Best Live Performance You Have Ever Seen!?

But after seeing Camel at the Royal Albert Hall, I think they've taken the crown.

 

The Who 25th Anniversary Tour- This was my first concert which was at RFK Stadium in DC. They played for 3 1/2 hours, about 40 songs, and Pete Townsend even played his solo songs during the intermission. Possibly one of the most funs shows I've been to. People were hitting beach balls in the stands, and a rainbow was projected over the stadium for Love Reign O'er Me. One of my fondest and most vivid concert memories. Only negative was there was a drunken girl vomiting behind me through half the show.

 

Rush R40 Tour- This was my third time seeing Rush. The first two were from the Presto and Roll the Bones tours, but this was definitely my favorite of the three. I saw them in Philly as they performed songs starting with the Clockwork Angels album and went chronologically back in time to the first Rush Album. While I definitely liked the second half of the show more, I though the first half was still pretty good. I liked all the  songs they played except Animate Me and One Little Victory were only okay. Still the first half was very energetic and engaging, as they ended on Subdivisions. I really enjoyed the second half, while they played most of my favorites, including Natural Science, Jacob's Ladder, Hemispheres(Prelude), Xanadu, Cygnus X-1, about half of 2112, and Working Man. They played for about 2 and 1/2 hours and like most Rush concerts has some fun videos as well.

 

King Crimson- I have seen them three times, but my favorite of the three was when I drove to Red Bank, New Jersey on the last show of the 2017 American summer tour.  Seeing all eight musicians on stage, performing most of the classics with precision is an amazing experience. They played for almost three hours and the highlights included Red, Fallen Angel, Epitaph, Cirkus, Lizard,  Starless, 21st Century Schizoid man,and my favorite King Crimson song next to Starless, Fracture. Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't seen them.

 

Dweezil Zappa- I saw him with his band last April performing  his father, Frank's material at the Hamilton in DC. The venue was intimate which held only about 400 people, and the staff waiting on you for food and drinks like a restaurant. They played for three hours, more than 30 songs, had some dialogue during Flakes, and switched instruments and did some intrigiung things during Pound for a Brown, similar to Funny Ways from Gentle Giant. One of the most fun concerts I've been to, and I would definitely recommend people see him.

 

Ween- I saw them back in 1998 on The Mollusk Tour at the 9:30 club in Washington DC. Even Though the 9:30 club isn't the greatest venue, the show was great. They played for at least 2 and 1/2 hours, took a few fan song requests and I consider the Mollusk to be their last good album as the albums that came after were just okay, so they played all their best material.

19 June 1974  King Crimson at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA

16 January 1977  Jethro Tull at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA  3rd row, center.  We spent a night outside at the venue to get tickets along with other hardy concert-goers.  A janitor joked, "Who's coming, Jesus Christ?" in the morning as he passed us by...

Summer 1986  Several days rehearsal with all of the original Buffalo Springfield members at Stephen Still's home in the San Fernando Valley, CA  (Not really a "live" show, per se, but yes, wow!)

10 September 1999 Richard Thompson with full band, Mock Tudor tour at The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa, CA

23 March 2016  Loreena McKennitt Trio at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR.  Especially memorable also for departed company

I never liked Meatloaf. That was, until my cousin took me to see him perform live ! 

1) Yes/Gentle Giant : 1976 : Cow Palace, Daly City (near SF)

2) Jethro Tull/Uriah Heep : 1978 : Oakland Arena

3) Robert Fripp : 1979 : Tower Records, Campbell CA (Frippertronics tour)

4) Peter Gabriel/Random Hold : 1980 : San Jose Civic Auditorium

5) Peter Hammill : 1990 : Slims, San Francisco (Room Temperature Live tour)

For me visiting a concert has always been the ultimate level in the beloved prog experience: first looking at the cover and the lyrics, then listening to the music, and finally watching the band, music and visuals become more than the sum of the parts, prog on stage is an extra dimension! 

Here's my Prog Top 10:

Yes - Going For The One tour in 1977 : Wakeman with his vintage keyboards on 3 stages, Squire and his triple-neck bass and Howe with his guitar museum, playing unforgettable versions of Close To The Edge and Awaken, I had just become 17 but I have still very vivid memories of this legendary gig.

Pink Floyd - The Wall in 1980 Earls Court, London (highlight Gilmour on top of the wall playing his mindlbowing solo during Comfortably Numb)

The Musical Box (best ever Genesis tribute band) - The Lamb tour in 2013 (many progheads who had seen the original show considered this one as better)

Peter Gabriel - Werchter Pop in 1983, what a fascinating performer, and what a great atmosphere between the band and the crowd.

Marillion - Fugazi tour in 1984 (the band at its pinnacle, both artistically as visually, and a balanced and inspired unit)

Rush - R30 tour in 2004 PLaying again in The Netherlands after many years, so inspired, humorous, and exciting

Anekdoten - Uden (2008) magical, an unique blend of symphonic rock and psychedelia, lots of exciting improvisations, also on the Mighty Tron!

Jean-Michel Jarre - Electronica World Tour in 2016 - Exciting setlist with lots of early work, and mindblowing visuals.

Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings tour in 1981, spectacular start with his Roland guitar synthesizer and only one spotlight from behind, magical.

Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself 35th anniversary tour in 2017 - WOW!