The 3 Best Current Live Bands

SmallestOceans

Phish
Earthless
PJ

helplessdancer

this band is out to be # 1
Ripe — Live at House of Blues (Full Set)
February 9, 2019 – Boston-based Ripe bring their unstoppable groove to House of Blues Boston. The seven piece dance/funk outfit meld with an adoring sell-out crowd to create a truly unforgettable night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko838ieEa2s

derbydave

The first 2 are simple...
1. My Morning Jacket
2. Pearl Jam
Number 3 is uncertain for me right now.
I would've said Band Of Horses...
but I haven't seen them live since Tyler & Bill left the band,
so not sure where they stand at this point.
Minus The Bear is also one of my top bands...
but they just wrapped up their farewell tour,
so can't really include them either!
That leaves Jeremy Enigk, Pixies, The Magpie Salute & Bon Iver as my top choices to fill in the #3 spot.

tempo_n_groove

Deadman said:

Mastodon
Baroness
Deafheaven
And... cuz i gotta...
Between the Buried and Me

Mastodon was amazing live but I only saw them once so I can't claim them...

ConorKavanagh

Nine Inch Nails
Pearl Jam
Alice In Chains

demetrios

Pearl Jam
Tool
Carpenter Brut

nicknyr15

Ninetytworules said:

nicknyr15 said:

Ninetytworules said:

nicknyr15 said:

dimitrispearljam said:

1.PEARL JAM
2.THE CURE
3.RIVAL SONS

FINALLY where are any rival
sons fans!!!??? Why aren’t they more known? Greta Van fleet gets all the attention and imo are nothing compared to Rival Sons. 

I agree. I think the Rival Sons are the best new band out there. Need to get the new album!! 

Yes! New album is killer. Have you seen them live yet?

I have not but they are on the list. I almost saw that at a small club in Boston 3/4 years ago but it fell through st the last second.

have you seen them?

Yes they are awesome. Dudes vocals somehow sound even better live. Highly recommended. They’re touring now and tickets are cheap as hell. 

Zod

For me I know my top 2:

1) Pearl Jam

2) Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band

Both do amazing shows, have amazing catalogs to pull from, mix it up every night, play over 3 hours, and rock out.

Choosing a #3 is tougher for me...  seems like a long drop down after that.

I've seen u2 5 times.  3/5 of the shows were pretty good.  2 of them were only ok.    I've seen Tool 5 times.  4/5 were really good.   The Vancouver Lateralus show wasn't that great.

I've seen Foo Fighters 5 times between '97 and '18.  They never disappoint.   Even the time I saw them open for the peppers.   They mopped the floor resulting in the peppers looking pretty lethargic in comparison.

Chris Cornell solo acoustic would of been my # if he was alive.    I caught 4 of those acoustic shows.  Each one was amazing.

Metallica is pretty good, but after a while the shows feel the same.   The same hits, with a few songs that get swapped in and out if there's a new album.  Which I guess u2, FF, and everyone else does too... but it makes me less excited for metallica shows.

GNR was pretty good live.. but Axl's voice only works sometimes.  Other times it sounds off.  So it depends on the night you go.    Funny enough I really enjoyed my first guns n' replacements show, almost or possibly the same amount as when I saw the GNR reunion tour.

Soundgarden was pretty amazing live.   My favourite show of all shows I went too was Soundgarden at the PNE Forum in '96.   But it was inconsistent.  I'd seen them a lolla at the gorge a few months earlier and they were pretty good.   Gorge 2011 was pretty good.  The sound was really bad for Vancouver '13.   I guess the bands good, the venues can be questionable

Saw STP twice in 2000 and once around 2009 or 2010.  The 2000 shows were awesome.  The later show was pretty bad.

Aerosmith is 50/50 - One great show that was too short because they headlined with motley crue.  A 2nd time this was only kind of meh.

Motley Crue - 100% , but only seen them twice.   I actually liked the shorter co-headling slot with Aerosmith better than when I saw them headline our smaller local arena on their own.  Both were good shows though.

Smashing Pumpkins - 100% but only 2 shows.  (a lolla and the mellon collie tour)

Dayglo Abortions - Our Canadian trash punk band.   I really liked the era when Gymbo was the singer.  He wasn't the original singer, but he breathed extra life into an old punk band.  Hasn't been the same since he left.

Slayer - 100%.  Seen them twice at two different festival.  Always great.

Tom Petty - Seen him twice, both were great shows, but they were later in his career (2006 and 2014).  Excellent musicianship, but not the raw energy you get with some of our 90s favourites.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Seen them do some great shows and some lethargic shows.   Haven't seen them since they opened for PJ in 2000 in Seattle.  What I discovered is they're much better when they play just short of an hour

AC/DC - Seen them twice.  First show was pretty good.  2nd show was amazing.   It was in Edmonton.  It happened in the middle of a thunderstorm evening.  Lightning could be seen all around the venue and it pissed rain the entire time.   It was like the band and the crowed fed off the punishment they were taking.   I think it's my #2 show of all time (behind PJ at the gorge in 2005).

AiC - Once with Layne (lollapalooza) and twice with William (plus a number of solo Cantrell shows where William sang).   The lolla set was amazing but I didn't fully appreciate the band at the time because it was jar of flies that pulled me in.     I saw Cantrell do a solo opening for Metallica and it was decent.   The next one I saw the same night as my first ac/dc show.  They played Richards on Richards in Vancouver.  We walked in a few songs late due to being at AC/DC.   Probably my 2nd favourite AiC related show.   I don't find the two times I saw AiC with William to be that memorable, but the solo show definitely was.

Bryan Adams - 50/50 - Our seats ended up being obstructed view at the first show so our bitterness probably ruined it.  2nd show was an amazing acoustic show.

Queens of the Stone - Saw them open for NIN once, Soundgarden once, but only saw my first solo show when they played here last year.  It was really good.   Opening slots were ok.

Nine Inch Nails - I think I'm at 3 shows.. nope 4 if include the show opening for Bowie.   They're pretty good every time I go.   But they're 100% good.  I haven't quite felt that 110% I feel at a PJ/Springsteen show.

David Bowie - 2 times.  Both were pretty solid.   I really dug the tour with NIN.. show at the Tacoma Dome was great.

Counting Crows - I love their earlier studio albums but they are the worst live band I've ever paid money to see.

Tea Party - Pretty amazing live.  I got a little bored of them after the early 00's, but saw them last year and they kicked ass.  Going again this year.

Tragically Hip - Usually pretty good.  I would say 3/4 of the shows I've seen were legendary.   I saw a show in Edmonton around 2007 or 2008 that was a bit average.   On the flip side the show I saw on the farewell tour (Victoria).  I think its #3 all time.    Also the first time I saw them at Western Speedway for another road side attraction.  Amazing set, and amazing festival.

Nickelback - Sorry.  Friend of my friends used to drum in the band.  Saw a number of their early shows when their music was a bit more raw.  Nobody knows those albums because it was the 3rd one that got global airplay, and that's when everyone started the hate on (me included).

54-40 - Pretty good every time I see them - countless shows

I've only need Nirvana, Black Sabbath, The Who, Beastie Boys, Rage Against The Machine, Offspring, Blind Melon, Lenny Kravitz, Hole, Marilyn Manson, Everclear, Ramones, Pixies, John Fogerty, Monster Magnet, Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, Soulfly, Sepultura, Greta Van Fleet, Moist, Temple of the Dog, Paul McCartney,  one time.

I feel like you need to see a band 5 times to see if the legendary really stacks up.  However I've decided that the 2nd time I saw AC/DC was so amazing they're going to make my top 3.  Even if I've only seen them 2 times.  Foo Fighters were more consistent, but never achieved that level for me.

1.  Pearl Jam

2.  Springsteen & E-Street Band

3.  AC/DC

I wonder if I forgot anything.. probably.. I tried to put a lot of thought into it.

PJ_Soul

I would have said The Tragically Hip are #1 if they still existed. :(

wall232

Pearl Jam
Iron Maiden
Korn

Deadman

tempo_n_groove said:

Deadman said:

Mastodon
Baroness
Deafheaven
And... cuz i gotta...
Between the Buried and Me

Mastodon was amazing live but I only saw them once so I can't claim them...

They really are.  Have tix to my 10th Mastodon show which will break the tie with The Mars Volta and move them into the band I’ve seen live the 2nd most.  However, still 32 shows then behind PJ haha.

PJNB

I love seeing peoples top 3's. So many random choices on top of Pearl Jam.

1. Pearl Jam
2. Tool 
3. Radiohead 

JBob87

1. Twin Peaks
2. Tame Impala
3. Portugal. The Man

lmckenney24

1. Pearl Jam
2. Tool
3. Volbeat

Mikemzl91

JBob87 said:

1. Twin Peaks
2. Tame Impala
3. Portugal. The Man

I see Twin Peaks as your #1. Any intrest in trading for this shirt? I got it at Outside Lands some years ago. Tag says XL but fits more like a large.

JBob87

Mikemzl91 said:

JBob87 said:

1. Twin Peaks
2. Tame Impala
3. Portugal. The Man

I see Twin Peaks as your #1. Any intrest in trading for this shirt? I got it at Outside Lands some years ago. Tag says XL but fits more like a large.

Appreciate the offer but probably not the right size. Thanks!

eeriepadave

in alphabetical order:

Arcade Fire

My Morning Jacket

Pearl Jam

there a few which i haven't seen in ages which are real good live like Muse (although am seeing them in a few weeks), NIN and The Dirtbombs

Malroth

Zod said:

For me I know my top 2:

1) Pearl Jam

2) Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band

Both do amazing shows, have amazing catalogs to pull from, mix it up every night, play over 3 hours, and rock out.

Choosing a #3 is tougher for me...  seems like a long drop down after that.

I've seen u2 5 times.  3/5 of the shows were pretty good.  2 of them were only ok.    I've seen Tool 5 times.  4/5 were really good.   The Vancouver Lateralus show wasn't that great.

I've seen Foo Fighters 5 times between '97 and '18.  They never disappoint.   Even the time I saw them open for the peppers.   They mopped the floor resulting in the peppers looking pretty lethargic in comparison.

Chris Cornell solo acoustic would of been my # if he was alive.    I caught 4 of those acoustic shows.  Each one was amazing.

Metallica is pretty good, but after a while the shows feel the same.   The same hits, with a few songs that get swapped in and out if there's a new album.  Which I guess u2, FF, and everyone else does too... but it makes me less excited for metallica shows.

GNR was pretty good live.. but Axl's voice only works sometimes.  Other times it sounds off.  So it depends on the night you go.    Funny enough I really enjoyed my first guns n' replacements show, almost or possibly the same amount as when I saw the GNR reunion tour.

Soundgarden was pretty amazing live.   My favourite show of all shows I went too was Soundgarden at the PNE Forum in '96.   But it was inconsistent.  I'd seen them a lolla at the gorge a few months earlier and they were pretty good.   Gorge 2011 was pretty good.  The sound was really bad for Vancouver '13.   I guess the bands good, the venues can be questionable

Saw STP twice in 2000 and once around 2009 or 2010.  The 2000 shows were awesome.  The later show was pretty bad.

Aerosmith is 50/50 - One great show that was too short because they headlined with motley crue.  A 2nd time this was only kind of meh.

Motley Crue - 100% , but only seen them twice.   I actually liked the shorter co-headling slot with Aerosmith better than when I saw them headline our smaller local arena on their own.  Both were good shows though.

Smashing Pumpkins - 100% but only 2 shows.  (a lolla and the mellon collie tour)

Dayglo Abortions - Our Canadian trash punk band.   I really liked the era when Gymbo was the singer.  He wasn't the original singer, but he breathed extra life into an old punk band.  Hasn't been the same since he left.

Slayer - 100%.  Seen them twice at two different festival.  Always great.

Tom Petty - Seen him twice, both were great shows, but they were later in his career (2006 and 2014).  Excellent musicianship, but not the raw energy you get with some of our 90s favourites.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Seen them do some great shows and some lethargic shows.   Haven't seen them since they opened for PJ in 2000 in Seattle.  What I discovered is they're much better when they play just short of an hour

AC/DC - Seen them twice.  First show was pretty good.  2nd show was amazing.   It was in Edmonton.  It happened in the middle of a thunderstorm evening.  Lightning could be seen all around the venue and it pissed rain the entire time.   It was like the band and the crowed fed off the punishment they were taking.   I think it's my #2 show of all time (behind PJ at the gorge in 2005).

AiC - Once with Layne (lollapalooza) and twice with William (plus a number of solo Cantrell shows where William sang).   The lolla set was amazing but I didn't fully appreciate the band at the time because it was jar of flies that pulled me in.     I saw Cantrell do a solo opening for Metallica and it was decent.   The next one I saw the same night as my first ac/dc show.  They played Richards on Richards in Vancouver.  We walked in a few songs late due to being at AC/DC.   Probably my 2nd favourite AiC related show.   I don't find the two times I saw AiC with William to be that memorable, but the solo show definitely was.

Bryan Adams - 50/50 - Our seats ended up being obstructed view at the first show so our bitterness probably ruined it.  2nd show was an amazing acoustic show.

Queens of the Stone - Saw them open for NIN once, Soundgarden once, but only saw my first solo show when they played here last year.  It was really good.   Opening slots were ok.

Nine Inch Nails - I think I'm at 3 shows.. nope 4 if include the show opening for Bowie.   They're pretty good every time I go.   But they're 100% good.  I haven't quite felt that 110% I feel at a PJ/Springsteen show.

David Bowie - 2 times.  Both were pretty solid.   I really dug the tour with NIN.. show at the Tacoma Dome was great.

Counting Crows - I love their earlier studio albums but they are the worst live band I've ever paid money to see.

Tea Party - Pretty amazing live.  I got a little bored of them after the early 00's, but saw them last year and they kicked ass.  Going again this year.

Tragically Hip - Usually pretty good.  I would say 3/4 of the shows I've seen were legendary.   I saw a show in Edmonton around 2007 or 2008 that was a bit average.   On the flip side the show I saw on the farewell tour (Victoria).  I think its #3 all time.    Also the first time I saw them at Western Speedway for another road side attraction.  Amazing set, and amazing festival.

Nickelback - Sorry.  Friend of my friends used to drum in the band.  Saw a number of their early shows when their music was a bit more raw.  Nobody knows those albums because it was the 3rd one that got global airplay, and that's when everyone started the hate on (me included).

54-40 - Pretty good every time I see them - countless shows

I've only need Nirvana, Black Sabbath, The Who, Beastie Boys, Rage Against The Machine, Offspring, Blind Melon, Lenny Kravitz, Hole, Marilyn Manson, Everclear, Ramones, Pixies, John Fogerty, Monster Magnet, Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, Soulfly, Sepultura, Greta Van Fleet, Moist, Temple of the Dog, Paul McCartney,  one time.

I feel like you need to see a band 5 times to see if the legendary really stacks up.  However I've decided that the 2nd time I saw AC/DC was so amazing they're going to make my top 3.  Even if I've only seen them 2 times.  Foo Fighters were more consistent, but never achieved that level for me.

1.  Pearl Jam

2.  Springsteen & E-Street Band

3.  AC/DC

I wonder if I forgot anything.. probably.. I tried to put a lot of thought into it.

This is how you break it down, good info in here.

RK50065

Pearl Jam
Ben Harper
Mumford & Sons

MKSNYC

Here is a 1/2/3 punch for you:

1 - Pearl Jam
2 - Dan Baird & Homemade Sin
3 - Whitey Morgan