The Best Gig You've Ever Been To

The NME new bands tours in the mid 00s had incredible line ups. I thought 2005 was good with The Killers, Futureheads, Bloc Party and Kaiser Chiefs, but then 2006 was Maximo Park, We Are Scientists, Mystery Jets and Arctic Monkeys. Arctic Monkeys had just hit number one in the charts and my feet didn't touch the floor. The only negative was it was at The Refectory in Leeds which is a crap venue.

Saw Alt-J at The Cockpit week they'd won the Mercury Music Prize, and Public Service Broadcasting anywhere is always unique from a tiny pub at Tramlines to Camden Roundhouse.

Don't really like indoor arenas but Arcade Fire at Madison Square Gardens, and Pulp's one off gig at Sheffield Arena in 2012 was like the greatest party I've ever been to, everyone was just so excited.

Jealous of lots of the people on this thread!

 

I did the twickenham gig in 2008 and the set list had some old time favourites. So excited when they did end of the world as we know it. Personal favourite of mine.

 

Was massively into Lloyd Cole and the Commotions in the 80`s and saw them twice ay The City Hall Sheffield.
In Feb 2017 he did a one man show in Wakefield where he just did an accoustic set of all his "Commotions" stuff to a relatively small audience - fabulous.

 

I guess music isn't really for you?

 

I went to quite a few of those NME tours in the noughties too.

 

We were there too, brilliant night

 

I was lucky enough to be an impressionable 19 year old with older rock mates and went to that and the Wembley stadium concert with them. Wow, just wow. Got bought the Roundhay Park gig on dvd a few years ago for my birthday. Wish I had the Wembley one if there is one. Jagger went in a crane from the stage and out over the crowd doing Satisfaction. Amazing.

 

Best gig(s) was a run of 12. Me and a mate were fortunate to be on the Selector's guest list for the whole 2 Tone Tour in 1979. Only interested in Selector and Specials who were mint, especially on the encore with all band members on stage. Stayed in bar for the "support" acts - Madness for first 6 gigs, Dexy's for second 6. Regret that to this day.

Gig I most under appreciated at the time but dine out on to this day - Sex Pistols in 1977 on the Anarchy Tour - 76 Club in Burton on Trent.

 

That brings back memories. Can’t believe it’s touching 13 years ago only seems like yesterday.

 

The Civic had some great gigs at the time and I still feel a town the size of Barnsley could and should have a music venue now.

 

Loved seeing live bands at the place at the bottom of Harborough Hill

 

just remembered the name - Antonio`s

 

Three spring to mind.

Wilco at Marrickville Social Club, Sydney - we were in Oz to see her aunt & uncle as it was their golden wedding anniversary, Wilco played the Saturday night at the State Theatre in Sydney, the following night at the social club, far more intimate with just about 250 people, you had to book a package for both gigs to get tickets for the second one.

Alabama 3 at the Hop & Grape in Manchester. A3 had just released their first album and were on the back of a very successful support tour with Primal Scream, they were that years best kept secret and they were so different live to any other band I'd ever seen.

Leonard Cohen at the O2 Arena, 13 November 2008. My birthday, very expensive tickets on the third row centre block, my musical hero looked me in the eye.

Many others including Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, Beautiful South, Nick Lowe, David Ford, Kristin Hersh, The Handsome Family, Lambchop, etc but those three are stand outs.

 

Lloyd Cole lives in America now and is a very, very good golfer - one of the best in the music industry. He also occasionally writes about golf for various golfing magazines.

 

Too many to recall, but would include:

Clash - Busking outside Leeds Uni Refectory, circa 1984
James Brown - Leeds Festival, I think 1997
Husker Du - Sheffield Leadmill 1986
RL Burnside - Duchess, Leeds 1998
Pixies - 1989 at Sheffield Octagon
REM - 1989 at Sheffield Octagon
Sonic Youth / Pavement - Leeds T&C 1991
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Leeds O2 Academy 2019
St Etienne / Pulp - 1993 Leeds Poly
U2 - Sheffield Leadmill 1981
!!! / Vessels - Leeds, Brudenell Social 2017
Gil Scott Heron - Sheffield Leadmill 1986

 

Saw Hazell Dean in there.

 

99% of AC/DC gigs I’ve seen were brilliant apart from the Axel/DC one I had the misfortune to witness at the Etihad.

1992 Dire Straits at Woburn Abbey, fantastic show.

2014 Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Hammersmith Apollo (or whatever it was called then)

 

Siouxsie and the Banshees....Roxy in Sheffield 1978...ish.

 

I forgot I'd seen AC/DC at Sheffield Poly round about 1978. Ticket cost about 75p I recall.