best live preformance

[saxman]

The concert in Philly was my most recent and best concert ive attended , sorry , [i went to the hollywood bowl adrea bochelli concert this month] it does not compare to the live Philly Janis concert this year. ive played with and been to many concerts in my life , but the Philly concert was and is # 1 on my list. # 2 was Harry Chapin at the bottom line , NY in the early 70s. about 73 .3rd was Buddy rich in NY # 1 is always on my mind. it and the concert will always be with me

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Well Mike, I think in all fairness I need to break this down to bands as a catagory and solo artists as another catagory...

The best solo artist Hands down with nobody around that can even compare is of course Janis... As to which of her concerts was best... I really would have a hard time selecting cause they were all so good...

I sure would have loved to seen Harry Chapin... He was one of my all time favs.....30,000 pounds of bananas......

Bands are another story... I have a couple that are at the top of my list...The

Moody Blues is the only one thats not a horn band....

Chicago

Earth Wind & Fire

Blood Sweat & Tears

Huey Lewis & the News...

many other greats but I think they are near the top in my book... But then ask me tomorrow and I will probably change a couple of them....

Best to all.... Mike raise hell in Pittsburgh for me ! Make Redjack suffer, after all he is evil:mad: ... just a bit...But be really nice to Irish beth and Kathy for me... They are good.:p

R. from Pa

[Denise]

aahhh - Moody Blues....

Nights in white satin,
Never reaching the end,
Letters I've written,
Never meaning to send.

Beauty I'd always missed
With these eyes before,
Just what the truth is
I cant say anymore.

cause I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.

Gazing at people,
Some hand in hand,
Just what I'm going thru
They can understand.

Some try to tell me
Thoughts they cannot defend,
Just what you want to be
You will be in the end.

oh my - love that song... nice and loud....

[SFBill]

This thread reminded me of my favorite Janis performance live--it was circa 1995 or so
the song was WHEN ANGELS CRY at the Great American Music Hall in SF.

(i'm wondering if her show preceded the release of REVENGE--it sure feels longer than11 years ago)

absolutely stunning!!
--thank you Janis--you put the PRIDE into Pride month.
Come back to SF please!

Your music is a blessing and never ending gift.

[DaveM]

Well, perhaps I should limit myself to national performers, but I think my all-time favorite concert was a performance by Claudia Schmidt (who I've mentioned before) which was to be held at a small outdoor ampitheater at a nature center near where I used to live. Attendance was by invitation only....my brother worked at the nature center.

When the 50-75 who'd been invited showed up, it was pouring down rain, so we were all moved into basically a large living room with a fireplace. Working without a microphone or sound system, Claudia sang for nearly three hours. Oh, and I managed a seat in the front row too--she actually reached over and swatted my knee once after asking me to sing along on a personal favorite (yes, I shut up).

I would be astonished if there is anyone else on this board who is familiar with Claudia's music. But should she be playing in your area--trust me, the usually very reasonable ticket prices will be more than worth it. You'll not only get a lengthy evening of friendly music, but some good conversation and a hug if you hang around afterwards.

[Angelica]

I've seen many artists live (I hope I can get to see Janis sometime, but there is no chance for her to come so "deep" in the south), shure everyone of them are tattoo's in my skin, but there is one I would have like to see, but is unfortunately dead... the greatest Freddy Mercury... I have a lot of videos of Queen, that's entertainment!

[ponytail]

I saw Janis at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in the seventies. It was around the time "Stars" came out, and when she sang it, it was the first time many people had heard it. It was at night. What an awesome moment.

Dave, I did see Claudia Schmidt once, at a small culb in Philadelphia called The Cherry Tree Folk Club. She sang a very funny vaudeville-type song called "You Were Only F__king While I was Making Love." She had a very strong voice and seemed like a very sweet person. I liked her a lot.

I also saw Aretha Franklin in concert once, and she was so electrifying the whole audience practically levitated out of their seats. That was an amazing show. Patti Labelle is also incredible to see live. And Betty Carter, Cleo Laine, Roberta Flack, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Barbrara Cook, Jane Olivor, Bette Midler -- I have seen a lot of great shows.

God, do I wanna see Janis again!

[NinasSpaceChild]

I've seen so many.

My best janis concert was the first time I saw her a couple of years ago at The Lowry.

My best ever concert was Nina Simone, twice. Once at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall in 1999 and then again at the Royal festival Hall in London the same year.

[marjan]

I've seen a lot performances over the years, but the one I cherish the most is seeing ABBA live. I was a huge fan, and seeing them live was just a great event :D

[saxman]

do you have the cd or LP of Nina singing Mr Bogangles? i hear Janis sing it just the same. i love Nina s.

[Angelica]

Mr. Bojangles... is a treasure for me! It is a number in one of our plays... I sing it and my director dances it... Mr. Bojangles, daaaance :)

[NinasSpaceChild]

I have almost everything Nina Simone ever recorded, some of it very rare.

She is my pillar of strength and my constant support and companion.

Mr Bojangles is remarkable. I remember when I saw Fosse, the play and Mr Bojangles was performed. I cried and cried.

[David from London]

Best Janis live performance - possibly Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 2006, although Royal Festival Hall was great too.

Other best live peformances - Dory Previn, Fairfield Hall; Joan Baez, Barbican 2006; Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Royal Festival Hall; Linda Thompson, Lyric Hammersmith

[NinasSpaceChild]

Dory Previn? :eek: When did you see her? I'd cut om my arms, legs and anything else to see Dory live. I bet she was brilliant. I have the Live at Carnegie Hall CD and it gets played hell of a lot. :)

[Kathleen Brogan]

Janis' Restless Eyes tour at the Roxy in LA. She let me and my boyfriend of the time stay for the 2nd performance for free, even though I'd already bought the ticket for myself. Probably helped that I was wearing my "Between the Lines" tour T-Shirt. He was going to go back to the hotel, but changed his mind and stayed with me and watched when he realized he wasn't going to get lucky that night anyway. "Bigger than Real" had an extended bluegrass fiddle arrangement that was later used in the "Freedom" tv movie, and Janis did a very dramatic, almost theatrical version of "In the Winter" that I'll never forget. I still have my unused, untorn ticket stub!

Second favorite performer to see live is Bette Midler. Great thread!!!

[gisli]

What to choose, what to choose......?
Ohh I havent gone to so many so Janis in Amsterdam, Roger Waters, Robert Plant, Writing On The Wall, Badfinger, Benny Goodman, Cleo Laine, Stranglers, Led Zeppelin, Mezzoforte.

[David from London]

NinasSpaceChild

I saw Dory first in 1977 at the Fairfield Hall in Croydon, South London. She was incredible. I still have the programme and several newspaper reviews.

I later saw her two times when she appeared at the Donmar Warehouse, a small theatre in London - can't remember the year. She was on every night for four or five weeks and I remember that one of the times I went the audience was only about 25 people. Again she was spot on - wonderful songs, a very expressive voice and, like Janis, a very warm personality.

It's a great pity that her last two albums haven't been released on CD.

I gather that she had a minor stroke recently, but she is still occasionally involved in musical things and you can download an album she has produced at:

http://www.mabot.com/music/dory-previn/planetblue.html

[david uk]

Mercedes Sosa, Vienna (Austria) 1999
Marc Almond, Almeida Theatre, London 2004
Sparks, Leicester DE Montfort Hall 2006
Annie Lennox, Sadlers Wells Theatre, London 2003

[Lincoln Imp]

I have been lucky enough to Janis 3 times in my life, and all her shows have been excellent, faultless performances. The most memorable gig of my life, howerver, was Leonard Cohen at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 93. What a night!! He is now the only performer alive that I would consider going back to London to see.

[Agnes]

Patrick Bruel, 1994, Rotterdam (the Netherlands)
Dougie MacLean, 2004, Edinburgh (Scotland)
Janis Ian, 2006, Amsterdam (the Netherlands)

[David from London]

Dylan

There's also a long recent interview with Dory Previn, with songs, available at:

http://www.prx.org/pieces/5389


David

[saxman]

The world is somuch better if we all could sing ,Play, or dance or be excepted for what we are. Thanks People for being here for me, when im not sometimes here for myself ! its so amazing to me that others are where im at and im where others are. . ok enough about me lets talk about you what do you think of me. Love that !song

[ponytail]

I saw Dory Previn back in the seventies at the Main Point, a small folk club near Philadelphia. She was amazing. I had all her ablums on vinyl, and she is one of a number of artists whose LPs I need to replace with CDS. Her new "Planet Blue" album is an amazing piece of work, too -- especially the gospel song from the viewpoint of an exasperated Mother Earth. Sorry to hear about her health problems-- will send her Rudie energy.

[NinasSpaceChild]

David From London, thanks so much for the Dory Previn links and info. I already have the Planet Blue album, and I'm off to read the interview now.

I was introduced to her music by a friend about ten years ago. She is so good. Special.

Funnily I went to see The Omen last night, with Mia Farrow and my friend leaned over and said "I wonder what Dory Previn thinks?"