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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
hdm
1,062 posts
 
I haven't seen the Stones since '76 but I bet they are still a great live show from the video I've seen of them.
waltersalas's avatar
waltersalas
951 posts
 

Los Lobos
Jason and the Scorchers
Richard Thompson
Drive-By Truckers
White Stripes
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Fugazi
Jesus Lizard
Iggy pop
Nick Cave
Dead Moon
Jon SPencer Blues Explosion
texan
48 posts
 
Glenn Hughes, have taken six different people to see him and everyone agrees with my high praises after seeing him in person. Most of my shows have been R&R so can only use them for reference; second ELP and recommend Uriah Heep highly if you are lucky enough to catch them now. Also, tried to get tickets to the Stones show in Fort Worth in late 70's to no avail; couldn't pay me to see them now!
lugnut
1,190 posts
 
Leon Russell rates as the top show I've ever seen.
Neil Young is always a delight with a new persona each time.
Frank Zapa was the most wonderful production.
Elvis was spell binding and I'm not a big fan.
Garth had the entire audience in his hand.

When I was about 13 my older brother took me to see The Rolling Stones on their first USA tour in Omaha. There were only about 250 people at the concert. They played perhaps four numbers and left in a huff. That turned me off to them forever although I could understand their anger. A couple of years ago while watching a history of rock 'n roll series on television I listened to a young Mick make insulting remarks about Omaha and vowing never to return. I wonder if he kept his promise.
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