Great Artists/bands you've seen at their commercial or artistic peak?

Best Gig:

Springsteen, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul MN, 2/19/1977...I was 19 yrs old...here's why (video of the actual concert):



2nd best gig:

Ramones, Kelly's Pub, St Paul, MN, 07/01/1977. The stage was about four inches off the bar floor. There might have been fourty people at the most in the bar. The Suicide Comandoes played a set, the Ramones then played a set and destroyed my hearing for life in that tiny bar, then the Comandoes came back on and played a set, then the Ramones and came on and played the exact same set for a second time to the same fourty people!

3rd best gig:

Runaways, State Theater Minneapolis, MN, 01/21/1978. Lita Ford had on the shortest pair of shorts I've ever seen and played that guitar like a mother f*cker...the version of the band with no Cherie

4th best gig

Clay Allison, Seventh Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN, Summer 1984

Had always been a Dream Syndicate fan, but never saw them live, so went to see Opal because I knew Kendra Smth was in the band, they were high on something that night, they moved like sun tanned Zombies never saying a word to the audience, but damn they could play and sing, the music transported me that night, there were maybe thirty people in the audience

5th best gig:

Kraftwerk, Tower Theater, Upper Darby PA, 04/04/1975. This was when the damn synthesizers took up half the stage and Karl and Wolfgang were playing on aluminum foil, they had their names spelled out in neon in front of them (ooooh), on the screen behind them an ocassional slide would appear, weird **** like a drawing of two dressed up mice dancing, they never said a word to the audience either, the highlight of the between-song action was when Florian was having trouble adjusting the dials on his synthesizer and Ralf takes the little light above his synthesizer and vainly tilts it towards Florian, thirty feet on the other side of the stage...

6th best gig:

Bob Marley, Tower Theater, Upper Darby PA, 04/23/1976...contact high five blocks away..

 

artistic...
Icehouse in support of eponymous album
The Psychedelic Furs on the Talk Talk Talk tour
Yes on the Relayer tour
King Crimson, each tour since 1981... pick one
David Bowie on the Station To Station tour
Tool on the Lateralus tour
Elton John on the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour

 

Another of my all time favourite gigs was Aswad at York University in 1983, shortly before the wonderful 'Live & Direct' mini LP came out. Probably not their artistic or commercial peak, but maybe in terms of their live performances. (They were an incredible live band. So good that Burning Spear used them!) Live & Direct is one of the greatest live albums IMO.

 

I'm confident I will be able to share in the future after I see Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats in September.
'Mind Control' is one EPIC lp!

 

All in the late 1960s at Stony Brook University:

The Doors
Tim Buckley
Jefferson Airplane

 

Alice Cooper-Killer tour at the Spectrum in Philly
Black Sabbath-Master of Reality-Spectrum

 

Joe Jackson in 1979 (just before the release of I'm The Man).
Bruce Springsteen in Dec 1980 (The River tour).
Squeeze 1981 (East Side Story tour)
Elvis Costello 1989 (Spike tour) Not THE peak, but A peak certainly.
Seal 1994 (supporting his second album)
Aimee Man 2000 (at Largo supporting Bachelor #2 & Magnolia soundtrack)
Jake Bugg 2014 (supporting Shangrila). A great artist? Time will tell. He certainly has potential.

 

1970: Fairport Convention & Jethro Tull

 

Knebworth: Pink Floyd (1975), Lynyrd Skynyrd (1976), Queen (1986), Oasis (1996)

By far the best was in 1977 Bob Marley at the Rainbow, Finsbury Park

 

I went the Minneapolis Lollaplooza show that year as well.

Peral Jam supporting the 'Ten' album
Sound Garden supporting the 'Badmotorfinger' album
Chili Peppers and 'Blood Sugar Sex Magic'

Really hard to beat that lineup, plus Lush, Ministry, etc.. all playing arguably their best work, with the exception of Soundgarden which followed up with the amazing SuperUnkown.

 

Guns N Roses - 1987 Appetite for Destruction tour
Metallica - 1988 ...And Justice for All tour
Megadeth/Anthrax/Alice in Chains - 1990 Clash of Titans tour (Megadeth supporting Rust in Peace)
ZZ Top and Black Crowes - 1991 Recycler Tour for ZZ Top and Shake Your Money Maker for the Crowes
Alice in Chains - 1992 Dirt tour

 

Unfortunately, my list of artists I saw well past their peak is pretty long.

 

The Crowes may have been at their commercial peak but they were a long way from their artistic peak that year.

 

My first concert was The Jacksons at the Orange Bowl on the Victory Tour, which was basically Michael Jackson touring behind "Thriller" and dragging his brothers along. No one was there to Jermaine sing "Dynamite."

Red Hot Chili Peppers at Roseland in NYC supporting "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" (bonus getting to see Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins open.)
The Mavericks at Tramps in NYC supporting "Trampoline."
Radiohead on the "Hail to the Thief" tour
Phish 92-97
INXS on the "Kick" tour
Metallica - 1988 ...And Justice for All tour
Beastie Boys on the "Check your Head" tour
Wilco - 2010 to ?
Peter Gabriel on the "Us" tour
Beck on the "Odelay" tour
Janelle Monae on "The Electric Lady" tour
Jane's Addiction on the "Ritual de lo Habitual" tour

 

Saw AC/DC several times with Bon Scott. That was prime. None of that Brian Johnson imitation.

Saw the Pretenders before the icy hand of death started plucking them off.

Saw Rush on the 2112 tour, which I would argue was their commercial peak. (But that's me)

Lots of lesser 70s bands at their peaks -- Foghat on the Fool for the City tour; Nazareth re: 1977; Blue Oyster Cult on the Godzilla tour; REO Speedwagon a few times around the time of Tuna Fish. Saw Nugent on the Free For All tour.

 

I saw Amy Winehouse in her curvy, nice hair and sparkly dress phase in a 300 capacity club. She was great. Third on the bill. Also, KT Tunstall before her TV debut, very impressive and a great voice. Fourth on the bill at the Cavern.
The Move in 1970, LOUD!

 

Commercial peaks:

AC/DC at the Hammersmith Odeon on the Back in Black tour.
ZZ Top on the tour supporting Eliminator
U2 - Joshua Tree tour in London

My band also opened for Nirvana around when Nevermind came out and Pavement when Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain had just been released.

Artistic peaks is more of a judgment call, but I'd say Diamanda Galas performing the Plague Mass and The Residents on the 13th Anniversary tour (with Snakefinger, probably their peak as a live act) would qualify.

 

Gary Clark, Jr. (last night, July 22, 2014)
Trombone Shorty (last month, June, 2014)
Alison Krauss and Union Station (earlier this month, July, 2014)
John Scofield (May, 2014).
Randy Newman and Ry Cooder, 1974 (same concert).
Chase in 1971.
Patti Smith, early 1976. "Horses" was her current album.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse, fall of 1976.
John Lee Hooker, fall of 1976--he was intense and on fire. If this was not his prime, I shudder to imagine what his prime was.
Emmylou Harris, spring of 1976, in a small bar.
B.B. King, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Albert King, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Frank Zappa, 1974 (band included George Duke and Ruth Underwood).
The Who, early 1976--the "Who By Numbers" tour.
Chick Corea's Return to Forever with DiMeola, Clarke, White, fall of 1975.
Sun Ra, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Weather Report/John McLaughlin and Shakti, spring of 1976. It was a tour to support Weather Report's "Black Market" album. It was one of the first five concerts that Jaco Pastorious played with Weather Report.
Santana, 1976, the "Amigos" album tour.
Jefferson Starship (with Marty Balin, Grace Slick and Paul Kantner)--1976, the "Spitfire" tour.
McCoy Tyner, often in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Dexter Gordon, often in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Sonny Rollins, 1980.
James Brown, 1981.
Aretha Franklin, 1981--phenomenal.
Willie Dixon, 1982.
Son Seals, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Albert Collins, 1990.
Otis Rush, 1996--still great.
Luther Allison, 1975.
Jay McShann, many times from 1982 until his death--there was no decline.
Art Ensemble of Chicago, 1980.
Air (the jazz group), 1980.
Old and New Dreams, 1979.
Jaki Byard, 1979.
Cecil Taylor Unit, 1978.
Count Basie and his big band with vocalist Joe Williams, 1978.
Defunkt, 1982.
Koko Taylor, 1982.
Carla Bley big band, 1977, 1978.
Oscar Peterson, 1979.
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, often in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Max Roach Quartet, 1978.
VSOP (Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams), 1977.
Keith Jarrett and his Norwegian quartet, 1977.
Dizzy Gillespie, 1978--he was hitting on all cylinders this evening, just ridiculously great.
Ella Fitzgerald, 1979--she still had her entire high range, which she had lost some of, when I saw her again in 1983.
Sarah Vaughan, 1980.
Arthur Blythe, 1980.
Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, 1982.
Pat Metheny, many times in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

There are many more I am not thinking of right now.

 

Damn!

 

Here's a more complete list. I could not get the prior post edited in time.

Gary Clark, Jr. (last night, July 22, 2014)
Trombone Shorty (last month, June, 2014)
Alison Krauss and Union Station (earlier this month, July, 2014)
John Scofield (May, 2014).
Brad Mehldau Trio (April, 2014).
Bill Evans Trio, 1976.
Randy Newman and Ry Cooder, 1974 (same concert).
Chase in 1971.
Patti Smith, early 1976. "Horses" was her current album.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse, fall of 1976.
John Lee Hooker, fall of 1976--he was intense and on fire. If this was not his prime, I shudder to imagine what his prime was.
Emmylou Harris, spring of 1976, in a small bar.
B.B. King, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Albert King, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Frank Zappa, 1974 (band included George Duke and Ruth Underwood).
The Who, early 1976--the "Who By Numbers" tour.
Chick Corea's Return to Forever with DiMeola, Clarke, White, fall of 1975.
Sun Ra, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Weather Report/John McLaughlin and Shakti, spring of 1976. It was a tour to support Weather Report's "Black Market" album. It was one of the first five concerts that Jaco Pastorious played with Weather Report.
Santana, 1976, the "Amigos" album tour.
Jefferson Starship (with Marty Balin, Grace Slick and Paul Kantner)--1976, the "Spitfire" tour.
McCoy Tyner, often in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Dexter Gordon, often in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Sonny Rollins, 1980.
James Brown, 1981.
Aretha Franklin, 1981--phenomenal.
Willie Dixon, 1982.
Son Seals, often in the 1970s and 1980s.
Albert Collins, 1990.
Otis Rush, 1996--still great.
Luther Allison, 1975.
R.L. Burnside, late 1990s.
Jay McShann, many times from 1982 until his death--there was no decline.
Art Ensemble of Chicago, 1980.
Air (the jazz group), 1980.
Old and New Dreams, 1979.
Jaki Byard, 1979.
Cecil Taylor Unit, 1978.
Count Basie and his big band with vocalist Joe Williams, 1978.
Defunkt, 1982.
Koko Taylor, 1982.
Carla Bley big band, 1977, 1978.
Oscar Peterson, 1979.
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, often in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Max Roach Quartet, 1978.
VSOP (Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams), 1977.
Keith Jarrett and his Norwegian quartet, 1977.
Dizzy Gillespie, 1978--he was hitting on all cylinders this evening, just ridiculously great.
Ella Fitzgerald, 1979--she still had her entire high range, which she had lost some of, when I saw her again in 1983.
Sarah Vaughan, 1980.
Arthur Blythe, 1980.
Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, 1982.
Pat Metheny, many times in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. Once he had a quartet with Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian, in 1980.
Stan Getz, several times in the 1970s.
Mary Lou Williams, 1978.
Steve Lacy, 1990s.
Heath Brothers, 1981.
Betty Carter, several times from 1978--1982. She was incredible live in those years.
Johnny Griffin, several times 1978--1981.
Mose Allison, 1978.
James Carter, 1996.
James Newton/Anthony Davis duet, 1979.
Roscoe Mitchell, solo alto sax concert, 1979.
Gary Burton, many times in 1970s and 1980s.
Oregon, 1980.
Joe Pass, solo guitar, 1981.
Thad Jones-Mel Lewis big band, spring of 1978.
Anthony Braxton, in duet with Ray Anderson, 1978; solo alto sax, 1980.
Elvin Jones, 1978, 1979 (with David Liebman in his band)
Roy Haynes, 1990s.
Medeski Martin & Wood, 1999.
Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, many times 1980-1990.
Sam Rivers trio, 1979.
Muhal Richard Abrams trio, 1979.
Joe Henderson, 1997.
Charlie Haden Quartet West, 1990s.
Chucho Valdes, 1999.
Dave Holland, 2001.
Eddie Palmieri, 2001.
Randy Weston, Richard Davis and Don Moye, 1978.
Either/Orchestra, 1995.
Chuck Mangione, 1977.
Dee Dee Bridgewater, 2007 (with musicians from Mali).
Dr. John, 1990s, 2000s.
Modern Jazz Quartet, 1975.
Marcus Roberts, solo piano, 1990.
Wynton Marsalis (with Branford Marsalis), spring 1982--one of his first gigs as a leader.
Don Byron, 1996--the "Bug Music" tour.
Siegel Schwall Band, 1973.
Irma Thomas, mid-1990s.
Charlie Musselwhite, 1974.

 

I forgot one more: Queen, 1977.

Now I really will stop.

 

Well I saw quite a few bands that weren't at their peak as well. The Eagles, Alice Cooper, The Pretenders, Sex Pistols, Carpenters, Four Seasons, Grass Roots, Herman's Hermits, to name some.

 

So you're a casual music fan then

 

Me too--I saw these artists when they were not at a commercial or artistic peak: Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Willie Nelson, Woody Herman, Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, George Benson, Jimmy Smith, Big Joe Turner, John McLaughlin, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Buddy Guy, Bobby Blue Bland, John Mayall, Billy Eckstine, Doc Watson, Larry Coryell, Sonny Stitt, James Cotton, the Meters, Johnny Guitar Watson. Some of these concerts had their moments, but the artists were not at any peak.

 

I think these qualify...

U2 in 1987 - first leg of the Joshua Tree tour.
Peter Gabriel's 1993 tour was definitely one of his artistic peaks!
Metallica on the Master of Puppets tour, before Cliff died.
The Elbow show we saw at the Wiltern earlier this year felt like a peak.
Sigur Ros in 2008. DAMN!
Radiohead in 2001.