I’d like to see both Nirvana and Belle & Sebastian in a small club.
I almost got to see Nirvana on Halloween in 1993 but the older kids wouldn’t get me a ticket so I stayed home and cried. True story.
Since it was my favorite album, I’ll say during the Animals tour.
Moved MPSIMS --> Cafe Society.
Vernon and Irene Castle, on their 1914 Whirlwind Tour.
The Four Cohens, in vaudeville.
**
Bix Beiderbecke,** with pretty much *any *of the bands he played with.
I want to say
Whitney Houston
but maybe it’s too soon.
Roddy
. . . and they would be, umm, the Jewish comedy act that parodied The Four *Cohans *. .
The Dave Brubeck Quartet at Carnegie Hall
CSN&Y
Chicago
I saw Stevie Ray seven times, met him briefly once. I’d still pick him #1.
A young Elvis.
In their prime Bennie Goodman orchestra.
Thelonius Monk with Dave Brubeck at Carnegie Hall I actually have this album =)
Cab Calloway at the Cotton Club in the early 30s
Mamas and the Papas at Monteray Pop
I have caught acts ranging from The Who, The Rolling Stones, AC-DC with both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson, Queen, Rammstein, Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourn and Ronnie Dio. I have to admit that I almost answered “Monterey Pop, Woodstock and the 1954 Newport Jazz Festival”
The Edgar Winter Group.
I saw them twice: In 1972, when they were the front band for West Bruce and Laing. Frankenstein, IIRC, hadn’t yet become the monster hit. Dan Hartman did a kickbutt guitar set, even though, I think, Ronnie Montrose was their guitarist. I also saw them a year later, when Rick Derringer was their lead. Good stuff.
Also, since I brought them up: West Bruce and Laing. All were still in their prime. Nothing notable, just oozed with cool.
Harry Chapin
Patsy Cline
Janis Joplin
To name three nobody else has gone with yet…
The Jeff Beck Group in its original incarnation, with Rod Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, and Ronnie Wood on bass.
Derek and the Dominos, at one of the two concerts they did with Duane Allman.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, before the plane crash.
To name a few that I haven’t seen mentioned yet:
The Smiths
Sublime
Barenaked Ladies (early to mid 90s) - Saw them a lot back then and would love to relive one of these shows.
The Beatles at their first Ed Sullivan appearance (yes, even with the screaming girls).
Elvis Costello, his first SNL gig.
Talking Heads at CBGBs.
mmm
The Beatles, but in a small venue. Maybe when they were playing at the Cavern (with Ringo Starr, not Pete Best) in Liverpool. I see on Wikipedia that on 12 October 1962 they performed there with Little Richard also on the bill. That would be a good one.
Then the Rolling Stones with Brian Jones, in the UK on their 1966 tour.
The Who with Keith Moon, Tommy tour.
I’d love to see those early 60’s rock groups up close. I’m assuming I would get primo seats.
Good one. This would be my fourth choice.
Creedence
Grateful Dead
Ian & Sylvia when they were young
The Who, The Hoosier Hotshots, Cliff Edwards
Sorry, the best I can do is whittle my list down to 10:
Simon and Garfunkel: Central Park 9/19/81
Pink Floyd: The Wall ‘80
Elton John: Yellow Brick Road ‘76
Led Zepplin: Madison Square Garden: ‘73
The Who: Live at Leeds 5/16/70
Beatles: Shea Stadium 8/15/65
Duke Ellington: Carnegie Hall ‘43
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.2, Premiere 11/9/01, with composer as soloist
Franz Liszt: Any concert during his 1840’s virtuoso years
Beethoven: Conducting the premiere of his 9th symphony, 5/7/1824, Vienna.
J.S. Bach
Bach was mainly known as an organist (not a composer) in his lifetime. There was actually a contest arranged between him and another accomplished organist. The organist snuck into a church to hear Bach play, chickened out, and canceled the contest. Obviously we don’t have any recordings of Bach improvising but I bet he kicked ass.