concerts... best/worst/first??

Bigbagofcans · 23-05-2019 3:11pm

First: Five - 200? - during the godawful noughties pop era
Best: Sigur Ros - 2008
Worst: Kings of Leon - I didn't write the date in my diary

I'm jealous of those who went to gigs/festivals before the invention of the camera phone. Especially at standing gigs where my view is obscured by fans taking videos.

AndyBoBandy · 23-05-2019 3:21pm

First Electronic: Bjork - Point Depot - 1996 - Supported by Underworld (though they played after Bjork) (both were excellent).

Best (DJ Set): DJ Hype (DnB) - Temple Bar Music Centre early 2000's - went til 4am - pLace was FcUkiNg HOPPING. Hopping.

Worst (DJ Set): Probably seeing David Holmes somewhere, expecting him to play techno*, but him just playing a sh1te mix of breaks/funk/soul.

*all the support DJ's were playing techno.

Sorry about that · 23-05-2019 3:26pm

First, Féile '90.
Best, Doves, The Olympia 2005.
Worst, Michael Jackson RDS 1997.

mimimcmc · 23-05-2019 4:09pm

First: The Revs (remember them?) - 2003(?) at Glór in Ennis, still have the ticket stub.

Best: Pendulum at both of the Oxegen's they played, 2009 and 2011, and the RDS in 2008.
Pearl Jam, 3 Arena, 2010.

Worst: The Black Keys 2012, just poor. And RHCP at Oxegen 2006, they were just arseholes..

redmgar · 23-05-2019 4:17pm

First - Blur RDS (1996?)
Best - Polyphonic spree Ambassador 2004
Worst - Kings of Leon Oxegen 2007

Homesick Alien · 23-05-2019 4:22pm

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

My first was Muse in Cork in 2001. Ash were on the bill as well. I think it was the Heineken Green Energy festival.

I was at that. Muse were actually supporting Ash. Funny how things turn out. I remember Ash doing a cover of Weezer's Only in Dreams during the encore which was awesome.

Ricosruffneck · 23-05-2019 4:26pm

Homesick Alien wrote: »

I was at that. Muse were actually supporting Ash. Funny how things turn out. I remember Ash doing a cover of Weezer's Only in Dreams during the encore which was awesome.

Amazing cover, on the single version of Burn baby Burn. Wish they'd just get a second guitarist again.

TheRiverman · 23-05-2019 5:19pm

The best,I have been to 21 Bruce Springsteen shows starting with Slane in 1985,hard to pick one,but The Tunnel Of Love Tour show in the RDS Dublin in 1988 stands out because of the performance setlist and the wonderful sexual chemistry onstage between Bruce and Patti Scialfa.It was hot.
The worst is easy,Bob Dylan in Pearse Stadium Galway in 2004.He was awful.

Rigor Mortis · 23-05-2019 5:27pm

First - M Jackson in Cork 1988
Worst - London Grammar EP 2017 - was really hoping for an amazing show and a bad let down
Best - The Frames, Witness 2001,
Hon Mentions; Roger Waters (The Wall) Point Depot, A House (SFX, 1989), Radiohead (Malahide)

redmgar · 23-05-2019 5:32pm

Rigor Mortis wrote: »

Best - The Frames, Witness 2001,

The Frames Marley Park 2004 was class.

Rigor Mortis · 23-05-2019 5:55pm

redmgar wrote: »

The Frames Marley Park 2004 was class.

That was a great line up, Supergrass, Bell X1, Idlewild and Hailite.

The Witness one beat it for me though. It was heaving in that tent.

marklazarcovic · 23-05-2019 5:59pm

Game of thrones orchestra in oddessy arena Belfast, hairs still stand when I think of it,Ramin djawadi is a genius.

Oilbeefhooked! · 23-05-2019 9:17pm

1st The Smiths , Aberdeen 1985

Best Eddie Vedder 3 Arena 2017
(Honourable mentions- PJ Dublin 1996,2000,2010 and London 2018....also Doves Olympia 2002, The Verve Slane 1998, The National Olympia 2010 and Soundgarden O2 2013.)

Worst....hands down... The Lemonheads ,The Academy 2019.

NewbridgeIR · 23-05-2019 9:21pm

Best: The Cure at the RDS, 1989 - read my take here.

Worst: The Pastels at the Mean Fiddler, 1997. F*cking hipsters.

First: U2 at Croke Park, 1985. Great day out with supports from REM, Squeeze, The Alarm, In Tua Nua.

dasdog · 23-05-2019 11:55pm

First: Megadeth - Olympic Ballroom (1988). Life was never the same after that.

Best: Ozzy Osbourne - McGonagles (1991). I much prefer what he did with Black Sabbath but seeing him in that venue was unreal.
Honourable mentions to Eat Static at Dance Valley - Netherlands (1996), Photek - Temple Bar Music Centre (1998), Shane MacGowan & The Popes - Eamon Dorans, one of those surprise 1:00am shows (2001), Dweezil Zappa - Vicar St (2018)

Worst: There's been a few but I just leave if it's terrible and showing no signs of improving. Not the performance and more disappointing than anything was Ennio Morricone in Kilmainham (2013) ruined by the terrible setup/wind/chatting crowd but I got to see the maestro in February indoors and it was a joy.

Billy Mays · 24-05-2019 9:19am

First: Honestly can't remember

Best: Spiritualized @ Radio City Music Hall 2010, Orbital @ Homelands Ireland 1999, Radiohead @ Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam 2016

Worst: The Fall @ the Button Factory 2013. I love Mark E Smith and know you never know what you'll get from him but he was a shambles that night

Decuc500 · 24-05-2019 9:40am

First: Simple Minds, RDS 1989

Best: Wedding Present / Buffalo Tom SFX 1991 (also any of Wilco's gigs in Vicar Street or Ryan Adams/Jesse Malin, Olympia 2002 or Lambchop, Olympia 2000 or John Carpenter, Vicar Street 2016)

Worst: U2, RDS 1993

MetzgerMeister · 24-05-2019 9:58am

First: Fear Factory, Amabassador Theatre, 2001

Best: Rammstein, The O2, 2012
Honourable mentions: The Prodigy - Live at the Marquee, 2009, Mushroomhead - Ozzfest, 2002, The Stunning - Féile 2018, Thurles

Worst: Killswitch Engage - Temple Bar Music Centre, 2003

LowOdour · 24-05-2019 10:51am

mimimcmc wrote: »

First: The Revs (remember them?) - 2003(?) at Glór in Ennis, still have the ticket stub.

Best: Pendulum at both of the Oxegen's they played, 2009 and 2011, and the RDS in 2008.
Pearl Jam, 3 Arena, 2010.

Worst: The Black Keys 2012, just poor. And RHCP at Oxegen 2006, they were just arseholes..

Ha, that Black Keys gig would have been up their with my best. Was drenched in sweat afterwards, was unreal. Band of Skull were excellent as support act!

First - Slane 2000. I remember Mody being amazing, was drunk good parts of that day so not a huge amount I remember! Muse played apparently!

Worst - Macy Gray - Slane 2000. One of the other acts I remember from that day. She was off her tree on something. RHCP Phoneix Park 2004

Best - as many have said, very hard to pick the best. Most gigs at Roisin Dubh (Frightened Rabbit :-(, Frank Turner, I'm from Barcelona) would be up there
The Strokes - Oxegen 2004 is probably the best atmosphere I've been at for a live show. But I could add loads that would be close!

eviltimeban · 24-05-2019 1:51pm

Decuc500 wrote: »

Worst: U2, RDS 1993

How so? It's my one regret I didn't see a ZooTV / Zooropra show.

sydthebeat · 24-05-2019 1:57pm

eviltimeban wrote: »

How so? It's my one regret I didn't see a ZooTV / Zooropra show.

My first ever gig!

Needless to say ill always have fond memories of it...

corm500 · 24-05-2019 2:33pm

eviltimeban wrote: »

How so? It's my one regret I didn't see a ZooTV / Zooropra show.

U2s Zooropa gig at the RDS is one of my top 5 gigs. Can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t have enjoyed, but I suppose if this thread shows anything it is that musical taste on here is very varied. I think where you stand or sit at a gig can have a huge bearing on enjoyment. All it takes is a couple of assholes next to you and the greatest of gigs can be ruined.

Granadino · 24-05-2019 2:39pm

First: Metallica 92, The Point
Best: hard to say, Sonic Youth, Wilco, both at Vicar St, Low's recent gig at Vicar St
Worst: Radiohead in the 3 arena last year or the year before, whenever it was. Terrible gig. Terrible atmosphere in the standing section. Terrible view in the standing section. Expected better for €90 a ticket. Thom Yorke was up his own hole at the gig as well. I've seen them 3 times before that back to 97, and those were far better, even in the old Point.

beecee · 24-05-2019 2:52pm

Goes to show... one of my favourites. And I was standing for it too.

grenadino wrote: »

First: Metallica 92, The Point
Best: hard to say, Sonic Youth, Wilco, both at Vicar St, Low's recent gig at Vicar St
Worst: Radiohead in the 3 arena last year or the year before, whenever it was. Terrible gig. Terrible atmosphere in the standing section. Terrible view in the standing section. Expected better for €90 a ticket. Thom Yorke was up his own hole at the gig as well. I've seen them 3 times before that back to 97, and those were far better, even in the old Point.

Decuc500 · 24-05-2019 3:04pm

eviltimeban wrote: »

How so? It's my one regret I didn't see a ZooTV / Zooropra show.

I was never a big U2 fan but I went with friends. The support was The Golden Horde and I thought they were dreadful so it was a bad start.

I just thought U2 were very bland and underwhelming. But Bono channel surfing was fun and the duet with a video of Lou Reed singing Satellite of Love was great so it wasn't all bad.

ILIKEFOOD · 24-05-2019 3:08pm

mimimcmc wrote: »

First: The Revs (remember them?) - 2003(?) at Glór in Ennis, still have the ticket stub.

Yes! Saw them a load of times in the temple bar music centre... saw rory and his band 'rory and the island' last year in his bar in lanzarote.. they had an excellent set up, like a mini whelans. He sold it and his moved back to Ireland and is putting out an album I believe. Really excellent musician.

ILIKEFOOD · 24-05-2019 3:14pm

First: Coolio in 1996 The Point

Best: so many, it was probably Faithless in the early days at one of the festivals, Witnness I think. Was totally buzzed after..oh to be younger!

or PULP at EP a few years ago

Worst: Ash at The Lost Weekend in London (2000)... mostly because they were there to replace NIN who suddenly cancelled due to illness... which many years later Trent Reznor revealed was an over dose he took the night before. Sad times. Ash to be fair have always been decent live. Such a disappointment.

that or Neil Young and Crazy Horse in the RDS... backs turned to the crowd the whole time. Dull as fk

loads of great and bad gigs since, but I don't put as much stock in them now as I did when I was a teen. I'm sure it's the same for many of you.

antodeco · 24-05-2019 3:19pm

First: Oasis 1995 pairc ui chaoimh

Best: Catatonia Olympia 1996 - It was my first proper "coming of age" gig. Up in the mosh pit (which was only about 10 people) as a 15 year old was fantastic. I think its potential teenage memories that have made it the best gig. If I was to redo it now, probably wouldnt be in the top 10!

Worst: Ed Sheeran Croke Park 2018. Couldnt get into the "main area" so had to stand basically outside where all the food stalls were. Couldnt see the stage or the TVs and sound wasnt great that far back. Horrendous experience. Thankfully my daughter went the following night and got into the moshpit, so she got a redemption of some way!

ILIKEFOOD · 24-05-2019 3:21pm

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

First: Fear Factory, Amabassador Theatre, 2001

Best: Rammstein, The O2, 2012

FF at the Ambassador was a great gig, my second gig was FF in the SFX - unreal - and they were savage a few years ago in The Academy.

That Rammstein gig was incredible. Doubt I'll see anything as off the wall as that.

Billy Mays · 24-05-2019 3:23pm

beecee wrote: »

Goes to show... one of my favourites. And I was standing for it too.

Yeah I was standing at that gig aswell and it was f*cking great. Crowd was hoppin where I was.

unichick · 24-05-2019 3:25pm

Best: Coldplay Point Depot, 2002, before they sold out & became huge!

Worst: Whitney Houston, 3 Arena, 2010, voice had gone, she was all over the shop, it was a shambles. Her daughter was in the front row also. RIP both.

First: An Emotional Fish, Limerick Theatre Royal, 1995

notobtuse · 24-05-2019 3:31pm

First: Woodstock (Went against parents wishes when I was 12 years old with a friend and his older brother. Got a terrible beating from my Irish mother when she found out. Cousin who was also there ratted me out), 1969

Best: Live Aid (JFK Stadium), 1985

Worst: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (Sound problems the entire show. Zappa even walked off stage at a point, and I got clubbed with a nightstick by local police), 1973

alastair · 24-05-2019 3:40pm

Sparks at the Electric Picnic in 2005 or 2006. Hands down the best show of that festival imo - and still their only ever Irish show I think.

I was at this, and have absolutely no memory of it. Which is a shame.

Shout out for best of EP gigs - the Beastie Boys two gigs in 2007.

First gig - Carnsore Point anti-nukes ‘78. Then various Larks in the Parks, and U2 in the SFX in ‘82.

Best gig. Pulp. SFX ‘95, or Fatima Mansions, Powerhaus, Angel, ‘92

Worst gig. Mumford and Sons, Salthill, 2012. Not my cup of tea, and, to be fair, not the band’s fault - just a painful all round event experience, rescued only by an amazing post-headline performance by The Correspondents.

Homesick Alien · 24-05-2019 4:04pm

First: Radiohead @ RDS 1997

Best: A few here of course.
Ash @ Sir Henrys, Cork supported by Snow Patrol (can't remember the year, late 90s I'd say)
Tom Waits in the Phoenix Park in 2008
Beirut in Tripod 2010
Radiohead at Malahide Castle 2008 and Bilbao BBK in 2012
And so I watch you from afar in Whelans 2013
Take That, 3 Arena 2015

Worst: Mark Lanegan in the Academy in 2015. The guy grips the mic stand and does not move for the entire gig. No interaction. No nothing.

Homesick Alien · 24-05-2019 4:11pm

notobtuse wrote: »

First: Woodstock (Went against parents wishes when I was 12 years old with a friend and his older brother. Got a terrible beating from my Irish mother when she found out. Cousin who was also there ratted me out), 1969

Best: Live Aid (JFK Stadium), 1985

Worst: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (Sound problems the entire show. Zappa even walked off stage at a point, and I got clubbed with a nightstick by local police), 1973

We have a winner.

notobtuse · 24-05-2019 6:42pm

Homesick Alien wrote: »

We have a winner.

Regarding Woodstock: I was a dumb 12-year-old kid. I don’t remember much of the music, if any. What really stuck out in my mind was the 3+ hours of walking and hitchhiking to get to Bethel, New York after we abandoned the car because of the massive traffic jams, and local people giving us drinks and food along the way (first time I had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches). Also, they make the rain and mud look like fun in the movie, but it was miserable, and the stench of human body odor was horrible. But the hippies were fun to be with.

Regarding Live Aid: The music was fantastic but the temperature was unbearable. I think it reached almost 110 degrees Fahrenheit at ground level. Luckily they turned on numerous fire hoses so you made your way over to get cooled off. Also, the seats were deteriorating and you went away with fiberglass splinters in your ass. The worst was most restrooms didn’t work and you had to constantly walk through water mixed with urine and human waste streaming out of the restrooms. Power Station was terrible (the lead singer at the time got numerous water bottles thrown at him) and Led Zeppelin (with Phil Collins on drums) was a big disappointment. IMO, Eric Clapton and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had the best performances.

Luckily I’m a pack-rat. I kept my tickets from both Woodstock and Live Aid and have them framed and hanging in my karaoke/music room and bar.

24-05-2019 8:16pm

First: Smashing Pumpkins at the RDS in 2008. Sound was a bit off and it dragged on a bit in parts, but there were some wonderful moments in the show too (the highlights for me were probably the quieter moments, like the acoustic versions of "1979", "Perfect" and "That's The Way My Love Is".)

Best: Nick Cave and the Bad Seets, October 2017 in Berlin. He is such an incredible showman.

Worst: Hard to pick, as I've never been left terribly disappointed by someone. Massive Attack at the 3Arena this year was a bit flatter than I had hoped, although that was partly due to a lot of disinterested twats in the crowd. Otherwise Laura Marling at Electric Picnic 2010 was a disaster because the blaring electronic music from a nearby tent meant nobody could hear her! Put that one down to the organisers rather than the artist.

Rothko · 25-05-2019 1:22am

beecee wrote: »

Goes to show... one of my favourites. And I was standing for it too.

Same, I was in the standing section for that and I thought it was great.

Hotblack Desiato · 25-05-2019 12:22pm

grenadino wrote: »

Best: hard to say, Sonic Youth, Wilco, both at Vicar St,

You mean SY's last appearance in Ireland? Sound was poor.

By far their best gig here was in the Top Hat in 1991, with a little known band called Nirvana in support who tried their best to steal the show. Olympia a few years later was very good too, Dalymount in '93 was crap sound, crap crowd, broad daylight and no atmosphere

Elvis Costello a couple of years ago in the Iveagh Gardens was a great gig too

First - Something Happens in McGonagles, I think

Worst - Fleetwood Mac in 3 Arena. Bloody standing tickets and Lyndsay Buckingham was the only one who was arsed, his songs were good but the rest were crap, never made as many bar and toilet trips at a gig without missing anything!

davef1000 · 25-05-2019 8:24pm

The Davestator wrote: »

.

Worst: Tie between Bob Dylan in Kilkenny in 03 ish?...

Was Gary Moore on that bill? And Paddy Casey? I played at that gig, bassist for Paddy.

My list:
First - Sunstroke, Dalymount Park 1994

Best - The Bad Plus at the Hawkswell Theatre Sligo a couple of years ago. They played The Rite of Spring and I've never seen anything like it. (Prior to that, my best was Leonard Cohen at Kilmainham, the first time, and that was hard to beat!)

Worst - Don't really remember any gig that was unbearably bad, but Springsteen at the RDS and Tom Waits in the Phoenix Park in 2008 (I think) were awful for various reasons. Springsteen cos the sound was terrible, too quiet, couldn't hear a thing, and Waits because of the terrible, TERRIBLE seating layout. I couldn't see more than half the stage. I'm sure he was great, but I couldn't see him most of the time.

NewbridgeIR · 25-05-2019 9:43pm

Decuc500 wrote: »

Best: Wedding Present / Buffalo Tom SFX 1991

That was class. Serious moshing for Buffalo Tom. 15 May 1991, Seamonsters released the following Monday. The heavy bit in Dalliance was immense. No encores and ended with Heather.

enricoh · 25-05-2019 9:52pm

First - faith no more, dalymount park mid 90's. Not a bad first gig!
Best - the enemy or daft punk both dublin
Worst - the killers marlay park iirc

Johnny Jukebox · 25-05-2019 11:40pm

First: Toyah @ RDS 1980

Worst: Johnny Thunders RIP at the New Inn 1993? so smacked off his face he could barely stand

Best: See worst, rock'n'roll nihilism at its most extreme.

dasdog · 26-05-2019 12:12am

Decuc500 wrote: »

Worst: U2, RDS 1993

I really don't get this. It was a pretty spectacular show in a terrible venue. I'm not a fan of theirs but they nailed the art and music and technology of the time and were the biggest band in the world playing a home gig and the weather was nice. And they fking showed off.

Zaph · 26-05-2019 12:29am

First - U2, Croke Park, 1985

Best - David Byrne, 2018. I doubt I'll ever be to as good a gig as long as I live. It really was special.

Worst - Pixies/Kings of Leon, Lansdowne Road, 2005. I'd no interest in KoL, I was only there to see The Pixies, but the band, and in particular Frank Black, didn't really seem that interested. It wasn't that they were actually bad, but their lack of interest makes it the only gig I can think of that I could call the "worst".

Decuc500 · 26-05-2019 10:40pm

dasdog wrote: »

I really don't get this. It was a pretty spectacular show in a terrible venue. I'm not a fan of theirs but they nailed the art and music and technology of the time and were the biggest band in the world playing a home gig and the weather was nice. And they fking showed off.

I don't know what to say. It left me cold. I was bored. Great spectacle sure but the music did nothing for me. Sorry.

beecee · 27-05-2019 11:55am

First: Paul Simon 1991, RDS (Rhythm of Saints tour)

Best: Tom Waits 2008, Phoenix Park... (followed by LCD - Olympia 2017, Public Enemy - Red Box 2000, Radiohead - Glasto 2003, Blur - Glasto 2009, Nick Cave - Kilmainham 2018, Planxty - Vicar St 2003)

Worst: hmm... struggling. Oasis - Witness 2002!! Finally persuaded friend to leave to go to Basement Jaxx... so much better!!!

davef1000 · 27-05-2019 12:15pm

beecee wrote: »

Best: Tom Waits 2008, Phoenix Park...

You must have been able to see the stage! I couldn’t.

stanley1 · 27-05-2019 12:20pm

Best: Zeppelin in the national stadium '71

The Nal · 27-05-2019 6:49pm

stanley1 wrote: »

Best: Zeppelin in the national stadium '71

Not bad for £1.25!

concerts... best/worst/first??

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