The Best and Worst Bands You've Seen Live?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:11pm

Which bands, in your opinion, are the best live and which are the worst?

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:35pm

The best:
Death Cab for Cutie. One of the only bands I still listen to, and they were phenomenal. The Academy Is... is a close second.

The worst:
My Chemical Romance. I saw them at the first Warped Tour that I went to, and they were pretty bad. Not even that memorable. I didn't like them that much in the first place, but I liked a few of their songs, so I checked them out. Ugh.

[blueroses]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:36pm

U2 is the band I've probably seen live the most (and spanning different decades). They never, ever disappointed.

I don't remember the worst.

[little_sally]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:48pm

Raviolisun, I agree with you on Death Cab. I saw them back in November and they were fantastic.

The Frames are also incredible live.

[Izzybeth008]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:58pm

Best: the Dixie Chicks own my soul...the end

Worst:Sheryl Crowe. She wasn't terrible or anything, Just out of the ones I have seen hers was the least impressive(although still a really great show)

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:09pm

I wanted to K-I-L-L M-Y-S-E-L-F when a guy who was infatuated with me manipulated me into going to a Steely Dan concert with him. Oh. My. God. Such utterly dull and self-satisfied gar-bahhhhhge. This was their first reunion tour in the early 90s. Such industrial strength suckage.

I've seen too many great concerts by bands large and small to pick THE best.

Dresden Dolls one Halloween was fantastic. Mission of Burma, always.

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:13pm

I can name a couple of the best (going back a bit, of course).
1. Talking Heads
2. Grateful Dead (it didn't matter how they performed, you were too high to notice).
3. Frank Zappa
4. Loggins and Messina

I'm laughing at my list. Most of you all weren't even born while I was at those concerts.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:28pm

Jane2- I loved Loggins and Messina- "Even though we ain't got money, I'm still in love with you honey...."

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:30pm

I would have killed to go to a Zappa show. I was five or so when he passed away. Gah!

[wexy]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:38pm

My first concert was Led Zeppelin Valentines Day 74.During the 80s I saw Billy Idol, Iggy Pop, Public Image, Bow Wow Wow some fun stuff. I saw Ronnie Spector performed but she did kiss me.

Last concert was Pela and BrakesBrakesBrakes.
Next week I'm seeing The Fratellis.

The Plasmatics with the late Wendy Williams were pretty bad.

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:43pm

I hear P!ATD is horrible in concert. As in HORRIBLE.
Not that I'm gonna run out to get tickets anyway, but just saying.

[Kristeliz]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:57pm

Best: Dave Matthews Band. They are so amazing live. Their shows define summer for me.

Runners up: Roger Waters, Aerosmith, Phish, No Doubt, Foo Fighters, Janet Jackson, U2

Worst: Madonna was bad when I saw her at MSG in 2001. It was awful. But she redeemed herself in Vegas last tour.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:01pm

Grateful Dead (it didn't matter how they performed, you were too high to notice).

Ha! My mom went to a Grateful Dead concert, and I tease her about that all the time.

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:02pm

supportive-If you never went to one of their concerts, you may not know that they were also a band to listen to under the influence. They had lots of pop hits, but in concert, their band was intense and some of the numbers were half hour long.

Cruel-Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were another get stoned band. I think I went to see them once a week when they used to play in the village.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:09pm

Jane- I never went to a Loggins and MEssina concert- just listened to them on the radio growing up. I always thought Kenny Loggins was so cute! I didn't go to concerts when I was young because my mom didn't believe in them. Also, I didn't grow up with extra money to spend on concerts. When I got to college, I saw the Atlanta Rhythm Section (Champagne Jam), the Beach Boys (they were at my homecoming), Barry Manilow (no, I'm not afraid to admit it- he was quite entertaining- this was in 1982 btw), and Billy Joel. Billy had just been in an accident and I went up front to watch him play Angry Young Man. As he was hitting his hands on the piano, his bandages were starting to peel off. I'm sure he was in great pain but he kept on playing- very impressive!

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:14pm

I think I was pretty young to be going to concerts also. For the Zappa ones, I had to take a bus into the city, as I lived in NJ back then. I'm pretty sure I snuck out of the house and then back in!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:22pm

I am not kidding, these are some acts that I have seen: Helen Reddy, Ann Murray, Pure Prairie League, Starlight Vocal Band, Head East, John Denver, The Beach Boys, Loverboy, REO Speedwagon, and Air Supply!!!!

Some of the best: The Police, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Beautiful South, Old 97's, Fear, Ben Folds, Linkin Park with Metallica,

[supportivemom]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:29pm

brdlwyr- ok- so now I don't feel so bad about Barry Manilow. Wow- you have really brought back some memories!

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:32pm

Tina Turner put on the best show I ever saw. Styx was also very good for theatrical arena rock.

As for the worst, although I am a huge fan of Blondie, and Debbie Harry's voice, I saw them on a day when they were totally off their game.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:33pm

I grew up in a rural area and there were few venues, I have to think of a few more: Kenny Loggins, but he was good. I saw Jackson Brown with a few of my siblings. Here is one: Survivor!!!

And, four times inlcluding a concert in which I appeared on MTV: KANSAS!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:35pm

Richard Thompson has to be the best- the crowd was small so he put aside his amp & microphone and invited everyone to crowd around so they could hear. Magical.

The Bare Naked Ladies- playing to promote their brand new hit record, they were so excited to have a crowd turn out that they ran long over their allotted hour before they played "If I had a Million Dollars" trading new lyrics about what they were REALLY going to buy with the honking royalty check from this hit album.

They Might Be Giants were great, eschewing any electronics and playing for the crowd, bantering between songs and jumping into any obscure number a fan would request.

Ah I forgot Wille Nelson, who after playing his usual ass kicking set, invited me onto his bus where he played a new song he & bono had written and recorded.

Ah good times indeed.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:37pm

Joe, am I correct that They Might Be Giants does children's songs?

[supportivemom]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:38pm

brdlwyr- I just remebered. I grew up on military bases so we used to see a lot of USO shows. I remeber seeing The Cowsills and Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. I was only about 5/6- NOW I'm really dating myself!

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:38pm

Ha, Kansas played at my town's Fourth of July festival last year.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:42pm

Rav, was Steve Walsh the lead singer?

Smom, you must be older than me! My mother saw Kenny Rogers in the early 80's and still talks about it. He was at the Taste of Chicago last week. My wife saw Cheap Trick, she had a great time.