TOP 3

At this point in my life I've been to somewhere around 100 or so live performances of different bands. I've spent an infinite amount of money on concert tickets. I have an entire dresser in my room that is home to 50 or more band t-shirts. And I don't even want to know the amount of money I've spent on gas over the past years to get to all these shows. I can't say I've been to a bad concert though. Every time I go it's exciting in it's own way. Recently my good friend Shawn and I were discussing some of our favorite shows (I usually attend all concerts with him.) Shawn is a graduate from Ramapo College. We went to high school together and share the love of music together. Needless to say, after we were talking about all the shows we'd been to, I really wanted to pick my top 3...so here they are...


Coming in at a solid 3rd place

Dave Matthews Band
Live @ Madison Square Garden
Saturday December 10, 2005

Now...it was hard enough just to pick a favorite DMB show as I've seen them over 20 times. But this show has always stood out for me. It is the only Dave Matthews Band show that I've seen in the winter. All other DMB shows I've gone to have been during the summer. Aside from that the band played a song I had been wanting to hear live for years..."Halloween!" They usually don't play the song live because Dave has to scream most of the lyrics and his voice just isn't what it used to be...but they pulled it out! The rest of the setlist was just outrageous too...

Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel *
What Would You Say
#41 *
One Sweet World *
So Much To Say *
Seek Up
Hunger For The Great Light *
Minarets
Dream Girl
Linus And Lucy *
Stand Up *
Jimi Thing *+
Smooth Rider *~
Louisiana Bayou ~*
__________________

Christmas Song
Halloween
Ants Marching

Show Notes:
* Rashawn Ross
+ Mike Doughty
~ Robert Randolph

indicates a segue into next song

Rapunzel, #41 and Minarets were all strong points of the show! It was overall something I'm truly glad I got to experience.

Taking the number 2 spot and receiving the silver medal is....

Arcade Fire

Live @ Irving Plaza

February 2, 2005

I know I've referrenced this show in a previous post, but my past blog entry really sums it up the best...

From the small cramped venue, to Win jumping into the audience, to members smashing rusty, ripped up cymbals on everything in the room...It was just the best. It was such an intimate and personal show. While I love going to see big bands perform, there is something to be said for being smashed up against all the other fans in a

hot, tiny auditorium!

AND THE WINNER.....

Radiohead

Live @ All Points West - Liberty State Park

August 9, 2008

01. Reckoner
02. 15 Step
03. The National Anthem
04. Kid A
05. All I Need
06. Nude
07. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
08. Where I End And You Begin
09. The Gloaming
10. Faust Arp
11. No Surprises
12. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
13. The Bends
14. Bangers and Mash
15. Everything In Its Right Place
16. Exit Music (For A Film)
17. Bodysnatchers

Encore 1
18. Pyramid Song
19. Videotape
20. Airbag
21. Fake Plastic Trees
22. There There

Encore 2
23. House of Cards
24. Planet Telex
25. Idioteque

Maybe it's my absolute favorite show because they played 25 songs, maybe it's my absolute favorite because the closed with Idioteque, maybe it's my absolute favorite because the lighting was the most beautiful thing i've ever witnessed, maybe it's my absolute favorite because I sat around in the blazing sun for 8 hours waiting to see them, maybe it's my absolute favorite because no band could ever come close to putting on such an elaborate and intimate show, or maybeeee I just love Thom Yorke more than any human being in the entire world.....I haven't decided just yet.

Shawn and I arrived on the festival site around 11am. As the day went on more and more people began to pack the main stage and mark their territory. I watched both Kings of Leon and Chromeo perform from that stage. Once the Kings of Leon's set was over I began to get very tired and couldn't stand being smashed up against everyone else. It was disgustingly hot and humid. My feet were aching and my spine felt as though it would surely snap in half at any given moment. I was tired, hungry, aggrivated...the list could go on. I told Shawn I couldn't wait anymore. I had to go to the back of the lawn and sit down. "I don't even care if I'm close to the stage...I'm fucking tired man, I'm leaving. I'll watch it from the back!" Shawn was persistant though, he wouldn't let me leave. "Jen, you'll regret it. Just stay up here!"

He was absolutely right. I'm so glad I stayed up at the front of the stage. As soon as the band walked out, all bad feelings from my body slipped away. Nothing even mattered anymore. I felt like I just ate a 5 course meal, someone could have very well just given me a foot massage....everything was perfect. Being that close to the band brought me complete and utter joy. I had goosebumps for the entire time they were on stage. I had never felt so fufilled in my entire life. Everything about this performance was right!

Terrible sound quality and visual quality in both...but just to give an idea how AMAZING the lights were....

"The National Anthem"

"Planet Telex"