Best Experienced Entertainment Event

[Sibyl]

What's your favorite/best/most memorable entertainment even you've experienced?

Concert: Queensrÿche's Building Empires tour when they played the entire Operation Mindcrime album live (later released as Operation Livecrime). I had a little help with that event. I won't go further.

Movie: Seeing Twister at a drive-in on a windy night with storms on the horizon and the occasional, more local, lightning flash.

 

[Random_Spock]

Movie: Being able to see X Files I want to believe with a friend and getting him hooked on the series itself after he was being stubborn about the show for years . May not like the show much now, but I still smile about that moment. We went for ICEE's afterwards.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Most memorable? I'd have to go with Woodstock 99. I was 16 and it was my first experience of that kind of thing so all the awful things about it were awesome to me. I had no concept of what a moshpit was but during Korn one opened up exactly where I was. Just, suddenly people were jumping into me, and I was like, what exactly is this strange and wonderful phenomenon?

Then of course, the peace candles they handled out, which people started bonfires with. I was right next to one of the bonfires and people were jumping through them. Then halfway through the night my dad and I had to ditch our tent because a phone truck was on fire and spent the rest of the night in the parking lot. And of course it was 100 degrees all weekend, and the overflowing sewage seeped into the water pipes so you couldn't drink the free water and the bottled water was $4. Which, while objectively terrible, since it was my first experience of such nature, was awesome.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Best concert experience? Hmm, that's a tough one. There are three that I'd consider to be my best experiences. One was being able to see both Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman touring together and playing BTO and Guess Who material, which was an epic concert. Burton Cummings' voice was as strong as it's ever been and at his age being able to hit all the high notes is quite impressive.

Second one at our yearly summer music festival was seeing Don McClean. What makes this one particularly remarkable was that I inadvertantly ended up sitting in on a practice session. It didn't immediately strike me who it was on stage wearing shades, but then during his concert later on, it suddenly dawned on me that "Holy shit, that was Don McClean that I sat in on!" Which was particularly funny because they don't exactly encourage people to sit in on those. The music itself during the concert was epic. Listening to Vincent under a starry sky was something to treasure and something I'll take away for years to come.

Third one, just two years ago, again at our local music festival seeing Buffy Ste Marie. Really great performer who was quite empowering. It gave me a newfound respect for the music and herself as a person. A couple we'd talk to after the show who said it was their 3rd time seeing her said it was the best show she put on. Some artists really bring their A-game and this was one of them.

 

[Sibyl]

Best concert experience? Hmm, that's a tough one. There are three that I'd consider to be my best experiences. One was being able to see both Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman touring together and playing BTO and Guess Who material, which was an epic concert. Burton Cummings' voice was as strong as it's ever been and at his age being able to hit all the high notes is quite impressive.

Second one at our yearly summer music festival was seeing Don McClean. What makes this one particularly remarkable was that I inadvertantly ended up sitting in on a practice session. It didn't immediately strike me who it was on stage wearing shades, but then during his concert later on, it suddenly dawned on me that "Holy shit, that was Don McClean that I sat in on!" Which was particularly funny because they don't exactly encourage people to sit in on those. The music itself during the concert was epic. Listening to Vincent under a starry sky was something to treasure and something I'll take away for years to come.

Third one, just two years ago, again at our local music festival seeing Buffy Ste Marie. Really great performer who was quite empowering. It gave me a newfound respect for the music and herself as a person. A couple we'd talk to after the show who said it was their 3rd time seeing her said it was the best show she put on. Some artists really bring their A-game and this was one of them.

That last bit is kind of similar to how I saw Queensrÿche. Maybe it was just the experience, but they seem better live than in studio. Upon listening to Operation Livecrime on CD, I need to defer to my earlier opinion.

That's really cool about accidentally sitting in on a practice session! It actually reminds me of the time I was chased by security through the stands behind the backdrop in an arena (I wasn't running, just going where I was going quickly) at a WWE (was it WWF at the time? I don't remember) at an event in southern Minnesota. I was the backup generator operator for the event (can't stand wrestling, actually) and I wanted to keep my crew badge (great branded pressure-sensitive fabric sticker!) pristine so I could later sell it. Upon catching up to me, they asked me who I was, I showed them my badge tucked away in the inside pocket of my leather jacket, and they told me to adhere it visibly. Well, damn. Oh well.

 

[Butters]

Live events are not really my thing, but I did really enjoy the Doctor Who experience. That had a live action segment, but I am more of a spend the day reading information panels in a quiet museum person.

There was a jazz band at the pub one night that was really good, and the saxophonist was hot hot. That was a good.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Many, many years ago seeing AC/DC perform with Bon Scott as the lead singer. It was festival seating and I was about four rows back and people were pushing forwards and the bouncers were pushing everyone back. I was in caught in the middle and myself and another girl fell and were being trampled. A couple of bouncers realised what was happening and pulled both of us out by the feet. We were placed on top of the stairs to the stage and we were allowed to stay there for the rest of the gig. Best view we could have possibly had. Bon Scott came over to see if we were OK. I was 17 years old at the time. It wasn’t until to next day I realised I was bruised black and blue.

 

[Marynator]

I've never really had many experiences at live concerts, I went to one or two when I was much younger, but I didn't really enjoy myself. I'm going to see Celtic Woman perform "Ancient Land" in a few months, and I'm really looking forward to that, so I'm sure that's going to be my best experience so far.

For movies, I think it's when I finally got to see Titanic. Excitement had really been built up, and that movie totally delivered on all its promises, seeing that back then was really something special.

 

[Sibyl]

Titanic: pretty much universally panned by men and pretty much universally praised by women.

I actually enjoyed it very much!

 

[Owain Taggart]

. Maybe it was just the experience, but they seem better live than in studio.

Oh, absolutely. In my experience bands are almost always better live than in studio. One of my favourite bands of the past had a philosophy that, at least early on in their career, the albums they were making were trying to mimic as much as possible the energy of their live performances, rather than the other way around. I think all too often these days, bands will often try to recreate their studio sound in live performances and it doesn't always work. One of my favourite things about live performances is the interplay between performers. You not only see musicality at play, but often personalities come to life. A few years ago, a musician from Tennessee had come come to our festival and he was a big hit there, in large part due to his guitarist who was hilarious on stage. The whole thing became a highlight of the festival that year.

 

[Sibyl]

Oh, absolutely. In my experience bands are almost always better live than in studio. One of my favourite bands of the past had a philosophy that, at least early on in their career, the albums they were making were trying to mimic as much as possible the energy of their live performances, rather than the other way around. I think all too often these days, bands will often try to recreate their studio sound in live performances and it doesn't always work. One of my favourite things about live performances is the interplay between performers. You not only see musicality at play, but often personalities come to life. A few years ago, a musician from Tennessee had come come to our festival and he was a big hit there, in large part due to his guitarist who was hilarious on stage. The whole thing became a highlight of the festival that year.

Totally.

There was one band that I loved in the 90s. Well, at least one of their albums. C.O.C. They sounded, on one album, anyway, they had a sound that was almost exactly like Pantera. According to someone I knew that saw them live, they were terrible live. I don't remember if he said it was the sound, the performance, or the energy, but he said it was just bad.

 

[maneth]

R.E.M. in 2008. It was pouring with rain and most people got completely soaked on the field and in the stands. The thing that made it so special was that the stage was set up so that the band got soaked, too. That made for a very special feeling of togetherness between the band and the audience. There was a nasty security incident, though, one of the band's guitars was stolen from backstage during the gig, although they got it back later.

A close second is Bruce Springsteen in 2012, the final leg of his European tour. He opened with an acoustic set, and in total the gig lasted for nearly five hours. According to city bylaws outdoor gigs have to end by 11 PM but he just played on, way past midnight. In the end he stopped, I think, because the city threatened to cut off electricity to the stadium...

When it comes to movies, I've seen so many and enjoyed most of them for various reasons that no movie really stands out for me.

 

[Owain Taggart]

There was one band that I loved in the 90s. Well, at least one of their albums. C.O.C. They sounded, on one album, anyway, they had a sound that was almost exactly like Pantera. According to someone I knew that saw them live, they were terrible live. I don't remember if he said it was the sound, the performance, or the energy, but he said it was just bad.

And that's how you separate the "performers" from the musicians. Because an album can be made to sound like almost anything, especially these days due to computer manipulation and multiple takes to string together something that sounds perfect. But you've only got one chance while performing live. Some of my favourite memories while attending concerts is watching musicians mess up, laugh it up and continue like nothing's happened. It's endearing and shows the human side of things. Those who can't cut it on stage, however... what's the point? Especially in this day and age where apparently it's much harder to go by on album sales alone.

Another recent experience I've had was with Stephen Page (formerly of the Barenaked Ladies), and again at the festival. This one's an example of a musician having fun with the audience with some great audience interaction. At one point, out at the edge of the amphitheatre stood some hoola-hoopers. They were having a good time really getting into it, and at one point he noticed that. "Oh, look at those freaky hoola-hoops!" I remember him saying. A moment went by and someone from that group handed him a hoola-hoop, and after some nervous laughing on his part, he was suddenly singing while hoola-hooping, and somewhere out there on Twitter there's a picture of him hoola-hooping on stage.

 

[Sibyl]

And that's how you separate the "performers" from the musicians. Because an album can be made to sound like almost anything, especially these days due to computer manipulation and multiple takes to string together something that sounds perfect. But you've only got one chance while performing live. Some of my favourite memories while attending concerts is watching musicians mess up, laugh it up and continue like nothing's happened. It's endearing and shows the human side of things. Those who can't cut it on stage, however... what's the point? Especially in this day and age where apparently it's much harder to go by on album sales alone.

In a drastic turn from all other music I've mentioned, my brother took to Yanni in St Paul in, I think, 2004. In concert he has live musicians. During one of his solos, the violinist broke a string. Admittedly, he paused for a moment and everyone on stage looked, but then he kept paying and sounded great. I'm pretty sure he had to adjust his string position or even improvise some of the music, but Yanni smiled approvingly and everything went on as normal.

 

[Velocity]

Favorite concerts were in the early 70's: Elton John at Illinois State University and then Paul Simon (not the senator) at the University of Illinois. Elton John was bopping around the piano and slipped and fell (probably helped by the bottle he was chugging from) and my roommate laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bleachers.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Elton John was bopping around the piano and slipped and fell (probably helped by the bottle he was chugging from) and my roommate laughed so hard she nearly fell off the bleachers.

That must have been quite something! I think it's the unexpected moments that make these things memorable. Similar thing happened when I went to a live taping of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno about a year before he retired. In fact, it was only a day later when having dinner with some friends that we'd heard the news that it would be his final year. Dennis Rodman was a guest, and he came out dressed in a big puffy shirt ala Seinfeld and tripped and fell as he was making his entrance. Of course, the home audience doesn't get to see this as he redid his entrance. Made me wonder just how often someone messes up their entrance. Of course, the distinction is that it's live-to-tape and filmed during the afternoon rather than being a live-feed where they have time to edit before being broadcast.

 

[auntiehill]

Best Entertainment Event Experience?

-Getting to go on a back-stage tour of DS9, while they were filming "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night." I was in Siddig's fan club and won (re: drained my meager savings account) a charity auction to go see him and visit the set. A group of about four or five us went, and I remember sitting on a bench with another girl in the middle of the Paramount courtyard, waiting for the tour, when the DS9 extras and the Voyager cast came out for lunch. Garret Wang leaned over us, so he could read the bulletin board that was on the wall behind us. We just froze. There were actors, in full Cardassian makeup, sitting on the asphalt, smoking, right under the giant "No Smoking" sign. Sid came out and showed us "Quark's," and then left us with his assistant. We stood at the top of Quark's and watched them film. We later got to run around the "corridors" and then go around the "Ops" set. After that, we went to see a taping of "Frazier,"--the "Beware of Greeks" episode. It was hilarious. It was a great time, even though I was surrounded by strangers. One of the best days ever.

Runners up:
-Getting to go see The Tonight Show with Jay Leno when I was in college.
-Going to a Supernatural Convention a couple of years ago. Probably the closest I'll get to a religious experience.
-Going to see Tim Minchin in concert in Austin, and getting to talk to him in front of the theater afterwards. He signed autographs, took pictures and talked to everyone individually.
-Going to Disneyland and Universal Studios when hubby and I were still dating. We had a day at Disney where there were NO crowds--we went on the INDY ride three times in a row without waiting. At Universal, we got chosen to participate in the "special effects" show; it was a hoot.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Calgary Stampede.

One of the most fun things I have ever done in my life.

 

[Random_Spock]

Forgot an event!

My mom and I got to see the Smothers Brothers live. They were in fine form that night . Very, very funny. Just like what I saw in re runs as I was growing up.

 

[Sibyl]

Forgot an event!

My mom and I got to see the Smothers Brothers live. They were in fine form that night . Very, very funny. Just like what I saw in re runs as I was growing up.

I would've LOVED to see the Smothers Bothers!