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Best concert you've ever been to

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Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

"Concert tickets are becoming increasingly more expensive, that it's hard to rationalize the cost anymore...I've been trying to come up with lists of bands and performers that are worth seeing live because they're that great. What bands, or performers (could be from any genre) would you recommend seeing live? What have been your favorite concerts?

My list would be:

1.) Israel Vibrations
2.)Matisyahou (incredible live)
3.) Martin Sexton
4.)Eek A mouse
5.)Tracy Chapman
6.) Arcade Fire (have yet to see live...but want to)
7.)The Roots
8.)radiohead
9.)Flaming Lips

I'll be brainstorming more...


What are your picks?"
Photo of Alexis M.

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03/10/2006 Alexis M. says:

I think I am biased by the context I saw these bands right? So, I tried to put that in there because seeing The Walkmen, lead singer straight crunk, break his microphone and jam on was just incredible. You don't usually get that in more formal shows. I would love to see Daft Punk, MIA and Otis Redding in his prime.

1. The Decemberists at Portland's Waterfront Park. During their intense 10 minute sea shanty finale, this enormous plastic bouncy ball (about 40 feet in diameter) fell from the sky.
2. Radiohead
3. Black Eyed Peas, at Lollapalooza (I think)
4. Modest Mouse, at Portland's Crystal Ballroom in '00
5. The Walkmen, in the basement of this house near Tufts
6. The Magnetic Fields 'cause nothing matters when we're dancing
7. Flaming Lips (wish he had a better voice. sacrilege?)
8. Ozomatli "Ya Se Fue?"
9. Common Market, right here at ConWorks
10. Microphones, or rather Phil and Mirah just messin around at a dorm in Boston
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

Oh Otis Redding - you are right on. I have been listening to him non stop lately...His voice has so much soul. In that case I would have loved to seen Marvin Gaye and Etta James.

Ozomatli rocks. They had a free concert in Oberlin - nice choice. I've listened to some Magnetic Fields stuff - they're pretty cool. Also I wanted to put Modest Mouse in there, but I've heard mixed reviews about them live. Did you go to Tufts?

Oh and lauryn hill would be incredible to see live
Photo of Alexis M.

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03/10/2006 Alexis M. says:

No, I actually went to Harvard and majored in English/creative writing. This is why I am such a nerd.

Yeah, Lauryn Hill or just straight up "The Score" era Fugees.

I went through a phase one time where I just listened to classic soul for about 18 months. I think I "grew as a person" because of it.  

I'm not sure what Modest Mouse is like live now but in those 20th century days, when they played "Doin' the Cockroach" and the singer would be down on his knees screaming into his guitar pickups, hippies dancin', hipsters kind of dancin', everyone all sweaty and your ears just practically a-bleedin', I was like, "Holy crap, this is like friggin Jimi Hendrix at Monterey!" I dreamed big back then.
Photo of Sarah B.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 Sarah "Wanna-Be Valkyrie" B. says:

Most of the main stream music tends to have costly tickets.  The name, the production, and the fact that people will pay for it.  I guess some of the big names are worth it, if you really care about the music.  I've always loved going to Nine Inch Nails and Tool shows for years.  Watching them go from small pits to huge productions has been fairly interesting.

I'm not big into local music for the fact that most of it just plain sucks.  Yeah it's great that so-and-so is trying to make music and be creative but it still doesn't mean I want to listen to it.  

Sadly, most of the music I like is all overseas.  So I if I'm lucky something I really like will come along every few years.  Stereolab just played a great set at the Showbox.  And Project Pitchfork should be coming this Spring.
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

I listened to Float On 20 times straight before I went out on the town one night. That album is awesome. Oooooo Jimi Hendrix would be incredible to see live. His Blues CD is unreal.

What kind of music is Project Pitchfork? I never got too into Trent Reznor, but he is talented/creative beyond belief and and definitely captured alot of teenage angst back when.  I really enjoyed J. Cash's remake of Hurt.
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

And speaking of the Score - I watched Chapelle's Block Party last week and when Lauryn Hill and the Fugees take the stage in it - my stomach turned all sorts of sumersaults (sp) - Lauryn Hill is  incredible, despite all the controversy she stirred up at one point.
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

Oh and Harvard - very cool - my sister is doing research at Harvard. I lived in Boston for nine months last year...
Photo of Alexis M.

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03/10/2006 Alexis M. says:

I think the "official" spelling is somersaults, but I hereby declare that if it is a good kind of somersault, it should be spelled summersault.
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

that's definitely a hard one to spell...but you're right summersaults definitely makes more sense...it's usually when you do them too.
Photo of Maria C.

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03/10/2006 Maria "S'mores lover" C. says:

I'm going to show my age here, but what the hell. David Bowie never fails me (Paramount a couple years ago) I've seen a few of his shows over the years (many years) and he still does it for me. The Rolling Stones in 1981 in the Kingdome - was billed as the LAST North American tour, uh huh. Jimmy Buffet for pure fun any time anywhere. Same for DEVO. I miss DEVO. They were going to be at Bumbershoot last year and cancelled. I was devastated.

Currently, Carbon Leaf was good, but my current obsession is Lucinda Williams. She played Summer Nights at South Lake Union last year. Awesome.
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

David Bowie is incredible. That's a great pick. My brother went to Jimmy Buffet last year with some Buffet fanatics - and was converted in no time...

I'll have to check out Carbon Lead and Lucinda Williams
Photo of Rebecca R.

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03/10/2006 Rebecca "you'll love my cupcakes" R. says:

The best concert I've ever been to truly had to be Alanis Morissette at the ShowBox.  It was so intimate and full.  There's no other way to describe it.  I've been to see her in Key Arena and GM Stadium, but boy was it different sitting 10 feet away at the ShowBox. :)  

Another great concert, or several of them, always seems to be Matchbox 20.  Never a bad show.  Now I just have to see Rob Thomas live and I think I'll be set.

Has anyone ever seen the Klezmatics?  Google them...it's a fun time.  I saw them at EMP.
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

I know...intimate shows are few and far between nowadays. Matchbox 20 was a guilty pleasure of mine during college. Sweet Honey on the Rock, a female accapella group  is really incredible...

I would love to say van Morrison, but I've heard mixed reviews... but his CD Moondance is my all time favorite.

The Beatles would have been my favorite to see live. My mom's friend's  sister (yeah I know...six degrees of Kevin bacon) actually had the Beatles play at her wedding in England, before they hit it really big....now that's a wedding band!
Photo of Alexis M.

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03/10/2006 Alexis M. says:

It is a painful to think of the Beatles covering YMCA. On the other hand, I've heard weddings are generally fun for bands to play because everyone's drunk... I mean, happy...
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/10/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

Beatles covered YMCA? Weddings are fun...the drunk confessions that you hear are always entertaining...
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/11/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

Check out what NYC people said about their favorite concerts:

http://www.yelp.com/to...
Photo of Maria C.

Elite '08

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03/11/2006 Maria "S'mores lover" C. says:

Ok, gotta add to my list:

The Kinks
BB King
The Posies
The B-52's
U2
Shawn Mullins
Tracy Chapman
Photo of Mick R.

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03/12/2006 Mick R. says:

Oh man, before I started dental school in SF (I've only seen one show since, Franz Ferdinand)  I saw the following over the last couple years:

Arcade Fire
Bloc Party
USE
The Mountain Goats
Wilco
Snow Patrol
Sleater-Kinney
Citizen Cope
The Joggers

and then back in the day...
U2 - Joshua Tree Tour and ZooTV tour
Violent Femmes (coupla times)
Tracy Chapman
Jonathan Richman (known now for soundtrack to Something about Mary, but lots of earlier stuff)
Cowboy Junkies
Fugazi (coupla times, again)

Cool, random trivia...  OK, way more random than cool - My brother threw a dead bird at Krist Novoselich's head at a surprise Nirvana show (they opened for Mudhoney at Western Washington University).  Krist stopped playing, picked up the bird and said something about how f@#$ing wierd Bellingham people were, and then played on.
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03/13/2006 Cameron L. says:

Local bands Jerel, The Swim Team, and Omni are OK with me. Usually worth a 5-10 buck cover.

I saw Nine Inch Nails at Key Arena, they put on a good show. So does A Perfect Circle and Tool. Those tickets remain reasonably priced, if you avoid ticketmaster.
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/13/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

I've heard Tool puts on a good show. Sleater Kinney are great. Violent Femmes - nice choice.
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03/14/2006 Dave B. says:

I'm new to Seattle (moved here 2 weeks ago), but I've seen some great shows elsewhere.  My top list would be:

Frank Black and the Catholics, Madison, WI, 2001
The Wrens, Evanston/Chicago, IL, 2006
Mudhoney, Chicago, IL, 1994
Dinosaur Jr., London, UK, 1997
Moe Tucker (from the Velvet Undergrou), Chicago, IL, 1998
The Flaming Lips Boombox Experiment, Champaign, IL, 1998
Frank Black and the Catholics, Paris, France, 2003
and...
Vanilla Ice, Chicago, IL, 1991


There's many other memorable shows, but these are some of the best.  Frank Black made it twice as he's one of my favorites, and both of those shows were pretty amazing.  

So any advice on the best places to see a show in Seattle?  I see that Belle and Sebastian are coming as well as the Strokes.  Anyone going to those shows?  

Well, just saying hi to some local people who are into good music.  

Adios!
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03/17/2006 DJ H. says:

My favorite concert I've been to recently was the "Stellastarr*" and "The Killers" show at the Crocodile in Seattle. This was before the Killers exploded all over the planet, in fact, Stellastarr* was the closer that night.

I would love to see:
-Arcade Fire
-Bloc Party
-She Wants Revenge (I don't know if they even tour!)
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03/17/2006 Neil "what does it take to get a drink in this place" K. says:

Dave B, A lot of my friends went to that Flaming Lips boombox show in Champaign. Its one of those shows I'm still kicking myself for missing!
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03/18/2006 Dave B. says:

Yea, it was pretty cool.  I was lucky enough to get up on stage and "play" one of the boomboxes, so I'm not sure how it sounded out in the crowd.  But I do remember several times where everyone would start applauding, so they must've come up with something interesting.  Also, Steven (the drummer) told us an interesting story about some guy on E freaking out and demanding orange juice before he would play his boombox for the show.  I think they obliged.
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03/19/2006 Rod O. says:

I guess I'm showing my age like Maria C., but back in the 80's I saw Heart, and it was probably the best concert I've ever seen.  They were already becoming a joke at that point because of Ann Wilson's so-called weight "problem" (puh-leeze), but that woman can belt it out like you wouldn't believe.  And the energy that night was just crazy.  It's not even like they're my favorite band or anything; they just put on an incredible show.  I still get shivers thinking about it.  I saw her recently on CMT singing a duet with some new upstart, and she's still got it.  Like to see Shakira or Ms. Spears live up to that $#!t....

I also agree with Dave that Frank Black is AWESOME live.  I've seen him 3 or 4 times, and that dude is an amazing artist.  I always wished him more commercial success, but in a way I'm glad that he ends up in divey punk rock venues with a small but dedicated audience....

And I will kick down whatever it costs to see Dwight Yoakam in concert.  I mean c'mon.  How cool is Dwight?
Photo of jessica t.

Elite '08

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03/20/2006 jessica "J-To" t. says:

Hearts is cool. I saw a documentary about them awhile back - and when Ann Wilson took the stage - she rocked it. I think I'd like to see Sarah MacLaughlan in concert too. Her stuff still gets me and her voice is incredible.

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