What is the best concert you have ever been to..it doesn't have to be a pianist either...it can be anything.

Like mine...mine is Lynyrd Skynryd.

That's a tough one.

I saw Arthur Rubenstein in concert when I was a kid (in the late 60's). Even though he was a frail old man by then, his command of the instrument was still amazing.

I'm a big fan of early ELP, attended some great concerts.

And...

I have to say the Billy Joel / Elton John concert I saw a couple of years ago was one of the best.

I guess I can't narrow it down to one

That is a TOUGH question to answer. My musical tastes are very eclectic... I can't possibly list just ONE concert as best, here are some of the very best I've ever been to.

Stevie Ray Vaughan. He opened for my favorite band, The Moody Blues, it was 1981. I had no idea who Stevie Ray was. He came out dressed all in black with that black cowboy hat he wore. I remember thinking "Who IS that?" Then he started to play. OH MY GOD. He was absolutely riveting. At that point, I think just about everyone in the stadium, including myself, collectively thought in the exact same moment, "FORGET THE MOODY BLUES." When Vaughan was done with his set, everyone was cheering and yelling and screaming, begging him to come back.

Tony Cuffe. A back yard concert about 7 years ago. About 50 of us attended. Cuffe was a Scottish folk musician who played traditional Scottish folk songs and also wrote original songs in the traditional style. He played guitar, tin whistle, vocals. He was accompanied by Andrew Jackson on folk harp. An opportunity to hear my favorite Celtic musician up close and personal. Seriously, I thought I had died and went to heaven. I am saddened to say Tony passed away several years ago. That was hard for me to take. I find I can't listen to his music anymore.

Andre Segovia. 1983. He shuffled onto the stage, all kind of hunched over, being about 90 years of age (92 I think) at the time, sat down and then he began to play - such beautiful music eminated from him and his guitar. It was sublime!

The Moody Blues. In Portland, Maine. Somewhere around 1990 I think. I had not seen them perform live in many years and didn't know what to expect, did not have high hopes. It was one of those nights when everyone in the band was "on". My husband and I were blown away, along with everyone else. They gave not one, not two, but three encores. They were having a terrific night and knew it.

Jamie Cullum. Last Year. At The Paradise Club, Cambridge, MA. Smallish Club. Powerhouse of a performer. Terrific show. How can anyone exert, expend, give off that much energy and have any left over for anything else? Whew!

Vance Gilbert - about 7 years ago. We've seen him a number of times since. Gilbert plays the folk music circuit all around the country. He started out a jazz musician, then transitioned into folk. The first show we attended at The New Moon CoffeeHouse in Haverhill Massachusetts was very special, the best of all the times we've seen him. Terrific music and the guy had us in stitches as well with his humor.

Edit: I just had to add "Monsieur Chopin" the one man show put on by a man named Felder (can't think of his first name right now) last year in the Boston area. This was exceedingly well done. Outstanding show. You had Felder acting out Chopin and sharing insights into the pianist'composer's personal life and times, interspersed with Felder's playing of Chopin. I can't think why this has not gained more national attention. If this show comes your way, PLEASE GO - YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

Well, now you've got me thinking what shows I've seen over the years… Here are others we've seen, in no particular order, I'll include them just for fun - maybe it will get some conversations going:

Jimmy Webb-last year, - this was just him & his piano. He talks a fair bit, shares great stories with his audience

Stephan Grappelli - powerhouse jazz violinist!

Bruce Springstein -acoustic tour

Grey Eyeglances-they had a vintage electric Wurlitzer on stage with them. That's the piano I taught myself how to play piano on. It's SO back in voque right now, everyone's playing it-it's in the backup of so many artists right now: Ray Lamontagne, Madeline Peroux, Vienna Tang, Bruce Hornsby, and many more -I could go on… Everytime I hear it I think "Why ever did I sell mine?"

The Bothy Band

Silly Wizard

Cozy Sheridan

The Strawbs-just a few years ago. Yes, they're still around. For anyone who may know this
semi-obscure English band.

Bare Naked Ladies-my husband's favorite band

Sarah McLaughlin

The Wallflowers-in a high school gymnasium

Pierre Bensuzanne

Mark Knoepler

Elton John

Brian Ferry

Jean Luc Ponty-way, way back, probably around 1975ish. Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh PA

John Renbourne with Isaac Guillory opening and accompanying Renbourne-Isaac was a fantastic guitariest (acoustic) - he stole the show

Jewel with Jason Moraz opening. Moraz was accompanied by a bongo drum player and guy on acoustic bass. I like that line up better than his cd's, with lots more instrumentation.

The Chieftans

Bruce Hornsby

Keb Mo, at Boarding House Park, Lowell MA Keb
played his dobro guitar.

Richard Thompson

Richie Havens

Bruce Cockburn-at Nock School Auditorium. Honest.

Ray Davies -tickets won from WXRV Radio. He did a kind of play-a show about his life and that of the Kinks. It was excellent.

Bert Jansch

Pentagle

Claanad

Joe Walsh -at Hampton Casino Ballroom. Not really our favorite kind of music. I think we had free tickets or something. The crowd was a rough one. A fight almost broke out.

Justin Hayward at Hampton Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH

Oak Ridge Boys-Carnegie Hall, Pittsburgh PA

The Nields, Denby Hall, Bradford College, Haverhill MA

Red Hot Chillie Peppers at The Aquarium in Boston

Trout Fishing In America-Denby Hall, Bradford MA

Johnny A-great electric guitarist

Monster Mike Welch-Coffeehouse concert

Etc. Etc.

ENOUGH.

I'm done.

Jeanne W

I have this (probably foolish and sentimental) notion that concerts, at least in rock and related genre, were somehow different a few decades ago. The "context" was different. The music was still new and fresh. It was radical. It had a cultural setting. It was trying to say something. The concerts that most ring in my memory were from those times.

1971 -- The Who
1971 -- The Allman Brothers (with Duane, and with Clapton as unannounced guest)

1972 -- Bob Dylan with The Band

1973 -- Clapton, with Delaney & Bonnie, Carl Radel and unannounced guests Pete Townsend on guitar and Leon Russell on piano (!!)

1973 -- Pink Floyd (with some kind of quad sound system that was unreal)

About a dozen times between 1971 and 1984 -- The Grateful Dead (unlike many, I preferred the "Europe '72" lineup, including Keith and Donna, whose voice I loved, to all the ones they ever had)

There's so many more. All the, uh, recreational substances..., I can't even remember most of them.

In more recent years, I was fortunate to see a lot of great shows at The Bottom Line. Just about anyone in that venue seemed to come alive. The Roaches annual Christmas shows were great for several years. Then there was the annual Flo & Eddie New Years Eve shows -- great stuff. Enjoyed a couple of Guy Clark performances there, one with Joe Ely and Lyle Lovett all on stage at once.

Saw Miles Davis at the Blue Note. That was pretty cool, although it was impossible to even move in the place.

In more recent years, a performance I will never forget was the temporary trio "Cry Cry Cry," at Town Hall in NY. Blew me away and introduced me to a whole new world of music, at a time when I thought "folk music" was basically a dead letter.

These days, I tend to prefer small venues and artists few have ever heard of. I just enjoy the quiet anonymity of it all, and the humble setting of a person who just enjoys making music. I have enjoyed performances by my friends Larry Pattis and El McMeen, who play beautiful fingerstyle guitar in small venues.

Ah, I ramble here. I could go on and on, but I'll stop....

Jeanne, WOW!!! Concert junkie!! lol no, but really there are some amzing people in there I would have LOVED to see!

and J. Mark, Bob Dylan???!!! OMG! Lovin' all the different kinds of concerts we've got going here.

The best concert I've ever been to is Mark Knopfler in Indianapolis two years ago. I don't think there's a better rock guitarist on the planet.

I've also seen Trans Siberian Orchestra twice, and you couldn't ask for a flashier arrangement of lights, lasers, fire, falling snow, musicians flinging long hair around, and--oh yes-- electric guitars.

As for piano, I've also seen George Winston play twice. Amazing talent and beautiful music.

"The Ten Tenors" from Australia and Dave Brubeck, both concerts given at a University in Southern Illinois.

A little-known jazz singer called Niki King. She played a couple of times in a cafe near our university on Sunday afternoons (free door). One voice, one guitar, and she was able to melt everyone's heart in the room.

Ivo Pogorelich at the Hollywood Bowl in the early 80's. He was never better, totally mesmerizing. When I saw him again in Pasadena some years later, it was as if he had lost focus and did not know in what direction to go. Estrano, estrano.

Radiohead at MSG in October of '03, for free, on the floor.
really amazing experience.

also, Ryan Adam and the Cardinals at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Nov of '05. fun times.

Owls at NorthSix in May of '02 was great too.

etc etc

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Fall, 1980 - just after the "Damn the Torpedos" album came out. Best concert, hands down.

A couple others that stand out:

Steve Forbert, McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA 1999 - 60 people in the audience, and just a killer show.

Brian Wilson - "Pet Sounds" and "Smile" 2001-2003 tours. Even though they practically wheeled him out to sing from a Teleprompter, it was still magic.

Michael Hedges - Birchmere, 1997. 3 days before he was killed in a car accident. He was truly "the brother from another planet." If you ever got the chance to see him on stage, it was an amazing experience.

kokomo61:

I have 3 of Michael Hedges CDs. I liked his unique style of spacey new age guitar music. I would love to have had the opportunity to hear him play live in concert. I learned of his passing from a newspaper report. If you check back in here and read this, maybe you could tell us a little about his stage presence - what you mean when you say "he was truly the 'brother from another planet'." I'd be interested in hearing a little about what his concerts were like.

Monica: My husband and I were able to see Mark Knoeppler in a smallish outdoor concert (last year I think it was) in western Massachusetts. So much better than attending one of those big arena concerts. Also, watch for George Winston in concert - he may be coming soon to your area? He is giving two concerts here in the Boston area this spring.

J Mark - yes, I like those smaller concert venues best now, also.


A few concerts I let go by without attending and shouldn't have:

Peter Gabriel in a smallish concert hall - solo, just him and a piano. This was last year. SHOULDA GONE!

Madeline Peyroux at the Paradise Club in Boston Mass. Another SHOULDA GONE!

I hope some more of you will post here to tell us about your favorite concerts. I'm enjoying this post. lovepianowoman - thanks for starting this thread.

Jeanne W

I've only really gone to two concerts. One to see Keith Jarrett in Chicago and the other to see Maurizio Pollini play Liszt and Chopin. Definitely tough to decide between the two because I love improvisation and I love Liszt and Chopin.

I'd have to go with Maurizio Pollini. The groaning and moaning that overwhelmed Keith's concert did nothing but weaken the piano's beautiful tone, really.

I'm loving this thread too, Jeanne!
Just asking, but has anybody seen Queen? Had to ask.
And I know someone has seen Elton John and Billy Joel.