Best Concert/Show Experience?

[Poser]

I am bummed Zakk Sabbath / Black Label Society aren't coming through Idaho - that is the hardest working dude in heavy music. just relentless. And i love the tunes

I worked the merchandise table for a BLS show back 15 years ago or so. I They had one guy that traveled with them and they hire out locally for a 2nd. I would occasionally do merch of stagehand work as a side hustle. Zakk Wylde came by, introduced himself and said, “thanks for helping us out, brother” and gave me a quick bro hug. We sold something in the realm of $18,000 worth of merch, which was fairly sad scene as whole families dressed head to toe in BLS gear were buying hundreds of dollars worth of merch and splitting the purchases up on multiple credit cards. A number of people’s cards were declined for huge purchases. Some biker dude bought 8 BLS rings at $200 a pop: one for each finger, put them all on and headed back into the crowd. I counted up the cash at the end of the night completely unsupervised, which was well over 10k and they paid me $75. I was thinking that they were all surprisingly trustworthy with that much money for $75 worth of labor.

 

[Backyard]

Govt Mule at Red Rocks in ‘23


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[ODB]

I worked the merchandise table for a BLS show back 15 years ago or so. I They had one guy that traveled with them and they hire out locally for a 2nd. I would occasionally do merch of stagehand work as a side hustle. Zakk Wylde came by, introduced himself and said, “thanks for helping us out, brother” and gave me a quick bro hug. We sold something in the realm of $18,000 worth of merch, which was fairly sad scene as whole families dressed head to toe in BLS gear were buying hundreds of dollars worth of merch and splitting the purchases up on multiple credit cards. A number of people’s cards were declined for huge purchases. Some biker dude bought 8 BLS rings at $200 a pop: one for each finger, put them all on and headed back into the crowd. I counted up the cash at the end of the night completely unsupervised, which was well over 10k and they paid me $75. I was thinking that they were all surprisingly trustworthy with that much money for $75 worth of labor.

That's wild...er Wylde.... that would have been in the boozing days,. no?

 

[mjh]

Gregg Allman and Dickies Betts at the Warehouse in New Orleans in 1980-81. Don’t remember what time the show started but I do remember the sun starting to come up on the way home. Great music good times!

 

[HDwild]

This is a fun one. I’m a music man and I like every genre. For reference my very first concert was Garth Brooks and Reba McIntyre, too young to remember much but pretty epic as a first concert.

The ones that stand out:

Avenged Sevenfold- I was in the front row and they shredded. Had a random chick ask to get on my shoulders and I obliged, didn’t know she would pop her top, that was a nice bonus. So front row with a topless girl on my shoulders and Synester Gates (lead guitar) noticed, appreciated and pointed at us and gave me the rock on.

They also had a bunch of then unknown bands that opened for them that were amazing like Asking Alexandria, and Black Veil Bride. Awesome show in little old Yakima, Washington at the sundome.

Darius Rucker- this was early in his solo career after Hootie and the Blowfish and he put on a hell of a show at the Gorge in Washington. He covered Family traditions by Hank Williams Jr. and had Jack Daniel’s bottles and joints on the screens. Unexpectedly great performance since he was opening for Brad Paisley.

Finally, another unexpected performer: Frankie Ballard. He played at a small show in Niceville, Florida called Mulletfest. I had an attractive female friend who knew him and said he used to try to get her to hang out with him bc he had *a smokable herb* and tried to seduce her so I went into the concert wanting to hate it. Unfortunately, he put on a good show and I had a great time.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Bad Religion at a tiny venue (>200) in Seattle in 2013.

 

[rookieforever33]

Of the MANY shows I went to I found the location was sometimes more important than the band. But when you saw the right band for the spot it really meant something. Aragon Ballroom (aka the brawl room) Metallica on the Garage Days re re visited tour. Megadeth, RATM, Pantera, Primus also highlights from there.
But the best was Jimmy Buffet st Alpine Music Theater. He turned a ski resort in Wisconsin into a beach for a summer day. Parking lot was a carnival of booze and fun. We always called it the Grateful Dead for drunkards. Just like the Dead there will never be another like it. RIP Jimmy.

 

[rookieforever33]

2010 Eric Clapton Crossroads Festival. The venue sucked, metal bowl built on a soccer field in the summer. But at the end of a great day of music we saw BB King with a backing band including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Vaughn, and Steve Winwood. It felt surreal.

 

[Ol’ Cheebs]

It’s cool to read all these. I’ve seen a bunch of special and memorable shows. Grateful Dead, Widespread, Dylan, Guy Clark, James Taylor, TTB, Phish, Gov’t Mule, shows at Red Rocks, shows in the Moody Theater…

For my money, right now it’s hard to beat Billy Strings.

 

[Machingeaneer]

I really haven't been to many concerts but Turnpike Troubadours at the State Theater in Minneapolis back in February was the best I've ever been too, they are super fun live.

 

[Poser]

That's wild...er Wylde.... that would have been in the boozing days,. no?

I couldn't say. My brief interaction was right before the VIP meet n greet started. Once doors were open, I was too busy to pay attention to any other details.

 

[RS3579]

Still every Bruce Springsteen concert. Simply the best!

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I don’t really like concerts and large groups of people so my sample size is small.

Hands down though, 2017 Garth Brooks in Billings, MT.