Badass Live Performances

**Galefore** · 11-12-2011, 11:01 PM

Live performance in music is an art. Hell, it's half of the point of being in a band. Some bands have no idea what moves an audience, some just blow you away with their sheer wall of sound, and then there's that rare band with the energy to work a stage and a crowd into a ****ing frenzy.

So? What bands move you the most with their performance style? Ever been to a concert that just ****ing destroyed you?

Share it, doods. Post some vids to enlighten us if the mood strikes you.

(I have a few examples that I shall edit into this post soooooon...)

***Cosmonautical*** · 11-17-2011, 08:17 AM

I've seen a hell of a lot of bands live, and there have definitely been those more or less effective of the groups. For not having much to work with besides the band and their instruments but still holding top tier for performance, I would definitely put one of my all time favorites Gravity Kills at the top. They play as hard and intense as possible, even when there's 10 guys in the room. Also, they're really great people all around which earns them bonus points.

The other top entertainers I've seen include Nine Inch Nails (dear god, their light shows/screens and the amount of stuff they've smashed up) and David Bowie. Bowie himself is super top-tier entertainer material, him and an empty room with no music would still charm the **** out of anyone.

Next level I would say has been quite a few punk-related bands that know how to rile up an audience, with groups like Mindless Self Indulgence coming out as front runners. A lot of these groups like Anti Flag, the Unseen, and MSI know exactly what gets a crowd riled up.

I think there are definitely two kinds of ways to leave an impression - some bands try to break in with their best stuff and best ideas, because you only get one entrance. If they're headliners, it's a sure thing. Other groups know that, when you're new to the audience, it's more about building up to a peak later in the show where you just seem to keep getting better the more they listen.

I've seen a lot of bands that didn't really know what they were doing, and a lot that apparently made the mistake of hiring the wrong guy for the lights as well. I remember walking out of Sevendust after coming for the openers simply because not only did every song sound the same, but each of them had the same damn lights and I'd had enough of sitting through the same stuff.

There are other guys I've had the chance to see that straight up baffled me, like Ozzy Osbourne. He entertains on sheer value of still being alive, it seems like.

Jere · 11-17-2011, 09:01 AM

First some guys from kiruna that i watched in september that put on a awesome live act:

Raubtier

Click to view video.

Then status quo i lose 50 cool points for liking them but when these people starts to rock the stage hang on for a wild ride:

Click to view video.

And Motörhead (who could have guessed) I like the massive amount of volume these guys put out and they have the coolest lightning rig ever see video for further details:

Click to view video.

Then people like Mark Knopfler have a gift of spellbinding people whenever they go up on stage but i have not the video i want available.

**Galefore** · 11-17-2011, 04:24 PM

Well, lesse...

Definitely Underoath, because not only do they pull the crowd into the show, they also have an amazing light show. They throw down intensely onstage and still manage to get the crowd into the whole thing. Very impressive combination of the multiple high points of live performance.

Another good one was Explosions in the Sky. Loudest band I've ever seen, and good performers. The walls of sound they produce are absolutely mindblowingly beautiful an it was one of those rare shows where I actually shed a tear.

And of course, there's live performer who can command an entire audience with just his guitar, like David Bazan. It's rare, but it's always a spectacle to behold.

Mutemath, Muse, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Times of Grace, The Constellations, and mewithoutYou were also excellent shows. Arcade Fire was actually surprisingly pretty meh, since they didn't have their usual mad energy, but it was cool nonetheless. Probably the least amazing show I've ever seen was Minus the Bear, who sounded good but just didn't have any energy at all. It didn't help that there was a drunk ******* trying to mosh (MtB is pretty chill fyi) and kept screaming MENOS EL OSSOOOOOOO THIS IS MYYYY NIIIIIIIGHT over and over, despite pleas from the singer himself to chill out. Surprised he never got security on his ass, but whatevs.

Panfan · 11-17-2011, 06:15 PM

The Thermals have a crazy amount of energy, and really surprised me live (the nature of their music, especially their first two albums kinda made me expect that they'd be really sloppy). I guess they're also one of the best bands out there at feeding off of crowd energy. Unfortunately, most of the people at the show I went to were just there for Matt & Kim and didn't really do anything during the Thermals' show, which was a shame because they rocked the **** out.

monstrman · 11-17-2011, 06:39 PM

Disturbed put on a sweet show up at mayhemfest 2008

Slipknot played after them, but I liked disturbed better. Not really a slipknot fan.

***CaptHayfever*** · 11-17-2011, 10:55 PM

The Yoda Chant is even more intense when you're in the room.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

**Galefore** · 11-18-2011, 02:26 PM

Oh, totally forgot Coheed and Cambria. They put on a really energetic show and sound CD perfect, and the show I saw is made all the more special since it was a show with Chris Pennie and Mic Todd, who have both recently departed the band. Porcupine Tree and The Dear Hunter were on the same bill, and overall it was an extremely cool and aurally perfect night.

Bomby · 11-18-2011, 02:37 PM

I saw the tour described in this article.

It was the single greatest live musical experience I've ever had.

Panfan · 11-18-2011, 07:30 PM

^ I would pay so much money to see just one of those bands, especially Deerhunter.

Bomby · 12-04-2011, 11:40 PM

Not sure if this counts as a "live" performance, but Damon Albarn's voice makes me question my sexuality.

11-12-2011, 11:01 PM	#1
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Badass Live Performances Live performance in music is an art. Hell, it's half of the point of being in a band. Some bands have no idea what moves an audience, some just blow you away with their sheer wall of sound, and then there's that rare band with the energy to work a stage and a crowd into a **ing frenzy. So? What bands move you the most with their performance style? Ever been to a concert that just **ing destroyed you? Share it, doods. Post some vids to enlighten us if the mood strikes you. (I have a few examples that I shall edit into this post soooooon...)

11-17-2011, 08:17 AM	#2
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	I've seen a hell of a lot of bands live, and there have definitely been those more or less effective of the groups. For not having much to work with besides the band and their instruments but still holding top tier for performance, I would definitely put one of my all time favorites Gravity Kills at the top. They play as hard and intense as possible, even when there's 10 guys in the room. Also, they're really great people all around which earns them bonus points. The other top entertainers I've seen include Nine Inch Nails (dear god, their light shows/screens and the amount of stuff they've smashed up) and David Bowie. Bowie himself is super top-tier entertainer material, him and an empty room with no music would still charm the **** out of anyone. Next level I would say has been quite a few punk-related bands that know how to rile up an audience, with groups like Mindless Self Indulgence coming out as front runners. A lot of these groups like Anti Flag, the Unseen, and MSI know exactly what gets a crowd riled up. I think there are definitely two kinds of ways to leave an impression - some bands try to break in with their best stuff and best ideas, because you only get one entrance. If they're headliners, it's a sure thing. Other groups know that, when you're new to the audience, it's more about building up to a peak later in the show where you just seem to keep getting better the more they listen. I've seen a lot of bands that didn't really know what they were doing, and a lot that apparently made the mistake of hiring the wrong guy for the lights as well. I remember walking out of Sevendust after coming for the openers simply because not only did every song sound the same, but each of them had the same damn lights and I'd had enough of sitting through the same stuff. There are other guys I've had the chance to see that straight up baffled me, like Ozzy Osbourne. He entertains on sheer value of still being alive, it seems like.

11-17-2011, 04:24 PM	#4
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Well, lesse... Definitely Underoath, because not only do they pull the crowd into the show, they also have an amazing light show. They throw down intensely onstage and still manage to get the crowd into the whole thing. Very impressive combination of the multiple high points of live performance. Another good one was Explosions in the Sky. Loudest band I've ever seen, and good performers. The walls of sound they produce are absolutely mindblowingly beautiful an it was one of those rare shows where I actually shed a tear. And of course, there's live performer who can command an entire audience with just his guitar, like David Bazan. It's rare, but it's always a spectacle to behold. Mutemath, Muse, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Times of Grace, The Constellations, and mewithoutYou were also excellent shows. Arcade Fire was actually surprisingly pretty meh, since they didn't have their usual mad energy, but it was cool nonetheless. Probably the least amazing show I've ever seen was Minus the Bear, who sounded good but just didn't have any energy at all. It didn't help that there was a drunk ******* trying to mosh (MtB is pretty chill fyi) and kept screaming MENOS EL OSSOOOOOOO THIS IS MYYYY NIIIIIIIGHT over and over, despite pleas from the singer himself to chill out. Surprised he never got security on his ass, but whatevs.

11-17-2011, 06:15 PM	#5
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,247 Times in 1,337 Posts Blog Entries: 15	The Thermals have a crazy amount of energy, and really surprised me live (the nature of their music, especially their first two albums kinda made me expect that they'd be really sloppy). I guess they're also one of the best bands out there at feeding off of crowd energy. Unfortunately, most of the people at the show I went to were just there for Matt & Kim and didn't really do anything during the Thermals' show, which was a shame because they rocked the **** out.

11-17-2011, 06:39 PM	#6
monstrman Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: LET'S SAAAAAVE THE WOOOORLD. Gender: Posts: 1,035 Thanks: 87 Thanked 53 Times in 42 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Disturbed put on a sweet show up at mayhemfest 2008 Slipknot played after them, but I liked disturbed better. Not really a slipknot fan.

11-17-2011, 10:55 PM	#7
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	The Yoda Chant is even more intense when you're in the room. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

11-18-2011, 02:26 PM	#8
Galefore EXPLOSION GOD OF MUSIC Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Some studio somewhere Gender: Posts: 8,275 Thanks: 1,361 Thanked 826 Times in 535 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Oh, totally forgot Coheed and Cambria. They put on a really energetic show and sound CD perfect, and the show I saw is made all the more special since it was a show with Chris Pennie and Mic Todd, who have both recently departed the band. Porcupine Tree and The Dear Hunter were on the same bill, and overall it was an extremely cool and aurally perfect night.

11-18-2011, 02:37 PM	#9
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	I saw the tour described in this article. It was the single greatest live musical experience I've ever had.

11-18-2011, 07:30 PM	#10
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,247 Times in 1,337 Posts Blog Entries: 15	^ I would pay so much money to see just one of those bands, especially Deerhunter.

12-04-2011, 11:40 PM	#11
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Not sure if this counts as a "live" performance, but Damon Albarn's voice makes me question my sexuality.