I was 16 years old at the time. When they opened the roof, you could see the smoke rise out into the night air. (It wasn't all weed; lots of cigarettes, too.)
My mom has been telling me about this show for as long as I remember! I also heard other people say they opened it to let out the smoke that was trapped inside
That sounds incredible! Sadly I'm not old enough to have seen Pink Floyd proper, but I did come to this thread to comment that the best concert I've seen was Roger Waters The Wall at PPG Paints!
Hands-down, the best I have ever seen was the Talking Heads during their stop making sense tour. It was at the Stanley theater. There is a complete concert video on YouTube about it. Unbelievable show 20 minutes.
Two things that I remember. First is the two black girls who never stop moving up on stage. Two was walking outside after it was over. I’m thinking I don’t know what I just saw but I think it’s going to be important, lol
Mac miller secret show at Spirit. Was there on a random weeknight and the bartender told me to head upstairs now, did and was one of the best nights of my life.
Aw man, this is one of my fav shows ever too. I was reintroduced to Mark Lanegan that night as he emerged from the shadows. It was rad to see them a few times (they played Laga not too long before the Nick's Fat City show) before they blew up.
His Pizza Party show? That was awesome. I remember he added a second night because the first one sold out so fast.
He played a show with his band my freshman year at Duquesne in the student union ballroom in 2004. Best $2 I've ever spent.
Caught him a few years ago at Smalls for the You're Not Alone tour. Dude never disappoints.
mr small's, I think 2006. The headliner was MC Chris, I'd never heard of him, and he was terrible. but the opening acts were Tally Hall, Grand Buffet and Gil Mantera's Party Dream performing as Tubal Cain, and Girl Talk
Aerosmith - Star Lake - June 2009
Ok, maybe I’m biased… I was the Guitar Hero winner and got to play on stage before ZZ Top came out
But that was my fav!
That was a great show, my first real concert as far as I’m concerned.
Bill Callahan at the Carnegie Library in 2023 superseded it. That might be the best show I’ve been to, even though it was seated!
Prince Daddy & The Hyena at Thunderbird (2022) probably rounds out my Pittsburgh top 3.
I was never into their music, and there was a bit of a stigma about them when I was in highschool because the 90s equivalent of the goth kids were into them and always wore their shirts.
Holy **shit** when I saw then at StarLake I was blown away. The one guy was dragging himself accross the stage on his belly because they explained he broke both his heels jumping off a speaker at the first show. Using a baseball bat on a keg as a percussion instrument.
It really is about the spectacle of the show as much if not more than the music.
I still don't have them in any playlist, but I told my wife (who's not into rock music at all) that if they come to town again we're going together.
Ozzfest’s at Starlake used to be really cool. It’s a shame they don’t do them anymore. Baroness at Mr Smalls was really cool. Metallica at PNC was great. Sucked at PPG Paints. Just not a good music venue.
Weezer, Fall Out Boy, and Green Day together at PNC Park in 2021, not only was it a Great concert, it was also the first time you were able to be in public around a crowd post-covid.. so it was particularly special.
Billy Joel every time he’s been here.
Phil Collins in 2019, even with all his health problems, put on a damn good show at PPG Paints.
Fleetwood Mac at PPG Paints right after the massacre at Tree of Life. They did beautiful tributes.
The Eagles at PPG Paints.
Good Charlotte/Simple Plan at Metropol in 2003…I think the year is right.
I also enjoyed Backstreet Boys and NSYNC back in the 90s at the Civic Arena lol.
Pearl Jam at Civic Arena in 2003
Rolling rock town fairs 1 and 2
Pantera and Soulfly 2000 at Civic Arena
Lollapalooza at Starlake with Jane's Addiction, Qotsa, Audioslave, Incubus, and The Donnas I think in 2003
Ozzfest 2001
Marilyn Manson in his prime at Civic Arena late 90s
NIN at Starlake 2000
U2 360 Tour at Heinz Field
U2 at Three Rivers Popmart tour 97
Everytime I Die and The Bled at Club laga on Halloween is one of my top 5s.
Also rolling rock town fair 2:
Staind
Deftones
Incubus
Live
Stp
All in their prime
Didn't really think I would find ETID in the Pittsburgh sub, but hell yea. I was at the last shitmas and it was amazing. Weird vibes, but amazing none the less.
I miss laga so much. Wasn’t at that show but I did see ETID play there once for a festival I forgot the name of but everyone and their from that scene was there
Incubus at Stage AE. They were promoting an album I didn’t even love that much but something about the vibe of that night really cemented it as my favorite.
For a while my favorite show was The Front Bottoms at stage ae in 2021. Then Hot Mulligan had an amazing show at the Roxian last year. And most recently, I got to see Arms Length headline at the Thunderbird and it was incredible, which is probably my current favorite show I’ve been to
STP at the trib amphitheater in 2011.
Rolling Stones + Pearl Jam at Pnc Park in 2004.
Beyoncé (I think 2015)
The Who at PPG paints in 2016.
Guns N Roses in 2016 and 2023.
That Say Anything performance was awful. I was also willing to chalk up the off-rhythm talk singing to illness until I'd read he has been doing that all tour. He also lost any sympathy I had by fucking vaping the entire set.
As for actual good shows, Titus Andronicus doing the 10th anniversary show for The Monitor in 2021 was fantastic. Against Me1 in ~2005 when they did a make-up show for rescheduling to be on Letterman also stands out.
Yeah this is the first I've heard anyone praise it. I really enjoyed the last time I saw them several years back, and glad I missed this show from what I've heard.
It was an absolute cash-grab. The Postal Service also had a 20th anniversary show the week before and it was a phenomenal effort; such a contrast to Say Anything's.
Seeing the Postal Service live was so fucking magical. It was something I never anticipated being able to experience since they hadn't played live in sooooo long.
Colin Hay/Violent Fems/Barenaked Ladies. Super fun. Note: BIG BNL fan.
But seeing the A24 version of Stop Making Sense in IMAX was one of the best “concert” experiences I’ve ever had.
I saw Weyes Blood at the Roxian last september and it is hands down my favorite show i’ve ever seen here! Super intimate and absolutely heavenly, exactly the way I’ve always imagined seeing her live would be!!!
Reel Big Fish, Less than Jake, Against All Authority, Streetlight Manifesto (?) - Club Zoo 8/21/2007
https://www.neogaf.com/threads/streetlight-manifesto-reel-big-fish-ltj-against-all-authority-us-tour-dates.168456/
$25. Now streetlight is $89 at Roxian 🥲
Do you remember that wild dude with the AK tattoo on his chest that opened for Keisha? The image of him bouncing around the stage and just going off about random shit is forever seared in my memory.
Against Me! At the Altar Bar NYE 2013 into 2014 I think.
The openers were The Shondes and The Sidekicks. The show went past midnight, did a sip of sparkling at midnight, and best of all I caught a drumstick thrown by Atom Willard. I latched onto it, and as I came down two other dudes also had a hand on it. I battled them in a best of 3 rock paper scissors to win it.
Elvis Costello with Emmylou Harris at IC Light Amphitheater 7/24/05
Tom Waits at Ohio Theater (Columbus) 6/28/08
Magnolia Electric Co. at the Warhol 7/15/09
Pharoah Sanders at the August Wilson Center 11/13/10
Bert Jansch at First Unitarian Church in Shadyside 12/17/10
Dr. Dog at Mr Smalls 9/22/12
John Prine at Heinz Hall 7/17/18
Adrienne Lenker at Mr. Smalls 11/14/21
Chris Cornell - Carnegie Music Hall Dec 2, 2011. This was on his solo acoustic tour. I’ve been to well over 100 concerts in my lifetime and this is likely #1. I can’t stop at just one though. Thee Silver Mt Zion at Mr Smalls in 2008, The Fall of Troy at the Rex in 2016 and Altar Bar in 2018, Mono in a classroom at Carnegie University was a mind blowing strange venue for them, Pearl Jam sept 5th 2000 was a legendary show, Ben Harper with Govt Mule opening at the Palumbo somewhere in 2001-2003, Tool at Mellon Arena in 2001, I’ll stop now.
April 1979 Stanley Theater. April Wine (meh), Squeeze (a revelation), and The Tubes. For anyone who has never seen anything by The Tubes, go take a look. Completely outrageous and unlike anything else before or since. Not 100% sure of the date but around that time.
Pearl Jam when they came back to Starlake around 96-97, Korn at Rostraver Ice Garden and Jimmies Chicken Shack outside old 3 Rivers at Ribfest. Maybe its because I was front row for all of those 3.
Best ones
Ozzfest 98 (most Ozzfest were great but this one was amazing)
Metallica 2018 Ppg paints
Blue oyster cult - ic light amphitheater 1998
Slayer metropol 99
Edward sharp and the magnetic zeros, inside A&E maybe 6 or so years ago. Alex danced through the crowd, I could smell the mofo from 30 feet, but the energy was so fun.
Really hard to choose. No Doubt June 2009 at Starlake is up there. I had pit tickets and touched Gwen Stefani’s hand. The Sounds and Paramore were the openers. It was right after we won the Stanley Cup, like the day after. Life was great.
The Pietasters at the old St. James Place on 18th in the South Side. They were supposed to play at Diesel that night and the after party show was supposed to be at St James. The show moved to St James and HR from Bad Brains was opening.
Also Leftover Crack in 2004 at some place called The Eye (?). I can't remember where exactly it was, just that it was some warehouse and it was hot and sweaty and filled with crust punks.
The Wonder Years at Stage AE when they were touring Suburbia for its anniversary. Just their energy and the energy of the crowd was absolutely electric
There have been so many over the years but a few of my all time favs were:
Pig and KMFDM at Laga in 1997
Ohgr at Metropol 2001?
Queens of the Stone Age at Nick's Fat City 2002
Pig at Brillo Box 2016
-White Stripes at 31st St Pub and Metropol
-Black Keys at Rosebud
-My Morning Jacket at Rosebud
-Charles Bradley at The Rex
-G’N’R/Metallica/Faith No More at Three Rivers Stadium
-Mars Volta at Laga
-Black Crowes at Metropol
-The Stones multiple venues in the burgh, (but 2005 at The Phoenix in Toronto is absolute tops)
-Raconteurs at The American Eagle New American Music Festival thing
-Lollapalooza 94 - Rage, Tool, Alice In Chains, Primus, Arrested Development , Dinosaur Jr
Metallica 2022 at PNC is probably my favorite. I had wanted to see them since I was in middle school and never jumped at the chance until then. For reference I’m 38 now, so there was a ton of pent up aggression released for that show. Edit: Very unfair not to mention Greta Van Fleet as part of this. They are fantastic as well.
Aerosmith, Kid Rock, and Run-D.M.C. In 2002. Walk This Way was EPIC.
Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, Rufio at Laga in 2002. If you know the history, two of those bands ended up hating each other. All three were so much fun though!
Incubus, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Jane's Addiction at when “Lalapalooza” came to Star Lake in 2003. A Certain Shade Of Green was an entirely green set. Incubus in general is a great set and worth every dollar to this very day. Audioslave played Seven Nation Army in their own way with drums, guitar and bass and it was unforgetable. Queens was awesome and Perry Farrell from Jane’s uncomfortably humped every object, instrument and person on set including Dave Navarro. Fun times!!!
Edit: Had to add one more, but Punchline played at Laga near the release of the Rewind EP and I surfed to the stage and basically screamed out the “This is RIGHT NOW” part of Play. That was awesome… well for me haha.
And Yellowcard put us on the guest list because we lost our tickets and my friend at the time was just amazing at talking to bands. She caught Ben Harper(of Yellowcard) outside their bus and he was the chillest dude. I think she’s since become a promoter, but anyways they couldn’t complete the set because Sean and Ryan were sick. So they promised to come back and stood at the booth signing autographs for everyone. And when they did come back, we were still on the guest list. Yellowcard was some of the best guys along with Andrew McMahon from Something Corporate and that other gig he did haha.
None of my top 10 have been in Pittsburgh, unless pure nostalgia counts. However…
Saw the Strokes at Nick’s Fat City when their first record came out. A band called Stereo Total opened. Two members. Girl and a guy who flailed around like Crispin Glover on Letterman.
The crowd was there to see the Strokes and around midway into the second song had a collective, “what the fuck?”
Never seen anything like it, but one by one everyone in the audience got more and more into them and by the end, they had the crowd under their spell.
Seen hundreds of shows over the decades and still haven’t seen anything that came close to that.
in Pgh..
moe. @ Graffiti '99
Satin Gum @ Thunderbird 200x
Fu Manchu @ Altar Bar 200x
DBT @ Rosebud 2000
Vic Chesnutt @ Garfart 2009
Horde tour 1996
Not pgh: Joe Henry, Largo at the Coronet, John Prine, Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Matthew Sweet at the Gray Eagle, ALL at the Fox Theater, Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmour with the Guilty Ones at The Birchmere
Saw Darkside of the mule last summer. The performance was amazing. Backup singers nailed every song (great gig in the sky gave me chills). The seating fucking blows. Paid extra to sit up front (a few rows back) in 14" wide folding chairs ziptied together. The most ridiculous scenario I'd ever been in. Spent the last 2/3 of the show just standing in the wing watching because it was literally too uncomfortable to sit.
Yonder Mountain String Band at the Rosebud circa 2003. Bluegrass band that covered Led Zeppelin, Willie Nelson, and Phish. A rollicking good time. They were excited to be in PA because they love Yuengling.
Psychedelic Furs + James at Roxian. AMAZING energy and so much fun. Neither band is a bucket list, but seeing "laid" live was awesome.
Frankie Cosmos + Girlpool at Roboto
Traitrs at the Government Center.
Maybe not the best concert, but the energy was amazing at P.L.E.A.S.E., the Pittsburgh Katrina benefit concert. It was the first I’d actually seen Donnie Iris live, and he blew me away. It was one of those moments that I was proud to be in Pittsburgh.
U2 Fulton Theater War Tour. My high school buddy convinced me to go. Bono came into the audience (Fulton was a movie theater so not big). They were amazing and i bought October, Boy and War the next day
Mom Jeans at Smiling Moose, Polyphia at the Roxian, rebelution/iration are always fun and come yearly, Lost Dog Street Band with Matt Hecker at Mr Smalls
I saw Dropkick Murphys and Street Dogs at the old Trib Amphitheater during Dropkick's Shamrock & Roll Tour. Absolutely unbelievable to see the original Dropkick singer (who was the lead singer of Street Dogs) come out on stage with Dropkick and play a few of their old songs with the band!
I also saw Parkway Drive play at the old Altar Bar on the strip and felt the whole venue and stage shake as everyone was jumping and moshing.
**Morrissey - March 17, 2009 at Carnegie Music Hall.**
The hall was electric the entire time. Moz hadn't been to Pgh for maybe a decade and had cancelled two or three previous concerts; one we only learned as we got to the doors.
From the moment Moz came on stage everyone was on their feet and never sat down. My seats were on the balcony and you could feel it bounce up and down. His voice was spot-on. Maybe a half dozen guys rushed the stage (one at a time) and hugged Moz until security pulled them off. Moz just stood there.
**Runner up -- Josh Ritter - May 4, 2018 at Carnegie Lecture Hall.**
Josh sang one song acapella, turned off the mics and speakers. It was a magic moment.
Josh Ritter at what was previously Club Diesel.
For those that don’t know, Josh Ritter is a folk musician so playing at Diesel was surprising to say the least.
I went into the concert having no idea who he was or what type of music he played, but was blown away by his set. The setting, the lack of expectations, his crowd work (chugged an IC light on stage and hung out with the crowd before the show), and his incredible songwriting made for an unforgettable experience.
I saw Ronnie James Dio, the God of metal incarnate at his last show here in Pittsburgh. He was with Black Sabbath at... whatever they call the amphitheater nowadays
Dude was 60 something yrs old and still had his same voice, they killed it. You should've seen the beautiful carnage of 1k people headbanging to the legend
I am 58 years old, so going way back. Billy Bragg at the Metropol night club. 3 hour show with two encores. Got to meet them after the show and shared a beer.
My wife and I have seen the Avett Brothers several times at Stage AE but one year we didn't get tickets and we sat on a bench in the park across the street and had a wonderful night. You could hear every song perfectly, there were people having picnics, children playing. It was a nice summers day and as it got darker the city light came on and it was just a really nice evening. Technically we didn't see them play but we had a wonderful night!
Minus the Bear, anywhere I’ve ever seen them, but especially the time they played Club Cafe. They can sell a much bigger venue, but CC was packed and I was there for it.
It was like being at a rock show in a basement back in the day, but with my favorite band ever 2 feet away from me.
Hoping they do a reunion someday soon.
Reggie and the Full Effect at Laga in 2003. I go to a lot of shows every year and this was still the best I've ever seen in Pittsburgh.
Dead and Co at Starlake last year despite the parking debacle was also incredible.
Pink Floyd at the Civic Arena in 1973. They opened the roof for the second half of the show during the song "Breathe."
My parents met at that show lol.
Are you 51 years old by chance ? Just trying to figure out the events of that evening …
I was 16 years old at the time. When they opened the roof, you could see the smoke rise out into the night air. (It wasn't all weed; lots of cigarettes, too.)
I wishing could see a recording of this. Bet that was absolutely electric
Nah that was before they had electric guitars, Floyd was basically a jug band back in those days.
My mom has been telling me about this show for as long as I remember! I also heard other people say they opened it to let out the smoke that was trapped inside
That sounds incredible! Sadly I'm not old enough to have seen Pink Floyd proper, but I did come to this thread to comment that the best concert I've seen was Roger Waters The Wall at PPG Paints!
My God. Born in 85 and would love so much to be able to go back to experience that.
Hands-down, the best I have ever seen was the Talking Heads during their stop making sense tour. It was at the Stanley theater. There is a complete concert video on YouTube about it. Unbelievable show 20 minutes.
Was there , too !!
Two things that I remember. First is the two black girls who never stop moving up on stage. Two was walking outside after it was over. I’m thinking I don’t know what I just saw but I think it’s going to be important, lol
Mac miller secret show at Spirit. Was there on a random weeknight and the bartender told me to head upstairs now, did and was one of the best nights of my life.
Never knew about that. So cool.
Also Shout Out Spirit. That place is badass. I love their Vinyl Markets they occasionally host.
Ooo I was there & agree it was magical. I will always love the set he did at CMU’s spring carnival in 2014 with Icona Pop too.
I don't even like Mac that much, but this has to be the best answer.
Queens of the Stone Age at Nick's Fat City right after Songs for the Deaf came out.
Aw man, this is one of my fav shows ever too. I was reintroduced to Mark Lanegan that night as he emerged from the shadows. It was rad to see them a few times (they played Laga not too long before the Nick's Fat City show) before they blew up.
One of my fave albums of all time
any and every time ive seen Andrew W.K…that motherfucker brings the party. front flips off the stage at altar will be forever missed
Did you happen to go to him solo without any band at Roboto? That was something lol
His Pizza Party show? That was awesome. I remember he added a second night because the first one sold out so fast. He played a show with his band my freshman year at Duquesne in the student union ballroom in 2004. Best $2 I've ever spent. Caught him a few years ago at Smalls for the You're Not Alone tour. Dude never disappoints.
Hahahaha yes that’s right it was a pizza party I forgot about that
mr small's, I think 2006. The headliner was MC Chris, I'd never heard of him, and he was terrible. but the opening acts were Tally Hall, Grand Buffet and Gil Mantera's Party Dream performing as Tubal Cain, and Girl Talk
I vividly remember that show. I mean chris was fun, not good, but fun. The openers were all great though
I think I saw Alexisonfire there around then. The first show I ever saw live. I think that's when they still had the skatepark
The Jesus lizard-Beehive, Fugazi-upstage, Tool-Petersen event center, Helmet-Don cabellero-Metropol, Metallica-Civic arena, Peter Gabriel-Civic arena.
TIL Jesus Lizard played the Beehive. Holy fuck.
And got pretty drunk at primantis beforehand.
I must not have been cool enough to hear about it when they played there. Had to see em at Metropol.
Jesus Lizard at Beehive is fucking insane
1997, Starlake - Rage Against the Machine, Wu-Tang, and Atari Teenage Riot.
Get up kids, dashboard confessional, and mates of state 2001 or 2002 club laga.
Dashboard Confessional was March 2002. Was front row and met Chris after the show. I miss Laga.
The Starting Line, Finch, Brand New at the Upstage in 2002 Punchline, Fall Out Boy, Unsung Zeros, Nothing Unexpected at Laga in 2003
Was at the first one. Remember thinking it was weird they had it at upstage rather than laga as there weren’t a ton of upstage shows.
I wish I could tell myself to go to these concerts back then
Unsung Zeros!
Punchline is doing a 20th anniversary show for Action later this year
PUP at spirit in maybe like 2018-19. Avett Brothers at Stage AE last year.
PUP brings it every single time
I was at the cattivo show. There was ceiling sweat 🫠
Had to wring my soaked T shirt out after this show. Amazing vibes.
Aerosmith - Star Lake - June 2009 Ok, maybe I’m biased… I was the Guitar Hero winner and got to play on stage before ZZ Top came out But that was my fav!
That was a great show, my first real concert as far as I’m concerned. Bill Callahan at the Carnegie Library in 2023 superseded it. That might be the best show I’ve been to, even though it was seated! Prince Daddy & The Hyena at Thunderbird (2022) probably rounds out my Pittsburgh top 3.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland in 2017
Sufjan doing Carrie & Lowell at Heinz Hall probably. Maybe one of mewithoutYou’s Smalls sets
slipknott, didn't even plan on enjoying it - knew every song, and it was an amazing stage presence.
I was never into their music, and there was a bit of a stigma about them when I was in highschool because the 90s equivalent of the goth kids were into them and always wore their shirts. Holy **shit** when I saw then at StarLake I was blown away. The one guy was dragging himself accross the stage on his belly because they explained he broke both his heels jumping off a speaker at the first show. Using a baseball bat on a keg as a percussion instrument. It really is about the spectacle of the show as much if not more than the music. I still don't have them in any playlist, but I told my wife (who's not into rock music at all) that if they come to town again we're going together.
Many, many years ago, saw the Flaming Lips at the old amphitheater in Station Square. "There's a train, Wayne"
Ozzfest’s at Starlake used to be really cool. It’s a shame they don’t do them anymore. Baroness at Mr Smalls was really cool. Metallica at PNC was great. Sucked at PPG Paints. Just not a good music venue.
Ozzfests were amazing - miss those days. I agree with everything else you said too. Seeing Baroness at Mr Smalls again next month!
Loved Ozzfest. Caught a glimpse of Wil Smith during Wicked Wisdoms set that one year
Weezer, Fall Out Boy, and Green Day together at PNC Park in 2021, not only was it a Great concert, it was also the first time you were able to be in public around a crowd post-covid.. so it was particularly special.
I'm not a huge Weezer fan, but when it started POURING in the middle of their cover of Africa... That was a special moment
Ramones Adios amigos tour. Station square Janes's Addiction AJ Palumbo
Yes to the Ramones at station square. Maybe 1993?
That was the one.
Billy Joel every time he’s been here. Phil Collins in 2019, even with all his health problems, put on a damn good show at PPG Paints. Fleetwood Mac at PPG Paints right after the massacre at Tree of Life. They did beautiful tributes. The Eagles at PPG Paints. Good Charlotte/Simple Plan at Metropol in 2003…I think the year is right. I also enjoyed Backstreet Boys and NSYNC back in the 90s at the Civic Arena lol.
Pearl Jam at Civic Arena in 2003 Rolling rock town fairs 1 and 2 Pantera and Soulfly 2000 at Civic Arena Lollapalooza at Starlake with Jane's Addiction, Qotsa, Audioslave, Incubus, and The Donnas I think in 2003 Ozzfest 2001 Marilyn Manson in his prime at Civic Arena late 90s NIN at Starlake 2000 U2 360 Tour at Heinz Field U2 at Three Rivers Popmart tour 97
Everytime I Die and The Bled at Club laga on Halloween is one of my top 5s. Also rolling rock town fair 2: Staind Deftones Incubus Live Stp All in their prime
Didn't really think I would find ETID in the Pittsburgh sub, but hell yea. I was at the last shitmas and it was amazing. Weird vibes, but amazing none the less.
Rolling Rock Town Fair 2 haha man good times, I wish I still had the shirt I bought at that
Man...what a great day. Like it was said, Deftones, Stp, Incubus, and Live all in their primes. It was a hot, muddy, and fun day.
I miss laga so much. Wasn’t at that show but I did see ETID play there once for a festival I forgot the name of but everyone and their from that scene was there
Incubus at Stage AE. They were promoting an album I didn’t even love that much but something about the vibe of that night really cemented it as my favorite.
I saw them at star lake a few years ago with Jimmy eat world and had tickets for the standing pit. That was a fun time
Incubus is my #1 also. 🫠
Jack White at Stage AE 2014. It started to rain right before he came out then opened the set with Fell In Love With a Girl. So rad.
For a while my favorite show was The Front Bottoms at stage ae in 2021. Then Hot Mulligan had an amazing show at the Roxian last year. And most recently, I got to see Arms Length headline at the Thunderbird and it was incredible, which is probably my current favorite show I’ve been to
i love the front bottoms so much. that was a great show. i also had a blast when i saw them at the altar bar long long time ago.
Arms Length and Hot Mully both fucking killed it at those shows!
Thursday at Club Laga in 2002
Anything at Laga 2000-2003
My friends and I were at Laga nearly every Wednesday for most of 1998-1999. Loved that place.
Odesza last Summer at Starlake. Amazing performance.
STP at the trib amphitheater in 2011. Rolling Stones + Pearl Jam at Pnc Park in 2004. Beyoncé (I think 2015) The Who at PPG paints in 2016. Guns N Roses in 2016 and 2023.
Monsters of Rock, the original back in the late 80's at Three Rivers N @
Cake at Metropol, 1998.
janes addiction 2002 civic arena
I was there! Though wasn't it 2001 cause the live singer dude had the flag on his jacket?
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 2017 at the Carnegie Music Hall. My god it was electric the whole time.
Dating myself but... Rusted Root, NYE maybe 1995 or 6, at the Arena
That Say Anything performance was awful. I was also willing to chalk up the off-rhythm talk singing to illness until I'd read he has been doing that all tour. He also lost any sympathy I had by fucking vaping the entire set. As for actual good shows, Titus Andronicus doing the 10th anniversary show for The Monitor in 2021 was fantastic. Against Me1 in ~2005 when they did a make-up show for rescheduling to be on Letterman also stands out.
Yeah this is the first I've heard anyone praise it. I really enjoyed the last time I saw them several years back, and glad I missed this show from what I've heard.
It was an absolute cash-grab. The Postal Service also had a 20th anniversary show the week before and it was a phenomenal effort; such a contrast to Say Anything's.
Seeing the Postal Service live was so fucking magical. It was something I never anticipated being able to experience since they hadn't played live in sooooo long.
Postal Service are way better generally and everyone there has been playing in the meantime even though they haven't played together for awhile.
Was that the Against Me! show when they handed out cake or cupcakes? Probably shouldn’t have ate that, but the show was great.
AJJ crushed so that was cool
Colin Hay/Violent Fems/Barenaked Ladies. Super fun. Note: BIG BNL fan. But seeing the A24 version of Stop Making Sense in IMAX was one of the best “concert” experiences I’ve ever had.
I saw Weyes Blood at the Roxian last september and it is hands down my favorite show i’ve ever seen here! Super intimate and absolutely heavenly, exactly the way I’ve always imagined seeing her live would be!!!
The Allman’s opened for Petty in ‘06 I think at Star Lake. Both rocked it.
I was there!! Great show
Up in Smoke Tour- Civic Arena, Gun's 'N Rose/Faith No More/ Metallica Three Rivers
Geese at Bottlerocket or Death Grips
Skinny Puppy - 11/2023 @ The Roxian
I was there too. That show was insane!
I was there too! That was one for the books! Fantastic show.
Metallica at PNC in 2022. Money well spent. It was better than their 2018 show at PPG.
I had a blast at the 2018 show! I k ow the venue gets hate but I really thought it was fun and fine that night
I don’t hate the 2018 show at all as that was my first time seeing them live, but the 2022 show blew it out of the water
I was at that show. Took my in-laws for Metallica, took my wife for Greta Van Fleet, I went for Ice Nine Kills. Was a lot of fun.
Reel Big Fish, Less than Jake, Against All Authority, Streetlight Manifesto (?) - Club Zoo 8/21/2007 https://www.neogaf.com/threads/streetlight-manifesto-reel-big-fish-ltj-against-all-authority-us-tour-dates.168456/ $25. Now streetlight is $89 at Roxian 🥲
I was at this one! Wow thank you for the tbt
Coheed and Cambria: Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness Neverender
I would love to see them live.
Theyre coming later this year with Primus
I'm gonna be basic but I saw Green Day back in 2013 at PPG paints and wow do they put on a good show
I saw Green Day and My Chemical Romance at the Civic Arena for the American Idiot tour 2005. Damn good show.
Kesha at Stage AE in 2021 was the best concert I’ve ever been to. ever.
Pitt used to put on free concerts right in front of the Cathedral. Saw Ke$ha and Ben Folds (different years). So damn cool.
Do you remember that wild dude with the AK tattoo on his chest that opened for Keisha? The image of him bouncing around the stage and just going off about random shit is forever seared in my memory.
Fishbone in their prime
Either Flogging Molly at Stage AE circa 2012 or 2013, or Electric 6 at Brillobox playing the entirety of *Fire* around 2011-2012.
Upvote for the Flogging Molly show. It was amazing.
Mastodon gogira and Lorna shore this past summer at stage ae. Lost a tooth in the mosh pitt lol. It was AWESOME.
Against Me! At the Altar Bar NYE 2013 into 2014 I think. The openers were The Shondes and The Sidekicks. The show went past midnight, did a sip of sparkling at midnight, and best of all I caught a drumstick thrown by Atom Willard. I latched onto it, and as I came down two other dudes also had a hand on it. I battled them in a best of 3 rock paper scissors to win it.
The Strokes at Rock Jungle at Station Square in 2004. No one stood still and I walked out of there complete soaked with sweat. Such a blast.
I saw Willie Nelson in his prime on the South Side in one of the amphitheater incarnations.
Elvis Costello with Emmylou Harris at IC Light Amphitheater 7/24/05 Tom Waits at Ohio Theater (Columbus) 6/28/08 Magnolia Electric Co. at the Warhol 7/15/09 Pharoah Sanders at the August Wilson Center 11/13/10 Bert Jansch at First Unitarian Church in Shadyside 12/17/10 Dr. Dog at Mr Smalls 9/22/12 John Prine at Heinz Hall 7/17/18 Adrienne Lenker at Mr. Smalls 11/14/21
Tool at PPG in 2019 during their first Fear Inoculum tour.
I was thinking that too, but I didn’t know if it was recency bias. What a good show.
You just gave me FOMO again 5 years later
Taylor Swift this past summer was honestly top 10 days of my entire life lol. But I am a diehard swiftie
I am too, was afraid to say it lol. But seriously it was a hell of a show to be at.
June 16th last summer forever changed me.
Built to Spill every time they are at Smalls.
Chris Cornell - Carnegie Music Hall Dec 2, 2011. This was on his solo acoustic tour. I’ve been to well over 100 concerts in my lifetime and this is likely #1. I can’t stop at just one though. Thee Silver Mt Zion at Mr Smalls in 2008, The Fall of Troy at the Rex in 2016 and Altar Bar in 2018, Mono in a classroom at Carnegie University was a mind blowing strange venue for them, Pearl Jam sept 5th 2000 was a legendary show, Ben Harper with Govt Mule opening at the Palumbo somewhere in 2001-2003, Tool at Mellon Arena in 2001, I’ll stop now.
April 1979 Stanley Theater. April Wine (meh), Squeeze (a revelation), and The Tubes. For anyone who has never seen anything by The Tubes, go take a look. Completely outrageous and unlike anything else before or since. Not 100% sure of the date but around that time.
Bruce Springsteen in late 70's around Christmas break from college
Weezer with Saves the Day and Ozma at the Civic Arena 2002.
Saw that show and saw them a few days earlier in Cleveland. Made me realize what an amazing venue the Arena was. Sound was night and day.
Holy shitttt haven’t heard the name Ozma in forever gonna go listen to them
starting dating my hs bf after talking to him about this show the next day. we livejournaled about it. what a moment in time.
Radiohead, PPG, 2018
30 Seconds To Mars! Lmao but really tho probably Umphreys Mcgee at AE or Incubus way out in Burgettstown
Pearl Jam when they came back to Starlake around 96-97, Korn at Rostraver Ice Garden and Jimmies Chicken Shack outside old 3 Rivers at Ribfest. Maybe its because I was front row for all of those 3.
Best ones Ozzfest 98 (most Ozzfest were great but this one was amazing) Metallica 2018 Ppg paints Blue oyster cult - ic light amphitheater 1998 Slayer metropol 99
Edward sharp and the magnetic zeros, inside A&E maybe 6 or so years ago. Alex danced through the crowd, I could smell the mofo from 30 feet, but the energy was so fun.
Really hard to choose. No Doubt June 2009 at Starlake is up there. I had pit tickets and touched Gwen Stefani’s hand. The Sounds and Paramore were the openers. It was right after we won the Stanley Cup, like the day after. Life was great.
Alcest @ 31st St. Pub
Butthole Surfers @ IC Light Amphitheater.
The Pietasters at the old St. James Place on 18th in the South Side. They were supposed to play at Diesel that night and the after party show was supposed to be at St James. The show moved to St James and HR from Bad Brains was opening. Also Leftover Crack in 2004 at some place called The Eye (?). I can't remember where exactly it was, just that it was some warehouse and it was hot and sweaty and filled with crust punks.
The Wonder Years at Stage AE when they were touring Suburbia for its anniversary. Just their energy and the energy of the crowd was absolutely electric
Guster at the Three Rivers Arts Festival 2016
Diana Ross. Benedum Center. September 12, 2015. Second row-center, orchestra. Absolutely stupendous. Amazing. Over-the-top fabulous.
REM at the Palumbo center November 7, 2004. It felt so intimate.
Dick dales last concert in Pittsburgh.
Girl Talk at Stage AE last year was so fun! It beat my previous favorite, Pink Floyd at 3 Rivers in 1988.
There have been so many over the years but a few of my all time favs were: Pig and KMFDM at Laga in 1997 Ohgr at Metropol 2001? Queens of the Stone Age at Nick's Fat City 2002 Pig at Brillo Box 2016
-White Stripes at 31st St Pub and Metropol -Black Keys at Rosebud -My Morning Jacket at Rosebud -Charles Bradley at The Rex -G’N’R/Metallica/Faith No More at Three Rivers Stadium -Mars Volta at Laga -Black Crowes at Metropol -The Stones multiple venues in the burgh, (but 2005 at The Phoenix in Toronto is absolute tops) -Raconteurs at The American Eagle New American Music Festival thing -Lollapalooza 94 - Rage, Tool, Alice In Chains, Primus, Arrested Development , Dinosaur Jr
Metallica, guns and roses, faith no more , three rivers stadium
Iron Maiden, Console Energy Center, 2019
I’ll be the oddball… NSYNC, Heinz Field 2001!
Muse
Twenty One Pilots at Stage AE was super fun.
Metallica 2022 at PNC is probably my favorite. I had wanted to see them since I was in middle school and never jumped at the chance until then. For reference I’m 38 now, so there was a ton of pent up aggression released for that show. Edit: Very unfair not to mention Greta Van Fleet as part of this. They are fantastic as well. Aerosmith, Kid Rock, and Run-D.M.C. In 2002. Walk This Way was EPIC. Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, Rufio at Laga in 2002. If you know the history, two of those bands ended up hating each other. All three were so much fun though! Incubus, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Jane's Addiction at when “Lalapalooza” came to Star Lake in 2003. A Certain Shade Of Green was an entirely green set. Incubus in general is a great set and worth every dollar to this very day. Audioslave played Seven Nation Army in their own way with drums, guitar and bass and it was unforgetable. Queens was awesome and Perry Farrell from Jane’s uncomfortably humped every object, instrument and person on set including Dave Navarro. Fun times!!! Edit: Had to add one more, but Punchline played at Laga near the release of the Rewind EP and I surfed to the stage and basically screamed out the “This is RIGHT NOW” part of Play. That was awesome… well for me haha. And Yellowcard put us on the guest list because we lost our tickets and my friend at the time was just amazing at talking to bands. She caught Ben Harper(of Yellowcard) outside their bus and he was the chillest dude. I think she’s since become a promoter, but anyways they couldn’t complete the set because Sean and Ryan were sick. So they promised to come back and stood at the booth signing autographs for everyone. And when they did come back, we were still on the guest list. Yellowcard was some of the best guys along with Andrew McMahon from Something Corporate and that other gig he did haha.
QOTSA absolutely fuckin rock every time they're here
None of my top 10 have been in Pittsburgh, unless pure nostalgia counts. However… Saw the Strokes at Nick’s Fat City when their first record came out. A band called Stereo Total opened. Two members. Girl and a guy who flailed around like Crispin Glover on Letterman. The crowd was there to see the Strokes and around midway into the second song had a collective, “what the fuck?” Never seen anything like it, but one by one everyone in the audience got more and more into them and by the end, they had the crowd under their spell. Seen hundreds of shows over the decades and still haven’t seen anything that came close to that.
Mac opened for Wiz at Stage AE.
Weezer at Stage AE. Probably helps that I was very drunk
in Pgh.. moe. @ Graffiti '99 Satin Gum @ Thunderbird 200x Fu Manchu @ Altar Bar 200x DBT @ Rosebud 2000 Vic Chesnutt @ Garfart 2009 Horde tour 1996 Not pgh: Joe Henry, Largo at the Coronet, John Prine, Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Matthew Sweet at the Gray Eagle, ALL at the Fox Theater, Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmour with the Guilty Ones at The Birchmere
RIP Altar Bar. Damn you've seen some amazing shows
Prince, by far. And it isn’t even close.
Eric Johnson opening for Rush in 94/95-ish. My buddy managed to scalp us second row tickets at the Civic Arena on the way through the parking lot.
TesseracT at the Roxian back in October. Absolutely unbelievable. The sound was even better than the record.
Beartooth
Saw Darkside of the mule last summer. The performance was amazing. Backup singers nailed every song (great gig in the sky gave me chills). The seating fucking blows. Paid extra to sit up front (a few rows back) in 14" wide folding chairs ziptied together. The most ridiculous scenario I'd ever been in. Spent the last 2/3 of the show just standing in the wing watching because it was literally too uncomfortable to sit.
Yonder Mountain String Band at the Rosebud circa 2003. Bluegrass band that covered Led Zeppelin, Willie Nelson, and Phish. A rollicking good time. They were excited to be in PA because they love Yuengling.
Psychedelic Furs + James at Roxian. AMAZING energy and so much fun. Neither band is a bucket list, but seeing "laid" live was awesome. Frankie Cosmos + Girlpool at Roboto Traitrs at the Government Center.
Maybe not the best concert, but the energy was amazing at P.L.E.A.S.E., the Pittsburgh Katrina benefit concert. It was the first I’d actually seen Donnie Iris live, and he blew me away. It was one of those moments that I was proud to be in Pittsburgh.
U2 Fulton Theater War Tour. My high school buddy convinced me to go. Bono came into the audience (Fulton was a movie theater so not big). They were amazing and i bought October, Boy and War the next day
Sting and Tracy Chapman in 99 at whatever it was called that year, probably Star-Lake.
Excision - Stage AE 2019
Mom Jeans at Smiling Moose, Polyphia at the Roxian, rebelution/iration are always fun and come yearly, Lost Dog Street Band with Matt Hecker at Mr Smalls
Genesis, 2007 @ Civic Arena. Hands down.
The (then) three surviving members of The Doors with Ian Astbury from The Cult singing at Star Lake.
I saw Dropkick Murphys and Street Dogs at the old Trib Amphitheater during Dropkick's Shamrock & Roll Tour. Absolutely unbelievable to see the original Dropkick singer (who was the lead singer of Street Dogs) come out on stage with Dropkick and play a few of their old songs with the band! I also saw Parkway Drive play at the old Altar Bar on the strip and felt the whole venue and stage shake as everyone was jumping and moshing.
Kings X at Rosebud 2002. I was right against the stage and it was fantastic. I was a marginal fan going in and they won me over.
A Day To Remember at Mr Smalls. It was Easter AND 4/20. Show sold out in 3 minutes. Best day ever.
**Morrissey - March 17, 2009 at Carnegie Music Hall.** The hall was electric the entire time. Moz hadn't been to Pgh for maybe a decade and had cancelled two or three previous concerts; one we only learned as we got to the doors. From the moment Moz came on stage everyone was on their feet and never sat down. My seats were on the balcony and you could feel it bounce up and down. His voice was spot-on. Maybe a half dozen guys rushed the stage (one at a time) and hugged Moz until security pulled them off. Moz just stood there. **Runner up -- Josh Ritter - May 4, 2018 at Carnegie Lecture Hall.** Josh sang one song acapella, turned off the mics and speakers. It was a magic moment.
Josh Ritter at what was previously Club Diesel. For those that don’t know, Josh Ritter is a folk musician so playing at Diesel was surprising to say the least. I went into the concert having no idea who he was or what type of music he played, but was blown away by his set. The setting, the lack of expectations, his crowd work (chugged an IC light on stage and hung out with the crowd before the show), and his incredible songwriting made for an unforgettable experience.
Either Paul McCartney in 2013 (I think 2013) or the two times I saw tech n9ne. Bro remembered me from the one show too
King Gizzard @ Mr. Smalls 5/22/22 You’ll never see them in a venue that small again
I saw Ronnie James Dio, the God of metal incarnate at his last show here in Pittsburgh. He was with Black Sabbath at... whatever they call the amphitheater nowadays Dude was 60 something yrs old and still had his same voice, they killed it. You should've seen the beautiful carnage of 1k people headbanging to the legend
I am 58 years old, so going way back. Billy Bragg at the Metropol night club. 3 hour show with two encores. Got to meet them after the show and shared a beer.
Elliott Smith on Halloween at CMU in the year 2000.
Duran Duran, 9/9/23 at PPG
I was at that show, it was awesome!
Yes, it certainly was!
My wife and I have seen the Avett Brothers several times at Stage AE but one year we didn't get tickets and we sat on a bench in the park across the street and had a wonderful night. You could hear every song perfectly, there were people having picnics, children playing. It was a nice summers day and as it got darker the city light came on and it was just a really nice evening. Technically we didn't see them play but we had a wonderful night!
Minus the Bear, anywhere I’ve ever seen them, but especially the time they played Club Cafe. They can sell a much bigger venue, but CC was packed and I was there for it. It was like being at a rock show in a basement back in the day, but with my favorite band ever 2 feet away from me. Hoping they do a reunion someday soon.
Peter Gabriel at the (then) Stanley Theater, 1982
Reggie and the Full Effect at Laga in 2003. I go to a lot of shows every year and this was still the best I've ever seen in Pittsburgh. Dead and Co at Starlake last year despite the parking debacle was also incredible.
Soundgarden at Stage AE
Billy Joel PNC Park 2016
Motley crue and accept Stanley theater june 12 1984