How many concerts have you been to and which one of them was the best?

[Instinct Blues]

For myself I haven't really been to many shows mostly because everytime a band I like comes around it always seems that I'm strapped for cash and can't go. Or something else comes up that I have to attend to that is more important than a rock concert. So because of that I've only been to 5 shows, but I plan on increasing that number drastically over the years. The shows I have been to are The Dead Weather, AC/DC (went to this for free), Crystal Castles (x2), and most recently The Flaming Lips.

Out of those shows that I've seen I have to say that The Flaming Lips show was by far the best show that I have ever been to. I know that with so few shows under my belt that may seem like an unqualified statement, but those who haven't seen The Flaming Lips live can't understand what an experience it is. I can't see any other show I go to in the future to outdoing The Flaming Lips.

So my fellow Escapists what shows have you been to? And which one was the best and why ?

 

[ace_of_something]

Ummm... I dunno? I'm 31 and have been going to shows since I was 12... so... like 1000? I have no idea. Used to go to 2-3 a week for a stretch there.

Anyway Lalapalooza when I was 16 (i think) Metallica, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, the melvins were the stand outs in my mind.
In addition it was really hot and humid but then it started to rain lightly, refreshing summer rain that encouraged girls to take off their shirts en masse. It was a good day for a 16 year old.

More recently on a smaller scale. The electric six as pretty damn awesome.

 

[crudus]

I have been to three concerts. Brittany Spears, The Black Keys, and Bowling for Soup. The Black Keys was the best. I think you guys and figure the rest out from there.

 

[Princess Rose]

So my fellow Escapists what shows have you been to? And which one was the best and why ?

I've been to two.

Sarah McLaughlin
October Project

As much as I loved the Sarah concert, I'm gonna have to go with October Project. Seeing them live (in a small, intimate bar concert with no more than 100 people, sitting in the second row, getting them to sign an autograph and shake their hands after the concert!) was one of the most intense and exciting experiences of my life. I wish I'd had a way to record that concert, because it was the best musical experience of my life. ^^

 

[neonsword13-ops]

I have seen one, and only one, concert.

That. Was "Weird Al" Yankovic.

That concert was pure awesome sauce. Man wore a too-too, a pair of Sponge Bob pjs, AND the "FAT" suit. He derseves a spot in my hall of fame.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

I've been to four: Green Day, MC Frontalot/YTCracker, Sage Francis, and CAKE.

I'd have to say that CAKE is the top. My boyfriend and I went to the show on my birthday this past year, and they did not disappoint. MC Frontalot comes in a very close second because it was a tiny little show and I got to hang out with YT.

 

[Gaiseric]

I've been to 6 concerts.(in chronological order)

Iced Earth w/ Tim Owens as the singer
Dragonforce
Blind Guardian
Aqua Bats
Iced Earth w/ Matt Barlow as the singer
Heaven and Hell(Dio!)

Iced Earth w/ Barlow was probably the best because they played most of my favorite songs, Barlow is my favorite of the all the different singers, I saw it with a friend who is a big fan as well, was a great crowd, and it was something of an adventure for me to drive to LA for the first time. Not a huge fan of ska but the Aqua Bat show was pretty cool and a great time especially being able to see it with a bunch of friends who were very enthusiastic. And seeing Dio perform was awesome and timely I suppose considering it was one of his last shows(RIP).

edit: if the Blue Man Group counts then I've seen 8. They were very different shows than what I'm used to.

 

[Julianking93]

A lot.
I don't know how many but... a lot of shows >.>

Best though would have to be Radiohead or Nine Inch Nails.
Both put on an amazing show that lasted forever. Didn't want it to end though

 

[MysticToast]

I've been to 7 I think. I might be missing one.

By far Muse was the best. That was a fantastic show

 

[Chasing-The-Light]

I've been to...

In Flames
Nevermore
Shinedown
Crossfade
Safetysuit
3 Doors Down

Yeah... not a lot. But hopefully will be adding more to that list more. As for my favorite, so far, it has to be Shinedown. Because it was back with the Leave a Whisper CD, when they were still small and good and went to smaller venues like in my little college town. It was a lot of fun.

 

[Fanfic_warper]

IS "none" an option when I've only to been to one?

 

[-Samurai-]

I usually go to music festivals sporting 6+ bands. My favorite was last years Rock on the Range in Columbus, Ohio. 32,000+ people and 2 days of great music. I'm not even a huge fan of 95% of the bands, but damn do I love me some live music!

The lineup:
Day 1:
Godsmack
Three Days Grace
Rise Against
Deftones
Papa Roach
Puddle of Mudd
Drowning Pool
Sevendust
Killswitch Engage
Skillet
Halestorm
Adelitas Way
Violent Soho
Richy Nix
Helmet
Nonpoint
Janus
Taddy Porter
Like A Storm



Day 2:
Limp Bizkit
Rob Zombie
Seether
Slash
Theory Of A Deadman
Bullet For My Valentine
Five Finger Death Punch
Apocalyptica
Mastodon
Coheed and Cambria(the main reason I went)
Anberlin
Circa Survive
Airbourne
Shaman's Harvest
Mushroomhead
Taproot
Year Long Disaster
Noise Auction
State Your Cause

 

[derkis]

Hundreds. Built to Spill is the best live show I've ever seen and probably ever will, hands down.

 

[DustyDrB]

Yikes, not gonna count. Not that its ridiculously high (not even 100), but some of those were from times when I had completely different tastes and I'd find the experience unpleasant if I went now.

But the best recent ones:

August 7, 2008 (my birthday)
Wilco headlined and Bon Iver (my first time hearing the band) opened. First of all, I was mesmerized by Bon Iver. Seriously, I remember flirting with this really cute girl next to me when they started playing "Flume [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuQrLsTUcN0]". Once the song started, I forgot the girl was even there. Justin Vernon's voice penetrates your soul when you hear him live.

Then there was Wilco, who had already been my favorite band for a few years then (and they still are now). They played for three hours, giving it their all. They're just wonderful live performers who actually manage the rare feat (nowadays, at least) of sounding better live than they do in the studio. Plus, the crowd was really into. That's always an important ingredient for a great concert experience.

August 19, 2010
The Avett Brothers: Oh...these guys. They are the sappiest band alive, and I love it. They don't have an ounce of cynicism in their music. And their fanbase is the odd mixture of hippies and rednecks. It's unique, to say the least. They are an energetic bunch, and so...sappy...but in a good way. It's like they almost inspire the crowd to have the largest group hug ever, just because...love, man. Love. A shitty recording from that very show. Seriously bad sound quality [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYZ2q_O1Rzc]

Forgot the date, but it was during the Spoleto Festival in 2009 in Charleston:
The Punch Brothers: Ridiculously talented bunch of guys. Spoleto Festival is a pretty world renown arts festival held annually in Charleston. So it draws in a bunch of the well-to-do and old money crowd. The Punch Brothers gave them much of what the crowd expected, and that's not a bad thing. Their style of bluegrass is really more like classical music with a pop sensibility. Then imagine my delight when they start playing covers of The White Stripes' "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" and Radiohead's "Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box [=vjL9BQQKlks]"