Today's Mission:
You've seen them live:
OK - It's not complete but this is as close as I have ever come to compiling a list of concerts I have seen.
Tell us the following:
The best artist you've seen perform live and the worst: (from a musical standpoint)
Of those, I never cease to be amazed at just how good Gov't Mule is in a live setting, and they have consistently been the band I would see over any other. Nice long shows, a good mix of originals and covers, some excellent jams, it really doesn't get any better.
For worst, I guess I'll go with the show that I left feeling most disappointed. In 1986, ZZ Top were touring on the Afterburner release, their first after the success of Eliminator. I've long been a big fan of the blues and boogie trio and despite my disdain for the sequencer heavy last couple of albums, I was eagerly anticipating a good dose of fun for my first ZZ Top experience.
Alas, it was not to be. Stage theatrics were overwhelming and distracting. Song selection was way too focused on the new stuff, there was nary a guitar solo in the bunch, and I swear they only played for a maximum of 90 minutes (although that may have actually been good...)
The concert with the worst audience:
Farm Aid 1998 - Gina wrote about it in detail and much better than I could. It was miserable.
The most expensive concert and the least expensive:
For ticket price alone it would be Paul McCartney October 2005 - I won't even say how much those cost.
For largest $$ outlay to see a show it would probably be the Gov't Mule Deja Voodoo Album Release Party Sept 13, 2004.
Up until this release Gov't Mule had historically featured pre-release material in their live shows, working them through in the live setting before putting them down in the studio. For this album, they changed things up and debuted the album in it's entirety before a rabid New York City crowd at the historic Roseland Ballroom.
With airfare, hotel, tix, food, etc.. I am sure this would rank as the concert we spent the most to see - but it was a once in a lifetime event and worth every penny.
For least expensive, free is as cheap as it gets and I've seen a number of shows gratis. I've also been seeing shows for about 30 years and ticket prices have changed considerably.
What are your best and worst?
(via Music Memoirs)
Thanks
SB
Best would be.. Probably Gov't Mule, Dec 30, 2005. But I'm not totally sure. There was a My Morning Jacket show at the TLA in Philly where they played Z from start to finish, then ripped into some of their older stuff. That was a sick, sick show too. Oh plus Metallica on the Justice tour, that was insane. Yeah, I can't pick one.
Worst is pretty hard too. I usually leave when they're that bad. Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke @ Austin City Limits nearly put me to sleep. I tried to stay for Assembly of Dust (Grace Potter opened, that's why I went) and they were a snoozefest too. Audioslave was pretty bad.
Worst audience is easy easy easy. The Black Crowes opening for Tom Petty in Camden, NJ. A fight in the parking lot (who the f*#$ fights at a Tom Petty show??), vomit everywhere, and when I say everywhere, I mean EVERY. WHERE. Plus walking into the "mens" (using that term loosely) room and seeing a dude using a sink as a toilet (and I'm NOT talking about #1) ranks very high in my "I'll never get that image out of my head" list.
Most expensive.. Probably, Michael Jackson. I was um 8? Maybe 9? I think the ticket price was $150. But my dad got them so I can't really remember. I DID have a ticket for one of the Pearl Jam in Atlantic City shows (@ the Borgata) which I could have sold for an insane amount, but I sold it at cost to a random fellow on the PJ message board.
I've also flown all over the place and stayed in hotels to see shows. I'm not sure which trip cost the most, I didn't keep track. Plus I flew my brother in from Toronto a whole bunch of times (we both went to Austin City Limits, Red Rocks for Allmans/Mule (not this year), NYC for 4 of the 7 Black Crowes reunion shows etc). This is of course when I made actual money, at a real job. Not like my current gig, which I have trouble referring to as a job.
So to make a long reply even longer - you going to any of the Mule shows this NYE? I'm doing at least the 30th and 31st, maybe one or both of the acoustic shows too. Plus SF in Nov.
Not sure we can make it out to any of the New Years shows this year, would love to but since I left my corporate gig it's hard to manage without the paid vacations.
They are hitting Hammond, IN in Nov which is pretty close so really want to get to that to check out Jorgen.
Thanks,
SB
Those once-in-a-lifetime shows are so worth the bucks, aren't they?
Loved reading this!
Eliminator was really a phenomenally poor album, I hated to see them get so popular with such bad material when they are capable of so much better.
I keep hearing that they are going to go back to a more blues based style but I'll believe it when I hear it.
I surprised myself with my concert list. I know I've been to a bunch of shows but I really was amazed that it was that many - and I know there are dozens missing from that list. Have to say that there is nary a disappointment in the bunch really.
SB