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What's the coolest stage setup you've ever seen at a concert? I know arenas and stadiums can be annoying places to see concerts, but one perk to seeing shows there are the insane stage setups you could never bring to life in more intimate settings. Some bands get really creative and find ways to make the stage itself a unique part of the live experience. One band I'd say typically does that is Metallica - case in point, take a look at these clips from their show at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Oct. 25, 2018 (always love seeing Metallica in the round, but they really went above and beyond with the interactive ceiling screens). Then again, I'm really critical with the stage setup they've been using on the M72 World Tour... but that's a conversation for another time 😉

Share your picks for the coolest stage setups you've seen firsthand in the comments below. And stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like the one seen in these clips)!

18 years ago, I saw Stone Temple Pilots headline the WMMR-BQ at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ - which also served as the famed radio station's 40th birthday bash. I had seen Scott Weiland play with Velvet Revolver four times, but this was my first (and only) time seeing him play with STP. And he looked and sounded great - which I know how lucky I am to say that (as it was well reported how fans who attended some dates on that very same reunion tour sadly couldn't say the same). Even though that radio station festival's bill also featured the like of Staind, the Hooters and Everclear, it was instantly clear why STP were the headliners - playing hit after hit during a high-energy rock show.

Here's a clip of them playing "Lady Picture Show" (a fna favorite off "Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop" - which celebrated its 30th anniversary this past March).

What's your favorite set from a radio station festival? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come (including stories from concerts like this)!

I'm ashamed to admit that I took Chris Cornell's talent for granted prior to his death on May 17, 2017... part of me always assumed I'd have plenty of chances to see the singer live, so as a result I only got to see him and Soundgarden live once. But I'm so glad I did - it was Soundgarden's co-headlining tour with Nine Inch Nails at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ (Aug. 2, 2014), and needless to say, they sounded fantastic. Will always be grateful I got to hear Cornell sing songs like "Black Hole Sun", "Outshine", "Spoonman" and "Rusty Cage" at least once.

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this.

21 years ago, System Of A Down released "Mezmerize". That album still remains one of my all time favorites. I can still visualize the time I bought that album, and I can still listen to it from start to finish over and over again even after all these years. That's why hearing SOAD tear through songs like "B.Y.O.B" and "Radio/Video" during their massive show at MetLife Stadium back in August 27, 2025, was such a thrill.

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20 years ago, Guns N' Roses concluded their four night stint at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. The fact I got to see Axl Rose and his new GN'R lineup in such an intimate venue was mind blowing enough (and remember - Axl Rose in 2006 was on fire), but what makes this show an all-time incredible moment was the fact Izzy Stradlin joined them onstage to play a handful of songs - marking the first time since 1991 Axl and Izzy shared a stage together. Seeing them tear through "Think About You" is still a "pinch me" moment that I still ask "Did I seriously see that?!"

What's your favorite "pinch me" moment from a concert you've experienced? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!

60 years ago, the Beach Boys released "Pet Sounds" - one of the most influential albums in music. While I never got to see Brian Wilson live, I did get to see Mike Love's version of the band (with none other than John Stamos himself) play all the hits at Sea Hear Now on Sept. 17, 2023, including "Pet Sounds" staple "Wouldn't It Be Nice"... yup, I got to see the Beach Boys on an ACTUAL beach in Asbury Park!

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Hard to believe it's been 16 years since Ronnie James Dio passed away. While I never got to see him play his solo hits, so grateful I got to see him twice with the Dio-Era Black Sabbath reunion project Heaven & Hell - first time being 19 years ago (May 19, 2007) at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ (with openers Megadeth and Machine Head), then the following year (Aug. 6, 2008) at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ, as part of the Metal Masters tour with Judas Priest, Motorhead, and Testament... could never have imagined that two years after that show, he would lose such an influential voice in metal.

Share your favorite memories of seeing Dio live in the comments below. And stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like these!

PS, as seen in the beginning of this clip - during that PNC Bank Arts Center show, I got a metal guitar pick necklace that had each band member's signatures engraved on one side... still a cherished concert purchase of mine 😀

May marks 25 years since Tool released "Lateralus" AND 20 years since they released "10,000 Days". Rather fitting since Sept. 28, 2006 marks 20 years since I first witnessed the incredible live experience of Tool. Haven't seen Maynard James Keenan and co. live since Nov. 16, 2019, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ - and anyone who's seen a Tool show before knows I need to fix that ASAP 😉

Which band have you not seen in a very long time live (and hope to again soon)? Share your answers in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like these)!

25 years ago, Weezer released their second self-titled album (aka the Green Album)... honestly, their debut Blue Album is so monumental (hell, it just got inducted into the National Recording Registry!) that its easy to forget how massive the Green Album was... but whenever I see the band tear through songs like "Hashpipe" live, or witness Rivers Cuomo serenade "Island In The Sun" to thousands of fans, I suddenly get transported back to when I first heard those songs in my youth (and then the hundreds of special memories tied to both since).

That was definitely the case when I saw Weezer play Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2019. Though you can see in this clip - that particular performance was even more impressive given the enormous amount of Pyro they used during "Hashpipe", and thanks to River's acoustic rendition of "Island in the Sun" (which he played in a boat that rolled all around the entire floor of Madison Square Garden).

Which concert instantly took you on a nostalgia trip? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!

21 years ago, I saw U2 bring their massive Vertgio tour to Philadelphia. My friend and I were seated in the very last row in the Wachovia Center toward stage left. And it's one of those shows where I was actually so glad to be as far back as we were - otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to appreciate the incredible stage set up U2 utilized on the tour. The stage was literally performing a light show along with the songs - I can still visualize the stage changing colors and textures every time The Edge played a different note during his guitar solo. It was a visual experience unlike anything I've ever seen.

Sadly I have no video or photos from that incredible evening - glad I still at least have this "How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" tour shirt 😀

What show you've been to would you say had the most incredible visuals and lighting? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!

11 years ago, I finally got to see Faith No More live. It was quite a sight to see the band tear through fan-favorites while donned in all-white playing on a stage covered in flowers. Though an even funnier sight - a few short hours after seeing them play a sold out Webster Hall in NYC, I arrived home in time to see Mike Patton and gang play The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (wearing the same white outfits admist a sea of flowers)... What a sight indeed...

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I still cannot believe I got to see Bruce Springsteen play Madison Square Garden... granted, you're guaranteed an incredible show from the Boss wherever he plays, but clearly Bruce and the E Street Band brought their A+ game to the World's Most Famous Arena (plus special guest Tom Morello). Seeing the entire band tear through a 3 hour set at full speed was astonishing... though honestly, what made the night really special for me was getting to share it with my dad. I'm so grateful that my parents brought me to so many concerts (including to my first Bruce show at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia back im 2003). But it's been a while since I went to a show with them. And while my mom couldn't join us, dad and I took plenty of video of us screaming our heads off to many songs to share with her/make her feel like she was there with us.

I'll spare you video of us doing live Bruce karaoke - instead, here are clips of the band tearing through "Dancing In the Dark" and "Born to Run". I absolutely loved that they turned the house lights on - a truly awe-inspiring sight to see an entire sold out Madison Square Garden dancing and singing along!

Holy crap, I just saw Bruce Springsteen rock the crap out of Madison Square Garden tonight! I'll be sharing more thoughts (and video 😉) from the evening with Bruce and the E Street Band (with special guest Tom Morello) over time. But for now - here's a taste of them playing "Born in the U.S.A." at

32 years ago, G. Love and Special Sauce released their self-titled debut I've seen G. Love live many, many times since, but getting to see him join his frequent collaborator Jack Johnson (whose celebrating a birthday May 18) for a few songs during the latter's headlining set of the inaugural Sea Hear Now festival back in 2018 was truly something special. Here's a snippet of them playing "Good People" on the Asbury Park Beach that night.

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20 years ago, Red Hot Chili Peppers released "Stadium Arcadium".... wait, what?! How has it been 20 years since this album that I've obsessed with since high school came out? And how has it been 4 years since I saw RHCP perform classics off this album like "Snow (Hey Oh)" and "Dani California" at MetLife Stadium (Aug. 17, 2022)?! Though truth be told - nothing will be seeing RHCP at the actual Stadium Arcadium Tour's Oct. 23 stop at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia ... even 20 years later, it's still one of the best concerts I've ever seen!

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like these)!

Happy birthday to Billy Joel! While I've only seen the Piano Man live once, it's crazy to think I got to see him with the Rocket Man himself, Elton John during their last tour together - the Face 2 Face Tour - at Citizens Bank Park in Philly Aug. 1, 2009. Not only did they both play their own sets, but also played each other's hits together throughout the night... Maybe one day these legends will step on stage together again 🤞

What incredible pair of musicians have you seen play "Face 2 Face" on stage together? Share in the comments below, and stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!

17 years ago, I saw Andrew W.K. play a tiny club located in the basement of my college campus. Inwas a sophomore at Clark University in Worcester, Mass. when Andrew W.K. randomly announced he was playing a handful of gigs after a few years away from the stage. One of those gigs was at a tiny little club called the Grind. It was the type of college venue usually reserved for student bands or the odd ball act who just so happened to be passing through town. So naturally, Andrew W.K. was the biggest act to play that space (at least in the decade prior), and even though the show got postponed from February to April 29, 2009, everyone on campus was pumped for the show.

And simply put - he did not disappoint! Backed by a full band, AWK put on the type of energized rock show you'd expect from the King of Partying. Everyone was moshing, and by the time they started to play "Party Hard", half the room was on stage singing along. I even ended up sharing a microphone with one of the keyboardist from the opening act Math The Band - both of us screaming "LET'S GET A PARTY STARTED" nonstop.

This show in particular holds a special place in my heart, because after graduating college, I would end up joining Andrew W.K.'s PR team in one of my first music industry gigs. And to make the show even more serendipitous - I ended up becoming coworkers with the keyboardist I shared the microphone with during "Party Hard" at the same music marketing/PR company... but that's a story for another time 😉

Stay tuned for more things to come from this space, including stories from concerts like this!

9 years ago, I saw Opeth, Gojira AND the Devin Townsend Project play Starland Ballroom - all on the same night and stage. It's another one of those "holy crap, I saw THAT show in THAT venue?!" While Opeth and Gojira's popularity has arguably only grown bigger since (and Devin Townsend has been performing less and retired the DTP brand shortly after this tour), 2017 saw all three bands in high demand - each playing big tours and venues on their own. So to see them play the unbelievably intimate Sayreville venue, let alone on the same bill that year, still blows my mind even nine years later...

Check out footage from each band's set in this clip. And share what touring lineup are you still in disbelief that you actually got to witness in the comments below. Also stay tuned for more things to come from this space (including stories from concerts like this)!