Live Music - the Best Concerts Ever Seen

I recently realized I had seen 40 or 50 live acts throughout the years, but there have been just a few that always stick with me as highlights. I've seen a lot of country, has-beens, and one-hit-wonders at State Fairs. I've seen massive arena shows. I've been to intimate club settings. I've done a lot, so I came up with a list of some of my very favorite shows of all time, in no particular order:

Metallica - 1992, the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, touring on the Black album, long before they became whining therapy needing sell-outs. It was a huge diamond headed stage, probably 20,000 people in attendance. No opening act and they played for nearly 3 hours. Biggest show I've ever been too, and it was my first outside the confines of the safety net of parents-approved acts I had self-imposed on myself. I've never been the same since!

Faith No More - 1993, Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, California. Touring on Angel Dust, FNM was, and still is, one of my favorite bands of all time so I'm a little biased. I fought hard to get to the front barrier for this show and my work paid off. I got a guitar pick from Jim Martin. Great live energy, great improv, and I sung along to nearly every song. Lead singer Mike Patton was a maniac! In a non-smoking venue, he asks for a cigarette, and suddenly hundreds of cigarettes and packs of cigarettes are flung up on stage and the band lights up! My only regret was not being able to see them again during another tour before their break-up in later years but now that they are back together, perhaps there is a chance!

Primus - 1994, Fresno State Amphitheater, Fresno, California. They were touring on Pork Soda. More noise came out of these three guys than I could ever have imagined. Les Claypool's six string bass is a wonder unto itself. The audience bounced and bounced for 2 hours. There wasn't a blade of grass left on that poor amphitheater floor by the time we were done!

Nine Inch Nails - 1994, the Downward Spiral tour at Arco Arena, Sacramento, California. Opening was the Jim Rose Circus of sideshow freaks, and a very new, just signed band that would become popular as Marilyn Manson (they sucked at the time), but NIN was who we paid to see. I was too afraid to enter the mosh pit until I could no longer contain myself during the Pretty Hate Machine montage of Down in It and Head Like a Hole. I've wanted to see Trent Reznor again so bad but it looks like I've missed the boat with his recent farewell tour.

Bob Dylan - I've seen Dylan three different times in very different venues. Say what you will about the man's voice or singing, but his song writing and arrangements are second to none! I've heard upwards of 4 or 5 different takes on the same song. No show is ever the same! Great stuff!

Weird Al Yankovic - I saw Weird Al and his band three times in the span of about two years, and I couldn't believe how musically adept he was, as well as a spectacular showman. The use of props on top of the very tight musical prowess of the band made for fantastic shows on all three occasions. See him when you can!

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - 2005, Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, California. I was 80% positive this was going to be a 'has-been' show. I was dead wrong! Petty and his band were seasoned and at the top of their game. It was like we were all good friends jamming that night on all my favorites. The venue kind of blew but the music was fantastic. He even whipped out some Traveling Wilbury's tunes and finished off with a ripping version of 'Gloria'!

INXS - Twice, in 1997 in Santa Barbara, California about four months before the death of Michael Hutchence and that show was incredible! They were touring on Elegantly Wasted. Next time was in Memphis, Tennessee in 2006 with new lead singer JD Fortune, and that show was also incredible. Who would have thought?

Memphis in May, 2007 - I've been to 3 different Memphis in May festivals since living in Tennessee and most of them have been mediocre at best, but in 2007 the Friday night line-up was to die for! Chevelle was on deck, one of the more tolerable of the new age of rockers getting airplay. Next up was old school punk/rockabilly Social Distortion that happened to play all their good stuff. Last but not least was godfathers of punk The Stooges, touring on The Weirdness. Iggy Pop may be the most insane frontman ever. It was awesome!

The White Stripes - July, 2007. The venue was in Southaven, Mississippi while they were touring on Icky Thump. As much as Primus had always impressed me with the wall of sound produced by three men, the set put on by Jack and Meg White blew my mind at how well they could entertain an audience with their unique sound. My only critique was the is seemed like a short set, but it turned out to be the last show for a while for the White Stripes, so I'm glad I could see it!

There are some runner-ups without going into details: The B-52's, Stevie Nicks, The Wallflowers, Reverend Horton Heat, Puddle of Mudd, and Ozomotli come to mind. I've also enjoyed some live jazz sets my wife turned me on to.

There are also some shows I can't believe I spent money on, but perhaps that's best left for another time!