Things from Memory (Top 10 Gigs)

Member Name: Hunting_Bears

Product:	Top 10 Gigs
Date:	05/11/03 (158 review reads)
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Advantages: cool gigs

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I have been to some amazing concerts and I feel that I must relate my experiences with you the good people in cyberspace. I love live music whether it is some busker playing a truly tortuous version of 'Wonderwall' in the city centre or the venting fury of a heavy metal concert. I play guitar, bass and the electric organ for fun in a university band (only for fun I have no desire to be a professional musician but I find playing music is a good pastime to have).

So ladies and Gentlemen tonight I give to you Hunting Bears Top Ten Gigs of my 24 years in existence. In descending order, so that there is a build up.


10. 'Green Day' at Manchester Apollo, 1995

I remember when I was just knee high to a Grasshopper, fifteen to be exact and my friend and I got tickets to out first concert. 'Green Day' a punk band that sing anthems like 'Basketcase' and 'Time of Your Life' were my favourite band. I can hardly describe my state of being. I was almost euphoric in anticipation. The lights dimmed, the crowd went fucking crazy and the first notes of 'Welcome to Paradise' crunched out of Billie-Joe Armstrong's famous blue Fender copy. When you first see your heroes on performing live on stage for the first few minutes it is unbelievable, it really is, almost dreamlike. Not to mention that Billie-Joe Armstrong is a great frontman and made the audience laugh out loud on several occasions. It was one of the greatest nights of my teenage life.


9. Ozzy Osbourne at Monsters of Rock, Donnington Park, East Midlands, 1996


You may realise that when I was a kid I was a bit of a rock dude. Totally true and I have fond memories of seeing Ozzy Osbourne before he became some kind of strange media whore and a man who seems to suffering from trauma. Hearing classics such as 'Paranoid', 'War Pigs' and 'Perry Mason' (okay the last one isn't classic
but it rocks) was a great day, the sun was shining, the beer was following and there was many people rockin'.


8. John Cale, Manchester, 2003

When you see one of your all-time favourite musicians (John was in the Velvet Underground) there is something special in the air. I was about one foot away from him as he played 'Things', 'Pablo Picasso' but the ultimate highlight is hearing John Cale playing his viola and singing 'Venus in Furs', five minutes of musical heaven that I shall never ever forget.


7. Moby, Manchester M.E.N. 2002


I am not a big fan of Moby, I got the tickets for free but anybody who has seen him live will testify that the bald-headed Vegan gives fucking great big rockin' concerts. The use of cello's, violins, fuzzy guitar, synths and a big black lady singing gospel and southern music is fucking brilliant. I remember leaving that concert and not only being incredibly deaf but full of admiration for a man I had previously thought was a wanker.


6. Bob Dylan, Manchester M.E.N. 2002

Do I really have to explain while seeing Bob Dylan live was amazing? Do I?



5. Goldfrapp, Manchester, 2003


I am a big fan of this very eccentric lady and her beautiful voice. The first album 'Felt Mountain' was a soft, beautiful soundscape filled with odd instruments and strange lyrics. The second album 'Black Cherry' was a sleazy disco album with bizarre lyrics and some cool stomping tunes. When I saw her live I was over-blown with how cool the lady Alison Goldfrapp is. She wore ruby red slippers, black and white stockings and an army uniform. She was very perverse and I loved it. The only problem with this gig was she needed to get the order of songs right. She would get the crowd rocking and then play a slow ponderous song but still I loved this gig.


4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs

I
know this band have been hyped beyond believe and I had doubts when I got the tickets having only previously heard one song but the concert was bloody awesome. Karen O is truly barking mad, shoving a microphone down her mouth and screaming, pouring beer all over head and then falling over revealing to the audience her underwear. The songs were punk tinged but melodic and 'Maps' and 'Machine' are great songs. A cool concert experience.


3. Rage Against the Machine, Manchester Apollo

Once in your life a band comes along that is a force of nature. This band was not afraid to dis the American Government and their political stance is admirable. The songs were hard and gritty and Tom Morello's guitar-playing is comparable to Jimmy Page. One of the highlights of the gig was booing off the support band 'James Hall' it was so funny. Two songs in everybody sat down and started to clap slowly. Going to a concert to see R.A.T.M we really didn't need a band trying to copy Rage. They didn't last and I got really stoned and remember the gig through hazy eyes, what a great night. The house was rocking when 'Killing in the Name of' was played, everybody now 'Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!'


2. The Smashing Pumpkins, M.E.N. Manchester

Holy shit was this a special gig. Billy Corgan is a fucking god, a great musician and a brilliant lyricist. I had a really emotional time at this gig because they were at the time my favourite band and it was their farewell tour. They still are one of my favourite band, but hearing songs like 'Tonight, Tonight' and 'Today' was a spiritual experience. A fucking awesome gig!


1. Lou Reed, Bridgewater Hall

'The Velvet Underground' and Lou Reed are my favourite musical influences, Lou Reed is probably better than the John Lennon. Everybody loves Lennon but Reed is a man who you
have
to really understand. Songs like 'Waiting for the Man', 'Sister Ray' and 'Heroin' are some of the greatest songs ever written. When I saw reed live for the first thirty minutes I was in a dream world. I could not understand that I was watching my all-time musical hero. The only time I had a similar non-drug experience was when I met Michael Palin.

Reed covered most of his career and he sung 'All Tomorrow's Parties', 'Sweet Jane', 'Venus in Furs', 'Perfect Day', 'Men of Good Fortune', 'Candy Says' and a lot of beautiful songs. My favourite moment was when Lou Reed recited Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' against a barrage of cello, violin and bass. You could not hear a pin drop. Lou Reed was a funny guy in a good mood and thanked the audience after every song. A beautiful night.

These are a few bands that I need to see before I die:

Weezer
Kraftwerk
New Order


and here's a question for fellow dooyooer's. Do you prefer cavenous arena's that hold 15,000 people or small club gigs?

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