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
There is one singular act which stands far above the rest.....Peter Gabriel. His live show was a visual and musical extravaganza.
The Avett Brothers put on the best live performance. There is so much power in the room when they perform. If you have a chance to see them live don't pass up the opportunity.
Many of the best have already been noted. I'll add:

Feelies
Todd Rundgren (on a good night, there have also been some bad ones)
Rebirth Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Kid Creole
Gatemouth Brown
Fleetwood Mac/Lindsey Buckingham
Zachary Richard (when he was legal and Sonny Landreth was aboard)
Smithereens (loud!)
The Bongos
Richard Thompson

Among others
Stevie Ray Vaughn (1984)

The Who (1982)

U2 (1987)

Mettalica (1992)

Prince (1982,4,7)

INXS (1983,5,7)

Tears For Fears (1990)

Elton John (1993)