Essential Live Albums

[liebzz]

Dave Matthews Band - LiveTrax Vol. 14: Nissan Pavillion

This is the final show Dave Matthews Band played with LeRoi Moore. Not that anyone would have known he was days away from a fatal ATV accident, but the band seems in great form here. Really started cooking with the Dreaming Tree and not letting up it seemed throughout. The Space Between gets a solo acoustic treatment largely, Louisiana Bayou is smokin’, Cornbread is good fun, Sledgehammer is fantastic, and the list goes on. A very on night for this band.

The Essential Performance: Louisiana Bayou

Up Next: Dave Matthews Band - Europe 2009

[liebzz]

Dave Matthews Band - Europe 2009

A year later actually, a new album in Big Whiskey, and a nice show in Lucca, Italy. While to this point the loss of LeRoi Moore is pronounced and even more overcompensated with Tim Reynolds’ guitar, it’s still enjoyable and there are some real fun stretches. Best Corn Bread yet. Jimi Thing, Alligator Pie, The Dreaming Tree, and all the new songs were fun. Not nearly as good as the show I covered before though.

The Essential Performance: Corn Bread

Up Next: Pearl Jam - Philadelphia 2009

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - Philadelphia 2009, Part I: 10/27/09

The excitement and hype going into 4 shows in 5 nights to close out The Spectrum was at a fever pitch for us fans. Rumors swirled everywhere about guests, songs they would play, how long the shows would be and then some. With the World Series happening across the parking lot in nights 3 and 4, not to mention Halloween on night 4, it was certain lot a cocktail for some great nights.

Night 1 saw the band come out firing away, maybe a bit too hard to start the show, which lead to a few Vedder lyric flubs, but after a few songs everyone seemed to settle in nicely. The energy all around was high and the band delivered its fair share of classics, bust outs, and covers that made for any great Pearl Jam show. Here, we get the Mankind, Rival, Bee Girl, All Those Yesterdays, and Leash bust outs, and really good covers of Love Reign O’er Me and Rockin’ in the Free World (I mean this might be one of the better ones in all). Great kick off.

The Essential Performance: Rockin’ in the Free World

Up Next: Part II: 10/28/09

[i got bugs]

What a great time that was, esp night 4

[liebzz]

What a great time that was, esp night 4

[warehouse]

The next two are Dave Matthews Band - essentially exploring the transition from their last show with LeRoi Moore and then a comp of their next tour in Europe, and how they evolved their sound without him in the mix (Jeff Coffin from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones would take the sax).

I think Jeff Coffin is doing about as good a job as anyone could expect filling in for LeRoi Moore in concert. big shoes to fill, but he was probably the right guy to do it. LeRoi's solos just can't be matched. I'd be interested to compare these shows to after Boyd Tinsley left, which really made it the Tim Reynolds show.

[liebzz]

The next two are Dave Matthews Band - essentially exploring the transition from their last show with LeRoi Moore and then a comp of their next tour in Europe, and how they evolved their sound without him in the mix (Jeff Coffin from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones would take the sax).

I think Jeff Coffin is doing about as good a job as anyone could expect filling in for LeRoi Moore in concert. big shoes to fill, but he was probably the right guy to do it. LeRoi's solos just can't be matched. I'd be interested to compare these shows to after Boyd Tinsley left, which really made it the Tim Reynolds show.

It’s funny because if I compared how I feel about Jeff Coffin’s solos in The Flecktones against Moore’s solos in DMB, I would prefer to hear Coffin, but Moore was such the soul of this band that it’s just not the same without him, though I agree he does more than an admirable job. I don’t recall if I put a post-Tinsley show on the list, but I could venture to do that.

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - Philadelphia 2009, Part II: 10/28/2009

We move on to night 2 of 4, and another night of classics, bust outs and covers as promised. On this night, they busted out All Night, Down with Mike Ness on vocals, a well executed No Way, Evacuation, Speed of Sound, Push Me Pull Me, the original version of Garden, and covers of Last Kiss and The Real Me - it unexpected but solid takes nonetheless. However, their classic takes on Better Man and Porch were real highlights of this show, as well as the Yellow Ledbetter/Little Wing pairing. Another fun night in Philly that also featured the scorecard lady with the real time World Series scores.

The Essential Performance: Better Man

Up Next: Part III: 10/30/2009

[warehouse]

i remember EV mentioning he had Mike Ness in mind when he wrote the vocal part for "Down". I never put that together before that night, but I think of Ness every time I hear that song now. I also remember 'Push Me, Pull Me' being a kind of "holy shit!" moment. it was a fun 4 show run w/ EV channeling Bruce Springsteen the entire time.

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - Philadelphia 2009, Part III: 10/30/2009

The journey to the end of the Spectrum continues, and at this point, the band seems cognizant of upping the ante even further. The focus of this fell on a lot of classics done really well. There were some good bust outs here: Tremor Christ, Hold On, a great Deep, Habit, Cropduster, the reverse Momma Son trio - but the moments that take this show to another level are slammin’ versions of Rearviewmirror and Alive in particular. They were certainly on fire on this night.

The Essential Performance: Alive

Up Next: Part IV: 10/31/2009

[liebzz]

Pearl Jam - Philadelphia 2009, Part IV: 10/31/2009

The last show at the Philadelphia Spectrum and Pearl Jam really worked hard across those 3 prior nights to lead into a wild night to close out this mid-century arena. It’s a place that saw many great nights, a place that sounded like arenas of old, but frankly, the place itself was quite a bit past its prime. That said, it surely got one of its great nights as its last. I am sure to get a few comments about the band being sloppy, or too loose, but the feelings, spirit, and sentiment they brought across these nights was unmatched. The thrill of their show, in its entirety, derives from the energy between the band and the crowd and the organic charm of their delivery, and with that they had it in spades. 3 hours and 45 minutes of pure fun.

As for bust outs, this truly became the ultimate bust out night, with Outta My Mind, Bugs, Pilate, Satan’s Bed, I’m Open, Glorified G, Sweet Lew, and a one off Halloween celebrating Whip It among the many great moments. Finishing with Star Spangled Banner just seemed like a way to say goodbye to The Spectrum that felt more collective than just Pearl Jam. It may not have been their most technically accurate playing night, but it is deservedly one of their most special on its own, but especially to cap an amazing final run there.

The Essential Performance: Bugs

Up Next: Ben Harper and Relentless7 - Live From the Montreaux International Jazz Festival

[liebzz]

We are pretty much done with another decade so that means another top 50 check in from this journey, now dominated of course by Pearl Jam:

50. Pearl Jam - Boise, ID 11/3/00
49. Pearl Jam - Cardiff, Wales 6/6/00
48. My Morning Jacket - MMJ Live Vol. 3: Bonnaroo 2004
47. Phish - Live in Brooklyn
46. Grateful Dead - The Closing of Winterland
45. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live Rust
44. Grateful Dead - Without a Net
43. The Black Crowes - Freak N’ Roll: Into the Fog
42. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Weld
41. The Band - Rock of Ages
40. Grateful Dead - Venetia, OR 8/27/72: The Complete Sunshine Daydream Concert
39. The Rolling Stones - Ladies and Gentlemen
38. The Rolling Stones - The Brussels Affair
37. Pearl Jam - Vault #3: Washington, DC 9/19/98
36. Grateful Dead - Europe ‘72
35. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The Darkness Tour
34. Phish - LivePhish Vol. 11: 11/17/97 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, CO
33. Pearl Jam - Jones Beach, NY 8/25/00
32. Jimi Hendrix - Live at Woodstock
31. Grateful Dead - Dick’s Picks Vol. 8: Harpur College, Binghamton, NY 5/2/70
30. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Live!
29. Pearl Jam - Live at Benaroya Hall
28. Phish - Hampton/Winston Salem ‘97
27. Lynyrd Skynyrd - One More From the Road
26. Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out
25. Phish - LivePhish 4/4/98
24. Pearl Jam - Las Vegas, NY 10/22/00
23. Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band - Live in Dublin
22. Pearl Jam - Katowice, Poland 6/16/00
21. Phish - LivePhish: 12/30/97 Madison Square Garden
20. Pearl Jam - Vault #7: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL 7/11/95
19. Pearl Jam - Milan, Italy 6/22/00
18. Pearl Jam - Tokyo, Japan 3/3/03
17. My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
16. Pearl Jam - Vault #11: Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA 4/3/94
15. The Band - The Last Waltz
14. Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
13. Grateful Dead - Cornell 5/8/77
12. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Hammersmith Odeon ‘75
11. Grateful Dead - Dick’s Picks Vol. 3: Pembroke Pines, FL 5/22/77
10. Pearl Jam - Chicago, IL 10/9/00
9. Pearl Jam - Seattle, WA 12/6/00
8. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Live 1975-85
7. Pearl Jam - State College, PA 5/3/03
6. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Live at the Fillmore, 1997
5. Pearl Jam - New York/Mansfield
4. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - The Legendary No Nukes Concerts
3. Pearl Jam - Live at the Gorge 05/06
2. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Livr Anthology
1. Pearl Jam - Philadelphia 2009

[liebzz]

Ben Harper and Relentless7 - Live From the Montreaux International Jazz Festival

Back in 2008, I ran not walked to a number of small club shows Ben Harper did with this band, a straight ahead hard rock band he pursued while without the Innocent Criminals for a time. This one is a bigger show with a larger audience, but much of that energy is still here. Faster, Slower, Disappear, Come Around would only be released here. Dressed in Black is blues rock to its core, a perfect lead into a cover of Red House. Keep It Together is probably a little too long but that big riff slays live. Boots Like These is similarly awesome. Under Pressure is always a solid Ben Harper cover. Up To You Now is pure intensity. And that final cover of Good Times Bad Times rips, but the song that makes this thing really cook is Serve Your Soul, the riff the closest thing he’s done to a Kashmir or other big Zeppelin riff bomb. Really have always loved this band and this live album since it came out.

The Essential Performance: Serve Your Soul

Up Next: Dave Matthews Band - Live in New York City

[oasisfan35]

Ben Harper and Relentless7 - Live From the Montreaux International Jazz Festival

Back in 2008, I ran not walked to a number of small club shows Ben Harper did with this band, a straight ahead hard rock band he pursued while without the Innocent Criminals for a time. This one is a bigger show with a larger audience, but much of that energy is still here. Faster, Slower, Disappear, Come Around would only be released here. Dressed in Black is blues rock to its core, a perfect lead into a cover of Red House. Keep It Together is probably a little too long but that big riff slays live. Boots Like These is similarly awesome. Under Pressure is always a solid Ben Harper cover. Up To You Now is pure intensity. And that final cover of Good Times Bad Times rips, but the song that makes this thing really cook is Serve Your Soul, the riff the closest thing he’s done to a Kashmir or other big Zeppelin riff bomb. Really have always loved this band and this live album since it came out.

The Essential Performance: Serve Your Soul

Up Next: Dave Matthews Band - Live in New York City

I wish they went with releasing the full two nights, N1 got a bonus disc, but the night before got the LiveTrax treatment later on. Weird year as a fan.

[liebzz]

Dave Matthews Band - Live in New York City

This is I believe taken from night 2 of the 2 night stand at Citi Field. This is one that starts really strong, with the first hour one great performance after the next in The Stone, Warehouse, One Sweet World, Funny the Way It Ie, and then a blazing Seek Up, and very solid Seven. From there, it sorts of almost coasts along rather than keep up the fire, with the only real remaining highlight for me being Two Step which the band really leans into that final jam. Had they kept up that first hour, this would have been one of those great shows, but glad to have listened through at least that.

The Essential Performance: Seek Up

Up Next: String Cheese Incident - Rhythm of the Road, Volume One: Incident in Atlanta

[Kevin Davis]

Maybe this is just a reflection of the artists that interest you, but it's interesting that, around the turn of the century, we see a pretty significant dropoff of live albums by major, contemporary acts. I mean, there are lots of shows by PJ, DMB, jam bands, etc. -- these artists are constantly recording and releasing shows. But it definitely seems like -- by and large -- the live album as a creative medium is kind of dying off. Is this an illusion? Are live albums still a going concern for contemporary (i.e not legacy) artists?

[liebzz]

Maybe this is just a reflection of the artists that interest you, but it's interesting that, around the turn of the century, we see a pretty significant dropoff of live albums by major, contemporary acts. I mean, there are lots of shows by PJ, DMB, jam bands, etc. -- these artists are constantly recording and releasing shows. But it definitely seems like -- by and large -- the live album as a creative medium is kind of dying off. Is this an illusion? Are live albums still a going concern for contemporary (i.e not legacy) artists?

This is a great question and I think the answer lies in a couple of places. I think the live album, as a medium, is in fact dying off because (1) contemporary artists primarily rely on streaming for exposure and don’t need the extra live release to promote their product, and (2) those that do wish to promote their brand through live releases tend to release full shows and honestly full tours through streaming platforms like Nugs, or even Spotify. So a compilation or carefully crafted live release is possibly obsolete at this point.

This to me is a shame, but mostly because I grew up learning about classic bands through live releases and greatest hits. I still in some ways prefer it to a studio release or at least want it alongside a studio release.

[liebzz]

Also, this is I think part of the reason (my own personal tastes probably also play into it) why the genres focus in, especially in the 2010s and 20s.

Yet I could point to live albums I owned growing up that served as placeholders for studio albums I just didn’t prioritize because I didn’t and still don’t have a well with unlimited $14.99s to buy every album. Same with greatest hits albums.

I tried to ensure as much variety as I could by crowdsourcing from this very group.

[Kevin Davis]

Probably all true. And I have to imagine YouTube and various video streaming services are meeting that "at-home experience of your favorite band's live shows" demand in a way that is probably more consistent with how modern audiences consume content, everything from audience footage to TV appearances to more carefully prepared things like the Eras Tour or Renaissance Tour films -- all of it available on demand in a way that stuff like this never was pre-internet.

[liebzz]

I would say it is a shame but I am not sure it is depending on the context. For bands you already love, the newer way is more satisfying, but if you are throwing on an album to get a sense of a band you are curious about you might not be ready for the immersive experience.

Alternatively, it’s also intimidating to have to chose from dozens of shows if you don’t already know the material.