This week’s question is taken from the book “If², 500 Questions for the Game of Life
If you had to name the best live musical performance you have ever attended, which would you pick?
For me, I’d say seeing the John Butler Trio live at an outdoor venue called Riverstage, which is, yep, a stage by a river, the Brisbane River to be exact (Brisbane City Council are a creative bunch aren’t they?).
I’ve written before about the John Butler Trio. Not only do they sound as good live as they do recorded but they use their music, their fame and their moolah to make the world a better place.
Nope, no flashy bling for JBT. No diva-type demands or 30 person strong entourage either. Just 3 gifted musicians, doing what they love with a focus on giving back.
Riverstage is a perfect venue for JBT. The stage is at the bottom of a hill in the middle of Brisbane with the river behind it. All that is required is to find a patch of grass, lay out the picnic blanket and make yourself comfortable. It was a night I’ll always remember for great fun with friends, unbelievable music and a fantastic energy.
OK peeps, your turn? What’s the best musical performance you’ve seen (please don’t say Brittany Spears or Milli Vanilli. OK, you can say Brittany Spears or Milli Vanilli but expect some ribbing for it! Just so you know)? 
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I love music and have seen SO many great shows. It’s hard to pick just one but not too long ago I saw Kings of Leon front row and that was a pretty awesome experience. John Butler Trio is pretty awesome! Good pick!
@Positively Present
Hey Dani. Kings of Leon rock (literally and metaphorically!). I’d love to see them live. Front row too! That makes you an official KofL groupie!
I’d have to say I have two favourites.. First is P!nk because she is amazing as a performer. Same thing – she sounds just as fantastic live as on her CDs..
Secondly, Inner Circle. They came to Darwin with the Divynals a long time ago. The Divynals cracked it big time because the audio equipment/power couldn’t handle their performance.. then out comes Inner Circle who got the whole crowd involved without their back-up music. It was very cool.
Have a great weekend!
Jimmy Buffeeeetttttt!!!
Hahaha! My boyfriend won tickets last year and we got into the VIP tent pre-concert (equals free food and free beer!) so that may have contributed a liiiittle 
… but it was SUCH a blast to sing along with everyone to all of our favorite beachy tunes at an outdoor venue!
Not sure if this is allowed, but the best gig ever that I went to was Glastonbury ’92, it was such a good weekend, I would give it to all of the performers.
But from the whole weekend if I had to narrow it down to just one band, I’d say “The Ukrainians”. They played in one of the small side tents, not the big stage, and the band were actually “The Wedding Present” without the lead singer, David Gedge. It was a great show.
But I have to mention also, the Saturday night star who was, believe it or not, Tom Jones. Who would have thought I would have been jumping up and down in a field, with 80,000 hippies, listening to Tom Jones. And loving it!
Hi Sami,
There are three stand-out experiences in my life which I would relive again given the chance. The birth of my two sons and the U2 concert we attended at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in 1984.
Magic!
Hi Sami,
I would have to go with Madonna. Her shows are like Broadway productions and it is just so cool to watch. It is like sensory overload and that can be so much fun.
@Kirsty
Hey Kirsty. I haven’t seen Pink in concert but I’ve heard she’s awesome. And isn’t it interesting how Inner Circle used the power issues instead of fighting them to deliver a better performance. Yet another reminder to go with the flow. Thanks K!
@Sami
Hi there Sami! VIP tent eh? Yep, THAT’S the way to see a concert! Friends and I once saw Michael Jackson from a “corporate box” at a stadium. The beer was scarce and the food was basically a bunch of lettuce and a flower (go figure) in a box! Lucky MJ’s performance was phenomenal. It more than made up for the flower salad!
I love outdoor venues. They always seem to add to the experience.
@BobinOz
Hey Bob! My sister has been to Glastonbury. She said it was wild (in a great way). I never would have guessed that Tom Jones would be such a hit at a festival like that! Goes to show his music transcends the generations. Did you throw your undies up on stage?
Not sure if you’ve been but the Big Day Out here is Australia’s equivalent.
@Phillipa
Hey Phillipa. Wow, the U2 concert must have been phenomenal to rival the birth of your sons!! Actually, I’m jealous, I had tickets to go see U2 but the small event of a divorce and move OS got in the way. Oh well, another time (hopefully). I’d totally love to see those guys live.
Hmmmn. John Denver. 1989.
He was the sweetest guy.
And Doctor Hook And The Medicine Show. Really!! They did a 20 minute
version of their “Carrie,” that blew every single one of us AWAY!!
@Nadia
Hey Nadia. “Sensory overload” is a great way to describe concerts like Madonna’s. I’d say Pink’s concerts would be similar. It’s almost like you don’t know where to look!
@Jannie
Hey Jannie. I’ve always loved John Denver’s “Country Road” – I’m a country girl at heart. And now “Rocky Mountain High” resonates seeing as I lived amongst the Rockies for a couple of years and totally fell in love with them. Granted, I was living in the Canadian Rockies but the Rockies nonetheless!
had to narrow it down to 3…
micheal buble – great voice in concert, yes i am canadian
sarah mclauchlan – the vogue theatre in vancouver, right before she got famous, small venue but the music was amazing (plus i think the tickets were only 25 bucks)
coldplay – one of my favs….the sound awesome live! and crack a few good jokes too…
@Aileen
Hey Aileen! Sarah McLauchlan for 25 bucks? Bargain! She’d be great live, especially in a small venue. I love listening to her music chilling out with a glass of vino. Gotta love a live concert!
Hey Sami
Well so far i have only been to 1 live concert
i know, shocking! But it was pretty amazing. You might all laugh, but it was Robbie Williams, Live at Knebworth which to that date (2003) was the biggest show Britain had ever seen. The live album was the biggest and fastest selling Live album in the UK so far. The show was pretty amazing. He is such a good live singer and with masses of energy to get the crowd joining in. The warm up bands were ‘The Darkness’ who were pretty damn good, ‘Moby’ which was much better than i thought it would be and ‘Kelly Osbourne’ which was the worst performance i’ve ever seen. She was absolutely shockingly bad. She couldn’t sing a note in tune and when the crowd started booing she went on a swearing rampage, not the best way to get the crowd on side haha.
@MartYn
MartYn, trust you to have such a colourful answer. Laughed out loud at the Kelly Osbourne thing. And in actual fact, you’ve really seen 3 live concerts, or rather, 2 and a half given half of Kelly Osbourne’s performance was swearing!
Good Day Sami,
1. Meatloaf in 1992. A small concert hall. ( I have seen him four times, including once with my seat on the stage!)
2. Ray Davies playing solo, telling his life story. He made the audience laugh and cry. He got called back 6 times!
3. Jimmy Buffet. He gave one of the most lively, happy shows I have ever hear.
4. Elton John He play all his hits and was terrific. He played for 3 and half hours non-stop.
5. Dave Bowie When I first got tickets the concert was postpone due to the fact he went in for surgery. But he came back just as great as ever.
@Chick J
Hey there Chick J! Nice. You’ve seen some seriously big acts. And how the hell did you get a seat on Meatloaf’s stage? By the way, I’ve seen Meatloaf live too. He does a great show.