The VH Trade Site Forums Archives

fleetwoodgak · Joined: 2004-08-04 Posts: 339 Location: Orlando

When I was about 15 I went to Deep Purple's Perfect Strangers concert in Cinci.
I knew very well who DP was, and I very much wanted to see the show.
However, this concert completely blew me away, more than any show I had ever seen.

I had never seens anyone sing that way, nor had I ever seen anyone play guitar that way.
(at that point in time I think I had seen VH 3 times, Triumph 2 times, Rush 2 times, and others.)

I've been a die-heart fan ever since.....

Any similar experiences out there?

TAP · Joined: 2003-09-28 Posts: 703

I had a similar experience with Deep Purple at the Knebworth festival (UK) in 1985. I was already a huge fan, but it was a near religious experience (and I'm an atheist :) ).

Other than that

AC/DC - Back in Black tour, 1980. Because it was the first show I ever saw and I really had no idea what to expect.

Queen - Wembley Arena, 1984 to see them rule an arena, and then Wembley Stadium 1986 to see King Freddie holding court in front of 70,000 fans.

The Cult - Electric tour. Great live band, music totally designed to get a crowd going in a live setting.

Rolling Stones - 1989. Was a casual fan to that point, but that day they became (and still are) one of my favourite bands.

More recently I was really blown away by The Datsuns when I thought I had become too old and jaded to be impressed by new bands.

Seen lots of great shows, but those are ones that had that real memorable and unexpected "impact".

Hawkstar97 · Joined: 2004-08-28 Posts: 1824 Location: ARKANSAS

The first show that comes to my mind was in 1977/78 in Memphis...I saw Robin Trower and I have to tell ya...a complete knockout! At his time I had been to so many good shows in those recent years..had managed to catch Zep in Dallas...VH as a warm up to Black Sabbath and those early KISS shows...but Trower was blowing my hair back...for real...with the force of sound he was cranking...watched 2 Marshall stacks go up in smoke..and the sound was as clear as a bell...the other impressive band was back about 3-4 years ago...Sonic Youth was warming up for I think Pearl Jam maybe...this again was in Memphis...they stole the show..ever since then..I have bought their cd's..the music is ok on cd...but I can't wait for them to tour around here again...they just tore it up--let down was "the big band"...how boring...I have been trying to finish a June '04 dvd from easytree for 3 months now...am up to 95%...so when I get it done..maybe I will see if there is any interest in trading or a tree...I have only viewed part of the dvd...looks like it could be good...I hope so...the Trower thing...that was more that I ever expected...so in 1988 he did a couple of shows in Little Rock at a small club...back in the old days I did alot of photography on the side such as weddings and such...and tons of concerts...I had taken some great shots of Robin Trower at the concert aver 10 years earlier...had several 8x10's of my favorite shots...I called the outfit he wore on that tour "The Bumble Bee outfit"...you have seen it..yellow and black striped...took the pictures to the 2nd night show...got the only pick he used that night from roadie..took pictures, original ticket stub from the 70's and the pick up to his dressing room and got all of them autographed...framed them..cool stuff..ticket that goes to the show where I took the picture...both signed ...you would have to see it to appreciate it...my wife got tired of it hanging in our hallway with the family photos..no kidding..she made me move it to my office! She just doesn't understand! I always look at trade lists for Trower...if you ever get a chance...get some! Kent

BigBassDrum · Joined: 2004-04-19 Posts: 85 Location: So. Cal.

Went to see Pink Floyd at a stadium show in 1994. Wasn't really expecting much considering it was one of those huge cavernous stadiums and they were minus Roger Waters. Basically, I was going as an excuse to party with my buddies and some hot ladies we were bringing. First half of the show turned out to be pretty much as expected, as they played much of their new material. It wasn't bad, just wasn't classic Floyd. After intermission, they turned it up a notch as they played one classic after another, combined with visuals and props. It really kicked ass! Heard a rumor not too long ago that they might reunite and do some shows with Waters, but am guessing like most things associated with Floyd, that their differences were too much to overcome and it fell through.

Auk5150 · Joined: 2004-07-07 Posts: 141 Location: Pennsylvania

hummm....
best concert...
thats tough.

how bout i give highlights:

1. Most energy.... skid row 90(maybe 91) opened for aerosmith. Bach was just an animal. imo, blew tyler off the stage. And i went 'cause i loved aerosmith.

2. Best Momment...Damn Yakees. Gulf War. Light go out. Nugent appears in back of the arena. Saddam poster appears. Ted fires a flaming arrow from the back of the arena to the front...hits Saddam right between the eyes! Crowd for the next 10 minutes chants USA. simply amazing!

3. Best Experience Monsters of rock '88 ...last show at the old JFK Stadium in Philly. one band after another...all freakin day/night.

All those shows blew me away....in one way or another.

BillBee · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 7:28 am Post subject:

What concert unexpectantly blew me away...hmmmmm.

Here's one: I caught Foghat at Harpo's here in ole Detroit about 10 years ago. We just went as something to do. Holy Sheeet did they kick ass!! Awesome show I had thought they were gonna suck. :D

-Bill

Warno · Joined: 2001-05-02 Posts: 339 Location: Schaumburg, IL

Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was touring behind his first album and I didn't know much about him other than the Pride and Joy single. I was in college at the time and he was playing the 1000 seater on campus. A guy on my dorm floor talked me into going. Completely amazing. I became a fan from then on. I even have the dubious honor of being at this last show ever at Alpine Valley but that's a story for another time...

Another one was (don't laugh) Hall and Oates. Another college era gig in the 80s and they played the campus arena. It was the Big Bam Boom tour where they tried to sound heavier than the twinkie pop stuff they did earlier on. GE Smith was still in the band then and they rocked. No syrupy ballads that night just a tight rock band playing a hell of a show. Snicker if you must but it was one of may favorite shows from my college days...until Sammy played the same place on the VOA tour shortly thereafter. Of course the best was saved for last. Shortly before graduation...VH, early on in the 5150 Tour, made a stop on campus. Shoulda tried to record that one.

Sweden · Joined: 2002-04-06 Posts: 260 Location: Northern Sweden

Glad to see that the mighty Deep Purple have blew away a few people in here..
To me they are the best band ever and if they hit your town you really should go out and see them. They still rock!!!

As for a concert that really blew me away was the one that Y&T played at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2003. Fist time they played in Sweden and they got an afternoon slot, around two in the afternoon I think but they made a great gig and people still talk about how they where the best band on the festival that year.
I never forget it!

VHLIVE · Joined: 2002-09-15 Posts: 5146

DLR CASINO RAMA NOV 2004...ONTARIO, CANADA....I wasnt expecting much and he blew me away, especially the band...fucking tight!!!!!

frankm · Joined: 2003-04-01 Posts: 3413 Location: Wisconsin

I believe it was 89. I was in college and my roommate and I went to see King's X. I was a big King's X fan and was anxious for their second album to be released (I don't think it was out yet or it was just released I can't recall). I wanted to go so bad that I bought my roommate his ticket. The day of the show came and neither of us felt like going. It had been overcast all day giving us a bummer mood. My roommate just got off work and was tired. We both felt tired and not in the concert mood. We went anyway. Got down to the Cubby Bear (a hole in the wall) and then the show started. King's X ROCKED! They were awesome and after the show we got to talk with the drummer. One of the greatest concerts I've ever seen to this day.

sonic_raver · Joined: 2004-03-27 Posts: 227 Location: San Rafael, CA

Back in '96, I had just moved to Sweden from California to start 9th grade, I got to see Iggy Pop during a summer festival there. I was blown away, what a great performer, just pure rock n roll. He just knows how to put on a show. Mic stands were flying and then he got on top of the Marshall speakers and started humping away aggressively while the stage hands tried to keep order. To say I was impressed is an understatement.

GGirl · Joined: 2001-08-28 Posts: 2021

This didn't really move me persay but it had a huge effect on my younger brother. It's a night I will never forget.

My older brother and I returned home from college the summer of '85. I was in my freshman year and he was in his first year of grad school. The two of us had always been close, more so than me and my younger brother. Anyway, the only thing either of us had planned for the summer was to party, sleep in, get tans and hit every concert we could. Both of us were into rock, hair metal, pretty much anything but the rap stuff that was starting to flood the airwaves. That summer we had tickets to see Aerosmith at Pine Knob. I think it was called the Back In The Saddle tour. One of our friends was unable to go with us so we asked our younger brother if he wanted to go. At the time he was into (dare I say?) break dancing and that whole scene. He decided to go and it was the first, and last time the three of us all went to a show together.

Now my younger brother was a sophmore in high school and compared to us he was still a bit 'wet behind the ears'. lol He didn't party, that we knew of, so we thought we would show him one hell of a night. We had tickets for the "hill" which would have been great had it not been sprinkling on and off the entire day. We got to the concert, partied a bit in the parking lot and then make our way in. The weather had been cooperating until about half way through the show. By that time we had been successful in getting our younger brother pretty toasted. lol

Steven Tyler came back on stage after one of Perry's solos and told the crowd, "I want everyone to close their eyes and Dream On". The crowed went wild. At that very moment it started to sprinkle again, a real fine mist of rain, almost as if it had been planned to happen that way. My younger brother looked up and let the rain hit his face and then looked at us and said, "Damn! Talk about special effects!" (I told you he was toasted!) Since that moment he crossed over from the dark side and has been a rocker ever since.

It was a great show and was the only time the three of us had all been to a concert together. The music was outstanding but the effect the show had on my brother is what I will always remember.

fleetwoodgak · Joined: 2004-08-04 Posts: 339 Location: Orlando

That Aerosmith tour that Ganjagirl spoke of had a different affect on me...
Although I was just a Sophomore, like her brother, I had been to 10 concerts, probably.
Yet this was the first concert my Mom ever drove me to. She dropped me and my bestfriend at the front doors to Hara Arena, and when we got about half way to the doors from the car, she stuck her head out the car window, and we could hear her crying and begging us, "Please get back in the car...Gary, please get back in the car....PLEASE don't go in there...PLEASE! Please! Please"
She was intimidated by the "looks" of some of the people waiting to get in...and all the whiskey bottles and beer bottles smashed and laying on the concrete.
She embarrassed the hell out of her little boy, and we did get back in the car.( I mean she was crying big-time!)

Although I was embarrassed and mad as hell....20 years later we still bring it up, yet we crack-up laughing abou it....we actually brough it up 2 weekends ago...too funny!

BillBee · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:41 am Post subject:

Warno wrote: <snip>
Another one was (don't laugh) Hall and Oates. Another college era gig in the 80s and they played the campus arena. It was the Big Bam Boom tour where they tried to sound heavier than the twinkie pop stuff they did earlier on. GE Smith was still in the band then and they rocked. No syrupy ballads that night just a tight rock band playing a hell of a show. Snicker if you must but it was one of may favorite shows from my college days...

Dude!!

I saw that tour here in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. GE Smith rocked. I think the bassist T-Bone Walker (?) was there as well. I kindof went along due to my bro having an extra ticket glad I did! :thumb

-Bill

Chris UK · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:47 am Post subject:

hmmmm..... been to lots of concerts that I expected to be good, but unexpectedly......

Went to see UK rap-metal band Senser at a small venue in Wolverhampton back in 1998 (I think?) they were OK, but not as good as the previous tour. BUT I got to see the fantastic MOKE supporting. I'd never heard of them, but they were awesome.... brilliant songs and great musicians. Their singer John Hogg went to to work with Rich Robinson from the Black Crowes after Moke split up in 2002. They did 2 albums both are incredible.

Another unexpected one was The Who, last year at the Birmingham NIA doing a warm up for the Isle of Wight Fest. I've only ever been a casual Who fan, I like the well known stuff but I dont own any albums. Anyway, they were brilliant, I couldnt believe I was watching a couple of 60 year olds 20 feet in front of me. They completley rocked, I've seen bands half their age just mopeing around the stage half-heartedly. I just felt so humbled.

Slightly off topic (cos I expected them to be great) but the biggest effect a gig has had on me was of course my first gig. Luckily this was the mighty VH in Birmingham 1980. In a very un-cool fashion we were dropped off my my mates dad in the car to scathing looks from the older rockers outside. We were 'nuggets' back then (young metal fans with shiny patches all over our denim jackets). VH were the definition of rock n roll back then, bright, brash, virtuosic and not at all taking themselves seriously. I have always judged every new band I see by this original benchmark.

Chris.

VH Trade Site - Van Halen Bootlegs and Boot Trading