Yeah, in Dec 1985 I went to see Rush on their Power Windows tour. The opener was the Steve Morse Band. I had heard OF him from the guitar mags but had never heard his music. He blew the crowd away.

I went to see the Triple bill of Alice Cooper / Queensryche / Heaven and shell. I was really there to see Heaven and Hell. I love Sabbath, love Dio. I had also seen Queensryche a few times so I knew they would be good. I wasn't expecting much from Alice Cooper.i just knew a few of his overplayed radio hits. However, he stole the show!! Great energy, tight band, strong voice, cool songs.

This past spring, I was given a free ticket to see the Zombies do "Oracle & Odyssey" live. I only knew their 3 radio hits. GREAT show. Remarkable musicians, powerful music. What a treat.

Most recently, I saw the Wood Brothers open for TTB. I didn't know their stuff. They really won the crowd over. Instant fan.i just got their first live disc, and it is in steady rotation here.

Wu-Tang Clan.

Philly '06 or so. I'm a huge rap fan but generally hate the concerts. They're uniformly terrible. I went because a bunch of friends were going. I was expecting to walk out.

Wu was un. friggin. real. that night. Especially Method Man.

Still a Top 5 concert of my life.

Also, Alan Jackson back in 1996 or 1997. I hadn't gotten into country yet, but worked at the Bryce Jordan Center at State College, PA. He came and I was blown away by him and especially his kick ass band.

Went to concerts 3 nights in a row - and at least one was a long drive to Alpine Valley...... so the 3rd night was Ian Hunter and Heart - I really liked both but didn't have high expectations after the previous 2 nights - but they were both excellent............

Keeping with the Steve Morse theme:

1981ish, went to see the Barrere Band (Little Feat's name briefly after Lowell died) and the Dixie Dregs opened up. I knew a bit about who they were, but wasn't expecting anything in particular as I was there for F-E-A-T. To this day that Dregs set is one of the most jaw dropping jam fest concerts I have ever seen.

Last year a friend had booked a show at our favorite local venue, capacity around 150.

Walter Trout.

It was the best show we saw last year and that's with Butch Trucks, Buddy Guy, Steely Dan, Lucinda Williams and three Mule shows, including Mule-O-Ween.

We saw him again in July, a kick-off show for the Syracuse BluesFest.

[Edited on 8/15/2017 by PhotoRon286]

98 or 99 - Dave Holland Quintent @ Jazz Showcase in Chicago

Saw the listing in a local paper that simply read, "Miles Davis' bassist" and figured it was worth a shot. Knew nothing about him otherwise.

Holy cow that band SMOKED. Serious consciousness expansion for me and my buddy that night. I bought every CD they made from then on.

Seeing Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins chilling in the back with the rest of the audience was pretty wild, too. He knew what was up!

I have never been more surprised in my life than the first time I saw Aquarium Rescue Unit. Nothing could really prepare you for seeing that band in their prime. My jaw was on the floor most of the night. I still haven't recovered fully, to be honest. My obsession with Col. Bruce would last until I literally saw him die on stage.

Another one that springs to mind is the very first Meters reunion show in 1988 at Jimmy's in New Orleans. I was a young Tulane student, didn't know much about the band, but went to the gig on the recommendation of other, more savvy students. 1:30 minute first set, 2:45 second set, and by far the funkiest music I had ever heard in my life to that point. Definitely a pivotal moment in my musical life.

In 1986, my band was up in the Bay Area playing a few clubs there. I watched the first band on the bill one night that was all high school kids and was blown away. The band was Death Angel.

went to Peach fest in 2014 and was told to check out this band Cabinet, not knowing what to expect.
It was a great weekend with lots of great memories but seeing them was a nice surprise

back in the early 90's I was given tickets to see Ben Harper on the Pier in Seattle. Had no idea really who he was or who the Innocent Criminals were. Didn't have the CD's and didn't know most of the songs.

He tore the place to shreds with that slide, the band was fantastic, the crowd danced all night and he played for a long time.

I left blown away. Completely blown away.
Been a fan ever since

I have never been more surprised in my life than the first time I saw Aquarium Rescue Unit. Nothing could really prepare you for seeing that band in their prime. My jaw was on the floor most of the night

Agree about that band .I saw them for the first time, I think it was 1992 or 1993 at the Horde Fest and they were on in an early time slot. Not a lot of people , crowd was pretty sparse. Those guys killed it. What a lineup, Bruce, Jimmy, Oteil, Jeff Sipe, Matt Mundy .I cant remember if Count M'Butu was with them or not. Still to this day one of my favorite and best shows I have ever seen.

Two of the most shockingly good shows I ever saw were my first Allman Brothers Band show (7/6/90) and my only Frogwings Show (Dec 1997; Edwin McCain lineup). My buddy Joey was with me for both.

We actually went in with pretty good expectations but had no idea what we were about to experience. Both shows stick with me to this day and changed my life in lots of ways. Both have to be my tops.

Other shows have been tremendous, but not in the shocking/surprising way these two were.

I have never been more surprised in my life than the first time I saw Aquarium Rescue Unit. Nothing could really prepare you for seeing that band in their prime. My jaw was on the floor most of the night. I still haven't recovered fully, to be honest. My obsession with Col. Bruce would last until I literally saw him die on stage.

Rob's statement applies 100% to me. Changed my life forever too. I first saw them in 1990, and didn't know what I was in for. At the time I was taking guitar lessons from the original ARU guitarist, so I was familiar with the stories of Bruce, and he had always talked about how incredible Jimmy and Oteil were. And indeed he was right!

I knew that they had a mandolin player, but Matt Mundy just knocked me out. I was totally unprepared for that, and it was back when he played the 4 string acoustic/electric mandolin, so he was shredding like a jazz guitarist but it still sounded like a mandolin. I didn't know that was even possible. It was general admission at the old Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, and I was front row against the stage the whole night. Sipe also blew me away (treated to a rare live Walk With Peltor too).

I think a lot has to do with expectations. Michael Hedges blew me away b/c I had no idea what I was going to see, and he was simply astounding. Even though that's not really my cup of tea. Frogwings at Smith's Olde Bar and Justice League at Georgia Theatre also blew me away, but I more or less knew what I was in for going in to those two shows, but they just exceeded expectations. First time seeing Soul Stew was like that too, I guess.

98 or 99 - Dave Holland Quintent @ Jazz Showcase in Chicago

Saw the listing in a local paper that simply read, "Miles Davis' bassist" and figured it was worth a shot. Knew nothing about him otherwise.

Holy cow that band SMOKED. Serious consciousness expansion for me and my buddy that night. I bought every CD they made from then on.

Seeing Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins chilling in the back with the rest of the audience was pretty wild, too. He knew what was up!

there must be something about Dave Holland. I saw him in NYC a few years back. Sitting one table over from us was none other than Lou Reed.

Didn't talk to him. He didn't seem like he was any different than anyone else there except that Dave came out to talk to him at set break