Most disappointing concert you have attended

[Craig in Indy]

Bob Dylan in the late '80s. He was mumbling a lot and completely indecipherable, and his singing was even worse than usual.

 

[Lynch]

Craig, I was just thinking about this thread earlier in the car and planned on coming in to add something similar.

I saw Bob Dylan at the MN State Fair in the mid/late 80's and he was awful. He basically stood in one spot on the stage the entire time, he had a hat on that was pulled down far enough that even with the lights on him, you couldn't see his face. There was zero energy and basically zero fun in that entire concert. He was like this for pretty much every single song. The MOST boring concert I've ever seen. Why people get all giddy over Dylan is beyond me.

 

[Astrid Kirchherr65]

Craig, I was just thinking about this thread earlier in the car and planned on coming in to add something similar.

I saw Bob Dylan at the MN State Fair in the mid/late 80's and he was awful. He basically stood in one spot on the stage the entire time, he had a hat on that was pulled down far enough that even with the lights on him, you couldn't see his face. There was zero energy and basically zero fun in that entire concert. He was like this for pretty much every single song. The MOST boring concert I've ever seen. Why people get all giddy over Dylan is beyond me.

Think When I saw him it was the 80's too? late 80's ?

Boy he must of been outa sync lol ..it SUCKED bad !!

 

[METALPRIEST]

Like I said I might have been a little harsh on them. However, it was because of the bands I saw that same summer, realize 77 was the first time I went to concerts(well one in 76), that list includes Yes, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Nektar, ELP all who put on amazing shows something that Led Zep show I didn't comeout feeling. After that I never looked back I was 13 and it probably was't fair but its the way I felt at the time and shaped me into the music I like today.

Well please take my comment as sincere. We've talked alot about wierd and wild bands that, at times, go out of their way to sound bad on purpose.

I hope we agree that many times the singer doesn't have to be a "great" singer but can get by on originality and character. Straining hitting a high note seems (to me from knowing you) to be something that would be pretty low on your list of concerns...so I'm just thrown by your example.

This and considering your broad spectrum of wild, and at times, odd bands, or even the "jam" bands, which btw, is probably the only thing that ever annoyed me a bit about Led Zeppelin live.

But if you enjoyed them on record, I don't see how a concert or two could change that. If I judged every band by the concerts I've seen, my CD collection would be cut in half.

Ted Nugent's concert was a similar experience for me AK, but I never let it spoil my enjoyment of his albums. I saw the tour when he changed the band and Derek St. Holmes had left, definitely below my expectations.

Right...

 

[Craig in Indy]

Craig, I was just thinking about this thread earlier in the car and planned on coming in to add something similar.

I saw Bob Dylan at the MN State Fair in the mid/late 80's and he was awful. He basically stood in one spot on the stage the entire time, he had a hat on that was pulled down far enough that even with the lights on him, you couldn't see his face. There was zero energy and basically zero fun in that entire concert. He was like this for pretty much every single song. The MOST boring concert I've ever seen. Why people get all giddy over Dylan is beyond me.

That pretty much described the concert I saw. I wouldn't be surprised to learn it was the same tour. I saw him in Peoria, where, of all places, he was kicking off that tour. He played at their new civic center, and of course they put him in the basketball/hockey arena and not the theater, so in addition to a crappy performance, the sound was awful, too.

 

[TheFeldster]

Bob Dylan, as much as I love his studio work, is one artist I don't think I'd want to see live. Definitely best left on the record player, that one

 

[Astrid Kirchherr65]

Bob Dylan, as much as I love his studio work, is one artist I don't think I'd want to see live. Definitely best left on the record player, that one

Yes, After reading others here,who had the same exp with Live Dylan, that's what I feel too

I'm glad I wasn't the only one

I felt badly that he wasn't AT all what I expected...

 

[TeleCat]

Big Head Todd - Maybe an unfair assessment as I wasn't (and still am not) familiar with thier music. But I went 'cuz it was a concert and I had noting else to do.
Just a vanilla show with a lot of jangly guitars and neo-dead heads dancing around.

 

[Rocker440]

Lord Grendel

Tie for me, The Cars were the worst for lack of energy, Benjamin Orr and the keyboard player were the only highlights...I would have slapped Ric Ocasek in the head if I had the chance, just to see if he had a pulse.

Ted Nugent...I really like the Nuge, but I saw him with his weakest band ever...sigh I wished I could have seem him with Derek St. Holmes instead. The set sounded like one llllooonnnggg song.

I have also seen The Cars in concert and mostly agree with your assessments, LG! They were one of five bands on the same bill. I certainly agree with what you've said about Ric Ocasek being extremely stoic, statuesque, fairly dull and basic with his performance. Elliot Easton was very good at the show that I saw, but he was outclassed with all of the other fantastic guitar players of the other bands that kicked some major arse! (Michael Schenker w/UFO, Roger Fisher and Howard Leese w/Heart, then Ted Nugent)
Although I have seen other bands and some members who were pretty 'statuesque' or 'un-animated' with their lack of movements, I've also seen a couple that were quite good who didn't move around much on stage. John Entwistle with The Who didn't move around very much during his performance, but he commanded both the stage, or his parts of it, he also was quite entertaining, reliable and a pleasure to see and hear!
Of the several times that I've seen Ted Nugent in concert, Derek St. Holmes was in the band three of those times. Derek was at that time a terrific singer and an exceptional guitar player, imo! Some people may not know this, or some may possibly feel he's underrated, but I would strongly say otherwise. At the shows that I attended he both held his own, also showcased his exemplary talents and skills, as well as gave Ted more than a good run for Teds' moneys worth, imo. Perhaps this is one the things that came into play when the two decided to part ways. I've heard Ted comment a couple of times that Derek did have a bad and very distracting drug/alcohol problem that was one of the main causes that lead to Derek 'leaving.'

Lord Grendel
I simply don't understand the need for mindless violence at a concert and never will. Concerts were all about the music, sharing the experience with friends and the ladies for me.

This does remind me of one of the strangest events that happened at a concert that I went to and which actually happened after the show was over. Two guys on the floor of the arena, about 10 rows below from where I was located, got into a heated argument about 20 minutes or so after the final encore had finished. Nothing to unusual at some concerts, but then they started throwing blows to each other with one guy landing many more fists to the other guys face, but then another guy from half a dozen rows away charged over and started wailing on the guy who was 'winning' this altercation. After a few minutes of this unexpected, strange twist into this melee the security came to the 'rescue' of all involved and escorted them out of the building. At that time I wasn't quite sure what, if anything, to make of the 'additional' spectacle, nor would I call it a 'bonus' either! Initially it was very unexpected, strange and none of the people I was with could both believe it, nor take their eyes off of this occurrence as well. It did distract from the completed show somewhat, or perhaps I should say the usually mundane after-show, waiting for most of the people to leave before all of us headed out ourselves.

Back the OT:

A couple of concerts that I went to do come to mind.

Climax Blues
They were the opener for Ted Nugent in 1978 and for whatever reasons chose to play most of their songs in a disco style, of all things. They were both booed and heckled for most of their set, and it was also pretty disappointing to hear many of the songs being done in this fashion. I was a fan of Climax Blues for a few years prior to this concert and do still enjoy much of their earlier albums!

Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath was doing a highly publicized double bill with Blue Oyster Cult in 1980. I was very much looking forward to seeing both of these fantastic bands, although I had seen Black Sabbath before, this was the first tour with Ronnie James Dio, however the band canceled just a few minutes before the show was to start! No one knew until that was announced at the arena a few minutes before the doors were to open. We decided to stay, since we were already at the arena. Although all of the fans were given the opporunity to get refunds, we chose to see BOC which I was extremely glad that we did, and for many, special and memorable reasons. Anyway, the promoters found a local bar band to open for BOC, but they didn't last long, with the combinations of disgusted, highly intoxicated and mostly unruly fans hurling both verbal threats as well as projectiles at them, they left the stage within 10 to 15 minutes!

 

[Fug]

I saw The Cars back in the mid 80s, and don't get me wrong I love The Cars and they really did sound good, but they were so bland on stage no movement they just seemed bored as did the audience. It was almost a snooze fest, I mean the songs sounded almost perfect to the records which IMO is not what I want at a live show I wanna hear live versions with a little kick too 'em.

I didn't see them live. However, their first record is one of the best debut albums I've heard.