Worst Concerts You Have Attended ??


I just left a remark about a favorite band of mine back in the day - April Wine - that I saw in concert and was disappointed. Could have been that it was an off night for them, or maybe they were never good in concert. Maybe the lead guitarist had too much to drink? April Wine was not the worst, however. I remember Neil Young in the 1990's who was on his one-man acoustic show type of tour that many artists were taking advantage of (perhaps for financial reasons) during that time. While a friend of I had near front row seats at Desert Sky Pavilion (now Ak-Chin) in Pheonix, the crowd was just roused up into a frenzy by the warm-up band (James) and here comes Neil and his guitar/harmonica. Wow, what a sonic letdown. I remember getting up and leaving and feeling Neil's glaring eyes on us as we ushered out. I think, to this day, he probably still remembers me. We all can remember the great live concerts we attended, but what were the worst and why?
goodlistening64
Allman Brothers -- Yeah, it was during the classic period when Duane Allman and Dickie Betts (was that his name?) were trading licks all night, but Duane only seemed to play one lick -- the whoop-de-doodle-do one. After about three hours of it I decided that if I heard one more whoop-de-doodle-do, I'm leaving.  About fifteen seconds later, presto. I left. It didn't help that the band's attitude never strayed from an "I'm cool and you're not" sneer.  The next morning I heard from my Allman Bros. acolyte/fellow concertgoer/college roomie that they continued boogying for another hour. And, hey man, did I miss something special!

New York Dolls -- loved the record but the performance was all about posing. No trace of conviction or chops. I have to say, though, that I love David Johansen's LP, the one where he does the demented lounge singer.

Vladimir Horowitz at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, maybe thirty years ago. My buddy's parents had an extra ticket. Was it front row center.? Anyway something to that effect.  It was long past Vlad's prime.  He couldn't get his fingers to work. He couldn't remember the scores.  Of course, this never mattered in his prime because he was famous for taking audacious liberties with the music.  But even Vlad was embarrassed by his performance. The audience, though, was too much in love to give him guff.

And then there was Steve & Edie Gorme with my parents in Vegas.  At one point, Edie jokingly said, "Who needs the Doors?"  It was maybe 1968. Being a Doors fan at the time, I took personal offence...
Macy Gray, about 10 years. Sadly stumbling around the stage. Songs a jumbled mess. We left after 5 songs.
And I also attended a Dylan concert where most songs were unrecognizable.

Best...Rolling Stones with Stevie Wonder opening, Hollywood Palladium.
Grand Funk Railroad in Philly 1968,69? small venue by the river. The speakers I do remember they were so big and LOUD and some guy, he had to be tripping, was on the edge of one shaking all over woo. He had to go deaf. They were so freakin deafening we left.
  
Kid Rock was the worst!! I remember watching and it was horrible, then the drummer got up and the drums kept going lol!!
Best was Rush on moving Pictures and Steven Wilson a few years ago!
Mostly the worst concert, and momentarily the best ever, was Frank Zappa playing SUNY at New Paltz in the early ’70’s. He had a really great band at the time. I think I recall George Duke, Flo and Eddie from the Turtles, Jean Luc Ponty maybe, and some others who were excellent musicians. Being an a__, he spent most of the concert diddling around with his comedic crap, patronizing the audience I guess he felt wasn’t up to appreciating his music. I was really pissed and felt ripped off.

Then he broke into a scintillating, unforgettable guitar solo on Montana that was simply stunning. It’s a shame he was on that lame trip of his.

Mike