Rolling Stone asking for Greatest Live Act

[Piotr Rasputin]

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/weekend-rock-question-what-is-the-best-live-act-of-all-time-20110304

I reject it because Metallica won't finish Top 10, thus rendering the final list apocryphal.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

The best three live acts I've seen are the Grateful Dead, Prince and The Band.

 

[thesnowman]

Great poll question. Great thread.

My top three: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Counting Crows
Honourable mention: Metallica, Foo Fighters, Motley Crue

I wanted to include Styx on here so bad but so much of that experience had to do with the setting (Red Rocks Ampitheatre/Denver) than anything that was said or done on stage. Still, very blessed to have seen that.


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http://saskawhat.wordpress.com

 

[DanOregon]

Personally: Springsteen and U2. Seen other good acts - but none that were close to those two.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

James Brown and the Famous Flames. End of thread.

 

[I'll never tell]

The Dead
Pink Floyd
Pearl Jam

 

[I'll never tell]

Best show I ever saw was a three-hour marathon by My Morning Jacket, two-thirds of which was in the pouring rain, final encore was Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue with an interpretive dance done by Zack Galifianakis (Pretty sure he was in a spandex bodysuit). Also, Kurt Hammett also sat in with them for three or four songs, one of which was a funk cover.

The people there who weren't high thought they were because of the off the wall **** that was going on that night.

 

[Webster]

Bruce is far and above the best live act that I've seen. Pearl Jam is second and Living Color are probably third. Was underwhelmed by U2 the two time that I have seen them. In the Bruce genre, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are just an amazing live band.

If I see someone live, I don't want karaoke of their albums, which is why I think Billy Joel is subpar.

 

[I'll never tell]

I don't get the appeal with Bruce, but then again, I'm not a huge fan of his music to begin with. Two friends of mine, both from above the Mason-Dixon love him to no end.

The one time I saw him, at Bonnaroo, it seemed his fans all from NY, NJ, Michigan. The best part of the show was just sitting back and watching them.

 

[eclapt44]

Of the bands I have seen:

1. Pearl Jam- Both times I saw them, they made MSG literally shake.
2. Counting Crows- Never the same show, and Adam Duritz throws in alternate verses, extended version to some of their songs. A band that is so much more than "Mr. Jones."
3. The Who- Never dull, always loud.
4. Allman Brothers (at the Beacon Theatre)- Perfect band for the perfect venue.
5. Springsteen- Not a huge fan of his music, but he put on an awesome live show.

 

[YankeeFan]

The best three live acts I've seen are the Grateful Dead, Prince and The Band.

Interesting.

I'm a huge fan of the Dead and like the Band a lot. I've seen th Dead, but never the Band in concert.

But, I think if I was to pick a Greatest Live Act, I would pick someone who's music wasn't so mellow.

While the Dead certainly bring a lot of improvisation to their shows, I think I'm looking more for energy & technical brilliance if I'm going to say they're the greatest. In this regard, I can understand picking Prince or Mettalica, even though I'm not as big a fan of either.

And, don't get me wrong. One of my favorite people to see live is Lyle Lovett, and he can be pretty mellow.

I'd probably pick someone like Derek Trucks or Jeff Beck who just blow me away live.

 

[YankeeFan]

I'm not a big concert guy, but I've seen the Black Crowes a million times (including on their tour with Jimmy Page), and they are phenomenal.

A couple of my best friends just rave about their shows and make it a point to se them whenever they can.

They play some pretty small venues too.

I've just never really listened to them.

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

Living Colour
Rush
Metallica (excepting the abominable unplugged sets in the late 90s)
Collective Soul

Perhaps I saw them too late in life, but I was underwhelmed by KISS. Van Halen was always too much of a crapshoot. Sober VH was great, but off the wagon VH was a trainwreck.

 

[Boom_70]

Has to be Celene Dion

 

[Iron_chet]

I am wondering if people can will be able to seperate the peformance aspect from their love of the artist?

Anyway my top 3

Prince, everyone else is a far second. He had an entrire arena with him, singing dancing, yelling. Freaking crazy without sacrificing the music to the theatrics.

Iggy Pop, just an insane, energetic show. Saw him in smaller and and arena venues and had the place with him the entire time. Tons of charisma and energy.

Green Day, not tons of theatrics when I saw them but kick ass performers.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

My top 3 is probably Fishbone, Midnight Oil and U2.

Springsteen and the Who are right up there.

I don't see bands all that often these days, but Gaslight Anthem was fantastic.

 

[Huggy]

I don't see bands all that often these days, but Gaslight Anthem was fantastic.

Thanks again there, PC.

Springsteen is the best live act I have ever seen, bar none. Haven't seen U2 since the Joshua Tree tour but they were phenomenal onstage during the show I saw during the War/Unforgettable Fire days. Third would be Metallica.

Some other great ones I have seen: Rod Stewart, way back in the late-70/early 80s, just a great showman; Tom Petty, any of the five times I saw him; Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra; Miles Davis; Pete Townshend solo; Stevie Ray Vaughan and Frank Sinatra (he was in his 70s, but my Frank-obsessed buddy said we got him on a very good night).

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I don't see bands all that often these days, but Gaslight Anthem was fantastic.

Thanks again there, PC.

A Gaslight Anthem tour during Huggy's vacation: the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[Boom_70]

White Snake could really light up a stage.

 

[Fly]

Queen

No one else even came close...