Beloved local live-music spot the Horseshoe Tavern turns 70 years old on Dec. 5, a rather remarkable achievement in a city known of late for shedding concert venues at an alarming rate.

In honour of the club’s impending anniversary, the Star took it upon itself to solicit 70 Canadian musicians, music journalists and industry folk for their favourite ever show at the Queen St. W. venue. The response was insane — so insane, we can’t do justice to it all in print. Here are some of our favourites. Mine was a Neutral Milk Hotel gig in July of 1998, which is covered off below.

1. Jeff Cohen, Horseshoe majority owner: “The single greatest moment during my time at the ’Shoe is Gord Downie jumping onstage with Joel Plaskett during a full week of Plaskett shows celebrating the 60th anniversary to sing ‘Love This Town’ and coming up with his own rhyming lyrics. We really miss Gord. His musicianship aside, we lost one of our best customers.”

2. Jim Cuddy, Blue Rodeo: “I went to see Jerry Jeff Walker in the ’70s when the stage was on the west wall. Got there at noon to secure a table and we were fairly joyful by the time he came on. He was amazing but at one point he hit his head on a low hanging pipe and proceeded to slam the head of his guitar into the ceiling bringing down a flood of insulation. Great show!”

3. Josh Colle, Toronto city councillor and chair of the Toronto Music Advisory Council: “So many, but one that comes to mind was the Deadly Snakes’ ‘last’ show there. Packed, sweaty house. Everybody was partying hard. Genuine multiple encores. The band actually ran out of songs to play. I could list so many more.”

4. Wayne Petti, Grey Lands/Cuff the Duke: “The summer I turned 19 I saw so many amazing shows at the ’Shoe: Olivia Tremor Control, Apples in Stereo, Cat Power. But my favourite one that summer was Man or Astroman . . . They had built a giant computer that they interacted with onstage. One of the songs used a dot-matrix printer for rhythm. The bass player also wore a helmet at one point that he lit on fire.”

5. Justin Peroff, Broken Social Scene: “Soundtrack of Our Lives was a pretty crazy show (in 2002). Oasis were in the house to watch them. I think Liam tried to pick up (Three Gut Records co-founder) Tyler Clark Burke.”

6. Ben Kowalewicz, Billy Talent: “Having played the ’Shoe countless times in the beginning years in front of way less than half-full crowds and begging friends to come down, I remember we were playing our first there right after our first record came out and I was walking down Queen to the show and there was a lineup literally to the Black Bull, which I had only ever seen once before when The Strokes were playing . . . I walked up to (bouncer) Tyrone and asked him ‘Who are they lining up for?’ and he said ‘You guys!’ It was a very cool feeling and one we’ll never forget.”

7. Mike Le Riche, Fake Palms: “Oh, man, for sure Ladyhawk, 2013. I got too drunk, crowd surfed and hung from the lamp that was in the centre of the room.”

8. Ben Buchanan, booking agent: “The National with the Cloud Room, March 2006 . . . . I had just a few months before this show, personally discovered The National. I was pretty obsessed with their album Alligator which had recently come out. I didn’t know much about the band’s live shows going into it and I left the show completely blown away. This is the moment where The National became one of my favourite bands, making this stand out as one of my most memorable shows at the Horseshoe, and the first of many by a band I love!”

9. Steve McLean, music writer: “When Waco Brothers frontman Jon Langford found out I had an Elvis suit, he asked me to wear it to the ’Shoe and invited me on stage to sing a couple of songs with the band while wearing it. I think it might have been in 2013, but I could be off slightly.”

10. Mavis Harris, publicist: “C’mon, 2004. It was f---ing insane. The crowd was losing their mind, Ian Blurton was in fine form and I am still surprised that Katie (Lynn Campbell) didn’t somehow break her back by bending in half with her bass . . . that was the night that “Deliver Yr Desire” became one of my favourite tracks ever. The audience was swooning with that rifft.”

11. Ron MacLean, Hockey Night in Canada: “July Talk, just after the Winnipeg Junos . . . 2014. Peter (Dreimanis) and Leah (Fay) draw you in like a Coach’s Corner of rock ‘n’ roll — with obvious kudos to Grapes, AKA Leah. The first time I saw July Talk equals the first time I heard Boston, Dire Straits, Guns ‘n’ Roses and the Hip.”

12. Michael Hollett, North by Northeast founder. “I knew the rumours must be true when no one associated with the Horseshoe would answer their phone on September 4, 1997 . . . I headed to the ’Shoe to talk my way into the Rolling Stones but there were hundreds of people lined up out front so even if I got in I would be hated. I later learned even the owners only got a plus one each. I went back alley, hardly anyone there. I caught X-Ray MacRae’s eye as he entered the back door and he had to let me in with a subtle wave of his hand to security. The room wasn’t even that full but everyone there was ecstatic. The Stones were a huge presence on a stage that seemed small for such big characters: Jagger doing his rooster strut, Keith on guitar, Bobby Keyes wailing on the sax; the real band. Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman were slinging drinks with big smiles behind the bar. First gig I saw phones held high at a show. They were flip phones, no smart phones yet and people were holding them up and sending the audio to their pals or to their own answering machines as mementoes.”

13. Royal Wood, singer/songwriter. “Hands down best Horseshoe show was 2007, New Years Eve, The Sadies. From the moment their amps turned on, the electricity that pulsated from the stage didn’t stop until tthe band was done and the lights came on for everyone to leave. It was otherworldly. Unforgettable. Magic.”

14. Kim Cooke, Pheromone Recordings: “I will opt for Dec. 15, 2012, and Joel Plaskett, I think on the occasion of the club’s 65th. I have seen Joel there many times and he is always never less than great but this night was especially memorable, he and the Emergency cooking on high heat with special guests like Mo Kenney. Incandescent!”

15. Maya Miller, The Pack AD: “We’ve only ever played there so it would have to be one of our own shows, I guess — and it would be all of them. The ’Shoe has always been a home away from home for us and our fans love seeing us there.”

16. Jason Parsons, USS: “Fall 2008. Bookie’s Nu Music Night. Our first and only time sharing the stage with the Waking Eyes and Mobile. In a bizarre turn of events, Gene Simmons came to see us play and interviewed us in the basement of the ’Shoe for his reality show at the time.”

17. Ian Danzig, Exclaim! magazine. “Olivia Tremor Control, Nov. 5, 1999 . . . (their) recordings were so experimental and conceptual I was surprised to see what a great live band they were. It was a really fun show.”

18. Joel Carriere, Dine Alone Records. “Firewater, June 1, 1998. Tod A. is a Top Ten artist for me and never having seen Cop Shoot Cop made this show all the more important. My best pal Deaner and I were nervous and hoped it would be as good as we thought it might be. It was a major discussion driving in from St. Catharines. We went straight the front, right against the stage and as soon as they started playing and he started singing, all the nervousness became excitement. It’s not every day you witness greatness. Such a remarkable and memorable show for just $6.”

19. Ken Kelley, the Monoxides: “Ironically, the Horseshoe show that stands out for me the most is the last time we played there, in March 1998. It was one of those magical nights where the audience was responsive and feeding off our energy and we were feeding off theirs. In the approximate four years we had been regularly playing Toronto before that night, it was absolutely one of the most special evenings. We tended to get a good reception anytime we played, but this show felt like we had finally been ‘ accepted’ among Toronto audiences. That wasn’t lost on us.”

20. Craig Laskey, Collective Concerts. “Neutral Milk Hotel, July 29, 1998. “This was one of the first shows I had ever booked on my own at the Horseshoe. Tickets for the show were $8 advance. I remember going to the club at sound check and the band was nowhere to be found. This was the day before everyone had a cellphone. We opened the doors, we had over 400 people in the club and still no band or gear on stage. I get a phone call at the club at 10:30 p.m. saying ‘We are in Cobourg but are on our way.’ Band arrives at 11:30, I tell Jeff Mangum to go on stage to let everyone know they are here and actually playing. There is a huge roar from the crowd. The rest is history.”

21. Tayna Tonon, Horseshoe bar manager. “The Pixies. I believe it was two years ago. Booked it in less than 24 hours, sold out in five minutes or less. Band were really nice, played the best set and hung out with staff after. Magic!”

22. Tom Wilson, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings: “The Texas Tornados. Every musician in Toronto was in the room wishing that one day they could be as real, alive and talented as the guys onstage were. It would take several lifetimes to get close to The Texas Tornados.”

23. Brian McCullough, Horseshoe sound tech. “Flamin’ Groovies, Nov. 18, 2015. “I never thought Cyril Jordan and Chris Wilson, the Groovies’ golden-period writing and singing partners, would reunite and tour along with original bassist George Alexander. The sound was a bit rough — their sound guy didn’t check anything, and simply opened all the faders with flat EQ when the show started; never seen anything like that! — but the beauty of the songs and performances shined through. ‘Shake Some Action,’ ‘Slow Death,’ ‘Teenage Head,’ the list goes on. I won’t forget that night until I forget everything.”

24. Dave Clark, Rheostatics/Woodshed Orchestra. “My Horseshoe highlight happened in 1998 when NRBQ came to play and the band I was in at the time, called Possum, got to open up. NRBQ were and are one of my all-time fave bands, full stop. Their drummer, the late, great Tom Ardolino, is perhaps my favourite drummer in the world. The NRBQ road manager asked if I’d be okay playing on Tommy’s drums. I was tickled to no end. I said yes on the spot. Next thing I know we’re hanging in the dressing room before the show with Tommy. He was such a lovely and kind guy. Easy to chat with and quick to smile beatifically. Possum played and left the stage feeling fine indeed. Then NRBQ came on and masterfully played their tunes in a flurry of brilliance and joy.”

25. Dave Hodge, sportscaster: “Oct. 20, 2012, a private 50th birthday party for Jeff Cohen. Joel Plaskett, Jim Cuddy, Justin Rutledge, Ron Hawkins, Jon Langford, Willie Nile and more, plus the Peter Elkas ‘Queen Street’ Band, combined to serenade Jeff with 30 Springsteen songs, and then came a full midnight set by the Sadies. I felt sorry for the uninvited.”

26. Luke Jackson, singer/songwriter: “Elliott Smith, August 19th, 1998. Elliott played solo that night. It was an early promo trip for the XO record which came out that week and he was in a playful mood, taking requests and doing lots of covers. He came back with the band and played Lee’s Palace two months later, but that Horseshoe show was really special.”

27. Kerry Doole, music journalist. “Joe Ely, Feb. 9, 2006. I fondly recall a solo show by Texan troubadour Ely there . . . , during the club’s 58th anniversary. Armed with just a guitar and his potent songs, plus tunes by Austin comrades Robert Earl Keen, Townes Van Zandt, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, Ely was the perfect fit for the ‘Shoe’s honkytonk vibe. An anecdote about forgetting the name of his hotel after an earlier night at the Horseshoe went over well.”

28. Richard Flohil, concert promoter. “Two stand out: Doug Sahm with the Texas Tornados on a Monday night when the band stopped over between Detroit and Boston, and Hank Ballard & The Midnighters — he wrote ‘The Twist’ (tho’ Chubby Chcker had the hit, Hank made the money!) — a sensational show with backup singers, go-go dancers, a horn section, and everyone wearing red uniforms.”

29. Lana Gay, Indie 88: “F---ed Up, 2011. F---ed Up are a true force live and this show felt like the loudest, hottest, sweatiest celebration guided by the wild yet endearing, shirtless and screaming Damian Abraham. The band was tremendous, the crowd was too. It was beautiful.”

30. David McPherson, author of The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: “Drive-By Truckers, November 1, 2003. Surrounded by a mountain of Marshall stacks, these Southern rockers, joined by newly minted member Jason Isbell, played with frenetic energy for 150 minutes — long past last call. The set was highlighted by a marathon encore featuring the following covers: Jim Carroll’s ‘People Who Died’ and Warren Zevon’s ‘Play it all Night Long.’ ”

31. Donovan Woods, singer/songwriter: “It was the 60th-anniversary event they had there. Gord Downie did a bunch of Tragically Hip songs with the Sadies as his band. They did ‘Fire in the Hole’ and it was loud and mad and dope as hell.”

32. Michael Barclay, music journalist: “TuneYards, May 12, 2011. Back when a solo performer’s loop pedals were still somewhat novel and ukuleles were nauseatingly trendy, Merrill Garbus employed both while playing a stand-up kit, with a monstrous bass player and two-piece horn section behind her. Her musical juggling act was more than matched by her towering charisma, her acrobatic voice, and the look on her face that suggested she couldn’t quite believe she was pulling it all off either. I’ve been going to the Horseshoe for almost 30 years now, and I’ve never heard the crowd there consistently roar in amazement and gratitude.”

33. Colin Brunton, director of The Last Pogo. “Suicide, 1978. The Garys rotated the bands each night so everyone got a chance to headline. One night Teenage Head were second up. Jam packed. When they finished, most people left, leaving only a dozen or so people to watch Suicide headline. Four or five drunk and loud college kids were at a table right in front of the stage. Really obnoxious. Suicide singer Alan Vega couldn’t stand it any longer. Mid-song he jumped off the stage, stuck his face three inches in front of the loudest jerk, and literally, without missing a beat screamed “I want to f---ing kill you!” Then continued the tune. Not a peep from the drunks the rest of the night.”

34. Dan Burke, concert promoter: “In August 2002, Sweden’s Soundtrack Of Our Lives was touring with Oasis and playing Molson Amphitheatre on Saturday. Elliott Lefko recruited me to be promoter of a late show for them at the ’Shoe. It was incredible. And after they played, the party continued. The Gallagher brothers were there, Sloan, everybody. It went until 5 a.m. Craziest night I’ve ever seen at the Shoe.”

35. Jake Gold, manager: “November or December 1988. The Tragically Hip showcased in front of MCA records US, A&R guy Bruce Dickinson — not the Iron Maiden guy. He turned to me while they were playing ‘New Orleans Is Sinking,’ which hadn’t been recorded yet, and said ‘I can’t believe nobody has signed these guys yet.’ He offered them a deal that night. The rest as they say, is history.”

36. Shehzaad Jiwani, Greys: “Watching Hot Snakes at the ’Shoe circa 2012 is a favourite of mine because it brought a bunch of punks on the verge of aging together in a very dimly lit venue to watch an old favourite burn it to the ground. The room has a way of getting so dark that it’s very easy to lose one’s self in the noise, which is precisely what happened to the uncharacteristically raucous Toronto crowd. My friend John Semley still owes me money for the fancy earplug he knocked out of my head when he threw me across the room like Colossus doing a fastball special with Wolverine as the band whipped out a Drive Like Jehu deep cut. Fond memories.”

37. Kerri Ough, the Good Lovelies. “Mine was a Jolie Holland/Herman Dune concert on Oct. 28, 2008. I had never heard either of them live, but was already a huge fan of Jolie. I remember watching her sit at the piano for one five-minute ballad and captivating that noisy room with just her voice and a piano. Herman Dune was new to me and they had me with their direct and clear lyrics, interesting melodies and clear, deep vocals. I loved having that calibre of music a short bike ride from my Toronto home. I rode home inspired and spent the wee hours writing songs in the glow of that show.”

38. Robert Everett-Green, journalist: “Shelby Lynne, October 2003. I remember during this show feeling real fear of what might happen, and being thrilled and awed by what actually did. Lynne seemed ready to explode at any moment, while remaining in total control of her art, scorching through songs that hinted at absolute killing despair without naming it directly. One of the darkest, most intimate concerts I’ve ever heard.”

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39. Ian Blurton, Change of Heart/Public Animal/C’mon. “Link Wray, late ’90s. A crushing rock ‘n’ roll experience that saw the elder Link push the much younger Pansy Division rhythm section and the audience to exhaustion whilst yelling at the soundperson to ‘Turn it up!’ until one side of the PA shut down.”

40. Luke Lalonde, Born Ruffians: “The Constantines with the Deadly Snakes, Jan. 28th, 2006. I just remember being part of a sweaty single organism of moving bodies under the power of the almighty Constantines.”

41. Ian Gormely, music journalist: “When I moved to Toronto in May of 2008 and was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of live music options. That June’s North By Northeast seemed like as good a place to start as any, so I headed down to the Horseshoe Tavern, a place I’d read about and seen on TV many times, to check out Thomas D’arcy’s band Small Sins (they had a guy whose main job was to clap, ‘the Clapper,’ beating Noel Gallagher’s scissors player by a decade). After their set I was walking from the back down the stairs to the front part of the bar and looked over to the pool table. Leaning against the wall, holding pool cues were Sloan’s Chris Murphy and Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy, chatting away. It remains the most Toronto, and probably Canadian, moment I’ve ever had.”

42. Shawn William Clarke, singer/songwriter: “Back in 2003, the Rheostatics were a band I was finally on the cusp of ‘getting.’ I was so moved by their performance at the Horseshoe that I became a lifelong fan, soon discovering Martin Tielli’s solo record Poppy Salesman, an album that shaped my own music career. At the time, I would never have imagined that over ten years later I’d find myself sharing the very same stage with the full band (and Mary freakin’ Margaret O’Hara!), singing a song written by another Horseshoe legend, Stompin’ Tom Connors.

43. Moe Berg, the Pursuit of Happiness: “I have too many memories about the Horseshoe Tavern to pick one concert. But I will say, seeing the Pointed Sticks after growing up opening for them out west was a huge moment for me. My old band, the Modern Minds, learned how to be a band opening for them when we were teenagers. Seeing them back onstage decades later, and hearing them sound as good as they ever did was the sweetest piece of nostalgia I’ve ever had.”

44. Karen Bliss, music journalist: “The Soundtrack of Our Lives in 2002. The band opened for Oasis at the Molson Amphitheatre, sun still out, and then had a midnight show at the ’Shoe. One of the most igniting rock bands of their time and lead singer Ebbot Lundberg was a mesmerizing figure in his caftan. I can’t remember if he stood dangerously atop the bar, like he did at the Opera House, but he did do his usual ask of the audience to go down low to the floor and then jump up. It didn’t seem hokey at the time. The Gallaghers were also in the house. Miss that band.”

45. Noah Fralick, Young Rival. “Craig Laskey took a shot on my first band, the Ride Theory, in 2003 and offered us a support slot in August of that year, opening for Billy Talent the day their first record came out. It was a New Music Night. Free show. Lineup down the street, one of those epic moments, and somehow our scrappy band from Hamilton had found an undeserved way into the party. I’ve always felt indebted to Craig and The Horseshoe for those early opportunities. It was the start of my long journey in music that shows no signs of stopping.”

46. Shauna DeCartier, Six Shooter Records: “The Rheostatics. One of the main reasons I am so happy and comfortable on that black-and-white checkerboard dance floor is because of the countless Rheostatics shows I’ve been mesmerized by at the Horseshoe Tavern, especially during their two-week runs in November from 2003-2006. The enigmatic magic of Martin Tielli, the rock solid beauty of Tim Vesely, the creative spirit of Dave Bidini – the divine alchemy of this amazing band makes each night its own wondrous experience.”

47. Hawksley Workman, singer/songwriter. “The Wooden Stars, maybe 1997? I was feeling like abandoning guitar music. A friend took me to the show. They were supporting their record Mardi Gras and it was the most intense and musical use of guitars I’d ever heard. I didn’t end up selling off my guitars.”

48. Gary Topp, concert and film promoter. “Suicide, June 3, 1978. Teenage Head opened, their fans hated them, Alan Vega confronted and incited them, they threw chairs, Alan Vega yelled, ‘You’re the biggest f---ing scumbags I ever ran into in my entire f---ing life, man. You make the maniacs in New York City seem like nothing, you’re so f---ing dumb!’ I’ve never witnessed any performance like it, ever.”

49. Elliott Lefko, concert promoter. “I had Rufus Thomas and Carla Thomas at the ’Shoe. I’m guessing it was around 1987. The show was great. Rufus wore his shorts and sang ‘Walking The Dog’ and Carla was so sweet and did ‘Gee Whiz.’ Not enough people paid and I couldn’t pay the band, but in an act of tremendous compassion, the owner at the time Kenny Sprackman calmly wrote me a cheque and said, ‘You can pay me back next time.’ Angels do exist!”

50. Samantha Taus, Sony Music: “At the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards after-party, Kesha was in the crowd and got on stage at the Horseshoe and sang OutKast’s ‘Ms. Jackson’ with the Arkells and Shad. I’ll never forget that random mix, the energy, and how great it sounded.”

51. Steve Waxman, Warner Music: “How about The Troggs, June 1978. It was the height of punk and the Toronto scene was ripe. The Troggs came to town and showed them all how to do it. There were long rows of tables in front of the stage and Reg Presley just sauntered down them knocking over everyone’s beers while the band bludgeoned us with sound.”

52. Max Kerman, Arkells. “In 2012 Joel Plaskett played my favourite album of his, Truthfully, Truthfully, top to bottom at the Horseshoe. It was incredible. I’ve seen Joel in every kind of venue, but the Shoe is the perfect club to hear those songs. Perfect album in the perfect room.”

53. Steve Jordan, Polaris Music Prize: “The thing about picking just one favourite Horseshoe gig is that you CAN’T. There are just too many. These ones stand out off the top of my head: every Hip album release show; NRBQ, ’98; Los Lobos, ’96; Wilco, ’97; Elliott Smith, ’98; Golden Smog, ’99. I’m sure if I looked through a database of every show I’d been too other strong moments would come flooding back and this list would be altered. But not by that much.”

54. Warren Kinsella, author: “DOA, 2005. Joey ‘Sh--head’ Keithley sat at the Horseshoe bar with me, up by the doors, and he gave me one of his band’s T-shirts: ‘THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS, it said. On back: ‘TALK MINUS ACTION EQUALS ZERO.’ All these young punks, just kids, would walk up and tell him he’d changed their lives. He’d smile.”

55. Julian Taylor, Julian Taylor Band: “When the Strokes first came to Toronto. They’d just released their debut and the place was packed. The energy was unbelievably raw. I remember sitting beside Ben Kowalewicz from Billy Talent and we were in awe when Julian Casablancas jumped into the crowd.”

56. Melissa McClelland, Whitehorse: “It was probably 2000 when I saw Kristin Hersh at the Horseshoe, post-Throwing Muses. She was captivating in every way and I remember the room being as packed as I’d ever seen it. The opener was Lindy — friendly giant folk singer who completely blew my mind. I bought his album immediately. A few days later I was postering for my own show on Queen West and saw Lindy walk past (he’s hard to miss). I told him how much I loved his set and forced one of my posters on him. We both ended up getting signed to the same label a few years later and are buddies to this day, touring together and making our kids be friends.”

57. James Keast, Exclaim! magazine: “Neutral Milk Hotel, 1998. The only Toronto one until the recent reunion shows — the band didn’t understand how far away Montreal was, didn’t leave there until 5 pm and only arrived in time to basically walk on stage. I don’t know that I have more to the anecdote than that — other than the show being the ‘Nirvana at the Opera House’ of a generation of indie-rock nerds who claim to have been there. But I was in fact there. And it was glorious.”

58. Nanci Malek, publicist/manager: “On Oct. 8th, 2010, I experienced the easiest show I have ever worked. The group, led by the wonderful Joey Sh--head, was D.O.A. Joey was probably the most business-minded musician I have ever worked with. He got it and I didn’t have any surprises. The room started filling up early and was packed by the time the band hit the stage and absolutely everyone in the room was dancing or slamming. Fabulous. I have worked close to 100 shows in the Horseshoe and have always felt like I was home, but at this show, every single person ‘got it.’ ”

59. Tara King Cohen, Horseshoe co-owner. “Black Lips, March 27, 2010. J.C., Craig and I watching from the office window. The Lips play ‘Oh Katrina,’ kids are stage diving, but instead of heading toward the dancefloor the singer grabs onto what looks like a (stage) truss but is, in fact, vintage plumbing! He manages to pull himself across the room without hauling it all down but much to our shock he then grabs onto a rickety fan making one full rotation before launching himself back into the crowd. Thankfully no one was hurt, the plumbing is still intact and but I personally took the fan down the next day.”

60. Wes Marskell, the Darcys. “Ladyhawk, 2008. As a drunk kid who loved drugs, this show really spoke to me. I left soaked in sweat and high as a kite. I was alive and rock was never gonna die.”

61. Matt Fisher, journalist. “The Lumineers, playing their first ever show in Toronto on June 16th, 2012, during NXNE. I’ve spent a lot of sweaty nights at the Horseshoe but that definitely was one of the hottest. It’s funny, I found an article about it saying it was a mixed bag but I was side stage at the show and watching the crowd at the front of the room, there was just this excitement in the air that the crowd was a part of something special that was about to blow up. It appears it turned out that way.”

62. Jon Bartlett, Kelp Management: “Neutral Milk Hotel, 1998. The band were very late arriving for their show. I’d never seen Craig Laskey’s face as white as I did that night, trying to keep the anxious crowd at bay as the band sped down the 401.When they rolled up after midnight, they basically threw all the gear onstage, played an even more frantic, uptempo set than their In the Aeroplane, Over the Sea album suggested and melted my fanboy mind. My roommates and I hung around after to try and meet the band, and found out that the 10 of them needed a place to crash, so we invited them to our place. It was a proud moment to give up my bed for Jeff Mangum that night.”

63. Jasmyn Burke, Weaves. “A highlight show was the Lemon Twigs this past spring. They were on the rise so there was some of that palpable energy in the audience. They put on a great show filled with sibling banter. It was like trash-glam-star meets balled-Beatles-bunny mixed into one fun set. Loved it!”

64. Greg Jarvis, Flowers of Hell. “LaLa Brooks of the Crystals, backed by the Big Sound, Sept. 27, 2014. Halfway through the opening number, ‘Then He Kissed Me,’ I realized I was frozen with tears of musical joy streaming down my face, hearing the voice I’d known since I was a child, singing her Phil Spector produced classic with a 20-piece local soul orchestra, all on the ’Shoe’s gloriously mono sound system. During ‘Da Doo-Ron-Ron,’ our eyes connected as she sang, “I knew what he was doing when he caught my eye,’ and she leapt off the stage into the crowd. Closest I’ll ever get to experiencing what that music was like in the old juke joints it grew out of.”

65. Brenley MacEachern, Madison Violet. “Hands down, Sondre Lerche, May 8, 2004. I’d been listening to his first album Faces Down on repeat so I was super excited to see him live and hear his new record. This 22-year-old kid takes the stage and blew my mind. Great songs, super charming and incredibly talented. Sondre Lerche nailed it that night.”

66. Nick Krewen, music journalist. “Crowded House . . . They advertised their Horseshoe gig of June 24, 1996 as their absolute final show. Supplemented by keyboardist/guitarist Mark Hart and drummer Peter Jones, the band wound their way through an entertaining and riveting 23-song set — eight of which were encores — and a fun cover of Patrick Hernandez’s disco classic “Born To Be Alive” — as they wound down their career in grand style. Or so we thought, until the duo reformed the band in 2007.”

67. Colin Linden, guitarist. “I’ve been involved in most of them. March 13, 1989: Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and me (and my band) and Robbie Robertson comes and sits in. July 27, 1992: T-Bone Burnett with me, Janice Powers, Geoff Arsenault and Gary Craig as the band, and with me opening. T-Bone said we were ‘the best band in the world that night.’ ”

68. Nicholas Jennings, music journalist: “Shelby Lynne, Oct. 27, 2003 . . . Before a handful of us in the audience, Lynne bared her soul in the spotlight singing a number of her most confessional songs. The highlight came when she performed an emotional cover of John Lennon’s ‘Mother,’ made all the more powerful with the knowledge that her own parents had died in a murder-suicide when she was 17.”

69. Nick Sewell, Biblical: “I’ve seen and played too many shows to count at the Horseshoe, let alone pick a favourite. But witnessing the freshly reunited Hot Snakes lay waste to that stage back is burned into my memory. For a venue with such a storied history in the TO punk scene, it was perfect. To this day, I’ve never seen a pit that savage at the ‘Shoe.”

70. X-Ray Macrae, Horseshoe co-owner, Chris Isaak: “No ventilation. Hottest show ever! They wore suits made out of 1950s curtains. They were soaked by the end, we had to hang at end of night and put pails underneath to catch their sweat.”