That Was Rather Epic

Last night I saw the quintessential Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. This was the seventh time I have seen them. They always put on a great show but this concert something amazing. Gord Downey didn't pay the guitar very much which, for most fans of the band feel, makes him much more entertaining.

I have been to many rock shows over the years and seen most of the biggest bands in the world. Last nights amazing experience had me thinking about what were the best rock show experiences I have ever had. These are not necessarily the best shows but the best moments that stand out from the rest.

Here are my Top 10 Rock Show Moments:

10. The encore of Nashville Pussy at the Zoo in Winnipeg. They were joined on stage by the opening act Priestess and rocked the AC/DC classic 'You Shook Me All Night Long' to a level you wouldn't believe.

9. U2 in the Winnipeg Stadium in June of 1997. I had bad seats a long way from the stage but watched Bono, not on the big screen but looking directly at him mesmerized for the entire, over the top, show.

8. Airbourne at the Garrick Centre in Winnipeg August of 2008. I saw a great show by them a few months before but this venue was a bit bigger and right before the last song of the main set the lead singer shouted to the crowd, "If you have some weed you better smoke it, if you have a beer you better drink it, and if you have a girl you better fuck her in the bathroom, cuz this is 'Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast!"

7. Motorhead at the Burton Cummings theatre in Winnipeg in Jun of 2000. After the godfathers of rock and the inspiration to nearly every hard rock and metal band had played about 4 really loud songs, Lemmy said, "Do you want it louder? we can fucken turn it up you know!" and they did.

6. KISS at the Winnipeg Arena during the Flood of 97. Glam rock gods at their best during a rather stressful and uncertain times. Paul Stanley acknowledged the flood situation and they were definitely the hottest band in the world that night.

5. Aerosmith with Lenny Kravitz in the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. On the anniversary of John Lennon's death Kravitz put on a great show before the crowd did the wave between acts and Aerosmith opened their show with 'Helter Skelter.' There was also a moment of silence for Lennon. An occurrence you would never have would expected at a rock show but it was honoured and made sense.

4. AC/DC in Fargo ND January 2009. A road trip to a different country to see one of the few big bands I had never seen. 8 people staying in 2 rooms in a dive hotel, an epic cab ride to the Fargodome, and a concert that will blow your mind. There are few experiences of any kind that would top that.

3. The Tragically Hip last night at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. I have seen them 7 times now. I have been closer, the shows have been bigger but last night, Gord Downey and his band mates were more entertaining than I have seen from them ever. They even spoke about the time they were fired from their first gig in Winnipeg. I used to work with a guy who was at that fateful night at the Diamond Club, a long time ago.

2. Foo Fighters in the MTS Centre March 2007. I had seen them before and it was great but this show was special. They played a long time. Dave Grohl was engaging and fun. While on the general admission floor my buddy Dave turned to me and said, "Brent we are going to the front, this is why you work out all the time!"

1. AC/DC in Winnipeg August 2009. Seeing them for the second time on the same tour was amazing. Better seats, perfect weather and the band brought it. I was seated right near the centre of the field and could look around at all the people at the show. I also ran into Kris Fingas who I went to grade school with and had not seen for a very long time.

So that's my list. There were shows that the show was great but didn't have the extra to make it really stand out and besides it is hard to pick when you have seen so much. There live music experience is about a shared experience, it can pick up you spirits and move you. It will leave memories that will be cherished for a long time and stories you will tell your grandchildren.