where's wilco?

Is this list a joke?

What has happened to Spin?

SPIN aged faster than rolling stone

where's broken social scene?!?!!??!?!?!?!??!?!

haha the dirtbombs, how awesome

Okay, I saw Green Day once (I was 13 so shut up), and they weren't anything great. And it was at MSG, where you HAVE to be great. Though they did do one cool thing... they let fans in the audience play some song (I forget the name, it was the second track on "Nimrod") with their instruments. That was pretty cool.

But still. They do NOT deserve to be on the same list as the Stooges.

Dirtbombs over the Flaming Lips? The Hives over Muse?

Spin is completely Retarded.

anthony kedis is tone deaf, how can the peppers be on this list?

Muse?

My opinions:

2. The Stooges

Seen the reunited Stooges twice so far. They rock!

3. Arcade Fire

Average

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers

Saw them once at an arena show. Pretty good.

6. White Stripes

Saw them before the became big. Left after half hour.

7. Green Day

Saw them just after they hit big in '94. Great show.

8. The Hives

Good band, but the singer schtick gets boring real quick.

9. Prince

Small club shows, big arena shows, Prince rocks.

10. The Dirtbombs

Wow, Mick Collins love! Anything he does is magic. Dirtbombs are good live, but not top ten.

Flaming Lips, Gogol Bordello, Springsteen, Rocket From the Crypt are some great live bands.

Lets see a band that has only one album out (Arcade Fire), another band that can't draw flies to a gig (Dirtbombs)and I can go on. How old was the asshole who made this list,13?

U2's stadium rock show is one of the most boring, overproduced things ever.

What about Built to Spill, Tom Petty, Wilco, the National, and Sam Champion?

I'm not joking on this...

Two words:

Neil Diamond

U2 is definitely one of the BEST live acts

"What about Built to Spill, Tom Petty, Wilco, the National, and Sam Champion?"

Buil To Spill = average

Tom Petty = constant gear changes after every song destroys all momentum. Shame.

"I'm not joking on this...
Two words:
Neil Diamond"

I'll see your Neil Diamond and raise you a Tom Jones. He's great live.

Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor NEVER disappoints.

Reznor dissapointed me in that tight tank top

what did you guys expect? ANY list like this is designed to draw scorn.

and anyway we all know Lightning Bolt is the best live band ever.

and I second Neil Diamond, but he's not exactly a 'band'.

Here is my top ten.
The Jesus Lizard
At the Drive In/Mars Volta
Icarus Line
UOA
Arab On Radar
Lightning Bolt
Buck 65
Dillinger Escape Plan
2 many DJ’s
Z-trip

But he's HAS a band. How about "Neil Diamond and His Band."

U2 is a great live act in the proper venue but as someone else said, their stadium shows are not great.

the black lips
sigur ros
mouse on mars

DMB!

I can't comment on many of the alternatives others suggest but I have seen Wilco a few times and have always wondered why people like them live. They are the worst "big band" or "headliners" that I have seen live. (i.e. I am not counting the tons a shitty opening bands who suck but no one expects much out of anyway).

Jimmy Buffett (go ahead, scoff)
Janes Addiction
Eagles of Death Metal
Pearl Jam
Muse
The Rolling Stones
Rage Against the Machine
The Black Keys
Billy fucking Idol
Metallica pre Load

Jimmy Buffett (go ahead, scoff)
Janes Addiction
Eagles of Death Metal
Pearl Jam
Muse
The Rolling Stones
Rage Against the Machine
The Black Keys
Billy fucking Idol
Metallica pre Load

U2 is utterly amazing live, but they haven't made that much creative use of stadiums since Zoo TV

Top Three Most Chilidsh, Absurd Inherently-yet-Overtly-Dubious Lists:

1. Greatest Live Bands
2. Spin's version of the Greatest Live Bands List, in particular
3. This list

SPIN makes me so goddamn sad.

i saw u2 give a press conference at the Kmart at astor place in nyc back in '97. it was for their popmart tour. there were balloons and mirror balls, and the 'blue light special' lights were flashing. they played one song from their 'pop' album, and then the press asked them questions. the event took place in the lingerie department. i laughed.

Rush???
Rush???
Rush???
Ween???
Rush???

stereolab?
belle and sebastian?
SONIC YOUTH?

stereolab?
belle and sebastian?
SONIC YOUTH?

Nick. Cave.

Magnetic Fields and Elvis Costello as a close second...

And the Hives have my vote too.

Tom Waits
Fugazi

GIL MANTERA'S PARTY DREAM. Best live show ever. Recognize.

what a ridiculuously subjective exercise in mental masturbation.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Carry on...

im not sure which is worse
SPINS frat boy gone rock list of crap

or most of these suggestions..

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Wilco
Joel Plaskett Emergency/Thrush Hermit
Pearl Jam
Fugazi
Constantines
Black Keys
Nada Surf
fiftymen
Supersuckers
Dirtbombs
Guided By Voices
Fishbone
Grandaddy

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Wilco
Joel Plaskett Emergency/Thrush Hermit
Pearl Jam
Fugazi
Constantines
Black Keys
Nada Surf
fiftymen
Supersuckers
Dirtbombs
Guided By Voices
Fishbone
Grandaddy

RFTC.

bye.

To some people, YOUR top 10 lists are as sad as Spins. Different strokes for different folks people. No one has any better taste than anyone else. The more you complain about someone else's list the more desperate you look.

M Y M O R N I N G J A C K E T

As noted above, missing RFTC. And Explosions In The Sky.

Endless Boogie.

spin's list sucks and so do most of these but i second the votes for lightning bolt, atdi/volta, jesus lizard, fugazi, fishbone, rftc, sigur ros and explosions.

i'll add: blood brothers and iron maiden.

can't believe i'd add: rage against the machine [i don't like 'em much but goddamn they put on an energetic show]

most surprisingly amazing live show: weird al yankovic. totally.

Is this list ever? If so, there are probably tons of acts from the 60's and 70's that were better than ALL of spin's picks in their heydyay - Stones, The Meters, Talking Heads, The Clash, Dead (70's), Allmans (duane era), Young, Dylan, Tom Waits & The Band to name a few.

Last Decade:
Wilco
My Morning Jacket
Flaming Lips
Gov't Mule
Sonic Youth
Black Crowes
Arcade Fire
Widespread Panic
Radiohead
White Stripes
Phish
Sigur Ros
Mars Volta
Spiritualized
Sterolab
Massive Attack
Broken Social Scene

oasis? pearl jam? nirvana? to name a few - spin can eat it. long live rock!

Nobody mentioned The Dismemberment Plan. They were incredible.

umm..where's Bon Jovi??

phil lesh and friends...enough said

Call the list the 25 "Greatest Live Bands" that have performed over the past 5 years certainly not the greatest ever...

The Who
The Stooges with James Williamson
The Who
Elvis Presley
The Who
Jerry Lee Lewis..this guy caused riots
The Who
The Rolling Stones in the 60's and 70's
The Who
Bruce Springsteen in the 70's
The Who

People let's maintain some perspective here

ASHLEE SIMPSON!

thats the worst list ever.
honestly, has anyone ever seen the chili peppers live - even back in the day they were awful

The Grateful Dead

Janis Joplin?

obviously, the dead and phish in their prime.

umm....... THE CURE

Looks like SPIN has never seen Nine Inch Nails. Even that aside, horrible list. Rolling Stone had a better one.

I second Billy Idol, gonna see him again tomorrow in Del Mar!!!

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE.

Bowie

Sigur Ros
Explosions In The Sky
Mogwai
Muse
Bjork
Smashing Pumpkins (with Melissa Auf Der Maur)

beastie boys

tool?

Bush

I second the notion that Neil Diamond is a fucking machine in concert.

I love the outrage at Spin's list, as though they are going to throw Explosions In the Sky on the list. C'mon.

Man Man?

Anyone who said Muse and/or Lightning Bolt is automatically awesome.

Man Man for sure and for other recent bands TL/RX, Liars, Art Brut, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Dirtbombs are definitely Top 10 in my book... I saw them live opening for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and I was hooked...bought all their records and have barely been listening to anything else on my IPOD... and that's after seeing them live and never knowing their music.

The Dirtbombs should be number One. Whoever remarked that they couldn't draw flies to a show is sadly, sadly mistaken. The Dirtbombs consistently sell out shows WHICH they headline and yes, opened for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Mick Collins is pure genius, and his backing band of two drummers and 2 bass players produces the loudest noise I've ever heard. And guess what? It's phenomonal noise? If you haven't see them, you are by no means even qualified to remark about their live show.
LE FIN

The Dirtbombs should be number One. Whoever remarked that they couldn't draw flies to a show is sadly, sadly mistaken. The Dirtbombs consistently sell out shows WHICH they headline and yes, opened for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Mick Collins is pure genius, and his backing band of two drummers and 2 bass players produces the loudest noise I've ever heard. And guess what? It's phenomonal noise? If you haven't see them, you are by no means even qualified to remark about their live show.
LE FIN

wow. yay for the Dirtbombs. they are the best live band i have EVER seen and they deserve to be on this list like no one else. well, the white stripes are excellent live performers too. and i have seen footage of the stooges that was pretty bad-ass....okay, i'm going to stop here.

Why is everyone fascinated with lists and what is everybody's point?

I'd like to third or fourth the love for The Dirtbombs. They're jaw-dropping live. For the person who said that they couldn't draw flies to a show...well, it might be true for some cities but you know what? Are you really that moronic that you judge a band's live performance by how many people show up? Oh wait, you already did. Fuuuuck.

mmm. seconded to TL/RX.

I saw him earlier this year, and he must have had a horrible cold, and was hacking up gross amounts of snot between songs.

*DESPITE THIS* it was still one of the best live shows I've ever seen.

I saw Mark Knopfler give a show last summer, and I've gotta say that it definitely outranks most shows i've seen. Sure, he's gotten a lot older, but the show was incredible, and I felt like his band easily outperformed anything the Dire Straits did.

Wilco is 'meh'. I saw them in April, and despite the fact that everyone I went to the show with was blown away, I felt lukewarm about the whole show.

As much as I love The Arcade Fire, they don't deserve to be on this list (at least, not yet)

Of course, in the proper venue, and under the right conditions, I've seen some amazing shows from otherwise mediocre bands.

My biggest question is: why isn't GWAR on this list?

pretty good list

Yatta?

[seriously, has anybody ever heard of J-Rock? it makes the crowd go wild!]

spin is obviously trying to appeal to their new fan base of kids who were born in the late 80's and don't know better. i've seen the majority of the bands listed above... and i can say: white stripes are a big yawn. same with built to spill, fugazi, magnetic fields, and animal collective.

iggy and the stooges still own it though. anyone who saw at the drive in or arab on radar or the locust circa eight years ago would say they were some of the best acts.

but all of this, in the grand scheme of things, is moot. i mean, who can even compare these acts to kids like elvis, billie holiday, patti smith, or the sex pistols. this is just dumb.

i've got a boner.

Andrew Bird. Well, it's not a band, but if you're gonna see music live, the guy's incredible.

There is NOTHING like a U2 show. The last two tours (Elevation in 01 and Vertigo in 06) have been the greatest performances I have ever seen. I have never walked out of an arena feeling so good.

definitely the dead have to be on this list. most absurd name on the list is the hives- cmon.

spin sucks. their layout sucks harder.

i'm gonna put Polyphonic Spree up for debate.
Everytime i have seen them, it turns into a tent revival for hipsters- that's gotta count for something, right?

90's
Janes Addiction
NIN
Radiohead
Fishbone
Beastie Boys
Bjork
Underworld
Rage Against The Machine

last 6 years
Radiohead
Sigur Ros
Wilco
Beck

Longwave.

Certainly happy to see an argument about live music...
I have seen a lot a shows since my first in 1974 (Geraldo's One to One concert with John Lennon and Stevie Wonder) and here are my faves...

#1 by far....Sammy Davis Jr! (Long Beach, CA 1986)
Robert Gordon (Meadowbrook, NJ 1983)
Stooges (Roseland, NYC 2003)
Kiss (Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ 1976)
Cramps (London 1990)
Replacements (Hoboken 1987)
The Jam (Palladium, NYC 1982)
Johnny Cash (SXSW Austin, TX 1994
Page/Plant (MSG 1995)
Jonathan Richman (Bottom Line, NYC 1986)

Yeah I'm old but I have seen every band on Spin's list except the Dirtbombs...fuck Spin - they sucked after year two (and I am being generous with that)

I can't wait for Spin's 'Top 10 Greatest Bowel Movements of All Time'.

klaus, stop making stupid comments to plug yr stupid blog

...talking heads?

Sigur Ros definitely deserves to be on that list.

Also after seeing Deerhoof yesterday, I would say they are in my top 10.

I saw the White Stripes, and it was good times, but not even on my top 10, and I haven't even seen some of the biggest, supposedly best, live acts. The Hives? Is that some kind of sick joke? First time I've ever seen the Chili Peppers on someone's list, aside from this guy who had only seen three bands live.

Good call on Arcade Fire, excellent live show. They actually made a crowd full of stuffy "NPR-supporting-limousine-liberals" get off their asses and dance at the Hollywood Bowl.

Radiohead should be number one out of all these bands.

Where's Sigur Ros?

Then again, this is Spin. We should be grateful that Fall Out Boy isn't number one, since that's their favorite band now.

in no particular order...

sigur ros
animal collective
man man
radiohead
arcade fire

Holy Shit

dirtbombs are finally making it!!!

Redbone.

man man?
talking heads?

WATT.

Milli Vanilli

dmbq
sonic youth
jon brion
cornelius
olivia tremor control
radiohead

all better live shows than that entire list except for prince, who should be number 1

This list is just some peoples thoughts. You can have your top list people....Its all relative to who likes what. All you people who think its just terrible the band you think should be isnt on the list are crazy. It's not a joke cause you don't agree. Chances are no one will agree with your list either.

I do agree with the White Stripes, always a different show every night, all on the fly, no setlist and have never repeated a shows set list, never just like the albums, always filled with surprises. Awesome ripping on the guitar. What do some of these other bands people mention do that is anything special.

Joel is a turd.

Dave Matthews Band and Phil Lesh & Friends (w/Anastasio)

Yes, but he's *OUR* turd.

TOOL anyone? arcade fire is a hell of a show but if there up on the list then talking heads should get an assist. I'll watch jack white rip it up any day. Screw U2 im suprised they dont just rant on about saving africa the whole show instead of music cause they already got 100+ for there tickets so why would they care.Trent Reznor in his day breaking everything, pretty fun.

TOOL anyone? arcade fire is a hell of a show but if there up on the list then talking heads should get an assist. I'll watch jack white rip it up any day. Screw U2 im suprised they dont just rant on about saving africa the whole show instead of music cause they already got 100+ for there tickets so why would they care.Trent Reznor in his day breaking everything, pretty fun.

Actually, the Arcade Fire deserves its place. They're fantastic live. U2 sucks

Everybody is so wrong! This is the right list right here!
1.radiohead
2.radiohead
3.radiohead
4.ween
5.radiohead
radiohead should be at least be number one. They are so talented and their light show is incredible. I was lucky enough to see them at bonnaroo this year and it was the best 2 1/2 hours of my entire life. When they release the live dvd and the new album everybody will shit their pants

p.s. Fuck U2 Bono's a fag

Spiritualized capturing the moment since March of 1992

U2 ARE THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD TODAY AND THEY ARE THE BEST ACT IN THE WORLD TODAY THEY JUST HAVE THAT THING THAT GOES OFF WHEN THEY PLAY! uTTERLY AMAZING SHOWS!

Ur top ten sucks hard.the best live band ever must b MUSE.Just go to one of their showsand witness pure quality.After that gig everything else will sound childish and dull.
Other great live bands r NIRVANA,KASABIAN ,ARCTIC MONKEYS...

Ur top ten sucks hard.the best live band ever must b MUSE.Just go to one of their showsand witness pure quality.After that gig everything else will sound childish and dull.
Other great live bands r NIRVANA,KASABIAN ,ARCTIC MONKEYS...

it has to be The Who at #1!!!

ok, first off, alot of you dont realize this is a list of bands that have been touring recently. fugazi, talking heads, nirvana, and bands like that dont count.

spin has totaly sold out, i dont know whats up with this list. what really get me is that Dave Matthews Band isn't even on the list at all. No matter what anyone thinks about them, they are one of the musicaly best bands out there today. They have more diversity in their music than just about any band out there. the fact that they never play a song the same way twice is something many dont do. If you havent seen them, see them.

apparently you have never seen a band called The Who in concert. Not only did they set the world record for loudest concert in 1976 at 126 decibals, but they invented the windmill on the guitar, the idea of smashing guitars, blowing up drums, swinging microphones, etc. i saw them a couple weeks ago- they're in their early 60's and they could still blow any band off the stage. you make me sick

Ok, just to make something clear. If MUSE isnt on that list, the list is wrong. Glastonbury 04 left a crater where the stage was.

I suppose it depends on what you deem as a great live show. IMHO...KISS innovated the live show spectacular and have done it for over 30 years. Can someone tell me which of the above listed bands will be selling out stadiums for the next 30 years????

Foo Fighters - Dave Grohl nuff said
Radiohead - rediculoso
Muse - they have to be up their somewhere

Stevie Wonder?

Curtis Mayfield?

Otis Redding?

JAMES BROWN?

pink floyd
rage against the machine
mew sigur ros

TALKING HEADS

The list is clearly for "current" acts (as in those still performing, or at least capable of performing today). It's fine if you think Otis Redding or Nirvana belong on the list, but they're dead, and they've been dead for a long time.

The fact is that right now U2 and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band put on shows that no one else can touch. There are a lot of great live acts out there right now doing some special things, but U2 and Bruce have mastered the craft of the live performance. If you've seen either of them on their most recent tours there is no way you would disagree.

??!?!?!?!?

wolfmother???
stones
tom petty

white stripes are awesome i agree
little bands on there though cmon wolfmother

Sigur Ros
Bjork
Tool
Radiohead
Flaming Lips
Massive Attack

my god
no fucking wilco?
thats fuckin bullshit

umm dave matthews band? i guess you actually have to know a little something about music to respect them though

this is lists needs rush and pearl jam. rush is amazing live, just saw them about a week ago. neil peart is a man among gods! and so are the guys from pearl jam.

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE COME ON, AND THE CHILI PEPPERS ARE AMAZING, IF U DONT THINK SO WATCH UNDER THE BRIDGE LIVE AT SLANE

whoa isnt this list from last year? RS put out a better one recently.

I'd have to agree with some of them but definitely left out some notable ones -- Muse, Incubus (go ahead, be a snob), Xavier Rudd, The John Butler Trio, and Interpol.

whoa isnt this list from last year? RS put out a better one recently.

I'd have to agree with some of them but definitely left out some notable ones -- Muse, Pearl Jam, Incubus (go ahead, be a snob), Xavier Rudd, The John Butler Trio, and Interpol.

i agree with pjfan33. i'm sick of people dissing the chili peppers. they freakin own. i dont know about you guys but in my opinion they're one of the best if not the best band still going today. if you think the chili peppers are bad live then check out slane castle. IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

Wow, this is probably the worst list ever. Almost as
bad as another list where "the white stripes" were number 1. GOOD PICK MORONS

where's Muse???

and if anybody's seen the rest of this list (11-20) you'll notice AFI gets on...they are easily on eof the worst live performers I've ever seen...show's what whoever made this list knows

This list is a joke...Pink FLoyd is the best live band ever.

Nirvana during their Nevermind tour era...the energy when they played was palpable. People couldn't believe their own eyes!

Daft Punk?

love the hives live, they make u wanna scream

em i can't beleive muse arn't in the top ten they are the best i mean u2 are shit they are really boring as hell muse are the best live band and the best band all together

by god... white stripes are incredible, while U2 is crap live. and yeah Muse must be there too.
I saw WS live in Birmingham....orgasmic :D

Pour moi, off the top of my head:

Sonic Youth
Radiohead
Talking Heads
Think About Life
Stooges
Stop Die Resuscitate
Black Lips

A list of the greatest live acts and Springsteen and the E-Street Band is not included in the Top 10...are you kidding me?

this list definitely has some flaws but the dirtbombs, white stripes, radiohead, and the stooges DEFINITELY deserve to be on this list, so congrats to them. especially the dirtbombs