Thinking about the
Madonna concert got me thinking about some of the great concerts I’ve been to in
the past. Today I thought I’d post some of the standouts. So, without further
ado, my Top Five Concerts of All
Time.
Madonna concert got me thinking about some of the great concerts I’ve been to in
the past. Today I thought I’d post some of the standouts. So, without further
ado, my Top Five Concerts of All
Time.
Number
Five: SARSstock –
Downsview Park, Toronto (30 July 2003)
Five: SARSstock –
Downsview Park, Toronto (30 July 2003)
Attendance: 450,000 (Likely the biggest single concert I’ll ever attend in
my lifetime)
Line up (too many bands, but here’s the key
list):
list):
- The Guess Who
- Rush
- AC/DC
- The Rolling Stones
Memories:
- You’ll remember this concert was held in the
post-SARS panic that gripped Toronto as a way to draw business and tourists
back; it was also a great bash and party to celebrate that not-so-fun period in
all Torontonians’ lives. - Rush and AC/DC stole this concert from the Rolling
Stones. The AC/DC gig was out-of-this-world fabulous. - Poor Justin Timberlake getting booed off the stage
and dodging bottles being thrown at him. - Leaving! OMG, leaving! Ever see 450,000 people all
try to leave a park at 1am all together?! Bedlam for sure. G and I had a riotous
adventure getting home that night, er, very early morning.
Number Four: David
Bowie – The SkyTent at SkyDome, Toronto (7 Mar 1990)
Bowie – The SkyTent at SkyDome, Toronto (7 Mar 1990)
Attendance:
27,000
Song
List:
List:
Space Oddity;
Changes; TVC-15; Rebel Rebel; Golden Years; Be My Wife; Ashes to Ashes; John,
I’m Only Dancing; Queen Bitch; Life on Mars; Fashion; Blue Jean; Let’s Dance;
Stay; China Girl; Ziggy Stardust; Sound + Vision; Station to Station; Alabama
Song; Young Americans; Panic in Detroit; Suffergette City and
Fame
Changes; TVC-15; Rebel Rebel; Golden Years; Be My Wife; Ashes to Ashes; John,
I’m Only Dancing; Queen Bitch; Life on Mars; Fashion; Blue Jean; Let’s Dance;
Stay; China Girl; Ziggy Stardust; Sound + Vision; Station to Station; Alabama
Song; Young Americans; Panic in Detroit; Suffergette City and
Fame
Encore: Heroes; The
Jean Genie; Pretty Pink Rose; Modern Love and Rock ‘n Roll
Suicide
Jean Genie; Pretty Pink Rose; Modern Love and Rock ‘n Roll
Suicide
Memories:
- as a confirmed
Bowie addict, this was like the penultimate concert as he played all the
greatest hit songs. - I think this was also one of the first
times they employed the SkyTent at SkyDome and I remember there was many
problems with folks finding their correct seats. The sound was just so-so
bordering on iffy, I remember. - I attended this
concert with LA, Karen and Elaine. LA and I were hell bent on getting better
seats and we managed to sweet talk our way past ushers and security onto the
main floor just to the left of the stage. In the end, we managed to inch our way
up to within, 30 metres of David. Sigh, he’s soooo handsome. You’ll remember David made my Top Ten Hotties List.
Number Three: Adam and the Ants – Massey Hall, Toronto (18 Feb
1982)
1982)
Attendance:
3,000
Line
Up:
Up:
Adam and the
Ants and some (now) forgotten punk rock opening act
Ants and some (now) forgotten punk rock opening act
Memories:
- Saw this
concert with my sister and my dear, dear friend, Spiderwoman Margot (oh, where
are you now Margot?). We all were totally in love with Adam Ant at the
time. - Sis, Margot
and I spent the entire concert standing on the arm rests of the chairs rocking
to the concert. - Adam
brought two sets of drummers on stage for this show and the sound was AMAZING,
great punk-like beats (hmmm, can we really call Adam Ant a punk
rocker?!).
Number Two:
Peter Gabriel – Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto (8 Nov 1982)
Peter Gabriel – Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto (8 Nov 1982)
Attendance: 15,000
Song
list:
list:
Rhythm of the Heat;
I Have the Touch; Not One of Us; The Family and the Fishing Net; Shock The
Monkey; Family Snapshot; Intruder; Games Without Frontiers; Humdrum; Lay Your
Hands On Me; Solsbury Hill; I Don’t Remember; San Jacinto; On the Air; Biko;
Here Comes the Flood
I Have the Touch; Not One of Us; The Family and the Fishing Net; Shock The
Monkey; Family Snapshot; Intruder; Games Without Frontiers; Humdrum; Lay Your
Hands On Me; Solsbury Hill; I Don’t Remember; San Jacinto; On the Air; Biko;
Here Comes the Flood
Memories:
- This concert was
hands-down the most theatrical production I’ve ever witnessed. Brilliant staging
and lighting effects that would be on par with anything you’d see, even today.
But, of course, Peter Gabriel has always been ahead of his
time. - The opening set,
Rhythm of the Heat, was THE MOST OUTSTANDING opening set of any band I’ve ever
seen. Bravo Peter. - I should balance
the praise for this concert by mentioning I was quite high the entire time.
There was definitely something in the air that night.
Eek!
Number One: The Police Picnic
– (the Old) Exhibition Stadium, Toronto (13 August
1982)
– (the Old) Exhibition Stadium, Toronto (13 August
1982)
Attendance:
45,000
Line-up:
-
The
Spoons - A Flock Of
Seagulls - Joan Jett & The
Blackhearts - The English
Beat - The Talking
Heads - The
Police
Memories:
- Hands-down the best concert I’ve ever attended on
several levels. - The line-up was hot: save Joan Jett (who, when you
think of it, doesn’t really fit with the other bands). She came on stage,
started singing “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” but was literally booed off the stage.
Quite embarrassing really for us (as the audience), for her, and for the
promoters. - The English Beat and especially, The Talking Heads, stole
this show. I think to this day, the Talking Heads set was the best gig I’ve ever
seenn of any band, anywhere, at any
time. - Attended
with Spiderwoman Margot, Hymers (a girl and brilliant, brilliant
artist), Dr. Barry, and Scotty P. While A Flock of Seagulls was performing, we
ended having to do AR and CPR on some guy who whacked out (probably because of
drugs/booze). He collapsed on the stairs right by us and – as trained lifeguards
– off we went to do our thing. The EMS team arrived very quickly and carted him
off but I’m sure he was toast. I will forever remember his eyes. They were very
deadlike. Yuck!
There you go … .Brent’s Top Five. Hmmmm, sure looks
like 1982 was a GREAT year for concerts eh?! Now, I wonder how Madonna will line up with these? … answer in Los Angeles in three weeks time!
Thursday’s dinner: Day 4 of Gourmet Week – Cumin Grilled Shrimp with 3-Citrus Aioli
like 1982 was a GREAT year for concerts eh?! Now, I wonder how Madonna will line up with these? … answer in Los Angeles in three weeks time!
Thursday’s dinner: Day 4 of Gourmet Week – Cumin Grilled Shrimp with 3-Citrus Aioli
AppsScraps 
I was at SARSstock too! We ate ribs, baked in the heat and P managed to find his bf among half a million people. AC/DC rocked!!! Great fun!
DB is also my all time favourite rock god hero! I am truly and unequivocably in awe of the man. I saw him at Serious Moonlight and Sound&Vision (Ex Grandstand and then also at Skytent). The sound at Skytent is dreadful. You will absolutely hate me to know that I was at the very front and leaning on the stage when he played at Moby’s Area TWO festival. I was staring up his nostrils. hehehe. That qualifies as my ultimate rock concert experience. After that, I dont think I can attend another Bowie show unless I am within 20 rows of him.
thanks for the comment and nice page btw.
hi brent, thanks for dropping by my blog.i didnt have much of a chance to go to concerts in vancouver. the ones i loved i saw in hong kong.it’s exciting to have learned that there’s a lot of film festivals, cultural events and themed activities in toronto all year round.now that i’m in toronto for the summer i’m hoping to enjoy them to the fullest.after i’m more settled (have my own place in a week) i’d like to hear from you the dos and donts in torontothat shall make my stay more rewarding and fun-filled!by the way, the shrimps look SOOO yummy. i love seafood!
the last concert i saw (i say that as if i’ve gone to so many of them… hahaha) was the red hot chili peppers… and they were awesome! and what’s better, it was a free concert in vegas!
i LOVE the police! ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
ryc: eek! naughty.
RYC: Pride cometh before the fall. Boy that has been around for sometime and we get better at being proud all the time. May be I am getting cynical.
I really haven’t been to many concerts before. Two that I really liked was Faye Wong in Sydney and Christina Aguilera in Melbourne.
I didn’t get too many chances to go for a concert. I mostly watch them through DVDs! As for Madonna, you will be at least assured her dancers are very visually appealing :P
Gourmet Week – interesting and fun idea!