Essential Live Albums

[liebzz]

I went thru a HM phase about 10-12 years ago. They just got to be too far out for me.

One of the best cover bands ever, tho. I haven’t heard them cover a single song that wasn’t absolutely fantastic.

What I do like is that they don’t really remind me of anyone else. And this set is enjoyable. Other than what I listed, I don’t feel that sense that I have to go back. That’s all that’s missing for me, and I am guessing with familiarity I probably would get that.

[liebzz]

Brothers of a Feather - Live at the Roxy

The brothers Robinson might one of the most frustrating pairs in rock music, a combination together that has produced so much great music, but fraught with the sort of sibling fighting that has broken this band more times and lineup changes near constant. But the music is nearly always great and this is no exception, whether their nearly unplugged performance takes on Crowes’ material, solo songs or covers. In fact, the two back to back solo songs, Forgiven Song and Someday Past the Sunset, is my favorite part of this live album. Also of note is the Crowes’ Cursed Diamond and the epic closer Thorn in My Pride and the cover of Driving Wheel. These guys just know how to play great songs.

The Essential Performance: Someday Past the Sunset

Up Next: Lindsay Buckingham - Live at the Bass Performance Hall

[liebzz]

Lindsay Buckingham - Live at the Bass Performance Hall

Quasi stripped down, Buckingham delivers a mix of solo and Fleetwood Mac material here. Other than his voice coming off a bit awkward in moments (this probably always happens), this is pretty great. Trouble, Never Going Back Again, and Second Hand News are all nice acoustic solo performances. Big Love is always fantastic. I’m so Afraid always awesome. The jam on Go Your Own Way, and weirdly Holiday Road are also highlights. Mostly you can’t go wrong here, even without Stevie.

The Essential Performance: Go Your Own Way

Up Next: Dawes - Live at Hotel Cafe 2/12/08

[liebzz]

Dawes - Live at Hotel Cafe 2/12/08

This band is caught somewhere between classic rock, hard rock, and indie groove - a nice little spot they have staked out - and here as a young band full of new energy they blast through a quick 35 minute live album full of nice building nuggets. April 24th is the perfect energetic start, Don’t Send Me Away builds and builds, My Girl to Me has some real nice hard rock elements to it, as does If You Let Me Ne Your Anchor. The winner here though is the epic finale: Peace in the Valley, which recalls Neil Young level tones in its dramatic build. These guys sounded raw here but the elements are there for an excellent band.

The Essential Performance: Peace in the Valley

Up Next: Dave Matthews Band - Live at Mile High Music Festival

[liebzz]

Dave Matthews Band - Live at Mile High Festival

This is another that I’ve registered my complaints about the quality of the recording, but it does seem almost like the sound’s not filled in. That notwithstanding, I am pretty sure my issue with this show is how much they lean on Tim Reynolds to lead. A jarring change from when others take the lead. Still, there’s plenty here that works, particularly a run in the middle of Jimi Thing, #41, and Tripping Billies - a blast from the past that serves as the best this show had to offer. Also of note is the fun Cornbread and the killer cover of Sledgehammer. They’re still rocking the jam between So Much to Say > Anyone Seen the Bridge > Too Much and the second half of Louisiana Bayou.

The Essential Performance: Jimi Thing

Up Next: Gov’t Mule - Live at the Angel Orensanz Center, New York City, NY 12/28/2008

[oasisfan35]

Dave Matthews Band - Live at Mile High Festival

This is another that I’ve registered my complaints about the quality of the recording, but it does seem almost like the sound’s not filled in. That notwithstanding, I am pretty sure my issue with this show is how much they lean on Tim Reynolds to lead. A jarring change from when others take the lead. Still, there’s plenty here that works, particularly a run in the middle of Jimi Thing, #41, and Tripping Billies - a blast from the past that serves as the best this show had to offer. Also of note is the fun Cornbread and the killer cover of Sledgehammer. They’re still rocking the jam between So Much to Say > Anyone Seen the Bridge > Too Much and the second half of Louisiana Bayou.

The Essential Performance: Jimi Thing

Up Next: Gov’t Mule - Live at the Angel Orensanz Center, New York City, NY 12/28/2008

Live at Mile High was such an odd release. I have to assume it was planned for recording and release with life interrupting but that later stretch of summer '08 was not a shining one.

[liebzz]

Gov’t Mule - Live at the Angel Orensanz Center

Oh, this one is a mighty beast. It starts off with some acoustic songs, which are quite nice, especially The Real Thing, and then move into a more traditional Mike show, though the collection of covers here are really stunning. Wild Horses is great but then quickly eclipsed by U2’s One. They mash up John the Revelator and When the Levee Breaks and that is quite killer. All Apologies, The Other One/Drums, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away are also featured covers. Painted Silver Light and Kind of Bird are also really phenomenal. Many of these songs are extended but the jamming doesn’t feel long or exhausting, they are just on their game.

The Essential Performance: One, John the Revelator/When the Levee Breaks

Up Next: The Black Crowes - Before the Frost … Until the Freeze

[liebzz]

Unofficial count thus far is 338 live albums by 155+ artists. We keep going.

[wease]

Gov’t Mule - Live at the Angel Orensanz Center

Oh, this one is a mighty beast. It starts off with some acoustic songs, which are quite nice, especially The Real Thing, and then move into a more traditional Mike show, though the collection of covers here are really stunning. Wild Horses is great but then quickly eclipsed by U2’s One. They mash up John the Revelator and When the Levee Breaks and that is quite killer. All Apologies, The Other One/Drums, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away are also featured covers. Painted Silver Light and Kind of Bird are also really phenomenal. Many of these songs are extended but the jamming doesn’t feel long or exhausting, they are just on their game.

The Essential Performance: One, John the Revelator/When the Levee Breaks

Up Next: The Black Crowes - Before the Frost … Until the Freeze

What year was this?

[liebzz]

12/28/2008

[wease]

I may have that somewhere. That was a lead-in to the Temple of the Mule New Years’ show. One of my all time favorites.

[liebzz]

It’s widely available on streaming services…or at least Spotify.

[liebzz]

The Black Crowes - Before the Frost…Until the Freeze

It’s been I think since Neil Young’s Time Fades Away that I covered a live album of new material. This one features 100 minutes of new Crowes live in studio, the first part being a bit more traditional of a Crowes’ approach and the second half digging into Americana. I generally preferred the first half mostly because the performances are really excellent, but both sides are fantastic. Good Morning Captain, Been a Long Time, I Ain’t Hiding (with its Emotional Rescue era Stones sound), Houston Don’t Dream About Me, and And the Band Played On are top tier Crowes. On the second half, I strongly preferred Lady of Avenue A but it’s all quite solid. As a live album, the interplay is just so great here, a reminder of how great this band can be when they’re on.

The Essential Performance: Been a Long Time

Up Next: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Live Anthology

[liebzz]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Live Anthology

This one is a real emotional roller coaster for me. I certainly loved digging into the big riffs and anthems, and yet as this moved along, the sort of heartbreaking reality of what was truly lost for us when Tom Petty passed in those stripped down versions of their classics. Near jubilation at the killer covers coupled with fighting back emotion hearing Learning to Fly or Free Falling with Petty expertly making the big arena feel intimate in a way very few others could do. Frankly I was completely sold on most of the 48 tracks here being essential, but I’ll have to pick a few to bring along. New top position for me.

The Essential Performances: Nightwatchman, Breakdown, Friend of the Devil, It’s Good to Be King, Learning to Fly, Green Onions, Goldfinger, Dreamville, Spike, Running Down a Dream, Free Falling (sorry that’s a lot)

Next Up: Dave Matthews Band - Live Trax Vol. 14: Nissan Pavillion

[liebzz]

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Live Anthology

This one is a real emotional roller coaster for me. I certainly loved digging into the big riffs and anthems, and yet as this moved along, the sort of heartbreaking reality of what was truly lost for us when Tom Petty passed in those stripped down versions of their classics. Near jubilation at the killer covers coupled with fighting back emotion hearing Learning to Fly or Free Falling with Petty expertly making the big arena feel intimate in a way very few others could do. Frankly I was completely sold on most of the 48 tracks here being essential, but I’ll have to pick a few to bring along. New top position for me.

The Essential Performances: Nightwatchman, Breakdown, Friend of the Devil, It’s Good to Be King, Learning to Fly, Green Onions, Goldfinger, Dreamville, Spike, Running Down a Dream, Free Falling (sorry that’s a lot)

Next Up: Dave Matthews Band - Live Trax Vol. 14: Nissan Pavillion

[VinylGuy]

I need to actually listen Tom Petty way more

[Happy Trees]

More pussy jam bands please.

[liebzz]

I do love a good jam band.

[liebzz]

I need to actually listen Tom Petty way more

The two long ass live albums are a great place to go to get a mix of staples, covers, and a few deeper cuts, both they are each 4 hours long.

[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).