Best and Worst Concerts You've Been To

BEST: 

Green Day Revolution Radio Tour 2017, Indianapolis
Not to copy the OP, but damn, this has to take the cake. Green Day is an all time fav of mine and they did not disappoint. Truly a world class rock and roll show, I can't wait for the tour that is supposedly coming this year.

The Killers, Foster the People, and Sir Sly, 2018, Indianapolis
This was local radio station Alt 103's birthday show this year, and holy shit, what a lineup. Bonus points because we got a four pack of lawn tickets for only 22 bucks each presale which is the biggest steal ever for the show we got. Missed Sir Sly at Bunbury the week earlier, so it was great to see them. Also great to see Foster, a favorite of mine. But the Killers straight up blew me away. Opening right out of the gate with Mr. Brightside made everyone go insane and the crowd was super into the whole show. Such energy and showmanship, absolutely flawless. Despite a  quick thunderstorm that delayed the show for lightning in the middle of the set, it was still phenomenal. I know people seem to think they're over saturated on the festival circuit, but damn, they always deliver. Can't wait to see them and PTM at Forecastle.

Grouplove Big Mess Tour Columbus 2016
Grouplove is a huge favorite of mine. Unfortunately I had to work the night they were in Indy but I had the early afternoon off, so it worked out perfectly when I won a radio station invite to a private M&G and acoustic show at a record store earlier in the day. Grouplove are insanely cool and down to earth people and sound great in an acoustic setting. Two days later I went to Columbus to see the full show and had an absolute blast. Their energy and passion shine through like no other. The crowd was super into it and it was just perfect. 

WORST:
Blues Traveler at Carb Day 2018
Blues Traveler was the opener for Train at the Carb Day concert at IMS the Friday before the Indy 500 and they were just dreadful. John Popper needs to hang it up. The voice is just gone and its really sad to watch him struggle through a set. My friends were there to drink and party throughout the day. We were planning to stay for Train but left due to the heat and the terrible performance of Blues Traveler. Ouch.

Dilly Dally, Big Mess Tour  Columbus 2016
Grouplove was one of the best shows I've seen, their opener was one of the worst. Dilly Dally is a Canadian grunge band that is not my style and a super, super odd choice as an opener for Grouplove. The lead singer didn't seem to know where she was and did not even bother saying who the band was (there were two openers and I was familiar with neither so had no idea which band I was watching) and the only time she talked to the crowd was when she giggled about how she had seen street signs for High Street and Gay Street on the way over. Lots of random shrieking and screaming. Everyone in the men's room afterward were all discussing how terrible they were. Thankfully, Muna, the second opener, was fantastic.

Favorite concerts -

Prince in Louisville in 2015 just before he died. The guy still performed like he was 20 years old. Amazing show that I will never forget.

R.E.M. in Chicago with supporting acts Modest Mouse and The National. Just non-stop great music from beginning to end.

Arcade Fire - Forecastle in 2018. I waited a long time to finally see them live and it was well worth the wait.

The Rolling Stones at Riverfront Stadium in 1994. Just a great show all around.

Cake - Every time I've seen them. Probably my all time favorite band.

Death Cab for Cutie with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists in Louisville in 2006.

fun. at The Madison Theater before they blew up.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Hold Steady, and Matt and Kim at The Madison Theater in 2007. Another great 1,2,3 punch.

David Byrne last year at PNC Pavilion. One of the coolest shows I've ever seen.

The first time I saw Frank Turner in Indianapolis in 2013. And really every time I've seen him since.

Special Mention for Elle King, Tom Petty, Josh Ritter, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Avett Brothers, Rob Zombie, Old Crow Medicine Show, Langhorne Slim, Cold War Kids, Paul McCartney back in the 90's, Frightened Rabbit, The Old 97s, Violent Femmes.... So many more.....

The worsts - Lonestar - so boring. The only show I legitimately remember dozing off at.

Modest Mouse at Forecastle last year. I have brought it up before. Something was just off.... Might have been the heat.

Special mention to Ani Di Franco and The Indigo Girls. It's not their fault, I just don't particularly like them.

Ah, I love skillet!!! I've loved every show I've ever been of theirs.

I've seen Pixies several times since 2004 (seven? eight?), and that show with Weezer was probably the worst time I've ever seen them. Honestly, I think the quality of their performances have gotten better since Paz joined. The 2017 Madison Theater show was really, really good.  They were also great at Shaky Knees in 2015.

BEST:


"Stadium Arcadium Tour" Red Hot Chili Peppers w/ Gnarls Barkley @ US Bank Arena (2007)
Still my favorite concert ever to this day. RHCP are my fav and very cool to see GB live too.

"The Monster Tour" Eminem w/ Rhianna @ Comerica Park (2013)
Prior to this I had not seen Eminem live since the Anger Management tour. Both artists put on a great show in Detroit.

"Yeezus Tour" Kanye West w/ Kendrick Lamar @ Bridgestone Arena (2013)
First time ever seeing a concert in Nashville! Prior to this I saw Kanye at UC for a free show during College Dropout area as well as with Usher at US Bank Arena. This show blew that all out of the water. It was a mix of a concert and a stage play. Lots of effects and theatrics. Plus... Kendrick!

"Emotional Roadshow Tour" Twenty One Pilots w/ Mutemath @ US Bank Arena (2016)
Had never heard anything about 21P before seeing them at Bunbury in 2015 and they absolutely blew me away, so I had to see them again and they did NOT disappoint.

"This Is America Tour" Childish Gambino w/ Rae Sremmurd @ United Center (2018)
This show was incredible and Gambino is one of the best performers/entertainers that are currently active and one of the best I've EVER seen live in person. Saw him in Cleveland back in 2011, but this was on a whole nother level. I will never miss a Gambino show going forward.


WORST:

Logic @ Riverbend (2018)
I was really looking forward to seeing Logic live for the first time last year at Riverbend, but the performance was very underwhelming to me. I enjoyed Kyle and NF as opening acts more than I did his headlining set. Very meh.

Pretty Lights set @ Bunbury 2017
I had friends building this act up prior to Bunbury and I do not know their music and am not super well educated on EDM in general. I was not impressed to say the least. Bassnectar was the next set and he killed it in comparison.

Master P @ Gathering of the Juggalos 2010
A childhood favorite that I was looking forward to see, but WOW... one of the worst performances I've ever seen. At least 20 people on stage and I think 1 was rapping. What a let down.

Blackalicious @ Newport Music Hall (2006)
He was a favorite of mine throughout high school, but this show specifically stuck out to me in my mind as horrible. I remember driving back from CBus and everyone in the car was disappointed.

Big Sean @ UBahn Fest 2017
This set was not horrible by any means, but I expected a good show from Big Sean and his headlining set was out shined by both 2 Chainz and Gucci Mane in my opinion which isn't a good look for a "close the night out" type of headliner.
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Modest Mouse is just generally bad live, I've discovered over the years - You have to be really lucky to catch them put on a good show.  First time I saw them was Beale Street Music Fest in 2015/2016? One of the best shows to that point that I have ever seen.  SO much energy, musicianship was on point, was a 2 hour banger of a show.  I raved about them for years to everyone, until my fiancee and I saw them in Nashville - Awful, the lead singer was drunk, they didn't hardly play any singles, and they sounded so scattered.  I thought it was an off night until Forecastle.  I think it's just if they're on it, they're really on it.  Any other time they'll be meh.