Poll: What makes a great concert?

[Virus49]

Over the last year or so i've gone from being somebody who just casually listens to music to being known as the guy who always has headphones in.

This all started in november 09 when I went to see Muse live. Since then ive been to tonnes of concerts and am going to a couple festivals next year.

However... all the concerts have been a bit different. A good example of the different ways a concert can go:
When I went to see muse the laser light show was incredible. The set spellbinding. But frontman Matt Bellamy said but one sentence in the entire show. (besides lyrics obviously)

At lostprophets the show wasnt nearly as epic. However, Ian watkins got the crowd very much into the music. Spoke to some individual people and forced the crowd to sing along. The result was a much more active crowd. Some crowdsurfing and mosh pits.

Finally, Killswitch engage. Heavily involved with the crowd. And in addition to the music they looked like some guys just having fun on stage. Guitarist on stage wearing hot pants, chugging a beer with one hand and playing guitar with the other. A thong on the end of his guitar after they opened with the benny hill theme.

so... which do you prefer? An epic show with fancy lights and pyrotechnics. A band who really gets the crowd into it. Or a mixture of both?

On top of that... greatest moment at a concert?
For me it was the first time I crowdsurfed. One of those moments I will never forget.

 

[Homplok]

Crowd interaction. If I wanted a note for note copy of the records, I'd just sit at home and listen to them.

 

[Robyrt]

See, I'm a classical fan. Crowd surfing at THOSE concerts would probably kill many of the attendees. On the plus side, you can walk away with a tear in your eye and your eardrums intact.

 

[Sacman]

copious amounts of drugs and alcohol...
I go for the music and the occasional mosh pit...

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Great crowd interaction.

See: Skindred.

 

[Avaholic03]

Definitely crowd interaction. Otherwise you could just put in a CD of whatever band you're there to see, and get pretty much the same effect. The best bands I've seen live always get the crowd involved.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Not a huge fan of concerts (hate crowds) but if I did go, I'd want the music too be a bit different. For example, when Judas Priest does Breaking the Law live, they'll sometimes have a guitar solo*, something the original song lacks.

So, kind of free-styling a bit, if you know what I mean. Toss in some solos, crowd interaction, have a different band member sing it, just make it different from the original song.


*A friend of mine told me they did, but he might not be right.

 

[koschei8]

It's all about the interaction i have with the other people at the show aka moshing and crowdsurfing. I've gone to shows where there is good crowd interaction, like Iron Maiden, and I've gone to shows where there is very little to none, like Mastodon. I don't care either way, it's the atmosphere that gets me coming back again and again. What can I say? I'm a concert whore.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

Crowd interaction coupled with epic music. Amon Amarth FTW.

 

[Berserker119]

Great crowd interaction.

See: Skindred.

Definitely. I think because of that, it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. When I went to see The Eagles, they basically performed Hell Freezes Over, without ever talking, and it was good, but not great.

 

[skips]

Good music, good atmosphere.

 

[Free Thinker]

Crowd Interaction is the main part. If you don't give the fans that, you better have the best effects and play your ass off.
I went to a Nickelback concert, now before you light the flame for the great Flame War, hear me out. Not only was their show well choreographed and had damn good effects, they interacted with the crowd through the entire show. Even handing out free shots of tequila! And for the people who had far away seats, they modified the cannons that shoot the free stuff to shoot farther and faster. I should know, I was hit by it in the head. I could've sworn the guy who shot it said, "BOOM! Headshot!"

 

[unoleian]

Poll really needs an "all of the above."
I look at "Crowd interaction" in a different light, my kinds of music aren't conducive to moshing, but a great crowd with good energy (active, moving, happy, not crowding out your zone, or engaging in general douchebaggery) makes a good show. Music, of course, is a critical factor. A great stage display isn't mandatory, but damn if it can't positively (or negatively) influence the above factors itself.

If all works in unison, the experience is a guaranteed amazement.

 

[Julianking93]

Energy from all parties.

If the band is very energetic but the crowd is just a bunch of dead fish, then it's no fun.

Same thing viceversa.

I like my concerts hectic and full of energy. Mosh pits preferably ^-^

 

[fullbleed]

It doesn't really matter how good the effects are or how good the music is, if the crowd isn't giving anything back then it's all wasted. The crowd can make or break an gig, and it's up to the band to make that conection with them and get them participating. Standing still and playing instruments is fucking boring to watch.

Crystal Castles are a great example of how to do a live gig, the lead singer Alice spends as much time in the crowd as she does on stage. She's often pissed and still drinking and ussually willing to share her wiskey with the crowd. Plus they aren't just playing studio versions of their songs, they all sound different live with mixed up vocals, added samples and effects and diferent lyrics. Plus there's unreleased tracks that they only play live which makes it more special. Plus if it's a bad gig Alice will often get into a fight with a security guard and wreck the drum kit.

It's all good.

 

[Falconcry]

having been to over 200+ gigs and many festivals, i'd say a good concert doesn't boil down to just one thing, it's everything, stage set up, how the band present themselves, how they adapt there songs to a live performance, banter with the crowd.

some bands are great musicians but lousy stage performers, and some are lousy musicians and great performers, but some times you get really lucky and get both

 

[MinishArcticFox]

I remember the what the performers do with the crowd not the exact set of songs they play besides I can sit at home in front of some speakers if I just want really loud music.

 

[Cheesus333]

Spoiler: This Guy

Just sayin'

 

[Virus49]

Spoiler: This Guy

Personally I think he is a bit odd.. Never talks much. Nonetheless he is like music jesus.

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

As long as the music's great, any concert's great.