Live music...in their prime thread

[Mofro261]

88-94 was a pretty wild time in Seatown.

One of the girls I went to college with was Billy's 2nd cousin or something, got to see them in small venues in 90' and 91. He came out to where our group was sitting before they went on at the Off Ramp to say hi to the cuz.






Caught my first Pearl Jam show at RckCndy Aug 91 before Ten was released. Footage from this show (Alive) ended up being their first mtv video release and my ole ski buddy Mike has a slo-mo hair whip crowd surf cameo near the end of it.




Probably my favorite shows of all time, Soundgarden Mar 5&6th 1992. First night 5th row and second night 3rd row at the Paramount for the Badmotorfinger tour. Second night I got to the front rail immediately and at the end the several rows of seats were flattened. Searching around the webs I found the concert footie for night 2, I have a quick cameo @ 1:10 in the opener during Searching with my Good Eye Closed. RIP CC, still a hard swallow for me.

[Mofro261]

Cool thread idea. Like Peruvian, I saw the Dead a bunch in 1989 which was one of their primes, the Warlocks shows at Hampton were amazeballs.

REM at Radio City in 1987 (I think), that was near their peak.

Caught the Dead opening for Santana in 88 but was never much of a Deadhead.

My wife was very good family friends with the guy who did the lighting for both U2 and REM in the late 80's-90's. Got us free tix to U2 (Kingdome 89?) and REM at the Gorge.

It's kinda funny tell my kids about all of the shows we used to go to, tickets just weren't that expensive bitd.

Contemporary, the Gorillaz put on a helluva show on their tour last but man those tix were pricey.

[The Reverend Floater]

Notable shows I've seen:

Grateful Dead 1990 (saw them before and after but this was the best that I saw)
Pearl Jam 1992
Primus 1992
Janes Addiction 1997
Tool 1993, ~2006, 2019 (all unreal)
Alice in Chains 1992 or 3
ACDC/Metalica 1989
Black Crowes, small club, 1999


I'd say many of those were in their respective prime for live performances, Dead not withstanding. Best shows were Tool, Jane's and the Black Crowes. Very different but equally mind bending performances. Primus was also a very good show.

[MakersTeleMark]

Maybe a little corny, but who cares. Paul Simon in Central Park really seemed to be a big peak for him and the folks he played with. Being in the first 50 rows with at least 500k people behind me including the main press box up and off the back of my shoulder on a perfect summer day is hard to beat.

I thought the Dead in the late 80's early 90's was meh. Except when I saw them with Branford Marsalis. Phish with Santana was pretty memorable as well as all those Wetlands shows right at the beginning of the jam band scene in NYC. Early 90's Ani, late 90's Melissa Ferrick rank up there too. On the jazz side, catching the Melhdau, Blade, McBride, Redman quartet multiple times, and each in different configurations at their peak in the late 90's was mindblowing. YMSB in the mid 2000's was fire. RIP Jeff Austin. Same with the Bad Livers and early Greensky around 2009-2010, although I cannot say that was their peak musically, just raw energy wise dismantling an entire genre.

Final nod to Gary Burton and Chick Corea in the early 90's and the Appalachian Waltz error of Yo Yo, Edgar, Bela, Marshall.

Shit, one more: Fishbone in small NYC clubs in like 1992 was absolutely criminal, same with God Street Wine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_Up_to_Find_Out

Branford Marsalis sat in with us ...on that hot Spring ’90 tour, when everything was firing just right and the wheels were fully greased...We brought Branford up for a now-legendary version of "Bird Song" during the first set, and it was so good, that we invited him out for the entire second set. [He] became a friend of ours and he said something about us that I’ll never forget: he said we all had big ears. Coming from a monster jazz guy like that, it was a monster compliment. We may have helped introduce improvisation to rock ’n’ roll, but the jazz cats had been jamming since before Chuck Berry even picked up his first electric guitar. Having Branford validate us like that really meant something to me. He told us that we showed him what's possible within rock ’n’ roll and that playing with us was one of the greatest thrills of his life. That, in turn, was one of the greatest thrills of mine.
— Bill Kreutzmann[

[Core Shot]

nov 91
walkin into the aragon brawl room chitown for pearl jam, pumkins and red hot chili peppers as all the chairs were being passed overhead into a pile in the back and thinkin holy fuck this place is going to go off
and it did
10 , gish and blood sugar sex magic none of those bands produced anything better after that
imo

Heh. The brawl room. Good times. Then head over to the green mill for after hours.

Zappa 1981ish? brawl room. The panty tour. Not a lot of brawling. But lots of underwear being thrown on stage.


Smashing pumpkins before they smashed. Somewhere in bucktown. Might have been phillys’ musical inn.

Last two dead shows in soldiers field.
A bunch at alpine valley when they were more tight.

James McMurtry is still awesome. But his mangy moose show was my first. Fish bone at the moose in their prime. Fkna. Party at ground zero.

[Core Shot]

[St. Jerry]

The Phish from Vermont. Fall 1997 <---> Island Tour April 1998

[MagnificentUnicorn]

88-94 was a pretty wild time in Seatown.

One of the girls I went to college with was Billy's 2nd cousin or something, got to see them in small venues in 90' and 91. He came out to where our group was sitting before they went on at the Off Ramp to say hi to the cuz.






Caught my first Pearl Jam show at RckCndy Aug 91 before Ten was released. Footage from this show (Alive) ended up being their first mtv video release and my ole ski buddy Mike has a slo-mo hair whip crowd surf cameo near the end of it.




Probably my favorite shows of all time, Soundgarden Mar 5&6th 1992. First night 5th row and second night 3rd row at the Paramount for the Badmotorfinger tour. Second night I got to the front rail immediately and at the end the several rows of seats were flattened. Searching around the webs I found the concert footie for night 2, I have a quick cameo @ 1:10 in the opener during Searching with my Good Eye Closed. RIP CC, still a hard swallow for me.

I grew up in WA but was living in the Bay Area during this time period. One of the first shows that I saw in SF was at the I Beam. The line up was 4 non-blondes, Soundgarden and Faith No More was the headliner. This must have been late ‘89 or early ‘90 because it was for the Louder Than Love tour. Amazing show.

Too many other great shows from my time there to remember.

Melvins double set at the Cactus Club for the Stoner Witch tour

Primus multiple times including a house party at their tour manager’s house

Mojo Nixon

Soundgarden three more times

Tom Petty at the Fillmore

Etc…


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[xyz]

I grew up in WA but was living in the Bay Area during this time period. One of the first shows that I saw in SF was at the I Beam. The line up was 4 non-blondes, Soundgarden and Faith No More was the headliner. This must have been late ‘89 or early ‘90 because it was for the Louder Than Love tour. Amazing show.

Too many other great shows from my time there to remember.

Melvins double set at the Cactus Club for the Stoner Witch tour

Primus multiple times including a house party at their tour manager’s house

Mojo Nixon

Soundgarden three more times

Tom Petty at the Fillmore

Etc…


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Soundgarden wish i saw them back then. I was certainly a fan.

I found this live session from 1989 here. A raspy version of Hands all Over at 13:00

[Buster Highmen]

I ran across this one recently:

[wolfy]

Great thread, I'll throw in on a rainy day, all live performance. Growing up in California around the edge of the music business had its advantages. I won't discuss age but can vouch for all entries except the last one.

-Iron Butterfly- was a local band, we did stage and light shows for a bunch of high school dances with them.
-Hendrix- opened for the Mamas and Pappas at the Hollywood Bowl. "Are You Experienced" not released yet.
Melted faces throughout the venue, then sat through "Monday,Monday", in shock.

-J Mitchell/D Crosby- would play random Sunday afternoons in the dirt parking lot of the Topanga Store, sitting on tree rounds under a big oak tree. Worked on open tunings and harmony, audience provided beer.
-Doors- hitchhiked to the first "Renaissance Fair" in the SF Valley. Get a ride on Van Nuys Blvd. with a couple longhairs in a blue van, going to the same place. Full of equipt with Messrs. Krieger and Densmore, delivered to
backstage, where we watched the show. Morrison signed my arm cast with a 3 line "poem".

-Dead- lots of "peak" shows, the final 2 shows of the '74 "farewell" shows at Winterland had it all. Full Wall of Sound
system, Hart returned for first time, Pigpen's keyboard and chopper onstage. Keyboard started playing
harmonics on it's own during high volume tunes. Phil's oscilloscope showing square waves.
-Derek&Dominoes- Album delayed about 4 weeks, first live show West Coast at UNR Reno. No info so no ticket sales
so turned into free show with 300 people on the floor. We walked in and I stood about 10 feet from Allman
and Clapton and heard Layla for the first time. Allman saw me watching his fingers play and grinned.

Emmylou and Hot Band- Berkeley Greek, was opener for somebody- mid morning soundcheck- the venue crew
refused to work when she was onstage. Just sat in front seats and stared in awe...

Enough for now, lastly- I wasn't there, but-
A friend I played guitars with in the Bay was playing his 12 string sitting on a log next to the creek that flows through Danville Ca when a bearded guy with a guitar case came down the ravine and sat down. He said "Keep playing, then I'll play a couple, we'll find some common ground." Friend finished his tunes and turned to the visitor with a nod.
The guy proceeds to play almost 1 side of "Tea for the Tillerman" and goes to shake hands, "Folks call me Cat".

[MakersTeleMark]

Allman Brothers 1989 - Jones Beach front row.

[Core Shot]

Holy fuck Wolfy.

You must be old. But damn. Life well lived with good music and karmic connections.

Ever think about writing a book or blog? If nothing else just to hand off to kids if you have them or something to hand out at a celebration of life when you cast aside this mortal coil?

[xyz]

JHC. Morrison wrote a poem on your cast? Epic. Thread over.

[AK47bp]

Mad Season live at The Moore, 1995.

Anyone there? I was in high school on the other side of the country but wow.

https://youtu.be/x6E0Z8wqNDQ?si=0sPzraIirrmVWadt

[xyz]

I stumbled into a gold mine of 1980's live music. Live Aid 1985! A stacked line up of artists in their prime. So many great shows but this one from U2 was pretty epic.

[halliday]

Mad Season live at The Moore, 1995.

Anyone there? I was in high school on the other side of the country but wow.

https://youtu.be/x6E0Z8wqNDQ?si=0sPzraIirrmVWadt

Layne Staley was a fucking badass singer.

[The Reverend Floater]

Great thread, I'll throw in on a rainy day, all live performance. Growing up in California around the edge of the music business had its advantages. I won't discuss age but can vouch for all entries except the last one.

-Iron Butterfly- was a local band, we did stage and light shows for a bunch of high school dances with them.
-Hendrix- opened for the Mamas and Pappas at the Hollywood Bowl. "Are You Experienced" not released yet.
Melted faces throughout the venue, then sat through "Monday,Monday", in shock.

-J Mitchell/D Crosby- would play random Sunday afternoons in the dirt parking lot of the Topanga Store, sitting on tree rounds under a big oak tree. Worked on open tunings and harmony, audience provided beer.
-Doors- hitchhiked to the first "Renaissance Fair" in the SF Valley. Get a ride on Van Nuys Blvd. with a couple longhairs in a blue van, going to the same place. Full of equipt with Messrs. Krieger and Densmore, delivered to
backstage, where we watched the show. Morrison signed my arm cast with a 3 line "poem".

-Dead- lots of "peak" shows, the final 2 shows of the '74 "farewell" shows at Winterland had it all. Full Wall of Sound
system, Hart returned for first time, Pigpen's keyboard and chopper onstage. Keyboard started playing
harmonics on it's own during high volume tunes. Phil's oscilloscope showing square waves.
-Derek&Dominoes- Album delayed about 4 weeks, first live show West Coast at UNR Reno. No info so no ticket sales
so turned into free show with 300 people on the floor. We walked in and I stood about 10 feet from Allman
and Clapton and heard Layla for the first time. Allman saw me watching his fingers play and grinned.

Emmylou and Hot Band- Berkeley Greek, was opener for somebody- mid morning soundcheck- the venue crew
refused to work when she was onstage. Just sat in front seats and stared in awe...

Enough for now, lastly- I wasn't there, but-
A friend I played guitars with in the Bay was playing his 12 string sitting on a log next to the creek that flows through Danville Ca when a bearded guy with a guitar case came down the ravine and sat down. He said "Keep playing, then I'll play a couple, we'll find some common ground." Friend finished his tunes and turned to the visitor with a nod.
The guy proceeds to play almost 1 side of "Tea for the Tillerman" and goes to shake hands, "Folks call me Cat".

Dude, you're the Forest Gump of live music fans.

[xyz]

A bootleg recording of the Scorpions Rhythm of Love in 1988.

I’ve heard this song so many times like many of us but the most memorable had to be on Teton Pass like 25 years ago. I was tangled with some tele skiers on a road trip. They kept me very high all day. Very. I remember as i tried to get ready for the boot-pack a dude was blasting this tune from his truck. All I could think was how fuck you it was to blast such a kick ass tune for the whole parking lot. He made sure we all had to enjoy it.



The funniest part tho was being so fuckin stoned that I start the boot-pack with my street shoes on. Not sure how far I went before noticing.

[MakersTeleMark]

[singlecross]

I feel like Billy Strings and the boys are playing really well right now. Their prime? Time will tell… Not sure how long Billy can whip his head around like that! I’m listening to lots of shows and enjoying them.

[grskier]

RATM - Continental Arena, 199X
Wu Tang - Same show - ODB's last show

Beastie Boys - In the Round Tour - 98 - Catalog was pretty deep by this point. Still some great music to come out but they had figured out the live show blend secret sauce around here.

Woodstock 99 - RATM then Metallica. This was bonkers, the whole time looking back was tragic, but this portion of the show itself was absolutely bonkers to watch.

Damian Marley - early 2010s, saw him a few times in this era and it was amazing show.

Beck - I've seen Beck 3 times at Red Rocks in the last 6ish years, each time the show is just completely amazing. Visuals are great, music is on point, etc. He may be past his prime song writing, but man these shows the last bunch of years are just off the wall good.

[JimmyCarter]

Not that I (or most people alive) could match Busters list, but a few:

Rancid - 1994

Morphine - 1996

Radiohead- 1998 at the Worcester centrum

Moby - 1998 or 99 at the palladium

Wolfmother - 2005 at the Paradise

LP Giobbi - 2023

[Meadow Skipper]

Love this performance, difinately prime. I mean, check it out - bangin’, super-tight playing even though it’s a rehearsal, Kate and Cindy dancing their ass off with rollers in their hair, and maybe six people listening judging from the applause at the end.

[xyz]

Found this gem on my feed recently.

The Cure, A Forest. 1981 live.

https://youtu.be/SXgN-7A1MXM?si=1qBeR5ldmHpsSdgV


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