…but…
As the OP specifically asks for crowning moment of awesome, may I present Comfortably Numb, The O2, 12th May 2011.
Specifically, watch carefully round about 1:30 in, where Roger Waters sings “…can you show me where it hurts”, and turns round to face the wall, with a quite ridiculous grin on his face because he knows what’s about to happen, and what the reaction is going to be.
And what happens next is A Crowning Moment of Awesome.
Oh, and I was there. 
That Comfortably Numb clip is awesome. Particularly that it was a surprise to the audience. Think that wins the thread.
I am extremely partial to the keyboard, piano and Buck Dharma awesomeness guitar break at 2:20 in Flaming Telepaths by Blue Oyster Cult.
ETA: Holy fuck, Gilmour is truly a genius.
Half the entries in this thread are about songs, not moments?
Indeed, including 100% of the OP.
Moments are in songs.
Anyway, here are some of mine:
The second guitar solo in Television - Elevation. (3:01)
When the titular part of Stone Roses - I am the Resurrection finally kicks in.
Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks (2:41)
Raconteurs - Carolina Drama, at the later part of the build-up (3:43)
The XX - Infinity, “Give it up” part at the end.
Weezer - Say It Ain’t So, “This bottle of Stevens” part
Coldplay - Fix You, 3:02 forward
Metallica - Creeping Death, “Die by my hand” part, including the guitar just before.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - 3:20-3:40
Tool - Reflection, 8:50 and forward.
Tool - Schism, “between supposed lovers”
Wilco - The Late Greats (Live In Chicago), solo at 1:33
Isis - Carry, 4:04 (Post-metal lends itself well to crowning moments of awesome, because of their crescendo structure.)
David Bowie - 5 years, The titular part, first time.
Yes, but where?
I don’t think I’ve ever posted this, but I always watch it when a thread like this pops up. Take a look at Stevie Ray and Jimmy…this would have been a great song if it was on two guitars. Make sure you watch at least until they make the switch. Jimmy can’t see what he’s doing for the entire second half.
In the history of music, a song IS a moment.
In geologic time, the history of music is a moment.
Whoa.
Wow, thanks, mr. jp
Moments like these have always given me chills, and I’ve shivered on each of your submissions here. Nice contribution to this thread!
Same era, Donnie Iris’ Ah Leah. Lyrics tell you that singer shares a fierce physical attraction with Leah, but both know they are incompatible outside of the bedroom. Sounds like a casual complaint until around 2:49, when Donnie wails her name at the walls in frustration and pent up want: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Arbm47IQ
…annnd suddenly I want to be Leah. Iris rocks that naive, inexperienced Elvis Costello/Weezer nerd vibe, but I would tear into that man in a feral manner thanks to this song.
You’re not the only indie fan around the board, I’ve seen several others besides myself.
Just goes to show the subjectivity! My favorite moments are the opening bar to “In the Mouth a Desert” and the last line of “Here”. I think “Desert” would count for this discussion.
Great moment, and definitely my favorite AoL song, but the moment I come up with is the opening line as 1985 segues into Fabricoh.
I’ll throw out a few more, mostly in the same genre:
The Olivia Tremor Control,from their Peel Sessions: “Memories of Jacqueline 1906”
Pixies, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”, the end of the numerology segment
I can’t find the original, but Elvis Costello breaking off of “Less Than Zero” and launching into “Radio Radio” on SNL, which he had been expressly forbidden from playing. The 25th anniversary pairing with the Beastie Boys is still great though.
Sonic Youth, “Death Valley 69”, especially the noise/feedback starting at about 4:45.
The MC5:
Right now…right now…right now, it’s time to…
KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHERFUCKERS!
(eta another pretty cool version)
The Beastie Boys, Sabotage - :16 in, after the guitar, fuzz bass, and drums have built up… “Aaaah I can’t stand it, I know ya planned it, Im’a set it straight, this Watergate.”
Neutral Milk Hotel, King of Carrot Flowers, Pt 2 - 1:00-1:40, when the repetitive, meditative and oddly ironic refrain of “I love you, Jesus Christ” gives way to a weird stream of consciousness lyric, then a trumpet solo(!) backed by a swirling psychedelic synth, and then… BAM! The double-time punk of “Up And Over We Go” kicks in. Shivers.
Heartless Bastards, The Mountain - 3:50, when the slide guitar kicks in and just weeps. By all rights it should feel like a ripoff of Layla, but it doesn’t at all - at that moment, you get the sense that the Bastards have finally arrived.
Black Betty - Ram Jam - at 2 minutes in
Rainbow - Since you’ve been gone - the first 15 seconds or so, whenever this goes on, there’s usually a lot of air guitar and a bit where everyone tries the vocal intro
Led Zep - The immigrant song
There is a pause and the vocals kick in again right at 52 secs- that really is one of those moments
Johnny Kidd and the pIRates - Shakin all over - when it goes quiet and he goes '“SHAKIN ALL OOOOOOOOVVVERRRRR” and the transtion into the guitar solo at 1.24
Them - Gloria , you can almost feel his heartbeat and temperature rise in expectation as Gloria walks up the street and to his room
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak - 2.20 BREAKOUT!!!
Thin Lizzy - Emerald - the guitar break at .40 and 1.27, needs to be played loud
Well, yeah, and then there’s one of the best guitar solos (is it even called a solo when it’s bounced between THREE separate guitar players?) ever, in my opinion?
I always thought it was so cool that you can tell who’s playing what part just by the style and sound of the guitar… And I’m sorry, but for this tune, I actually like John’s part, with that really ‘dirty’ sound, the best.
Yeah, that is awesome. I also think John’s the best, but it was only possible because of the lead in by the two others I think. They should’ve done more pure guitar jam.
I submit Steve Vai’s little interlude before “For the Love of God”. Just listen to the first minute & 10 seconds or so.