Bands you always wanted to see who didn't disappoint...
Discussion
Off the back of the 'Bands you want to see sometime' thread I thought it'd be interesting to of bands you'd wanted to see for quite some time who didn't disappoint once you'd managed to see them.
For me there are 2.
- Scorpions. I'd wanted to the Scorpions for 30-odd years and yet, somehow, had never managed to do so (they didn't seem fond of touring the UK so that didn't help). Finally managed to see them in 2015 and they were great (funnily enough I managed to see them again a year later and they were even better
- Blue Öyster Cult. BÖC were another band I'd quite fancied watching (loved the album Revolution by Night and various songs, besides the obvious one, like Godzilla and Veteran of the Psychic Wars) and, weirdly, managed to see them in 2015 as well. What struck me was just good they sounded and how effortless they made it all seem.
In both cases well worth the wait - though I'd have, obviously, liked to have seen them more without the wait
For me there are 2.
- Scorpions. I'd wanted to the Scorpions for 30-odd years and yet, somehow, had never managed to do so (they didn't seem fond of touring the UK so that didn't help). Finally managed to see them in 2015 and they were great (funnily enough I managed to see them again a year later and they were even better
- Blue Öyster Cult. BÖC were another band I'd quite fancied watching (loved the album Revolution by Night and various songs, besides the obvious one, like Godzilla and Veteran of the Psychic Wars) and, weirdly, managed to see them in 2015 as well. What struck me was just good they sounded and how effortless they made it all seem.
In both cases well worth the wait - though I'd have, obviously, liked to have seen them more without the wait
Pulp were excellent last year at Hammersmith - Always my favourite 'britpop' band, I'd never paid as much for a ticket, but it was money well spent.
New Order were the only other band "I really wanted to see" and they were good the first time I saw them at Brixton Academy in 2012, but so much better in 2015 after the release of Music Complete - Both post Peter Hook, but still lived up to my expectation.
Editors weren't a band "I really wanted to see", but I thought they were great the first time I did, so I went and saw them again recently and they were excellent again - I will go and see them again.
Best gig I ever went to was David Byrne's American Utopia tour at Hammersmith - Blew me away, but I wouldn't say I'd had him at the top of my must see list before that.
I'll be honest, though, only a few bands have disappointed me live.
M
New Order were the only other band "I really wanted to see" and they were good the first time I saw them at Brixton Academy in 2012, but so much better in 2015 after the release of Music Complete - Both post Peter Hook, but still lived up to my expectation.
Editors weren't a band "I really wanted to see", but I thought they were great the first time I did, so I went and saw them again recently and they were excellent again - I will go and see them again.
Best gig I ever went to was David Byrne's American Utopia tour at Hammersmith - Blew me away, but I wouldn't say I'd had him at the top of my must see list before that.
I'll be honest, though, only a few bands have disappointed me live.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 30th July 19:50
marcosgt said:
Pulp were excellent last year at Hammersmith - Always my favourite 'britpop' band, I'd never paid as much for a ticket, but it was money well spent.
New Order were the only other band "I really wanted to see" and they were good the first time I saw them at Brixton Academy in 2012, but so much better in 2015 after the release of Music Complete - Both post Peter Hook, but still lived up to my expectation.
Editors weren't a band "I really wanted to see", but I thought they were great the first time I did, so I went and saw them again recently and they were excellent again - I will go and see them again.
Best gig I ever went to was David Byrne's American Utopia tour at Hammersmith - Blew me away, but I wouldn't say I'd had him at the top of my must see list before that.
I'll be honest, though, only a few bands have disappointed me live.
M
I saw pulp at pulp in the park in 1998, Jarvis really can work a crowd.New Order were the only other band "I really wanted to see" and they were good the first time I saw them at Brixton Academy in 2012, but so much better in 2015 after the release of Music Complete - Both post Peter Hook, but still lived up to my expectation.
Editors weren't a band "I really wanted to see", but I thought they were great the first time I did, so I went and saw them again recently and they were excellent again - I will go and see them again.
Best gig I ever went to was David Byrne's American Utopia tour at Hammersmith - Blew me away, but I wouldn't say I'd had him at the top of my must see list before that.
I'll be honest, though, only a few bands have disappointed me live.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Tuesday 30th July 19:50
Faith no more - first time I saw them was on the king for a day tour at a pub in Windsor under the pseudonym the new fat b
ds. Simply excellent.
Stone temple pilots on the songs from the vatican gift shop at Brixton academy. Superb. The second time when Scott was a bit worse for wear, less so.
Lots of other bands I’ve seen multiple times and never disappointed. Most notably Big Country were always brilliant, but not seen them since Stuart died.
ds. Simply excellent.Stone temple pilots on the songs from the vatican gift shop at Brixton academy. Superb. The second time when Scott was a bit worse for wear, less so.
Lots of other bands I’ve seen multiple times and never disappointed. Most notably Big Country were always brilliant, but not seen them since Stuart died.
Always wanted to see The Cult and finally saw them last year. They were fantastic.
Then there was The Hives earlier this year. I'm not sure there's a more fun band to see live. Pelle is amazing.
Not my video as I was down the front, but it was good fun: https://youtu.be/I9eQvoglITg?t=186
Then there was The Hives earlier this year. I'm not sure there's a more fun band to see live. Pelle is amazing.
Not my video as I was down the front, but it was good fun: https://youtu.be/I9eQvoglITg?t=186
Listened to the Kaiser Chiefs loads when the kids were young and always thought if the stars align and I can get to see them I will. Managed to see them a couple of years ago in Nottingham and they were truly fantastic.
Also, always loved Joy Division and New Order but never really pulled out the stops to see New Order as I'd seen some YouTube clips of live performances and they all seemed a bit...meh, crappy singing and generally not up to much. Anyway, long story short, was in NYC 2 years ago with oldest son and he dragged me along to see a double header...Pet Shop Boys and New Order. TBH, was looking forward to seeing NO finally but not that fussed about PSB's. Well, what a concert!! It was such a good night, knew every word to every song, and both PSB's and NO were absolutely fking brilliant!
Also, always loved Joy Division and New Order but never really pulled out the stops to see New Order as I'd seen some YouTube clips of live performances and they all seemed a bit...meh, crappy singing and generally not up to much. Anyway, long story short, was in NYC 2 years ago with oldest son and he dragged me along to see a double header...Pet Shop Boys and New Order. TBH, was looking forward to seeing NO finally but not that fussed about PSB's. Well, what a concert!! It was such a good night, knew every word to every song, and both PSB's and NO were absolutely f
king brilliant!I've seen just about every band I've wanted to over the last 40 years or so but one had eluded me for the entirety of that period...Bauhaus.
For varying reasons I'd missed them first, second and third time round when they toured, I'd seen Pete Murphy with David J doing Bauhaus music but not quite the same as the full and original line up.
When I was finally able to see them they played Alexandra Palace (2021) which is a venue I studiously avoid as apart from the Troxy it's my least favourite venue. As much as I wanted to see them I wasn't going there.
Then as luck would have it in 2022 they played Brixton Academy, it wasn't cheap and was only 75 minutes long but it was certainly worth the wait...utterly brilliant gig and sometimes less really is more.
For varying reasons I'd missed them first, second and third time round when they toured, I'd seen Pete Murphy with David J doing Bauhaus music but not quite the same as the full and original line up.
When I was finally able to see them they played Alexandra Palace (2021) which is a venue I studiously avoid as apart from the Troxy it's my least favourite venue. As much as I wanted to see them I wasn't going there.
Then as luck would have it in 2022 they played Brixton Academy, it wasn't cheap and was only 75 minutes long but it was certainly worth the wait...utterly brilliant gig and sometimes less really is more.
I saw Joe Cocker and the Greaseband the week that Little Help From My Friends hit number one. They were stupendous.
I was actually playing in the band that backed them that night at the PJ Hall in Bangor, and I happened to be standing by the back door when they turned up. The roadie jumped out, ran round the back and flung open the rear doors and that Fender bass that Chris Stainton is playing fell out. No case, just the guitar. He muttered, “oh this ****ing old thing” and leant it up against the wall. I took a look at it and it had no frets (looked like they had been ripped out with pliers) and the bridge pieces were all collapsed and awry. I wondered why they were carrying it around with them. A couple of hours later Stainton was on stage making the most holy racket with it you ever heard in your life.
After the show we hung around the stage having a chat with Cocker as everything got cleared up. He was a lovely guy to chat to.
I was actually playing in the band that backed them that night at the PJ Hall in Bangor, and I happened to be standing by the back door when they turned up. The roadie jumped out, ran round the back and flung open the rear doors and that Fender bass that Chris Stainton is playing fell out. No case, just the guitar. He muttered, “oh this ****ing old thing” and leant it up against the wall. I took a look at it and it had no frets (looked like they had been ripped out with pliers) and the bridge pieces were all collapsed and awry. I wondered why they were carrying it around with them. A couple of hours later Stainton was on stage making the most holy racket with it you ever heard in your life.
After the show we hung around the stage having a chat with Cocker as everything got cleared up. He was a lovely guy to chat to.
Despite seeing most of the 90's indie bands several times over the years, I'd somehow managed to miss Jesus Jones and Stereo MC's. Saw them both recently and they exceeded all expectations. I knew I'd like the music but wasn't sure if the 'old timers' could put on a show. They were brilliant.
Roofless Toothless said:
I saw Joe Cocker and the Greaseband the week that Little Help From My Friends hit number one. They were stupendous.
I was actually playing in the band that backed them that night at the PJ Hall in Bangor, and I happened to be standing by the back door when they turned up. The roadie jumped out, ran round the back and flung open the rear doors and that Fender bass that Chris Stainton is playing fell out. No case, just the guitar. He muttered, “oh this ****ing old thing” and leant it up against the wall. I took a look at it and it had no frets (looked like they had been ripped out with pliers) and the bridge pieces were all collapsed and awry. I wondered why they were carrying it around with them. A couple of hours later Stainton was on stage making the most holy racket with it you ever heard in your life.
After the show we hung around the stage having a chat with Cocker as everything got cleared up. He was a lovely guy to chat to.
I was actually playing in the band that backed them that night at the PJ Hall in Bangor, and I happened to be standing by the back door when they turned up. The roadie jumped out, ran round the back and flung open the rear doors and that Fender bass that Chris Stainton is playing fell out. No case, just the guitar. He muttered, “oh this ****ing old thing” and leant it up against the wall. I took a look at it and it had no frets (looked like they had been ripped out with pliers) and the bridge pieces were all collapsed and awry. I wondered why they were carrying it around with them. A couple of hours later Stainton was on stage making the most holy racket with it you ever heard in your life.
After the show we hung around the stage having a chat with Cocker as everything got cleared up. He was a lovely guy to chat to.
Great story, I forgot Stainton also played bass, saw him a few weeks ago backing Eric Clapton.
robemcdonald said:
Faith no more - first time I saw them was on the king for a day tour at a pub in Windsor under the pseudonym the new fat bds. Simply excellent.
When FNM toured last time, I went to see them in Hyde Park, Glasgow, and Soundwave in Sydney, seeing as I had to fly from Baku for each one (a total of around 26700 air miles) it's a good job they didn't disappoint, gutted when they cancelled the last tour due to the "virus" and it's never happened since.ds. Simply excellent.robemcdonald said:
Faith no more - first time I saw them was on the king for a day tour at a pub in Windsor under the pseudonym the new fat bds. Simply excellent.
Stone temple pilots on the songs from the vatican gift shop at Brixton academy. Superb. .
FnM are absolutely superb...as above, gutted they cancelled the pre-Covid tour.ds. Simply excellent.Stone temple pilots on the songs from the vatican gift shop at Brixton academy. Superb. .
STP - I was at that gig, and agree on Scott - another man with his demons...
Others for me:-
- Prince. Finally got to see him at the Dome, and he was every bit his reputation. Truly stellar musician and performer.
- Foo Fighers. Actually saw them first at OzzFest many many years ago on what I think was their first tour, and dismissed them / didn't pay attention for some reason. Missus got me into them some years later and I realised what I'd been missing.
- Nothing but Thieves. Again got to see them very early on (2015/16 I think) and his voice is as good live as it is recorded and produced.
- Slayer. Saw them 1994 with Machine Head supporting. MH were really tight and brutal for their first UK tour, and then Slayer came on and ratcheted it up another level!
- Killing Joke. Mainly because Jaz Coleman is another performer who can just grab and hold the audience's attention for the entire set.
The Prodigy - Absolutely incredible live. I've managed to see them multiple times and they never disappoint. If you like their music and get the chance to go and see them, just do it. Crowds are always friendly at their gigs too. I can't think of a band/group off the top of my head that can unite rock/metal fans and ravers.
Cypress Hill
Ice Cube
808 State
Jessie Ware
Public Enemy
Cypress Hill
Ice Cube
808 State
Jessie Ware
Public Enemy
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