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Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The Best 5 Live Bands I've Seen

No. 1 -This is it. The final band. Fugazi. I saw this band at the Utah State Fairgrounds--probably the worst venue ever. Fugazi discourages moshing or violence at shows, charge minimal amounts for tickets and cds, and RAWK. No one who has been to a Fugazi concert will ever forget it. 

No. 2 -I've seen this band 3 times--Jesse, Cobalt, and I even trekked to San Jose to catch these guys headlining H.O.R.D.E.--The Black Crowes. Chris Robinson is one of the best performers I've ever seen. I saw these guys at the joint in '95 or '96 and about half the set was covers--maybe the single greatest live music experience that I've been a part of.

No. 3 -The biggest stage show I've ever seen. Uge. U2 on the Popmart tour in Las Vegas was outstanding. This was the tour with the gigantic screen as a backdrop, the band in muscle men tights, and an entrance from a lemon. This band is probably the band that will transcend our generation.

No. 4 -I've seen this band 5 times, and it pains me that they are only 4th on the list. Wilco. Onstage, they appear to be rock stars, country crooners, and mad scientists. Which one is the real band? My personal view is the mad scientist band. At times during a show they are all huddled over their instruments or in front of their amps, acting as conduits for the noise of creation. They've been good every time I've seen them, but the best show was in Denver with Ches and The Mother Hips, prior to Jeff Tweedy taking up running and impregnating Juno.

No. 5 -The reason I ever read Kurt Vonnegut, listened to Fugazi, or wore rubber bands on my wrists--Pearl Jam. I saw them at the Aladdin Theater w/ Juddy while they were in this phase. I know it's cooler to say you liked Nirvana better than Pearl Jam, but I didn't. Sometimes I sit back and wonder, "What is Eddie Vedder thinking, right now?"

14 comments:

Mandi said...

Andrea Bocelli
Jane's Addiction
U2
Phish it was phun
Wilco
I bet I have this wrong. Nater, help me out.

jared said...

Hard to say what he's thinking, but his head may or may not be on a pillow made of concrete. I agree though, Pearl Jam was a great band once upon a time.

Wellz said...

Jane's Addiction--Aladdin, LV (1998), The most dangerous show in my lifetime. I really thought I could die when a presumed satanist threatened to stab me with a giant steel crucifix at the front row barrier. Probably should've left the first few minutes when I noticed the whole venue was cloaked in dark veil.

Morrissey--House of Blues, LV (2002), two nights in a row. He was considerate enough to play the exact same setlist the second night. But both were amazing, especially with his bizarre gay mexican fanbase in full throttle. Where did this following come from?

Hmmm, I will think about the other three; it's fun to reminisce. And Mandi, you're forgetting No Doubt from U2 Thomas & Mack. Gwen was on fire!

heat said...

Sinead. 200 seat venue. Hollywood. Wellz, you shouldn't have to think about it. She should be on your list. I also loved the show in Denver with Beck and Flaming lips. They came out in Animal costumes and sprayed confetti. So fun.
Wilco
Morrisey while watching Wellz. You know, they have the same birthday.
James...kidding.

heat said...

Ok, ok, not really kidding about James. It was my first concert besides The Jets and Rick Astley.

vis said...

You were at The Jets and Rick Astley? Me, too!

vis said...

Cross my broken heart.

Wellz said...

I've seen Wilco only three times. I guess it is my misfortune to have missed the Colorady show. Las Vegas House of Blues in 2002 was my favorite, right after YHF, but it was the most fun, least political. Also, I think you're talking about Dan Adams, not Jeff Tweedy.

Spano said...

I don't know for sure, but the night I saw Rhet Miller in a club in LA with about 80 other folks has to be right up there. Wellz is right though the Colorado show of Wilco was unforgettable. As for shear memories The Shins and Mercury Rev in LA was kool. I will think on it some more.

Wellz said...

There is something special about a small show. Mandi, her friend, and I went to a Strokes show in Portland in a little club with about 100 or so people and it was really a great show.

Heat is right too--the Sinead show was awesome at the Silent Movie Theatre. She took requests at the end for the encore and it was just about as intimate as a performance could get. I hadn't forgotten about it, there have just been a lot of nice memorable shows. Those two fit in my top 10, possibly 7.

Also, a Shins/Mercury Rev double bill is quite the pairing. That Deserter's Songs album is one of the best.

Mandi said...

Nate and i could make a top five of shows we attended, but the band didn't bother to show (Oasis, grandaddy, coldplay). I think all shows at the Aladdin were good. I was glad to get Nate out alive of the JA show.I was at the Jets concert. Good times. Yeah for live music.

jared said...

I saw Rhett Miller on the Believer tour at Suede in Park City a couple years back and there were about 20 people, plus he had a woman drummer that tore the place down with her mad skillz. It was a hell of a show.

Dover said...

This question has plagued me for years. This is mine, it will change as soon as I'm done though.

5. Phish
4. Weezer
3. Rush
2. Fugazi
1. Rancid in 93 at the Huntridge Theater in Vegas.

Liz Stanley said...

yo dudes, nice blog.

here's mine, not in any order:

1. fugazi(with travis)

2. black crowes(with travis, jesse, cobalt) (and that sweet girl whispered in my ear "hey, are you hard to handle?")

3.Soul Asylum at Saltair - I forget who all was there, nate t. was, they only played for like an hour, but they didn't stop playing the whole hour, one of their last songs was a cover, "feel like makin' love", it was awesome.

4.sufjan stevens, i've seen him a few times but one time was a really small venue and it was so rad - i usually got to concerts to rock but this one was really memorable and good.

5.james for sure! :)
I would maybe add U2, but before them I would add the Cult. I saw them last year and it was awesome.

Biggest regret:not seeing Jane's Addiction! I wish I could have seen them live back in the day. EFF! I saw p. farrell doing his dj thing, not cool!

jared