Groups who were surprisingly good live...

Groups who were surprisingly good live...

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irocfan

Original Poster:

40,156 posts

189 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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As a counter to the disappointing live groups... which group surprised you by how good they were live?

Two stand-outs for me...
Guns 'n' Roses - saw them in '88 and was gobsmacked. Before then I'd never rated them - thought they were a bunch of boorish, talentless, druggies . They were amazing!

Nickleback - they come in for a lot of stick but Chad Kroger spent the entire gig smiling and interacting with the audience. He looked like he was having a great time and knew how lucky he was

Gary29

4,131 posts

98 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Turin Brakes, they were a support act, hadn't thought much about them before I saw them live, but they were fantastic. This is going back 20 years now though.

Rod200SX

8,086 posts

175 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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On that note, Guns N Roses, but the 00's era. Saw them in 2006 in Glasgow, whenever I mention it to anyone they rant about it not being without slash etc but it was a tremendous show. Though I remember that there was posters dotted about the SECC due to Axl's reputation for being late, stating that if folk missed their transport links etc due to delays, to speak to the staff for assistance hehe

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Rod200SX said:
On that note, Guns N Roses, but the 00's era. Saw them in 2006 in Glasgow, whenever I mention it to anyone they rant about it not being without slash etc but it was a tremendous show. Though I remember that there was posters dotted about the SECC due to Axl's reputation for being late, stating that if folk missed their transport links etc due to delays, to speak to the staff for assistance hehe
I've seen various post-2001 GnR lineups and they've always put on a good show. Including the reunited line up (which was a great show as you can imagine, but the sound at Slaine Castle wasn't very good.

Limp Bizkit (don't laugh). We saw them back in 2000 (I think) as Nu-Metal kids and enjoyed it as you'd imagine. But then 10 years later me and my mates went back to the Leeds Festival for old time's sake and Limp Bizkit were on (I think the second stage?) and we went to see them with a kind of ironic nostalgia for how silly we were as kids/mild curiosity. Bugger me, they rocked the place. No "Here's our new conceptual pan pipe album in full" Just a case of knowing what you're known for, doing it well and delivering what people wanted to hear. Cue us all singing along to songs we'd not even thought about for years and having a great time.

Similarly the non-Lynott line up of Thin Lizzy. They supported GnR one year as the guitarist is/was in both (I hope they paid him overtime!) . Not that I expected them to be bad, but it was one of those gigs where you're reminded of all the great songs they'd written that you'd forgotten about.

StevieBee

12,795 posts

254 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Shaking Stevens and Chas'n'Dave.

Expected little but both astoundingly good fun.

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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The Reverend Horton Heat.

Had never heard of him, was first act on Saturday at midday at Reading 94 playing to about 200 people.

Absolutely blew me away.

Turn7

23,504 posts

220 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
irocfan said:
Nickleback - they come in for a lot of stick but Chad Kroger spent the entire gig smiling and interacting with the audience. He looked like he was having a great time and knew how lucky he was
We saw Nickelback at Wembley Arena for silverside up, and both came away having really enjoyed the gig.

Lots of rock dramatics, ie big flames and explosions, but as you said, they did look like they knew this was their time in the sun.

Seen Mike Peters solo a few times now, Declaration anniversary tour for example, really good sound and interaction with the crowd.

smn159

12,448 posts

216 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Foo Fighters always give good value

Turn7

23,504 posts

220 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
smn159 said:
Foo Fighters always give good value
Agreed, but if you havnt seen them before, its a bit more hardcore than you may expect......


oddball1313

1,178 posts

122 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Stereophonics - always liked them although not enough to consider seeing them live but the missus booked tickets to see them at Leicester De Monfort Hall as it was local and the acoustics in there are really good and normally bring the best out in groups.
The blew the flipping roof off, absolutely amazing in fact the best live band ive ever seen - can honestly say I don’t think i’ll see a gig that good again

thewarlock

3,234 posts

44 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Turn7 said:
smn159 said:
Foo Fighters always give good value
Agreed, but if you havnt seen them before, its a bit more hardcore than you may expect......

Their last few albums have been a bit 'meh' for me, but by god do they put on a good show!

psi310398

9,037 posts

202 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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I’ve always found the various incarnations of John Otway and/or Wild Willie Barrett and their various backing bands to be much more fun and higher quality than I had any right to expect, not least as I have had the dubious benefit of experiencing the acts some twenty times since the early 80s. A bit hit and miss but the hits are good and the misses quickly forgiven. And the atmosphere at the gigs is great.

thewarlock

3,234 posts

44 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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I saw Primus a few years ago, 2016 maybe?

The first half of the set was classic Primus, then a 15 minute internal, then they came back out in costume and played their "Primus and the Chocolate Factory" album in full, with another couple of musicians playing the vibraphone, cello, and some other things. If you haven't heard it/of it, Primus recorded cover versions of all of the songs from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film.

It.

Was.

Amazing.

HappySilver

319 posts

163 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Paloma Faith was fantastic, I only went because my wife wanted to see her. It is great when you go to a gig with low expectations and are blown away by the performance.

spikeyhead

17,225 posts

196 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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psi310398 said:
I’ve always found the various incarnations of John Otway and/or Wild Willie Barrett and their various backing bands to be much more fun and higher quality than I had any right to expect, not least as I have had the dubious benefit of experiencing the acts some twenty times since the early 80s. A bit hit and miss but the hits are good and the misses quickly forgiven. And the atmosphere at the gigs is great.
I've been to some great gigs seeing either / or / and Otway / Barrett.

Snuff, who are bonkers live, proper thrash metal played in a punk style and all with a great sense of humour.

Jeffery Lewis is very good live

...and Rick Astley

Crackie

6,386 posts

241 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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I went to see U2 at Elland Road on the Joshua Tree tour...........The Mission and Pretenders were the supports. The Mission were surprising good, U2 were great but the Pretenders were brilliant........really fiery and full of attitude.

Another band who were a real surprise live were All about Eve. Saw them supporting Simple Minds at Roundhay Park in the late 80s getmecoat
Very together and surprisingly heavy as a live act; really enjoyed them.

Turn7

23,504 posts

220 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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I was at Simple Minds Wembley Stadium, in the pissing rain......they were ok, but the support acts - Gun and then Texas bith properly went for it.....

Gun - Word up, all you need to know really...

Texas were last support and the final song they played was a cover of Sweet Child of mine, by god that got crowd ready for it........

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Turn7 said:
I was at Simple Minds Wembley Stadium, in the pissing rain....
Sparkle In The Rain? Waterfront....

Rival Sons. Astounding.
ARW (Yes). Return of the caped crusader.
Black Country Communion. Far better than expected from an ageing Glenn Hughes.
Dead Man's Whiskey. Proper modern rock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TafqiOBOsbs
ThunderMother. Real 2020 Swedish rockers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3zoI5NDcMQ&li...

LeoSayer

7,299 posts

243 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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Standout high for me was Alanis Morrisette. Might have been at Brixton Academy.

I want expecting much but they played with so much energy and character.

jimmythingy

312 posts

61 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
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I was backstage when Guns and Roses played at the 2002 Carling Festival. It was an amazing show, bucketheads solos were brilliant and the crowd were buzzing due to Slipknot, Offspring and The Prodigy who all played before Guns and Roses.