Best Concert Stage Shows...

Tweet

I love concerts. I've seen somewhere around 100 bands in concert. My first was a free concert sponsored by a radio station in Salt Lake City. Blue Suede (of ooga chaga ooga chago ooga ooga ooga chaga) fame opened up for Bo Donaldson and the Haywoods (yeah, the ones who sang Billy Don't Be a Hero). I guess that was a real concert, I mean they both had Top 10 songs at the time, but I consider my first "real concert", Aerosmith (on the Draw the Line tour), with AC/DC opening up. Aerosmith kind of sucked, they were too stoned to stay together and even did so bad on one song, they stopped and started over. It was AC/DCs first US tour. Bon Scot was still alive. We didn't know anything about them, and to tell you the truth, I didn't think much of them at the time. But I'm now glad I got to see them with Bon Scot. I like a good concert, but to tell you the truth, if all they do is stand on stage and play their songs, I'm pretty disappointed. I want a good stage show too. Lights, special effects, lazers, flames, video, guests, motorcycles... the more the merrier. Of course, the concert should be about the music, and the show shouldn't detract from that. A good stage show enhances the music. It should take us places the recording or radio just can't. We all have our favorite stage shows, and in my case, they aren't always the bands I like the best. Here's my Top 5; 1: Trans Siberian Orchestra. Hands down, there is no band that can touch these folks. The music, the musicians, the lights, the lazers, the flames... No other show even comes close. Even the imagery of the musicians goes beyond merely people on a stage. 2: Rush. Some love Geddy Lee's voice, some can't stand it, but his bass is some of the best low end playing you'll hear. Neil Pearts' drum solos are well worth the price of admission in and of themselves. Alex Lifeson, being the only member who hasn't reached icon status on his instrument, is often overlooked as a guitarist, but few put as much into their craft as he does. They have been described as a "lead bass, lead drums, and lead guitar". Each take turns being rhythm section and featured piece. Each do it with ease and comfort. Their show is amazing. A full frontal assault of all scenses from first note to last beat of the drum. They held the title of my favorite for over 25 years... but yes, TSO beat them out. 3: Iron Maiden: These guys took Metal to a whole new level. When the rest of the rock world was recovering from the firing of Ozzy from Black Sabbath and Punk becoming mainstream, Iron Maiden was redefining Metal. They were among the first metal bands to feature interchanging play between two great guitarists. Their bass lines threw out the old school "pluck the low note in the chord triad" paradigm and brought the bass player out of the shadows, tripping over guitar and power cords. Not only did they have the lights, the cameras, the action, but they had Eddie! 4: Boston: Ok, they're music was a bit hokey at times, and they never really did live up to the promise of their debut, but these guys put on one great show. Each member played more than one instrument and switched with ease. Even their drummers doubled on keyboards. Most people wouldn't associate a full pipe organ solo with a rock concert, but not only could Tom Sholz pull it off, the full glory of the pipes rising from behind the stage was a visual few bands have matched. 5: Primus: PRIMUS SUCKS! PRIMUS SUCKS! PRIMUS SUCKS! That's the roar of the Primus fan calling out for their favorite power trio... Les Claypool... need I say more? There's mine. There are others who would easily make my Top 10, but well, this article is already too long. Here's your chance, see who you come up with!