GWAR in the 00s! I randomly was invited by a customer during my shift at retail. I went in my work uniform. I never washed that uniform.

TJ Richter (Mind Plasma) was in incredible performer, too. I would be shocked if anyone on Lemmy was able to see him; he mainly did performances at warehouse raves and techno festivals, but for the set and setting, his performances were INCREDIBLE to stumble upon and lose yourself in. Rest in Plasma.

Front row at Bonnaroo to see Sigur Ros. Hung out at the front of the stage for five hours with some nice strangers and saw an incredible performance. I haven’t been to Bonnaroo in awhile but the atmosphere of the other festival goers makes the event. The openness to strangers and general kindness at what should be a miserable packed event will always stick with me. Go if you can. It’s one thing I’ll perpetually entertain going to as long as they have it each year.

After that, found out Kanye still hadn’t taken his stage. Totally had planned on missing him for Sigur Ros. Fell asleep waiting for him to take stage and walked back to camp at 4am. Crazy it’s almost 20 years ago.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow… Wow. The play has a World Two Destroyer being dropped into the Upside Down and that was the opening scene and it got more intense after that.

The special effects were incredible and the big and little ones were equally amazing. yeah the whole thing goes in and out of the Upside Down a number of times and yes that was just incredible how it was handled.

One of the most incredible effects as when one of the character in a “dream sequence” costume changed from a high school kid to a vaudeville dancer right on the stage instantly. It was just mind blowing how they did it!

I like to do three or four broadway shows a year, but holy hell The First Shadow was a roller coaster ride!

Jeff Rosenstock and PUP playing the salt shed in Chicago last year. What a show.

Fela Kuti, by far. That show, absolutely nothing else existed, probably best performance in the world.

Second place Henry Rollins, I almost sat out his set because he was so snooty to everyone in the club but holy crap.

And Marcus King has such charisma - he is a pudgy not particularly handsome dude and was wearing an unflattering outfit but I swear he transformed, not physically exactly but is so compelling on stage - he picks up the guitar you forget about his looks. I find that almost the definition of cool, in a way. Transcendent.

Just cool: Angine de Poitrine, you’ve probably seen it by now.

In person, probably Black Sabbath on their 13 tour. I cheered so hard that I had to take a knee at one point. First sign of getting old, I guess lol

Kinga Głyk right next to the Porta Nigra.

Seeing the Justice Hyperdrama tour live was incredibly transcendental, and an experience I wish I could experience live again. The lights were so damn cool. https://archive.org/details/justice-live-accor-arena-18122025/Justice+(Coachella+2024+-+Week+One).mkv

The floutist society in my city had tull in for a concert in the park. I think they made a point of playing the most flute intensive songs from the catalogue or maybe were asked to. Anyway best concert of my life and it was free. Great weather, in the park, near the lakefront.

A young PJ Harvey, solo on Jay Leno: https://youtu.be/KBZoL8wpZzU

David Gilmour’s comfortably numb solo in Pompeii, starts around 4:30 here

IDK how to pick but my late ‘90s to early ‘00s viewings of AFI, HIMSA, Motörhead, Dio, Bad Religion, and Priest are probably contenders for the best.

Three Umbilical Brothers show The Distraction. Live comedy with green screen work, mime and vocal sound effects, with a giant space baby. Insanely creative, and utterly hilarious.

Probably Behemoth. They straight up performed a satanic ritual on stage during a song. Coolest shit I’ve ever seen

Either Mr. Bungle on the Disco Volante tour, or Jamiroquai on the Travelling Without Moving tour. Both bands were at their absolute peaks and they were both insane shows.