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
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....
Rusted Root, I have seen them about 13 times, I never saw show that was less than phenomenal!
The Church out of Sidney Australia. They tour the states about every other year. I have seen about 200 show. Out of those, the Church are the best. These guys bring it every time and their shows are epic, the best.