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Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Oct. 13 2008, 20:16 What are some of the best gigs or live shows you`ve been to over the years.I have to say I`ve never really been a great one for going to lots of live concerts and stuff myself mainly because:..1/ I`m too lazy to get off my backside and 2/ I`m not really all that fussed about seeing bands perform a lot of the time anyway..That said I am going to see The Damned in a couple of weeks,so I ain`t quite ready for the scrapheap just yet I guess.. Two gigs that always spring to mind for me are Motorhead at the Newcastle Mayfair 1984.Which was just one of the most exhilerating experiences of my life..And The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band in 2006, which was kind of doubly special for me because I went to see it with a great old friend of mine and we basicaly just sat there and laughed our asses off for 90 minutes... It would be great to hear from people who have seen Mike live as well here.You know and how highly would you rank those performances against other people you`ve seen etc?..Again I`m probably in a minority here I know, but I can`t say I`m too bothered by not having seen him live.I think I do kind of like the mystique if you like of not going to see some of my favourite artists in the flesh as it were.That said there`s a guy I work with who is maybe 3-4 years older than me.mid-late forties.Who saw Mike perform a couple of times around 79/80.Now this guy loves Mike Oldfield and he`s always saying how great those shows were.But added to that is the fact that he has`nt heard a single album that Mike has put out for the last fifteen years or so.You know he`s not really curious either in an odd way,and this guy still buys a hell of a lot of albums as well.Which kind of begs the question just how much of an influence has Mike`s lack of touring activity had in the general interest of his older fanbase I wonder?..Probably massive in this country I dare say. Back to top

Scatterplot Group: Members Posts: 1981 Joined: Dec. 2007 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 01:04 Some of my fav. memories of live shows: Genesis in 1980 Alice Cooper and Blue Oyster Cult in 1980 Moody Blues in '88, '90 and '99. Renaissance in 1982 Pat Metheny Group(incl. Pedro Aznar) in '89 Steppenwolf in '88 Bruce Cockburn in '84 -------------- We raise our voices in the night Crying to heaven And will our voices be heard Or will they break Like the wind Back to top

Major Gowen Group: Members Posts: 83 Joined: June 2008 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 01:20 My favourite gig would have to be those loveably spaced-out noise rockers Loop at the Bristol Bierkeller in 1990. I was well into my indie rock phase by then and they didn't disappoint, the volume level was crushingly loud and the audience's eardrums took a vicious pummelling. Plus there was so much dry ice swirling around that we didn't realize there was a second guitarist until halfway through. The group themselves had all the stage presence of a wet fish but as they stood there with long hair drooping, they unleashed a pretty fearsome barrage of hypnotic space rock. I rushed out and bought their then current album a few days later and it sounded pretty timid in comparison. Every gig I've been to since then has failed to match that, ahem, punishing evening. Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 07:36 Oldfield NEC July 99.The best gig i have EVER been to bar none!Fantastic show.The highlight of the whole gig was Ommadawn.He said "we're going to play a peice i wrote in 1975" and with that went into it.I actually nearly wept!  Plus he did,among others, Moonlight Shadow,Shadow on the Wall,Let There Be Light,a few tracks from the then current Guitars (including one peice solo with just his classical guitar)and Far Above The Clouds.My only criticism is that for an encore he played Far Above The Clouds a second time.He did this on the Exposed DVD with Guilty.I would have thought that with a career spanning,at that point,26 years he could have found a different track to play as the encore rather than a track he'd already played.Other than that it was a brilliant gig. After that it would have to be Page and Plant on the No Quater tour,July 22nd 95 (I remember cos it was a year to the day before my first daughter was born).They did all the Zep hits minus Stairway as Plant hated it at the time with the addition of a Morrocan orchestra and a small Englsih orchestra and a hurdy gurdy player who was frankly amazing.Page was awesome as well. -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

olracUK Group: Members Posts: 1683 Joined: June 2003 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 08:24 Wembley '83. The best ever. That laser beam     2nd best ever live show. Sinead O'connor, Newport Gwent can't remember the year but just before "Nothing Compares" went mega. Really small sports hall type place so very intense close to the stage show. Spine tingling voice, excellent sound and superb band. -------------- The answer is 42 - but what is the question? Back to top

raven4x4x Group: Members Posts: 1535 Joined: Jan. 2002 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 08:33 I've been lucky enough to attend some great gigs over my quite short concert-going career. My first big gig was Yes in 2003, which is a band I never expected to see. That was amazing. Steeleye Span in 2004 was quite close to the perfect concert while Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds were quite loud (to put it mildly). Sigur Ros was just mindblowing, and seeing Roger Waters is the closest I'll ever get to a Pink Floud gig. My last one was Muse at the end of last year, which was again fantastic. I was stupid enough to pass up the chance to see David Bowie, but I consider myself very lucky to have seen some of my very favourite groups, especially the ones who's peak was 15 years before I was born! -------------- Thank-you for helping us help you help us all. Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 08:42 Excuse me asking Raven but how old are you?Not being rude but the last post made you sound very young. -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 08:49 Aha found it.You're 21.That means you were born the same year i started playing.God now i feel old! -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 12:06 Quote (The Caveman @ Oct. 14 2008, 12:36) Oldfield NEC July 99.The best gig i have EVER been to bar none!Fantastic show.The highlight of the whole gig was Ommadawn.He said "we're going to play a peice i wrote in 1975" and with that went into it.I actually nearly wept!  Plus he did,among others, Moonlight Shadow,Shadow on the Wall,Let There Be Light,a few tracks from the then current Guitars (including one peice solo with just his classical guitar)and Far Above The Clouds.My only criticism is that for an encore he played Far Above The Clouds a second time.He did this on the Exposed DVD with Guilty.I would have thought that with a career spanning,at that point,26 years he could have found a different track to play as the encore rather than a track he'd already played.Other than that it was a brilliant gig. After that it would have to be Page and Plant on the No Quater tour,July 22nd 95 (I remember cos it was a year to the day before my first daughter was born).They did all the Zep hits minus Stairway as Plant hated it at the time with the addition of a Morrocan orchestra and a small Englsih orchestra and a hurdy gurdy player who was frankly amazing.Page was awesome as well. Well that Oldfield show sounds great Caveman I have to admit.And Page & Plant with that whole Morrocon orchestra thing sounds pretty cool also.I thought the version of Kashmir they did back then with the orchestra was just outstanding. Back to top

Tati The Sentinel Group: Members Posts: 3360 Joined: Feb. 2002 Posted: Oct. 14 2008, 13:39 Some of my fav gigs ever: 1997 Alan Parsons Emerson Lake and Palmer 1998 Yes 2001 Rick Wakeman 2004 G3 feat Robert Fripp Kraftwerk 2006 Daft Punk Mike Oldfield @ NNOTP 2007 Keane 2008 Roger Hodgson Karl Bartos(former Kraftwerk member) My favorite DJ live sets I've seen... 2006 Armin Van Buuren 2007 Markus Schulz 2008 Armin Van Buuren Sean Tyas Markus Schulz -------------- "But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014 "I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011 Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: Oct. 15 2008, 02:58 Kahmir was to me the highlight of the gig.I have that cd and i loved it so when they played it it was just stunning.And VERY LOUD! -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

Sweetpea Group: Members Posts: 1476 Joined: April 2007 Posted: Oct. 16 2008, 14:45 I've seen only a small number of live shows, mostly comic operas and musicals. The few concerts I've attended include Andrea Bocelli and Bryan Ferry. Usually, I dislike being in large crowds. And even roaming Costco makes me anxious. Thank goodness for concerts on DVD! Your sightline is never impeded and there's no after-show rush to the parking lot. -------------- "I'm no physicist, but technically couldn't Mike both be with the horse and be flying through space at the same time? (On account of the earth's orbit around the Sun and all that). So it seems he never had to make the choice after all. I bet he's kicking himself now." - clotty Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Oct. 16 2008, 16:08 Quote (Sweetpea @ Oct. 16 2008, 19:45) I've seen only a small number of live shows, mostly comic operas and musicals. The few concerts I've attended include Andrea Bocelli and Bryan Ferry. Usually, I dislike being in large crowds. And even roaming Costco makes me anxious. Thank goodness for concerts on DVD! Your sightline is never impeded and there's no after-show rush to the parking lot. Yeah I`m not too keen on crowds either,although I`m ok at football matches.And confined spaces they`re pretty much "out the window" as well.In fact my worst fear I guess would be being stuck in a lift with about 56 people in it...With B.O....And needing the toilet at the same time.Piece of life advice no` 2,376 Always go to the toilet before you get in a lift..You just never know. My friends dad was Bryan Ferry`s old art teacher,and I think they still correspond with each other from time to time.Apparently he recorded his last but one solo album due to the fact that he was "down to his last seven million pounds" Seriously that`s what he put in the letter,he`s a very self-effacing amusing guy underneath all that "moody exterior" apparently.According to my friend "Jerry Hall makes a very nice cup of tea"..Which he somehow manages to mention every now and then when he feels the need to drop it into a conversation.The fact that he was about twelve years old at the time mind,does`nt really come into it at all.   The same guy also taught a certain Miss Heather Mills-McCartney....So you know...Swings and roundabouts. Back to top

Tati The Sentinel Group: Members Posts: 3360 Joined: Feb. 2002 Posted: Oct. 16 2008, 16:37 I hate concerts in crowded places like a stadium.For those types,I'd rather buy the DVD of the concert! Watching my favorite artists live  sized like an ant I do hate a lot! -------------- "But it's always the outsider, the black sheep, that becomes the blockbuster." - Mike Oldfield, 2014 "I remember feeling that I'd been judged unfairly and that I was going to prove them wrong." - Peter Davison, 2011 Back to top

bee Group: Members Posts: 1227 Joined: Jan. 2004 Posted: Oct. 16 2008, 17:38 have seen Mike Oldfield twice back in 79 and 80. Has left a big impression on me in terms of what an artist can do...the unifying power of music etc. and i was ony14/15, so was very receptive to new experiences. I would love to see him perform again in the uk... I dream! have been lucky enough to see Muse three times, the first at the NEC in Birmingham..then Wembley Stadium ( un-believably fantastic ) then the Royal Albert Hall...the feeling has been indescribable in each case, the power, the energy and again that sharing of something you love so much with thousands of people...I was on a high for days afterwards. I saw Travis in a very small venue in Cambridge a few years ago, really good fun, they love what they do. I also saw Gary Numan perform the album Replica earlier this year in Cambridge and it was nostalgic but still a very very good atmosphere. And not at all dated. I saw Air when they released Talkie Walkie, that just got better and better as the evening wore on, now they play really big shows in the big cities...they are excellent One of the best hours I've had was seeing the Dandy Warhols in the grounds of Lanhydrock, Cornwall this summer..the concert before them was ( has to be said ) crap, and we waited hours! but they more than made up for it. Wonderful sound, really really good and accompanied by a rising moon over the hillls and finishing off with fireworks..i didn't want it to end!! I loved the Waterboys too and Steeleye Span and this coming week I am off to see some Japanes Drummers, and Goldfrapp..but not on the same night. Sounds like i have seen a few, but we are talking over the course of 30 years!! -------------- ....second to the right and straight on till morning.... You heard me before Yet you hear me again Then I die Till I call me again Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: Oct. 17 2008, 08:58 The Albert hall is a magical venue.I saw Clapton there twice.Not a bad first gig for a 14 year old boy and the second time he was doing his Blues Night which left me stunned. I would haven loved to have seen Mike on the 79 tour.The DVD is amazing and has the added bonus of the angle feature so you can see it from 3 angles seperatley or all 3 at the same time which is somewhat bizzare. -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

Sweetpea Group: Members Posts: 1476 Joined: April 2007 Posted: Oct. 18 2008, 04:00 Quote (Dirk Star @ Oct. 16 2008, 16:08) Apparently he recorded his last but one solo album due to the fact that he was "down to his last seven million pounds" Seriously that`s what he put in the letter,he`s a very self-effacing amusing guy underneath all that "moody exterior" LOL. That would be Frantic, then? I thought about half of that album was pretty good - sounding reminiscent of Roxy Music in some places. I just wish he wouldn't rely on covers so much. His take on "Goodnight, Irene" was a total turn-off for me. I don't blame your friend for name-dropping. I suppose if I'd ever crossed paths with someone famous, I might be tempted to brag about it. But I think I'd rather not have that opportunity. I imagine a face-to-face encounter with someone like, say, Mike Oldfield would be way too stressful if only for trying not to appear a blubbering idiot. Attending a MO concert would be nice, though I don't expect that to happen here in Washington State. -------------- "I'm no physicist, but technically couldn't Mike both be with the horse and be flying through space at the same time? (On account of the earth's orbit around the Sun and all that). So it seems he never had to make the choice after all. I bet he's kicking himself now." - clotty Back to top

Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: Oct. 18 2008, 06:48 Well I suppose I`m kind of name droppping here really and I`ve never even met him,so I`m a fine one to talk..I actualy thought Frantic was his last solo album so it`s probably further back than I remember that letter.I am a fan of his music though,I`ve just kind of lost touch with him a bit in recent years.And yes I agree about the amount of covers he does,although he has done some good ones. To be honest I`m not very good talking to people I`ve just met anyway.So if that person then turned out to be somebody famous,or somebody I kind of "hero worshiped" in a way:Then I think i`d probably spontaneously combust or something I must admit. Back to top

wiga Group: Members Posts: 2113 Joined: Sep. 2008 Posted: Oct. 19 2008, 16:25 For best 'sensational' live concert, it's Depeche Mode on their "Devotional Tour". I saw them in Indianapolis (1994) - the crowd lost it, and the hand waving was awesome on -"Never let me Down".   http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7dlj8lV_L8o&feature=related -------------- Barn's burnt down - now I can see the moon. Back to top

Zeeter Group: Members Posts: 11 Joined: Sep. 2008 Posted: Oct. 27 2008, 15:38 I've always enjoyed small venues. I've seen Gary Moore, Brian Robertson, Alan Holdsworth, Steve Hillage, Steve Howe, Camel, Caravan, and recently Gordon Giltrap, who have all played pubs, clubs, student union's, hotels etc.   One gig that comes to mind is when Gong played at the Junction nightclub in Cambridge. For the first 45 minutes it was the music of the Invisible Opera Company from Tibet. On stage was just a bunch of instruments and two palm trees. I turned to my mate and asked him if he thought we had been ripped off. But eventually Gong appeared and they were really great.   To see an old bloke with grey hair down to his waist, dressed in a leotard leaping about like a madman, was positively inspiring.     -z- Back to top

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