Best Live Band

[Keller]

Some friends and I went out drinking last night and the topic of conversation turned to the best live band we've ever seen.

Top 3 for me are:

1) Rage Against the Machine, by far.
2) Counting Crows
3) Coheed and Cambria

[Asha]

1. Iron Maiden, by far. Donnington 03.
2. Rage Against The Machine. (going to see thm again in Germany, summer this year.)
3. Manic Street Preachers.

Still want to see Coheed. I've also heard that Queen were the best but I was too young.

[Xaerve]

I only read your topic and thought of Coheed, haha...

My top 3 are:

1) Megadeth
2) RATM
3) Coheed

[Xaerve]

@ Drayal: Claudio is fucking incredible on the guitar, I'd really recommend getting to see them.

[Asha]

Next time they're in Europe dude. I've been really impressed by them since I was pointed towards them last summer.
Definitely got that penciled in. :)

[AnticorRifling]

Can we add http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj1-ZZRajDU to the list?

[AnticorRifling]

@ Drayal: Claudio is fucking incredible on the guitar, I'd really recommend getting to see them.

Agreed.

[Asha]

Oh also, Claudio has one of the best (no better word), most induvidual voices I've ever heard. And a completely unique vocal style.

[Keller]

@ Drayal -- I'd love to see Iron Maiden live. I don't even know more than 2 of their songs, but I am sure that show would be fucking epic.

[Asha]

@ Drayal -- I'd love to see Iron Maiden live. I don't even know more than 2 of their songs, but I am sure that show would be fucking epic.

lol dude, complete with boeing 747s flying low directly over the stage at seemingly key moments in the set, it was the greatest experience of my life.
And well worth waiting 13 years for!

Definitely see them any chance you get. But it'd be better at a huge fest.

[Bobmuhthol]

I haven't seen any really spectacular bands other than DragonForce.

[Latrinsorm]

Bruce Springsteen.

Thread over.

[Allereli]

Tool, Jane's Addiction, the revived AIC, Rush, Korn, Fuel, Foo Fighters

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Monster's of Rock 1986 - Nothing will ever compare to it.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/imagedream/Misc/Monsters_of_Rock_1986.jpg

[DeV]

From the bands I've seen live my top 3 are The Roots, Pearl Jam and Dave Matthew's.

[DeV]

I've also heard that Queen were the best but I was too young.They will always be the best in my book.

[StrayRogue]

Black Sabbath, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins.

[bluesmith]

1. Polyphonic Spree (even though I'm not a huge fan, their live show is amazing).
2. Ozo Matli - my peeps from the hood.
3. Wilco

[Nilandia]

Can't name a top 3 or whatever, but there are definitely some concerts that are more memorable than others.

Project 86, even with a small crowd in a tiny venue, was brilliant. Any of the bands I saw at Purple Door last year were awesome, particularly Red, The Devil Wears Prada, Disciple, Spoken and Norma Jean. Skillet was great as ever when I saw them back in August, and Thousand Foot Krutch and Kutless back at Creation.

Waaaaaay back when I got to see Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in concert with my brothers and father. I don't remember much of it other than Kashmir utterly rocking the arena.

Hoping to see Demon Hunter when they play in Philadelphia on my birthday. I hear that their shows have to be seen to be believed. Also thinking of seeing Skillet and TFK again, along with Decyfer Down when they swing by here in May on the last stop of their tour.

To completely bare my nerdiness, I have to name the Philadelphia Orchestra. Even if they probably aren't a band in the sense you guys are thinking of, their concerts put any music recording to shame. If you like any sort of classical music at all, you have to go see a decent orchestra sometime in your life.

The Chieftains are also fantastic if you enjoy Irish music at all. Just saw them last week for the third time (they play in Philadelphia each year around St. Patrick's Day), and it never gets old.

Gretchen, music buff

[Keller]

To completely bare my nerdiness, I have to name the Philadelphia Orchestra.

This reminded me. I should list 3b) Bright Eyes w/ the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. That was an absolutely surreal musical experience.

[Blud]

Pantera at the Roxy in Atlanta (1991).

[Stanley Burrell]

1. Ghostface Killah
2. The New York Philharmonic playing in Carnegie Hall.

[Blud]

2. The New York Philharmonic playing in Carnegie Hall.

I want to see that.

[Stanley Burrell]

When it's empty, and you whisper all the way from the entrance doors, you can hear it on stage.

The scientific reason behind this is...

The Phantom.

[Asha]

Damn, forgot Pearl Jam (Only Ten + Vs tour) and Pantera.
AIC don't count without Layne.

[StrayRogue]

NIN in a pub was pretty decent as well.

[Blud]

Damn, forgot...Pantera.

Don't know where you saw Pantera, but the Roxy is only about 300-350 person capacity.

[Some Rogue]

Seeing Roger Waters performing at an ampitheater in St. Louis and as he's doing the Dark Side of the Moon songs the full moon rising up over the stage was damn near a religious experience. Or I was stoned off my ass.

Maybe both. hehe

[AnticorRifling]

Barbershop Internationals....but you have to be into that genre of music (which I am).

[Keller]

Barbershop Internationals....but you have to be into that genre of music (which I am).

Rofl, I know a kid from NE Indianapolis who sings in a barbershop quartet. He's the dorkiest kid I know.

[AnticorRifling]

Rofl, I know a kid from NE Indianapolis who sings in a barbershop quartet. He's the dorkiest kid I know.


I will kill you.

[Blud]

When I hear of a barbershop quartet, all I can think about is Skokie, Illinoise.

[Xaerve]

I really wish I would have seen Pantera live =\

Has anyone else seen Megadeth live?

[Celephais]

Dropkick Murphys on St. Patrick's day, that's the way to go.


The Chieftains are also fantastic if you enjoy Irish music at all. Just saw them last week for the third time (they play in Philadelphia each year around St. Patrick's Day), and it never gets old.
I'll have to try them some St. Pats, as I haven't been lucky enough to have the pleasure (so long as they don't conflict w/ my yearly DKM in Boston on St. Patrick's)

[BigWorm]

No one's mentioned Radiohead yet?

[Some Rogue]

When I hear of a barbershop quartet, all I can think about is Skokie, Illinoise.

Hmm, when I think of barbershop, this is all I can think of.

http://thatvideosite.com/video/462

[AnticorRifling]

Hmm, when I think of barbershop, this is all I can think of.

http://thatvideosite.com/video/462

I don't even have to click the link, coming from Nekk it's either Family Guy vasectomy/AIDS or it's the B sharps from the Simpsons.....fucker.

[bluesmith]

No one's mentioned Radiohead yet?

Really good live, but only if you know their songs backwards and forwards. Seeing them 5/11!!

[Stanley Burrell]

I heard Phish was pretty live, live. Never got to witness their awesomeness though. I don't think it's possible anymore.

All the artists who performed at SUNY Purchase during Oktoberfest. Aesop Rock (fuck you in your pasty white perineum, Makkah), Dr. Octagon/Kool Keith, MC Paul Barman... And lots of loud bandana'd white people when the Hip-Hop ensemble closed shop.

[StrayRogue]

I really wish I would have seen Pantera live =\

Has anyone else seen Megadeth live?

Yep. But at a festival. Certain bands suck at a festival (as did Megadeth), whilst certain bands thrive (Sabbath etc).

[Methais]

SLAYERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
http://www.howtoavoidthebummerlife.com/weblog/archives/slayer_logo.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBW_b-WJ2us

http://www.nationaldayofslayer.org/slayer/god_listens_to_slayer.jpg


I really wish I would have seen Pantera live =\

I saw them live a few times. They put on a pretty good show. Phil's live vocals weren't as good as I expected but the overall show was great. I got to meet them once too after a show...except Dimebag, he wasn't backstage for some reason.

[Some Rogue]

I don't even have to click the link, coming from Nekk it's either Family Guy vasectomy/AIDS or it's the B sharps from the Simpsons.....fucker.

You are correct Mr. Griffin.

[Asha]

I got to meet them once too after a show...except Dimebag, he wasn't backstage for some reason.

That would have crushed me

[The Ponzzz]

1). Korn in '98
2). Family Value's Tour '99
3). Woodstock2 (because I am not old enough to go to Woodstock1)

(EDIT: Apparently I can't read and put the concerts down and not just the bands, oh well)

[Valthissa]

Seeing Roger Waters performing at an ampitheater in St. Louis and as he's doing the Dark Side of the Moon songs the full moon rising up over the stage was damn near a religious experience. Or I was stoned off my ass.

Maybe both. hehe

When I saw Pink Floyd play Dark Side of the Moon at the Hampton Coliseum in '74 it was so god awful loud that about 80% of the audience was in the hallways outside.

my favorite live bands, in no order

U2, Joshua Tree
The Grateful Dead, touring as The Warlocks
Carlos Santana at Chrysler Hall
Parliment Funkadelics
and more recently, Phish

C/Valth

[Danical]

My friends saw Iron Maiden live in LA just a few weeks ago.

I was supposed to go but couldn't get the work off. I cried myself to sleep :(

Also, I really liked the Flaming Lips.

I love playing Iron Maiden on Rock Band. :D

[Danical]

Oh, also, I've heard Queen was simply the best live; wish I could have seen them.

[Some Rogue]

When I saw Pink Floyd play Dark Side of the Moon at the Hampton Coliseum in '74 it was so god awful loud that about 80% of the audience was in the hallways outside.

my favorite live bands, in no order

U2, Joshua Tree
The Grateful Dead, touring as The Warlocks
Carlos Santana at Chrysler Hall
Parliment Funkadelics
and more recently, Phish

C/Valth

74 huh? I was 2. :tumble:

[AnticorRifling]

74 huh? I was 2. :tumble:
2 huh? I was negative 7.

[Danical]

I've always wanted to see Dre perform.

http://www.the-isb.com/images/UnifiedBitchTheory2.jpg

----------------
Now playing: Lemon 8 - Lemon 8@Exposure Festival 05.09.2003 CD1 (http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/lemon+8/track/lemon+8%40exposure+festival+05.09.2003+cd1)
via FoxyTunes (http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/)

[Back]

Black Crowes at the Supper Club
Ramstein at the Hammerstein Ballroom
Beck at Radio City
Shane MacGowan at a Guinness festival
Jet at 9:30 Club
Oingo Boingo with RHCP opening in LA

[Some Rogue]

2 huh? I was negative 7.

Yes but you're raising the two sons I fathered and you feel much older than me now. It evens out.

[kookiegod]

Hmmm...

Ok, my geeky one is Yanni at Mohegan Sun, was awesome.

KISS and Ted Nugent double bill

Staind

Seeing John Paul Jones from Zep in a bar with 100 people playing Zep songs about 20 years ago.

Seeing Operation: Mindcrime, by Queensryche...

And I really, really, really want to see Coheed and Cambria...

~Paul

[ViridianAsp]

1. Swingin' Utters

2. Bouncing Souls

3. Dropkick Murphys

4. The Forgotten


Oh and last but not least, Pressure point, Nekromantics and Tiger Army.

[Izzy]

1) Disturbed
2) Linkin Park
3) Story of the Year

[Warriorbird]

Pink Floyd (Pulse Tour era, NC)
NiN/David Bowie (NC)
TMBG (Severe Tire Damage, WI)
Dave Matthews (3.5 hour solo concert/standup comedy that he gave outdoors at the local college for his wife's graduation present, VA)
Rammstein (St. Louis, Sehnsucht)
Busta Rhymes (Making every other artist on the Roc the Mic tour his bitch, NC)
B.o.B. (New Orleans)
Clipse (VA Beach, pushing We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 2)

Tough to choose.

[Asha]

I just asked my brother the same question and he said Ramstein are monumentaly awesome live.
I wouldn't know, but he does know his shit.

[Back]

Rammstein (St. Louis, Sehnsucht)

Was it the controversial “pornographic” show? And did the guy shoot the burning arrow over the crowd?

[Warriorbird]

There was all sorts of flame work going on. I remember feeling seared during Du Hast. I think there was a firework arrow at one point.

I don't know if they got in trouble for anything they did... but Till's a wild guy. I think they got arrested later during the tour. I'm pretty sure most of the other artists smoked up at some point live but I don't remember Rammstein doing any of that... just some pawing of each other and a whole lot of flames. Their display stuff was pretty crazy... but a lot of people's was.

Still... like Busta being better than anybody else on Roc the Mic... I think of that as their night.

[BigWorm]

Was it the controversial “pornographic” show? And did the guy shoot the burning arrow over the crowd?

Fuck, I swear we have more controversial concerts per capita than any other city. Axel Rose is still banned from performing in St. Louis County because he started a riot the last time Guns 'n Roses was here.

[Warriorbird]

Sounds like the show got them busted in Mass, not St. Louis (in y'all's defense).

[Dwarven Empath]

Pink Floyd
KISS
RUSH

In that order

[Mr. Dallas]

Genesis in Rome 2007 w/ 500,000 people
Rush
Foo Fighters

and I'll toss in BNL too!

[Gallows Thief]

Best 3 by far live were:

Flogging Molly at Revolution in Lauderdale
U2 at Yankee Stadium
Mick Jagger doing a set at Webster Hall from Wandering Spirit. Was an invite only gig I got to work which consisted of standing at the stage.

[Jahira]

Red Hot Chili Peppers
DMB
Third could be tons but those two stand out.

[Warriorbird]

I'd love to see Flogging Molly.

[Gallows Thief]

I'd love to see Flogging Molly.

New album is out so they should start touring heavily now..If they get anywhere near you go...you wont regret it..

[Mistomeer]

No one's mentioned Radiohead yet?

Radiohead kicks ass live.

I'd say the top 3 live bands I've seen are:
Radiohead
Snow Patrol
Foo Fighters

Top 3 shows I've seen:
Coldplay at the Ryman
Radiohead at Grant Park
Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1998

[Methais]

White Zombie used to put on a great show too. I saw them open for Pantera in '96 in New Orleans and while Pantera's the better band imo, White Zombie put on the better show.

Les Claypool is awesome live too.

[Augie]

Some of my faves:

Live (Ed Kowalczyk - however you spell it - is an awesome front man)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Rage Against the Machine
System of a Down :heart: Serj
Dave Matthews Band
Blue October
Breaking Benjamin

[ElanthianSiren]

Genitorturers
Megadeth
NIN


Wish I'd seen Nightwish, but sadly no.

[Marl]

Pantera at the Roxy in Atlanta (1991).
HAH I was there ;) was my second concert when I was like 13-14 first one was The Who in like '88.

Honestly the best "show" I have seen was probably Marilyn Manson Antichrist superstar tour. That dudes know how to throw a show.

Narrowing down a list of 100's will be hard but if I must

Norma Jean
Tool
Throwdown (only in small venues 500 people max)
widespread panics new years eve show is always good
Korn did some nice ones when they first came around
RATM with WuTang was a good one
I am sure I am forgetting ALOT but these stood out right off hand

[ElanthianSiren]

First manson show was Portrait with NIN then a bunch of little clubs. Still have my stubs for 96 (ACS). Never went after ACS. I always felt ACS was where manson began singing about Corporate too much/too polished etc. JMO.

[Marl]

yea I think I saw him one other time at big day out in atl or lollapalooza or something and it was nothing compared to ACS

[TheEschaton]

I haven't seen Manson since ACS either, but that fucking tour was amazing.

Special place in my heart for my first serious concert when I was a freshman in high school: Smashing Pumpkins on their MCIS tour, opening act No Doubt, who had just released Tragic Kingdom. Awesome.

I once tripped on mushrooms so hard during either a Phil Lesh or Roger Waters concert (I've seen both live) I swear I met God. It was beautiful. I just can't remember many of the details, like which one of the two it was.

I always loved Fear Factory live.

Rage at Rock the Bells was good this past summer, but I think I'm getting too old for concerts. I used to be in all the mosh pits, now I just don't like to be bumping into other people.

But by far and away my favorite person to see live is Ani DiFranco. That little 5'2" girl packs so much energy it can be felt in the back row.

-TheE-

[ElanthianSiren]

Funny TheE... pit's the only place I *don't* mind bumping other people. I hate people touching me, except in the pit.


Sidenote:
Oh, all the Cold shows I saw in Philly were great, close to top 3.

The one I saw in Grand Rapids wasn't good, but everyone was waiting for Staind. That was cool because they shot part of the video to So Far Away there, but it's not in my top 3.

[Stanley Burrell]

I never understood moshing, so the one time I did it, ah, I think you're not supposed to NFL tackle people and throw jump kicks everywhere. They had to stop the music. It was so embarrassing. IT WAS AT MY BEST FRIEND'S BAR-MITZVAH FOR GOD'S SAKE :'(

And that was when I started listening to The Wu-Tang Clan.

[ElanthianSiren]

My only rule is stay out of the pit if there are skinheads. :shrug: Common sense for people whose company you'd rather not have.

I like it because people touching me tends to make me edgy. Unfortunately, I like loud music, thus concerts. -So it's a way to let off that edge and enjoy the music, whereas I'd be standing in the middle of the room just agitated in any other situation. Alternatively, I could take lorzipam, but what fun would that be?

[Asha]

I'm pit master!
When I first saw Marilyn Manson they just brought out the Dope Show. There were like 15 'naked' hot businesses on stage, that's when I didn't mosh in a mosh pit for the first time ever.

[Nilandia]

Norma Jean

Agreed, Norma Jean is fantastic. I should also add Haste the Day and The Showdown to the list of great bands to see live.

If anyone's near southeastern PA and enjoys loud music, consider going to Purple Door in August. Two days of hard music in the summer is a beautiful thing, not to mention you can always tell where the mosh pits are by the huge clouds of dust they stir up. :D

(Edited to add: Stupid Warped Tour taking Norma Jean this year. They played Purple Door last year.)

Gretchen

[iJin]

omg.

Tool.
Nine Inch Nails.
Norma Jean.
Marilyn Manson

WORD.

[Marl]

This will be a good one if anyone can make it
http://www.metalandhardcorefestival.com/

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival will present Gigantour featuring Megadeth, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy and High on Fire on Friday night. Saturday will be headlined by Dimmu Borgir, Shadows Fall, and Behemoth. Ministry, Meshuggah, and Nevermore will close out the festival on Sunday night.

Other bands scheduled to perform include: A Life Once Lost, The Acacia Strain, After the Burial, Animosity, As Blood Runs Black, Belay My Last, Born of Osiris, Braindrill, Classic Struggle, Cockpunch!, Cold World, Dead to Fall, Disfear, Eluveitie, Elysia, Embrace the End, Emmure, The End, Ensiferum, First Blood, For The Fallen Dreams, From a Second Story Window, Full Blown Chaos, The Ghost Inside, God Forbid, Hate Eternal, Heaven Shall Burn, Hemlock, High on Fire, Impending Doom, Job for a Cowboy, Keep Of Kalessin, Kid Deposit Triumph, Ligeia, Monstrosity, Municipal Waste, On Broken Wings, Overkill, Recon, Red I Flight, Rhinoceros, Shai Halud, Shipwreck a.d., Since the Blood, Skeletonwitch, Sleeping Giant, Soilent Green, Sons of Azrael, Stick to Your Guns, Stray from the Path, Through the Eyes of the Dead, Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganze, Trap Them, Turisas, Tyr, Unexpect, Unholy, Vanna, Veil of Maya, Vital Remains, Waking the Cadaver, Winds of Plague, Withered, and Xtyrantx.

[Back]

Jesus. Reading all those band names it sounds like its going to be the freaking apocalypse.

[drigore]

All very very good, so I can't pick a *best* really.

Primus
Godsmack
Mr. Bungle
Our Lady Peace

(Yes, I know it said three)

[BigWorm]

Just saw Explosions in the Sky on Saturday. Hadn't really heard much of their stuff before that, but they put on a great live. Their music is all about the dynamic sound and the value of the slow build up and they really rock out hard.

[Bobmuhthol]

Oddly enough I'm specifically opting out of this year's NEMHF because the lineup fucking sucks, sans Megadeth who were originally lined up to play the day before instead of during the festival.

[Asha]

haven't megadeth broken up yet? Again?
Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan, but I lost track of anything they did out of the studio just after Youthanasia.