I think it’s interesting to see what bands I have seen live and what I thought of it [even though I might update in my blog about it] so I’m going to highlight my personal favourites:
A Fire Inside
Fan since: 2003
Seen live: 4 times
I saw AFI for the first time in October of 2006 in Cologne and I absolutely loved it. It was a dream come true. Then I saw them in May 2007 and again in August 2009 and April 2010. Sing the Sorrow is one of my absolute Best Album Ever Of All Times, and whatever CD came before or after that is also very much appreciated by me. This band can just do no wrong. I LOVE AFI!
Alexisonfire
Fan since: 2005
Seen live: around 7 times
I missed their very first performance in the Netherlands, but nonetheless saw them 4 times in 2006, a few times in 2009 and once in 2010. Alexisonfire was a truly amazing band, with awesome albums and very energetic live shows. Shows progressed over the years – they used to not really have a stage and walk into the crowd all the time, which was awesome. Yet when they were bigger and played bigger venues, the shows were still out of control. There was always a memorable moment, I looked forward to shows for months! Their music and shows were simply fantastic and I am very sad that AOF is no more.
Anti-Flag
Fan since: 2006
Seen live: 11 times
Aaahh, Anti-Flag. In 2006 I became completely and utterly obsessed, and it hasn’t really changed since.
The first time I saw them was in my hometown in the venue Waterfront. It was amazing. I totally fell in love with the band that night. The second time was Groezrock [an amazing festival in Belgium]. The best thing about this performance was that at one point the sound stopped working, but the band kept on playing and turned their monitors to the audience. I’ll never forget that moment.
The times I’ve seen them after those first few never got any less magical or amazing. There are so many good memories! Whether I saw them at a festival or in a small venue, every time is different and special. From seeing Chris #2 try to make out with someone who was annoying him, to having Pat Thetic play the drums in the crowd… whether I would be sitting on the side of the stage to take photos or in the middle of the pit screaming my lungs out, it’s never been less amazing than that first time. It was only by the tenth show that I finally got to talk to Justin and the Chris-es, because even if Pat comes out most of the times the others don’t. One can imagine how happy I was to finally have this opportunity! Haha.
Going to an A-F show is always one of the highlights of my year. I get a special feeling when I’m there: the music, the atmosphere… it’s like completely losing track of time, and over too soon at the same time!
Avenged Sevenfold
Fan since: 2005
Seen live: 3 minutes.
I have a funny story about A7X, since I never really saw them. I only saw three minutes of their show under the pretense that I was "looking for someone inside" when my friend Joyce and I showed up at the venue when the doors were closed and the show was almost over. But this night, June 1st 2005, was the first night I saw R in the flesh and I will never forget about the trip to Amsterdam, the sneaking in, the pictures with bandmembers later and the train ride home. A lot of good memories thanks to Avenged! Now if only I could get to see a real show of them, heh.
Blink-182
Fan since: 2001
Seen live: 1 time
I saw Blink at one of their last pre-hiatus concerts, in Paris at Bercy in 2005. I got the tickets for my birthday and I’m so glad I went! It was amazing seeing one of my heroes play live, with the band that I have listened a lot to. But the bummer side was that it was an arena show and we were miles away from the stage. The quality of the concert wasn’t all that great either, they rushed through all the songs with a tempo of at least three times faster than on record and they only said about five words to the audience. Though it was a fantastic experience, meeting with UVR [see below] beforehand and having to hide our jackets under some stairs because the arena had no vestiaire. All in all, I’m very happy I got to see them even if it wasn’t perfect.
Cancer Bats
Fan since: 2006
Seen live: 13ish times
The first time I saw Cancer Bats was at an Alexisonfire show. I was immediately sold by the Bats, though. Since that first night, we’ve had at least one show a year. I’ve seen them in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, middle-of-nowhere-places in Belgium, even London… It doesn’t matter where they play. Their live shows are phenomenal. The dudes also immediately got a place in my heart because they are really, really nice. They’re always friendly enough for a chat before or after the show. The show itself is so lively, the whole band is into it and so is the crowd. People at Bats shows are really great. I always want to stand at the front [and sing as loud as I can!] and no matter how hard everyone pushes, or how many bruises I get, it’s always the best time. I’ve made some friends as well, having people sleep over after a show and whatnot. Any friend of the Bats is a friend of mine!
Deas Vail
Fan since: 2005
Seen live: never
I have never seen Deas Vail live because they haven’t toured outside of the United States yet, and I don’t even think they’ve done any headlining tours yet. But it’s safe to say that Deas Vail is one of my favourite bands, I’m really in love with all their songs. So far they have 3 full length albums and 2 EPs, and I keep listening to everything over and over again. I really hope I can see them live once, it would be a dream come true.
Staind
Fan since: 2003
Seen live: 3 times
I was a very big fan of Staind for a long while, and now they’ve gone into sort of “nostalgia” position for me. Breaking The Cycle is a very strong album from beginning to end, and it helped me get through a difficult time in my life. I really like their other material, and they have certainly progressed. While I love listening to Staind and it was great to see them live, now I just rather listen to them on my own.
Sum 41
Fan since: 2001
Seen live: 4 times
I don’t care how old they get, or how old I get; Sum 41 is one of my favourite bands. And they will be for a long time. I first saw them live [one of my first live shows!] in Amsterdam, in January 2003. Then I saw them again four years later, at a festival in Paris. 2010 was a bit more fruitful, with Groezrock and headlining the Eastpak Antidote festival in Brussels. Their live show is really fun, no matter what age or what kind of fan you are. In over ten years I’ve only seen them 4 times, but they are some of my best memories!
Ultra Violet Radiation
Fan since: 2003
Seen live: 2 times
UVR gets a honorable mention because I don’t think they exist anymore. But I came upon this band once during a summer in France, turned into a huge fangirl and managed to see them perform twice in Belgium, even if they were only a local band in the States. I also saw the guys before the Blink-182 show, and went on some adventures [Amsterdam, Schiedam, Brussels, sleeping in a car] in 2005 together with my best friend Tessa. So good riddance UVR, your music is fun and makes me happy, and thank you for the memories!
And many more…
In case you are interested, you can find my last.fm in my links.
