Best Huge band you saw at a dive bar.

[TheChameleonsRgod]

I saw Nine Inch Nails at the Pipeline in North Newark NJ.

This was not too long after Pretty Hate Machine came out. The place was only half-full.

The next time they played there it was so packed I could not get it.

[mhochuli]

I saw the Go-Go's, Violent Femmes, the Bongo's, Gang of Four, R.E.M., and the Golden Palominos before they were "famous" at a famous Atlanta dive called 688. Apparently when it opened, Iggy Pop played there first and painted his play list on the wall. They painted those walls many times but never painted over his play list. Sadly 688 closed in 1986

[cubby]

Saw Love and Rockets back in 85 (Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven tour) at the Kennel Club in Philly.

Saw tons of bands at the HUB Ballroom at Penn State from 1985-1987. Most notable would be Camper Van Beethoven, Sonic Youth, Black Flag and the Flaming Lips.

Saw Iggy Pop at Toads Place in New Haven, CT. One of the best shows ever. Opening act was a then unknown Alice In Chains (who sucked by the way)

[catch]

i saw the donnas open for modern english on the back of a flatbead truck in summer 1999 or 1998 at a local club here there where three people in the audience

[Maryan]

My favourite famous-band-at-a-dive-bar moment would have to be when The Stranglers arrived for sound check at New London, CT's unfortunately-named "Baba O'Riley's" and the gorgeous J.J. Burnel looked around and said, "Wot a fackin' dump!"

[WoodlandParkPunk]

Flock of Seagulls in a park here in AZ with 15-20 people watching.
Metallica in a bar in 1984
Right Said Fred @ Tractor Pull

"You just pick a chord, go twang, and you've got music." ~ Sid Vicious

[wherewereuin82]

The Police at Uncle Sam's bar in Buffalo can't really remember the year. May have been '81. There was hardly anybody there. Love & Rockets '85 in the same bar.

"Don’t take life too seriously, you won’t get out alive"

[genxfiles]

REM at Sundowners in Blacksburg, VA. when Chronictown came out.

[drsevrin]

Well, not huge exactly, but . . .

The Art of Noise at the Palladium in Salt Lake City in 86.

If bands on the other side of the hill count:

Dead or Alive (aka the Pete Burns Karaoke Experience by this time) at The Vortex in 94
The Fixx at The Velvet Room in 2006
Charlatans UK at In the Venue in 2006 (maybe 30 people, max)
ABC, Naked Eyes, and English Beat at a small park south of Salt Lake also in 06

[samvoiceman]

the Fixx at the El Ray in ABQ all of about 60 people. These acts never draw here so I didn't get to see many but two years ago Devo, Psyc Furs, and When in Rome played to a 150 or so at the convention center. All bands played hard and full sets. Adam Woods of Fixx was dead sick almost taken to the hospital he had flu so bad but still did a full hour and 45 minutes to 60 people.

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