Damn, this is hard to answer. Prior to going to Uni in 2000, I had never been to any gigs, so jealous of you peeps that got to see some of these bands in the 90s and prior!
Note, this list will change every time you ask me :
- Rammstein (BDO Auckland January 2001) :
This BDO was my first major gig with international artists, so was a particularly nostalgiac event looking back. While at the time I think I enjoyed Limp Bizkit the most (what can I say, was 19 years old at the time, they are still somewhat of a guilty pleasure!), the crazy theatrics of Rammstein's set (every band member being on fire at some point, firework arrows being shot over the crowd, simulated rape of the creepy keyboardist, and all the other bells & whistles) plus the intensity of lead singer Till's bassy growls and the in-your-face riffs left a lasting impression!
- Tool & The Melvins (Queens Wharf Events Centre aka TSB Arena Wellington, April 2002) :
This was my first major non-BDO gig with international artists, so once again leaves a lasting impression. With all the crazy video nasties going on in the background (and the creepy dangling contortionists during one of the songs which I cannot remember), this had a much different, yet still theatrical, feel to the Rammstein set, but still awesomely memorable.
Also happened to be the same weekend that I saw my first live NRL game (Warriors vs Bulldogs) with the same people I was at the concert with, which ultimately cemented my league fandom, so kinda adds to the nostalgia as well!
- Muse (St James Auckland September 2004) :
While I first saw them live at BDO that year, this was their first non-festival show in NZ, and they didn't disappoint! Unfortunately I was in the top tier of the now-closed down St James Theatre, rather than amongst the throngs of the moshpit, but everyone was going crazy for them! Seen them at all the BDO's they've been at plus in CHCH when they toured Black Holes & Revelations, and while the stage show got more epic, this relatively raw set is still my favourite of theirs.
Especially now that they've gone all weird and electronica-y on me!
- Them Crooked Vultures (TSB Arena Wellington Jan 2010) :
This was two days before the AC/DC gig at Westpac Stadium, which in itself was a truly epic show, but I actually found myself having a much more fun time at TCV, even at the notoriously bad-acoustic TSB Arena. The company I was with certainly helped, but every song they played was just so fun to jump & dance around to or sing along with. Good times.
- G3 w/ Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Steve Lukather (Michael Fowler Centre Wellington, March 2012) :
I waited last minute to get tickets to this show (waiting on mates who eventually opted out), but so glad I did. My seat was supposed to be "restricted view" (side of stage) but ended up being really great view looking over the entire band right in line with the guys playing guitar (probably had better view of the band right up close than the people in front of stage).
Steve Vai was the absolute highlight (Satriani the machine being a close second), as well as being a guitar virtuoso, he's got so much emotion in the way he plays, and some hilarious stage antics. Plus he's so much taller than I realised!
Plus the 50-something Dad who managed to get away from the family for a night sitting next to me fist-pumping like a boss in delight added something to the occasion!
