Nada Surf opening for death cab for cutie in New Orleans...November 2003...

Who would've thought that Nada Surf's boring albums would make for boring concerts?

Evan Dando, can't remember when now prob 2004 or something at Hi Fi in Melboune. He was under the influence of something when he'd spent the whole tour promoting his new 'clean' life-style in interviews. It was a load of crap, a waste of money, and has forever tainted his music for me b/c it now reminds me of what a complete d*** he was.

Also Cat Power in Melbourne b/c even though what she did perform was great she cut it short b/c of two mindless twits talking loudly throughout the whole concert.

She should've told them to shut the hell up or she'd kick their asses. She's scary, I bit she could.

The worst show i've ever seen was The Gigantour a few years ago at the outdoor venue here in Albuquerque called the Journal Pavillion. I missed the Dillinger Escape Plan because they went on at 12:30 and I didn't get off work until 1:00. Fear Factory was alright I guess because I got to see people moshing on a steep hill, then they would trip and roll down the hill. Dream Theatre was the most boring band I have ever seen, and Megadeth sounded like metal coming apart. To top it off, my friends car died after the show and we had to call a tow truck. So all and all pretty damn terrible.

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Originally posted by IG Farben:
To top it off, my friends car died after the show and we had to call a tow truck. So all and all pretty damn terrible.

My friends and I parked downtown before going to a Wu-Tang show and wound up getting so messed up that we wandered downtown for 3 hours trying to find our cars. In the end we talked to a cop and he called it out over their walkie-talkie system thingy (CB?) and took us to our car. He didn't say anything about how innebriated we were.

(The wu-tang show was amazing it was just the experience afterwards that makes it rough)

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Originally posted by beeswax49:
Nada Surf opening for death cab for cutie in New Orleans...November 2003...

Who would've thought that Nada Surf's boring albums would make for boring concerts?

I realize this discussion has been dead for quite a while but I had to get this in:
beeswax you can't see it but right now I'm giving you the finger.

On a more serious note though: I've seen both bands, death cab once and Nada Surf twice (all within like a 6 month span). Granted I saw them in 06 and you saw them in 03, so you didn't hear any of Nada Surf's latest album which was much more poppy and upbeat. I can understand how Death cab might have upstaged Nada Surf, especially in 03.

However, Nada Surf concerts have changed my life (only slight exaggeration). I'm not the type that would normally listen to their albums a lot, I think they are good but not exceptional. However both times I saw them, they played their songs with amazing fidelity and intensity (especially during the "slow" songs). The first concert I saw of theirs was a sold out show at a very small venue. They played practically their entire catalog (except for stuff off their first album where they basically ripped off weezer) and their performance alone lasted over 2 hours. However, hardly anyone left due to how much energy that they instilled in the crowd.

The second show happened at the same venue a few months later in front of a much smaller crowd. They wanted to play through their songs chronologically so it was nice to hear their earlier stuff, especially some of my favorites of theirs from The Proximity Effect. What made the show memorable though was that about halfway through their more melodic ballads from Let Go a few drunken audience members started carrying on a loud conversation. Being that it was a small venue and in the midst of quiet songs, they easily stood out.

Rather than stopping or changing to more up-tempo songs, the lead singer Matt Caws slowed the song down even more and continued to lower his voice, all the while staring down the hecklers. This almost instantly hushed the entire crowd into a warm lull and the embarrassed drunks stopped their chatting. From there they transitioned into a song that made virtually everyone in the audience impulsively sway along with the melody.

Finally they let loose with songs from their latest album, The Weight Is A Gift. The build up was incredible and these songs were vivid. Everyone in the audience was singing along with "Always Love". For the closing song they chose "Blankest Year", which has a simple but catchy chorus line ending with "Oh fuck it, I'm gonna have a party". It's not elegant or enlightening, but they are an unpretentious pop band and it fits the song perfectly. I think they played the last chorus of that song about twelve times, each time with the audience enthusiastically (therapeutically) yelling out the refrain.

I don't think everyone would have the same reaction to a Nada Surf concert. However, nearly everyone can relate to seeing a concert with a band that played with immense passion and left them with an overwhelming and lingering feeling of joy and happiness. So I'm sorry if I take it personally, but that's how I've experienced Nada Surf concerts. The least I can do is repay them with some positive testimony. I can't say the same about Death Cab, though I like them as a band more so than Nada Surf.

I'm sure Nada Surf has put on some poor shows - what great band hasn't. But if they made your worst show list then you are one lucky concert goer.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: La La Love Pixies,

Worst ever show:

Juice Newton & Valdi at the Cornwall Civic Complex in Canada.

Ponytail, straight out of the Baltimore music scene (probably the weirdest scene out there right now), opened for Battles and proceded to play the worst show I have ever seen.

First they were having technical difficulties (had to borrow gear from Dave Konopka from Battles) and instead of making due with the new gear, they postponed their set for 30 minutes trying to get their bassists broken amp working. To make matters worse their drummer was a complete jerk, and was screaming at the bassist for all of the crowd to hear.

The lead singer had zero talent and was off beat in how she stomp-danced to the music. She yelped and gasped - not screamed, not sang - but yelped and gasped the entire show. It did not fit the music, and she was incredibly irritating.

Oh, the bassist was worse with vocals. He added some chirping over one of their more ambient songs (which initially wasn't terrible).

Thank god Battles was amazing, or I would have asked for my money back.

Your nuts. I don't care about your conditions, you should always be excited to be at a Flaming Lips concert.

Worst show I saw last year was Blonde Redhead. I can't believe it took me this long to post about it and I'm still pissed off. I saw them when they toured for their first album way back in the mid-90s and they were a force to be reckoned with, a great live band. I saw them last year and they were sloppy as hell, most of the vocals were pre-recorded, the set was extremely short (just over 30 minutes) and they complained endlessly about the "low turnout" even though the venue was nearly full. I was a pretty big fan, but that kind of bullshit attitude makes me never want to listen to them again.

Worst show I've ever seen and was really looking forward to was Neil Young and Social Distortion circa 1990 in San Diego. I grew up on Neil Young, and Social D's self-titled album was probably my favorite album at that time. It was a crappy arena show, but we had pretty good seats. Middle section, center stage. I swear, they didn't even turn off all the lights for Social Distortion. The place was maybe a quarter full, and most of the Baby Boomers couldn't have cared less about the opener. You could barely hear their set and it was over in a flash. Neil Young came out and it was LOUD as hell. Unfortunately, he only played like 5 songs, each of which was about 37 minutes long. Yawn. Unfortunately, I've never had the chance to see either of these acts again. I'm sure this was an anomaly.

On a slightly different note. I saw the Essex Green in 2000 at the Kindercore Records showcase at SXSW. It was horrible. They admitted that it was the first show on their tour and you could tell. They took about five minutes between songs to tune and choose (!) their instruments. If any of you have been to SXSW, you know you only get 30 minutes for a set during those showcases if you're not the last act on the bill. At one point the people in the back in charge of keeping things rolling held up three fingers-- ostensibly signifying three minutes to go. Chris Ziter saw the guy and thought he meant three more songs and that's what exactly what they did. Ridiculous. The good news is I saw them a few months later in Chattanooga, after they had been touring nonstop, and they were flat out amazing.

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Worst show I've ever seen and was really looking forward to was Neil Young and Social Distortion circa 1990 in San Diego

Wow, I'm very surprised to hear that either of those acts could disappoint, let alone both on the same night. Especially Neil Young - the guy had been playing for 25 years at that point! 1990 was during a strong era for Neil, too. Sorry to hear that it was so bad, MJ.

I'm pretty sure it was the tail end of a long tour. Sonic Youth opened (in support of Goo) for the first half. In their book Confusion is Next SY lamented taking part. Neil Young's stage crew apparently did not want any chance of being shown up by the opening act, so they insisted that they (and I'm guessing Social Distortion too) could only use half of the amplification Young's band would use. Silly.

I was most definately disappointed at Atreyu when I saw them.
And Trivium I thought would be much much louder, but Lamb of God completely stomped them right afterwards.
But nonetheless, don't go see Atreyu live.

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Originally posted by TheDevilWearsPrada:
But nonetheless, don't go see Atreyu live.

that seems to be good advice regardless of how they sound live

Ian Brown open for the manics he was booed off stage

most of the bands that I have gone to see have been good never been to a really bad show though kind of pissed off that Kings of Leon only played for 1hr and maybe 15 mins...

I went to see Weezer and the Strokes in Nashville. About a week before the Strokes canceled because the drummer broke his hand. Bummed out but going anyway, Weezer went on to play a show just going through the motions. It was very disappointing.

I also went to Woodstock'99. I shouldn't have to say much about that.

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Originally posted by mymindsblank:
I went to see Weezer and the Strokes in Nashville. About a week before the Strokes canceled because the drummer broke his hand. Bummed out but going anyway, Weezer went on to play a show just going through the motions. It was very disappointing.

I also went to Woodstock'99. I shouldn't have to say much about that.

that is unfortunate. the strokes were a ton of fun when i saw them live 2 years ago.

I wasn't impressed with the walkman show i saw, the white rabbits (opening act) easily stole the show in my opinion. However, in defense of the walkman, I think they were having some sound trouble.

Oh yeah, i happened to walk by a free "T-Pain" concert that was being put on for free. He should be ashamed, he wasnt even a robot...

coulda sworn he was gonna be a robot

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Originally posted by tsnydermtg:
Oh yeah, i happened to walk by a free "T-Pain" concert that was being put on for free. He should be ashamed, he wasnt even a robot...

coulda sworn he was gonna be a robot

We need an MC quote section... and this should def be in it.