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Best and Worst Rock Concert Moments

I will start this off. 1975 Jethro Tull concert at the Seattle Center Coliseum. About midway through the show an M-80 goes off in the crowd in the middle of a song and Ian Anderson holds his hand up in the air and counts to three with his fingers and the band stops playing in mid measure all at once as though some one had flipped a switch. The whole place goes dead quiet for about 15 seconds or so. Anderson says something like "Well, that was bloody ******* RUDE! If you want us to keep playing then you better cut that crap right out and have a little more respect for your NEIGHbor. Do you really want us to play some more?". The crowd slowly starts to applaud and then it builds to a crescendo. As the applause starts to die down, Anderson holds his hand up in the air, counts out loud to three and the band cuts back in full force absolutely mid-measure where they left off.

When the song ended I have never heard such intense applause in any arena or hall for any song at any show. I was completely dumb struck by how Anderson handled the situation and by the musicianship of the whole outfit. Maybe it was a staged event, but I doubt it. Either way, it was really something else...
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cjfrbw
148 posts
 
Rock and Roll, I presume:

Best: Pink Floyd at the old Filmore on Market Street

Worst: Altamont
john_fink
140 posts
 
I saw John Lee Hooker in 1987 at a church at Oberlin College. After the show, I wondered around to find a bathroom. I got twisted around and walked in to the church kitchen. I ended up having a bologna sandwich with JLH. I coulnd't understand a word he said but it sure was fun.
fathom7
57 posts
 
The Best -- so long ago it is scary -- me a teen -- the venue: The Fillmore -- the group -- brand new: The Mothers of Invention.
The instruments were already on the stage but no musicians. Then, they all walked out and picked up the instruments without playing a lick or saying a word. Staring at the dumbstruck audience. Then over the silence someone in the audience uttered an "Oh My God". At that point Frank grinned and the band played. When they were done -- they put the instruments down and walked off. More cool than anything else I ever saw.

REAL BEST -- lying in a sleeping bag in a tent in upstate New York on a Sunday morning and hearing Joan Baez's voice roll over the hillside which had pretty well turned to mud because of the rain of Saturday night. The most glorious awakening ever -- Woodstock 1969.

Just lucky.
chashmal
605 posts
 
Grateful Dead 1981 (or something like that) at Radio City Music Hall. Best/worst I cannot decide. Made a mistake in measuring pulverized dried mushrooms due to already tripping status. Ended up eating about 1 full ounce worth.

OK, I was feeling it come on, way too much, and I waited for the show to start. An acoustic set. I waited and the band came out. They were tuning up, and took a long time in doing so. I waited and got distracted and began to think about other things. By the time I remembered I was at a concert they were finished playing. I remember absolutely nothing. The best part: I was in the third row.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,825 posts
 
Worst: Rolling Stones "Some Girls" tour, JFK Stadium, Philly, ~1978. 100,000 general admission seats. Gates open and almost get trampled in the rush. Police move in to control the crowd. Crowd starts throwing bottles at police cars. Police come in on horses and start beating back the crowd with clubs.

Later inside, the sound in that big open stadium is absolutely the worse ever....mostly echoes.

The concert was still pretty good I suppose even after all that.

I swore off large outdoor concerts after that.

Best:

Dick Dale at the Recher Theater near Baltimore MD. Small venue, right up front...Dick is smokin on guitar a few feet in front of me. After the concert, I get an autograph and get to chat with Dick who stays onstage afterwards to chat with a few of us who stuck around...wonderful!

Another great one was Julian Loureaux Groove Gang (French Jazz/funk ensemble) at Stone Harbour Jazz club in New Orleans the night before the NO Music Heritage Festival opens. THIS GROUP SMOKED LIKE NO OTHER I HAVE EVER HEARD!

Nice memories...even the Stones concert I suppose.
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