Leg of lamb wrote:Not gonna try a chronological approach:
R.E.M, Old Trafford, 2003
At the time they were unimpeachable for me. I'd been digging through the IRS years and had ever so slight worries about them losing all that I held dear about them in a large stadium. But they were sensational - it was a hot July day, I was old enough to have a beer and they ripped through a greatest hits set with gusto above and beyond what I was expecting. I can still remember looking up at the blueish midsummer night sky during 'Fall On Me' and being a bit overwhelmed with how perfect it was.
I am really jealous... wanted to go and see them at the city ground on that tour, but couldn't really justify the £45 ticket price...
Queens of the Stone Age, Cardiff Union, 2002
They quite frankly tore the whole room a new arsehole. It was the Songs For The Deaf tour and they were firing on every cylinder, tight as a bag of bad mussels and playing in a venue small enough for the sweat to be palpable wherever you went in the room.
another of my favourite bands... saw them at leeds fest last year, but without Nick Oliveri they're a starting to feel a little bit old...
Elvis Costello, Hay-on-Wye Festival, 2005
To be honest, I didn't have the highest of hopes for this beforehand. I'd been drinking with Owen all afternoon and got a train with my sister to Newport more than a little bit pissed where we met my mother and drove through the wet, lush Welsh countryside to get to the festival. I had a few more pints before we went into the gig, so I was back on board. It was just really fun - he opened with 'Welcome To The Working Week' and ended with a medley of 'Alison', 'Pump It Up', 'You've Really Got A Hold On Me', all sorts. I went to the front with my sister and danced with all the old couples.
King Creosote, Seymour's Family Club, Bristol, 2006
Charming set in a great venue. Rejuvenated my enthusiasm for live music after a long period of just going to clubs.
damn you people have seen some amazing bands!
The White Stripes, Leeds Festival, 2004
A monster of a show. It was the nearest I've come to seeing one of those big Led Zep shows I've seen on How The West Was Won. No matter what you think about them on Radio 1, I find it hard to see how a fan of rock'n'roll could not be bowled over by them live.
Mondo Generator - Reading 2004
The White Stripes were good, but i can't remember whether Mondo Generator or Auf Der Maur were on at the same time, either way I was watching them, Mondo Generator were one of my best gigs... right down at the front, moshing like a mofo, Mark Lanegan came on about half way through, and Oliveri broke out an accoustic guitar and everything was perfect!
Greenday - Also Reading 2004
This was turning into a stunning festival, and Greenday on the last night were definitly the highlight, Fiddy Cent had had his hissy fit and stormed off, so greenday took to the stage an hour or so early, very nearly missed the start, but was milling around the stalls when i heard the opening chords of American Idiot blast out, legged it over to the stage and was blown away... Mainly a greates hti's set, the new album was yet to be released, so we didn't have to sit through loads of new material, or billy in makeup... got all my favourite songs, the ridiculous showboating on king for a day, and the greenday standard, 'let's make a band from the audience' went down well... but after they'd finished their set, instead of going off early they just kept playing... we had some classics brought outas they delved into their back catalogue, including a solo played behind his head on 2000light years away, a cover of the Buzzcocks Ever Fallen in Love and Sham 69's Borstal Breakout. finally left the stage, only for Billy to return with an accoustic and give a rousing version of Good Riddance that the crowd sang every word to... the perfect end to the perfect set!
Radiohead - Newcastle Arena, Sometime on their last tour
What can I say... Asian Dub foundation were a weird, ill fitting yet inspired choice of opening act, and Radiohead were weird, ill fitting yet stunning.,..
played Fake Plastic Trees, Paranoid Android, Street Spirit and Just, none of which I was expecting to hear, and I very nearly came when Johnny played the opening riff to Talk Show Host