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OT: Favorite Live Musical performance ever?

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Mikemarc

Heisman
Nov 28, 2005
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With the hoopla or Taylor Swift in NJ, I saw a tweet which made me ponder the question…what’s the best live musical performance of all time. Just one single song from one single concert?

My personal favorites are the Eagles Hotel California from Hell Freezes over reunion on mtv from 1994:



and Fleetwood Mac’s Silver Silver Springs from 1997 at Warner Brothers studio (the last two minutes is fantastic)



Also love the E Street Bands performance of Jungleland for the first time with Clarence.



What are your favorites?
 
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RuBird

Heisman
Jun 28, 2001
18,319
22,708
113
Styx Come Sail Away at Mohegan Sun.

Disturbed Ten Thousand Fists at PNC. Buddy of mine went with his girlfriend. He was there mainly for Breaking Benjamin. Got a text from him right before Disturbed came on. He wanted to trade seats as he was 4th row and it was so hot. I was last row right under the overhang with a breeze. Seriously felt all pyrotechnics but well well worth it.


Favorite of all Def Leppard Pour Some Sugar on Me. Saw them right After the drummer lost his arm. Joe Elliot comes on with only spotlight on him. He goes thru the story of how Rick Allen lost his arm. When the band mates came to see him right after the accident he was tapping with one arm on the hospital bed while moving his feet. He explained Rick said not to give up on him he would drum for them again. Moving forward drum sets were built so he could use both feet and his arm. lights go out then all of a sudden spotlight on Rick. Drums begin for Pour Some Sugar on Me. I lost my mind as did so many others in the crowd
 
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RUfanSinceAnderson

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Jan 31, 2006
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Pearl Jam live is unreal

Saw Kiss a couple of years ago- the music is “ok”, the show was great

Kid Rock at the Hammerstein- pyrotechnics and strippers - how can that not be awesome

Roger Watters - The Wall - was great. Back then he kept his opinions to himself.

Chris Cornell - MPAC - wish I could have seen him live again

Many many more.
 
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A

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
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Best gig was The Cure @ MSG in 2016
But best song was Placebo's "Because I Want You"
They weren't a fav band, and its not a fav song, but I knew a UK girl who won a contest to be in the video.
I went to see the band at Nokia theater not expecting to see the video but they played it on a screen behind the band.
There was some backstory to all this and it was pretty cool





 
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miket007

All-American
Aug 9, 2007
11,406
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RUN DMC _- Raising Hell concert July 1986 Philly Spectrum and August 1986 MSG. Middle of the show Jam Master Jay stops the music and RUN tells everyone in the crowd to hold up 1 of shell top adidas you're wearing. All you saw were shell top adidas in the air. To this day the most amazing thing i've ever seen at a concert at i've been to plenty....
 
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hoquat63

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Mar 17, 2005
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Paul Geremia at RU student center - probably only about a dozen people in the lounge
 
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hankee18

All-American
Jan 18, 2006
4,014
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113
Guns N Roses Metlife 2016

I've been to tons of shows seen all kinds of acts, even obscure bands. This concert just blew me away

I was with my wife and great group of friends

It was July, perfect weather, perfect temperature, stadium lighting and sound were great and the place was just rocking

The band was back from their hiatus. Axl and Slash are just killing it first few minutes.

The individuals are excellent musicians - together the band is 1+1=3, this group just makes magic together

I looked around the stadium and realized every other person here is in just sync and on the same page in an awesome way

It was just an amazing feeling and one of those few moments in life you can't believe you're alive doing this
 
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ho26rus

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Jan 23, 2013
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you didnt specify having to be there so. Queen at Live Aid. Santana at Woodstock
i agree guns and roses but the 1980/ 90.s variety Allman brothers at Fillmore east
 
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RUGuitarMan1

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Apr 5, 2021
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I’m not sure what the OP meant , a live concert that occurred at any time or a live concert I personally witnessed and heard. Of course it wouldn’t be about 1 song but the entire concert. In my opinion, a great live concert should include songs which at different times give you chills, make you want to stomp your feet and make you tear up with joy or sadness. If those things didn’t happen, it wasn’t a great live concert. The Who in 1982, Steely Dan in 2008, Santana & The Allman Bros Band in 2012 and Elton John in 2022 are some that personally stand out to me. I just want to post the below given recent events, pure rock and roll:
 
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DanRU

Senior
Jun 9, 2008
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Early 90's, the 1st year of the Allman Brothers taking over the Beacon Theater for a month. Sitting in the 4th row, the entire show was great but "Blue Sky" is probably the most memorable of any song I've seen live.
 
MadRU

MadRU

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Jul 26, 2001
37,354
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Janis at Monterey Pop Festival 1967 singing Ball and Chain.

 
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Mikemarc

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Nov 28, 2005
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Definitely didn’t have to be there. And I was hoping for specific songs, moments as opposed to the whole concert. But some cool stories
 
Rutgers85_rivals

Rutgers85_rivals

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Jul 5, 2014
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Twisted Sister at Fountain Casino in the early 80s. AC/DC cover band TT Quick opened. Ears hurt for days.
 
e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,738
52,407
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To actually be there…

First time live with an Irish band called The Saw Doctors.

It was completely by accident as a big group us (wife to be, her family, some of her friends) were at Randalls Island in NYC (which is where the FDNY Academy btw) for something sponsored by Guinness called a Fleadh, means festival in Irish. Lots of bands with Van Morrison as the headliner.

That’s who we were hoping to see but while waiting on the field of the old Downing Stadium my sister in law and I kept hearing the Irish expats walking past us saying something that sounded like “saw doctors.” We decided to follow one group which led us to a huge circus type big top tent.

Well, inside the crowd was going wild. Quite a few guys were climbing the poles holding up the tent. And everybody knew all the words so much so it sounded like the band was the whole crowd.

My sister in law and I looked at each other and said, “well, looks like we’re not seeing Van the Man tonight lol” and went back to get the others in the group.

It was a great time. The energy of the band was matched by the crowd. So much fun.

Pretty sure the song my SIL and I walked in on was one of their biggest hits, “N17” which is the name of a very well traveled road in western Ireland, thru Counties Galway, Mayo and Sligo. The song is about a guy who left Ireland and is living abroad who misses home…



During COVID because of the travel bans many Irish expats like the person in the song wished they could return as well. This haunting version by the singer, Tolu Makay, with the musicians playing via Zoom, conveys that message in a much different arrangement than the original rocker:



Have no idea how many times I’ve seen the band since, and I’m going again to the Hammerstein Ballroom in July, but that first time…👍
 
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T2Kplus20

T2Kplus20

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May 1, 2007
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mikemarc1 said:
With the hoopla or Taylor Swift in NJ, I saw a tweet which made me ponder the question…what’s the best live musical performance of all time. Just one single song from one single concert?

My personal favorites are the Eagles Hotel California from Hell Freezes over reunion on mtv from 1994:



and Fleetwood Mac’s Silver Silver Springs from 1997 at Warner Brothers studio (the last two minutes is fantastic)



Also love the E Street Bands performance of Jungleland for the first time with Clarence.



What are your favorites?
Click to expand...

A few come to mind, but #1 has to be my #1 (obviously):

#1 - An Evening with Metallica - Brendan Byrne Area - Black Tour (early 92?)
#2 - Green Day - Giant Stadium - American Idiot - 2006'ish
#3 - Bon Jovi - Newark Arena - April 2018 (present for the wife, front row floor, overall fun experience, JBJ gave me a high five and hugged the wife)

Honorable mentions:
First concert ever - Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Tour - Brendan Byrne - 88?
Guns N Roses at MSG, no idea when this was, early 90s, they went on super late, close to 11pm, to pass the time, chicks were flashing their boobs for the jumbotron. Fun night!
Have seen Billy Joel at MSG a bunch of times, always a great show.
 
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Kbee3

Heisman
Aug 23, 2002
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The Boss in his prime...doing any one of a dozen or so tunes...my favorite probably being Jungleland.
I've seen lots of great performers over the years, but Bruce is in a class by himself.
 
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runrayrun

Senior
Dec 25, 2005
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Grateful Dead on the gym floor at Middlesex County College. Jerry Garcia played steel guitar with the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and then followed with the Dead. No stage. Band played on and audience sat on the gym floor.

Also Pink Floyd at McCarter Theatre in Princeton.
 
e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,738
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hoquat63 said:
Should also have included Lionel Hampton at Symphony Hall in Newark, spring of 68.First date with my future wife.
Click to expand...
This was a big fire that we used for training purposes.


At the end of one of the classes on the topic we watched a video of the fire. With a soundtrack from the man himself…



I went to a similar one in the spring before 9/11 where I was burned on both ears. Same cause, halogen light.




So whenever I hear the name “Lionel Hampton” this is what comes to mind.
 
K

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
35,804
55,717
113
Allman Brothers at Waterloo village. I just always dug the whole scene. Small venue set in the middle of the woods and the Allman Brothers never disappointed by always sounding just like their records.
 
e5fdny

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,738
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102
koleszar said:
Allman Brothers at Waterloo village. I just always dug the whole scene. Small venue set in the middle of the woods and the Allman Brothers never disappointed by always sounding just like their records.
Click to expand...
Saw them there too.

They opened with a rousing “Statesboro” as we were walking in. I just skipped my way up front as they played. Great time.
 
R

RU848789

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
64,385
43,487
113
Well, I wasn't there last night, but seeing Dave Grohl wishing my friend Matt Pinfield a happy birthday and dedicating "My Hero" to him at the Foos show last night, including walking over to him standing in the wings and giving him a big hug, was pretty damn cool. FB links don't often work, but giving this one a try (it's on Matt's FB page right now).

Edit - up on Twitter...

 
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S

ScarletSince86

All-Conference
May 18, 2004
1,494
1,104
38
Kiss at the Spectrum - 1979
Green Day at Giants Stadium - American Idiot tour
MCR at Prudential Center - 2022
Jimmy Eat World - many times and places
Cage the Elephant - PNC a few years ago
 
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beaced_rivals

Heisman
Jul 18, 2004
32,005
10,321
0
hoquat63 said:
Should also have included Lionel Hampton at Symphony Hall in Newark, spring of 68.First date with my future wife.
Click to expand...
Caught Hamp and his band at the ADAMS THEATER,Branford Pl. NWK,A WHILE AGO.They came off THE STAGE,WENT UP AND DOWN THE AISLES playing.Arnette"RED" COBB was leading the pack with his great tenor sax.Can't believe I don't remember the name of the tune. I can do all the music in my head including some riffs but can't come up with the name. Wonder how bad my memory will get when I age some.
 
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beaced_rivals

Heisman
Jul 18, 2004
32,005
10,321
0
beaced said:
Caught Hamp and his band at the ADAMS THEATER,Branford Pl. NWK,A WHILE AGO.They came off THE STAGE,WENT UP AND DOWN THE AISLES playing.Arnette"RED" COBB was leading the pack with his great tenor sax.Can't believe I don't remember the name of the tune. I can do all the music in my head including some riffs but can't come up with the name. Wonder how bad my memory will get when I age some.
Click to expand...
Thename just came.How the hell could I not remember FLYING HOME?
 
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