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What are the best live acts?


I’m not asking you to list your favorite concerts. I think that there is another thread for that. Rather, we shouldn’t judge pop bands solely on the basis of their recorded music. Some bands are simply better on stage than they are in the recording studio. I’ll cite the following for their consistent ability to put on a great live show.

1. The Cramps
2. The Ramones
3. Toots Hibbert (touring as Toots and the Maytals, even though Toots fired the original Maytals some time ago)
4. GWAR
5. The UK Subs (crap music, brilliant live show)
6. AC-DC (when Bon Scott was their front man)
7. The Meat Puppets
8. Tom Waits
9. The Anti-Nowhere League
10. Van Halen (w/ David Lee Roth: I hate their music, but I saw them twice, and had a rocking good time!)
11. Iggy Pop
12. Ted Nugent (This man is the redneck Iggy Pop)
13. Joe Ely
14. The Butthole Surfers
15. The Clash
16. The Mentors
17. Nig Heist
18. Emmy Lou Harris
tweakgeek
jorgeparrapuppy
257 posts
 
Skinny Puppy. unbearably alive..........
sebrof's avatar
sebrof
735 posts
 
I saw Big Head Todd and the Monsters a few weeks ago. I've got a couple of his albums but not really a fan.
He puts on one heck of a show. Lots of energy.
bongofury
1,160 posts
 
In the live music space and do 200 shows a year.

The single best show was The Clash at the Palladium in LA for intensity and energy. A close second was U2 at the LA Sports Arena for the Joshua Tree Tour (entire crowd out of their seats).

Best band for maintaing a high level of musicianship would be Los Lobos.

Most intimate show was Paul Kelly at the Hotel Cafe (12 people) and Van Halen at the Covina Bowl (12 people) and Louie's Lounge (20 people).

Most impressive was Stevie Wonder; did a private party, and despite having the flu, played a 3 and 1/2 hour set, even though the contract said one hour.

Best lighting rig was at the recent Eminem Show at the Epicenter.

Worst show for a "big name" act was Pink Floyd during the Animal Tour: completed overwhelmed by the stage props--even the pig floated away.

Most flawless playing, i.e. perfect recreation of an album, lick for lick, was Dire Straits at the Greek.

Most hobbled but beloved show: The Replacements at the Variety Arts in LA: so drunk they has to huddle between songs
zmanastronomy's avatar
zmanastronomy
738 posts
 
Joe Cocker at Ruth Eckerd Hall in St. Pete.
That was truly a class act. Sounded better live than on CD's.
martykl
3,563 posts
 
Bongo,

Kind of funny that I saw several of the same shows you cite - but at different tour stops and sometimes with very different impressions. For instance,

I loved the Animals show (Madison Square Garden) because - despite the props - the music was stripped down rock, at least for Pink Floyd. and

I saw The Clash at Bond's in NYC and it was terrible - the worst acoustics I've ever encountered at a rock show, which is really saying something.

OTOH, I agree that Los Lobos maintains a ridiculously high level of musicianship - even when the material isn't up to their usual standards. I still refer to the Colossal Head show as the Colossal bore show. But that band can play! If it has strings, I want to hear David Hidalgo work it.

Always a pleasure to get your take on this stuff, since you live it in a way that most contributors here don't.

Marty
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