Best Live Band

[blindrabbit]

Best I've seen? Only 3?!! Sheesh...well, lets see...

1) Hall & Oates
2) Sarah McLachlan
3) For my third I'll lump together dozens of awesome small Canadian indie acts that I could list but almost no one here would know (Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, Thomas Trio and the Red Albino, Moxy Fruvous...the list could go on and on). There was some GREAT music and huge talent to be had on the Canadian university/college scene in the early 90s.

 

[MNAirHead]

Tough as I go to so many shows.

Floyd
Sade
Willie Nelson

 

[naetog]

As far as putting on a SHOW, Kid Rock was one of the best I've seen. I am not a fan of his nor do I own any of his records, but I saw him open for Metallica a dozen or so years ago and he was awesome. Instant respect, and lots of smiles throughout the set from me.

Musically, for me, Shawn Lane, Jonas Hellborg, & Selvaganesh. Jaw dropping madness.

 

[mcblahflooper94]

Foo Fighters.

 

[bearhart74]

Auktyon (especially with John Medeski and Marc Ribot)
Here Come The Mummies
P Funk
The Ramones
Robben Ford

 

[TigerInATrance]

The Grateful Dead
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Phish

And an honorable mention for POST Roger Waters Pink Floyd and solo David Gilmour...

 

[CrashMiller]

Umphreys McGee
Medeski Martin & Wood

Both at Hangout Fest 2011

Primus - 30/09/2011 Burton Cummings Theatre

 

[Pbass67]

Favorite LIVE shows and bassist would mos def be Robert Trujillo (infectious grooves/metallica) Todd Ashburn (candy pig) Flea (red hot chilli peppers) Rex (pantera) and Fieldy (korn). Lots of bass and Lots of stage presence with Lots of energy. Cheers!!

 

[5StringBlues]

Fishbone - Saw the original line up 8 or so times. Some shows were very polished funk fests, some were raw punk shows. Always great. Norwood.


YES - 'nuff said.



John Lee Hooker - Doesn't matter who was in the band. Life changing experience.

 

[wilberthenry]

1) Herring, Rodgers, and Sipe with Neal Fountain on bass
2) Minutemen (opened for REM in '85) with Mike Watt on bass
3) Alliens (great local band in southwest Virginia-I see them often and they always deliver) Cameron McLaughlin on bass

"Bassless" Honorable mention" Keller Williams (no bassist) and Todd Snider (no bassist)

 

[Duke21]

Fishbone - Saw the original line up 8 or so times. Some shows were very polished funk fests, some were raw punk shows. Always great. Norwood.

YES - 'nuff said.

John Lee Hooker - Doesn't matter who was in the band. Life changing experience.

+50 to Yes.

 

[Joe Nerve]

+50 to Yes.

I love yes. Seen em live. Dont have a clue what would make you say they're one of the best live bands.

 

[jumbodbassman]

+1 to that. always have been great

 

[4-string]

Level 42/Mark King. I've seen them 5 times, amazing live band.

Paul McCartney, saw him about 10 years ago, with his current band. Just to see an ex-beatle was great.

Prince - saw him in '88, and again last year. Ida Nielsen (aka Bass-Ida) was great, fantastic show.

I've seen Clapton a few times, and if he's on he is fantastic imo. Much preferred Nathan East over Willie Weeks.

Koinonia/Abe Laboriel sometime in the mid '80s. One of my favorite bassplayers ever, killer band.

 

[HolmeBass]

Fishbone - Saw the original line up 8 or so times. Some shows were very polished funk fests, some were raw punk shows. Always great. Norwood.


YES - 'nuff said.



John Lee Hooker - Doesn't matter who was in the band. Life changing experience.

+1 - Fishbone in their prime was the *most explosive live band I've ever seen*. Raw power and effortless cohesion, mind-blowing energy. Norwood Fisher is the bassist's full name.

Frank Zappa - did not note the bassist I saw him perform with, but it was spring of 1988 IIRC, at Towson University outside of Baltimore. A stunning live show, and the best sounding concert I've ever seen. Their version of Stairway to Heaven, with Ike Willis singing, really was better than Led Zepplin and that's saying something as far as I'm concerned.

Grateful Dead - Phil Lesh - 1987 in Roanoke, VA, the night they played Fire On The Mountain (it was Mickey's birthday).

 

[5StringBlues]

+1 - Fishbone in their prime was the *most explosive live band I've ever seen*. Raw power and effortless cohesion, mind-blowing energy. Norwood Fisher is the bassist's full name.

Frank Zappa - did not note the bassist I saw him perform with, but it was spring of 1988

Scott Thunes


And I can't believe I forgot the Zappa '88 show....... add that to my list!



EDIT: Saw the '88 Zappa show at the Warner Theater in D.C. The cover of "I Am The Walrus" was fantastic!

 

[MartinG1957]

Ok in no order at all and only bands I have actually seen live, best live gigs:

Yes - Chris Squire
Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra - Dave Swift
Brucie & The E Streets - Gary Tallent
U2 - Adam Clayton
Boomtown Rats - Pete Briquette
The Frames - Joe Doyle

Worse live gig since its been mentioned by others: Bob Dylan (2011)