Fugazi. Hollywood Palladium. 1991. Earned a nice shiner from a wild elbow in the pit.
I had seen them at the Country Club in Reseda the year before, but this show was immaculate. Plus, Ian stopped the show to kick out a few violent assholes.
I'll add two, since I liked them equally.
Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Circle One and Public Nuisance - March 27th, 1982 at Devonshire Downs in Northridge, CA
Circle Jerks, FEAR, Wasted Youth, Youth Brigade, Blades and Overkill December 31st, New Years 1981 at Godzilla's in Sun Valley, CA.
Kill your idols "last show"
They were calling it quits, had a weekend full of shows to say goodbye. First two were great, last show cops came into the hall during Crime in Stereo's first song or two and shut the show down because it was over capacity. The place was pretty packed.
Everyone was bummed. We were at a diner across the street and some other kids came up to the table and let us know that they were putting together another show tonight like 30 minutes away at their practice space.
They played between two dumpsters in a parking lot of a warehouse and it was so much fucking fun. Everyone knew they were witnessing something they shouldn't be. Its on youtube but it doesn't come close to how much positive energy was in the air that night.
Absolutely. I'll go back and watch it every few years, no idea how its been 14 years.
I've been looking all over for the Brooklyn show the night before at that warehouse/loft and could never find anything other than some pictures.
Cromags and GBH at the Pine St Theater, Portland. 1985? I got high with Harley backstage.
Black Flag, Starry Night, Portland. 1986? There’s a live album from the show.
Dag Nasty, Community World Theater, Tacoma. Fall, 87. “Can I Say” tour.
Thinking Fellers Local Union, Covered Wagon, SF. 1991.
Fugazi, Melody Ballroom, 93?
Saw them on the tour in 2004 just after *As The Eternal Cowboy* was released in Eugene, Oregon with a crowd of maybe 40 people. The next time they came through town a couple years later the 600 capacity venue was sold out.
Pat the Bunny in a jam packed two car garage and Ramshackle Glory's last show at Plan-It-X are two of my fondest concert memories. FIDLAR in 2015 was also incredible, it was their first tour after a hiatus and the crowd went the fuck off.
Nice. I've had the pleasure of seeing both acts as well. When touring as Pat, though, he cut his set incredibly short because of these asshole hecklers (drunk af) constantly shouting out titles to his Johnny Hobo songs. Sad day
In 1998 I saw the Teen Idols, 88 Fingers Louie and No Use For a Name open for NOFX at the rckcndy in Seattle. My first club concert and I’ve been hooked ever since.
NOFX at a Mexican Restaurant in Oxnard called El Fiesta. A pit on slippery ass restaurant floors, the cops came and broke the whole thing up at 10pm. It was amazing.
Rancid at the Red Dog Saloon in Santa Barbara right after Let's Go came out is a close second
I recently went to my first show at Gilman it was really cool because we were literally just hanging out with the band members before it started and got some free merch. My brother also taught how to mosh and I saw some of my fav band names on the wall of bands
When i was in high school i was super into old LA punk. This art gallery in santa monica had an exhibit with a bunch of memorabilia related to the early la scene which was awesome, but for the closing night they had the LA Punk Awards, which had some awesome performances. Short 3-5 song sets by:
The Weirdos
X minus billy zoom with donita sparks filling in
Devo
The Plugz
Rik L Rik
Hunan Hands
Urinals
A couple GoGos with Alice Bag singing
TSOL
The Crowd
The Adolescents
Probably more that I am forgetting right now, but it was amazing. All in a fairly small art gallery. I still can barely believe that I got to see that show. I was OBSESSED with early la punk, so it hit pretty hard!
I was on tour and the band I was working for played the HFStival in New York. Rage were headlining. I wasn't really a fan, but I was done with my work for the day so went down to check them out. I was absolutely blown away.
Against Me! with Off With Their Heads at the HiFi Bar in Melbourne, maybe ~~2013-14ish~~ 2011.
Revival Tour at the Arthouse, 2010 - Tim Barry, Ben Nichols, Chuck Ragan and Frank Turner.
I think that tour was 2011 because I saw them at the Hi FI in Brisbane and I moved to Melbourne later that year. I took along a friend who hadn't really heard their stuff and he came out a convert. It was their last tour before Laura transitioned and Andrew was still playing bass. Also Jay Weinberg was on drums for them at the time and despite the stories of him being a dick he was really good behind the kit and as an entertaining performer to watch.
Sick of it all, Distillers and Suicide Machines. 2002? At the Metro in Chicago. I think Shai Hulud was there too? I just remember the first 3 as I loved the mix of hXc, punk and ska kids. So much fun.
i saw A Wilhelm Scream with No Trigger opening for them at a tiny little bar called Bogies in Albany, NY. No stage, couldn’t fall down if you were shot. Was beautifully chaotic with people rushing the “stage” and band members joining the pit. was maybe 2011?
I was hoping AWS would be here. I went to a show of theirs in 2009 by myself. Drove 3 hours to get there and worried about being awkward alone. Instead I spent the night singing lyrics arm in arm with various strangers, celebrating the music we loved. The music was amazing, but the crowd made it.
My favourite punk show was seeing TSOL at The Cactus Club in San Jose in 2001. It was right after Jack rejoined the band. Jack got me and a guy onstage to help sing Code Blue and it was the most fun I have ever had. I had just left my ex-husband so I got my freak on with another audience member after the show. All together a really good night. LOL
Ottawa had it going on in the 80s and 90s and into the 00s.
My favorite show of all time was Moneen, Choke and Layaway Plan at Oliver's in Ottawa like 99' or 00'. But I was a huge Moneen/Choke fan.
Sno Jam 98 or 99 with 88 Fingers Louie, Bouncing Souls, Misconduct, Gob etc was awesome too.
Comeback Kid and Bane @ Babylon was a killer show too.
That's awesome. I miss Oliver's. I had a radio show on CKCU, which was in the same building as Oliver's, from '03 to '05. I played every band you just mentioned.
15 or so years ago, I saw Rise Against open for Bad Religion. Bad Religion was my favorite band at the time, and I had never heard of Rise Against.
Rise Against came out with so much energy, they 100% stole the show. Bad Religion was great as well, but Rise Against were incredible.
I’ve seen Rise Against a couple of times where there was about 10 people in the crowd and they still played like the venue was sold out each time, rad shows. I’m going to see Bad Religion in about 7 hours, pretty stoked on that.
Similar story, but I went to go see Rise Against and Circa Survive at a small club in like '06; Billy Talent opened and had such a fun set that it totally put everyone else to shame.
1996 at the DPC, I saw Bad Brains, they did such an incredible show. Steve Eye, the owner of the club, knew them way back from the early 80's from his club there.
From what I understand they broke up again the next day on their way to Phoenix, and some if not all the remaining dates were canceled. But that show was incredible.
The Legendary Shack Shakers, Reverend Horton Heat, and Jello Biafra at a tiny patio venue in Deland, FL.
They had gigs in Jacksonville and Orlando and added in Deland last minute. There was like 30 people there and I was right up front.
Probably Dropkick Murphy’s back in maybe ‘07. It was my first punk show that wasn’t just some friends in a garage or barn so it holds pretty memorable.
Probably the first Subhumans reunion tour. I think it was 97 or 98. They had been my favorite band for a long time, but we're no longer together, so I would go to Citizen Fish shows and call out Subhumans songs. Dick was pretty clear they wouldn't play any. So getting to see them finally play as Subhumans was the best show I had ever seen.
Similar experience with the Misfits. Getting to see them play this summer with Glen was a dream come true, even if it was a venue concert
Nerfherder & No Use For a Name in 1998, went for NH was blown away by No Use For A Name.
also Blink182 in the first reunion did a 'small' show at the apollo in manchester - they were a very formative band when i was a kid and dude ranch/enema came out. Id failed to see them 3 times (cancelled & postponed shows) before they first broke up so got a ticket and damn near cried. It was also really fucking awkward as it was blatant there were issues and they were barely talking to each other - then they split again.
The Adicts are hands-down the best show I've ever been to. It's like a party the whole time. Money treats the whole performance as theater. I'd hate to be the janitor who has to clean up all the confetti and beer afterwards though.
Fear at a roller rink in SD @1985
Exploited when they all got in a fight and broke up SD mid ‘80s
Cramps Hollywood Palladium when Joey Ramone came out and sang with them. Early ‘90
CRUDOS at PCH and in Claremont (?) in 1998 were amazing.
SPAZZ last show at Gilman was insane.
Also TRAGEDY in a garage in Highland Park (?) around 2001 was insane as well.
I'll toss in four, cause I'm sentimental:
Iggy Pop headlining Riot Fest in Toronto, the first and so far only time I've ever crowdsurfed, all while the Passenger played in the background.
Metz at NXNE in 2014, I wanna say, almost died and it was totally worth it. A Metz moshpit is something else!
Tom Robinson at the Drake Underground, same year as Metz, a crowd of maybe a dozen people, all the hits and practically personalized banter.
Gogol Bordello and the Circus Brothers, Lucerna music bar in Prague, I travelled halfway across the world and found Gogol Bordello and they played a fantastic show as they always do.
Honestly.. Anti-flag years ago.
They WERE a fav band of mine for years and looking back, a huge influence on my own left wing ideals etc.
Saw them with the creepshow opening and... Some other band who clearly wasn't memorable.
Was a great show but., for obvious reasons I don't listen to their music anymore.
Perhaps one day I can seperate the art from the artists but That day isn't today.
Honorable concert mentions: dead Kennedys (not with jello but I was a teen and it was still a fun show), rancid, and last but never least, the Casualties . Quick, fast and loud. Was a great set.
Oh and the flatliners mostly because I got to introduce my non punk friend to the joy of a punk mosh pit.
In 2003 or 2004 I saw Streetlight Manifesto, Arrogant Sons of Bitches, Big D and the Kids Table, High School Football Heroes, and Stuck Lucky at a tiny venue in Nashville. Definitely a top 5 show for me.
I like Bottom of the Hill in SF. I haven't been there in like... 20 years wow.
I saw Fishbone two nights in a row in 91 on Jan 1st and 2nd. Amazing high energy show.
Bad Religion on the Generator tour was pretty amazing too.
Much more recently last year, I saw Negative Approach and was impressed at how hard they went so many years later.
My favorite that I've seen was R.K.L & Bad Religion at the River Theater in Greenville CA in 1988.
I went to see R.K.L. and had never heard of Bad Religion. I recently brought my 14 y.o. son to his first Bad Religion show last year in Oakland.
My favorite that I've played was probably RKCNDY (Rock Candy) in Seattle. We were touring with Dropkick Murphy's & Oxymoron. It was the biggest crowd that I had ever played in front of. I think it was around 900 people.
NoMeansNo at Gilman in 1991. Victims Family opened up for them. My buddy recorded it and I still have the tape of both bands.
It was the last time I got to see NMN with Andy Kerr on guitar/ vocals. The show was incredible and I love that I can listen to it anytime.
I saw Social Distortion and Grade 2. It was in 2022. That has to be my favourite. Great show. Or maybe one of the many shows in the local scene here in Gothenburg, Sweden. Agnostic Front in 2022 with two local openers was also a great show.
D.r.i. they hang out with the crowd before and after the shows.
After that, the adolescents, circle jerks, and decendents show last summer. I got to meet Tony reflex from the adolescents.
The Outhouse 1990, Fugazi and Sin City Disciples.
That place hosted a ton of great shows in the late 80s, early 90s.
Also saw Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, The Jesus Lizard, Prong, and Body Count there.
Pretty good draw for a corn field east of Lawrence, Kansas.
The Migraines with the Huntingtons in some dingy basement in Ft. Wayne, IN. Might have been 95 or 96.
$5 at the door, pit weaved in and out of concrete pillars. Huntingtons put on a great set. Migraines almost set the drop ceiling on fire.
Had my first lesson in pit etiquette, when some dude tried groping a chick. My older brother bodychecked the dude into one of the pillars, cracking his head on it, knocking his creeper ass out. He didn't stick around long when he came to.
In 2016 (I think?), one of my old bands got to open for Stiff Little Fingers at the Corona Theatre in Montreal, alongside The Nils. Never thought i'd ever get to see SLF, even less to play with them. Felt like a kid in a candy store. I had a friend working the venue's bar that night, and he knew I was a huge fan, so he managed to have all band members to sign a poster of the gig and gave it to me. I framed it up and hung it on the wall like a trophy.
I just saw Total Chaos and I have to say that was one of the most fun shows ive ever been too. I also saw Offspring in the late 90s that was a very good show
The Subhumans 1997 I think. They played the trocadero in Philly. I was in an upper body cast. Show was ok but afterwards they came back to stalag 13 and played the best set I’ve ever seen. It was amazing! They even did a cover of tube disasters. You could tell this was their element not up on some big stage. They all signed my cast. One of the best nights of my life lol
The Adicts in some random local sports bar, they out in such a great show.
FEAR and Total Chaos played a show at a stop club
Cheap Sex and Career Soldiers in what basically was a warehouse with no stage, a $5 keg tap and a full half pipe that I skated on with the band members during the show.
Haven't been to many. Last year I went and saw Velvateen, plus two others live. Brought a girl I had a thing for, with me, and we had fun. I regret not getting in the pit, but I was nervous.
Good show though!
My favorite show was the one I didn't know was happening at a dive bar I regularly frequent. I was roped into helping haul equipment. Got a free drink. The bands were all on tour of the west coast but were not at all know to anyone. The crowd was sparse but they rocked out with the bands' vibe. The pit was awesome. The bands' had great crowd work. Good music and a lot of fun.
Those are my favorite shows. The ones by the bands that are doing it to do it.
Probably it's not dead fest. I got to see so many bands I hadn't gotten to see yet all in one sweaty, dirty place. Met some awesome people there too who I'm still friends with.
The Pop Group touring Citizen Zombie, at Neumos in 2015. I was one of maybe ten people A bunch of British old farts playing the most powerful punk funk and punk dub you could ever hear. Super grateful that I caught them at probably the only Seattle show they'll ever play in my lifetime. Thief of Fire melted my mind.
Anytime I see the Goddamn Gallows is awesome, the drummer always recognizes me from past shows. Same thing with Jimbo of Reverend Horton Heat, he’s an awesome guy. My dad and I hung around after a show in Columbus and it was just us, Jimbo, the bartender, and one other person.
Did have a blast seeing Circle Jerks in Cleveland though, went with my brother and my dad and that was fuckin sick.
It wasn't too long ago, I think 2018. Strung Out played Twisted by Design, front to back. That album is basically a part of my DNA at this point (been listening to it since it released in '97) and I never got to hear the whole thing live. Sang every song at the top of my lungs. It was basically a religious experience.
Replacements at the coach house by san juan capistrano 1986 I think. Bob was in the band, they were drunk as shit, looked like they truly didn't have a single fuck to give, played great, and did an encore longer than the show
Most memorable was The Ramones Final Show at The Palace in 96. I almost didn't go because I had seen them so many times previously and didn't realize it was going to be their last show ever. A buddy had never seen them before so we ended up going and I still think about that show from time to time and still think it was weird when Eddie Vedder and the dudes from Soundgarden came up during a song. Lars and Tim from Rancid also came up but that made more sense to me.
Face To Face this last December in Estes Park Colorado at the Stanley hotel for a triple crown with no opener. Best 3 nights in an amazing, cold, location.
Impossible to say , counting metal I’ve been to well over 1000 shows.
Top of my head for Punk;
Suicide Machines in a skate shop with like 20 people in the room is up there.
AFI before they got real big in a hall with less than 100 people.
The first time I saw Diarrhea Planet, the show was sold out so I had to sneak in through the side door and I got close to the stage. The whole show was incredible but when they ended with Ghost With A Boner everyone in the audience got up on the stage and started shouting into the mics, they had four guitarists and a bassist and the amps were cranked up so loud that even though I was screaming into the mic with like 6 other dudes I couldn’t hear anything at all, but I felt the notes from the guitars reverberating in my bones. It was like a religious experience, I had never felt anything like that.
Honestly, as much as these threads usually turn into a nostalgia-fest, I feel the last run of NOFX shows are as good as any I’ve seen. I went to both Melbourne gigs, the band were on form and the crowd responded accordingly.
I’ve only been to one “punk show,” but The Chats, Cosmic Psychos show was sick. Schizophonics were incredible to watch, and their music sounded great. I went to a local punk show, but it was all pop punk which sucked. There was one hardcore band that played though, and they were great. “Grybus”
Camp Punk in Drublic (2018 and 2023) and Camp Anarchy (2019). Got to cross off so many bucket list bands that I hadn't gotten to see yet that don't typically come this way. Jello and the Descendents doing Police Truck was amazing.
It was a 90s Warped Tour, might’ve been the third year? Teenage me with cheap dyed red hair and first tattoo had a blast, and there was an incredible line up:
All, Bad Religion, The Aquabats, Deftones, Drop Kick Murphys, The Get Up Kids, Incubus, NOFX, No Use for a Name, Rancid, The Slackers, The Specials, Unwritten Law and The Vandals.
It was so much fun and I’ve got so many fond memories from that show and seeing many of those bands again later in life.
Think I’ve got some albums to dust off now. Thanks for asking!
Probably the first show I ever went to. It was vans warped tour 2001. Me and some friends had to “hop” the train there and back as we were poor young kids (13/14) with no fair money. Managed to scrounge enough for the ticket and a T-shirt. Our parents had no idea we fucked off to the city for a big punk festival. There’s no way they’d let us go at that young of age. Was such an awesome time with an amazing lineup.
Pennywise
Big Wig
Catch 22
Dropkick Murphys
Flogging Molly
Less Than Jake
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Rancid
NOFX
Sum 41
The Bouncing Souls
Either agent orange or the Buzzcocks when I saw them at the Limelight in New York City. Just amazing shows.
The Dickies at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch New Jersey was transcendent as was when the smoking popes played there. Fantastic venue to see bands at that no longer exists, sadly.
As a tie between two shows:
Against Me! in Vegas w/ Matt and Kim in 2007. Rad show and mind blowing experience.
Joyce Manor in Flagstaff in 2011. Small venue that turned into a sea of people moving to the music.
Dayglo Abortions at Cafe Ole in Halifax mid to late 90s, so many people crammed in a tiny all ages club going frantic, climbing over each over like the zombies in World War Z, it was when Jimbo started singing for them, saw them with Cretin a few times and those were great too, but that show was a standout. Also saw NOFX in Halifax in 94 when they were touring Punk in Drublic, I was 16 and they were my favourite band in the world at the time, perfect storm
Probably Chicago fest 2001. It was a huge bill of bandanna thrash bands of the early aughts. Some that I knew and some that I did not. But there were so many great surprises. Like my first time seeing vitamin X. Absolutely blew the fucking doors off the place. And then Gordon Solie motherfucker is closing it out while lighting off. Smoke bombs. Throwing themselves through tables. Audience members swinging on chandeliers. Just absolutely fucking crazy. And then the cops coming to shut the whole thing down. A beautiful day.
Leftover Crack and Rancid have never disappointed. Dwarves are good oh and Circle Jerks Sloppy Seconds Blank 77 those stick out in my mind it's hard to say a favorite
Guttermouth with face to face when big choice first came out..But it’s a definite tossup because I caught bad religion three days later at the same venue on the gray race tour
Descendents in Beijing in 2018. I happened to be teaching in China at the time so it worked out perfectly. They played at a place called Mao's Livehouse. The Chinese punk scene was actually pretty awesome. You'd be surprised at how many punks there are in China.
Bad Religion at Reseda Country Club 89.
For some reason they played the theme from Batman tv show as the closing song.
Everyone went fucking wild!! Everyone went to the pit. Was fuckin beautiful. Been hooked ever since. Still my fave band.
Tiny clubs are my favorite. Seeing Iggy at Fenders in the late 80s was amazing as we were next to the stage and the stage wasn't high. Other than some asshat shoving his hand up my skirt between my legs and then hiding, it was an amazing show.
Next would be d.i. playing on a tennis courts of I believe a home in Beverly?! Definitely not a place we frequented, but it was pretty cool to be with the mashup of crazies. ♥️♥️🔥
if anybody wants to check anything local from Istanbul this was a good one for me
https://youtu.be/b2xvPckAlkQ?si=cm6IT5dpyxfYHnV_
place used to be an old cinema which some friends turned into an film screening/live music place it lived for a short while band is called The Raws
https://theraws.bandcamp.com
7 Seconds, the Axiom (HTX), 12/?/89, and Fugazi, the Axiom (HTX), 5/6/90.
Not only were both bands absolutely unstoppable, but when you're in high school and you haven't been to that many shows, and you had to work so hard to get there from the suburbs (though I did have my driver's license by that Fugazi show), nothing can touch it.
wow! what a line up! whatever happened to whole wheat bread! I never hear about them anymore... the Flats are one of my fave bands. From my hometown., and I still have yet to catch them live oddly enough. stars never seem to aline.
RIP Sly.
Day on the farm #1 SF (1986)
RKL, Christ on Parade, Verbal Abuse, Toxic Reasons, Doggy Style, 7 Seconds, & Descendents
Doggy Style stole the show that day
The Adicts put on an amazing show every time. Municipal Waste isn't exactly a punk band but they've always killed it. Lower Class Brats always put on a killer show. GBH put on a hell of a show even though they were older by the time I finally caught em. I've seen a ton through the years. Some of my all-time favorites though have been local shows.
Oh my gosh, I miss BOTH! I've seen a lot of great shows there. I saw the Angelic Upstarts down the street at Thee Parkside. That's definitely one of my favorite shows I've seen.
Around 2003 I saw against me! At rhinos in Bloomington Indiana. We got guest listed to a bunch of their shows around then thanks to my friend who knew them well. Talked with Laura Jane Grace for a while and she gave me her suicide girls account and password. Ran out of gas in the middle of Indiana and we had spent all our money on records. Was gifted enough free gas to get home after begging truckers for spare change. I was 16 and I felt punk as fuck.
DND and LOC at Reggie's. Not the best show, but I got kicked out. Twice.
Ah yes, the Bottom of the Hill is a great small venue and you can see amazing secret shows there sometimes. Bad Religion did a warm up show there in 1998 that was incredible.
Probably one of my favorite shows of all time was nearby at the Trocadero in 1996. Teen Idols, Less than Jake, and Descendants. For the final encore all of the bands got on stage and played Black Flag songs for 45 minutes.
Bouncing souls, street dogs and whole wheat bread in Rapid City SD at the Venue 8. Also a small space but the whole night was amazing, the Souls played forever.
Buzzcocks at The Limelight in '93 or '94. A huge sweaty guy wearing only boxer shorts ran on stage, picked up Pete Shelley and wielded him around the stage while Pete attempted to play his guitar.
Off with their heads and single mothers at Casbah. Both bands just hung out in the crowd after their sets and was an amazing time. Single mothers even played a song that I had been talking about in the crowd to everyone who would listen before hand (I don’t think they did it for me but it was such a chill environment that it’s possible)
Went to see the eskarallas at a bar. There were two other bands scheduled to play before: the Catholics and Lora Hace Pam, never heard of any of em. The Catholics are three guys in black tie attire for the top half of the body and only boxers on the bottom half. They only play catholic themed covers of Spanish punk classics. Next Lora Hace Pam. It’s the same three guys but dressed in spongebob pajamas with skimpy shorts. There’s a guy with a clarinet. Frontman goes crazy, pulls the shorts into his asscrack to make a thong and starts twerking but like REALLY getting into it. He gets back to stage and sings the most heart wrenching Midwest Emo song I’ve ever heard, there’s tears in my eyes. He takes his shirt off, clarinet guy does a solo, he throws himself to the pit and starts shaking in strong spasms on the floor. He goes back to stage, gets naked, plays a piano cover of one of The Skarallas songs. He then shows us his bare ass and throws himself again. He isn’t naked anymore, somehow. The rest are still in pajamas. Their show ends but they are on the mosh pit and they are AGGRESSIVE. Went to look them up on google later. Not a trace of them. They were gone with the wind, a mirage.
A couple that really stand out were Pennywise in 06’ on my 20th birthday. (That date was tough to write without crying.). And o think the next year I went to see Rancid and The Unseen headline a show. That was a fucking good one.
Ufff...
Ramones in Sao Paulo, 1994. 1st time I saw them, got the ticket #1.
Cock Sparrer in Sao Paulo, 2011. It was hell outside the venue: gang fights, molotov cocktails, riot police. But the biggest sing a long ever.
Misfits reunion at Riot Fest Chicago, 2016.
Whole Wheat Bread fucking slap, kinda jealous of that one.
Don’t know if I could say favourite show, but I’ll put some sets.
- Pour Habit, seen them supporting NOFX around 12 years ago or something. They were unreal.
- Dillinger Escape Plan, Leeds fest in maybe 2004? Sick of it All were on right before and did the wall of death. DEP came out saying they were the most dangerous band in the world. I laughed, I’d never heard them before but fuck me, wall of death with SOIA? Yeah, I wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen.
- Captain Everything! absolutely any time I seen them to be fair, proper fun band they were.
There's a guy who used to live near that club in the 90s / 00s and became their unofficial in-house photographer, covered shows multiple times a week. Total time capsule. Bumped into his stuff on Myspace way back. I cant remember his name off the top of my head, but I'll come back if anyone cares.
I just saw Comeback Kid at a small pub in Edmonton this past Saturday. It was ridiculously good. But I'd have to say, NOFX at the Commodore in Vancouver, I think in 2008. First time I'd seen The Decline performed live. I believe The Flatliners (they were little kids...lol), Western Addiction, and No Use for a Name were supporting.
My first one in 2000, at the 13th Note Club in Glasgow. A fundraiser to help repeal Clause 28, a law that banned teaching homosexuality in schools. I think every band involved had gay members. Two bands that stuck out, Soulfinger and the Social Lepers, both did a duet at the end of the night, with the lead singers of both bands singing a punked up version of "I got you babe". Amazing night.
Seeing the Lunachicks at PRB in 2021. It was only the second or third show they’ve played in my lifetime at that point and they’ve been a favorite band since middle school, saw them as an adult. I never thought I’d ever get to see them and it was a wonderful experience, especially since it was followed up by Devo right after. Such a wonderful night and experience. Everyone was great live.
Best shows I've been to have all been local shows. Seeing bigger named punk bands is always a great experience, but absolutely nothing will beat 20-30 half drunk kids in a sweaty basement belting it out to a band that had to play late cause the guitarist had to work.
Sempervivi, Suzi Moon, and The Queers at Madison Live last year. every band was absolutely fucking phenominal and kept making fun of the crowd since my buddies and i were the only ones moshing.
A bunch of no name bands that used to play this one house in Seattle. Almost burnt the house down a couple times from cigarettes in the keg room. The sound waves from the drums used to go through your chest like a bomb was going off. The microphone was more of a communal device at times.
Some of them are on a collection of a couple free albums released like 12 years ago called "Please Don't Hang Out In Front of The House" but they're kind of tough to find because they were released in the Tumblr era.
Top 3 are Scranton Holiday show with Tigers Jaw, Menzingers, Captain We're Sinking and some other locals like Petal, Three Man Cannon. The Spraynard reunion show with Everyone Everywhere. And the first Crime in Stereo reunion show with I Am The Avalanche and Sainthood Reps.
my top two are probably the recent Circle Jerks show i went to in Dallas just because i got to be in the pit the whole time and sing my heart out and then seeing the Casualties play in this tiny venue with probably 50-60 people or less and they killed it and the singer was crowed surfing and standing on this like little table that came from out from the wall and was just going so hard, non punk show craziest thing i ever saw was the ex singer of Thy Art is Murder crowed surfer to the balcony area and have people pull him up so that he could then jump off back into the crowed when the drop of the song happened, shit was absolutely insane
One night over spring break 2003-ish I saw the Queers, Groovie Ghoulies, and the Copyrights at Hanger 9 in Carbondale, I think tickets were like $10. Roach was at the Ghoulies merch table and I picked up ‘Re-Animation Festival’ and a couple pins I still wear today, at one point Scampi asked if anyone had a request and my buddy screamed “Running with Bigfoot!” and we weren’t really close to the stage but Kepi goes “Hell yeah” and they went right into it. Pales in comparison to most of these posted but I had a fucking blast
Alkaline Trio and Bad Religion touring together was amazing.
So was Lawrence Arms and Bad Religion. So amazing.
Leftover Crack, before the downfall, put on a great show in VA Beach a few years back too.
The one that comes to mind is Against Me! opening for Nofx in 2005 in Toronto.
Originally I had just bought a ticket for Nofx before the opener was announced, but AM! was my favourite band so that was an incredible bonus when I heard they were added. Also Chixdiggit was the first opener and I liked them as well.
Then Nofx played The Decline which was awesome, I think it was one of the first few times they'd ever played it live.
The Nation of Ulysses, Ungdomshuset Copenhagen, probably 1991.
They blew my young mind by being both punk, complex *and* a great live band. They are good on their albums, but they were bloody amazing live.
If we allow that crossover is pretty punk tooand that Gwar is pretty punk, then Gwar, Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust, Martha's Revenge and Napalm Death was my favorite show ever
If that's too metal and we gonna be that way, then Guttermouth in Seattle had a show where Mark was way too fucked up and he dragged my goofy ass on stage to sing all of 1,2,3 Slam. Was incredibly goofy and incredibly fun
Well it was a punkish album but Coheed in Iowa City circa 2003?? Second stage had just come out and they played the entire album in a tiny room and finished and had nothing left for the encore. Tops hits Lawrence arms in Chicago two nights for war on Christmas.
Fillmore 1988. Husker Du played their whole double album in order. Next to me was James Hetfield alone for the whole show soaking it in too.
hey I was there too.
> hey I was there too. found James Hetfield's Reddit account
Fugazi. Hollywood Palladium. 1991. Earned a nice shiner from a wild elbow in the pit. I had seen them at the Country Club in Reseda the year before, but this show was immaculate. Plus, Ian stopped the show to kick out a few violent assholes.
I saw them in '87. I won't go in a pit where guys are dancing with their skateboards.
I'll add two, since I liked them equally. Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Circle One and Public Nuisance - March 27th, 1982 at Devonshire Downs in Northridge, CA Circle Jerks, FEAR, Wasted Youth, Youth Brigade, Blades and Overkill December 31st, New Years 1981 at Godzilla's in Sun Valley, CA.
Jealous you saw the Blades, they had some good stuff (hard to find now but thank god for the internet). You coming out to the Grim show this weekend?
Kill your idols "last show" They were calling it quits, had a weekend full of shows to say goodbye. First two were great, last show cops came into the hall during Crime in Stereo's first song or two and shut the show down because it was over capacity. The place was pretty packed. Everyone was bummed. We were at a diner across the street and some other kids came up to the table and let us know that they were putting together another show tonight like 30 minutes away at their practice space. They played between two dumpsters in a parking lot of a warehouse and it was so much fucking fun. Everyone knew they were witnessing something they shouldn't be. Its on youtube but it doesn't come close to how much positive energy was in the air that night.
At the time, believing it was their final gig, I was so glad someone filmed it.
Absolutely. I'll go back and watch it every few years, no idea how its been 14 years. I've been looking all over for the Brooklyn show the night before at that warehouse/loft and could never find anything other than some pictures.
Cromags and GBH at the Pine St Theater, Portland. 1985? I got high with Harley backstage. Black Flag, Starry Night, Portland. 1986? There’s a live album from the show. Dag Nasty, Community World Theater, Tacoma. Fall, 87. “Can I Say” tour. Thinking Fellers Local Union, Covered Wagon, SF. 1991. Fugazi, Melody Ballroom, 93?
Against Me! The Church in Philly. 2003. Iraq war just started. What a show.
Saw them on the tour in 2004 just after *As The Eternal Cowboy* was released in Eugene, Oregon with a crowd of maybe 40 people. The next time they came through town a couple years later the 600 capacity venue was sold out.
Pat the Bunny in a jam packed two car garage and Ramshackle Glory's last show at Plan-It-X are two of my fondest concert memories. FIDLAR in 2015 was also incredible, it was their first tour after a hiatus and the crowd went the fuck off.
Nice. I've had the pleasure of seeing both acts as well. When touring as Pat, though, he cut his set incredibly short because of these asshole hecklers (drunk af) constantly shouting out titles to his Johnny Hobo songs. Sad day
I was as sad as anyone that he stopped playing Johnny Hobo songs but you've gotta be a major dickhead to not respect the decision.
In 1998 I saw the Teen Idols, 88 Fingers Louie and No Use For a Name open for NOFX at the rckcndy in Seattle. My first club concert and I’ve been hooked ever since.
NOFX at a Mexican Restaurant in Oxnard called El Fiesta. A pit on slippery ass restaurant floors, the cops came and broke the whole thing up at 10pm. It was amazing. Rancid at the Red Dog Saloon in Santa Barbara right after Let's Go came out is a close second
Naked Raygun secret reunion show in 2006 at the Subterranean in Chicago.
I recently went to my first show at Gilman it was really cool because we were literally just hanging out with the band members before it started and got some free merch. My brother also taught how to mosh and I saw some of my fav band names on the wall of bands
I’m so glad Gilman is still around. There’s nothing like it
Adicts at The Showcase Theater in the early 2000s
RIP Showcase Theater, if it was the one in Corona.
Yep. I have a lot of good memories going there in the 90s and early 2000s.
When i was in high school i was super into old LA punk. This art gallery in santa monica had an exhibit with a bunch of memorabilia related to the early la scene which was awesome, but for the closing night they had the LA Punk Awards, which had some awesome performances. Short 3-5 song sets by: The Weirdos X minus billy zoom with donita sparks filling in Devo The Plugz Rik L Rik Hunan Hands Urinals A couple GoGos with Alice Bag singing TSOL The Crowd The Adolescents Probably more that I am forgetting right now, but it was amazing. All in a fairly small art gallery. I still can barely believe that I got to see that show. I was OBSESSED with early la punk, so it hit pretty hard!
[удалено]
I was on tour and the band I was working for played the HFStival in New York. Rage were headlining. I wasn't really a fan, but I was done with my work for the day so went down to check them out. I was absolutely blown away.
Against Me! with Off With Their Heads at the HiFi Bar in Melbourne, maybe ~~2013-14ish~~ 2011. Revival Tour at the Arthouse, 2010 - Tim Barry, Ben Nichols, Chuck Ragan and Frank Turner.
Saw that same Against Me! tour in Providence, at a bar. Maybe 75 people max. A 6 inch high stage, the energy was unreal.
I think that tour was 2011 because I saw them at the Hi FI in Brisbane and I moved to Melbourne later that year. I took along a friend who hadn't really heard their stuff and he came out a convert. It was their last tour before Laura transitioned and Andrew was still playing bass. Also Jay Weinberg was on drums for them at the time and despite the stories of him being a dick he was really good behind the kit and as an entertaining performer to watch.
Sick of it all, Distillers and Suicide Machines. 2002? At the Metro in Chicago. I think Shai Hulud was there too? I just remember the first 3 as I loved the mix of hXc, punk and ska kids. So much fun.
Haunted garage at some club called coconut teazer? In LA in the early 90’s.
i saw A Wilhelm Scream with No Trigger opening for them at a tiny little bar called Bogies in Albany, NY. No stage, couldn’t fall down if you were shot. Was beautifully chaotic with people rushing the “stage” and band members joining the pit. was maybe 2011?
I was hoping AWS would be here. I went to a show of theirs in 2009 by myself. Drove 3 hours to get there and worried about being awkward alone. Instead I spent the night singing lyrics arm in arm with various strangers, celebrating the music we loved. The music was amazing, but the crowd made it.
My favourite punk show was seeing TSOL at The Cactus Club in San Jose in 2001. It was right after Jack rejoined the band. Jack got me and a guy onstage to help sing Code Blue and it was the most fun I have ever had. I had just left my ex-husband so I got my freak on with another audience member after the show. All together a really good night. LOL
Leatherface, Dillinger Four, Avail at Wetlands in NYC in 2000
Operation Ivy in Davis, California was hands-down the best punk show I've ever been to. A tiny, sweaty venue with kids going absolutely crazy.
Death By Stereo, Bigwig, Belvedere, Tsunami Bomb, Misconduct, and Captain Everything. In Ottawa, around 2004.
Ottawa had it going on in the 80s and 90s and into the 00s. My favorite show of all time was Moneen, Choke and Layaway Plan at Oliver's in Ottawa like 99' or 00'. But I was a huge Moneen/Choke fan. Sno Jam 98 or 99 with 88 Fingers Louie, Bouncing Souls, Misconduct, Gob etc was awesome too. Comeback Kid and Bane @ Babylon was a killer show too.
That's awesome. I miss Oliver's. I had a radio show on CKCU, which was in the same building as Oliver's, from '03 to '05. I played every band you just mentioned.
The free concerts on Thursday at Freedom Park in Washington DC in the 90s. I saw GWAR as RAWG, Fugazi and so many more awesome bands.
Nomeansno - The Savoy 1986. Only as it was the first time I saw them live. Go see Dead Bob if you get the chance. John is still killing it.
15 or so years ago, I saw Rise Against open for Bad Religion. Bad Religion was my favorite band at the time, and I had never heard of Rise Against. Rise Against came out with so much energy, they 100% stole the show. Bad Religion was great as well, but Rise Against were incredible.
I’ve seen Rise Against a couple of times where there was about 10 people in the crowd and they still played like the venue was sold out each time, rad shows. I’m going to see Bad Religion in about 7 hours, pretty stoked on that.
Similar story, but I went to go see Rise Against and Circa Survive at a small club in like '06; Billy Talent opened and had such a fun set that it totally put everyone else to shame.
1996 at the DPC, I saw Bad Brains, they did such an incredible show. Steve Eye, the owner of the club, knew them way back from the early 80's from his club there. From what I understand they broke up again the next day on their way to Phoenix, and some if not all the remaining dates were canceled. But that show was incredible.
This Bike is Pipe Bomb- Athens, GA at some house on Pulaski mid Aughts
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Adept_Cobbler5916: *This Bike is Pipe Bomb-* *Athens, GA at some house* *On Pulaski mid Aughts* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
The Legendary Shack Shakers, Reverend Horton Heat, and Jello Biafra at a tiny patio venue in Deland, FL. They had gigs in Jacksonville and Orlando and added in Deland last minute. There was like 30 people there and I was right up front.
Probably Dropkick Murphy’s back in maybe ‘07. It was my first punk show that wasn’t just some friends in a garage or barn so it holds pretty memorable.
Subhumans (UK) at a rastafarian club in Montreal, around 2004
Probably the first Subhumans reunion tour. I think it was 97 or 98. They had been my favorite band for a long time, but we're no longer together, so I would go to Citizen Fish shows and call out Subhumans songs. Dick was pretty clear they wouldn't play any. So getting to see them finally play as Subhumans was the best show I had ever seen. Similar experience with the Misfits. Getting to see them play this summer with Glen was a dream come true, even if it was a venue concert
Toured with Subhuamans twice within the last 10 years, great dudes.
Nerfherder & No Use For a Name in 1998, went for NH was blown away by No Use For A Name. also Blink182 in the first reunion did a 'small' show at the apollo in manchester - they were a very formative band when i was a kid and dude ranch/enema came out. Id failed to see them 3 times (cancelled & postponed shows) before they first broke up so got a ticket and damn near cried. It was also really fucking awkward as it was blatant there were issues and they were barely talking to each other - then they split again.
The Adicts are hands-down the best show I've ever been to. It's like a party the whole time. Money treats the whole performance as theater. I'd hate to be the janitor who has to clean up all the confetti and beer afterwards though.
Against me! Energy is always incredible. I am always thrilled and happy to have gone to one of their shows. I look forward to the next one.
Fear at a roller rink in SD @1985 Exploited when they all got in a fight and broke up SD mid ‘80s Cramps Hollywood Palladium when Joey Ramone came out and sang with them. Early ‘90
CRUDOS at PCH and in Claremont (?) in 1998 were amazing. SPAZZ last show at Gilman was insane. Also TRAGEDY in a garage in Highland Park (?) around 2001 was insane as well.
I'll toss in four, cause I'm sentimental: Iggy Pop headlining Riot Fest in Toronto, the first and so far only time I've ever crowdsurfed, all while the Passenger played in the background. Metz at NXNE in 2014, I wanna say, almost died and it was totally worth it. A Metz moshpit is something else! Tom Robinson at the Drake Underground, same year as Metz, a crowd of maybe a dozen people, all the hits and practically personalized banter. Gogol Bordello and the Circus Brothers, Lucerna music bar in Prague, I travelled halfway across the world and found Gogol Bordello and they played a fantastic show as they always do.
Honestly.. Anti-flag years ago. They WERE a fav band of mine for years and looking back, a huge influence on my own left wing ideals etc. Saw them with the creepshow opening and... Some other band who clearly wasn't memorable. Was a great show but., for obvious reasons I don't listen to their music anymore. Perhaps one day I can seperate the art from the artists but That day isn't today. Honorable concert mentions: dead Kennedys (not with jello but I was a teen and it was still a fun show), rancid, and last but never least, the Casualties . Quick, fast and loud. Was a great set. Oh and the flatliners mostly because I got to introduce my non punk friend to the joy of a punk mosh pit.
Justin really fucked a good memory for me. I loved their shows.
Raised Fist at Markthalle Hamburg in about 2008, they just blew me away
dropkick murphys with lars fredericksen and the bastards and tiger army
In 2003 or 2004 I saw Streetlight Manifesto, Arrogant Sons of Bitches, Big D and the Kids Table, High School Football Heroes, and Stuck Lucky at a tiny venue in Nashville. Definitely a top 5 show for me.
The Damned are pretty great each time I’ve seen them. 92’-ish at the 930 club was the first time seeing them.
I like Bottom of the Hill in SF. I haven't been there in like... 20 years wow. I saw Fishbone two nights in a row in 91 on Jan 1st and 2nd. Amazing high energy show. Bad Religion on the Generator tour was pretty amazing too. Much more recently last year, I saw Negative Approach and was impressed at how hard they went so many years later.
1997 misfits & gwar. Even tho it was Michael graves (it was before I knew he was a chud) & I got to meet Jerry.
1990 MDC & Bad Religion at the Country Club in Reseda, CA. My first punk show.
Melvins September 1996
Hasn't happened yet. It will be on July 14th when I see NOFX perform The Decline.
My favorite that I've seen was R.K.L & Bad Religion at the River Theater in Greenville CA in 1988. I went to see R.K.L. and had never heard of Bad Religion. I recently brought my 14 y.o. son to his first Bad Religion show last year in Oakland. My favorite that I've played was probably RKCNDY (Rock Candy) in Seattle. We were touring with Dropkick Murphy's & Oxymoron. It was the biggest crowd that I had ever played in front of. I think it was around 900 people.
Gwar
NoMeansNo at Gilman in 1991. Victims Family opened up for them. My buddy recorded it and I still have the tape of both bands. It was the last time I got to see NMN with Andy Kerr on guitar/ vocals. The show was incredible and I love that I can listen to it anytime.
Victims Family was a great band. I had their tape way back in High School
I love Victims Family. They still play on occasion in the Bay Area. Great band and incredible live.
I saw Social Distortion and Grade 2. It was in 2022. That has to be my favourite. Great show. Or maybe one of the many shows in the local scene here in Gothenburg, Sweden. Agnostic Front in 2022 with two local openers was also a great show.
D.r.i. they hang out with the crowd before and after the shows. After that, the adolescents, circle jerks, and decendents show last summer. I got to meet Tony reflex from the adolescents.
The Lillingtons, Lawrence Arms and The Menzingers. Non-stop mosh pits from the start.
Thanksgiving show on my birthday in Chicago. Against me!, Sage francis, World/Inferno friendship society. Best birthday ever.
Hands down SNFU.
Saw Hot Water Music with Avail twice now. Those are some great shows.
Sublime, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Less Than Jake in like 96
The Outhouse 1990, Fugazi and Sin City Disciples. That place hosted a ton of great shows in the late 80s, early 90s. Also saw Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, The Jesus Lizard, Prong, and Body Count there. Pretty good draw for a corn field east of Lawrence, Kansas.
The Migraines with the Huntingtons in some dingy basement in Ft. Wayne, IN. Might have been 95 or 96. $5 at the door, pit weaved in and out of concrete pillars. Huntingtons put on a great set. Migraines almost set the drop ceiling on fire. Had my first lesson in pit etiquette, when some dude tried groping a chick. My older brother bodychecked the dude into one of the pillars, cracking his head on it, knocking his creeper ass out. He didn't stick around long when he came to.
I know it’s autocorrect but groping a chicken is kinda funny
In 2016 (I think?), one of my old bands got to open for Stiff Little Fingers at the Corona Theatre in Montreal, alongside The Nils. Never thought i'd ever get to see SLF, even less to play with them. Felt like a kid in a candy store. I had a friend working the venue's bar that night, and he knew I was a huge fan, so he managed to have all band members to sign a poster of the gig and gave it to me. I framed it up and hung it on the wall like a trophy.
I havent heard someone refer to whole wheat bread in more than a decade. Wow
I just saw Total Chaos and I have to say that was one of the most fun shows ive ever been too. I also saw Offspring in the late 90s that was a very good show
The Subhumans 1997 I think. They played the trocadero in Philly. I was in an upper body cast. Show was ok but afterwards they came back to stalag 13 and played the best set I’ve ever seen. It was amazing! They even did a cover of tube disasters. You could tell this was their element not up on some big stage. They all signed my cast. One of the best nights of my life lol
Either Sleater-Kinney's first show on their reunion tour or one of Oingo Boingo's two farewell shows.
The Adicts in some random local sports bar, they out in such a great show. FEAR and Total Chaos played a show at a stop club Cheap Sex and Career Soldiers in what basically was a warehouse with no stage, a $5 keg tap and a full half pipe that I skated on with the band members during the show.
Haven't been to many. Last year I went and saw Velvateen, plus two others live. Brought a girl I had a thing for, with me, and we had fun. I regret not getting in the pit, but I was nervous. Good show though!
Pup at the Village theater in Davenport Iowa. That place was packed and was a wild ass pit from wall to wall.
Summergrind 2012 Denver. The Dwarves, Leftover Crack. And so many I can’t recall rn.
My favorite show was the one I didn't know was happening at a dive bar I regularly frequent. I was roped into helping haul equipment. Got a free drink. The bands were all on tour of the west coast but were not at all know to anyone. The crowd was sparse but they rocked out with the bands' vibe. The pit was awesome. The bands' had great crowd work. Good music and a lot of fun. Those are my favorite shows. The ones by the bands that are doing it to do it.
Probably it's not dead fest. I got to see so many bands I hadn't gotten to see yet all in one sweaty, dirty place. Met some awesome people there too who I'm still friends with.
Against Me! with Murder By Death at the Mesa Luna in Vancouver in 2005. Whole crowd singing along. Exceptional show.
Alkaline Trio and Naked Raygun 2016 riot fest after show. That's immediately comes to mind. Next go to was seeing The Stooges at riot fest 2012.
The Pop Group touring Citizen Zombie, at Neumos in 2015. I was one of maybe ten people A bunch of British old farts playing the most powerful punk funk and punk dub you could ever hear. Super grateful that I caught them at probably the only Seattle show they'll ever play in my lifetime. Thief of Fire melted my mind.
Anytime I see the Goddamn Gallows is awesome, the drummer always recognizes me from past shows. Same thing with Jimbo of Reverend Horton Heat, he’s an awesome guy. My dad and I hung around after a show in Columbus and it was just us, Jimbo, the bartender, and one other person. Did have a blast seeing Circle Jerks in Cleveland though, went with my brother and my dad and that was fuckin sick.
Pet Needs Fractured Party III at Sub Zero in Colchester
It wasn't too long ago, I think 2018. Strung Out played Twisted by Design, front to back. That album is basically a part of my DNA at this point (been listening to it since it released in '97) and I never got to hear the whole thing live. Sang every song at the top of my lungs. It was basically a religious experience.
The three times I’ve seen Streetlight Manifesto have been my three favorite shows. The crowd energy is always absolutely insane.
Balzac 2005 Mulcahy’s Pub Long Island. Great, underrated band.
I’m not really even a fan but neighborhood brats put on a killer show.
Social Distortion at Jannus Landing 1989 Runner-up; Mike Watt and the Missing Men at Schuba's in 2019.
Replacements at the coach house by san juan capistrano 1986 I think. Bob was in the band, they were drunk as shit, looked like they truly didn't have a single fuck to give, played great, and did an encore longer than the show
Most memorable was The Ramones Final Show at The Palace in 96. I almost didn't go because I had seen them so many times previously and didn't realize it was going to be their last show ever. A buddy had never seen them before so we ended up going and I still think about that show from time to time and still think it was weird when Eddie Vedder and the dudes from Soundgarden came up during a song. Lars and Tim from Rancid also came up but that made more sense to me.
PIL early 80s longbeach or minor threat chatsworth early 80s
October 2004, Fillmore in Denver. Flogging Molly, The Street Dogs, and The Briggs. It was my first punk show.
Face To Face this last December in Estes Park Colorado at the Stanley hotel for a triple crown with no opener. Best 3 nights in an amazing, cold, location.
Nothing is better than your first. Dead Boys at cbgbs, October 1st, 1977.
Impossible to say , counting metal I’ve been to well over 1000 shows. Top of my head for Punk; Suicide Machines in a skate shop with like 20 people in the room is up there. AFI before they got real big in a hall with less than 100 people.
The first time I saw Diarrhea Planet, the show was sold out so I had to sneak in through the side door and I got close to the stage. The whole show was incredible but when they ended with Ghost With A Boner everyone in the audience got up on the stage and started shouting into the mics, they had four guitarists and a bassist and the amps were cranked up so loud that even though I was screaming into the mic with like 6 other dudes I couldn’t hear anything at all, but I felt the notes from the guitars reverberating in my bones. It was like a religious experience, I had never felt anything like that.
I saw the Vandals in the late 90s and it was the only time I ever caught them live. Hope to see them again before I die.
Honestly, as much as these threads usually turn into a nostalgia-fest, I feel the last run of NOFX shows are as good as any I’ve seen. I went to both Melbourne gigs, the band were on form and the crowd responded accordingly.
I’ve only been to one “punk show,” but The Chats, Cosmic Psychos show was sick. Schizophonics were incredible to watch, and their music sounded great. I went to a local punk show, but it was all pop punk which sucked. There was one hardcore band that played though, and they were great. “Grybus”
I saw a band called Riot Cop at an anarchist bookstore in Portland years ago. A friend’s band was also on the lineup.
Camp Punk in Drublic (2018 and 2023) and Camp Anarchy (2019). Got to cross off so many bucket list bands that I hadn't gotten to see yet that don't typically come this way. Jello and the Descendents doing Police Truck was amazing.
It was a 90s Warped Tour, might’ve been the third year? Teenage me with cheap dyed red hair and first tattoo had a blast, and there was an incredible line up: All, Bad Religion, The Aquabats, Deftones, Drop Kick Murphys, The Get Up Kids, Incubus, NOFX, No Use for a Name, Rancid, The Slackers, The Specials, Unwritten Law and The Vandals. It was so much fun and I’ve got so many fond memories from that show and seeing many of those bands again later in life. Think I’ve got some albums to dust off now. Thanks for asking!
Probably the first show I ever went to. It was vans warped tour 2001. Me and some friends had to “hop” the train there and back as we were poor young kids (13/14) with no fair money. Managed to scrounge enough for the ticket and a T-shirt. Our parents had no idea we fucked off to the city for a big punk festival. There’s no way they’d let us go at that young of age. Was such an awesome time with an amazing lineup. Pennywise Big Wig Catch 22 Dropkick Murphys Flogging Molly Less Than Jake Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Rancid NOFX Sum 41 The Bouncing Souls
Either agent orange or the Buzzcocks when I saw them at the Limelight in New York City. Just amazing shows. The Dickies at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch New Jersey was transcendent as was when the smoking popes played there. Fantastic venue to see bands at that no longer exists, sadly.
As a tie between two shows: Against Me! in Vegas w/ Matt and Kim in 2007. Rad show and mind blowing experience. Joyce Manor in Flagstaff in 2011. Small venue that turned into a sea of people moving to the music.
Dayglo Abortions at Cafe Ole in Halifax mid to late 90s, so many people crammed in a tiny all ages club going frantic, climbing over each over like the zombies in World War Z, it was when Jimbo started singing for them, saw them with Cretin a few times and those were great too, but that show was a standout. Also saw NOFX in Halifax in 94 when they were touring Punk in Drublic, I was 16 and they were my favourite band in the world at the time, perfect storm
Probably Chicago fest 2001. It was a huge bill of bandanna thrash bands of the early aughts. Some that I knew and some that I did not. But there were so many great surprises. Like my first time seeing vitamin X. Absolutely blew the fucking doors off the place. And then Gordon Solie motherfucker is closing it out while lighting off. Smoke bombs. Throwing themselves through tables. Audience members swinging on chandeliers. Just absolutely fucking crazy. And then the cops coming to shut the whole thing down. A beautiful day.
Leftover Crack and Rancid have never disappointed. Dwarves are good oh and Circle Jerks Sloppy Seconds Blank 77 those stick out in my mind it's hard to say a favorite
Guttermouth with face to face when big choice first came out..But it’s a definite tossup because I caught bad religion three days later at the same venue on the gray race tour
Descendents in Beijing in 2018. I happened to be teaching in China at the time so it worked out perfectly. They played at a place called Mao's Livehouse. The Chinese punk scene was actually pretty awesome. You'd be surprised at how many punks there are in China.
Bad Religion at Reseda Country Club 89. For some reason they played the theme from Batman tv show as the closing song. Everyone went fucking wild!! Everyone went to the pit. Was fuckin beautiful. Been hooked ever since. Still my fave band.
Tiny clubs are my favorite. Seeing Iggy at Fenders in the late 80s was amazing as we were next to the stage and the stage wasn't high. Other than some asshat shoving his hand up my skirt between my legs and then hiding, it was an amazing show. Next would be d.i. playing on a tennis courts of I believe a home in Beverly?! Definitely not a place we frequented, but it was pretty cool to be with the mashup of crazies. ♥️♥️🔥
Bouncing souls 2011. They have amazing energy. Saw them recently in St. Pete.
I haven’t been to one yet, but I’m going to the saviours tour in September! I’m really hyped since I’m a huge fan of Rancid and Green Day
Prevail and inept.
if anybody wants to check anything local from Istanbul this was a good one for me https://youtu.be/b2xvPckAlkQ?si=cm6IT5dpyxfYHnV_ place used to be an old cinema which some friends turned into an film screening/live music place it lived for a short while band is called The Raws https://theraws.bandcamp.com
7 Seconds, the Axiom (HTX), 12/?/89, and Fugazi, the Axiom (HTX), 5/6/90. Not only were both bands absolutely unstoppable, but when you're in high school and you haven't been to that many shows, and you had to work so hard to get there from the suburbs (though I did have my driver's license by that Fugazi show), nothing can touch it.
Bringing my son to his first 18+ to see Bad Religion. So great to share a band that has meant so much to me for so long.
I saw Bad Religion at the Hollywood Palladium in 2021.
wow! what a line up! whatever happened to whole wheat bread! I never hear about them anymore... the Flats are one of my fave bands. From my hometown., and I still have yet to catch them live oddly enough. stars never seem to aline. RIP Sly.
Day on the farm #1 SF (1986) RKL, Christ on Parade, Verbal Abuse, Toxic Reasons, Doggy Style, 7 Seconds, & Descendents Doggy Style stole the show that day
OFF! 2014 in Vancouver. I flew 1600km and it was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. Cerebral balzy opened.
The Adicts put on an amazing show every time. Municipal Waste isn't exactly a punk band but they've always killed it. Lower Class Brats always put on a killer show. GBH put on a hell of a show even though they were older by the time I finally caught em. I've seen a ton through the years. Some of my all-time favorites though have been local shows.
Oh my gosh, I miss BOTH! I've seen a lot of great shows there. I saw the Angelic Upstarts down the street at Thee Parkside. That's definitely one of my favorite shows I've seen.
Around 2003 I saw against me! At rhinos in Bloomington Indiana. We got guest listed to a bunch of their shows around then thanks to my friend who knew them well. Talked with Laura Jane Grace for a while and she gave me her suicide girls account and password. Ran out of gas in the middle of Indiana and we had spent all our money on records. Was gifted enough free gas to get home after begging truckers for spare change. I was 16 and I felt punk as fuck. DND and LOC at Reggie's. Not the best show, but I got kicked out. Twice.
Bouncing Souls at the church in philly when they played the first two albums back to back.
Circle Jerks 9/22/90, St. Andrew’s Hall I haven’t gotten to see them since but man what a show in their prime.
Ah yes, the Bottom of the Hill is a great small venue and you can see amazing secret shows there sometimes. Bad Religion did a warm up show there in 1998 that was incredible. Probably one of my favorite shows of all time was nearby at the Trocadero in 1996. Teen Idols, Less than Jake, and Descendants. For the final encore all of the bands got on stage and played Black Flag songs for 45 minutes.
Bouncing souls, street dogs and whole wheat bread in Rapid City SD at the Venue 8. Also a small space but the whole night was amazing, the Souls played forever.
Buzzcocks at The Limelight in '93 or '94. A huge sweaty guy wearing only boxer shorts ran on stage, picked up Pete Shelley and wielded him around the stage while Pete attempted to play his guitar.
I've seen a lot of shows at Bottom of the Hill. I can't tell you my favorite show, but my favorite show at Bottom of the Hill was Boy Sets Fire.
Youth of Today, No For An Answer, Insted, Unit Pride, Rabid Lassie at Gilman stands out in my mind.
Long, long time ago, Born to Lose at the Nancy Raygun in RVA
A Wilhelm Scream in some tiny club in England. Absolutely blew me away. Probably no more than 200 people there
AFI Camden Underworld
Off with their heads and single mothers at Casbah. Both bands just hung out in the crowd after their sets and was an amazing time. Single mothers even played a song that I had been talking about in the crowd to everyone who would listen before hand (I don’t think they did it for me but it was such a chill environment that it’s possible)
Social D, and Bad Religion
Hands down Jeff Rosenstock
Hell yeah. Couldn’t agree more.
Went to see the eskarallas at a bar. There were two other bands scheduled to play before: the Catholics and Lora Hace Pam, never heard of any of em. The Catholics are three guys in black tie attire for the top half of the body and only boxers on the bottom half. They only play catholic themed covers of Spanish punk classics. Next Lora Hace Pam. It’s the same three guys but dressed in spongebob pajamas with skimpy shorts. There’s a guy with a clarinet. Frontman goes crazy, pulls the shorts into his asscrack to make a thong and starts twerking but like REALLY getting into it. He gets back to stage and sings the most heart wrenching Midwest Emo song I’ve ever heard, there’s tears in my eyes. He takes his shirt off, clarinet guy does a solo, he throws himself to the pit and starts shaking in strong spasms on the floor. He goes back to stage, gets naked, plays a piano cover of one of The Skarallas songs. He then shows us his bare ass and throws himself again. He isn’t naked anymore, somehow. The rest are still in pajamas. Their show ends but they are on the mosh pit and they are AGGRESSIVE. Went to look them up on google later. Not a trace of them. They were gone with the wind, a mirage.
A couple that really stand out were Pennywise in 06’ on my 20th birthday. (That date was tough to write without crying.). And o think the next year I went to see Rancid and The Unseen headline a show. That was a fucking good one.
Ufff... Ramones in Sao Paulo, 1994. 1st time I saw them, got the ticket #1. Cock Sparrer in Sao Paulo, 2011. It was hell outside the venue: gang fights, molotov cocktails, riot police. But the biggest sing a long ever. Misfits reunion at Riot Fest Chicago, 2016.
Whole Wheat Bread fucking slap, kinda jealous of that one. Don’t know if I could say favourite show, but I’ll put some sets. - Pour Habit, seen them supporting NOFX around 12 years ago or something. They were unreal. - Dillinger Escape Plan, Leeds fest in maybe 2004? Sick of it All were on right before and did the wall of death. DEP came out saying they were the most dangerous band in the world. I laughed, I’d never heard them before but fuck me, wall of death with SOIA? Yeah, I wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen. - Captain Everything! absolutely any time I seen them to be fair, proper fun band they were.
Fugazi
MUTE and NOFX in monterrey. NOFX played the decline
converge at the triple rock.
There's a guy who used to live near that club in the 90s / 00s and became their unofficial in-house photographer, covered shows multiple times a week. Total time capsule. Bumped into his stuff on Myspace way back. I cant remember his name off the top of my head, but I'll come back if anyone cares.
1993 NOFX with the Muffs.
Rise against, The Unraveling record release 1998/99 Fireside Bowl Chicago
Turbobier
I just saw Comeback Kid at a small pub in Edmonton this past Saturday. It was ridiculously good. But I'd have to say, NOFX at the Commodore in Vancouver, I think in 2008. First time I'd seen The Decline performed live. I believe The Flatliners (they were little kids...lol), Western Addiction, and No Use for a Name were supporting.
So many but more recently, The Chats put on a helluva show.
My first one in 2000, at the 13th Note Club in Glasgow. A fundraiser to help repeal Clause 28, a law that banned teaching homosexuality in schools. I think every band involved had gay members. Two bands that stuck out, Soulfinger and the Social Lepers, both did a duet at the end of the night, with the lead singers of both bands singing a punked up version of "I got you babe". Amazing night.
Seeing the Lunachicks at PRB in 2021. It was only the second or third show they’ve played in my lifetime at that point and they’ve been a favorite band since middle school, saw them as an adult. I never thought I’d ever get to see them and it was a wonderful experience, especially since it was followed up by Devo right after. Such a wonderful night and experience. Everyone was great live.
Best shows I've been to have all been local shows. Seeing bigger named punk bands is always a great experience, but absolutely nothing will beat 20-30 half drunk kids in a sweaty basement belting it out to a band that had to play late cause the guitarist had to work.
Closing down of Globe Cafe in Bethlehem Pa Asshole Parade followed by The Holy Mountain
7seconds, Uniform Choice, Dickies & Doggie Style at Skateway in Placentia on Rose Blvd - mid 80s.
saw Riot Grrrl Fest at elsewhere zone 1. eevie echoes, VIAL, Mint Green. awesome show!
Sempervivi, Suzi Moon, and The Queers at Madison Live last year. every band was absolutely fucking phenominal and kept making fun of the crowd since my buddies and i were the only ones moshing.
Jeff Rosenstock literally last night. Ears still ringing rn lol. Shit was so awesome and the energy was through the roof
A bunch of no name bands that used to play this one house in Seattle. Almost burnt the house down a couple times from cigarettes in the keg room. The sound waves from the drums used to go through your chest like a bomb was going off. The microphone was more of a communal device at times. Some of them are on a collection of a couple free albums released like 12 years ago called "Please Don't Hang Out In Front of The House" but they're kind of tough to find because they were released in the Tumblr era.
Top 3 are Scranton Holiday show with Tigers Jaw, Menzingers, Captain We're Sinking and some other locals like Petal, Three Man Cannon. The Spraynard reunion show with Everyone Everywhere. And the first Crime in Stereo reunion show with I Am The Avalanche and Sainthood Reps.
my top two are probably the recent Circle Jerks show i went to in Dallas just because i got to be in the pit the whole time and sing my heart out and then seeing the Casualties play in this tiny venue with probably 50-60 people or less and they killed it and the singer was crowed surfing and standing on this like little table that came from out from the wall and was just going so hard, non punk show craziest thing i ever saw was the ex singer of Thy Art is Murder crowed surfer to the balcony area and have people pull him up so that he could then jump off back into the crowed when the drop of the song happened, shit was absolutely insane
Cro Mags with John Joseph I think like 2013
One night over spring break 2003-ish I saw the Queers, Groovie Ghoulies, and the Copyrights at Hanger 9 in Carbondale, I think tickets were like $10. Roach was at the Ghoulies merch table and I picked up ‘Re-Animation Festival’ and a couple pins I still wear today, at one point Scampi asked if anyone had a request and my buddy screamed “Running with Bigfoot!” and we weren’t really close to the stage but Kepi goes “Hell yeah” and they went right into it. Pales in comparison to most of these posted but I had a fucking blast
Alkaline Trio and Bad Religion touring together was amazing. So was Lawrence Arms and Bad Religion. So amazing. Leftover Crack, before the downfall, put on a great show in VA Beach a few years back too.
Minor threats last show. They fuckin killed it.
Ramones , Birmingham, Hummingbird , October 7th, 1989, UK.
The one that comes to mind is Against Me! opening for Nofx in 2005 in Toronto. Originally I had just bought a ticket for Nofx before the opener was announced, but AM! was my favourite band so that was an incredible bonus when I heard they were added. Also Chixdiggit was the first opener and I liked them as well. Then Nofx played The Decline which was awesome, I think it was one of the first few times they'd ever played it live.
Dead Kennedy's Hüsker Dü Otto's Chemical Lounge 1984 Armory Minneapolis
Tough question. Black Flag, Saccharine Trust 1985 JFA mid 80’s Capitol Punishment, No Real Attitude 1981
Lagwagon and Strung Out in 1995/96. Both were at their peak with their best members. It was amazing.
Dead Kennedys at the Jockey Club in Newport, Kentucky on the Frankenchrist tour.
The Nation of Ulysses, Ungdomshuset Copenhagen, probably 1991. They blew my young mind by being both punk, complex *and* a great live band. They are good on their albums, but they were bloody amazing live.
If we allow that crossover is pretty punk tooand that Gwar is pretty punk, then Gwar, Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust, Martha's Revenge and Napalm Death was my favorite show ever If that's too metal and we gonna be that way, then Guttermouth in Seattle had a show where Mark was way too fucked up and he dragged my goofy ass on stage to sing all of 1,2,3 Slam. Was incredibly goofy and incredibly fun
Well it was a punkish album but Coheed in Iowa City circa 2003?? Second stage had just come out and they played the entire album in a tiny room and finished and had nothing left for the encore. Tops hits Lawrence arms in Chicago two nights for war on Christmas.
Bouncing Souls and Bad Religion ❤️
Warped Tour! Or Face to Face