Best Concerts You've Ever Been To

5. Rush - Jones Beach Theater - July 24, 2010
I went through a prog rock and heavy metal phase in middle school which lasted into my first year of high school. I bought these Rush tickets in March and by the time I saw them in July, I had gone back on a binge of soft rock (Elton, Billy, Eagles, etc). It was still a fantastic show and the musicianship left a lasting impression on me.

4. Elton John - Nassau Coliseum - November 2, 2006
Elton John was the first musician whose work had entranced and touched me. I listened to nothing but Elton for many years as a kid. I wanted to be him. I couldn't fully appreciate it as a 6th grader but it meant a lot to see my hero in person. I ended up seeing him again at the Garden in 2013 which, in comparison, was a disappointing show featuring a guy who was just going through the motions.

3. Billy Joel - Madison Square Garden - November 25, 2014
Oh my god. This was the culmination of a childhood that had been stuffed to the brim with the music of Billy Joel. I knew every word to every song, even the ones I didn't realize I knew. Sting and John Mellencamp made guest appearances.

2. Ben Folds - Princeton University - April 19, 2014
My first Folds show was a great day with my mother and sister in Princeton. Second row tickets and a great opening act called Caroline Reese and the Drifting Fifth. In the middle of the show I requested Silver Street which he played. In the middle of the song he turned back to me and asked for help with the words ("married couples slamming doors"). I brought my vinyl copy of Sound of the Life to see if he'd be around to sign but I watched him leave the venue through the front doors a good football field's length away and get into a taxi. Oh well.

1. Paul McCartney - Yankee Stadium - July 16, 2011
The Beatles took over my life for a few years in high school and this was the peak of it. He ended the show with Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, which had not been in the setlist for several years. It was also my favorite Beatles song. I cried a few times that night. Supposed to see McCartney again in August and I wouldn't be surprised if it matches this show. The guy can still bring it.

Prince's death yesterday reminded me that there may have been a thread on this topic here from years ago.  Make that YEARS AGO.

While his 1984 show may no longer make my top 5, it's still easily top 10.

As I was reflecting on his passing, I realized that in a 6 week window in the fall of 1984, I saw Prince at the height of the Purple Rain era and Springsteen at the height of the Born in the USA madness.  In retrospect, that was a pretty good fall.

I was wondering why this resurfaced or if it was because of: https://twitter.com/BenFolds/status/724663241700446208


That being said I keep a top 10 list on my fb profile so one quick copy and paste....


Top 10 Shows of my life are probably;
2008.09.18 - Ben Folds Five in Chapel Hill, NC
2011.11.18 - The Avett Brothers in Milwaukee, WI
2015.05.15 - Ben Folds and yMusic in Chicago, IL
2016.03.05 - Jason Isbell in St Augustine, FL
2008.08.14 - Bon Iver in Milwaukee, WI
2015.02.13 - Kevin Devine in Orlando, FL
2012.06.08 - Jukebox the Ghost at Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
2012.06.15 - The Old Ceremony in Chicago, IL
2012.03.07 - The Avett Brothers in Iowa City, IA
2010.10.10 - Sufjan Stevens in Chicago, IL
2012.08.22 - Dawes in Madison, WI

I'm 13 years old, so I'm going to have a short list, but still the concerts will be awesome!

Colin Hay in Plymouth, NH - Colin Hay had a great sense of humor, great stories, and an awesome selection of music!
Ben Folds w/ yMusic in Portland, ME - The greatest birthday present EVER.
"Weird Al" Yankovic in Concord, NH - An awesome multimedia concert with great music!
The Wooten Brothers in Plymouth, NH -  Being my first concert (that I remember), I had an awesome time! The Wooten Brothers DEFINITELY knew how to rock out!
Lucinda Williams in New Haven, CT - Another awesome birthday present, I had a great time! (my twin almost fell asleep though...)

So yeah! Those were some awesome concerts, and theres many more I can't wait to go to! Here's my Top Five concerts I want to see:

Ben Folds w/ the Nashville Symphony Orchestra - Ben Folds' Concerto is one of my favorites, and would be AWESOME in concert!
Frank Turner w/ Flogging Molly - An awesome rock concert that I might be seeing soon.
Weezer - This would be ROCKING!
Twenty One Pilots - A fun concert, and my FIRST rap concert!
The Avett Brothers - Loving them, and Colin Hay, this would be a great concert!

Quote from: Ben_Folds_Fan on April 22, 2016, 07:59:41 AM

Prince's death yesterday reminded me that there may have been a thread on this topic here from years ago.  Make that YEARS AGO.

While his 1984 show may no longer make my top 5, it's still easily top 10.

As I was reflecting on his passing, I realized that in a 6 week window in the fall of 1984, I saw Prince at the height of the Purple Rain era and Springsteen at the height of the Born in the USA madness.  In retrospect, that was a pretty good fall.

I was wondering why this resurfaced or if it was because of: https://twitter.com/BenFolds/status/724663241700446208

The resurfacing had nothing to do with Ben's tweet which I hadn't seen and everything to do with my remembering that I had posted my list here a LONG time ago and that it had included a Prince concert.

I'm 13 years old, so I'm going to have a short list, but still the concerts will be awesome!


Frank Turner w/ Flogging Molly - An awesome rock concert that I might be seeing soon.

LOVE Frank Turner and if you get to go, you will totally enjoy yourself.

I saw Ben in Boston last August with Violent Femmes. Ben was great, I met him earlier during his book signing, but I was really impressed with Violent Femmes too! Pleasant surprise.