QUESTION OF THE WEEK, AS PER POSTERS DOUG R. AND MR. ROCK AND ROLL: WHAT WERE, THE BEST AND WORST, CONCERTS YOU EVER ATTENDED?

This is a very difficult question, for me to answer. I have attended concerts, since I was 16-years-old. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, where resided, a very famous local rock club, called L’Amour. I believe, it was on 62nd Street, between 15th and 16th Avenues? Their policy was 16 to enter, 21 to drink, so I practically lived there, as a teen.

I saw so many great bands, at that club. White Lion was the house band, because the club’s owners managed them (and later on Tora Tora). Kix, it seemed like, were there, twice a month. Iron Maiden, even played the club, under the moniker, Charlotte and The Harlots. Also, many famous musicians, would hang out there, when they were in town.

So, I will say, most of the live shows I have seen were pretty darn great. Some highlights just off the top of my head: Judas Priest‘s 30th Anniversary show of British Steel, Blue Murder at L’Amour, Seeing Lynch Mob many times, in various venues, Tora Tora at L’Amour, Bon Jovi at MSG for his Slippery When Wet Tour, L.A. Guns at Studio One in New Jersey, Ozzy on his No More Beers tour. Too many to name.

Worst? I really cannot pinpoint, any show that I attended, that was terrible. Usually, if I left a show, highly annoyed, it wasn’t due to the band’s performance, it was predicated on the people sitting, or standing, around me (it always seemed as if I was surrounded by a-holes-LOL.) . Additionally, if a show was far too loud (such was the case when I saw Badlands and Mr. Big), or a band member stormed offstage, and ended the show early, or they wanted to finish watching a movie, and started the show almost three hours late, that would also sour the experience.

Finally, as a vertically challenged female (I am barely 5’1), I found that many of the men, at general admission shows (which was what most clubs were), were very rude. They would all stand in front of me, turn around to notice how short I was, smile, and would never tell me to stand in front of them. Only ONCE, in all of my many, many years of attending shows, did the men allow me, to stand in front of the stage, and that was for a Lynch Mob show. Chivalry, must died in the 50s-LOL!

29 Responses

  1. Seen so many great concerts, it really is so hard to pick a best one, right now I’d say it was Alice Cooper from just last week, Alice is ageless, his band sounded absolutely fantastic, especially Nita Strauss! She totally amazed me, blew me away! Some of my other faves would be Ozzy/Alice In Chains – Norfolk Scope, 1992, Sammy Hagar and The Waboritas – Atlantic City, 2004, David Lee Roth/Cinderella – MSG, 1986, KI⚡️⚡️/Judas Priest – Nassau Coliseum, 1979, AC⚡️DC/Slash’s Snake pit – MSG, 2000, Creed/3 Doors Down – Virginia Beach Amphitheater, 2024, Extreme opening for Def Leppard 1 month ago, DL were great, but on this night, I’d have to say Extreme were even better! Worst concert? I’d have to say Joe Jackson from last year, very, very disappointing!

  2. Best show is a tie, I can’t say. The first time I saw Dio on his Dream Evil tour. We had third row center, ended up in the first row. Back when that mattered. When you had to camp out for tickets. Before ticketbastard! He was the best frontman I’ve ever seen to this day. No he didn’t run around and jump in the air doing crazy things, but his stage presence is unmatched by anyone I’ve ever seen. Saw him several times, and no matter what if it was a huge arena or a small club, he gave his all and each show felt like it was a private show for just me.

    My second first place show was the New Years Evil concert they held at the Bank One Ballpark here in AZ, now called Chase Field. The lineup was incredible, Soulfly, Slayer, Pantera, Megadeth and the original Black Sabbath. It was the first time I ever saw Sabbath, and they did not disappoint . Every band was on fire that night, simply amazing.

    Worst show ever is very easy. My late wife dragged me to see The Cure once. Talk about the most boring and terrible show that’s ever been, it had to be that one. I felt like blowing my brains out about half way thru. Most concerts pay people down to make sure you don’t hurt the band, but this one I’m sure they do it so you don’t hurt yourself. Every single song sounded the same and they all sucked! Sorry for any fans of the band but they are terrible to my ears and I can’t see how or why people like that.

    1. you know, I was going to talk about a funny show I went to, but your Cure review is so funny I changed my mind.

    4. Saw Dio/Sabbath October 1980 his first tour with BS. A few large sheets with ‘Ozzy Rules’ were being carried around.
      Dio blew us all away and those sheets got put away quickly.

  3. Best – Extreme in BOSTON 2006 – it was a mini reunion show, as they brought out Mike Mangini and Paul Geary for a few songs. They ended with Brad Delp from BOSTON to sing Rock N Roll Band and Rock N Roll by Zep. Poor guy died a few months later. It was amazing to see him on stage with my favorite band! Great set-list, and they did little snippets of In My Time of Dying and Baba O’Riley. So much fun!!

    Worst – it will be in a few weeks when I take my daughter to see Billie Eilish…the things you do for your kids!!

  4. More best shows a worst. The absolute best show was the Plant Page 1993 show!! Also The Firm 2nd album tour and yes with the great Tony Franklin. Jimmy Page had his bow out during Dazed and Confused with triangle Lazer around him. Paul Rogers voice was amazing during the song Live in Peace!!!! The worst was Jethro Tull a few years ago. It was a recording. I was probably the youngest person there and I am old! Haha! There were folks napping! And some fool was screaming sitting right next to me the whole show! The show was painful to see. Then I had to listen to my friends complain all the way home!!

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