Billy Talent, Sydney 2007

I don’t know man, was my first time going to an actual concert of a band I liked, and it was just something special

Well, the only one I can name here with international and lot only Europe/German recognition I could name is: pink.

Yeah, thst show was nice. But that didn’t age well, now.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor at Paradiso, NL on 2023-04-09

Hands down best sounding live performance I’ve been to.

It’s a bit sad because I know what the venue acoustics are capable of, and I’ve been to a ton of concerts there, but nothing ever came close.

I saw Linkin Park in 2004. I don’t know how to better explain how life changing the show was than to explain the wild fucking situation I was in.

I was 14 years old and a friend of my parents invited me to see Linkin Park with them. I honestly didn’t put to much thought into it, it was fucking Linkin Park. So a week later my teenage heart was all a flutter preparing to sit in the same sold out arena as THE CHESTER BENNINGTON!

And I don’t know how many of you were teenagers in the early aughts but I was head to toe Hot Topic’d out, heavy HEAVY eyeliner, really caked on foundation that didn’t match my skin tone, red plaid Chuck Taylor High-tops, the whole thing.

And just as I was getting ready to leave my mother came in, pretty fucking fuming, telling me that I was lucky she was such a good mother or I wouldn’t go anywhere near THAT whore sleeping with her husband.

Soooo yeah, it was really fucking awkward the whole drive there. My autistic brain was panicking. I genuinely don’t remember parking, walking to our seats, or the opening bands. I’m 72% sure one the bands was Story of the Year.

But the minute Linkin Park hit the stage my whole body, heart, and soul felt that show. I literally started sobbing when they started playing Numb.

I don’t know how to explain it all other than saying my little 14 year old brain somehow knew I needed to set aside all do the bullshit and take everything in because I was experiencing something that was a one in a lifetime.

Les Miserables. (Sydney, Australia in 2015.)

I found myself in Sydney for work and looking for some way to spend the evening.

I had only ever seen live theater once before in my life (an opera in Vienna), and I enjoyed it well enough so I figured the world famous Sydney Opera House, but it was sold out.

Then I saw Comedian Dylan Moran was in town, but again sold out.

Then I had a choice to make, both Matilda the Musical and Les Miserables were in town. I was familiar with the story of Matilda, but had no idea what Les Miserables was.

I decided on Les Miserables, since it would be new to me, and was completely amazed. It kicked off what is now a lifelong love of theater and I’ve seen dozens of shows (including Matilda many years later in London’s West End).

High as a kite at a friends house just hanging out after work. My friend just randomly picks up his acoustic guitar and starts noodling. His roommate comes home, disappears for a bit and comes out with a standup bass. For the next 2 hrs they just smoked and jammed for the love of music.

Me:

I haven’t seen him in almost 15 years, but Weird Al Yankovic puts on a hell of a good show. Always has the best backup musicians with him.

Brian Bedford and Dai Bradley in Equus, LA 1977.

U2 in 1992.

Both times I saw the Ramones.

Grouplove, aka the people behind the “take me to your bestfriend’s house” song from that one 2010ish iPod commercial, surprisingly put on some fucking amazing shows- especially if you can see them at a more intimate venue

I was at the Foo Fighters gig where Dave Grohl fell off the stage and broke his leg, after which the rest of the band spent an hour playing various covers until Dave came back on stage high on pain meds mixed with alcohol and resumed the show. A doctor had to sit on stage and keep his leg fixed for the rest of the show until they could take him to the hospital to give him a cast, and the entire crowd dedicated “My hero” to the doctor. That show was fucking awesome.

Probably either Radiohead or NIN. They were both a long time ago, so very blurry memories of each.

• TOOL
• Roger Waters
• Muse

Sigur Rós with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall - 2017

I’ve seen Sigur Rós a few times over the years. They are always fantastic but this one in particular was skin tingling magic.

Top two concerts of all time:

Daft Punk at Lollapalooza 2007

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at Northerly Island, Chicago, 9/1/24

Fela Kuti. Absolutely transcendent.

Runners up - Henry Rollins, Bad Brains.

Gawd I sound too nostalgic. I have been to some amazing shows more recently too - Janelle Monae in a 2,000 person venue, Cimafunk is great live. Charley Crockett and Leon Bridges, Tyler Childers (I did not love the venue but he is amazing). J Roddy Walston and the Business oh my God what a live act they were, and we got to see them in bars.

But FELA, that really was a special thing to experience.