The companion thread to this one, what bands sound better live than recorded?
I’d like to nominate The White Stripes. Many of their songs have a real edge to them live. For most of their songs, I prefer the versions on the Under Blackpool Lights DVD and numerous YouTube clips to the album versions. They were somewhat inconsistant though, and their last live album (Under Northern Lights) was disappointing, mostly due to the vocals.
Roger Waters is pretty damn good and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers put on a consistently amazing show.
I’d agree with The White Stripes. Lordy what a visceral racket from the pair of them.
Others:
Nirvana - much rawer live, although two out of the three times I saw them they were playing Bleach-era stuff, so the base material was raw anyway
My Bloody Valentine - the total immersion in the extraordinary volume
Leftfield -again, a volume thing, but this time it is bass. Jaw-droppingly good, and playing with live musicians too
The Smiths - such an amazingly tight band live
J. Geils Band – it took them years to come up with a satisfactory studio album, but their live shows have always been terrific.
A band that I personally don’t care for, but is admittedly much better live than on record: Phish. On record they are bland as hell, but live they were a lot more fun as they let their improv chops shine.
Came in to say this. Just saw my 30th show which is nothing compared to some friends, and I don’t think I even have their studio stuff on my iPod. Lots of live shows, though!
Tom Waits occasionally bores me on record, but live I was captivated. Matt and Kim also have a great energy live that I don’t really get from the studio stuff.
I just checked my ticket and I was wrong about the date when I saw Phish.
I knew there was something significant about the time I saw them, but I couldn’t remember what it was.
I saw that and remembered how my friend who instigated the concert-going (he’s a big fan of the band) thought it was hilarious that the one show I went to would end up being something that fans would have killed to be part of.
Gypsy punk (by any decent band) is something that I love in real life, but partly because it tends to attract slightly anarchic fun people who jump around to the music and have a really bloody good time. They often invite the audience to participate and have stupid but fun competitions. It’s just not the same at home alone.
I keep missing Gogol Bordello when they roll into town. I’ll have to try harder to arrange the night off.
Oh, and I forgot to mention a band who’s albums range from “meh” to “holy shit that was awesome” but who’s live shows are the stuff of legend: GWAR.
A blast from the past - The Tubes. Fay Waybill( sp?) is an amazing maniac.
Back in the late 1970s rockabilly singer Robert Gordon was much better live than on record.
Fee not Fay.
The Dead, of course. Bruce Springsteen is awesome live.
yessireee…
“Take out your false teeth, mama and let me suck on yo’ gums!”
At least they are doing reunion gigs every few years… this is the one band I would hop on a plane to see (or plan an innocuous trip around :D)
I’ll go out on a limb and say most jam bands are better live, if you can get into that communal groove sort of thing now & then.
I prefer the faster playing the Ramones did live compared to their studio albums. I recall Joey saying that they were pressured by the record companies to slow their songs down a bit but they played the way they wanted to live.
Example:
Joe “King” Carrasco & The Crowns… hardly anyone (besides me) owns any of their albums, but I’ve never seen anyone disappointed with their live shows.
Dread Zeppelin, too.
String Cheese Incident
He’s dead now, but I never thought Roy Buchanan’s records lived up to his live shows.
The Cramps
Just about any American Hardcore band (DOA, Dicks, Black Flag, Wasted Youth, etc)
Fishbone
Midnight Oil