quote:

Originally posted by abnmacv:
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band when the album fist came out.

I have not seen the whole large band, but they are great. I saw Lovett and a subset of the Large Band at a private party once, and they are a really good band. So tight.

The Black Crowes are my favorite band and I've seen them 25 times or so. They are always very good but they had a magical run when they first got back together in 2005. I wasn't old enough to see them in their peak of 1996-97 but many of the 2005-06 shows rival those. They have great songs and love to improvise and jam. I feel like they're a great mix of hard rocking, hooky songs but also great improv jamming.

I've seen Wilco 4 or 5 times and one of those, especially, was truly amazing but in a very different way than a Crowes show. Wilco jams some but their strength comes from replicating their extremely intricate and highly produced music in the live setting.

Prince and the NPG - the best live show ever and there isn't even a close second.

U2 also puts on a pretty good live show.

The Ramones.

hard to say,


I've seen a shitton of concerts over the years andm missed many as well,


ones that stand out,

Costello, w\ The Impostor's in Portsmouth Va, I wanna say it was the first outing or concert with the new lineup and they were on fire,


SRV, at the Mosque in RVA, about 84 or so,
fantastic show, I walked in with friends not really knowing who he was, walked out a life long fan,


The Specials, never got to see them back in the day, but did see the last 2 shows in Silver Springs (the Fillmore) just outside DC,

the first was absolutely amazing, not the same line up as the orginal, but just amazing,
been a fan of SKA since the late 70's, and finally got to see the best SKA band,
saying that as one that has seen The Beat many many times (and will see them again in a couple weeks) as well as Bad Manners, The Selector and a pile of local stuff,


last but not least, Numan,
Pleasure Principle 40th tour,

start to finish, the entire album, then more stuff afterwards

seen him 3 times since, and always a good show

Led Zeppelin, I guess. Certainly one of the most influential of its time...I guess. Though I could be a 'homer' and say Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Modhoney, Alice in Chains...

The Zep concert wasn't great however, thanks to the putrid acoustics of the venue, the concrete crock pot formerly known as The Kingdome. Unless you like reverb, that is. LOTS of reverb. Later concerts I went to in that building like The Stones and Pink Floyd were just as bad. Best show ever there was the day they imploded that built-on-the-cheap eye and ear sore of a building; that act did the sports and entertainment world one hell of a favor.

 
J.D. Crowe and the New South, at the Red Slipper Lounge in Lexington KY, circa 1972-3. Members, most of whom went on to become established stars in their own right:
 
J.D. Crowe - banjo, guitar, vocals
Tony Rice - guitar, lead vocals
Ricky Skaggs - mandolin, fiddle, vocals
Jerry Douglas - dobro, guitar
Bobby Slone - bass, fiddle

When I think of best band, I think of musical correctness, timing, tightness of sound, and talent of players.

In this light, TOOL, the Zac Brown Band, and believe it or not, Matchbox20 are the best bands I've witnessed live.

Each member of the above bands could be a virtuoso solo performer or studio musician as a profession.

If we leave out the vocalists, the Pride of the Southland marching band performing at Neyland stadium in Knoxville Tennessee...by a wide margin!

Best "show" is an entirely different category.

Iron Maiden in the late 80's.

Triumph was also great. A band that never got its due. One of the best bands ever. Highly under-rated. Just one mans opinion.

I saw the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas show a few years back. Great concert.

SRV w/Double Trouble.

I'm going to say Procol Harum followed closely by The Band. Two great shows I saw when they were both really in their prime. In a small venue I saw The David Grisman Quintet when they had Tony Rice and Darol Anger. What a show that was!

Elvis Costello and the Attractions were very good and I'll agree with others that Joe Jackson is very good live.

quote:

If we leave out the vocalists, the Pride of the Southland marching band performing at Neyland stadium in Knoxville Tennessee...by a wide margin!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I saw them perform over a number of years. You must have been a band member. Myself I prefer JSU or Southern bands.

I never went to a lot of concerts but a couple were memorable. The Doors in Asbury Park, NJ, everything you wanted from a Doors concert, over 50 years ago.

A great concert, totally entertaining was Willie Nelson with Leon Russell at the Captiol Theater in NJ. The concert went on and on, the best of Willie and a pleasure to have Leon there. This is available in YT and I'll listen to it every now and then.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
 
J.D. Crowe and the New South, at the Red Slipper Lounge in Lexington KY, circa 1972-3. Members, most of whom went on to become established stars in their own right:
 
J.D. Crowe - banjo, guitar, vocals
Tony Rice - guitar, lead vocals
Ricky Skaggs - mandolin, fiddle, vocals
Jerry Douglas - dobro, guitar
Bobby Slone - bass, fiddle

Oh, man. That would have been great.

Steely Dan at the Ryman.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
Seen Yes at least three times, so I’m gonna go with them. RIP Chris Squire and Alan White…

Absolutely! Saw them during the Going for the One Tour, in Europe,one of their most important lineups. Saw them during their Drama Tour (Buggles musicians had joined) and thought about hanging myself. Still trying to forgive them/forget the endless “I am a camera, camera, camera” still ringing in my head and trying to get out. Then three or more times in Argentina with different lineups. Back to good and very good.

0-0

^^^ Funny you should say that, Nicky. It was around the Drama time I dropped Yes. Was getting into more current stuff at the time. I'll always prefer the classic line up, though I have to say 90125 and Big Generator were very good albums.

Old Crow Medicine Show is the best band I have seen live. Only band I’ve ever seen where every member of the band played every instrument at one time or another in the show. Great entertainers.

RUSH, of course!!! Stevie Ray Vaughn as a close second.