We've had a discussion about first albums, now it's time to talk first gigs! Tell us the story of your first live music experience: who did you see, when did you see them, and were they any good?
These are the obvious things to share, but - depending on the gig - perhaps you'd like to add that it was your parents' idea, and what was the first gig you saw by your own choice? Tell us the story with optional pictures or links to the performance, if you can find any.
already paid
$38 / 100
Format, rules, and guidance
What happens next?
Reward details
Terms and conditions
This reward closed to entries at 9:15am on September 18, 2024 but you can still reply, react, and join the conversation below! If you’d like to enter other rewards which are still open, click here.
So, this one time, my buddy dragged me to some underground club. I can't even remember the name of the place. I was only 16, and it was totally illegal, but no one seemed to care. I was with my trusty friend, and my parents knew about it and were cool with it.
The music was a bunch of local industrial and noise bands. After listening to Backstreet Boys and Madonna, this music was like a whole new world for me. And the people there were wild—leather, latex, spikes, and tattoos everywhere.
That night really opened my eyes to a whole new side of music. I may not remember the exact names, but it was the start of my journey into the dark and amazing world of music.
Been to a few concerts before this if we were taken by the school, but didn't really enjoy them as they were nothing like the music I was listening to. The South-American TV shows were very popular in my country among elderly people, and I never dared to admit it at school (was already bullied by the other kids, didn't need to give them another reason) that I liked one of them too. I'm not sure what was the original title, but in Hungary it was called Wild Angel. I especially loved the music so when Natalia Oreiro was holding a concert, I begged my mom to take me to it as I didn't have any friends to go with.
This is a footage from that concert what I found on Youtube, the good old days of recording stuff from the TV so sorry for the quality 😅
Not exactly the type of music or concert you expected from me given how I'm a metalhead now, but I still think she made (or makes? - I should probably check if she has some new stuff) great music.
My first proper gig was actually with my auntie (sounds lame but we have odd generational divides in the family so she's only 7 years older than me). For my 16th birthday she took me to one of the Kerrang tour events which had The Blackout, Alter Bridge and All Time Low playing, to name just a few.
It was absolutely packed and the mosh pit was wild (not that I joined in).
She scored me some booze and we had a blast there, before I crashed at her student accommodation that night.
Way back in 1984, Twisted Sister were touring the UK, whilst I was still at secondary school.
One of my fellow students (I think we were in French lessons together) found out about the gig, canvassed a load of us and subsequently got a minibus hired and tickets bought.
When we got to the venue (Ipswich Gaumont Threatre), our seats were all covered by sound mixing desk stuff - we were given the option of either taking a box office set of seats, or standing at the front.
being naive, we chose the box seats and felt e'd made the right choice, until the gig started (support was tygers of pan tang) and everyone just moved to the front :D
Did get a grandstand view of the SMF song being sung at the one person who wasn't standing up...until he raised his crutches showing he'd got a broken leg.
Still on of my top 10 gigs of all time as it was the first one I'd ever been to.
My first ever concert was a last minute thing. My friends had tickets for Ed Sheeran at Manchester Arena and they had a friend drop out. They messaged me and asked if I wanted to join, and I could pay them back later so I joined them. This was the 22nd of April back in 2017!
I wasn’t even a fan of his, so the album I barely knew the words and I remember my friend would scream the lyrics for me before he sang it so I could sing along! So cute
I saw The Killers perform live for the first time in 2009 while I was still in high school, on their "Day & Age" tour. I had been dying to see them perform live for weeks because I had become so enamored with their album Hot Fuss. The outdoor amphitheater served as the venue for the show, and when the band did take the stage, the atmosphere was fantastic.
When they sang "Human" as their first song, the whole audience broke into spontaneous singing. With a captivating stage persona, Brandon Flowers executed every note perfectly as the band gave tight, polished versions of all their hits. I will always remember "Mr. Brightside" because of the incredible energy of the crowd, which occasionally overpowered the speakers.
They really amazed me during their first concert. It was everything and more than I had dreamed a live event could be: the sound, the lights, the mood. I was immediately enamored with live music.
With my EBD and PPD, it is tough for me to be anywhere, cramped in, surrounded by people. But my first ever gig was Lindsey Stirling in London, for this TheGreatestBanana12 choose seats for us that I would be able to leave if needed. We had a great time and I loved it.
The first but of live music I went to was in 2013. I was 16 and this was the first band I really got into in secondary school. My friend showed me a Paramore album which was Brand new eyes. This was the first piece of music I ever bought for my ipod touch. I eventually found out Paramore were performing at the Manchester arena which was pretty accessible for me so I got my mum to book me the tickets. Me and my best friend at the time both went and it was one of the best experience id had up to that point in my life. Sadly no backstage pass for 16 year old me but I did keep the wrist band and I know I still have it somewhere. I remember Misery Business coming on and everyone going crazy. You could barely hear Hayley because the crowd was so loud but it was an insane experience. I just wish I had another oppertunity to go again.
I'd been to a few parties with my parents and family when I was younger, but the first real concert I bought tickets for and planned to go to was that of the Brazilian country band Henrique & Juliano. I was about 14 and the band was very successful when they announced a concert in my town. I was so happy, I queued for hours to get a ticket at a better price and I was still one of the last ones there before it sold out!!!
I rehearsed all the songs to sing everything at the concert, chose the best outfit and went with my brother and aunt. It was very memorable and I still remember, 10 years later, the details and the songs they played that day.
My first gig was actually Reading 2001. The first band I ever saw thanks to that festival?
Yup, as a (relatively) fresh faced 15 year old I saw Run DMC as my first ever live music experience. Having not really known much beyond the hits the set was a bit of a blur looking back on it now, but I just remember being captivated by the whole festival atmosphere in general, let alone having these juggernauts on stage!
The rest of the weekend I managed to see:
PJ Harvey The Eels Rancid Iggy Pop Supergrass Manic Street Preachers Green Day Travis Fun Lovin' Criminals Feeder
By the Sunday my sister, future brother in law and myself were wiped out and ended up going home early but I'd experienced so much in those first two days I was beyond content. I'd just started learning bass guitar myself and to see all these artists doing what they do best was nothing short of inspirational for me. Did I get to play a festival? No. Was I inspired enough to get better and eventually play some shows? Yes. Reading was most definitely the catalyst for me in throwing myself into music education and music in general.
As for pictures, I have plenty that I took on a disposable camera - here's one of my sister putting some blue hair colour on me to really get me in the festival mood.
I had to look the part so temporary blue dye it was!
This goea back to one of my previous mentions, Wadruna. I had not gone to a proper gig until i was already an adult. My wife ended up suprising me for xmas 2 tickets to wadruna, and i went nuts about it even with the risk of work tellong me i couldnt go ( it was out of city and work was getting busy near the date of the show.) Luckily i got to go and normally o dont treat myself to merchandise, or to much at all, but ad doon ad i saw to merch i was straight there spent nearly £200 and just had a big grin and my wife was happy i treated myself for once lol. Then the show started, i struggled recording videos as the music live was just amazing that i couldnt stop moving to to the music.
Text in my native language - Brazilian Portuguese:
Meu primeiro show foi em uma cidade perto da minha dentro de um bar que eu já ia com meus amigos a um tempo, era meio que um ponto de encontro do pessoal da faculdade. E esse bar chamado "Tortuga Underground", ia comemorar seu 5° aniversário, e em comemoração disso o Mrs. Tortuga (Dono do bar), também chamado de "Faísca", preparou um show ao vivo com 5 bandas diferentes, algumas eu já tinha ouvido falar outras não, mas eu não tinha ido a nenhum show delas antes, então era tudo novo pra mim, mas a atração principal e também a última banda, era a minha predileta, "Jimmy & Rats", essa banda tem o mesmo espírito da banda "Matanza", eu não sei os motivos ou coisa assim mas o vocalista é o mesmo dessas duas bandas no caso o Jimmy, e Matanza é a minha banda preferida desde criança, eu sempre escutei as músicas e sempre tive vontade de ir em um show deles, mas por algum motivo o Matanza se "desfez" eles ainda tocam em show e tudo mais, mas não fazem mais música, só que o vocalista do Matanza continuou sua carreira nessa outra banda, "Rats", e com a junção dos dois, se formou o "Jimmy & Rats", que eu considero ser a encarnação em espírito da antiga banda "Matanza", logo, adoro as duas bandas e eu tive o prazer de participar deste show incrível, foi a melhor experiência que eu tive, infelizmente eu não tenho fotos ou vídeos de tudo aquilo, já que eu estava no meio da roda punk que eu começava junto com um cara que eu fiz amizade no dia.
Enfim, minhas considerações finais caso você leitor esteja curioso, eu sou Brasileiro e essas bandas são nacionais, mas eu recomendo escutar algumas músicas deles, a banda Matanza tem um album de música em inglês, eu não acho que são as melhores que eles fizeram, mas são boas também, da pra pegar a essêcia e o estilo do resto das músicas.
Text in English:
My first show was in a city close to mine in a bar that I had been going to with my friends for a while, it was a bit of a meeting place for people from college. And this bar called "Tortuga Underground", was going to celebrate its 5th anniversary, and in celebration of that Mrs. Tortuga (Owner of the bar), also called "Faísca", prepared a live show with 5 different bands, some of which I've already I hadn't heard of others, but I hadn't been to any of their shows before, so it was all new to me, but the main attraction and also the last band, was my favorite, "Jimmy & Rats", this band has the same spirit of the band "Matanza", I don't know the reasons or anything like that, but the vocalist is the same as those two bands, in this case Jimmy, and Matanza has been my favorite band since I was a child, I've always listened to their songs and I've always wanted to go in one of their shows, but for some reason Matanza "disbanded", they still play in shows and everything, but they don't make music anymore, but the lead singer of Matanza continued his career in this other band, "Rats", and with Between the two, "Jimmy & Rats" was formed, which I consider to be the incarnation in spirit of the old band "Matanza", so I love both bands and I had the pleasure of participating in this incredible show, it was the best experience I've ever had. I did, unfortunately I don't have photos or videos of all that, since I was in the middle of the punk circle that I started with a guy I made friends with that day.
Anyway, my final considerations in case you reader are curious, I'm Brazilian and these bands are national, but I recommend listening to some of their songs, the band Matanza has a music album in English, I don't think they're the best they've done, but they're good too, you can get the essence and style of the rest of the songs.
First gig I ever went to was Westlife - World of Our Own!
I wasn’t told I was going and didn’t really know what a concert was so I spent the whole train journey to London being talked to about Westlife. I didn’t know what that meant but I did notice the little smiles and laughs that my family had between themselves at my expense.
It was actually a pretty good gig and Mark McFadden got stuck upside down on a wire with pyros shooting upwards. Would recommend 😂
Some details escape to my mind, Juan Luis Guerra and his Group 440 was and still is the most internationally known artist from my country Dominican Republic and i went to this amazing concert they made after that international sucess.
The most vivid detail i remember well is that started to rain and that rain was not an obstacle to the 50k souls that filled the formerly known Estadio Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte, dancing and jumping of happines while sang every song.
I have the ticket of that concert somewhere in my house but couldn't find it.
I was there too! - Breed have such a unique sound .. .and if memory serves me they were INCREDIBLY LOUD that night .... i miss the LA2/ MF... although i don't ever actually recall the LA2 being called the Mean Fiddler!?!?!
The first gig I went on was a concert of Roger Waters in his Us + Them Tour, and it was special because even I living in a relative big city it wasn't common those kind of concerts, international and that play the genre rock. So when it was announced I get really happy and exited to finally can buy a ticket for this kind of show, specially the show of Roger Waters.
And it had some memorable moments, since the giant pig balloon to the light pyramid, and specially the songs that we all love from Pink Floyd. I think it was a fantastic first gig and hope that everybody had similar experiencies with their first gig.
I went with two more friends to that concert and for coincidence one of them was commemorating his birthday and we just remembered in the middle of the concert.
MY FIRST CONCERT WAS IN 1987 Aprox to see the Dominican singer , imitator and comedian Julio Sabala
that in this moment he was very famous specially with his impersonation of Julio Iglesias , Michael Jackson or Prince
and of course was in the Santo Domingo Olimpic Center a full house with more or less 5,000 people the show was unforgettable and at the end close the show with a song singing and using his own style , in this especially time of Dominican History we was having a Half- Dictatorship (If this exist) and was risk
But everything was ok
But if l could choose somebody else maybe was preferred to see a Rock band or something like …. First Concert
As my dad is a guitarist, I remember going to his gigs since I was little, to the point I can barely remember them. One of the first was at this large festival, and thanks to my dad, I was given this coupons for free food and drinks at the festival, however, there was a catch: it was an either or deal. The one I can remember the most was for either a free popcorn or candy floss, and as a small, indecisive child, I remember just being paralysed with the choice. I was like maybe 4-5 max at the time, so again can't remember much else, just being unable to choose what I wanted to the point of becoming very emotional about it.
The first gig of his I can properly remember was when we came to England. It was in a local Polish community centre, and it was the first time I really understood the full context, and it was just the coolest thing for me that my dad was performing on-stage, and that we were treated as VIPs at the event because of this.
When I was about 11 My mum and step dad surprised me by taking to a Levellers concert.
The thing I remember most vividly is a group of ....chemical enthusiasts (yes that should appease the code of conduct) sitting on the floor with spoons and lighters 🤣.
I loved the music and it was great to exprience our favourte band together however being knocked about in a huge group of strangers is not as fun if you cant get drunk lol.
I was never a one for music growing up. I did school work, watched anime, and played videogames. It wasn't until a buddy of mine gave me his older brother's CDs of this band (ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION) did I really become a fan of music.
So whilst my friends went to Leeds fest and concerts, I tried torrenting or Limewiring more of their stuff. I thought that they were a Japanese band so the liklihood of them doing a tour around the UK/ Europe was very unlikely.
It was only when I entered university that they announced a European tour and of course the Uk was one of the countries. Fortunately my friends were still fans of this band and we grabbed ticket to see them and it was amazing!
I've been to more gigs now that I'm more comfortable with my music taste but this band holds very precious memories for me. I've seen them 2/3 times they've performed in the UK and always with the same people. This poster I finally got framed this year was from their last performance where I got VIP tickets which included this poster and a meet & greet with the band.
