Best gig you've been to

My first ever gig was Red Hot Chili Peppers at Don Valley stadium back in 2006, they were at their peak & sounded fantastic despite the heavy winds! Seen them two times after that as well, the last time at Manchester cricket ground a couple of years ago, they still slapped.

As mentioned earlier, seen Coldplay 3 times, all at the Etihad, & each time they were simply amazing, they put on a proper show, the lights or xylo bands as they are called simply take your breath away when all lit up & playing in sync to their songs. They’ve just announced more UK dates for next August, two dates in Hull strangely enough & im seriously tempted.

Also seen The 1975 3 times, twice in the last two years on their “At their very best” tour, another fantastic live act, & in my opinion are very underrated & should be headlining stadiums.

Enjoyed The Killers @ the keepmoat the other year.

Seen Dream Theater a couple of times, they are brilliant if you like that kind of music.

Saw Foo Fighters back in 07 on at Sheffield Arena, just balls to the wall rock n roll, fantastic.

 

First Springsteen Gig at Bramall lane in 88
Last Springsteen gig at Wembley this year,
(Ticket price £95 Ended up within almost touching distance of the stage)

 

We’ve got friends that went to see this and said it was brilliant

 

At the Bramall Lane gig I was stood on the side of the stage! Well, on the ramp bit*. At one point he ran down the front high diving the fans and finished by kissing my girlfriend on the hand. She’d never heard of him before that concert, but became a dedicated fan after that.

*Volunteering with St John Ambulance. At the end of the show he gave once of the cadets his braces. Presumably he had to hold his trousers up on the way back to the dressing room.

 

The two gigs I’d most wish to turn back time for were Oasis in Brighton in 94 and Pulp at Wembley Arena in 96, but not to see the main bands, who were both excellent. At the Oasis gig I was in the process of splitting up with the long term girlfriend. Initially she wasn’t gonna go, so one of the doctors from the A&E I was working in was gonna come with me, but on the day the girlfriend changed her mind. Whilst the support band were playing we sat in the bar whilst we ‘had a talk’ and she gave me a full list of my failings, in impressive detail. My ears aren’t great in places when there’s a lot of talking (and I didn’t even have tinnitus back then), so I couldn’t really hear the support band, but there was a lull in conversation, both from the punters in the bar and my ranty girlfriend, and as someone opened the door I heard the intro to There She Goes. I jumped up and went into the hall and that’s how I saw The La’s for 3/4 of one song, as it was their last number..

Fast forward two years to Wembley Arena and Pulp were supported by Edwyn Collins. I went with my mate and when we got there we found there was a third support act. We’d never heard of them and after about 30 seconds we went into the bar to talk about that day’s footy. The band in question were Denim, led by Lawrence from Felt. I’ve since become a big fan of Lawrence and all his guises. And I saw the band of his that did possibly my favourite of his albums (Back In Denim) for 30 sodding seconds. What a bloody idiot!

 

Matchbox Twenty in Manchester about 2019 amazing gig 3 hours straight through no support act just them Kyle Cook brilliant guitarist.

 

Steve Johnson was originally from the midlands He moved to Donny. (Not sure when) He played and recorded on quite a few songs with Phil lynott thin lizzy.
His brother Paul. (Known as Fasker) Fantastic base guitarist. Played with Saxon. John Parr. Guns n oatcakes among others.
Last time I saw him was with his own band ' 'Screaming eagles' heavy rock and not as Ardsley oaks published once as an Eagles tribute lol.

 

Worst experience. Travelled to Helsinki 2012 to watch placebo . Got to the venue and it was strangely quiet walking down to the venue . My fears were confirmed as I got to the door , the gig had been cancelled

 

i went virtually, best gig I’ve never been to

 

We booked a trip to Berlin to see Killing Joke in SO36 (also a track from their first album). About 2 weeks before it was cancelled, but we'd already paid out for flights and hotels. Ended up taking the kid and having a good look around the city so it wasn't a complete loss.

Although I've seen Placebo too many times recently (wife is a fan) and you didn't miss much.

 

Tbf berlin is very good city to visit

 

Difficult to pick just one:-
Beatles - Sheffield city hall
Yardbirds with Jeff Beck & Jimmy Paige - Barnsley Civic
Leonard Cohen - Leeds Uni
Rod Stewart - Hong Kong Football Club
Elton John - Hong Kong Collesium
Springsteen - Old Trafford
The Pirates - Boardwalk Sheffield

 

Well missing out on Queen really must have been a sickener for you.
Seeing Rush really was just luck and a huge coincidence that I was in Toronto at the time.
It was only after I had my arrangements made that I found out that Rush were hold their final gig at the ACC.
It was sold out and I spent almost every day going in to see if any tickets were available. I actually got to know an assistant (Fatima) quite well and asked her if any tickets were to become available could she keep one aside and phone me. Well after two weeks I got news that an other section was to be made available. Great view, just slightly behind the band but looking down on them. And only 48 dollars.
On the same night the Blue Jays were playing NY so you could just imagine how busy the street was as the Rogers arena and the ACC are at opposite ends of the street.
Great memories.

 

I saw that pulp tour in Brighton the night after Jarvis was arrested at the brits, we got in early to see denim, Paul Cook of sex pistols was drumming for Edwyn Collins

Mozart Estate Laurence’s latest band are playing shiiine on in November which I’m looking forward to!

 

Girls Against Boys, Nottingham, December 2022

They’re a New York band that I’ve loved for 30 years, my absolute favourites. I saw them at the Leeds Cockpit in the early 2000s, they went into hiatus not long after and aside from a random EP around 2012 total silence. Then without warning their social media accounts became active in 2022 and they announced a three date tour this side of the Atlantic playing Dublin, Nottingham and The Garage in Islington. I saw the latter two gigs. The Nottingham show was at The Boat Club, a tiny working men’s club type venue next door to Forest’s stadium. I was stood front row about two feet away from all four original members and it was magical. They blew the electrics during the encore. I never thought I’d get the opportunity to see them again, never mind that close up. A brilliant night.

 

I don't go down to Sheffield much these days. Saw REM there too, Green Tour.

 

Ive always felt the good thing about Barnsley is there is something like a rhubarb triangle for music with us in the middle. Easy to get to Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. Means the gig list over the years has been a great experience. Some jewels in there and often a story behind each.

Sheffield, Gene, Aztec Camera, Orange Juice, and more back in the day

Leeds. Crowded House and also the legendary Futurama Festivals

Manchester. Even recently We Were Promised Jetpacks, Blancmange

 

They didn't have many over the last few years, but seem to have started again with Last Dinner Party, Soft Play, Scouting for Girls and Blossoms (among others) playing before Christmas.

 

Pulp Wembley 1996
Welder Finsbury Park 1996
Black Grape 1997 can’t remember the venue
Oasis Berlin 2002
Loads of my brother-in-laws gigs in Nepal - Newaz

but massively enjoyed Reytons at Clifton Park this summer…