Top 5 Concerts You've Ever Seen

[Michael Edwards Love]

I'm not even sure where to start, but here are some off the top of my head that really moved me and/or converted me to fandom of an artist.  

1.  Adrian Belew (Philadelphia 1994)
2.  King Crimson (Columbia, MD 1996)
3.  Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Philadelphia 1997)
4.  Reverend Horton Heat (Lancaster, PA  1997 or 98)
5.  Hubert Sumlin (Manchester, CT  2003):  turned me into a big fan of Howlin' Wolf
6.  The Dixie Hummingbirds (Kutztown, PA  2006)
7.  The Blind Boys of Alabama (Glenside, PA  2010)
8.  The Beach Boys C50 (Bethlehem, PA  2012)
9.  Brian Wilson & Jeff Beck (Bethlehem, PA  2013)

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Ah  41 isn't old..!!  Try 60 then your getting old..!!!

It's OK. That guy's not my biggest fan, so any chance to get a jab in there to hurt my little feelings, he'll take it.

What? No. That's not true at all. Where would you get that idea? If you did, then I apologize.
I just find that people over 35 are old. Just my opinion

Lol, thank you! I'm a bit sensetive today. It shall pass.

It's funny: when I like 19, 20 and playing in bands, if one of the guys was like 25 I'd be like "but he's old" so, I get it!

[MaxL]

1. The Beach Boys C50 (Wembley, 28/09/12)
2. Neil Young and Crazy Horse (Birmingham, 11/06/13)
3. a-ha (Oslo, 04/12/10)
4. Brian Wilson (RFH, London, 16/09/11)
5. a-ha (Manchester, 03/11/09)

M&B at Epsom in 2011 comes very, very close, it was an amazing show crammed into 90 mins.

Also,

5. Jody Stephens (I got a photo and an autograph at the end from the last, living member of Big Star)

I'm extremely envious. One of my only regrets when it comes to gigs is not going to the Big Star's Third performance in London last year with Jody, Ken Stringfellow and guest spots from Jon Auer, Sondre Lerche, Norman Blake, Robyn Hitchcock, Ray Davies etc. etc. The closest I could ever come to seeing Big Star live.

[alf wiedersehen]

Also,

5. Jody Stephens (I got a photo and an autograph at the end from the last, living member of Big Star)

I'm extremely envious. One of my only regrets when it comes to gigs is not going to the Big Star's Third performance in London last year with Jody, Ken Stringfellow and guest spots from Jon Auer, Sondre Lerche, Norman Blake, Robyn Hitchcock, Ray Davies etc. etc. The closest I could ever come to seeing Big Star live.

Oh, that's too bad. That would have been an absolutely incredible show!

[Malc]

Not sure of order of preference as all were great for various reasons...

BW 'SMiLE' London Festival Hall
BBs C50 London RAH
BBs London Wembley 1980
Queen London Wembley 1986 (was the last tour 1986 ??)
Monkees London RAH 1987

then again, the list could so easily have included Bread, Toto, Genesis, Maria McKee, Fleetwood Mac, Capercailie or a host of others - but not Belinda Carlisle (memorably walked out of that one !)

[Rocky Raccoon]

Not to brag (okay I'm totally bragging), I've seen so many great concerts, so many legendary artists.  Springsteen, McCartney, the Who, the Stones, Ringo, the Beach Boys obviously, Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck, David Byrne and St. Vincent, Arcade Fire and Spoon, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and Ben Harper... how do you rank a group like that, let alone pick five?

[bluesno1fann]

I may not have gone to many concerts, and haven't been to any this year. But that's going to end in March when I will be seeing the Rolling Stones!!!
I'm certain that it will make the Top 5 Concerts I've Seen!

[Ovi]

Haven't really been to many concerts, but saw Waters' Wall tour last summer and it completely blew my mind. One of the best experiences of my life.

[Jurrasic Mark]

God thats tough. And i'm terrible with years...

BB's at Wembley
Peter Gabriel at the NIA. Must have been 2008? Maybe..
Todd Rundgren playing A Wizard, A True Star at the Apollo
Biffy Clyro and Oceansize at the Koko 2007? (big Oceansize fan)

Others would also include
Steeley Dan
Rolling Stones (seen a few times, always a good show)
The Flower Kings
The Monkees
Brian at the Royal Festival Hall
Randy Newman at the Royal Festival Hall
Steve Hackett at the DeMontford
Yes
Radiohead
Beach Boys, Paris 1998?

God I've been to too many concerts in my time.. Need to get my thinking cap on..

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Also,

5. Jody Stephens (I got a photo and an autograph at the end from the last, living member of Big Star)

I'm extremely envious. One of my only regrets when it comes to gigs is not going to the Big Star's Third performance in London last year with Jody, Ken Stringfellow and guest spots from Jon Auer, Sondre Lerche, Norman Blake, Robyn Hitchcock, Ray Davies etc. etc. The closest I could ever come to seeing Big Star live.

Oh, that's too bad. That would have been an absolutely incredible show!

It Was! Id say they might do it again in the UK somewhere. Show planned for Australia next.

so in no particular order

1) Brian Wilson - Pet Sounds Tour (sure the singing is better now but that was my first time seeing BW live, something I never thought would happen) - Dublin 2002
2) The Beach Boys - C50 Tour - 2012  Berlin
3) Big Star - Shepherds Bush Empire - 2008 London
4) Randy Newman (my seat was almost too good and actually ended up ALMOST sitting under his piano so kind of a bad seat?) - Vicar St - 2005 Dublin
5) The Zombies (entire odessey and oracle plus excellent solo Blunstone set with string quartet) - Shepherds Bush Empire - 2008 London

[Alex]

Beach Boys C50, Saratoga, NY 2012
Jonathan Richman, Burlington, VT 2013
MGMT, Burlington, VT 2010

Countless local/cover/bar bands...

EDIT: Also saw O.A.R. in Plattsburgh, NY in '04. Not exactly my kind of music but they did put on a great show.

[Aum Bop Diddit]

Beach Boys C50, Saratoga, NY 2012
Jonathan Richman, Burlington, VT 2013
MGMT, Burlington, VT 2013

Countless local/cover/bar bands...

Glad to hear Jonathan still gives a good show....

[Waspinators]

I've seen a decent amount of great gigs for a 21 year old. I've missed about as many too.  

1. Mike Watt & The Missingmen doing the hyphenated-man album in a small Orlando club, 2011.
2. Paul McCartney at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami, 2010.
3. The Beach Boys C50 in Hollywood, FL, 2012.
4. Bootsy Collins & The Funk Unity Band, followed by The Roots at Bear Creek Festival, 2013.
5. Arcade Fire, "secret" intimate show billed as The Reflektors at the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami, 2013.

Honorable mentions to Primus 3D last year, Man or Astroman the same year, and Slayer in 2007.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

1. Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE (Nokea in DFW)
2. The Polyphonic Spree Christmas show (Lakewood Theater in Dallas)
3. Flaming Lips (Nokea in DFW)
4. Danielson Famile (Granada in Dallas)
5. Radiohead (Houston, TX)

Lots of smaller venues. Honarable mentions to BB50, Beach House, Sparklehorse and Grandaddy.

[alf wiedersehen]

I just saw The Three O'Clock the other night in a tiny room - it was a really great show.

They played songs most of their earlier songs, plus a cover of "Lucifer Sam."
For the encore, Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate and Vicki Peterson of The Bangles came out and joined them on stage to play "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and, as a tribute to Lou Reed, "There She's Goes Again."

T'was a great show and t'I would definitely retroactively add it to my list.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

1. Paul McCartney & Wings - "Rock Show" tour, LA Forum, 1976 I think
2. Bob Dylan and the Band - "Before the Flood" tour, LA Forum, 1974
3. The Who "Quadrophenia Tour", LA Forum, 1973. Opening act, Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. Peter Gabriel "Security" tour, Greek Theater, Berkeley CA, 1983
5. Yes, "Close to the Edge" tour, LA Forum 1973
6. Beachago, Anaheim Stadium, 1975?
7. Robin Trower, "Bridge of Sighs" tour, Long Beach arena 1973?
8. Elton John, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" tour, LA Forum, 73 or 74?

So many more but those are the best from high school days, college 76, then Peter Gabriel

[donald]

Top 5 Concerts vs top 5 bands.  forces me to judge.  Seen some legendary acts in my time but the best 5 concerts?

Noy necessarily in order but close;

The Who Cincinatti Music Hall 1970 (the basic live at Leeds tour)Hands down best show I've ever seen.
C50 BeachBoys May Pittsburg PA
SMiLE Warner Theater DC

Hot Tuna DAR Constitution Hall 72or 73 with electricity and papa John ...blew me out of my seat
1st Jefferson Starship tour.....before they were using the name.....The Baron Von Tollbooth tour Circa 73 At the Spectrum in Philly

In my memory these top shows I've seen with Jimi Hendrix Exp, Rod Stewart in his prime, Tull, Dylan, Dead, Police and dozens of others in terms of burning into my memory and blowing me away with the show

[BillA]

1. Beaver Brown (before they became John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band) 1979 - Bentley College, Waltham Mass

2. Van Morrison - 1990 - Lakewood Ampitheatre, Atlanta

3. Steely Dan - 2006 - Chastian Park, Atlanta

4. Paul McCartney - 1989 - Omni, Atlanta

5. Bruce Springsteen - 1978 - Music Hall, Boston