I believe it was either 99 or 2000. A friend and I had just bought several hits of acid and made our way to the Gorge to watch Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle. This was the best concert I think I have ever seen in my life. I still get chills when I think about how amazing and impactful that show was on me. Nine Inch Nails played for about 2 and 1/2 hours that night. They had just dropped their album The Fragile a couple months before, and basically played the entire fu[king thing for us that night.

In case you were wondering, the acid was amazing.

What was your most favorite concert you have been to or most memorable?

Lollapalooza 92, 93 & 94 were all amazing. But I think my favorite was a small Public Enemy show where we got backstage passes from Chuck D. 'Fear of Black Planet' just popped and it was just too much for my 16 year old mind to handle. I ran into Chuck again about a year later and he remembered me from that show. Then we had Burger King together with some of the S1W's and we talked about my school. Neat.

Jimi Hendrix at Sick’sSeattle Stadium, in the rain and wayback in the Jurassic.

And, the Afro Celtic Sound System, also in Seattle, sometime in the early 2000’s

Yuppers, the acid was good, and reel long lasting !

Nice on the Chuck D story, Nick! He remains one of my favorite rappers. He spoke truth, loud and hard.

I've seen a lot of concerts, featuring many genres, from dive bars to arenas/amphitheaters. Just about all were good, and many were great. I've seen my fair share of "big-timers," but most of my favorite shows were stoned out of my mind in small venues and cost $10 or less. There's just something special about going to bed, ears still ringing, after getting thoroughly rocked (unless you also happen to get laid... a real bone-us!).

Some that I think deserve mention (sticking to the "rock" genre for now) would be:

Best arena show: First Lollapalooza, whatever year that was. Maybe 1991? I was in high school.... Honorable mention to Tom Petty and Steve Winwood at the Gorge.

Best show in concert hall-type venue: Tom Petty and the Jayhawks at the Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX (1995). Fantastic venue. Intimate, with outstanding acoustics. Put those acts in an environment like that, smoke a bowl, and expect to be blown away. Honorable mention to Wilco at the "Schnitz" in Portland, a few years back. They've long been a favorite band, and I loved every second.

Loudest show: Sugar, 1993, Liberty Lunch, Austin, TX. Bob Mould likes it loud, and he brings it! My ears rang for 2 days after that one.

Best "rocking:" Guided By Voices, 1997, Liberty Lunch. They were all wasted drunk, and it showed, but we all must have been sharing the same buzz, because they were amazing.

Most of my concert-going (and drug expermintation) was in the 90s. Acts that I saw put on memorable shows in that decade include (but are by no means limited to): Polvo, Frank Black, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Ween, Versus, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh....

I should stop now. Hip hop, country, classical, and world concerts will have to be for other threads.

Only wish I got to see Hendrix. Good one!

The first Lollapalooza in Enumclaw was pretty phenomenal...every single act was amazing, but Body Count in the pouring rain really stood out to me.

In 1992 Mudhoney was playing a show in Carver Gym at Western where I was going to school...special "surprise guest" was Nirvana, who opened for the and played for a looonnngg time before Mudhoney even came out. That was also exceptional, both bands.

Saw Grunt Truck in a bar in Bellingham...1991?...definitely damaged my ears at that one.

Paul McCartney at the Kingdome, 1989. We drove down the Frederick & Nelson in Lynnwood and spent the night on the sidewalk with hundreds of other fans, waiting for the Ticketmaster outlet to open at 8am. By 8:15am the show was sold out, we were near the front and bought the max, 8 tickets. Sold four of them to people in line behind us for enough money to cover all 8 tickets, and dinner and hotel room in Seattle the weekend of the show, we drove down from Bellingham with our girlfriends.

Crosby Stills & Nash, Gorge Amphitheatre in 1989, and Fleetwod Mac there the next summer...these shows were before the Gorge became "the place" for all kinds of shows...before that it was a lot of chill music and beautiful scenery. I preferred it then, by far. Saw Bob Dylan there, first show ever at the "Champs de Brionne Winery", before it became the Gorge Amphitheatre...I think that was in 1987, or 1988.

Iron Maiden, Powerslave tour, 1984, with Twisted Sister as the opening act, at the Coliseum. Both acts killed it.

Judas Priest, Defenders of the Faith tour, also in 1984...they were amazing, as they always are. Great White opened for them, got booed off stage, somebody hit the lead singer in the head with a shoe. Poor choice of opening band lol.

In 1986, or 1987, saw some upstart band called Alice'n'Chains at the Off Ramp (now Graceland). They weren't all that great, but they were fuckin loud, and fun, and it makes for a good story.

This November I'm going to go see a band that I've yet to see live, but have always wanted to...GWAR!!

Fish on...

Todd

Interesting you mentioned Crosby Stills & Nash. I've seen them a bunch of times as I was a big fan...saw Neil Young a bunch of times too.

My favorite concert was also my first and it was related to the above mentioned dudes. Stephen Stills and Manassas. It was freakin amazing. What a great band. I was totally hoarse by the end of the gig.

Jesus, some stellar experiences. Sounds like I need to research a few bands. Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth would be awesome. Jealous of you dudes.

Ozzfest 2000 or so was my biggest. Went with a friend and his dad, dad had probably been to most of the shows mentioned. I later found out they may had been involved in insurance fraud and he certainly spent a lot of money on albums and concerts. He had more albums than 10 Sam Goodies. His son was our high school quarterback so we were friends. Marilyn Manson was at his peak and it was an experience seeing him up close. I smoked weed with a purple haired midget and my doppelganger.

I felt like a Juggalo, sorta. It was pretty gross. Afterwards we went to the theaters and watched Fast and Furious. Lots of Hondas. Back at the hotel a movie called Beer Money was playing it stared Zach from Saved by the Bell and an Alien. I remember thinking the movie was awesome, but I was young, high and always stoked for an out of town hotel trip.

August 4, 2001 outdoor concert at Columbia Meadows (Near St. Helens OR)

BB King
Buddy Guy
John Hiatt
Tommy Castro

Reserved seating, perfect summer evening.

Paul McCartney at Safeco Field in 2013
Soundgarden on Badmotorfinger tour, Capitol Theater Oly 1991
Them Crooked Vultures at the Paramount, 2009
Stone Temple Pilots, Greek Theater, Berkeley, 2008

Probably top four when asked today. I don't know if McCartney ever moves from the top spot but I've been to a LOT of excellent concerts and shows.

I'll list a few that I thought were great shows.

Judas Priest on the Defenders of the Faith tour. They were tight, and the Heavy Duty/Defenders of the Faith combo just kicked so much ass. Really loud show, and Rob Halford was dialed in.

Metallica/The Cult - I think this was Metallica's One tour. The Cult opened and was great, but then Metallica came on stage and tore the roof off the place. The chant of "Die!.... Die!.... Die!" during Creeping Death was incredible.

AC/DC - Every show. They are LOUD! When Angus and Malcolm are at work live, it's something special. So many kick-ass songs, and just a great stage presence. The wall of Marshall amps that punches you in the chest with sound is a sight every rock fan should see.

Scorpions/Ratt - Don't really give a sh!t about Ratt, but the Scorpions put on a fantastic show, and if you want to see hot women that show was absolutely loaded. There was a wreck on northbound I-5 around Ft. Lewis, so people going to the concert were getting out and doing some pre-show partying right there on the freeway. The Scorpions are underrated.

Motorhead - Saw them at the Showbox in 2005, I think. I stood in front of Lemmy about 4 feet away while the speaker made my hair move. They were so fuckin loud that my ears rang for like a week. Motorhead are true metal royalty, and Lemmy is as metal as it gets.

Steve Miller Band - saw them at the Gorge some time in the early 90's. The weather was crappy and windy, and then the front went by, the sky cleared, the wind went calm, and dude played some really good guitar. When the weather is good, I'm not sure there's a better place to see a show than the Gorge.

Foo Fighters - saw them in Portland at the Rose Garden or whatever the fvck they call it now. Grohl is a monster - he sings, he plays guitar, and he plays drums. They put on a great live show - would definitely recommend. They work hard, and earn your ticket money.

AC/DC - What - you thought one mention was enough? lol No. Flick of the Switch tour. The bad boys are always great live, but during this concert, when they busted out "House Is On Fire", some tard on the floor shot a flare gun into the roof at the Tacoma Dome, and it wedged right up against one of the ceiling beams and started it on fire. Security swarmed his ass in a second, and the fire smoldered out after a few minutes, but the crowd roared and thought it was great. FOTS is a completely underrated album, btw.

Sugar Blue - I went to a blues club in downtown Chicago back around 91-92 and this guy was playing. He plays the harmonica and electric harmonics and played on the Rolling Stones' Miss You. When we walked in, we were the only Caucasians in the place, and everyone turned to look. An hour later, when he had the whole house rocking and everyone was dialed in, people started sending us drinks. That dude tore the roof off the place, and the whole scene was just fantastic. I've always wanted to go back to Chicago and hit another blues bar, but I'm a little a'skeered of getting killed there now.

I haven't been to a live show since the covid. I was supposed to see Fu Manchu last year - then it got postponed until August...........and now it's been postponed again. I need some live music again. I'm jonesing.

Molly Hatchet Paramount 2-1-82 - Went with my friend's sister her boyfriend and Tim's sister. It wasn't supposed to be a date but turned into alot more.

Grand Slam Summer Jam Kingdome 7-23-81 Brian Adams, Joan Jett, Blue Oyster Cult, Loverboy, and Foreigner

Aerosmith Dokken Permanent Vacation Coliseum 1-16-88

Rush 5-21-86 Coliseum

Yes Coliseum 4-3-84

Heart Coliseum 12-30-78

AIC Vogue 8-22-89

Going to Maroon 5 next month at the White River Ampitheater

Been listening to local music lately usually Thursday blues at the pig or Valholl on weekends. Went to Whaling Days last night and going again later to see Joel Gibson who we haven't seen for 2 years. Even had a band over here last August for a socially distant concert.

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Still Corners are awesome. Reminds me of Whisler.

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