Best artists/band live

What artists/bands do you think are the best live?

I'm gonna say Pink. She's amazing live!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAe2_2bFjwk

I saw Coldplay earlier this year. It was the single best concert I've ever seen. It was, for lack of a better word, a spiritual experience.

Hi have to say that Vader is one of the most awesomely solid and energetic metal bands around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SxLohWZJgA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fghsxg4xOTk

Originally Posted by Jodd

I saw Coldplay earlier this year. It was the single best concert I've ever seen. It was, for lack of a better word, a spiritual experience.

Except for the fact that their singer is pitchy as hell outside of the studio, anyway.

Originally Posted by Jodd

I saw Coldplay earlier this year. It was the single best concert I've ever seen. It was, for lack of a better word, a spiritual experience.

When Coldplay came to Toronto they played a venue that isn't really a concert venue. The big concert venue was closed for renovations, so they played the next biggest one, which is basically the baseball diamond. Which sucks, because a baseball diamond isn't exactly built to accommodate live music. But I guess if you want the higher ticket sales, you gotta sacrifice something.

Anyway.

Great Big Sea
I've seen them live three times now. The first time was the best, when they just did a shortish free set in downtown Toronto. The other two times were at work, where the sound was always off for some reason. But no matter what, they always put on the most energetic show I've ever seen. The crowd is just there to have a good time, and everyone loves everyone at a GBS show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY__XidvQa0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MZbbD2yKkY

Blue Rodeo
Seen them twice now, this alt-country band puts on a tight live show where the crowd really just enjoys being there. Just a nice evening with some great musicianship and good times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTERsftQaVo

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
I saw the pair come into Toronto for the Raising Sand tour, and it was a great night. Krauss has the voice of an angel, and Plant still has the stage presence of a much younger performer. On top of that you had an absolutely incredible group of backing musicians, including T-Bone Burnett.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ-I0MHelUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dijM7m4v1bE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ8fIXKoHZ4

Broken Social Scene
This was easily my favourite show I saw last summer, and one of the best shows I've ever seen, period. It was a free show down at the harbourfront, it was packed to the gills, and the band played for two and a half hours. All the major members turned up, and most of them stuck around after they did their own songs. One of the best nights of my life, and one that solidified me as a lifelong fan of this band and its members.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe9Y5u5Equk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFoUBv5vzg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFoUBv5vzg

Barenaked Ladies
I've seen this band live ten times in various venues of various sizes. I have never once been disappointed. Simply put, one of the best live bands in the world, perfectly balancing the performance, the show and the spectacle.

Velvet Revolver were fantastic live. It's a shame Scott Weiland was kicked out, he was a great frontman.

RelientK and Thousand Foot Krutch are awesome live.

I had a chance t osee Family Force 5, but I was busy doing the rock climb.

Hi have to say that Vader is one of the most awesomely solid and energetic metal bands around.

I can vouch for this. They are amazing live. (when their sound guy isnt falling asleep on the job)
Kreator is great live.
Testament.
Nevermore.
Lacuna Coil.
Type O Negative (this one is more of an experience than a show...If you ever plan on seeing these guys live, bring your sense of humor with you, youll need it.)
And the prize of best live band ive ever seen live (in person) goes to Pearl Jam. WOW.

Another best thread in music? This won't do! It's so opinionated, there can't be a best! Make it favourite instead!

Originally Posted by Jodd

I saw Coldplay earlier this year. It was the single best concert I've ever seen. It was, for lack of a better word, a spiritual experience.

I'm dying to see them. They came to Toronto, but sold out too quickly for me to get tickets.

Another good band live is Manic Drive. I saw them at a concert in Ohio once.

I saw My Bloody Valentine in the Manchester Apollo last June, I knew it was going to be awesome when I saw them handing out earplugs at the entrance.

^earplugs? Wimps.
I was actually a bit sad that i missed it when the Eagles came through here. I wanted to see them but tickets were really expensive. After hearing the reviews, i was glad i didnt. People said the band was amazing but the amount of people and redneck drunkeness would not have been fun to witness. D:
Also Black Sabbath and Ozzy amazingly enough are pretty great live!
JUDAS PRIEST!!!!
Yeah...Rob Halford on the motorcycle on stage is something to behold.

Originally Posted by Florina Belmont

^earplugs? Wimps.

They play at like 130dB : (

Originally Posted by Florina Belmont

^earplugs? Wimps.

Yes, because everyone likes hearing damage.

I was very happy with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, great show.

Three Days Grace kicked ass live. Though, I can't say they're the best. I havn't seen every band play live -_-.

Originally Posted by Ty

Three Days Grace kicked ass live. Though, I can't say they're the best. I havn't seen every band play live -_-.

They sound TERRIBLE. Like, I honestly do not mind the band, I own their two first albums, but man, they are awful live.

Based on youtube videos, haven't actually seen them.

Ahahaha, I knew you would be the first to respond. You love grinding my gears about them.

I watched a concert of them earlier today, and Adam isn't great (live), but they have good energy on stage. This coming from a guy who's seen them live a couple times.

Dream Theater is very good on stage.

Originally Posted by Alex

Based on youtube videos, haven't actually seen them.

Youtube videos are a really bad way to judge the live performance of a band, other than visually. The cameras microphones used to record most live shows that are on little digitals or cell phone can't come near to capturing the actual sound. Plus, part of what makes a good live show is the atmosphere and stage presence and such, stuff that is hard to gauge from a video.

I saw Three Days Grace live when they played like three songs outside my high school for some promotional thing. They weren't bad, as I recall, considering the rig they were playing with.

Originally Posted by nolan

Youtube videos are a really bad way to judge the live performance of a band, other than visually. The cameras microphones used to record most live shows that are on little digitals or cell phone can't come near to capturing the actual sound. Plus, part of what makes a good live show is the atmosphere and stage presence and such, stuff that is hard to gauge from a video.

I saw Three Days Grace live when they played like three songs outside my high school for some promotional thing. They weren't bad, as I recall, considering the rig they were playing with.

Generally talking about the higher quality videos, stuff recorded for TV shows, DVDs, that kind of thing.