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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
tweakgeek OP
76 posts
 
While you still can, you should go see Otis Clay. That is, if real soul music is your thang. Here in Chicago, he gets booked into blues bars occasionally. His live shows are invariably better than those of the more common formulaic blues acts.

Not that it will do anybody any good now, but I should share my observation that The Minutemen always rocked the house in a most profound way.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Tweakgeek, speaking of Otis Clay, did you catch the TV news feature (can't remember if was network or cable) last week about the resurrected career of Howard Tate?
snook2's avatar
snook2
626 posts
 
Talking Heads and Thomas Dolby really shine when appearing live. Most of their recorded music lacks the emotion.
slipknot1
1,423 posts
 
Grateful Dead
Phish
Dave Matthews Band
Allman Brothers Band
David Nelson Band (formerly of New Riders of the Purple Sage)
Shawn Colvin
Jerry Douglas
mes
393 posts
 
Tragically Hip.
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