1. Home
  2. best-of
  3. 1214322498

Best and Worst Rock Concert Moments

I will start this off. 1975 Jethro Tull concert at the Seattle Center Coliseum. About midway through the show an M-80 goes off in the crowd in the middle of a song and Ian Anderson holds his hand up in the air and counts to three with his fingers and the band stops playing in mid measure all at once as though some one had flipped a switch. The whole place goes dead quiet for about 15 seconds or so. Anderson says something like "Well, that was bloody ******* RUDE! If you want us to keep playing then you better cut that crap right out and have a little more respect for your NEIGHbor. Do you really want us to play some more?". The crowd slowly starts to applaud and then it builds to a crescendo. As the applause starts to die down, Anderson holds his hand up in the air, counts out loud to three and the band cuts back in full force absolutely mid-measure where they left off.

When the song ended I have never heard such intense applause in any arena or hall for any song at any show. I was completely dumb struck by how Anderson handled the situation and by the musicianship of the whole outfit. Maybe it was a staged event, but I doubt it. Either way, it was really something else...
knownothing
tvad
9,467 posts
 
BEST MOMENT:
When I was the production manager for INXS we played Shea's Theater in Buffalo New York. The band was really rocking that night and the crowd was totally into it too. By the end of the show, the fans in the balcony were dancing so hard that the balcony was bouncing up and down at least 6 inches...
Eddaytona (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers)

That story makes me smile.

In 1983, I saw U2 at Shea's Theater. Stunning concert event. My date and I were sitting in the balcony, and as you described, it was bouncing VERY noticeably. We had a great time, as did the thousands of other fans.
2muse
52 posts
 
I went along with some friends that were driving up to Monterey Pop Festival in '67. We were all broke, so no chance to actually buy tickets. After hanging out on the grounds and listening in at the festival, the guy with the van suggested spending what little we did have by going up to the Fillmore. We didn't recognize the band - "Who"? They were certainly an eye (ear) opener, but then another band took the stage that weren't even on the program. I think it was Santana's first concert. I was more than impressed!
Much later in my "maturing" years, I had friend that got me into a "Dead" concert standing right up front at the stage. I have always liked their music, but the "wall of sound" was too much for my delicate ears. I had to leave. Not very bad. And I am still enjoying my hearing.
jppenn
130 posts
 
Around 1972 Keith Jarrett was at the Milwaukee Performing Arts Center doing a impromptu solo piano concert. Prior to his coming on stage there was an announcement that said Mr. Jarrett does not want any pictures being taken while he is playing. About an hour into the concert Jarrett was really into a beautiful piece, (much like music from his Koln concert), when some person snaps a flash bulb. Jarrett stopped playing immediately, put both hands to his side, shook his head in disgust, then pushed himself away from the piano. The place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. He stayed that way for about 4 minutes. He finally got back to playing but the concert was different after that.
chashmal
605 posts
 
Jppenn: the actions of a neurotic primadonna under the pretense of genius. What a crock.

Yeah, I know, he is a good pianist. So what. Like we never had one before?

But to hell with him and that tired old act. He squats on the pot just like the rest of us. ....the nerve...
xiekitchen
819 posts
 
I have another Kieth Jarrett story:
I had a front row seat to a concert with Kieth in a trio setting with Jack Dejohnette on drums and Dave Holland (maybe not sure) on upright bass, in Princeton NJ early 90's forgot which year... Interesting to note, bass player using a Cello amp...
Anyway, just as concert is beginning, it's DEAD quiet, then, somebody waaay up high in far back starts making some weird sick, loud moaning noises.. like a mental patient or something.. Kieth and everyone else turns
around looking like, 'what the HELL???' and looking around for the source of 'outburst'. Keith says something like, 'excuse me? we'd like to begin now..' and that was it. Rest of performance was undisturbed.
More to discover