amazing live videos of Smashing Pumpkins, GY!BE & more to watch while every show is cancelled
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:
Spiritualized @ Glastonbury 2004
“They’re going up against Oasis but it doesn’t matter,” declared the host of this 2004 Glastonbury broadcast, “’cause here’s Spiritualized!” Spiritualized formed before Oasis and outlasted them too, and here’s that 2004 Glasto set, full of great songs like “Electricity,” “Come Together,” “She Kissed Me (And It Felt Like A Hit),” “Shine a Light,” “Take Your Time,” and more with Jason Pierce putting himself through the emotional ringer here. Terrific. [Bill Pearis]
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Low @ ACTV Main Studio in Austin, TX – 1996
As amazing as Low’s last album — 2018’s more electronic-oriented Double Negative — is, quarantine-induced dreariness has had me in the mood for the more bare bones sound Low had in the ’90s, which sent me back to this ACTV session from 1996. That’s the year they released their EP with their inventive cover of Joy Division’s “Transmission,” and they played that here, alongside a nice selection of originals from the era. Even with Low as established as they are now, it’s incredible to see how emotionally devastating they sound with such a small, stripped-back setup. [Andrew Sacher]
https://youtu.be/7088HRmhNaE
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Godspeed You! Black Emperor @ Engine Room in Houston, TX – 3/12/2003
Low are living proof that less is more, but Godspeed You! Black Emperor prove that sometimes more is more too. They’ve got a zillion members on stage, and attending one of their live shows is one of the most breathtaking experiences you can have as a music fan. There’s a lot of reunion-era GY!BE footage out there (and the reunion shows and albums have been great), but there isn’t much in the way of full-concert footage from their original era, so this video is a real treat. It’s admittedly a little grainy, but once Godspeed get going, this video takes you there almost as much as seeing the band IRL. [Andrew Sacher]
PS: We have Godspeed records in our shop, including their new album, G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END!.
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Smashing Pumpkins @ Metro Chicago, IL – 8/14/1993
This hometown Chicago Smashing Pumpkins set was released on the Siamese Dream bonus DVD, and was recorded less than a month after that album came out. The band’s original lineup of Billy Corgan, James Iha, D’Arcy Wretzky and Jimmy Chamberlin is still intact at this point and they sound incredible ripping through a set of earlier tracks while crowd-surfers thrash in the foreground. They’re joined by Eric Remschneider on cello “Disarm,” “Spaceboy,” and “Starla” midway through, which fleshes out their sound gorgeously. All in all it’s a classic set of the Pumpkins at their prime, and well worth revisiting. [Amanda Hatfield]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEPYna2FHRI
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Anna Calvi @ Montreux Festival 2015
There have been a lot of shows that were supposed to have happened over the last six weeks that we are bummed about, and one of those was Anna Calvi who hasn’t toured North America in seven years. As good as her records are, getting to hear her amazing voice and see her rip on guitar is 10 times better. You can console yourself with this fantastic 2015 performance from the Montreux festival in 2015. [Bill Pearis]
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Here’s a more recent gallery of Smashing Pumpkins at Jones Beach in 2019.
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For more of our favorite live videos, head here.
