best band you ever saw live

BornToRun88 · 22-07-2011 10:16AM

I saw Arctic Monkeys live twice, in Malahide in 2007 and the O2 in 2009, and they are unreal live. I'm patiently waiting for them to announce Irish gigs for their Suck It And See tour.

karaokeman · 10-08-2011 10:47AM

Take That - Croke Park 2011
Coldplay - Oxegen Festival 2011
Green Day - Marlay Park 2010
U2 - Croke Park 2009

I've been to many more but these are the four best I've seen thus far.

WinstonOno · 10-08-2011 11:54AM

radiohead in the old point, thom yorkes voice was amazing!
sufjan stevens in the olympia, complete with ballons and fairy wings, otherworldly!

elefant · 10-08-2011 12:04PM

The live shows I enjoyed the most were

Muse @ Oxegen in 2007.
The Pixies and RHCP @ Phoenix Park in 2004 (wish I had been older to appreciate it more!).
Two Door Cinema Club @ Vera in Groningen, NL in 2010.

LordSutch · 10-08-2011 12:13PM

MoodeRator wrote: »

Pink Floyd at Wembley Stadium in London on 06 August 1988.
Mind blowing! literally!!

I was there too, great smell wafting round the stadium on that date if I remember correctly

just a shame Roger was missing from the line up.
The other gig that sticks in the mind was Ian Dury & the Blockheads at the Clapham Grand - Clapham (also in the late 80s).

rustyregan · 12-08-2011 10:27PM

Adiaga 2 wrote: »

On a larger scale, Depeche Mode never dissappoint. 1st saw them in the point in december '93 and they blew me away(not literally of course)

Jeez, I think I was at that too. It really did rock. It was the Songs Of Faith & Devotion tour wasn't it?

My favorites would be one of:

(the aforementioned)
Daft Punk in Marlay Park 2007 - was really awesome, rain and all
Beach House in Whelans, Feb 2010 - apart from the clown in the crowd
Dungen in Whelans, Nov 2010 - drummer was scarily good
John Martyn - Olympia - about 1996
Super Furry Animals - The Ambassador that time they did a weekend of gigs in Dublin, think it was just after Rings Around The World.

A Disgrace · 13-08-2011 12:22AM

Frank Black - Witnness
A House- Farewell gig, Olympia
Gene - temple Bar Music Centre
Sparklehorse - Whelans
U2 - RDS (Zoo TV)

Elba101 · 14-08-2011 10:06PM

Saw The Prodigy twice - amazing! Faithless and Muse were incredible too, but John Butler Trio are unbelievable live!

julio_iglayzis · 22-08-2011 01:21PM

NapoleonInRags wrote: »

Nirvana supporting Sonic Youth in the Top Hat Dun Laoghaire, 21st August 1991. Didn't have a clue who they were but Christ they took the place apart. Sonic Youth were seriously upstaged.

That's probably the best gig I was ever at - I disagree slightly in that I thought Sonic Youth blew Nirvana off the stage, but each to his own.
(And it was 20 years ago yesterday, which is somewhat scary)

julio_iglayzis · 22-08-2011 01:27PM

These were also completely amazing shows -

Spiritualized (Feile 1993)
Swans - (TBMC 2010)
Orbital - (Feile 1995)
The Verve - (SFX 1997)
Pixies - (Point Depot 1991)

orl677 · 23-08-2011 09:41AM

Off the top of my head

Muse - Olympia 2004 - Pitch perfect, and an electric atmosphere, I think I was in another world throughout, not such a fan these days but those gigs stand out in my mind

Sigur Rós - Olympia 2006 - Stunning, that 'something special in the air' feeling you hope for at a gig

Prince - Malahide Castle 2011- A masterclass, even if I had to travel I would hope to see the man play again

Isis - Temple Bar Music Centre 2007

Take That - Croke park 2009 - A whole load of my relatives were goin to this and I was given a ticket, toddled along and was really blown away, a great spectacle, top show..

Regret: Having tickets for Oceansize's Roadhouse anniversary gig, getting sick and not being able to go, and now they've split. I suspected at the time that they probably would :rolleyes:

A Disgrace · 23-08-2011 09:31PM

Pixies - Phoenix Park 2004

Didn't dig this one at all (or their 30 minute gig at the Olympia a year or two ago). Maybe it was because I was about a mile from the stage, or maybe it was because they were technically supporting RHCP...

Miguel_Sanchez · 23-08-2011 10:47PM

A Disgrace wrote: »

Pixies - Phoenix Park 2004

Didn't dig this one at all (or their 30 minute gig at the Olympia a year or two ago). Maybe it was because I was about a mile from the stage, or maybe it was because they were technically supporting RHCP...

Did they play the Olympia in 2005/2006?

komodosp · 24-08-2011 11:09AM

It's consigned to nostalgia now so I don't think anything will ever beat it, but
The Dandy Warhols in The Olympia quite a few years ago. They stopped the gig half way through to take a cigarette break...

At the end Courtney pointed out the idiocy of the charade that they would pretend to finish, go off the stage and get called back on for an encore... So he said Let's just pretend we've gone off stage and come back on... And they played a load more songs...

My kind of people!

...

After that it's between Mercury Rev, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead (both Academy) and Flaming Lips (Belsonic)

seachto7 · 24-08-2011 11:36AM

If you think about it, most bands you go to see live (who you like) should be unreal live. That's what they get paid to do. Pretty much most bands I have seen live were tight, and delivered a good set. It's hard to pick a favourite out of all of them, but I don't know if I could fault any band I have seen live for not blowing me away, whether it be a trad gig, a metal gig, an indie gig or whatever..... There will always be something in each performance to hit me around the head....

rustyregan · 24-08-2011 12:24PM

A Disgrace wrote: »

Pixies - Phoenix Park 2004

Didn't dig this one at all (or their 30 minute gig at the Olympia a year or two ago). Maybe it was because I was about a mile from the stage, or maybe it was because they were technically supporting RHCP...

I thought the one in the Phonix Park was quite good, probably the best of the reunion gigs I've seen. The one in the Landsdown Rd. was marred by a bad sound. Agreed re the Olympia. I'm definitely done with Pixies gigs now.

komodosp · 24-08-2011 02:34PM

seachto7 wrote: »

If you think about it, most bands you go to see live (who you like) should be unreal live. That's what they get paid to do. Pretty much most bands I have seen live were tight, and delivered a good set. It's hard to pick a favourite out of all of them, but I don't know if I could fault any band I have seen live for not blowing me away, whether it be a trad gig, a metal gig, an indie gig or whatever..... There will always be something in each performance to hit me around the head....

Perhaps they should, but they aren't always! I find that the "rougher" sounding bands seem to be better live, while the ones with more defined melodies are not as good for some reason. Maybe because the former have more freedom to mess around with their instruments.

It really puts me off when the band comes out and just plays their songs pretty much how they sound on their record... Might as well just put them on the stereo very loud.

e.g. the one time I saw U2 they really let me down, despite me being a big fan before that.

Monsieur Folie · 25-08-2011 10:27AM

I'm only young and my gig going days have just begun, but so far I'd have to say it's the Gorillaz at the 02, 2010.

Damon's a legend, and their were so many musicians and artists coming on and off the stage throughout their set, it really was awesome!

Johnny_Fontane · 25-08-2011 01:33PM

Standouts....

Mogwai 1999, olympia
hammell on trial (2001), cleeres, kilkenny
Cat power 1999, Sydney
will oldham (everytime) but particularly with Dave Pajo in Vicar street (circa 06?)
do make say think (whelan 03 maybe)
ryan adams (2001), watergate, Kilkenny
Radiohead (belfast) - 15th Sep 2001

so many more, acid mothers temple, smog, lamb (99)....

rustyregan · 25-08-2011 07:01PM

Johnny_Fontane wrote: »

Standouts....

will oldham (everytime) but particularly with Dave Pajo in Vicar street (circa 06?)

That was the one and only time I've seen Will Oldham and it was pretty awesome alright. Just him and the guitar, very impressive. Pajo was coming out with some mad stuff.

vibe666 · 25-08-2011 07:14PM

INXS at the Brixton Academy 1994.

I think it was one of the last gigs they ever did in the UK before Michael Hutchence died.

it was the first gig i'd ever been to and it totally blew my mind and dozens of gigs later i still haven't topped the experience. maybe it's nostalgia, but they were just freaking awesome to see in their prime.

Sir Graball · 28-08-2011 09:15PM

My giggin days are coming to a close but there were a few highlights

Lou Reed -Brixton Academy 1984 and Point 1996
Gillian Welch Vicker St ( cant remember year?)
Tom Waits Olympia 1984 ( Big Time)
Squeeze - Some race course gig in the 1980's
Waterboys - Croker 80 something

Most dissapointing

Warren Zevon -National Stadium 1983 ( He was pi##ed!!)

One of the outstanding live performances I ever saw was Eurythmics I think 1982 ish came on before U2 again some race course gig.They were fantastic live!! Annie Lennox had more energy than a bucket of lucozade

F##k my memory is startin to go!!!!

rcazzy · 20-09-2011 10:39PM

vibe666 wrote: »

INXS at the Brixton Academy 1994.

I think it was one of the last gigs they ever did in the UK before Michael Hutchence died.

it was the first gig i'd ever been to and it totally blew my mind and dozens of gigs later i still haven't topped the experience. maybe it's nostalgia, but they were just freaking awesome to see in their prime.

Envy!

Mine is Muse at Oxegen 2007. Just the late start, pitch black night and their sound and light show entrancing ever single person around me! It was so effective, it was almost as though the darkness was another light source they utilised!

mud · 20-09-2011 10:41PM

Cardiacs at the Astoria in London. Best live band ever.

punchdrunk · 20-09-2011 11:33PM

Neil Young 2001 at the Point.simply incredible!!

Dubhthamlacht · 21-09-2011 09:43AM

Up until a few weeks ago I would have said British Sea Power in Whelans, maybe 5 or 6 years ago after there first album was out. It was bizzare, manic, edgy and atmosphere was electric.

But...a few weeks ago I witnessed And So I Watch You from Afar at Electric Picnic. ASIWYFA left me stunned at their energy, intensity and showmanship. It was life affirming to witness them play.

vibe666 · 21-09-2011 12:36PM

rcazzy wrote: »

Envy!

Mine is Muse at Oxegen 2007. Just the late start, pitch black night and their sound and light show entrancing ever single person around me! It was so effective, it was almost as though the darkness was another light source they utilised!

it was a real last minute thing, my brother got a call from a mate to say they were playing and he'd got us some tickets and a few hours later we were there with only about 6 rows of people in front of us. it soon filled up though and it's still definitely the best concert I was ever at and i'm not sure (if it was possible) that i even want to go to one that's better any time in the future. i like being able to say that i was there and it was the best gig ever.

i actually found someone had posted a video playlist from the concert on youtube, so you can have a look if you're interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdE74Q_e5Ug&list=PLF7C34E0657B0B915&feature=plpp

daveyeh · 21-09-2011 12:39PM

Enemies

Buddly · 23-09-2011 02:06PM

Chic at Electric Picnic 2009. Wasn't expecting much and was hugely surprised. Nile Rodgers just kept pulling out the hits.

Battleflag · 25-09-2011 10:09AM

Radiohead - Malahide 2008
Arcade Fire - O2, 2010
Kasabian - Oxegen, 2006
Primal Scream - Savoy, Cork 2009
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Slane, 2003

Great gigs

best band you ever saw live

Comments