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amazing live videos of Ramones, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pavement & more to watch while every show is cancelled

Pavement in Frankfurt, 1994
Pavement in Frankfurt, 1994

Basically no shows are happening due to the coronavirus outbreak (though some artists are doing livestreams instead), but if you’re already jonesing to see a show, or just need a brief distraction from the insanity of the world right now, thankfully there’s YouTube which has an amazing array of live footage from throughout the history of pop music, from clips from concert films, TV performances and other pro-shot footage, to tons of fan-shot video from shows. If you’re looking for a place to start, we’ve been picking some of our favorites. Here are five more:

Ramones in Germany – 9/13/1978

I’m too young to have ever seen the Ramones, but I know from all the live footage that they were a beastly, impossibly cool, well-oiled machine who only stopped their fast-paced songs to give Joey enough time to yell the next song title and Dee Dee to yell “1-2-3-4!” The influence of the Ramones’ live show is still felt on bands today, and I’m sure I’m far from the only person who’s grateful we have videos to see for ourselves what the Ramones looked like in their prime. This is one of those videos. [Andrew Sacher]

https://youtu.be/-WgdD3F73CY

Yeah Yeah Yeahs early footage

I couldn’t find a full concert of Yeah Yeah Yeahs back in the day, but here’s a couple videos from the band’s early days that are very worth treasuring. Not only did YYYs have the songs right off the bat, they also had the commanding stage presence, and it’s a real treat to watch them playing small local NYC venues like Mercury Lounge (in 2001) and Brownies (in 2002) and already looking ready to take on stadiums. [Andrew Sacher]

Pavement in Frankfurt, Germany 3/6/1994

Pavement were at the height of their indie rock powers in 1994, having released the undeniable Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain and its highly quotable MTV Buzz Bin single “Cut Your Hair” riding high. (That they never got “Cute Band Alert” in Sassy Magazine was either a travesty or a blessing.) They sound pretty great at this Frankfurt show, delivering a set packed with early classics, all of which are a little more rocking, robust and put-together than their records/reputation might’ve implied.

Broken Social Scene at Ottawa Folk Festival, August 25, 2004

Broken Social Scene’s live shows are cathartic experiences of community and joy, and this 2004 set, recorded at Ottawa Folk Festival, is no exception. It includes a couple of songs of BSS’ self-titled third LP, which was still over a year away at this point, and Metric’s Emily Haines and Stars’ Amy Milan join the party for some of the set. And everyone looks so young! Amanda Hatfield

Arthur Lee & Love @ Royal Festival Hall 1/15/2003

We lost Arthur Lee in 2006 — here is is just three years before, sounding great leading his then-current lineup of Love through though a full performance of the band’s Summer of Love classic Forever Changes as part of the 35th anniversary tour of the record. With a string and horn section backing them, songs like “Alone Again Or,” “A House is Not a Motel,” and “Maybe the People Would Be the4 Times or Between Clark and Hilldale” burst into technicolor life.

For more of our favorite live videos, head here.