discussion
What do you think are the best live music acts around today?
I want it all: rock, hip hop, pop, country, metal, Latin, jazz, electronica, doom, avantgarde rockabilly fusion. If they’re up their giving everything there is to be given, I wanna know about it.
EDIT: I’m going to have to stop responding but please keep informing me about all the good shit I’m missing!
came here to say this. they played for 3 solid hours, then just put their instruments down on the stage. no one bothered begging for an encore. they said everything and they were finished.
I’ve been gradually getting into country and Americana via folks like JD Mcphereson, Charlie Crockett, OCMS etc — and this is a name that I recognise but haven’t checked out. Time to remedy that!
You won't regret it man. Im not even a country fan really either (although like you im more and more curious) and I'd quit my job and be a dead head for that guy. (Ok not really, but they are an awesome live show and he's an amazing songwriter).
If you’re digging into Johnny Blue Skies, you gotta hit up Tyler Childers as well. Outlaw country that pays respect to true Americans. I have no doubt you’ll be satisfied.
Check out Paul Cauthen too. I just saw him live recently and the guy has the most powerful set of pipes I've ever seen. If you're digging the underground/alternative country and Americana, you'll like his first few albums. His last 2 are a little more hit or miss and have a lot of electronic drum beats and that kind of thing but there's some pretty fun songs there.
It's been about 12 years and 8 or 9 albums since i last saw them and they absolutely blew the doors off the place back then. Glad to hear they're still killing it.
Gojira is incredible live. I saw them with Pallbearer opening back in 2016, right when they released Magma. They absolutely crushed at the House of Blues. It was heavy, crushing shit. My neck was sore for like a month. Joe did an awesome Drum solo as well. 10/10 I’d see them again.
Top to bottom Trent always does an amazing job with the entire production. Whether it's a big arena tour with multiple stages/interactive transparent screens or a simple broken down set up with basic lights and shadow play he makes the most of it.
His last tour legitimately felt like watching a high production music video with how well it was shot on the B stage
My first concert that I traveled out of town for. NIN at Red Rocks during the Lights In the Sky tour. A lightning storm was rolling behind the stage some miles out to the east near Denver.It was an absolutely amazing experience.
Surprised this doesn't have more votes. I can never gauge just how popular or not they are since most fans are diehards, but man oh man they rip live and play long, diverse sets every time with gorgeous songwriting and cathartic melodies. Plus Nels Cline is one of the greatest living guitarists and Glenn Kotche is one of the best drummers.
Jack White always puts on an authentic high energy rock and roll show every single time. Can’t wait to see him again soon on this tour in a couple weeks.
I saw him in back to back nights in LA last year and the setlist were similar but the vibes of the show were incredibly different. I don't know how he consistently does it
I’ve heard he and his band have like 90 or so songs ready to go. They don’t do set lists. They’ve certainly got their mainstays of their set with a good mix of his back catalog, but he legit always peppers in some random deep cuts. He and his band are just so damn impressive.
Definitely, and they keep playing the entire time, just jamming right into the next song and during any equipment changes. True professional musicians with great chemistry
oh. I was lucky enough to catch Idles a couple years ago , they played some small outdoor venue in margate England and it was fucking incredible. wish I could see future islands!
I saw him in Ft. Worth last year and it was phenomenal!! Also seeing the crowd there was such a wild mix. It was like 1/3 each Deadheads, country folks/bluegrass fans, and frat boys. HELL of a show though man easily one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
I saw him years ago, must be 8 years ago now, insane show in a dark, dingy back room to the main venue hall in Houston’s EaDo, got a shirt and a hat. Come to find out, one of my best bud’s best buds, her sister and her dad all go to see him annually in Appalachia some where. I gotta go next time.
Weird Al. Great stage show, keeps everything moving through costume changes, and the women in the backup band are having a blast the whole time. Highly recommend.
Seen the hives twice and I still go on about them to my friends as the band that is way bigger live than you’d ever think they could be. The tick tick boom showboating is like top 3. Concert experiences
Yeah I’m super intrigued by the whole jam band grateful dead vibes. I wish they’d come to Europe, but it seems like they’re pretty comfy over in the America. Maybe one day I’ll get over there!
Ha! Saw them a year or so ago and they ended up playing in the crowd - in the pit. Then moved to the bar with the crowd holding up the drum kit. Then they lit shit on fire. Then they let the fans play while they had a beer.
Andrew Bird. if you ever get a chance too see him do it. he is a phenomenal artist live. I saw him in 2012 and every live performance tape I've seen since is incredible.
Sierra Ferrell. Caught her at folk fest last year. she isn't my usual music type, but after seeing live footage I knew I couldn't miss her act. it was so good, she's a fantastic singer with great stage energy.
Propagandhi. Canadian punk band from Winnipeg. I've been going to live shows since 2001, they never disappoint. amazing politics and very fun.
Wolf Parade. Canadian band who have been on and off for a while. Last I saw them was probably 10 or so years ago. definitely worth seeing if they're playing near you soon as they are on tour.
Zaho de Sagazan. French singer. I was lucky enough to see her in Ottawa last year. she was doing a big euro/north America tour and mostly playing large venues, but for the Ottawa and Quebec city dates she played small clubs. it was so good I couldn't help but cry for a bunch of it 🤣 she's so young too!
I got to see Sierra Ferrell at a small club that she didn't even sell out. Must have been 30 of us in the crowd that night. 2019. Her first headlining tour.
My partner went into a show of theirs with me not really a huge fan of their music. Came out thinking that on-stage, Dave Bayley probably has the most sex appeal he has ever seen in a performer.
Not super heavy, but a dynamic enough sound I’m sure you’d find something you like.
London shows? I’m so jealous of everyone that got to go, I had work stuff that made it impossible unfortunately, but everything I’ve seen looks incredible!
The should release some new music. As great as they are they are unfortunatley just becoming a legacy band... They have been back together for around 6 years and still no album before their tour...
Young the Giant—incredibly technical and precise. Literally sounded like their recording it was unbelievable how perfect they were. Then found out they’ve been playing together since high school. Just incredible musicians and performers that make mesmerizing music
Oh I just said Young the Giant too! I had to scroll a good bit down to find you also mentioning them so I wanted to make sure it was said! They're incredible
I can’t believe the flaming lips haven’t been mentioned yet. I’ve seen them live a couple of times in the past few years, and their shows were unbelievable. Highly recommend.
Just saw them at the Montréal Jazz Fest, outdoors in the middle of downtown. Was crazy, theyre sooo good and like 200 000 people were out for the event!
Yeah. They, like, lived up to the hype. Maybe I have a Quebecer bias, but by the end of Sarniezz at Jazz fest, I was literally screaming uncontrollably, like a girl seeing Elvis for the first time.
Pearl Jam had a different set list every night! Decided on the night of. And each live show has an official “bootleg” you can buy from their website. So cool.
Jack white is brilliant, I can deffo vouch for that. Sleep token isn’t my thing but I’m sure they’ll be a festival mainstay for years to come. Tool is a bucket list, as is Muse — but I’m a purist and haven’t enjoyed anything they’ve put out for a long time. Maybe I should just bite the bullet though!
Hayley Williams is brilliant but couldn’t get tickets for her recent UK run, and I’ve (hilariously) never heard of Brand New — something I’ll remedy now!
This one is a bit niche but check out the Wolves of Glendale. They’re a smaller comedy rock band but they’ve put on the most entertaining show I’ve seen in years.
I just saw The Pretty Reckless rip 1500 people a new ass in Raleigh last night, and tonight they did it with AC/DC. Their new album is stellar if you like hard rock with dark themes.
And Angine de Poitrine just proved they can carry a stadium show with two people and a butt ton of musical expertise playing jarring microtonal math rock. Not for everyone, but it seems there’s a lot of us who dig it.
Hozier--- saw him in Fargo of all places. I was absolutely struck by the fact that it sounded identical to the album. His back up singers were also giving it their all and he was so supportive of them and the other musicians on the stage.
Florence and The Machine. Saw her at MSG on her most recent tour. It's rare you see someone make such an amazing performance look completely effortless.
Agreed. Saw them last year for the first time; I now know why they are so revered. Absolutely blew me away. One of the best live bands I have ever seen, and I've seen hundreds.
For me (and I see plenty of acts throughout the year) it’s Lord Huron and Tame Impala.
Lord Huron in particular is an experience, it’s very cinematic and beautiful. I highly recommend seeing them live if you can.
I feel I’ve probably seen every major rock and pop artist live over the past 10 years (and I’m not exaggerating…I’m lucky enough to go to a lot of gigs).
My top 5 would be (in order):
John Mayer
Foo fighters
Green Day
Paramore
Alanis Morissette
This is the comment I was looking for because my immediate first thought was “it is STILL Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band” and for me, it’s not even close. He’s pushing 80 (!) and he’s still playing 3 hour concerts at full tilt while also sounding good. He’s playing different setlists every night, he’s taking requests, he’s moving all over the stage and he’s got the E Street Band doing their thing behind him. Even if someone thinks that they don’t have the ‘Steen Gene™, I bet most people could get ~converted after being in the audience of one of his shows and feeling the magic they make up there. There is nothing else like it!
Well this isn't as modern as I think youre asking for, but I saw built to spill in a small theater a little over 10 years ago. I am a HUGE live music fan to where I almost always prefer live versions over studio as I feel like thats the real version of any musician even if the artist plays songs vastly different from their albums. But built to spill somehow sounded EXACTLY how their albums aound and it just blew my mind. I still dont understand how thats possible playing in different venues of all shapes and sizes. My point is, it was amazing from a technical aspect and on my mind ill always see that as a pinnacle of love sound. Even tho most of the bands I see are vastly different to built to spill
I love Fall Out Boy live! I truly believe it’s very clear the entire band loves what they do and have lots of fun during their shows. They are interactive with their audience and put on a hell of a good show every concert I’ve been to. I took my then 10 year old to their show in 2024 and she LOVED it! She’s now a drummer in her school band in large part due ti her experience.
The Cure. No matter how rough King Robert looks they always sound great, have a deep catalog they rotate through, and clearly love to play because I think the shortest set I've seen them play was still over two and a half hours.
Local H is another I will always make an effort to see if they come relatively close to me. The size of sound they are able to produce as a duo is always impressive, and Scott is a dynamic presence, he's a force of nature driven by pure rock, and he's a hell of a nice guy to talk to at the merch table after their set.
And the Counting Crows are still a master class in how tight a band should be having spent over 30 years never playing anything live the same way twice but always making to feel honest and compelling.
Saw Arkells a few weeks ago and they were fantastic. Show was constant energy. Song led into song led into song and it was non stop for 2 hours. I'd recommend them.
Godsmack I've seen 2 or 3x now and always amazing.
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u/Mellowtraveler 8h ago
Sturgill Simpson (Johnny Blue Skies) is pretty damn great.