Ben Folds is an absolutely phenomenal musician and a hell of a performer. I have been lucky enough to see him solo and with Ben Folds 5, both were amazing. He's the real deal. He is just fun to watch and listen to for that matter. When hes not cracking way racier jokes that you would expect from a pianist. Hes knocking out amazing solos on multiple instruments without breaking a sweat. When i saw him, he covered Ke$ha's Get Sleazy because it was part of a challenge to play the most popular song on I tunes at the time. He play's solo songs, Ben Folds 5 songs, and has crazy improv jams called Rock this B#$%# in (insert city hes in at the time.) Even if you don't like his music, his charm, energy, and snarky white boyness will win you over.
Here he is singing improv songs to random people on chat roulette.
Cage the Elephant may be that band with that one catchy song you know, otherwise known as "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked". There is a lot more to them then that. The lead singer's live antics take us back to the days of Diamond Dave in Van Halen, when he could still sing. When being the front man to a band actually meant ring leader of the circus, and does he lead. He comes out screaming and headbanging like its his last day on earth. He commands your attention with his pure jaw dropping intensity and drug fueled rage. If he doesn't dive from the stage at least 5 times or sing "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked", while walking on the crowd it's been an off night.
Here he is doing his thing!
OK now I would expect that a lot of people don't know who this band is, good you learn something new everyday. Mindless Self Indulgence can be described as an extreme punk band, but their shows are other worldly and almost indescribable. All my friends have heard the famous story of my MSI live experience many times, but you should hear it too. When lead singer Jimmy Urine entered the stage he was dressed in a suit that had been sprayed with a paintball gun and a spiky black hedgehog like haircut. This man's intensity and pure insanity on stage will scare most people strait on home, but if you can stick it out you'll witness something incredible. He came out and threw a giant wad of ones into the audience and said go ahead by yourselves some meth on me. He ripped the banana costume off of one fan, put in on another, made him do the funky chicken, and then kicked him into the crowd. He even joined in the mosh pit at one point. If your a fan of insane over the top crazy punk show's, don't miss this one.
This isn't live footage but check the music video for Shut Me Up-Mindless Self Indulgence
17. Green Day
So not everyone is the biggest fan of Green Day and I get that. American Idiot was an album that you either loved or hated, but there is one thing you cannot deny. That the fact that they put on an amazing show. Billie Joel Armstrong is one of the best in the business of commanding attention of the masses and his live antics are completely over the top entertaining. My metal head friend who wasn't a huge Green Day fan walked away from a Lollapalooza headlining show admitting that they had rocked that show. From toilet paper guns, to "King for a day" and its many cover teases, even making out with fans on stage. They bring the house down every night with sometimes upwards of 3+ hours shows. They are truly very good musicians and performers.
Here's King for a Day live in all it's splendor.
16. Reel Big Fish (preferably with Scott Allen "Scotty" Klopfenstein)
Reel Big fish are another not so well band and a ska band at that. Ska is punk rock combinned with brass instruments, and these guys are one of the giants in the genre. The lead singer Aaron Barret and other band member banters hilariously through the whole show with an immaturity you haven't seen since middle school and when they play they insight one of the best parties around. It's just hard to not have fun at a Reel Big Fish show. The pit opens up and everyone dances like idiots until they can't dance anymore. Then there is what they do for the song "Suburban Rhythm" Just watch it live to find out!
15. System of a Down
System of a Down are one of the absolute god's of hard rock. They are insane on CD and they are insane live. Their sheer presence alone insights riots and fights, but when they take the stage and hammer it out for an hour and a half. The whole place just comes un glued and explodes into a floor wide mosh pit. For very crazy and weed smoking guys they keep it strait business and fire through close to 30 songs a night. If you aren't head banged out by the end of the show you never will be.
Here is there big hit Chop Suey live!
These guy are just one of those bands whose reputation for live shows is very well known. It says something about a band when they can bring half a room to tears with the pure beauty of their music. Lead singer Jim James is the driving force. "He has the voice of an angel, and the guitars solos and intensity of a demon." Those aren't my words but I can tell you that it's 100% true. Check out the video of "One Big Holiday" live. Seriously it will blow your mind.
13. Soundgarden
I caught the brothers of sound right at the begginging of their reunion at Lollapalooza in 2010. They had to come out and prove that they still had what it takes to rock 200,000 people, and they did just that. Vocalist Chris Cornell sounding better then ever hitting high notes and screaming along to things that most people couldn't dream of. He truely is one of the best rock vocalists ever. The bass and drums were so loud and intense that my parents could here it all the way across grant park at Arcade Fire.
Here is Jesus Christ Pose live
12. Queens of the Stone Age
Josh Homme is the man behind the band, lead singer, lead guitarist, and true rockstar in every sense of the word. The man just oozes cool, and that concept goes ten fold for their live shows. The show I saw had them perform the entire first album all the way through followed by a set of hits. Josh must have been in a good mood that night because he played 5 songs more then he did almost any where else. He even takes up the bass on "Burn the Witch" just adding to his BA cred. The one thing I would say is, do not under any circumstance throw anything at him. At my show someone hit him in the head with a bottle and he came into the crowd beat the guy up and the security guard had to pull him off. It was awesome and so rock star like. Following that he went back up on stage and acted like nothing had happened.
Here is "Go With The Flow" live on Letterman
11. AC/DC
What can you say about AC/DC that hasn't already been said. Let's just say there is a reason they are famous, not like Kim Kardashian. Their shows have it all props, guitar solos, giant inflatable women, and old men in short shorts. Seriously though Angus Young is by far the best guitarist I have ever seen live. At his age in 2010 he was doing power slides, flailing around on the floor, and running and jumping like a teenager. All while letting out some of the best guitar solos I have ever seen. The pinnacle of the night was when he rode a lift up to the ceiling while playing a guitar solo and proceeded to run in a circle on the floor of the lift while still playing. He has fastest hands I've ever seen. Not to mention the entire show was hit after hit after hit. Think they don't deserve a spot on the list?
Check out "Thunderstruck" live and you tell me.
10. Nine Inch Nails
The absolute kings of industrial rock bring one of the most memorable shows you will ever see. The Mastermind Trent Reznor had this way of getting pissed off right before coming on stage and just being a screaming ball of rage and energy. It's intense to watch and he usually throws his instruments when hes done using them and makes the roadies go get them. He created the best light show in the world to back up his shows. It's a truly awe inspiring sight.
Here is "Only" live
9. Incubus (preferably before or after If Not Now When tour)
It's not exactly a secret that I am a die hard incubus fan, and am extremely bias. However their live shows speak for themselves even with that said. I do think they were better when not on the if not now when tour, too many ballads. The band is made up of some of the best musicians out there today and as a cohesive unit they just click. Brandon Boyd is one of the best rock singers out there. He sounds even better live then he does on CD. They change their setlists up every night to keep fresh and exciting for themselves an the fans, and when they take the stage the crowd goes insane. The energy at an Incubus show is something you can't find almost anywhere.
Here is "A Certain Shade of Green" live
8. Slipknot
The local Iowa boys always held a spot close to my heart, but when it comes to their shows intense may not be a strong enough word. I saw them back when it was the original nine, they all come out in there famous costumes. The stage is one of the coolest parts of the show equipped with a huge artistic background, two giant lifts, metal vats used later as percussion equipment. While blasting out the crazyist music, insighting insane mosh pits, and making athe entire crowd get down all at once, the nine run around the stage the whole time like chickens with their heads cut off. The musicianship and showmanship of these crazy guys is through the roof.
Watch "Duality" live baseball bats galore.
7. Muse
I get it they may not be as cool as they used to be and their last album was meh, but they sure know how to throw down a live show. The first time I saw Muse back in 2007, it wasat that point was the greatest thing I had ever seen, and I honestly mean that. They were amazing, I couln't believe that three people could make that much noise and rock that hard. They are true performers adding improv solos to every song. Sliding around the stage and using some of the best visuals at any concert ever. Matt Belamy has some of craziest falsetto singing you will ever see, and his guitar solos rock. The bassist and drummer jam out all the time letting you know why each one deserves to be there.
Watch "Knights of Cydonia" live
6. Radiohead
Seeing Radiohead live has become almost a right of passage for some people and I can see why. The truth is even though they are amazing on CD, they are a live band. Their percussion is so dead on it's scary. The use a crazy loop system to play a simple part, record it, and then play it back while playing another part. It all adds up to a wave of sound that is impossible to describe. Then there is Thom Yorke, he by himself is a sight to behold. Singing notes that no one else can hit, while dancing so unnaturally that you think there is something wrong with him. They never play the same set list twice and don't even always play the hits. They are just so cool they can play whatever they want to.
Watch "Paranoid Andriod" Live
5. Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters are just pure rock and roll, plain and simple. No fancy stage setups, no huge over the top visual, just rock and roll at it's core. Plus Dave Grohl might be the coolest person on the planet. He has that demand your attention attitude and pure talent to back it up. I saw them in the middle of a pouring rainstorm at Lollapalooza and it was one of the most amazing things Ive ever seen. Like getting to be apart of a music video. Dave stands up and says, "if you don't care about the rain neither do we" and proceeded into a 10 minute jam session. If you can go to a Foo Fighters show and not have fun then your dead.
Watch "Learn to Fly" in the pouring rain, Dave don't care about no rain.
If you follow this blog then you know I just put up a full review of this show, but it was good enough to warrant this spot. A Flaming Lips show is a party of all your senses. It is combinging every sensation together to make a truely other worldly experience. They make use of crazy light shows and visuals, along with tons of props. Wayne Coyne is insane, on drugs, and so fun to watch. From bubble boy, to lazer hands, or confetti cannons. Their live shows have it all.
Watch "Do You Realize?" live
3. Rush
Rush are the kings of progressive rock and there is a reason for it. They have been doing it for 30+ years, and they just seem to get better with age. This power trio will blow you away with the best musicianship you have ever seen. Neil Peart in my opinion is the best drummer in the world and his drum solos are the best thing ever! They play with no opener so you get 3 + hours of Rush. With so many awesome songs to pick from not even 3 hours is enough. These Canadians make up for Justin Bieber and then some. Getty Lee has one of the most interesting voice's in rock, and for as old as he is he still kills those high notes.
Check out "YYZ" live
2. Mute Math
After falling in love with their lead single "Typical" I picked up their CD. I saw that they were playing in Des Moines so I checked it out, and what I saw I could not believe. I went in with very low expectations and came out with my mind blown, and one of the best experiences of my life. This band's live energy is more intense than any band I have ever seen. The drummer plays so hard he has to ducktape his head phones on. The band blasts through songs while the lead singer does backflips off his piano. The whole show all leads up to the pinicle of the night "Break The Same" where they let loose and blow peoples minds. It's impossible to describe just watch. Watch it, just do it you won't be disappointed.
Watch "Break the Same" live
1. Jack White (in any form with any band)
Although I never got to see The White Stripes, or The Raconteurs Live, I have seen The Dead Weather, and Jack White solo. When i heard that Jack White was going to be playing White Stripes songs live on his solo tour along with all the other songs from his career I had to be there. After witnessing him last year at Lollapalooza, i'm not sure that any show will ever be able to top it. He plays guitar so well that even Jimmy Paige of Led Zeppelin would be air guitaring along. He just commands attention even when on stage with 6 other musicians. The setlist was amazing he added songs from The White Stripes that haden't be played anywhere else just for Lolla and the crowd ate that right up. His whole band is full of excellent musicians and it's nice to see him switch off and play many different roles while on stage, before ripping open a raw guitar solo to remind you that is his thing. People walked away from this show in tears and it was so intense we jumped for the whole thing. My friends ear were ringing for a week after the show, but it was all worth it.
This is the last ever White Stripes performance, Live on Conan.
Feel free to give me suggestions of bands I should check out. I hope you liked this new entry and if not, im going back to the old way next week for my next blog. Be for warned that some of the videos have inappropriate language so don't watch them at work. It's live after all. Hope you have a new band you want to see live after reading this and if not, oh well I tried.
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