concerts... best/worst/first??

First : Kanye West The Point 2004 before he became Billy Big time.

Best: Underworld at EP 2011, Absolutely incredible.

Last: Sunday at Body & Soul this year, lasted about an hour with the weather

First: Saxon at the SFX in 1983.

Best: (1) Green on Red at Midnight at the Olympia in 1992, I never thought I’d see them play Ireland and it was a great gig for the 100 or so fans, the rest of the attendees were only there for the late bar. (2) The Jesus Lizard at the Mean Fiddler in 1998, I spent part of the gig with David Yow on my shoulders, he had his pants on.

Worst: (1) David Gray at the Point in 1999 White Ladder was overplayed everywhere at that stage and I’d had enough of it, spent the night in the bar. (2) Neil Young at the O2 in 2009, I saw him at the RDS in 1988 and he was brilliant, by 2009 every song had a 20 minute 1 note guitar solo and ended with a 5 minute last note.

Bucketlist: I’m crossing Sleep off my list in Manchester in October, and hope to see Half Man Half Biscuit and Colour Haze at some point in the future.

First: Chili Peppers 2007

Best: Very difficult. Maybe Tash Sultana in Amsterdam this year was something out of this world

Worst: Kings of Leon 2009 oxegen. They had a fight the night before. They were shocking

First: Simple Minds in RDS in 89

Best: a few to pick out: The Wedding Present supported by Buffalo Tom in the SFX in 1991, two of my favourite bands on the same stage.
Neil Young acoustic at Vicar Street on the Greendale tour
Ryan Adams in The Shelter on his Heartbreaker tour
Wilco in Whelans in 1997
Beachwood Sparks in Mono supported by Neal Casal (RIP)

Worst: I would say My Bloody Valentine in SFX as it was the loudest gig I have ever been to, almost could not make out which song was which, it was just a wall of noise. Still though, was an experience.

First; U2 in Croker, back '87 I think. They were touring Joshua Tree and they were superb. Great support line-up too.

Worst; Bob Dylan in Pearse stadium c. 15 years ago. Not his hugest fan, but he played mostly songs I didn't know and made no effort whatsoever to interact with the crowd. Wouldn't go to see him now if he was playing for free across the road. Dishonourable mention to Arcade Fire in Malahide couple of years ago. Good musicians but scarcely played for little more than an hour and buggered off to play a private session somewhere in the city.

Best; have to go with Leonard Cohen on one of his Lissadell concerts c. 9 years (?) ago. Played for nearly 3 hours, totally conversed with and respected his audience, played most of his best known songs, musicianship and backing vocalists superb (Webb sisters - It If Be Your Will a highlight). A WB Yeats devotee, Cohen was clearly inspired by his surroundings.

MfMan wrote: »

Worst; Bob Dylan in Pearse stadium c. 15 years ago. Not his hugest fan, but he played mostly songs I didn't know and made no effort whatsoever to interact with the crowd.

Hope you were at least there earlier to catch Gary Moore, was worth going for him.

Strumms wrote: »

Best - Wilco, Vicar St ‘09 by a country mile the best live show, perfect sound, a really tight, enthusiastic and up for it band enjoying and loving every minute of being on that stage for over two hours.

I've still got the setlists from both of those shows.

Weepsie wrote: »

I was out of the country for this having finally seen them in 07 and having been very impressed.

His "Tweedy" gig in the London Palladium in 2014 was brilliant. If Jeff's involved, I'm on board.

I was at that Palladium show too and loved it. Managed to make good what was rather a stodgy venue.

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

That was a class gig. Crazy moshing for Buffalo Tom especially Birdbrain. Weddoes were great; Seamonster came out a few days later. Dalliance was epic.




Did you avail of the ear plugs on the way in? They made some difference.

saw them a few years back in Manchester and ended up taking the plugs out, the holocaust section was mental, it was like standing in front of a 747 engine, my clothes were shaking like I was in a big wind!!! but as Kevin says himself that's all well and good for the few people that enjoy it!! the rest are gone home!!

First : Inspiral Carpets in McGonagles in 1990. We broke the floor supposedly. Had just started playing guitar and spent a lot of time beside the roadie watching him. Tyrns out it was Noel Gallagher.

Best : Prince in Malahide Castle. Right up the front, amazing in every way.

Worst : Divine Comedy in about 1998 near Whelans. Brutal sound brutal setlist.

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

saw them a few years back in Manchester and ended up taking the plugs out, the holocaust section was mental, it was like standing in front of a 747 engine, my clothes were shaking like I was in a big wind!!! but as Kevin says himself that's all well and good for the few people that enjoy it!! the rest are gone home!!

Manchester Apollo, June 2008 - absolutely classic gig. Saw The Fall in the Academy the night before (one of many), what a weekend.

Best: Rush 2011 or Coil in 2004
First: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant 1995
Worst: THAT Gun n'Roses gig in 2010 - still raging!

hots wrote: »

First: Kasabian & Faithless in Marley Park 2006. Was too young to be 'allowed' in but felt like the cheese when I did without hassle and even got served 2 pints of Bud

Best: Probably Foals in London 2017 or Olympia 2014 (supported by cage the elephant too). Honorable mention for being in the front row for the Verve in Oxegen, Bittersweet Sympony was pretty incredible to see live. Eagles of Death Metal in the Olympia 2015 was great, even sitting up in the gods.

Worst: Queens of the Stone Age 2017 was piss poor, crowd, sound, performance were all miserable (pretty sure it was only a couple of gigs later he kicked the photographer). Arctic Monkeys in the 3arena last year were poor too, sound again but the most recent album wasn't for me and just got in the way of everything I wanted to hear.

can you remember what the support acts sounded like for QOTSA and Artic monkees?

I think the lower volume in the 3 arena us perfect, but when they crank it for the headliners there's an issue.

i asked an engineer and he said it's only standing gigs, and it's due to the space under the balcony out to the back.

hots wrote: »

hmm I don't really.... I was there on Saturday for Gerry Cinammon and it was the opposite weirdly, sound for the opening guy was brutal for vocals, then the coral just sounded as though the volume was just far too high all across the board, and then Gerry sounded excellent.

was it standing or sitting gig?