What are the best live acts?

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

Joe Cocker at Ruth Eckerd Hall in St. Pete.
That was truly a class act. Sounded better live than on CD's.

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

Thanks Marty. I usually tune out most shows--kind of like a kid in the candy store, so I am amazed when I really "feel" a great show go down, i.e. when everything clicks.

I worked with The Clash on their last US tour, 6 warm up dates leading into the US Festival. They told me they hated the Bonds shows--overbooked and a really small crummy space.

Pink Floyd suffered from trying to play to the video parameters of the day--very "deer in the headlights" moment, when the lighting rig and video went mental.

I also saw Radiohead where the entire rig went silent twice, due to the generator.

I love Los Lobos and wish I could have saw Booker T and the Wray Men in their day--heard both bands were incredibly tight.

Still like seeing bands on their way up. I don't find many new bands can carry a show today--my current faves are Aloe Blacc and the Throwdowns--super great and tight young bands.

Derek Trucks, Widespread Panic, Steve Kimock band, Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Mars Volta, Ben Harper....