. The best was Tito Puente, we were dancing the mambo in the aisles. Absolutely spectacular.

Saw Frank Sinatra in the Uris theater in NY, also Bette Midler, many times and in the 60's, saw The Beatles at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium when they flew in a helicopter to the middle of the stadium. The screaming was deafening.

Great memories.

[chelsea24]

Never saw the Beatles. I would have loved to. Saw Sinatra countless times and private parties too. ;)

[chuckinca]

bump

[DougB]

Thanksgiving weekend 1969 Iron Butterfly, Chambers Brothers, Pacific Gas and Electric, Sweetwater, Country Joe and the Fish, Johnny Winter, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, Spirit, the Byrds, Rotary Connection, Grand Funk Railroad, Jefferson Airplane, King Crimson, Steppenwolf, Byrds, Canned Heat and the Rolling Stones.

[DougB]

Or, Jimi Hendrix at Miami Jai Alai Fronton, Sept 21, 1969. Tickets were $5.00

[Billyg]

#1 Woodstock
#2 Strawberry Fields, Canada (one yr. later)
#3 Bruce Springsteen 1971 Salem State College (Mass)
#4 Rolling Stones Montreal

[DougB]

Charo? :o Really? :dontknow:

Lil Dancer, I would so loved to have seen Jim Morrison. He is timeless! :bigthumbsup:

Seen a little more of Jim Morrison than I wanted to see at Dinner Key in Miami.

[lhasalady]

Roy Orbison for one and Placido Domingo at the Met for another.

[Barefoot]

Roy Orbison for first place, and Neil Diamond for second place.

[mac9]

#1 - infinity. WOODSTOCK!!!!!!!!

[2BNTV]

Frank Sinatra at MSG. Uncle BlueJay bought tickets for the entire family.
Many a celebrity sightings. Got Joe Frazier's autograph. Didn't have the nerve to tap Joe Louis on the shoulder for him to turn around. Man, he was a big dude, as his shoulders were very wide. Female cousin lunged for Robert Redford, as he was being escourted to his seat. Nothing beats having your whole family togeher. Great music too!!!! IMHO


Neil Sadaka at the Big E in MA. Neil wrote and sung, a lot of great songs. He put on a great show!!!

Paul Anka at the Nanuet mall in N.Y. Very gracious performer, and funny too.

Toronto All-Stars playing Big Band music at the Savannah Center. Heart warming to see 20'ish performers singing tunes from the 40's, keeping this kind of music alive.

[Taltarzac725]

Saw Eric Clapton in concert the Phoenix area around the Summer of 1974. Great show. Eric Clapton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Clapton)

I saw BB King at a downtown Reno casino in a room that probably only seated 100 people if that. We were out in front. This was with my older brother and his 1st wife or maybe she was his girlfriend at the time, Susan M. She was/is the daughter of a US ambassador and spoke a lot of languages and was rather fun. They both really got into seeing BB King.

:BigApplause:


And, I believe the price of this very personal concert was two drinks bought from the bar. And, I just got Coca-Colas.

[cab1948]

Cher and Bette Midler, both fantastic
Rod Stewart numerous times and yes, He is still sexy!
Was surprised by Jerry Lewis. What a show he put on. He sang, play instruments and told jokes ( no swearing) he was fabulous
Phanton of the Opera on Broadway, I can still feel the goose bumps on the back of my neck!

[quirky3]

Luciano Pavarotti in the Hartford Civic Center - a perfect performance, just such a thrill.

[George Bieniaszek]

John Mellencamp at the Hartford Civic Center.
Lionel Ritchie/Whitney Houston when he opened for Whitney Houston, before drugs took away Whitney's beautiful voice and then her life.
ZZ Top when they were touring and performing their Eliminator and Afterburner albums. The stage started as the hotrod grill from the Eliminator album and then slowly morphed into a spaceship when they started playing songs from the Afterburner album.

Recently -- Jimmy Buffet (2 times so far) at COMCAST Center on Foxboro Mass. Great songs, we all know the words, great pre-concert parking lot festivities. Jimmy plays for a 2 hour set, takes a 15 minute break and then comes back for another 2-3 hour set.

[2BNTV]

Forgot I saw, Tony Bennett at Ceasar's Palace, back in 68.

Tony was great, as usual!!!

[Number 6]

1) Sir Paul - Toronto 10/2005
2) Elvis - Rochester 7/1976
3) John Sebastian -Buffalo 5/1971

[dalecrenshaw]

Mick Jaggar & the Rolling Stones, Sammy Davis, Jr were the best... Frank Sinatra was over the hill and forgot all his songs right in the middle of them. Also liked Cher & Diane Warwick when they was younger (they put on good shows).

[Pepperhead]

The one that did me the most good was Bob Hope, Long Binh, 1967.


I've seen so much live music that it is hard to pick a winner, but I'll take a shot. Bob Marley in Germany in 1976.

[eremite06]

"Moody Blues," Boston Garden 1971.

[Baileysmom]

If I had to give one answer it would be seeing Steeley Dan on August 20, 1993 at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA. This was their return to touring after a 19 year absense and my first time seeing them. I took my best friend who had never been to a concert before so this was meaningful for many reasons. We sat about ten rows back, dead center, sang every word and cried. It was a moving and amazing night that we still talk about.
I was fortunate to have spent 37 years working in the radio/tv industry which afforded me many opportunities to see many artists. Honorable mention to Springsteen, Aerosmith, Bette Midler, Van Halen, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Alanis Morrisette and Meatloaf. Thanks for asking this question and making it possible to go down my musical memory lane.

[Cathy H]

The ballet "Romeo and Juliet" with music by Prokofief performed by the Royal Ballet at N.Y. Lincoln Center.

[JB in TV]

All of these concerts were different but equal:

Neil Diamond when he recorded "Hot August Night" at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles early 1970's (what an amazing venue!)

Paul McCartney with Wings over America at The Cow Palace in San Francisco 1976

Pink Floyd "The Wall"at Oakland Coliseum late 70s

[rdhdleo]

Without a doubt the 2 Beatles concerts in Chicago, had great seats for both I think one ticket was $15 the next year it was $20 LOL Neil Diamond about 18 years ago in Chicago also was awesome. Went to many "Teen Concerts" in the Chicago area and saw many groups as they were just becoming hits. Fun times. Tom Jones, The Spinners and Johnny Mathis wee others that appeared in "In The Round" theaters where just about all seats wee great. Miss that type of venue :( Met Dick Clark outside one of the teen concerts and got his autograph, very gracious man he really loved young people.

[DougB]

If I had to give one answer it would be seeing Steeley Dan on August 20, 1993 at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA. This was their return to touring after a 19 year absense and my first time seeing them. I took my best friend who had never been to a concert before so this was meaningful for many reasons. We sat about ten rows back, dead center, sang every word and cried. It was a moving and amazing night that we still talk about.
I was fortunate to have spent 37 years working in the radio/tv industry which afforded me many opportunities to see many artists. Honorable mention to Springsteen, Aerosmith, Bette Midler, Van Halen, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Alanis Morrisette and Meatloaf. Thanks for asking this question and making it possible to go down my musical memory lane.

That uncannily kind of reminds me of a Ventures concert I went to with a friend who had never been to a concert before. We didn't cry, weren't about ten rows back, or dead center, but we sang every word of their songs with them.

[chuckinca]

Ricky Nelson playing in an auto show in the Oakland Coliseum in late 70's and nobody seemed to realize who it was or bothered to stop and listen.


.

[DougB]

Ricky Nelson playing in an auto show in the Oakland Coliseum in late 70's and nobody seemed to realize who it was or bothered to stop and listen.


.

No one recognized him, he didn't look the same.

[railroadman]

Bruce Springsteen
Jazz Fest - New Orleans, La.

[dbussone]

Bruce Springsteen

Jazz Fest - New Orleans, La.


Janice Joplin - Amherst Mass

[DONKEY10]

Ditto. I was there also. The Stones in the 70's were the best and the 78 show at soldiers Field rocked. Still luv em andstill listen to em working out.

[chuckinca]

I was at the Stones '78 show in Soldiers Field too - at least I think I was. Couple years later saw them in Candlestick.

.

[Bruiser1]

Eagles Hell freezes over 2 3rd row 15' from Joe Walsh!

Charley Daniels- warm up band was a group that was ready to break Kansas

Stones at Knebworth a cozy lil venue 500,000 . 3rd group was Lynyrd Skynrd ( they tore the place up).

Paul McCartney (and his marshall amps).

[LndLocked]

Thanksgiving weekend 1969 Iron Butterfly, Chambers Brothers, Pacific Gas and Electric, Sweetwater, Country Joe and the Fish, Johnny Winter, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, Spirit, the Byrds, Rotary Connection, Grand Funk Railroad, Jefferson Airplane, King Crimson, Steppenwolf, Byrds, Canned Heat and the Rolling Stones.

EPIC !!!! :BigApplause:

[chuckinca]

Eagles Hell Freezes Over at Shoreline in Mtn View, CA - in center lower section about 2 rows in front of boxes (daughter of a co-worker worked for Bill Graham, promoter). My wife sent out our 10 YO son up to get an autograph from Stephen King and he came back 10 minutes later and said the man signing autographs said he was Stephen Wozniak: no autograph.

Paul McCartney at Berkeley Memorial Stadium a few months later. Last song, "Hey Jude" (my wife's name is Judy aka Jude) lasted about 30 minutes.

.

[LndLocked]

#1 - Pink Floyd, 1973 Jacksonville, Fl (Dark Side of The Moon Tour .... that say's it all)
#2 - Roger Waters. 2010 Atlanta (The Wall tour ... amazing production!!)
#3 - The Grateful Dead, 1974 The Cow Palace, Daly City, Ca (1st concert using the famous "Wall of Sound")
#4 - SRV, 1988 Antones (the old original one), Austin Tx (private show & I was in the right place, at the right time, hanging with the right people)
#5 - The Who, 1976 The Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Fl (stadium was about 1/2 full because high ticket prices (for 1976), the band was mad and transformed that anger into an amazing show ... and Keith Moon was still alive!)

[dbanks50]

Jimi Hendrix 1968 Atlanta Municipal Auditorium

[chuckinca]

Jimi Hendrix 1968 Atlanta Municipal Auditorium

That must have been a great show!

.

[JB in TV]

All of these concerts were different but equal:

Neil Diamond when he recorded "Hot August Night" at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles early 1970's (what an amazing venue!)

Paul McCartney with Wings over America at The Cow Palace in San Francisco 1976

Pink Floyd "The Wall"at Oakland Coliseum late 70s

Correction: Thanks to LndLocked's post for reminding me that the Cow Palace was in Daly City, NOT San Francisco. I was a misplaced San Diego guy living in San Jose at the time, what did I know about the Bay Area? LOL I remember my future wife to be was at school at UCLA at the time and was so upset that she couldn't go see Paul also.

[chuckinca]

Correction: Thanks to LndLocked's post for reminding me that the Cow Palace was in Daly City, NOT San Francisco. I was a misplaced San Diego guy living in San Jose at the time, what did I know about the Bay Area? LOL I remember my future wife to be was at school at UCLA at the time and was so upset that she couldn't go see Paul also.


Daly City is adjacent to SF - a few blocks east is Candlestick in SF.

But Daly City folk can't use SF resident only amenities.



.

[BigGuy]

Besides Woodstock, jimmy Hendrix cafe wha in the village
Led zeppelin first time in the states opening for iron butterfly Fillmore east
Janice at Fillmore
Leon Russell concert for Bangladesh
Jeff beck group with rod Stewart- vocals and Ronnie wood bass

[LndLocked]

Daly City is adjacent to SF - a few blocks east is Candlestick in SF.

But Daly City folk can't use SF resident only amenities.



.

True that .... without a street sign you would never know you went from SF to Daly City.

[al & jane]

The Rolling Stones from the 13th row at the Fox Theater in Atlanta
The Moody Blues from the 10th row at the Macon, GA Coliseum
Paul McCartney at The Plains of Abraham outdoor concert in Quebec City

[BarryRX]

The Temptations and the Four Tops together at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island. Jay and The Americans and The Young Rascals at (I Think) the Lido Beach Club on Long Island. The Ronettes at the Moulin Rouge in the Catskills.

[redwitch]

True that .... without a street sign you would never know you went from SF to Daly City.

As long as you were just driving through Colma, all was good. DC snd South City weren't part of SF but few really knew where one ended and the other began.

(For those who don't know, Colma is known for having nothing but cemeteries.)

[boppy1]

Sat very near the stage at a Billy Joel/Elton John concert in St. Louis. Incredible.

[scot_atc]

KISS in St. Paul. Pretty average as artists go, but what a show. Especially in that era. AC/DC opening for Cheap Trick before they were big in the U.S. Yeah, the demographic of TV is starting to change. Sorry.

[TheVillageChicken]

KISS in St. Paul. Pretty average as artists go, but what a show. Especially in that era. AC/DC opening for Cheap Trick before they were big in the U.S. Yeah, the demographic of TV is starting to change. Sorry.

A local promoter didn't realize that KISS had a teenie bopper following and booked Wendy Williams and the Plasmatics as an opening act for them in Biloxi, Mississippi. Lots of kids came with their moms. Wendy came out wearing two pieces of electricians' tape and the world's skimpiest G-string. I was fortunate to be a stage hand for that show.

[Patty55]

The Temptations and the Four Tops together at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island. Jay and The Americans and The Young Rascals at (I Think) the Lido Beach Club on Long Island. The Ronettes at the Moulin Rouge in the Catskills.

Whoa, forgot all about Westbury, saw so many shows there going way back to when it was a tent. I saw Peter Allen there just before he passed away, he was obviously not well and when he sang "Once before I go" it took on new meaning.

[Ecuadog]

I remember seeing Jackie Wilson perform at Community Gardens in Queens Village, NY, about 50 years ago. He was a showman.

[skyguy79]

The greatest, most entertaining show I ever saw was at the Colonie Coliseum in Latham NY back in the 70's. I saw numerous shows there but the one that stood out was when Ben Vareen appeared. I never before saw a more energic, multi-talented singer, dancer and all around performer and haven't since. Ben Vereen - IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0893965/)

[skyguy79]

I remember seeing Jackie Wilson perform at Community Gardens in Queens Village, NY, about 50 years ago. He was a showman.Loved Jackie Wilson's Lonely teardrops - YouTube (http://youtu.be/2nEfuE8Pw4U). Hope you'll "say you will" too!

[LndLocked]

WAIT!!!!!! how could I possible have forgotten this one!

Little Feat, 1978 Orlando Jai alai Fronton ( it was the Waiting for Columbus Tour, complete with the full Tower of Power horn section!! ..... truly one of my all time fav concert experiences / memory's)

[John_W]

In October 1969 a group of us went to the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg to see George Carlin, the show was sold out. We headed up Pinellas County about ten miles to a club by the airport called the Electric Zoo. We paid a $3 door charge and walked in to see a band with two drummers, a guy on keys singing, and a fellow with long blonde hair playing a red guitar. We watched them for about 3 hours until the club closed, although I was only 19 and hadn't seen too many live acts, I was totally blown away. When they finished, the singer said, "we're the Allman Brothers, and our debut album comes out next month, I hope you buy it."

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/TheAllmanBrothersBandTheAllmanBrothersBand.jpg

Another show comes to mind, it was at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland in 1997. The group Boston, which had only made 3 albums over 20 years, came out with a greatest hits with a couple of new songs. They very rarely toured, this time they had both singers. The original Brad Delp, now deceased, and Fran Cosmo, the vocalist on their third album. Their leader and guitarist Tom Scholtz is such a perfectionist, which is why they release so few albums, he was the same way when they toured. The music sounded like you were listening to a loud stereo version of their records. Every note and vocal was perfect, there was no opening act, just Boston performing for over two hours of pure rock.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/Boston_-_Greatest_Hits.jpg

[marennorge]

Barbra Streisand, 2006, Boston TD Gardens. She was relaxed and easy going with none of the stage fright she has suffered from over the years. Il Divo opened for her. A great night.

[jackz]

1. Elvis in Honolulu 1973
2. Sonny and Cher in Hyannis, Mass. 1970
3. Lionel Hampton at VFW Club in Okinawa 1969
4. Tony Bennett at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater circa 2003

[eremite06]

Anyone go to the rock festival at the Garden State racetrack? This was in New Jersey 1969 just before Woodstock? They announced the Woodstock date and most of the performers went there as well. Hendrix, Joplin, The Byrds,...can't remember them all. Hey,......it was the 60's!

I was in the Navy stationed in Philly.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I saw the Beatles live in 1966 so that's pretty much impossible to top. But, after that, I saw Paul McCartney in 2002 from the eleventh row. That was the best I've seen in recent history. Clapton in 2001 from the 20th row was probably second after that. Although Clapton's "A Night of Nothing but the Blues" in 1995 was maybe better. There have been so many, it's hard to say, but The Beatles in '66 and Paul in 2002 were definitely the top two.

I was in a band back in the sixties that opened for a number of big name acts so I got to see a lot of them from the wings which was pretty cool.

[gregntam]

WAIT!!!!!! how could I possible have forgotten this one!

Little Feat, 1978 Orlando Jai alai Fronton ( it was the Waiting for Columbus Tour, complete with the full Tower of Power horn section!! ..... truly one of my all time fav concert experiences / memory's)

We saw the same show in Atlanta. They are still one of my top 5 bands. A great group of musicians!
:BigApplause:

[Jaggy]

Wasn't the greatest show I ever saw, but it is the 1st show I remember seeing... It was Atlantic City Steel Pier.. Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars ( something like that).. . The Supremes were one of the acts.. We somehow got right in front of stage. I was with my Mom , since I was only 10 or so.. and my Mom kept saying.. look at them.. look at them .. LOOK AT THEM.. OMG.. they had to sew those dresses on.. how did they get in them. etc etc. it is a great funny memory but I remember that at the time I was embarrassed.. Mom got Dick Clark's autograph on the program..
"

"

[DAnder2829]

Earth, Wind & Fire at Madison Square Garden.

[Jaguarj4]

Michael Jackson! And no one else that I have seen has ever been close!!!

I will say that Elton John, Rod Stewart, ZZ Top, The Doobie Bros (with Michael McDonald), and Donna Summer were very good 2nds.

[CEWLLW]

My husband and I saw Elvis in 1974 or 75 in Las Vegas, by far the most exciting show I've ever seen. As a die-hard Elvis fan it was like being 16 again. We sat 2 seats from the stage and the young women crawled over everyone to get near the stage. I did get handed a "scarf" that he hands out to many. He started to hand it to one young lady and looked at her and said "no honey, you got one at the first show." Lucky for me.

[Mikeod]

Years ago the San Diego Zoo held night concerts at the Wild Animal Park. They were held on a grassy amphitheater and you could hear the animals and birds from time to time.

We saw Don McClean one night. Everything was normal during the concert; soft conversation, nature sounds, glasses clinking. Then he started singing Starry Starry Night, and there was not a single extraneous sound. Not even the animals made a sound. It was so dark and quiet it was spooky.

It was not the greatest live performance I've ever seen, but I still get chills thinking about it.

[gatherer47]

Being in the audience at the PBS taping of DooWop 50 at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh in 1998!

[DDoug]

Woodstock the first one what I remember any way.

[Kahuna32162]

I remember a benefit concert held at the old Olympia Stadium in Detroit (where the Red Wings and Gordie Howe used to play). It was called 4 in the round and featured Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, James Taylor and Harry Chapin. I was also at a conference in LA in the mid 80's where Sam Kinison and Glen Frey were the lead entertainment in the hotel ballroom.. After a couple of song, Frey brought a couple of his buddies on stage to join him....Don Henley. Timothy B Schmidt and Joe Walsh, they proceeded to play 2 hours of Eagles songs.

[John_W]

The Amnesty Int'l Concert at the Omni in Atlanta June 1986 was the most famous I've attended. It was performed in six cities, the last show was at Giants Stadium in New Jersey and was broadcast live on MTV. The Police had to regroup since they had broken up. Each artist performed 6 songs, the lineup I saw was The Police, U2, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Adams, Lou Reed, The Neville Bros and Joan Baez.

Even though that was a great lineup, I've seen U2, Peter Gabriel and Bryan Adams in their own full length concert and they were much better performances. Still to this day, the best show I've seen was in 1972 in Savannah, Georgia. It was Jethro Tull performing their spoof of concept albums with their own "Thick as a Brick". That tour came right after Aqualung, and the songs and the wild antics, costumes, all made for a fantastic show. I know it was at the height of their fame having seen them again in 1995 with ELP and was not nearly as grand. Ian Anderson, the frontman for JT was one heck of a performer in his day. The concept show required people dressed as rabbits hopping across the stage, large telephones ringing during the song, and many other wacky side-bits. This photo is from that tour.

http://jayjayemgee.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/jethro-tull1.jpg

[tippyclubb]

Rolling Stones - Soldier's Field, Chicago 1978

(thanks for the reminder Chelsea)

I agree the Rolling Stones were fantastic. I was fortunate enough to see them twice, once in Detroit and in Cincinnati. It tickled me watching Mick Jagger dance but he sure did try.

Those were the good ole days with so many great bands!

Now for the worst band, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young. Boring.