Doesn’t have to have been in person, just has to have been hella cool.
GWAR in the 00s! I randomly was invited by a customer during my shift at retail. I went in my work uniform. I never washed that uniform.
TJ Richter (Mind Plasma) was in incredible performer, too. I would be shocked if anyone on Lemmy was able to see him; he mainly did performances at warehouse raves and techno festivals, but for the set and setting, his performances were INCREDIBLE to stumble upon and lose yourself in. Rest in Plasma.
IDK how to pick but my late ‘90s to early ‘00s viewings of AFI, HIMSA, Motörhead, Dio, Bad Religion, and Priest are probably contenders for the best.
David Gilmour’s comfortably numb solo in Pompeii, starts around 4:30 here
A young PJ Harvey, solo on Jay Leno: https://youtu.be/KBZoL8wpZzU
The floutist society in my city had tull in for a concert in the park. I think they made a point of playing the most flute intensive songs from the catalogue or maybe were asked to. Anyway best concert of my life and it was free. Great weather, in the park, near the lakefront.
Seeing the Justice Hyperdrama tour live was incredibly transcendental, and an experience I wish I could experience live again. The lights were so damn cool. https://archive.org/details/justice-live-accor-arena-18122025/Justice+(Coachella+2024+-+Week+One).mkv
Kinga Głyk right next to the Porta Nigra.
Just cool: Angine de Poitrine, you’ve probably seen it by now.
In person, probably Black Sabbath on their 13 tour. I cheered so hard that I had to take a knee at one point. First sign of getting old, I guess lol
Fela Kuti, by far. That show, absolutely nothing else existed, probably best performance in the world.
Second place Henry Rollins, I almost sat out his set because he was so snooty to everyone in the club but holy crap.
And Marcus King has such charisma - he is a pudgy not particularly handsome dude and was wearing an unflattering outfit but I swear he transformed, not physically exactly but is so compelling on stage - he picks up the guitar you forget about his looks. I find that almost the definition of cool, in a way. Transcendent.
Jeff Rosenstock and PUP playing the salt shed in Chicago last year. What a show.
Front row at Bonnaroo to see Sigur Ros. Hung out at the front of the stage for five hours with some nice strangers and saw an incredible performance. I haven’t been to Bonnaroo in awhile but the atmosphere of the other festival goers makes the event. The openness to strangers and general kindness at what should be a miserable packed event will always stick with me. Go if you can. It’s one thing I’ll perpetually entertain going to as long as they have it each year.
After that, found out Kanye still hadn’t taken his stage. Totally had planned on missing him for Sigur Ros. Fell asleep waiting for him to take stage and walked back to camp at 4am. Crazy it’s almost 20 years ago.
They are one of my favorite bands but I haven’t enjoyed anything have done since Talk. AB and () are some of the best music I’ve ever heard, but their newer stuff doesn’t capture that mood anymore for me.
Not music but my city has a surprising handful of puppetry troops that put on absolutely phenomenal performances.
They use really elaborate hand built stages, puppets, and other contraption. projectors and paper cut outs for wild visual overlays, compelling emotionally engaging scenes and It’s always for crowds of ~30 or fewer people sitting on a floor. It really feels like the textbook definition of childlike wonder. They are by far the events I get most hype about when I see a flyer / post.
That’s honestly awesome, I love it
Pink Floyd Division Bell tour, at an outdoor stadium during the city’s annual Exposition festival. Seeing all the rides going, the slingshot was busy all night, David Gilmour down on the stage.
I’m going to see Rush, Geddys getting a little long in the tooth, but there’s a new drummer girl, Anika Nilles.
Probably Blue Man Group in Las Vegas. Great music, great performance, good comedy sketches. It was a great experience all around.
For music, Thievery Corporation is absolutely fantastic
However, I’m a performer and sideshow freak so I end up at a lot of shows. I’ve seen a loooooot of crazy shit. The only one that genuinely chills me to my bones is a stunt called “The Man Who Can’t Be Hung”. I saw someone I know turn blue from it once. They survived obviously but nope.
