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greatest live band you've seen?

A Surprise LeftA Surprise Left Posts: 743
edited November 2006 in Other Music
so who is the best in your view?
i've seen pearl jam twice and nin and they were pretty damn good and seen various other bands as well. but i must admit that the u2 concert i went to last night was something out of this world. the energy in the crowd and the noise that was being made. the sheer volume coming out of those speakers and the goodwill as a massive football arena was turned into something feeling a little smaller. the fact that one classic song after another was played and that bono sounded better than he does on cd.

the small things like picking a young woman from the crowd and singing "without or without you" to her or a young boy during "sunday bloody sunday". bono previously annoyed me with his political posturing but all was forgiven last night.
The wind is blowing cold
Have we lost our way tonight?
Have we lost our hope to sorrow?

Feels like were all alone
Running further from what’s right
And there are no more heroes to follow

So what are we becoming?
Where did we go wrong?
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Comments

  • stu geestu gee Posts: 1,174
    Never seen pearl jam, and doubt i ever will so they arent on my list unfortunately, although im sure theyd be right at the top.

    Have to say the best live band i have ever seen have been massive attack. Seen them twice, and the second time i saw them at a music festival was unbelievable, completely blew me away. They played my favourite song Tear Drop just as the sun was going down at the side of the stage, was amazing, one of the best nights of my life.
    People say im paranoid. Well, they dont say it, but i know that's what they are thinking.
  • direwolf74direwolf74 Posts: 1,622
    The best live bands on the planet, in no particular order:

    U2
    Pearl Jam
    Wilco
    The Tragically Hip
    Drive-By Truckers
    The Boss & the E Street Band
    "I try my best to chug, stomp, weep, whisper, moan, wheeze, scat, blurt, rage, whine, and seduce. With my voice I can sound like a girl, the boogieman, a Theremin, a cherry bomb, a clown, a doctor, a murderer. I can be tribal. Ironic. Or disturbed. My voice is really my instrument."

    -Tom Waits
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    Here is my top list of acts to see EVERYTIME I can

    Pearl jam
    foo fighters
    the Moody Blues
    Peter Frampton
    Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers
    Burden Brothers
    The WHO (I saw these guys last night, and even thought they have been criticized as not being the who anymore, they should have given up years ago blah blah blah" These guys rocked the fucking house last night. Roger and Pete still got it. Zack Starkey was bad ass on drums, pino on Bass was great, and simon was great, and too bad rabbit was not there (his wife is ill, and I hope she is ok, best wishes to her:( so the keyboard tech was filling in. I don't know if I'll get to ever see the who again, but I hope so!
    PJ: 10/14/00 06/09/03 10/4/09 11/15/13 11/16/13 10/08/14
    EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
  • rockpantsrockpants Posts: 838
    radiohead is probably the most amazing live experience I've had - twice.
    2nd is PJ, and 3rd is Matthew Good.
  • boroff89boroff89 Posts: 786
    Pearl Jam and The Arcade Fire are 1a and 1b. If you haven't caught the Arcade Fire live, do so the next time they are out. Nine Inch Nails are definitely amazing. Incubus. Fleetwood Mac (Lindsay Buckingham is worth the price of admission on his own). The Mars Volta are fricking amazing. I'd rank my top 5 as:

    1a. Pearl Jam
    1b. The Arcade Fire
    3. The Mars Volta
    4. Incubus
    5. Fleetwood Mac
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  • 1STmammal2wearPants1STmammal2wearPants Posts: 2,938
    pearl jam
    the flaming lips
    2003 Mansfield III 
    2004 Boston I 
    2006 Boston I 
    2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 
    2010 Hartford 
    2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford 
    2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II 
    2018 Fenway I, Fenway II 
    2021 Sea.Hear.Now
    2022 Camden
    2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
  • sapperskunksapperskunk Posts: 684
    RAMONES /bumbershoot 95 or 96, I can't remember.
    www.myspace.com/olafvonmastadon
  • MaressaMaressa Posts: 1
    Pearl jam are fantastic live, so are tool and wolfmother...
    we have been metamorphosised from a mad body dancing on hillsides to a pair of eyes staring in the dark...
  • BinFrogBinFrog Posts: 7,309
    Pearl Jam




    Rush
    Phish
    Primus
    The Bad Plus
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  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Pearl Jam. U2 does the SAME thing EVERY night, so there are no suprises. Pearl Jam changes it up. I've seen both bands in the same venue, and PJ was much better.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • who's_pearljam?who's_pearljam? Posts: 2,104
    Every time somebody asks this, I come up with something different!
    I've seen a lot of shows since 1967, and some great ones, but when I think back on memorable shows, the first thing that always comes to mind is:

    Seeing Jimi Hendrix in Philadelphia. I've never seen so much power and energy come out of a trio and I'll never forget that. Unbelievable and unforgettable.

    Then The Rolling Stones in 1972. Pure raw energy.

    The Talking Heads in the early 80's. I was living in Los Angeles then, and we were at one of the two shows when they did "Stop Making Sense".

    Jethro Tull in the 70's

    Pink Floyd. Always a great spectacle!

    U2 is so great live. Like A Surprise Left says, they have a way of bringing a good feeling and making you feel like you're all sitting in their living room.

    This year, Radiohead at the Tower Theater near Philly was amazing. A small 3000 seat venue and they took us all along for a ride through the clouds and out of this world, and dropped us off back at the venue at the end of the show. 8) I think they're the most amazing live show around now.

    One of the most moving shows I've seen was Neil Young sitting with acoustic guitar at the Tower Theater for a couple of hours. There is something about Neil acoustic that just sends me every time.
    Be kind, man
    Don't be mankind. ~Captain Beefheart
    __________________________________
  • mrwalkerbmrwalkerb Posts: 1,015
    not going to say Pearl Jam because I'm kind of biased, but they would be #1 because I have such a connection to each song that I can't equate with many other bands. But otherwise I would say NIN, the Hip, U2 was really good the three times I've seen them but last time it seemed too contrived and too much emphasis on the show, they sounded great et all but not as awesome, maybe I'm too jaded. The arcade fire were pretty rad as well, I think I would throw the Strokes in that group as well, odds are I'll edit this a few times and add more bands.
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  • conguitaconguita Posts: 222
    Gotta say
    Pearl Jam
    Faith no More
    ..:: I wanna taste everyone I see ::..
  • Gary CarterGary Carter Posts: 14,067
    the boss and the e-street band giant stadium 2003.greatest concert ever for me.
    pearl jam
    Ron: I just don't feel like going out tonight
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  • merkinballmerkinball Posts: 2,262
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    Then The Rolling Stones in 1972. Pure raw energy.

    I just got sent a 9 disc compilation from the '72 Stones tour. Great stuff, much more raw than what they play these days. The guitar playing is amazing, and the songs are so much more 'loose'.

    My picks?

    Peter Gabriel on the So tour
    Grateful Dead late 80's (w/ Brent Mydland)
    Drive-By Truckers
    PJ
    Flaming Lips
    Lucinda Williams
    Neil Young
    "You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.

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  • who's_pearljam?who's_pearljam? Posts: 2,104
    merkinball wrote:
    I just got sent a 9 disc compilation from the '72 Stones tour. Great stuff, much more raw than what they play these days. The guitar playing is amazing, and the songs are so much more 'loose'.

    My picks?

    Peter Gabriel on the So tour
    Grateful Dead late 80's (w/ Brent Mydland)
    Drive-By Truckers
    PJ
    Flaming Lips
    Lucinda Williams
    Neil Young


    Where'd you get that set. Those were the Mick Taylor days. Stevie Wonder opened for them that time and HE was amazing, too. The Stones STILL ain't no slouches though! Still one of the greats.

    The Grateful Dead were a great show. There were times when they would morph into the next song and you could feel this collective sigh in the audience. I LOVED those shows and have no idea why I didn't put them up there!!
    I saw them so many times, and there were some great great nights. Probably the greatest was seeing them on the beach in Santa Barbara in maybe 1980. with the sun going down and palm trees all around. The waves were breaking in a rhythm, and they picked up on it and did a quiet improv spacey jam timed with the waves crashing.
    One of those great musical moments that stuck with me.
    Be kind, man
    Don't be mankind. ~Captain Beefheart
    __________________________________
  • GRIMMYGRIMMY Posts: 370
    PJ
    wilco
    Sigur Ros
    Ben Folds
    The Rentals
    grimmy
  • acutejamacutejam Posts: 1,433
    15. KISS '85 Civic Center, SF, CA on easter sunday (Motley Crue opened)
    14. Fastway, Saxxon, Iron Maiden '84 Cow Palace (just the whole show, kick ass)
    13. Black Sabbath '99 Reunion Tour
    12. Oh yeah, any Dead Show '85-90 - esp at Greek or Frost, or NYE
    11. Ronnie James Dio, New Years Eve 85? Oakland Arena
    10. Peter Murphy late 80s at the Warfield, SF, CA
    9. James Taylor
    8. Bush '90s Warfield Theater, SF, CA
    7. Pearl Jam 95 Cal Expo, Sacto, CA
    6. David Sylvian and Robert Fripp, late 80s Berkeley, CA
    5. David Torn
    4. Michael Hedges
    3. Pearl Jam '06, SFIII
    2. Rush's 30th Anniversary Tour

    1. Ace Frehley, Nov 17, 1994 - Boardwalk, Orangevale, CA

    Couldn't have been more than 200-300 people crammed into the Boardwalk and literrally 5 local bands opened for him, and FINALLY at like 12:30 the lights go out and the first riff of Detroit Rock City comes WAILING outta the floor to ceiling Marshalls just pummelling us. I'll never forget that experience.
    [sic] happens
  • seanw1010seanw1010 Posts: 1,205
    stuckbetween the boss and slowhand....
    they call them fingers, but i never see them fing. oh, there they go
  • 14RAY5514RAY55 Posts: 109
    Pearl Jam
    Little Feat,I saw them just after the Waitng For Columbus recording came out when Lowell George was still alive.
    Smashing Pumpkins
    Still Alive And Well In Miami
    4-23-92 Miami,8-22-92 Miami,3-28-94 Miami,10-07-96 Ft.Laud.,9-22-98 WPB,9-23-98 WPB,8-9-00 WPB,8-10-00 WPB,4-11-03 WPB,7-16-06 S.F.,7-18-06 S.F.,7-22-06 Gorge,6-11-08 WPB,6-12-08 Tampa,10-23-10 Moun.View,10-24-10 Moun.View
  • edigerediger Posts: 308
    The '05 Winnipeg Pearl Jam show was easily the best show I've seen. Next to Pearl Jam, I'd say The Tragically Hip are the best live act I have seen.
    Hello, I love you. Won't you tell me your name?
  • Todd76Todd76 Posts: 1,469
    1)Broken Social Scene
    2)Arcade Fire
    3)godspeed you black emperor
    4)Mogwai
    5)Doves
    6)Flaming Lips
    7)Sarah Harmer
    8)the Cure
    9)Interpol
    10)Sonic Youth
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  • FnCircusFnCircus Posts: 439
    even though i saw the Dead 5 times, including 89 in Buffalo, I would have to say the all time FOR ME......

    Pink Floyd at Death Valley Stadium, Clemson University, May 12, 1994. Seeing the window in the middle of the sky with just stars and no clouds......AMAZING!

    and the high wasn't too bad either...........
  • FnCircusFnCircus Posts: 439
    metsfan531941 wrote:
    the boss and the e-street band giant stadium 2003.
    all i have to say is....................

    fucker!

    that was my dream.
  • merkinballmerkinball Posts: 2,262
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    Where'd you get that set. Those were the Mick Taylor days. Stevie Wonder opened for them that time and HE was amazing, too. The Stones STILL ain't no slouches though! Still one of the greats.

    The Grateful Dead were a great show. There were times when they would morph into the next song and you could feel this collective sigh in the audience. I LOVED those shows and have no idea why I didn't put them up there!!
    I saw them so many times, and there were some great great nights. Probably the greatest was seeing them on the beach in Santa Barbara in maybe 1980. with the sun going down and palm trees all around. The waves were breaking in a rhythm, and they picked up on it and did a quiet improv spacey jam timed with the waves crashing.
    One of those great musical moments that stuck with me.

    Check your pms for info on the '72 set. Mick (Taylor) sure brought a lot to the Stones. You're right, they still put on a great live show (saw them on the Steel Wheels tour and the Licks tour), but it isn't the same sound as the 70's

    Nice Dead memory too, love moments like that. When I saw Dylan last year in Bend, Oregon there was a point in You Ain't Goin Nowhere when he sings the line 'Ooowee, we gonna fly', and at that point a flock of canadian geese flew right over.

    Those improvs were the highlight of the dead. That Scarlet -> Fire transition is my favorite.
    "You're no help," he told the lime. This was unfair. It was only a lime; there was nothing special about it at all. It was doing the best it could.

    http://www.last.fm/user/merkinball/
    spotify:user:merkinball
  • brain of cbrain of c Posts: 5,213
    10cc
    d'oh!!!!!!

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  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    acutejam wrote:
    15. KISS '85 Civic Center, SF, CA on easter sunday (Motley Crue opened)
    14. Fastway, Saxxon, Iron Maiden '84 Cow Palace (just the whole show, kick ass)
    13. Black Sabbath '99 Reunion Tour
    12. Oh yeah, any Dead Show '85-90 - esp at Greek or Frost, or NYE
    11. Ronnie James Dio, New Years Eve 85? Oakland Arena
    10. Peter Murphy late 80s at the Warfield, SF, CA
    9. James Taylor
    8. Bush '90s Warfield Theater, SF, CA
    7. Pearl Jam 95 Cal Expo, Sacto, CA
    6. David Sylvian and Robert Fripp, late 80s Berkeley, CA
    5. David Torn
    4. Michael Hedges
    3. Pearl Jam '06, SFIII
    2. Rush's 30th Anniversary Tour

    1. Ace Frehley, Nov 17, 1994 - Boardwalk, Orangevale, CA

    Couldn't have been more than 200-300 people crammed into the Boardwalk and literrally 5 local bands opened for him, and FINALLY at like 12:30 the lights go out and the first riff of Detroit Rock City comes WAILING outta the floor to ceiling Marshalls just pummelling us. I'll never forget that experience.

    Your list rules, and the fact that ACE FREHLEY solo is your #1 is awesome. I too saw ACE in '94 on that solo tour. I saw him in a hotel bar here in Cincy (lived elsewhere at the time, we drove up), and it was great. He opened with "Rip It Out" that night. What a magical show.
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • Vedderlution_BabyVedderlution_Baby Posts: 2,535
    Of course pearl jam for me. It was my first concert so it's always going to be special.

    I had to really think about it...but Guns n roses beat out NIN.

    NIN was an awsome show, don't get me wrong but was way choregraphed and had video screen aspects to it...which didnt really appeal to me.


    Guns N Roses...you guys can give me hell all you want but I will never, NEVER forget waiting four hours for them to take the stage and the lights going off.

    Oout comes this scraggily motherfucker with a les paul strapped to him. THe spot light is on him and he walks to the front of the stage. He leans over the crowd, the guitar swinging down by his ankles....

    The first notes of Welcome to the Jungle ring loudly throughout the entire arena and everyone goes insane. He teases us for a minute, repeating the first few notes. Finally he breaks out in it and the pryo explodes. There begins my amazing concert experience that is Guns N Roses.
  • somebodyelsessky2020somebodyelsessky2020 Posts: 1,173
    Pearl Jam 4 sure one of my all time favs.. porno for pyros, blind melon and aerosmith woodstock 94..robert plant way back principle of moments tour.. guns n roses use your illusion tour with metallica
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  • spongersponger Posts: 3,159
    Nobody cares for NIN? The show I went to last year ranks at the top of my list.
    reigning champion

    http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=272825
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