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Friday Fun: Making A Spectacle Of Itself

09:01 AM, Friday 9/25/09 14 |   |

Today’s topic isn’t about the best concert you’ve ever seen in terms of music, skill and musicianship. Instead, we want to know which production literally left you breathless and overwhelmed your senses with a barrage of lights, sound and special effects.

Sure, some bands and artists bring grade-a special effects to the gig, but when you strip away all the lasers, pyro and fog, it’s still about the music.

But others rely on tech, making multimedia extravaganzas as much a part of their concert personas as setlists and encores.

So which artists and bands blew you away with their productions? Was it Madonna, Britney or Trans-Siberian Orchestra?

Or do you wanna dig a little deeper by resurrecting your memories of past performances by Pink Floyd, KISS, Elton John or David Bowie?

It’s all about the tech. Just drop your recollections in the comment thread below.

--Jay Smith

14 Comments leave a comment

  1. 188
    FaithNoMore89 wrote:

    09:18 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    IRON MAIDEN!!!!!!!

    Roger Waters in 2007. He even let the Pig fly Free in the air.

  2. 1
    siva502 wrote:

    09:22 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    pink floyd was always awsome.

    but NIN lights in the sky show was the most incredible light show

    i have ever seen.

  3. 140
    debaser wrote:

    09:30 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    nine inch nails lights in the sky tour was brilliant, as was their summer ampitheatre tour for with teeth.

    u2 always are wonderful for this especially the zoo tv tours. too bad they lost the plot musically.

    muse had the most amazing stage show last time they came through norht america.

    madonna's reinvention tour had a wonderful stage design and set up.

  4. 30
    bigdad wrote:

    09:35 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    The best show I've seen utilized the lights, sounds, and even the stadium...Electric Light Orchestra at Anaheim Stadium in 1979. It was the Out of the Blue Tour and they played inside the ELO UFO, Journey was the opening band (a plus).

    The show had a flying saucer over the stadium shooting lazer light at those star wars sand people in and around the stage, a web pattern lazer light display that covered the entire stadium and a hot air balloon and fireworks show to end it all.

    I've seen Pink Floyd (2), KISS (1), RUSH(12), Stones(3), etc... but this was the best.

  5. 8
    morrisonrocks wrote:

    09:37 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    David Bowie's Reality Tour was awesome.  He played for 2 hours and 15 minutes!  Get the DVD!

  6. 30
    bigdad wrote:

    09:42 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    Now in the arena shows, Iron Maiden (I was at recording of Life After Death shows in Long Beach), Motley Crue (Theatre of Pain tour), Judas Priest (Screaming for Vengeance tour), Rush (Test for Echo tour) but the one I will give a little props to was ANGEL in the late 70's.

    ANGEL was a band countering label mates KISS and they used to do a great light and magic show. Plus Punky Meadows was a pretty good and underrated guitarist.

  7. 231
    Evster wrote:

    09:57 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    The Stones' 40 licks production was pretty slick - huge moving screens, mobile catwalk, pyrotechnics, the whole 9 yards. However, I'm anticipating that the U2 360 show next month in Phoenix will be the greatest productions I've ever seen (and I've been to hundreds of shows). I hope the boys don't disappoint!!!

  8. 30
    bigdad wrote:

    10:26 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    Thanks for reminding me about Bowie. The Serious Moonlight Tour was pretty fun but not much of a spectacle.

    I really enjoy the stadium "Spiders" tour that followed. A great theatrical performance with Peter Frampton supplying the guitar work.

  9. 215
    Rob Rheubottom wrote:

    10:27 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    Roger Waters' 2007 Dark Side of the Moon tour with the hi def screen that covered the entire screen (and pig as previously mentioned) and the Stones 2006 Bigger Bang tour sporting the world's largest jumbotron. A moveable catwalk that fed out to secondary stage in the middle of the crowd, giant blowup hookers, and fireworks.  AC/DC offered  production this summer with  Black Ice (catwalk, secondary stage area for Angus, inflatables, fireworks) along with their giant lococmotive prop, huge twin horned hats, and many props from past  shows (giant bell, cannons).

    All gave good bang for the buck, with solid  live performances to match.

  10. 10
    Metallion1976 wrote:

    10:39 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    Pink Floyd 1994 and Roger Waters 2008 tours were amazing - and any of the last TSO tours should top that list.  Maiden is always great too!

  11. 1
    teisner wrote:

    11:18 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    Most recently, last week in Minneapolis. Todd Rundgren completed the 2 week tour of performing the entire album "A Wizard A True Star" Incredible show!! lots of lights, fog and costume changes - total of 12 different changes over the course of the concert, started off in an entire astronaut costume - Incredible!!! Look for the DVD to come out later this year!!

  12. 140
    debaser wrote:

    11:56 AM, Sep 25, 2009

    others:

    bowie - glass spider tour

    bowie / nine inch nails - outside tour

    depeche mode - tour of faith and devotion

    bjork - vespertine tour

    beck - the information tour (puppet show was great!)

    now, the gorrilaz tour...what a load of crap and it had potential to be great.



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