Best: Phish, System of a Down, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Kenny Loggins, Dark Star Orchestra, Andrew Jackson Jihad, The Queers, and Gov't Mule.

Worst: Nickelback.

^ Are Nickelback bad live?

Apparently they're the worst she's ever seen.

I wasn't really wanting to see them; I was just there for Rollins Band and Soil at the time. Basically, Chad was a douche and was all, "They said I can't drink onstage unless it's in a cup that's not see-through," then proceeded to pour his beer from that cup into a see-through cup.

I was just like, "Yeah, that was necessary."

And their mixing was awful. Couldn't hear anything properly, and I was right in front of the mixing board. Utter balls.

i can't even bloody stand their studio stuff, and you expect me to pay for a ticket?

Nickelback are awful full stop. If they were playing live in my back garden I'd chuck them out.

I'd set my house on fire and leave.

Best live acts: Varukers or High On Fire

Worst live act: REM

Best

The Mars Volta '07 at Terminal 5 in NYC - This was my second time seeing TMV but the first time seeing them headline with no opener. I can honestly say that while being one of my favorite bands, their live videos on youtube did not match their studio work. This show however defied all of my doubts and I really can't put into words how it made me feel. usually I'm a mellow person who likes to soak in the performance instead of going crazy in the crowd but something cam over me that I can't describe. I went a little too crazy because I broke my glasses and had to walk home with my buddy blind as hell through the streets of NYC. I felt like Hellen Keller cause I was blind and deaf from the concert. Awesome experience though.

Also...

Godspeed You Black Emperor '11 at Terminal 5 in NYC - Funny how my best two concerts happened to be at the same place. Again, not many words to describe my feelings here. I've never been to a louder concert. You could not escape the sound. It penetrated you. I'll rememebr for the rest of my life GYBE playing "static" while the projection screen behind them displayed the scenes of an factory fire for 20 minutes. As intense as a concert could ever be.

Worst

While the music wasn't that bad, I was so disappointed seeing red Hot Chilli Peppers. This was right after they released Stadium Arcadium and they played at the Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey. The whole thing felt like I was at a Neil ****ing Diamond concert the way that there were old people everywhere singing while the lyrics displayed on the JUMBO screen. It was the chilli peppers that I came to see but what do you exoect when you go see them at a venue of that size. Their intimate shows are over.

Besides that every headlining band I've seen has been the right choice. Some opening bands though failed miserably, but I didn't go to see them They include...

Tapes n Tapes
Darkest Hour
Digitalism
Minus the Bear (like the band though)
Various bands that have opened for my friends band.

I saw them 3 years ago and they put on a very good show. What was it that made it so bad?

Good- Marillion at the Edinburgh Playhouse in December 87 (one of the last concerts with Fish) I even got his autograph after the show!

Not so good- Rolling Stones at Murrayfield in June 99, the sound was awful and I was miles away from the stage.