Oh yes (Top 10 Gigs)

Member Name: Dringostarr

Product:	Top 10 Gigs
Date:	06/01/05 (463 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Experiences to take home

Disadvantages: Drink prices

Perhaps I'm jumping the gun here a bit. I mean I have yet to see all of my favourite bands live, I have many to see this year and many still to come afterwards. Yet to think like that will mean that I'll never get anything done. In the last 2 years I've seen a tonne of bands, some I regret and some I truly enjoyed. To me they are my main chance to escape and therefore I happily present my top 10 gigs of all time.

10: Reel Big Fish - V Festival 2003

For a band I was never all that fond off to come on and totally blow me away in a mid-afternoon set that lasts a mere 20 minutes would take a lot. But they managed it. Exciting the crowd whilst pretending to be foo fighters, Coldplay, the Chilli Peppers or whoever else they fancied and playing jumpy and happy tunes to a delighted V festival crowd. One of my highlight moments of the summer.

9: Lost Prophets - Brixton Accademy 2004

Again, not a band I would normally associate excellence with, yet somehow they managed it. Moving from popular, jumping tune to another the Prophets ended their tour in style. Ian Watkins' voice souring over a crowd of extatic fans and not a note missed. The superb cover of Cry Me a River ended what was in fact an excellent set!

8: New Found Glory - London Astoria 2004

It is normally seen as a bad concert when the support act surpasses the band. But not in this case. Because the support act was the band. Playing a mamonth 22 songs, playing the initial half hour support set then returning for a full hour and a half. New Found Glory fans rejoiced as the band had time to play all the songs you always wanted to. The new tracks from (at the time) yet unreleased album was as popular as the more traditional tracks. Perhaps I'd have loved it more if I was a New Found Glory fan but it was irrelevant. I loved every minute. Fantastically intense set.

7: Keane - Cambridge Corn Exchange 2004

A very different concert to what I am used to. No real big jumpers, a very "DAD" crowd and a lot of irritating talking from the singer. Nevertheless it was wonderful, moving songs played to perfection to an audience in fine voice. A different concert, but a bit of change is exactly what I needed at the time. Excellent.

6: Feeder - V Festival 2003

Yes I saw them over Coldplay and I was not dissapointed. I have seen Feeder three times with a fourth heading up later in the year but this was the highlight. The other sets didn't fit right but this one was excellent. Everyone was excited, Grant was in awe at how many came to see them over Coldplay and delighted when everyone knew they were to finish on Just a Day. A moment for everyone was enjoyed here.

5: Blink 182 - Birmingham NEC 2004

Blink had visted Britain twice this year. Their set early in the year seemed a very much work in progress but this was more refined. Large screens filled the stage, chandlers were present during I Miss You and an excellent melee of songs including a brief but Rare appearance for Man Overboard. One of my favourite bands did not dissapoint even if my phone did get messed up. Third time I had seen them and the best. Excellent.


4: Muse - London Earls Court 2004

In what turned out to be the superior second date, Muse entertained and marvelled a fully loving crowd. Their previous date had songs fitting ill and a crowd who seemed frankly uninterested. Muse fell a little dull. But they made up for it here. Giant balls, falling balloons, confetti and a truly outstanding crowd aided in a powerful, almost superhuman set. Muse were giants and they proved it here, magnificant even if it was a little muted.

3: Sum 41 - London Electric Ballroom 2004

Part of their "around the world" tour, Sum 41 launched their album in style. This venue is tiny, only a few hundred could fit here and the band are huge. Real huge. Chuck was on the verge of release but after a rather dissapointing Download festival set (which was set up by Iggy Pop of all people) I wasn't too hopeful. But what I got was immense. It may have been a small venue but the songs were large, the crowd were jumpy and responsive and Deryck and his band of merry men played as if they were playing at Download. All was forgiven.

2: Linkin Park - Download 2004

Reading 2003 featured a rather average Linkin Park set, nothing to write home about but a good solid rock concert that starred Aaron Lewis from Stained. But Linkin Park aren't headlining an average rock festival this time, they are headlining THE rock festival. And the crowd are unforgiving. Yet even those who sat down, refusing to here what the survivor of the nu metal fall had to say had to admit. This was good. The music was excellent, the band interacted far more with the crowd than last time. There was even an on stage argument between Mike and Chester. The new songs including new release "Breaking the Habit" were given extra segments for the crowd to join in and Mike brought back old favourite and B-Side "Step Up" to get everyone involved. It was safe to say the dissapointment of Sum 41 had been forgotten. The evil Download crowd left with that projectile unthrown, ready to see if they'd mess up next time.

1: Limp Bizkit - London Finsbury Park 2003 and London Brixton Academy 2004

Limp Bizkit are not my favourite band. I did not turn on them like many did but I did go off their music and what they played. But when free tickets to a massive Finsbury Park gig came around I just couldn't say know. A wonderful support line up was not present and Inme were a great dissapointment. "A" made up for it though and set up Limp Bizkit... who blew me away. I don't care if you don't like them. I'd hardly say they were my favourites. But the power, the energy, the being on TV, knowing every word, the unbelievable rendition of My Generation. A concert that would change my perception of the biggest "sell outs" ever. In fact so much so that I forked out £35 for the frankly superior Brixton gig. The atmosphere of Finsbury was lacking and the explosive lighting display wasn't there but the renditon of the songs were just as good and we recieved a good selection of their new material too. Everything was louder, closer, faster and fresher. To choose between the 2 are impossible. Limp Bizkit though are the greatest live act I have ever heard.

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