Top 20 Live Acts in the world that I have seen
asher7
Posts: 85
Hi, don't know if anyone cares, but I just wrote a list and description on my facebook for my friends to see of the Top 20 Live Acts in the world who I have seen. I thought it might be appreciated here.
20. Alter Bridge – Brixton Academy 2008 - A cold November night in Brixton and the US post-grunge band really got things rocking. A long, heavy and mosh-filled set, but it was the slower songs like Watch Over You that really hit the hardest.
19. Alice in Chains – Sonisphere 2009 - Middle of the day set at Sonisphere, with a poor sound system Alice in Chains were up against it. But they delivered, and how. A great mix of new songs and the classics that make this band such Grunge legends. Despite being post-Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell proved that Alice in Chains still rock as hard as ever.
18. Queens of the Stone Age – Reading 2008 - Poor Reading festival sound system and them playing before Rage means that Qotsa don’t get higher up this list. Still a really good show playing some classic tunes.
17. The Killers – Reading 2008 - Arguably not their best show as the microphone sounded quiet. A really enjoyable set with some great sing-a-long classic indie tunes. However, it fell flat in the songs in between which people didn’t really know.
16. Kings of Leon – Reading 2009 – Famous for being an awful set, but I loved every minute of it. Those who only came for Sex On Fire and Use Somebody (and that was most people) really killed the atmosphere, but musically they were great, songs like Molly’s Chambers, Red Morning Light and On Call were fantastic.
15. Tenacious D – Reading 2008 – A great though predictable set, as Jack Black and Kyle Gass are funny in a musical way, something very hard to pull off. It went down a treat even though they were on before Metallica. A chance of a lifetime as they so rarely tour.
14. R.E.M – Royal Albert Hall 2008 – Paid over the odds for tickets but I think it was worthwhile, songs like Losing My Religion, Drive and Supernatural Superserious were the highlights of a short but vibrant set with lots of audience interaction and anecdotes.
13. Nine Inch Nails – Phenomenal band, short set and poor set choice are the only reasons this band are not higher. Something I Can Never Have was great and Hurt is just unbelievable live as a set closer.
12. Rolling Stones – O2 Arena 2007 – Classic band, great show. Overly expensive tickets but really good seats and good support from Jet. My parents probably enjoyed Rolling Stones more than me but they were a musical education from one of the most important bands of the last 50 years.
11. Eric Clapton – Royal Albert Hall 2009 - A guitar masterclass from an absolute legend. Probably should be higher on this list, bit of an old crowd and stayed seated throughout but he had a really good band and was great. Really quiet on stage but still oozed charisma.
10. Linkin Park – O2 Arena 2007 and Sonisphere 2009 – Great live band, I rarely listen to their albums but they’re always really good live. Rubbish seats at the o2 and a short set, cut shorter by the dreadful Dead By Sunrise means that they aren’t higher, they could have been if I’d seen them at Project Revolution, by all accounts.
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Hyde Park 2004 and Earl’s Court 2005 – Legendary band, with great live shows. Hyde Park always holds a place in my heart as this was my first gig. 70,000 or so people singing along to Californication or Under the Bridge is just amazing.
8. Neil Young – Hyde Park 2009 – The godfather of Grunge has still got it. He’s 64 but he’s got the energy of a teenager! Unbelievable, Rocking in the Free World and Down by the River were real highlights. He even brought on Paul McCartney to sing A Day in the Life with him as the set closer.
7. Biffy Clyro – supporting Linkin Park 2007, Reading 2008, Brixton Academy in 2008 and 2009 – Fantastic live band with sing-a-long new songs like Mountains and Who’s got a Match, but they’re real highlight is when they delve into their fans favourites like 27, 57, Glitter and Trauma and Jaggy Snake. That said Simon Neil singing Folding Stars alone acoustic at Brixton 2008 was a wonderful moment.
6. Rage Against the Machine – Reading 2008 – Legendary band, shame the volume was a bit low but still fantastic live. Bulls on Parade and Sleep now in the Fire really got things rocking but Killing in the Name of as a set closer was just phenomenal.
5. Metallica – Reading 2008 and Sonisphere 2009 – Classic band, never disappoint live, never-ending solos and craziness, music totally suited to live shows. Pyrotechnics and effects not withheld, reliably great live.
4. Foo Fighters – O2 Arena 2007 and Wembley Stadium 2008 - his voice isn’t what it used to be but the Foos are still amazing live. Front row at Wembley Stadium was quite a night! So many great lives songs, The Pretender, Everlong, My Hero and Times like These are highlights.
3. Radiohead – Reading 2009 - Mesmerising live, great musicians at the top of their game. Arguably the most interesting and important band in the world at the moment and just as good live. Large beams suspended from the stage gave off a spectacular light show. The weird new(ish) ones like Idioteque and Everything in its Right Place were amazing, as were the classics Street Spirit and Just. However, opening with Creep was the highlight, and totally shocked the crowd. It felt like a small piece of history.
2. Muse – Wembley Stadium 2007 and O2 Arena 2009 - Best live band in the world in comparison to their songs. Huge choruses are just made to fill huge venues in nearly all their songs such as Knights of Cydonia, Time is Running Out, Bliss and many more. Plug in Baby is just insane. So many moments, their sets feel like they’ll never end, Matt Bellamy’s showmanship shines through and there are just blisteringly good. This was very nearly number one, and if it wasn’t for my bias probably would be, Muse are unreal live. New album isn’t their best but they have a back catalogue of tunes that translate really well live. I wasn’t even a huge fan when I first saw them at Wembley, but I will NEVER forget that gig!
1. Pearl Jam – O2 Arena 2009 - Probably my favourite band in the world (who are alive) so this makes me hugely biased. However, their O2 Arena gig last August was out of this world. They opened with the ethereal Release, moved on into the charging Animal and the momentum just kept going. Porch was great, as was Corduroy and Even Flow got everyone going crazy. A debut of Supersonic was a real treat, as was a rare performance of the B-side Footsteps. Their songs power into each other propelled by Eddie Vedder’s famous golden baritone voice, and welded together into super jams that seem like they never end, and you never want them to. Despite it being 18 years since their best album Ten, they are masters of live performance and still at the very top of their game. Wonderous songs Alive, Black, Better man and Yellow Leadbetter were simply a joy to behold. I actually felt honoured to be at this special gig. One of the best nights of my life will never be forgetten!
20. Alter Bridge – Brixton Academy 2008 - A cold November night in Brixton and the US post-grunge band really got things rocking. A long, heavy and mosh-filled set, but it was the slower songs like Watch Over You that really hit the hardest.
19. Alice in Chains – Sonisphere 2009 - Middle of the day set at Sonisphere, with a poor sound system Alice in Chains were up against it. But they delivered, and how. A great mix of new songs and the classics that make this band such Grunge legends. Despite being post-Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell proved that Alice in Chains still rock as hard as ever.
18. Queens of the Stone Age – Reading 2008 - Poor Reading festival sound system and them playing before Rage means that Qotsa don’t get higher up this list. Still a really good show playing some classic tunes.
17. The Killers – Reading 2008 - Arguably not their best show as the microphone sounded quiet. A really enjoyable set with some great sing-a-long classic indie tunes. However, it fell flat in the songs in between which people didn’t really know.
16. Kings of Leon – Reading 2009 – Famous for being an awful set, but I loved every minute of it. Those who only came for Sex On Fire and Use Somebody (and that was most people) really killed the atmosphere, but musically they were great, songs like Molly’s Chambers, Red Morning Light and On Call were fantastic.
15. Tenacious D – Reading 2008 – A great though predictable set, as Jack Black and Kyle Gass are funny in a musical way, something very hard to pull off. It went down a treat even though they were on before Metallica. A chance of a lifetime as they so rarely tour.
14. R.E.M – Royal Albert Hall 2008 – Paid over the odds for tickets but I think it was worthwhile, songs like Losing My Religion, Drive and Supernatural Superserious were the highlights of a short but vibrant set with lots of audience interaction and anecdotes.
13. Nine Inch Nails – Phenomenal band, short set and poor set choice are the only reasons this band are not higher. Something I Can Never Have was great and Hurt is just unbelievable live as a set closer.
12. Rolling Stones – O2 Arena 2007 – Classic band, great show. Overly expensive tickets but really good seats and good support from Jet. My parents probably enjoyed Rolling Stones more than me but they were a musical education from one of the most important bands of the last 50 years.
11. Eric Clapton – Royal Albert Hall 2009 - A guitar masterclass from an absolute legend. Probably should be higher on this list, bit of an old crowd and stayed seated throughout but he had a really good band and was great. Really quiet on stage but still oozed charisma.
10. Linkin Park – O2 Arena 2007 and Sonisphere 2009 – Great live band, I rarely listen to their albums but they’re always really good live. Rubbish seats at the o2 and a short set, cut shorter by the dreadful Dead By Sunrise means that they aren’t higher, they could have been if I’d seen them at Project Revolution, by all accounts.
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Hyde Park 2004 and Earl’s Court 2005 – Legendary band, with great live shows. Hyde Park always holds a place in my heart as this was my first gig. 70,000 or so people singing along to Californication or Under the Bridge is just amazing.
8. Neil Young – Hyde Park 2009 – The godfather of Grunge has still got it. He’s 64 but he’s got the energy of a teenager! Unbelievable, Rocking in the Free World and Down by the River were real highlights. He even brought on Paul McCartney to sing A Day in the Life with him as the set closer.
7. Biffy Clyro – supporting Linkin Park 2007, Reading 2008, Brixton Academy in 2008 and 2009 – Fantastic live band with sing-a-long new songs like Mountains and Who’s got a Match, but they’re real highlight is when they delve into their fans favourites like 27, 57, Glitter and Trauma and Jaggy Snake. That said Simon Neil singing Folding Stars alone acoustic at Brixton 2008 was a wonderful moment.
6. Rage Against the Machine – Reading 2008 – Legendary band, shame the volume was a bit low but still fantastic live. Bulls on Parade and Sleep now in the Fire really got things rocking but Killing in the Name of as a set closer was just phenomenal.
5. Metallica – Reading 2008 and Sonisphere 2009 – Classic band, never disappoint live, never-ending solos and craziness, music totally suited to live shows. Pyrotechnics and effects not withheld, reliably great live.
4. Foo Fighters – O2 Arena 2007 and Wembley Stadium 2008 - his voice isn’t what it used to be but the Foos are still amazing live. Front row at Wembley Stadium was quite a night! So many great lives songs, The Pretender, Everlong, My Hero and Times like These are highlights.
3. Radiohead – Reading 2009 - Mesmerising live, great musicians at the top of their game. Arguably the most interesting and important band in the world at the moment and just as good live. Large beams suspended from the stage gave off a spectacular light show. The weird new(ish) ones like Idioteque and Everything in its Right Place were amazing, as were the classics Street Spirit and Just. However, opening with Creep was the highlight, and totally shocked the crowd. It felt like a small piece of history.
2. Muse – Wembley Stadium 2007 and O2 Arena 2009 - Best live band in the world in comparison to their songs. Huge choruses are just made to fill huge venues in nearly all their songs such as Knights of Cydonia, Time is Running Out, Bliss and many more. Plug in Baby is just insane. So many moments, their sets feel like they’ll never end, Matt Bellamy’s showmanship shines through and there are just blisteringly good. This was very nearly number one, and if it wasn’t for my bias probably would be, Muse are unreal live. New album isn’t their best but they have a back catalogue of tunes that translate really well live. I wasn’t even a huge fan when I first saw them at Wembley, but I will NEVER forget that gig!
1. Pearl Jam – O2 Arena 2009 - Probably my favourite band in the world (who are alive) so this makes me hugely biased. However, their O2 Arena gig last August was out of this world. They opened with the ethereal Release, moved on into the charging Animal and the momentum just kept going. Porch was great, as was Corduroy and Even Flow got everyone going crazy. A debut of Supersonic was a real treat, as was a rare performance of the B-side Footsteps. Their songs power into each other propelled by Eddie Vedder’s famous golden baritone voice, and welded together into super jams that seem like they never end, and you never want them to. Despite it being 18 years since their best album Ten, they are masters of live performance and still at the very top of their game. Wonderous songs Alive, Black, Better man and Yellow Leadbetter were simply a joy to behold. I actually felt honoured to be at this special gig. One of the best nights of my life will never be forgetten!
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My top list of live bands:
The Dirtbombs
311
Pearl Jam
Metallica
Radiohead
Dave Matthews Band
Muse
Datsuns
White Stripes
Kings Of Leon
AIC
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
2. Foo Fighters (4)
3. The Whigs (3)
4. Them Crooked Vultures (2)
5. Metallica (3)
6. The Who
7. Rush (2)
8. Pixies
9. Weezer
10. Nine Inch Nails (3)
11. Kings of Leon (during the Aha/Times days)
12. Zappa Plays Zappa
13. The Features (2)
14. Elvis Costello
15. Bob Dylan
16. Jane's Addiction
17. Wolfmother (had free tickets, never really listened to them but they put on a hell of a show)
18. Supergrass
19. Mark Knopfler
20. Biffy Clyro
My Morning Jacket
Cake
Fleet Foxes
REM
Decemberists
The Police
Kiss
James Taylor
Allman Brothers Band
Really hope to see Cake someday always been a fan but never gotten around to seeing them. Also was really disappointed by the Police when I saw them it seemed like Andy was having an off night.
I'm getting old :(
Charlotte 03
Asheville 04
Atlanta 12
Greenville 16, Columbia 16
Seattle 18
Nashville 22
Ohana Festival 24 x2
Alice In Chains
Audioslave's first tour 2003 (these performances were unfucking real, less impressive on following tours)
Beastie Boys
Faithless
The Jimmy Cake
Korn (i got serious shit on here for saying it b4, but im sticking to it)
Me First & The Gimme Gimmes
Moby
Mogwai
Muse
Neil Young
Nine Inch Nails
Pearl Jam
QOTSA (when the band had Lanegan and Oliveri the shows were miles better, more diverse)
Radiohead
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Sigur Ros
Sonic Youth
The Who
All I can say is they are such a fun band to see live. Full audience participation. Take the next opportunity you have to see them. They rarely come to the east coast anymore. Also one of the least hardest working bands around. Imagine if we were all in their fan club instead of PJ...we would have strung them up by the balls years ago. They have been around for 16 years and have had 6 albums (all of which are less than 40 mins each). Cake should go on tour with Pearl Jam and learn about working hard to get the music to the people. Cake seems to not care about this.
Pearl Jam
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
John Butler Trio
Wilco
Foy Vance
The Gutter Twins
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Nine Inch Nails
REM
Calexico
Jurassic 5
You Am I
Iron & Wine
Clutch
Counting Crows
Beastie Boys
Soundgarden
Ash Grunwald
The Black Keys
Turin Brakes
(Jeff Tweedy, Sydney 2007)
“Put yer good money on the sunrise”
(Tim Rogers)
"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
“..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
Pearl Jam
Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Mellencamp
Rush
Springsteen
Counting Crows
George Thorogood
Jethro Tull
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Stones
Tears for Fears
U2
Rory Gallagher
Jonny Lang
Warren Zevon
Eddie solo
all shows that I walked out of and said "wow!"
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Pearl Jam
Radiohead
The Black Keys
My Morning Jacket
Iron & Wine
Bon Iver
The Raconteurs
Heartless Bastards
Ben Harper & the IC
Reverend Horton Heat
Soundgarden
Dead Weather
The Avett Brothers
The King Kings
Wilco
Sonic Youth
The Decemberists
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band
Toadies
M. Ward
Tom Petty
Gillian Welch
www.cluthelee.com
www.cluthe.com
Pearl Jam
Bruce Springsteen & ESB
Madonna
AC/DC - 1986/2009
Iron Maiden - 1986 x 2/1988/1990 x 2
Ozzy Osbourne - 1992
Anthrax - 1990
Sonic Youth - 2004/2006
Tom Waits - 2004
Steve Earle - 2004
REM - 2005
Muse - 2003
A Perfect Circle - 2004
Mogwai - 2002/2005
Kris Kristofferson - 2008
Arab Strap - 2004
The Delgados - 2004
Tindersticks - 2007
Joe Gideon & The Shark - 2008
Nick Cave - 2008
++++PEARL JAM++++ will be added 3 times in 2010!!! Maybe more??
Will die happy but even happier if I see Soundgarden, AIC, Mark Lanegan, Leonard Cohen, Sigur Ros, Tool, QOTSA, Them Crooked Vultures, ED SOLO!!!
Dublin 02 Arena - 22/6/10. Belfast Odyssey Arena - 23/6/10. London Hyde Park - 25/6/10. Berlin Wuhlheide - 30/6/10.
Manchester MEN - 20/06/12. Manchester MEN - 21/06/12
Pearl Jam
Audioslave (2003)
Type O Negative
The Who
Tom Petty
KISS
Aerosmith
B.B. King
Tool (SLC '06, Birmingham, Alabama '07)
The Black Crowes
A Perfect Circle
Jane's Addiction
Slayer
Mastodon (twice, each time was killer)
Slayer
Marilyn Manson
RHCP
Henry Rollins (spoken word)
Down
The Mars Volta
Mogwai
Steve Vai
Kings Of Leon (2005)
Street Dogs (multiple times, always a great show)
Wolfmother (in a small club shortly after the release of their first album...needless to say, they blew the roof off the joint)
Chris Cornell
Boyhitscar
Godsmack
Alice Cooper
Hatebreed
Rob Zombie
Iron and Wine
Incubus
I think I exceeded twenty, but whatever, lol.
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
PJ
Metallica
Foo Fighters
Clapton
Rolling Stones
Bob Seger
The Eagles
Tina Turner
Aerosmith
AC/DC
Beastie Boys
James Taylor
Ben Harper
Black Crowes
Springsteen
Smashing Pumpkins
Tom Petty
BB King
Bob Dylan
MMJ
Ed solo
Theres tons more....I tried to make complete list of everybody I've seen a while back and I quickly realized that my memory ain't so good
....Some folks don't like him very much but I'm taking my favorite girl in the world to see John Mayer in March for her birthday
They say every sin is deadly but I believe they may be wrong...I'm guilty of all seven and I don't feel too bad at all
Hell yeah man! I'd love to see him live!
6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
Iron Maiden
Primus
Phish
Nine Inch Nails
David Byrne
Ben Harper + The Innocent Criminals
Metallica
The Ramones
Neil Young Crazy Horse
Pantera
Lamb of God
Beck
Rancid
Black Crowes
Judas Priest
Mastodon
Jurassic 5
Rob Zombie
Grace Potter + The Nocturnals
David Gilmour
PJ
Black Crowes
Rush
Velvet Revolver
Flaming Lips
STP
The Mars Volta
Radiohead
Tool
Moe
ACDC
Tom Petty
Pearl Jam
Rammstein
Audioslave
Mark Lanegan
The Zutons
Alice In Chains