What was the best sounding live concert you attended?

force3005 said:
Supertramp in Milwaukee, WI early 80's. With all original members.
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Same here, but in Toronto in the late 1990's or early 2000's. Missing one member, if I recall correctly. Great sound, and everything else, all around.
 
cbphoto said:
Which concert sounded best to you, with clear tones and no mud or excessive reverb?

For almost ten years I went to concerts at the San Diego Sports Arena. Around 1980 I saw The Moody Blues there and a few times I could not decipher what song they were playing. It was just a cacophony of noise and I was sorely disappointed 'cuz they were one of my favorite bands back then.

Then c.1983 I saw Santana at the San Diego State University outdoor amphitheater. What a shock! I could easily hear marimbas, the ping of a cymbal and nuances that I'd never heard at the S.D. Arena. There was no muddiness, no garbled singing.

A few years later I moved to Detroit and see Genesis at Cobo Hall, another indoor arena. Chester Thompson drummed (very impressive!) but the sound was garbage. A few months later I see Pat Metheny at the Meadow Brook Amphitheater, an outdoor venue, and was blown away at how good the sound was. Paul Wertico's ride cymbal work was perfectly clear, the upright bass was clear and without mud. It was a real pleasure and I rank it as the best concert I've heard.

A close second was seeing Alison Krauss & Union Station in Foellinger Grat Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Being an acoustic group, they used no amplification and they balanced their sound without any FOH tech. She grew up in that town and gave a very special concert. I rank it as the best sounding indoor concert I've ever heard.
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Back in the 90s all the concerts I went to sounded great, only Slayer was way too loud, they had two huge bass speakers at the front, the biggest I've ever seen. Now most large concerts are using line arrays which are tuned to the venue and sound great from any angle.

 
I have two that come to mind...
As far as stadiums, I saw Pink Floyd in 1994 at the Alamodome. Outstanding sound, as expected. That was my first stadium concert where I was blown away at how perfectly balanced everything was.

Best smaller venue show...I recently saw Clutch and Rival Sons play at a new small arena in town. Both were great, not overpowering at all.

I have to say Rival Sons had a better overall balance of sound though. Not sure how they manage such a full sound without blaring anyone's eardrums. I noticed they did use additional room mics on stage not dedicated to any amp...perhaps that was part of the equation. I was in the front row and it sounded amazing. Vocals were crisp and clear, as well as Miley's ghost notes. Highly recommend them!!
 
Iron Maiden Paris Bercy. 2003. Awesome.
 
Just came home from seeing Pearl Jam on the Gold Coast in Australia. The sound for the band and their instruments were very good to excellent. House PA handled it all reasonably well.
Matt Cameron's drums kit sounded just perfect.

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Jackson Browne with Phoebe Snow opening. Think it was in Bingington, NY sometime in the 70's. Mind effing good. I stood rhigh behind the sound board and got the best sound of anyone there.
 
Chicago-!973 Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham, Alabama
Elton John-!976?? Memorial Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Little Feat- 1985?? Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Steely Dan- 2010?? Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
 
I saw Tycho a few months ago in Vancouver, and I couldn't believe how good the sound was. The drums didn't have badges, were miced with what looked like sort of boutique-ey vintage looking mics and just sounded fantastic. I wondered if they were triggered or if he was playing along to a track to augment the drum sounds, but whatever they were doing worked.
 
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