It is easy to say that listening to an album, and seeing a band live are two very different experiences. You can also say what makes an album great, and what makes a performance great are two very different characteristics. Where as a live show is something you experience with others, an album is something more personal. Although they may share the same song and musical voyage, a concert is more likely to stay with you than a listening to an album through your headphones. But what makes a performance great versus an album? Is it the music, or the experience? Or is it both? It is easy to love a band and then hate them live (and vice-versa.) So, to help decide drill down on what a makes a great live performance, we put together a list of some our favorite live artists, and discuss what makes their shows great.
My Morning Jacket
"In my humble opinion, My Morning Jacket is the best live band touring right now. What makes MMJ so special is their ability to transform each of their songs into a different experience from show to show. You never get a version of a song that is similar to the record, and that's what going to see a band perform is all about— experiencing their music in a new and interesting way and interacting with it in that moment. It's magical." - Eric
Arcade Fire
"Before Arcade Fire were (arguably) the biggest band in the world and forcing people to dress up to their arena shows, they were just an indie band with one really good album playing an afternoon slot at a music festival. That description fits dozens bands I've seen over the years, but Arcade Fire's live show set them apart. The music was obviously great, but the energy with which they played was something I had never seen before. The show that stands out for me is Austin City Limits 2005. It was 107 degrees, the hottest fall day in Austin's recorded history, and Richard Parry and Will Butler were running around the stage as if it were nothing. I'll never forget it." - Jeff
The Brubeck Brothers
"Energy. The one irreplaceable thing about a live performance is the human connection between the audience and the performer. Live recordings try to capture this. But, a great live performance resonates deep in your bones. Even the best audiophile-approved speakers can't do that.
In college, I saw 2 of Dave Brubeck's sons perform with some of UNCG's jazz faculty. Inside Aycock auditorium, the music started raging. Outside, a storm was raging. 15 minutes into the performance, a huge clap of thunder rang out and killed the power in the auditorium. Lights and amplification stopped, but the band played on. In darkness, the power of their live performance intensified. As our eyes adjusted to the emergency exit lights, we could still make out the silhouettes of the 5 players on stage playing their hearts out. Each of them soloed, coordinated only through their finely honed musician's sense. Nearly 15 minutes after the power went out, they wrapped up their performance to a full standing ovation. Standing and cheering in total darkness, none of the audience wanted to leave. None of us would ever forget that show. Cut short in time, that show lives long in legend." - Matthew
Flaming Lips
"Going to see the Lips play is an experience unlike any other concert I have been to. Each show is different and wilder than the last. Even on stretches when we would see them play in Boston, and then catch them in Rhode Island and CT something would be different in their set. But this is not what makes Flaming Lips an amazing live band (that trait goes to The Dead), it is the experience of the show that makes them incredible. Akin to a circus, their ability to engage the crowd and emerse them in the experience of their performance is unlike any other band currently touring. From their use of props, like hamster balls, laser points, and confetti canyons, to sing alongs on "do you realize" and "yoshimi", the crowd engagement at a Lips concert is just as important as the bands. Wayne Coyne once said their shows were that of a communal freakout, and I couldn't agree more. They are incredible performers who put on an amazing experience." - Rob
Master Ace
"Masta Ace is not only an incredible artist/influencer in the hip hop genre, but he is also an amazing performer. I saw him in Cape Town, SA and the highlight of his performance was the way he guided the audience through the set list. He would take breaks, tell stories and give hints to what the next track was going to be. When you’re an artist that has been putting out music since the late 80s, you’re going to have a huge library of songs to choose from. So providing these hints in between songs was a great way to keep fans on the edge of their seats constantly anticipating what track from what album would come next." - Nate
Each performance above talks about the show in the context of an experience, and the feeling of being a part of something. That each performance, to be great, is memorable by something that happened. May it be a new version of a song, the energy of the show, or a legendary artist explaining his history. That when you are you at a concert you feel like you are a part of an experience that everyone there is sharing. Knowing this, it is easy to say that not all bands have the ability to play a memorable set. Some shows are just flat, and come off stale. These are the shows that you forgot you went to. Shows that bring you into the experience, and leave a mark on you are the ones you will always remember. These are great performances.
What do you think? Do you agree with this? What is your most memorable show?
