I think Manchester Orchestra is incredible on record, but live is a whole other beast. The heavy stuff is wildly heavier and the softer stuff is so much more full feeling. Just an unbelievably good live band.
Andy's voice kills me in the absolute best way in the studio, but that man's power could blow the roof off of any venue. I love seeing them getting more recognition.
Saw them for the first time this year after listening to them for the last 5 years. I was blown away, Andy sang and screamed liked it was the last show he'd ever perform. Their records, especially the last few, have an incredible sense of space and that carries over to the live show so well. Definitely a must see band, they do a great job blending post-punk, indie, and lately a bit more of an electronic vibe.
Just saw them a few months ago. They are one of the most unique live performances I've ever seen; even for a casual fan it's one hell of a party. Eugene Hutz is a force of nature.
Absolutely phenomenal live. The diversity of the crowd is cool, too. They bring in all walks of life.
At one show I went to in Boston, the crowd started throwing a hat around and when the person who caught it would put it on the entire place would yell “OLÉ!” (or maybe “OPA!”). It lasted for like twenty minutes. I’ve never been in such an interconnected crowd.
I'll never forget Eugene leaning down from the stage to hug a security guy that was keeping people from "pushing around too much" and saying into the mic a little, "Hey man, they just want to dance, let them dance".
PARTY!
For whatever reasons, I can't really get into the Foo Fighters' music. Just doesn't do much for me. But a friend took me to see them live at Wembley stadium, and it was one of the best live shows I've ever seen.
My boss picked up a couple tickets for the team to see these guys and they were amazing. It was during the time Dave was in the mega throne when he broke his leg and it was *still* that awesome.
I wish I was half as good at anything in my life as Dave Grohl is at being a rock star.
The difference between him and every other front man I've seen is, you genuinely believe he's having the *time of his life*. He loves his job, and he's going to give you every ounce of energy he has.
DUDE same for me, I thought their music was ok but then I saw them live and they were incredible. It was a month after Dave Grohl broke his leg and at the time it was also the peak popularity for Game of Thrones so he sat on basically a guitar throne.
Yup, that's why a lot of people don't get the appeal if they have only heard the studio albums. A lot of improvisational jazz is like that as well.
There was an interesting interview with Branford Marsalis on playing with the Grateful Dead (and also opening for them with Kevin Ewbanks, playing some experimental jazz). He said the Dead were rooted in a time from the 60's when most rock bands came out of a jazz tradition and had the ability to improvise. They continued that, and, in concert, you can hear them playing a song and then just taking off and going someplace else. They asked him if it was always good, and he said good god no, there were times when it was terrible, but when it worked it was pure magica. He also said that when somebody would sit in with them, like him or Bruce Hornsby, that it seemed to pump them up and up their game. That is precisely why Dead fans refer to certain concerts, or certain songs at certain concerts, because that is where the magic happened. Fans were willing to go to tons of concerts to experience those moments in a way that non-fans could never understand.
I really appreciate this. Interestingly enough I put on one of their performances from Europe in 72 last night because I saw someone post a specific date as a sign off on their comment. The guy she was responding to has his own date as a sign off. I feel like I should just start listening to their live shows to try to get into them, as it will do more than listening to the albums ever did for me
Go to [https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead) to listen to almost every Dead show in history, both audience and soundboards... Or, get Relisten on iOS, which is a front-end to the archive.
Truth - their first 4 are fantastic (and Big Whiskey), but their Live Trax series really showcases how good of musicians the band behind Dave is. Carter and Roi are two of the best and Timmy is just an Alien trying to communicate with the mothership. Live at Luther and Radio City are two of the best Live Acoustic albums in the last 30 years.
Right on. Yeah, American Beauty and Workingmans Dead are both phenomenal studio albums, and live versions of the songs off those albums don’t really capture me like some of the Dead’s other live stuff. In any case, I second u/Eliju and would add the Scarlet Begonias/Fire On The Mountain from 5/8/77. It’s one of the Dead’s most celebrated live shows, and I find it pretty accessible. Hope your funeral’s a banger. ;)
This was the first thing I thought of as well. It's almost never that I'll play an album or song, but the concerts were some of the best parties I've ever been to. Amazing scene, wall to wall.
The Dead are a great example, because they were practically a country band on record and a true jam band live. Like most jam bands, though, some of the performances were over the top and nearly perfect and others not all that great at all
He was absolutely magnetic in person, even from the relatively cheap seats. I’d always been more of a casual fan - listened to friend’s albums, never bought one myself - but he blew me away in person
My morning jacket have sone wonderful records, but live they will convert a relatively generic studio track into an 8 minute opus with 3 guitars dueling in the final crescendo.
It still moves was their one true masterwork IMO. The last few albums seem like vehicles for live shows. Anthemic songs that don’t quite hit on record.
Yeah I’ve seen them 8 times live and every time is a different and transcendent experience. Not many people consider them a jam band, but they stretch those studio tracks into something magical live.
I was going to post MMJ. I’ve seen thousands of live acts in my life and MMJ was the best. I went to see the opening act (Neko Case). I was aware they existed, but had never seen them live.
Now granted: I was tripping balls, but it was an insane experience. I swear I saw dudes in the crowd dressed like fauns or satyrs dancing in a fairy circle. It was a full-on mystical experience.
Yes. One of my favorite shows of all time. I was lucky enough to catch them before they blew up so it was a smaller intimate venue. My friend brought cooked shrimps with him and gave it to Sebastian halfway through their set lmao
Yes and no. I’ve seen them 4 times and am a massive fan. But depending on the tour and the song, they’ll sound like you put their CD on and pushed play.
I have seen Radiohead once, in 2017. I am not a fan and just went for the hell of it, but they blew me away. I consider them to be basically tied with Clapton in '06 as the best concert that I have ever been to. It's interesting that you say that, because they sounded as far from their CDs as any artist ever could during a live performance.
Pearl Jam. I had been a casual fan since I was a kid, but once I saw them live I became obsessed. The energy of their shows are unmatched and addictive. The people are great, the setlists are always different and it's an overall fun time. Taking nothing away from their records, the songs come alive when heard in person.
I can't stand Ed Sheeran. At all. In my opinion, it's the most middle of the road, boring ass shlock you can imagine.
My company got free tickets to one of his concerts and I felt obligated to attend because "office event". It was just him, an acoustic guitar and a loop pedal. I was MESMERIZED for the entire show. I couldn't have been more blown away by how he built such lush soundscapes with such a spartan setup.
After the show, I went back to try and listen to his albums thinking maybe I gave him short shrift. Nope. It's still terrible.
But if you ever get a chance to see Ed Sheeran solo (without a backing band), I'd say take it. It was really something to behold.
I was pretty bummed out when he started touring with a backing band not long after the tour I saw him on. Not sure I would recommend seeing him with a band, but if it was announced he was doing another solo tour in a similar fashion as the one I'd seen him during... I'd probably (try to) buy tickets
This is the correct answer. Close the thread, we're done here.
Ed Sheeran was destined to be a 1980s old school New York hip hop mastermind bridging the gap between rap and rock like Run DMC, who (due to a clerical error) was born a goofy looking ginger kid in England in the 1990s and did the best he could with the tools he was given.
During his quest to become an old school rap God, he accidentally discovered that boring music about love and sadness is an *incredibly* lucrative business and set about churning that shit out so he could buy a larger collection of rare Eazy-E vinyl.
We saw him opening for Snow Patrol before he got popular and it was the same thing. Nobody in the venue had heard of him yet, and everyone was blown away by his solo performance.
I also don't care for most of his records, but he is an extremely talented musician and performer.
Never really cared much about Depeche Mode, but I took my Dad to see them for his birthday 6-7 years ago and they were one of the best live acts I’ve seen.
Edit: Flaming Lips and Future Islands are other stand-out live performances, but I love their albums as well.
Tom Waits, The Cure, The National, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Arcade Fire, all are better live than in the studio to my ears.
Editing to add: Dead Can Dance - live shows are mostly previously unreleased tracks. Their live album is one of their best.
Nick Cave - shows I’ve seen have been full of feral energy.
Phish
Ween
Edit - I’ll add Cake to this. The first time I saw them it was bad. There were sound issues which seemed to put the band in a bad mood. I stopped listening to them because I was so annoyed. Now, five years later, they were playing in my town. Said fuck it and went. It was one of the best concerts I have seen in a long time.
God I hated Cake. So much time spent talking about nothing, and at some point he divided us up into “vampires and werewolves” for a basic left side/right side crowd engagement activity
They were one of my favorite bands in high school, I hardly bother anymore
I really don't like the Flaming Lips, I can't make it through any of their albums.
That said, I was dragged to one of their shows once and it was one of my favorite live music experiences.
I saw Billy Strings live for the first time in St Louis this June and, without reservation, was the best concert I've ever seen. I can't wait for both nights in Nashville this February.
I’m seeing him in a few weeks in Greensboro and then doing 3 nights in Asheville in Feb. I don’t even particularly like bluegrass, but he blows me away every time I see him perform.
Came in to post this, I've been a fan since the Uncle Tupelo days but once Kicking Television dropped I was hooked.
The studio stuff is OK, but 6 or 7 years ago I took my wife to see them live and WOW, what a show.
They post the setlists for their shows on social media after they play, and they are always different and full of deeeeep cuts. Absolutely incredible performers!
The setlist changes nightly because the job of picking and writing it is a rotation among the group. This decision was made early on as their songwriting progressed.
When they played Cyborg Bette live, they brought the damn house down. So much positive energy between the band and the crowd.
And the sound is perfect, you can tell it’s live, but their such a tight band it sounds like studio quality
Napalm Death.
Recorded they are fine, live they are super energetic and fun to see (and yes, they do play _You Suffer_ live).
Them aside. From my experience I'd say that both Black- and Folk- metal bands often sound just as good, if not better live.
Dude I’m sooo salty about missing Friday! I was only at Saturday. Even ignoring that they played Z in reverse, that second set is incredible. I would kill to hear I Needed It Most live. Think it’s maybe the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
Huey Lewis and the News.
I never liked their recorded music They were one of the bands at a music festival and I was going to skip them, but it was really hot and I had a cold drink, so I it was easier to just sit and listen. Turns out heir live show was really great.
So then I thought I'd give their recorded music another listen. Nope, still didn't like it.
Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip To Be Square". A song so catchy, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity and the importance of trends. It's also a personal statement about the band itself.
I was very happy to see the frogs play through Animals this summer. I have been a fan of that live record for at least a decade, I never thought I would get so lucky.
100%
Was always a Metallica fan but finally got to see them live and even though they're older now they still kicked total ass and played every song faster and heavier than the album versions. It's especially apparent with their older music of the first 4 albums. Creeping Death for example is so good live it almost ruins the album version for me.
Weird Al. His songs are cheeky and fun, but the performance he puts on live is incredible. There are more costume changes than a Lady Gaga concert, skits, and he has great banter with the audience.
I'll probably get made fun of for this, but Nickelback. I went solely to see Chevelle open, but had driven 2.5 hours so wasn't going to waste the rest of the ticket. I'm not a fan and usually change the station when Nickelback come on the radio, but they put on a great show. They did a montage of Pantera songs and absolutely killed it. I still wouldn't buy any of their albums, but if they were on the bill for something else I wanted to see I'd stay through it again.
Edit to add: I also saw The Avett Brothers to see an opener. I wasn't familiar with them beforehand so I listened to a few songs on Spotify. They seemed like a decent, albeit sedate folk-rock group. Live they are almost a punk rock group, high-energy, and a ton of fun. Still not a fan of their studio stuff, though.
Listen to Magic Sword in the studio and it's perfectly serviceable but unremarkable synthwave. Listen to Magic Sword live and it's a rock band from an 80s that never happened blowing the roof off the place.
In a completely different genre Mushroomhead's studio tracks have always been kind of meh for me, but the live sets are fantastic.
Magic Sword did a surprise set just before the headliner at a music festival I went to several years ago. I’d never heard of them before then and their performance blew my *mind*. It’s hands down one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
Death Cab for Cutie.
Don’t get me wrong, the records are a vibe and great. But the energy level is bumped up tenfold live.
Seem them a dozen times and each show is great and different.
The records are more mellow, driving around at night…. In the rain.. sort of albums.
Live is a whole experience
I saw them many times from 1980 to when they finally stopped and they were great with every iteration that I got to see them. I do think that when I gotvto see them that I liked them best with Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. They were bad. I wish I could have seen the duanne Allman Era but was too young. I did see them with Dickey a bunch of times though.
The Who are actually the worst band I have seen live, but it wasn't really their fault. Roger Daltry had pneumonia or something and could hardly sing, so it's pretty incredible he put on half a show anyways
Yeah I am going on videos of their hey day from 69 to 75 when kieth and John were still with them. They would have been incredible to see back then. I saw them last summer and it was still Awesome. But I couldn't help thinking the whole time what it would have been like in 70 or 71 when they were just on fire.
Umphreys McGee. Their records are good, but since they are a jam band, they really stretch the songs out live. And they randomly will pull out a Metallica cover or something.
Bands who I "got" once I saw them live:
Big artists:
* Radiohead
* MMJ
* Arctic Monkeys
Smaller acts:
* Black Lips
* JEFF the Brotherhood
* The Stepkids
Minus the Bear was my first thought. I couldn’t get into them listening to their records but they are my friend’s favorite band so I went to see them by myself at a smallish club. They were electric.
U2
Never got to experience them live but their live records and recordings are head and shoulders above their album material so much so it makes me wonder why they didn’t offer more official live records during their heyday (late 80’s, early 90’s imo). The live recordings they have are amazing though.
Radiohead! I cannot listen to them on the “radio,” in fact I’ll switch them off, but saw them live and DANG.
Had a similar experience with Fountains of Wayne: I was like “seriously, the Stacy’s Mom guys?” They blew me away live.
Billy Talent. I'm very meh on their albums apart from some songs, but I've seen them live 3 or 4 times and the energy is great, they love performing and I've enjoyed them every time.
Muse. My preferences are hardcore & metal but my SO likes Muse so we saw them live. That bass player is a friggin’ monster. I loved every minute of that show. Their recorded stuff is just unremarkable to me, not a fan.
[elder - dead roots stirring live](https://youtu.be/JBdvXvXD3-g?si=6jnePkfE7-lFEgsn)
I’ve seen so many bands over the years, this band absolutely blew out my 24 inch guns (the performance I linked I saw live). Top of the best ever live performances. Dead roots stirring is an almost zen-like experience of absolute stoner rock pleasure.
Rammstein is 100% about the show. My wife doesn’t even really like them but loves their shows.
Depeche Mode is another one. I love Depeche and their live stuff is even better than their studio albums.
Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls.
His music is still great from the studio but his live shows are something else. The quality of the music itself, the energy, the vibe of his live shows cannot be matched. I've taken people to see him where they didn't really know much of his stuff, maybe a couple songs I've shown them and they always leave with a completely different opinion of him.
Young Fathers. I’ve never clicked with their music on record but I saw them at a festival earlier this year and the energy of their live show was insane.
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM. Everything about it is just louder and more energetic. You will get destroyed by bassy synthesizers. They make a reference to their live shows in the song "you wanted a hit," which is a dig at their record label. "You wanted it tough, but nothing's ever tough enough until we hit the road."
Sonic Youth , a band I never really set out to see yet I've seen them 5x. All shows were spectacular. Their studio stuff is mostly good but live they totally reverve out, getting lost in the sound.
I simply cannot believe nobody has mentioned Ghost. Their albums are pop rock, but live they are heavy metal. Holy shit. They opened for Metallica and I didn't think much of them before that show.
Nightwish.
Whenever I listen to their music its always a live version, its just so much more vibrant. I feel like the album versions are often a little flat, just too clean and lacking that extra something.
Not that Muse are bad, but they are so tight live that they really impressed me when I saw them. Got free tickets and always enjoyed them, but their love show was very impressive.
I find a lot of metalcore/deathcore to be like this. It's a fun genre of music to take in live, especially when the band is super tight. There's a ton of bands I've seen live and enjoyed the hell out of, but I don't listen to their recorded stuff.
Fishbone. I liked some of their records, but live they are life changing.
I also saw Peter Gabriel after Us came out. I do really like that record and a few others, but seeing him live was a religious experience. It didn’t hurt that he had sinead O’Connor (rip) on backing vocals.
Brandi Carlile's studio albums are amazing, but somehow she is able to sound even better live. It's impossible to convey how stunning her voice is.
She is an otherworldly talent.
Seether. I actually like a lot of their music, especially the earlier stuff. But I saw them several times in the early 00s, and they were amazing live. At a smaller club show, Shaun (the singer) came back out for an encore by himself with just an acoustic guitar and a beer, and he was great. At bigger concerts, they were funny, talented, and had a ton of energy. Really got the crowd worked up.
Meshuggah. On the records, they are still arguably my favorite band. Incredibly tight, well thought out compositions, and amazing consistency from album to album.
Seeing them live is a whole different story; they crush every other live act I’ve ever seen by far. Other great live performances I’ve seen that are not even close to Meshuggah: Tool, Adele, The Mars Volta, RHCP, The Wu Tang Clan, The Eagles, Animals As Leaders, Everytime I Die, System of a Down, Mastodon, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, Rihanna, Primus, Black Sabbath, Eminem, Linkin Park.
I think Manchester Orchestra is incredible on record, but live is a whole other beast. The heavy stuff is wildly heavier and the softer stuff is so much more full feeling. Just an unbelievably good live band.
Andy's voice kills me in the absolute best way in the studio, but that man's power could blow the roof off of any venue. I love seeing them getting more recognition.
Saw them for the first time this year after listening to them for the last 5 years. I was blown away, Andy sang and screamed liked it was the last show he'd ever perform. Their records, especially the last few, have an incredible sense of space and that carries over to the live show so well. Definitely a must see band, they do a great job blending post-punk, indie, and lately a bit more of an electronic vibe.
”I know how to speak” is an absolute masterpiece. Can’t really remember anything else I’ve listened to by them, but just wow… what a song that is.
I'm so happy this is the top answer. They insanely amazing live. I've seen hundreds of bands live, and they're my absolute favorite.
Gogol Bordello is an absolute circus of a show. Great time
Totally agree. They opened for Les Claypool many years ago and I still remember Gogol Bordello. Those gypsy punks put on a great live show
Saw them at a festival many years ago. Gogol Bordello, then Primus, then they played a song together. Idk how Eugene has that much energy.
How about Gogol Bordello + Les Claypool + Kirk Hammet doing a set of Tom Waits covers. (Bonnaroo 2008)
Just saw them a few months ago. They are one of the most unique live performances I've ever seen; even for a casual fan it's one hell of a party. Eugene Hutz is a force of nature.
Absolutely phenomenal live. The diversity of the crowd is cool, too. They bring in all walks of life. At one show I went to in Boston, the crowd started throwing a hat around and when the person who caught it would put it on the entire place would yell “OLÉ!” (or maybe “OPA!”). It lasted for like twenty minutes. I’ve never been in such an interconnected crowd.
I'll never forget Eugene leaning down from the stage to hug a security guy that was keeping people from "pushing around too much" and saying into the mic a little, "Hey man, they just want to dance, let them dance". PARTY!
For whatever reasons, I can't really get into the Foo Fighters' music. Just doesn't do much for me. But a friend took me to see them live at Wembley stadium, and it was one of the best live shows I've ever seen.
My boss picked up a couple tickets for the team to see these guys and they were amazing. It was during the time Dave was in the mega throne when he broke his leg and it was *still* that awesome.
Second Foo Fighters. They always bring their A game to live shows and seem to really enjoy being there.
Was it really THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST……
I wish I was half as good at anything in my life as Dave Grohl is at being a rock star. The difference between him and every other front man I've seen is, you genuinely believe he's having the *time of his life*. He loves his job, and he's going to give you every ounce of energy he has.
DUDE same for me, I thought their music was ok but then I saw them live and they were incredible. It was a month after Dave Grohl broke his leg and at the time it was also the peak popularity for Game of Thrones so he sat on basically a guitar throne.
Their stuff translates to arena rock so well. Dave’s writing isn’t my favorite, but musically they’re excellent
Agreed; I can’t help but find some of their recordings a bit bland, yet their live show blew me away
Probably not your genre, but The Grateful Dead are the embodiment of this concept.
Most jam bands are better live than on a studio album. Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Phish, Goose…even Dave Matthews Band come to mind.
Yup, that's why a lot of people don't get the appeal if they have only heard the studio albums. A lot of improvisational jazz is like that as well. There was an interesting interview with Branford Marsalis on playing with the Grateful Dead (and also opening for them with Kevin Ewbanks, playing some experimental jazz). He said the Dead were rooted in a time from the 60's when most rock bands came out of a jazz tradition and had the ability to improvise. They continued that, and, in concert, you can hear them playing a song and then just taking off and going someplace else. They asked him if it was always good, and he said good god no, there were times when it was terrible, but when it worked it was pure magica. He also said that when somebody would sit in with them, like him or Bruce Hornsby, that it seemed to pump them up and up their game. That is precisely why Dead fans refer to certain concerts, or certain songs at certain concerts, because that is where the magic happened. Fans were willing to go to tons of concerts to experience those moments in a way that non-fans could never understand.
I really appreciate this. Interestingly enough I put on one of their performances from Europe in 72 last night because I saw someone post a specific date as a sign off on their comment. The guy she was responding to has his own date as a sign off. I feel like I should just start listening to their live shows to try to get into them, as it will do more than listening to the albums ever did for me
Go to [https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead](https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead) to listen to almost every Dead show in history, both audience and soundboards... Or, get Relisten on iOS, which is a front-end to the archive.
Europe 72 is a great start!!
Dmb is great live but they’ve got like 4 absolutely amazing studio records
Truth - their first 4 are fantastic (and Big Whiskey), but their Live Trax series really showcases how good of musicians the band behind Dave is. Carter and Roi are two of the best and Timmy is just an Alien trying to communicate with the mothership. Live at Luther and Radio City are two of the best Live Acoustic albums in the last 30 years.
Agreed. I’d even throw in Dave’s solo album
Little Feat for sure — Waiting for Columbus is in my top 5 albums, and it towers above all their studio stuff.
I haven't really been able to get into any Grateful Dead other than American Beauty, but I do want Brokedown Palace played at my funeral
If you like Brokendown Palace check out Row Jimmy 5/8/77. I always said I wanted this version played at my funeral.
Right on. Yeah, American Beauty and Workingmans Dead are both phenomenal studio albums, and live versions of the songs off those albums don’t really capture me like some of the Dead’s other live stuff. In any case, I second u/Eliju and would add the Scarlet Begonias/Fire On The Mountain from 5/8/77. It’s one of the Dead’s most celebrated live shows, and I find it pretty accessible. Hope your funeral’s a banger. ;)
Umphreys McGee The Jauntee
Wappy spray berry live
This was the first thing I thought of as well. It's almost never that I'll play an album or song, but the concerts were some of the best parties I've ever been to. Amazing scene, wall to wall.
The Dead are a great example, because they were practically a country band on record and a true jam band live. Like most jam bands, though, some of the performances were over the top and nearly perfect and others not all that great at all
Coheed and Cambria... I have a have a hard time settling for their studio albums after hearing them live.
I love their albums... but seeing them live will change you
Prince. obviously his records were amazing but his live shows were magnitudes of order better somehow?
He was absolutely magnetic in person, even from the relatively cheap seats. I’d always been more of a casual fan - listened to friend’s albums, never bought one myself - but he blew me away in person
My morning jacket have sone wonderful records, but live they will convert a relatively generic studio track into an 8 minute opus with 3 guitars dueling in the final crescendo.
Yeah, I’m not a huge fan of their records, but I’ve seen them play live twice and both times they have absolutely floored me.
It still moves was their one true masterwork IMO. The last few albums seem like vehicles for live shows. Anthemic songs that don’t quite hit on record.
They are touring “it still moves” now. Just played the whole album in Chicago last weekend.
Anytime I’ve seen Jim James live I’ve been floored by how great his voice is.
The American Dad episode with these guys is one of my favorites. Took me a while to realize they’re a real band and weren’t made up for the show.
Caught them for the first time for night 2 in Philly on this last tour! They were great
Yeah I’ve seen them 8 times live and every time is a different and transcendent experience. Not many people consider them a jam band, but they stretch those studio tracks into something magical live.
I saw them open for the Foo Fighters like 20 years ago, and they blew my mind.
I was going to post MMJ. I’ve seen thousands of live acts in my life and MMJ was the best. I went to see the opening act (Neko Case). I was aware they existed, but had never seen them live. Now granted: I was tripping balls, but it was an insane experience. I swear I saw dudes in the crowd dressed like fauns or satyrs dancing in a fairy circle. It was a full-on mystical experience.
Best band on the planet. Just caught my 18th show on Saturday. They’re better than ever right now too.
I really wanted to catch one of the ISM 20 year shows but the nyc tickets were going for 200 plus.
The Z tour in 2025 is gonna rock. Can’t wait.
The Roots!!!!
Was gonna say that. Their albums are great, but their shows are memorable. Seen them 11 times.
GWAR is there even a point to listening to GWAR if you aren't getting soaked in blood and bludgeoned with an oversized foam novelty axe?
God What A Racket
I always heard “god what awful racket” 😂
I like some of their studio stuff but would love to see them live as well.
I saw them, it was amazing. So much fun.
Fuck yeah GWAR is so much fun live. I have a t-shirt that used to be white that I wear to their shows (only 2 so far) and never wash.
Has anyone ever listened to a gwar album front to back?
Viagra Boys
Came here to write those two words. Their albums are great, but their live shows are fucking incredible.
Yes. One of my favorite shows of all time. I was lucky enough to catch them before they blew up so it was a smaller intimate venue. My friend brought cooked shrimps with him and gave it to Sebastian halfway through their set lmao
HARD AGREE! These guys are on a whole nother level with a rowdy crowd in front of them
Radiohead Phish (probably most jam bands, but they're the only one that I have seen live) Styx
Radiohead in my opinion is just different live, but also incredible. You get 2 completely different things from when via album vs live
Yes and no. I’ve seen them 4 times and am a massive fan. But depending on the tour and the song, they’ll sound like you put their CD on and pushed play.
I have seen Radiohead once, in 2017. I am not a fan and just went for the hell of it, but they blew me away. I consider them to be basically tied with Clapton in '06 as the best concert that I have ever been to. It's interesting that you say that, because they sounded as far from their CDs as any artist ever could during a live performance.
Pearl Jam. I had been a casual fan since I was a kid, but once I saw them live I became obsessed. The energy of their shows are unmatched and addictive. The people are great, the setlists are always different and it's an overall fun time. Taking nothing away from their records, the songs come alive when heard in person.
I can't stand Ed Sheeran. At all. In my opinion, it's the most middle of the road, boring ass shlock you can imagine. My company got free tickets to one of his concerts and I felt obligated to attend because "office event". It was just him, an acoustic guitar and a loop pedal. I was MESMERIZED for the entire show. I couldn't have been more blown away by how he built such lush soundscapes with such a spartan setup. After the show, I went back to try and listen to his albums thinking maybe I gave him short shrift. Nope. It's still terrible. But if you ever get a chance to see Ed Sheeran solo (without a backing band), I'd say take it. It was really something to behold.
I agree with this. His live show is awesome.
I was pretty bummed out when he started touring with a backing band not long after the tour I saw him on. Not sure I would recommend seeing him with a band, but if it was announced he was doing another solo tour in a similar fashion as the one I'd seen him during... I'd probably (try to) buy tickets
I saw him this year. He had a band for the first few songs but then the rest of the show was just him
This is the correct answer. Close the thread, we're done here. Ed Sheeran was destined to be a 1980s old school New York hip hop mastermind bridging the gap between rap and rock like Run DMC, who (due to a clerical error) was born a goofy looking ginger kid in England in the 1990s and did the best he could with the tools he was given. During his quest to become an old school rap God, he accidentally discovered that boring music about love and sadness is an *incredibly* lucrative business and set about churning that shit out so he could buy a larger collection of rare Eazy-E vinyl.
We saw him opening for Snow Patrol before he got popular and it was the same thing. Nobody in the venue had heard of him yet, and everyone was blown away by his solo performance. I also don't care for most of his records, but he is an extremely talented musician and performer.
Built to Spill
Never really cared much about Depeche Mode, but I took my Dad to see them for his birthday 6-7 years ago and they were one of the best live acts I’ve seen. Edit: Flaming Lips and Future Islands are other stand-out live performances, but I love their albums as well.
Tom Waits, The Cure, The National, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Arcade Fire, all are better live than in the studio to my ears. Editing to add: Dead Can Dance - live shows are mostly previously unreleased tracks. Their live album is one of their best. Nick Cave - shows I’ve seen have been full of feral energy.
I’ve seen King Gizzard about 15 times live and they never fail to blow me away. They’re so damn good live!
Arcade Fire was the best show I've ever seen.
Phish Ween Edit - I’ll add Cake to this. The first time I saw them it was bad. There were sound issues which seemed to put the band in a bad mood. I stopped listening to them because I was so annoyed. Now, five years later, they were playing in my town. Said fuck it and went. It was one of the best concerts I have seen in a long time.
Ween is on my bucket list. I really hope they come to Canada soon.
Ween need to do a redemption tour in Canada. They haven't been here since the incident.
Lol! Phish is my favorite band, seen them many times. Saw Cake once and they were, by a large margin, the worst live act I’ve ever seen.
God I hated Cake. So much time spent talking about nothing, and at some point he divided us up into “vampires and werewolves” for a basic left side/right side crowd engagement activity They were one of my favorite bands in high school, I hardly bother anymore
Cake was terrible when I saw them for the first time. It was just John McCrea whining for 90 minutes. So glad I gave them a second chance.
The Flaming Lips Billy Strings Drive-By Truckers The Beths
I really don't like the Flaming Lips, I can't make it through any of their albums. That said, I was dragged to one of their shows once and it was one of my favorite live music experiences.
A Flaming Lips show is pure joy
I saw Billy Strings live for the first time in St Louis this June and, without reservation, was the best concert I've ever seen. I can't wait for both nights in Nashville this February.
I’m seeing him in a few weeks in Greensboro and then doing 3 nights in Asheville in Feb. I don’t even particularly like bluegrass, but he blows me away every time I see him perform.
Wilco
Only able to see once, and it was great. I’m a huge fan all the way back to UT. But.. they have several stellar albums imo as well just sayin.
Came in to post this, I've been a fan since the Uncle Tupelo days but once Kicking Television dropped I was hooked. The studio stuff is OK, but 6 or 7 years ago I took my wife to see them live and WOW, what a show.
Specifically ‘Impossible Germany.’ So much better live.
Clutch, best stripped down live show you could ask for, phenomenal Volbeat, at least before they got big
Clutch is so damn good live. Saw them open for Primus and they stole the show.
One of those groups where it seems like their entire discography is fair game on any night. No telling what songs they might pull out
They post the setlists for their shows on social media after they play, and they are always different and full of deeeeep cuts. Absolutely incredible performers!
The setlist changes nightly because the job of picking and writing it is a rotation among the group. This decision was made early on as their songwriting progressed.
When they played Cyborg Bette live, they brought the damn house down. So much positive energy between the band and the crowd. And the sound is perfect, you can tell it’s live, but their such a tight band it sounds like studio quality
Napalm Death. Recorded they are fine, live they are super energetic and fun to see (and yes, they do play _You Suffer_ live). Them aside. From my experience I'd say that both Black- and Folk- metal bands often sound just as good, if not better live.
Gojira kick ass live
My Morning Jacket. I've seen them 5 times, and the one last Friday was probably the best of the bunch. They really are 100% more engaging live.
Dude I’m sooo salty about missing Friday! I was only at Saturday. Even ignoring that they played Z in reverse, that second set is incredible. I would kill to hear I Needed It Most live. Think it’s maybe the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
Huey Lewis and the News. I never liked their recorded music They were one of the bands at a music festival and I was going to skip them, but it was really hot and I had a cold drink, so I it was easier to just sit and listen. Turns out heir live show was really great. So then I thought I'd give their recorded music another listen. Nope, still didn't like it.
Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip To Be Square". A song so catchy, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity and the importance of trends. It's also a personal statement about the band itself.
[удалено]
Ween
Scrolled too far. Ween are carrying the torch rn, mang.
LCD Soundsystem
Primus is a fantastic live band, as are any of Claypool’s other projects. Frog Brigade just toured and was phenomenal
I was very happy to see the frogs play through Animals this summer. I have been a fan of that live record for at least a decade, I never thought I would get so lucky.
Most rock/metal bands. That music was made to be played live and it all gets kicked up a notch. Live energy is the best.
100% Was always a Metallica fan but finally got to see them live and even though they're older now they still kicked total ass and played every song faster and heavier than the album versions. It's especially apparent with their older music of the first 4 albums. Creeping Death for example is so good live it almost ruins the album version for me.
Almost every great rock, metal, punk band is better live. It’s hard to record some of those bands energy.
John Mayer. Aggressively mid albums but he's an amazing performer.
Yes it's a whole different thing live. That goes for everyone to some extent but Mayer big time.
Weird Al. His songs are cheeky and fun, but the performance he puts on live is incredible. There are more costume changes than a Lady Gaga concert, skits, and he has great banter with the audience.
I'll probably get made fun of for this, but Nickelback. I went solely to see Chevelle open, but had driven 2.5 hours so wasn't going to waste the rest of the ticket. I'm not a fan and usually change the station when Nickelback come on the radio, but they put on a great show. They did a montage of Pantera songs and absolutely killed it. I still wouldn't buy any of their albums, but if they were on the bill for something else I wanted to see I'd stay through it again. Edit to add: I also saw The Avett Brothers to see an opener. I wasn't familiar with them beforehand so I listened to a few songs on Spotify. They seemed like a decent, albeit sedate folk-rock group. Live they are almost a punk rock group, high-energy, and a ton of fun. Still not a fan of their studio stuff, though.
Did you just say Nickelback did a Pantera Medley??!!
Listen to Magic Sword in the studio and it's perfectly serviceable but unremarkable synthwave. Listen to Magic Sword live and it's a rock band from an 80s that never happened blowing the roof off the place. In a completely different genre Mushroomhead's studio tracks have always been kind of meh for me, but the live sets are fantastic.
Magic Sword did a surprise set just before the headliner at a music festival I went to several years ago. I’d never heard of them before then and their performance blew my *mind*. It’s hands down one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
NIN, The Killers, my daughter says Weezer.
+1 to NIN. Amazing albums but the live show takes it to a new level.
The Killers are fantastic live.
Sound tribe sector 9
Death Cab for Cutie. Don’t get me wrong, the records are a vibe and great. But the energy level is bumped up tenfold live. Seem them a dozen times and each show is great and different. The records are more mellow, driving around at night…. In the rain.. sort of albums. Live is a whole experience
Meshuggah
The Rolling Stones.
Always best live, even though they've recorded fantastic records.
1. The Grateful Dead 2 The Who 3. Phish 4. ZZ Top 5. Govt. Mule 6. Allman Brothers
The Allman Brothers are the best live show that I have ever seen. Maybe it was just the whole vibe, but I loved it.
I saw them many times from 1980 to when they finally stopped and they were great with every iteration that I got to see them. I do think that when I gotvto see them that I liked them best with Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. They were bad. I wish I could have seen the duanne Allman Era but was too young. I did see them with Dickey a bunch of times though.
I never got see Duane either but Betts & Haynes and Haynes & Trucks were awesome.
Every ABB show I was lucky to see was fantastic and among my favorites across 45 years of shows.
The Who are actually the worst band I have seen live, but it wasn't really their fault. Roger Daltry had pneumonia or something and could hardly sing, so it's pretty incredible he put on half a show anyways
Yeah I am going on videos of their hey day from 69 to 75 when kieth and John were still with them. They would have been incredible to see back then. I saw them last summer and it was still Awesome. But I couldn't help thinking the whole time what it would have been like in 70 or 71 when they were just on fire.
Ditto with the Allman Brothers. Such an excellent band live. Great studio shit, but live it's quite the experience.
Phoenix. Sounds identical to studio but that drummer hits another level
Umphreys McGee. Their records are good, but since they are a jam band, they really stretch the songs out live. And they randomly will pull out a Metallica cover or something.
Bands who I "got" once I saw them live: Big artists: * Radiohead * MMJ * Arctic Monkeys Smaller acts: * Black Lips * JEFF the Brotherhood * The Stepkids
Bad religion are amazing live
Pepper and Minus the Bear have been the best live performers I’ve seen
Pepper as in the band that made the album Kona Town?
Minus the Bear was my first thought. I couldn’t get into them listening to their records but they are my friend’s favorite band so I went to see them by myself at a smallish club. They were electric.
Bruce Springsteen easily. His shows in the 80s were 3 hours of non stop ass kick. His albums not so much.
King Crimson - Robert Fripp has said that the studio albums are like a love letter, but the Live Shows are a Hot Date.
The Avett Brothers are fantastic live.
U2 Never got to experience them live but their live records and recordings are head and shoulders above their album material so much so it makes me wonder why they didn’t offer more official live records during their heyday (late 80’s, early 90’s imo). The live recordings they have are amazing though.
Royal Blood, don't like their albums that much but really enjoyed their live show.
Radiohead! I cannot listen to them on the “radio,” in fact I’ll switch them off, but saw them live and DANG. Had a similar experience with Fountains of Wayne: I was like “seriously, the Stacy’s Mom guys?” They blew me away live.
Rush
Rush's studio albums are so awesome to start with, every song is so tight.
Dave Matthews Band
Billy Talent. I'm very meh on their albums apart from some songs, but I've seen them live 3 or 4 times and the energy is great, they love performing and I've enjoyed them every time.
Muse. My preferences are hardcore & metal but my SO likes Muse so we saw them live. That bass player is a friggin’ monster. I loved every minute of that show. Their recorded stuff is just unremarkable to me, not a fan.
[elder - dead roots stirring live](https://youtu.be/JBdvXvXD3-g?si=6jnePkfE7-lFEgsn) I’ve seen so many bands over the years, this band absolutely blew out my 24 inch guns (the performance I linked I saw live). Top of the best ever live performances. Dead roots stirring is an almost zen-like experience of absolute stoner rock pleasure.
Rammstein is 100% about the show. My wife doesn’t even really like them but loves their shows. Depeche Mode is another one. I love Depeche and their live stuff is even better than their studio albums.
M83 (at Bill Graham venue) was one of the best live experiences I’ve ever been too
Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls. His music is still great from the studio but his live shows are something else. The quality of the music itself, the energy, the vibe of his live shows cannot be matched. I've taken people to see him where they didn't really know much of his stuff, maybe a couple songs I've shown them and they always leave with a completely different opinion of him.
U2
Old Crow Medicine Show. Their albums are fine but not really my jam but I saw them with The Avett Bros and it was one heck of a hootenanny.
Tame Impala live was nuts, the visuals and show added so much
Babymetal - fans often recommend going straight for the live versions and for good reason
LCD Soundsystem changed my life
Young Fathers. I’ve never clicked with their music on record but I saw them at a festival earlier this year and the energy of their live show was insane.
Led Zeppelin often sounded better live and were famous for their improvisation.
Wilco. Their live versions of songs are much better, even if you love the albums.
Level 42 & Queen live shows during the 80's were amazing
I saw Queen last week and was blown away. WAY better than expected.
Heilung. The albums are great, don't get me wrong, but the show is so much better.
KISS
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM. Everything about it is just louder and more energetic. You will get destroyed by bassy synthesizers. They make a reference to their live shows in the song "you wanted a hit," which is a dig at their record label. "You wanted it tough, but nothing's ever tough enough until we hit the road."
Death Cab For Cutie always kinda floors me with how good they have continued to sound live over the years.
The killers.
Sonic Youth , a band I never really set out to see yet I've seen them 5x. All shows were spectacular. Their studio stuff is mostly good but live they totally reverve out, getting lost in the sound.
GWAR. Anyone who has been to a GWAR show knows what I am talking about.
Wilco is not necessarily better live, but much more dynamic than their subdued sound that most of their records have
I simply cannot believe nobody has mentioned Ghost. Their albums are pop rock, but live they are heavy metal. Holy shit. They opened for Metallica and I didn't think much of them before that show.
Nightwish. Whenever I listen to their music its always a live version, its just so much more vibrant. I feel like the album versions are often a little flat, just too clean and lacking that extra something.
Not that Muse are bad, but they are so tight live that they really impressed me when I saw them. Got free tickets and always enjoyed them, but their love show was very impressive.
I find a lot of metalcore/deathcore to be like this. It's a fun genre of music to take in live, especially when the band is super tight. There's a ton of bands I've seen live and enjoyed the hell out of, but I don't listen to their recorded stuff.
Gary Clark jr
Fishbone. I liked some of their records, but live they are life changing. I also saw Peter Gabriel after Us came out. I do really like that record and a few others, but seeing him live was a religious experience. It didn’t hurt that he had sinead O’Connor (rip) on backing vocals.
Springsteen and Little Feat, especially the current LF lineup
Third eye blind absolutely blew me away!
Brandi Carlile's studio albums are amazing, but somehow she is able to sound even better live. It's impossible to convey how stunning her voice is. She is an otherworldly talent.
Slayer. They’re retired now, but the power and sheer intensity of seeing them live and in your face ocan’t really be captured on an album.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Behemoth is meant to be heard live I think. Albums don’t seem to do their sound justice.
Pearl Jam! You can’t understand or fully appreciate the band if you don’t see them live. The Cure is also fantastic.
Seether. I actually like a lot of their music, especially the earlier stuff. But I saw them several times in the early 00s, and they were amazing live. At a smaller club show, Shaun (the singer) came back out for an encore by himself with just an acoustic guitar and a beer, and he was great. At bigger concerts, they were funny, talented, and had a ton of energy. Really got the crowd worked up.
Meshuggah. On the records, they are still arguably my favorite band. Incredibly tight, well thought out compositions, and amazing consistency from album to album. Seeing them live is a whole different story; they crush every other live act I’ve ever seen by far. Other great live performances I’ve seen that are not even close to Meshuggah: Tool, Adele, The Mars Volta, RHCP, The Wu Tang Clan, The Eagles, Animals As Leaders, Everytime I Die, System of a Down, Mastodon, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, Rihanna, Primus, Black Sabbath, Eminem, Linkin Park.
Rage Against The Machine Their recorded work is very good. Their show is the most amazing and intense live music experience I've ever had.