Top 5 Concerts

I was talking to a buddy of mine about the best concerts we have seen. Thought it would make for an interesting blog post. Here is my list, after some careful deliberation...

#5. Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge. I'm not singling out a particular show. Any one from 2001 - 2003 is on my list here. But one of them for sure makes my top 5. The music, venue and the whole camping experience during my college years is a great memory.

#4. Paul Simon at the Paramount, Seattle WA in 2000. Sat in the front row...of the orchestra pit. Literally leaning on the front of the stage, and shook Paul's hand after the encore. Seeing those songs performed that close was great.

#3. John Mayer at Richards on Richards in Vancouver, BC in 2001. It was awesome to see him before he made it big in a pretty small club/bar, just after Room For Squares was released. There were probably 500 people there or so, and you could walk right up to the front of the stage.


#2. Dave Matthews performing solo acoustic at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA in 2002. It was a 2 hour set of just Dave by himself in a very private setting. Acoustics are amazing in there. Dave played a 5 song encore with a 15 minute story mixed in there as well.

#1. U2 during their Elevation Tour in Vancouver, BC in 2001. Could have swapped in their Vertigo Tour show in Seattle, WA here as well but the 2001 show was my first time seeing them live and is deserving of the top spot. U2 may be the best live show of all time.

Honorable mentions (great artists/shows I have also seen):

Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Jason Mraz, Counting Crows, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Maroon 5, Mat Kearney, Glen Phillips, Ben Folds, Ben Lee, Death Cab for Cutie, Green Day, Matt Nathanson, James Morrison.

I am headed to Coldplay at the Gorge in July and have a feeling that might crack the top 5. We will see...