What was the most memorable concert you've ever been to? (Win Troubadour Festival tickets here!)

I love live music. Given the opportunity (and the funds), I'd go see live music every night of the week if I could. Whether it's the neighborhood dive bar, the town honky-tonk, or the arena or stadium in the big city, I love it all.

I guess if I'm a festival promoter for a living that should come as no surprise. But I can talk about live music with someone until I'm blue in the face. Throw in a few cold beers and that conversation could go all night.

Over the past three years of working on Troubadour Festival at Aggie Park, I've come to learn and witness a lot about live music in Bryan-College Station. Whether it's been about Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen, legendary shows at Harry's, or (of course) Chilifest, the area has a lot to talk about when it comes to live music.

I experienced my first Chilifest a few weeks ago. I went on Friday to see Hudson Westbrook, who is playing Troubadour Festival on May 17 (buy tickets here!), Treaty Oak Revival, Ole 60, and others. I was left almost speechless. I'll tell y'all one thing y'all know how to do it big down here in BCS.

This also made me want to ask: What's the most memorable concert you've ever been to? It doesn't have to be the biggest. It doesn't have to be country. It doesn't matter if no one else has heard of the artist except for you.

Leave a comment on this thread with your most memorable concert not only would I like to read them all, but I'm going to pick one winner to receive four Music tickets to the third Troubadour Festival on May 17 at Aggie Park with Shane Smith & The Saints, Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen on their Hold My Beer & Watch This Tour, 49 Winchester, Josh Meloy, and Hudson Westbrook. You'll get to see 'em all on the Wood Stage sponsored by Optimum.

Oh, want to hear mine? Maybe not, but I'm going to give it anyway. Actually, I'll give three because I can't narrow it down:

1. Pearl Jam, Wrigley Field, 2018
2. Jason Isbell, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 2019
3. Uncle Lucius, Stanley's Famous Pit BBQ (Tyler, TX), 2012 (this was the show that inspired me to start a barbecue and country music festival)

Ready, set, go!

October 28, 1981 - Astrodome
The Fabulous Thunderbirds opened for
ZZ Top, who opened for
The Rolling Stones

First Jimmy Buffett concert in 1986. Borrowed ten cents from a guy in line to be able to afford a tee shirt and sat next to a great couple in the grass that bought me beer. The good old days.

August 18, 2018
Scotiabank Arena in Toronto
Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra

Last minute decision to go.
Drove about three hours from our home to Nashville, caught a flight to Detroit.
Rented a car and drove to Toronto, thinking it was about a 2-hour drive (was actually 4 1/2).
Spent an hour looking for our car after the concert.
Found the car and drove to our hotel room, which was in Detroit near the airport (got there at 4 a.m.).
Caught an 8 a.m. flight back to Nashville and drove home.

Looked like the crowd was there for an AARP convention.

My two favorite:

Willie & Merle in the Astrodome at HLSR. They sang Pancho & Lefty.

George Strait & Chris Stapleton in Salt Lake City. They also sang Pancho & Lefty.

I like that song a lot

Springsteen in Madison Square Garden. Saw him two nights in a row in June 2000. It was the middle of a 10 night stand. They released a live album of the best cuts from the shows afterwards.

Also, saw Chuck Berry in Austin in '85 and '87. Unforgettable!!

Believe it or not, Charlie Daniels Band at the Hall of Fame circa 1998 and I was standing right beside the stage. He was electric that night best concert ever.

tunefx said:

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October 28, 1981 - Astrodome
The Fabulous Thunderbirds opened for
ZZ Top, who opened for
The Rolling Stones

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EOT

Damn!!

Not necessarily most memorable but high in my list is Neil Young & Carzy Horse, Convention Center Arena, San Antonio in 1991.

Texas Jam 1982: Journey, Santana, Sammy Hagar, Joann Jett, Point Blank

jrbaggie said:

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The Eagles, at Jeppesen Stadium in Houston, July 9, 1977. Jimmy Buffet opened for them.

Pretty eye opening for a 15 year old country boy.

Touring their Hotel California album.

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Saw them the following week at Tarrant County Convention Center.

Moody Blues in SA.
Credence CW in Houston in 1976 I think.
Jonny Cash in SA

Lindsey Stirling is right up near the top.... she is incredible.

Saw Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett in the Galveston Opry House many years back.

Kid Rock - dude plays every instrument expertly

Cher in Austin about 2000

George Straight Prison Rodeo was great! My son took me to see Staind so it tops it because it was him that took me.

Jimmy Buffett in G.Rollie White. 1980 I believe. Great time!

6/11/94 ZZTop with George Thorogood opening at the Palace in Auburn Hills, MI (7th Row seats bought day before)

10/21/87 Boston at the Summit in Houston

12/31/1999 ZZTop and Lynard Skynard Millenium Concert at the Summit in Houston (Skynard put on a better show honestly)

Alice Cooper, in San Antonio. Back during his insane asylum days, probably between '78 and '82.. That guy puts on a show, that's for sure.

Pink Floyd, Division Bell tour was a life-long memory too, as was Kodo Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble.

I went to Six Flag in Arlington May 9, 1970 with two high school friends. We heard on the radio that Jimi Hendrix was playing in Fort Worth that evening. We had no idea where Will Rogers Colieseum was, so we followed some likely suspects and they led us to the place. The tickets were $5.00. We had $14.84 between us. Some guy behind us gave us 16 cents. I think Bloodrock opened. Maybe someone else. Let me say that there were some really messed up folks there but not us. We were high school kids and it was eye opening. I'll never forget it and I have the ticket stub still.

76Ag said:

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I went to Six Flag in Arlington May 9, 1970 with two high school friends. We heard on the radio that Jimi Hendrix was playing in Fort Worth that evening. We had no idea where Will Rogers Colieseum was, so we followed some likely suspects and they led us to the place. The tickets were $5.00. We had $14.84 between us. Some guy behind us gave us 16 cents. I think Bloodrock opened. Maybe someone else. Let me say that there were some really messed up folks there but not us. We were high school kids and it was eye opening. I'll never forget it and I have the ticket stub still.

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Had the same experience at that Boston concert I listed above. I think even the ushers at the Summit were taking a toke on what was being passed around that night. I was 17 and there with a couple of high school friends and the contact buzz lasted for damn near 24 hours.

May of 1993......Paul McCartney concert at the Alamobowl in SA. About half way into it McCartney started talking his liberal save the world crap instead of singing and my lady friend and I along with numerous other attendees got up and walked out

Around 2001. Willie at John T. floore's. Had a backstage connection and got there early to hang out on one of the buses with Jody Payne (Willie's guitarist). Then hung out backstage and met the rest of the band. Willie doesn't really leave his bus until showtime but shook his hand on the way to the stage. Then watched the concert from the soundboard. Good times.

JCA1 said:

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Around 2001. Willie at John T. floore's. Had a backstage connection and got there early to hang out on one of the buses with Jody Payne (Willie's guitarist). Then hung out backstage and met the rest of the band. Willie doesn't really leave his bus until showtime but shook his hand on the way to the stage. Then watched the concert from the soundboard. Good times.

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Did you get to meet Bee Spears his bass player? He was from Helotes and his brothers' Fred and Boudreaux (Stanley) were musicians also. We went to the same church and played softball. Had a few impromptu jam sessions over beers after the games. Fred played rhythm guitar and Boudreaux played a foot tub bass and was dayum good at it to. I played a bit of so so fiddle

Rattler12 said:

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JCA1 said:

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Around 2001. Willie at John T. floore's. Had a backstage connection and got there early to hang out on one of the buses with Jody Payne (Willie's guitarist). Then hung out backstage and met the rest of the band. Willie doesn't really leave his bus until showtime but shook his hand on the way to the stage. Then watched the concert from the soundboard. Good times.

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Did you get to meet Bee Spears his bass player? He was from Helotes and his brothers' Fred and Boudreaux (Stanley) were musicians also. We went to the same church and played softball. Had a few impromptu jam sessions over beers after the games. Fred played rhythm guitar and Boudreaux played a foot tub bass and was dayum good at it to. I played a bit of so so fiddle

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I did but only briefly. Basically just exchanged pleasantries.

This guy a few weeks ago at Whitewater Amphitheater.



Or…

Eminem and Jay Z at Comerica Park/Detroit in September 2010.

I was at that PJ 2018 Wrigley show - it was awesome....probably the best set list of that tour

My favorite was 2016 Telluride.....had my whole family with me and it was just a stunning setting

I have way too many that are favorites for different reasons. However, some of my most memorable have been...

The Rolling Stones
Tom Petty and Joe Walsh
A Perfect Circle
Turnpike Troubadors
Shane Smith and the Saints
Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel

REK and Lyle Lovett, Reed Arena, February 6, 2000

Nobody has ever seen Foghat? What's wrong with you people?

Van Halen - Fair Park Coliseum in Beaumont circa 1980. Had been to several concerts prior and never seen anything like the energy those guys brought to that place. Absolute bedlam and my ears rang for two days. Good times!

Fishing Fools said:

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Nobody has ever seen Foghat? What's wrong with you people?

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I was at Astroworld a few nights when they were playing concerts, but I was too young to actually go to the concerts.

16 year old Apache with a few of his group managed to get onto the floor of the Motley Crue "Dr. Feelgood Tour" and work our way up around the 10th row from the stage. Motley Crue was at the height of their power at that time.... my goodness it was quite the.... coup.... for a small town kid. Overwhelming in a good way.

nillbors likensoaxe said:

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Van Halen - Fair Park Coliseum in Beaumont circa 1980. Had been to several concerts prior and never seen anything like the energy those guys brought to that place. Absolute bedlam and my ears rang for two days. Good times!

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I saw their 1984 tour in Houston and yes they had great energy, but they were all so drunk or high that the music was terrible. There were quite a few songs where they got more than halfway through the song before I could even tell what song they were trying to play. We did see a guy run down the steps of the upper prom and dive over the railing down onto the lower prom. When we got to the rail to look down, some other people there said he landed on the people below, got up and ran off. Pretty sure he was on PCP or something. Definitely feeling no pain.

Kenny Rogers, Dottie West and the Oak Ridge Boys at the Capital Center in Landover Maryland in 1978. Everyone went to see the headline act and the Oakridge Boys were a relatively new group and they stole the show! I was 16 or 17 at the time with a bunch of buddies and thought this was absolutely the coolest thing ever.