# Which Bands are Better Live? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231 "2012-01-21T18:24:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/21 "2012-01-22T06:41:34Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > J. Geils Band – it took them years to come up with a satisfactory studio album, but their live shows have always been terrific. Thirded. **Full House** kicks ass. A band which **was** better live is Little Feat. The live **Waiting for Columbus** beats the hell out of their studio efforts - phenomenal energy. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/22 "2012-01-22T07:28:42Z")
I recently saw **Fleet Foxes** live and, even though I’m a fan anyway, I was blown away by how much better they were live. [Here](http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/31135/Fleet-Foxes-Opera-House-Sydney-02012012) is a great review of their first Opera House show. It starts: \*I expected an aural back rub from some beardies in plaid shirts. Not this. This is loud. Really loud. Seat rattling, rib rumbling, floor shaking LOUD! I expected something easy and soothing. Folksy pop to complement the smell of pine and a campfire’s merry crackle. This?! This is the sound of a match and a whole bloody forest going up in flames. Fleet Foxes’ performance at Sydney’s Opera House may spoil the band’s recorded output. It’s like the albums are a childish squeak and live they’ve hit puberty; blustering around the stage full of testosterone and teenage bravado.\* ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/23 "2012-01-22T13:29:32Z")
My mother used to say that Peter Schickele and his alter ego P. D.Q Bach was better experienced live than on records. I suppose if you go back 60 years it was Spike Jones and his City Slickers. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/24 "2012-01-22T13:37:31Z")
Worse live than on record… Elvis Costello ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/25 "2012-01-22T13:42:01Z")
Seconded on the Tubes. That was a long time ago. Also, XTC put on one of the best and most fun shows I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/26 "2012-01-22T14:12:36Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Thirded. **Full House** kicks ass. > > A band which **was** better live is Little Feat. The live **Waiting for Columbus** beats the hell out of their studio efforts - phenomenal energy. Little Feat came through Houston a lot when Lowell George was alive & well. I love their records but, in person, they were absolutely amazing. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/27 "2012-01-22T15:19:48Z")
Well, it depends on what is your criteria for “better live” experience is. In lots of cases, actually predominant form of live concert is playing a note-for-note a studio recording. Most recently I saw live Arctic Monkeys and then The Black Keys concert and the performances were great with some added flavour but, overall, it’s pretty much studio album played on a stage. Now, I may have heard too many of Deep Purple live performances that have that true live quality of playing along the backbone of the song but leaving space for improvisation that brings variety every time they play. Best example of what I’m saying is the song Black Night with [this live version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE3ra4RZBtU) and then slightly [different one (audio only)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjGDmNNFFOU). Take a look at that 1st link that has video — that’s just one mean and wild live performance of a relatively tight studio song (and, for DP, one of their more popular songs). For those familiar with how this song is played in studio version, just look at 2:26 mark to see where 1st solo goes and then again at 4:20. I have yet to see another band doing this to a song - essentially elevate already good studio song to another level, live, on stage. It helps, of course, if all band members belong to top level of theirs corresponding field and, on top of that, there is a healthy degree of harmony between the band members in terms of live performance. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/28 "2012-01-22T16:38:27Z")
**George Clinton/Parliament/Funkadelic/P-Funk All-Stars** - their recorded work is polished, produced, and perfect, which makes it sound, well, boring and flat. Their live show OTOH is the greatest show I have ever seen or heard. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/29 "2012-01-22T17:03:59Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I recently saw **Fleet Foxes** live and, even though I’m a fan anyway, I was blown away by how much better they were live. > > [Here](http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/31135/Fleet-Foxes-Opera-House-Sydney-02012012) is a great review of their first Opera House show. It starts: > > \*I expected an aural back rub from some beardies in plaid shirts. Not this. This is loud. Really loud. Seat rattling, rib rumbling, floor shaking LOUD! I expected something easy and soothing. Folksy pop to complement the smell of pine and a campfire’s merry crackle. This?! This is the sound of a match and a whole bloody forest going up in flames. > > Fleet Foxes’ performance at Sydney’s Opera House may spoil the band’s recorded output. It’s like the albums are a childish squeak and live they’ve hit puberty; blustering around the stage full of testosterone and teenage bravado.\* That review reminds me of **Airborne Toxic Event**. While their studio albums aren’t as sedate as _Fleet Foxes_, the mere fact that a lot of their songs have prominent instruments such as violas and violins leads you to believe that they _won’t_ be the sort of band to be jumping around, climbing stairs, and spraying everyone with beer. While playing a song with strings. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/30 "2012-01-22T17:11:18Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 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. Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/31 "2012-01-22T17:51:08Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > The companion thread to [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=639166), 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. The White Stripes were the first band I thought of upon reading the thread title. How those two can just fill up a room with energy and rock the way to do is something truly awe-inspiring to behold. I’ve always thought they were pretty good, but seeing them live gave me a new appreciation for Jack & Meg. I also agree about the Phish comments. I’ve been to exactly one Phish show (although I did have their first four albums), and these guys also had a surprising amount of energy compared to the their recordings. Great musicianship all around, and the rhythm section just anchored and propelled Trey and Paige’s noodlings. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/32 "2012-01-22T18:20:53Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Worse live than on record… Elvis Costello 😕 That kinda belongs in the other thread then, unless I’m missing something. ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/33 "2012-01-22T18:55:38Z")
Urge Overkill. Back in the early 90’s, I liked their stuff okay and decided to see them live. They sounded better than the recording. A lot of energy and it really blew me away. And Nine Inch Nails…_Gave Up_ live was nearly a religious experience. We were dancing in our seats. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/34 "2012-01-22T19:06:53Z")
Back in the 80s or so I tried to see all the big rock names just for the experience. I was never a big Santana fan, basically just knew his radio hits. When I saw the band live I was blown away. As a musician I think Carlos is important historically but there are many better. But his band was just fantastic. It was a party beginning to end. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/35 "2012-01-22T20:23:19Z")
Siouxie and the Banshees. They are incredibly quirky, energetic hams on stage with great performance presence. The power and hooks in their music are immeasurably better live where the guitars take prominence. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/36 "2012-01-23T12:13:33Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > 😕 That kinda belongs in the other thread then, unless I’m missing something. As I was writing, I wondered if there might be another thread. …but I didn’t want to take away the chance for somebody to get all superior on my ass !😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/37 "2012-01-23T12:19:55Z")
My Morning Jacket, imo. I like them fine enough on record but their live shows are excellent - it’s perfectly possible that their best album is Okonokos, their double. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/38 "2012-01-23T14:24:28Z")
Loudon Wainwright III is pretty good on record, but he’s terrific live. By far the best one-person live act I’ve seen. He had a great rapport with the audience. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/39 "2012-01-23T14:54:35Z")
Foo Fighters. They are having a lot of fun out there, and it’s contagious. Bonus was they are a little harder live, not quite so pop. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231/40 "2012-01-23T15:07:58Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That review reminds me of **Airborne Toxic Event**. While their studio albums aren’t as sedate as _Fleet Foxes_, the mere fact that a lot of their songs have prominent instruments such as violas and violins leads you to believe that they _won’t_ be the sort of band to be jumping around, climbing stairs, and spraying everyone with beer. While playing a song with strings. Another band I’d love to see. **Airborne Toxic Event** along with **A Place to Bury Strangers** and **And So I Watch You From Afar** are my favorite recommendations for people who I figure will like them. No-one has heard of any of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-bands-are-better-live/610231.md?page=3)