Monday, August 03, 2009

My 10 most memorable concerts

The following consists of the most memorable live concerts I have ever seen, in no particular order (other than chronological).

Rage Against The Machine
Lollapalooza (Barrie) 1993

Smashing Pumpkins
Metropolis (Montreal) 1993

Sarah McLachlan
Bloomsbury Theatre (London UK) 1994

Neil Young (with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden)
CNE (Toronto) 1994

Weeping Tile
Lee's Palace (Toronto) 1997

Martin Sexton
Lee's Palace (Toronto) 2004

Hawksley Workman
Danforth Music Hall (Toronto) 2004

Arcade Fire
Danforth Music Hall (Toronto) 2004

Radiohead
Parc Jean Drapeau (Montreal) 2008

Hey Rosetta!
Lee's Palace (Toronto) 2009

Live music is always a passionate topic - let me know your top ten.

4 comments:

smack416 said...

My number one is still 1996 at the Warehouse. The first of two Tool shows following the release of Aenima. The second show was great, but the first was an epiphany. I've only seen a handful of bands that are that tight. And the combination of pristine vocals, music, video and stage setup hasn't been equalled before or after.

After that it's a collection of Radiohead shows, the best being at the ACC following Kid A, each song sponsored by another great Canadian institution and Lamb at Lee's Palace with the bass player screaming for joy over trumpet and lead vocals.

There was also a benefit concert at Lee's a number of years back with members of the Rheostatics, Our Lady Peace, and more. Remarkable.

Then there's the Jesus Lizard:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu9lUbf5GQ0&fmt=18

Saw them three times. Between blood, punching, beatings with microphones, crowd surfing, lap sitting, and making out with the front row, I've yet to see a band more interested in the audience. Always a treat. Though their reunion show next month is unfortunately at the Phoenix, where I suspect the stage is too high for this kind of fun.

MamaBlog said...

The Police Reunion Tour
Bell Centre, Montreal (2007)

Lilth Fair
Stade DuMaurier, Montreal (1997)

U2 Beautiful Day Tour
Air Canada Centre, Toronto (2005)

Bon Jovi
CNE, Toronto (1986)

Sting
Molson Ampitheatre, Toronto (2001)

Elton John and Billy Joel, Face to Face Tour, Syracuse University(2000)

Blue Rodeo, Great Big Sea, Barenaked Ladies
Bourbon St North, Quebec (1998)

Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper
Molson Centre, Montreal (1997)

Neil Diamond
Molson Centre, Montreal (1998)

Def Leppard
St. John's (1993)

Bob said...

Damn, this list is hard. Tough to choose, and I definitely left out some highlights. Here are my top ten (with non-coincidental overlap with Mark's...):

Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour, Maple Leaf Gardens (Toronto) 1988

Rage Against the Machine, Lollapalooza (Barrie) 1993

Smashing Pumpkins, Metropolis (Montreal) 1993

Tragically Hip (with Midnight Oil, Hothouse Flowers, Crash Vegas), Another Roadside Attraction (Markham) 1993

Rheostatics, Vertigo (Victoria), 2000

Hawksley Workman, Thursdays (Victoria) 2001

Wolf Parade and Think About Life, Theatre Plaza (Montreal) 2005

Arcade Fire, Ukrainian Federation (Montreal)2007

Radiohead Parc Jean-Drapeau (Montreal) 2008

Bruce Springsteen, Bell Centre (Montreal) 2008

Rayanne Langdon said...

You've got some decent taste in music, dear friend ; ) Let's see what I can think of:

Tegan and Sara w/ Matt Sharp
Capital Music Hall, Ottawa (2003)

Weezer w/ The Pixies
Molson Amphitheater, Toronto (2005)

The New Pornographers w/ Controller.Controller, Meligrove Band and Hilotrons
Ottawa Bluesfest (2006)

And I'm not sure this will make the list yet, but I saw Fleet Foxes the other night at Massey Hall and it BLEW MY MIND! So good!

I know I'm missing so much here. But look how handsome and mysterious Lee is in his avatar! ; )