Essential Live Albums

[liebzz]

My. Joy - Live at the Salt Shed

I must have been getting at something planning to listen to these guys again after U2. It created a sort of a-ha moment for me, where I suddenly made the connection of their sort of mix of classic and indie rock vibe. A U2 meets My Morning Jacket meets Fleetwood Mac. And they can string a song along without stretching it too thin. I’m Your Wreck, Let Loose, Evergreen, Jenny Jenkins, Lemon Tree, Mt. Joy, Astrovan, and their excellent cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams stuck out to me immediately. These guys are better than I have credit last time.

The Essential Performances: I’m Your Wreck, Mt. Joy, Dreams

Up Next: The War On Drugs - Live Drugs Again

[liebzz]

The War On Drugs - Live Drugs Again

The War On Drugs had a lot to live up to on this release, especially naming it as a sequel to the 2020 release. Thankfully, this one is every bit the gem as the last one, but with 2021’s I Don’t Live Here Anymore featured prominently. I think the sole repeat is Under the Pressure, which is even better here. I Don’t Live Here Anymore, I Don’t Want to Wait, and the opening Harmonia’s Dream (they could play this song for 2 hours straight and I would be happy, it is maybe the song of the decade for me) are all big highlights. I like this band even more for this.

The Essential Performance: Harmonia’s Dream, Under the Pressure, I Don’t Want to Wait, I Don’t Live Here Anymore

Up Next: Goose - Live at the Capitol Theatre

[liebzz]

Goose - Live at the Capitol Theatre

In the Spring of 2024, Goose announced the departure of their original drummer, to much consternation of an already hardcore fan base, and then moved into a new era with a new Ted Tapes (think 2.5 hours of instrumental jamming nearly unbroken), taken from their first rehearsals with the new guy. Soon thereafter they debuted Cotter Ellis with a four night run at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. This is that 4 night run, over 12 hours of Goose jams, with a surprise appearance by Vampire Weekend (I have no background with that band), and no repeated songs between the four nights. My favorite of the shows was night 2, where they played their debut album, Moon Cabin, cover to cover with a few outtakes thrown in for good measure. I’ll try to pick one from each night for the essentials.

The Essential Performances: Eminence Front, Arcadia, Thatch, Dripfield

Up Next: Marco Benevento - Barn Burner: Live at Levon’s

[liebzz]

Marco Benevento - Barn Burner: Live at Levon’s

Most prominently known for his work with Joe Russo, this is a live album from Woodstock, NY where his own blend of rock, jazz, and soul is on display. The songs aren’t as long. The guy’s not a lead singer for a reason, but his keys fit wonderfully into this Sonic space as to be expected. Send It On a Rocket, the obligatory Band cover This Wheels On Fire, and At the Show are all must listens on this one.

The Essential Performances: Send It On a Rocket, This Wheels On Fire, At the Show

Up Next: Christine “Kingfish” Ingram - Live in London

[liebzz]

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram - Live in London

From the jam band young guitar hero to young blues man Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, who brings a more traditional yet no less fiery take on electric blues. The guitar heat comes in blazing with Empty Promises while the soulfulness powers through in You’re Already Gone. Another Life Goes By hints at a socially conscious outcry on guns. There’s plenty of range here for a guy who could make it on chops alone. A good listen.

The Essential Performance: Empty Promises

Up Next - Billy Strings - Live Vol. 1

[liebzz]

Billy Strings - Live Vol. 1

Jam band guitar hero, blues guitar prodigy, now a young bluegrass guitarist who’s made himself a legend in short order. There are times when his playing sounds impossible. Even so, he surrounds himself with other virtuoso players while delivering interesting as always covers, folk and bluegrass standards, and songs of his own making. This collection is the first exposure to live Strings from a commercial release standpoint, and while he is even more impressive in person, this is a good look in on the craziness he is capable of, using the format to explore jams, psychedelic textures, and bridging the past with the future. Extended explorations here include Away From the Mire, an electric exploration, Heartbeat of America, and the thrilling Turmoil & Tinfoil. Damn this man can play.

The Essential Performances: Away From the Mire, Heartbeat of America, Turmoil & Tinfoil

Up Next: Bruce Springsteen - The Live Series: Songs of Celebration

[liebzz]

Bruce Springsteen - The Live Series: Songs of Celebration

The series that keeps on giving brings us all sort of party songs from the Boss. Rosie and Out on the Street are both solid to start this thing, and a different take on You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch) is a fun diversion. What slays here is My Love Will Not Let You Down and The E Street Shuffle. These newer ones are starting to get live performances that are very current, including a Surrender from their 2023 tour. Good times.

The Essential Performances: My Love Will Not Let You Down, The E Street Shuffle

Up Next: Bruce Springsteen - The Live Series: Songs From Around the World Vol. 2

[i got bugs]

Do you have nugs?

I downloaded a newer Sturgill Simpson show n its fantastic

[liebzz]

I do have nugs! It has been and will be the source of a few more here. I have used it for livestreams, and a host of shows. I will have to check that out. I signed up when Pearl Jam had the 30th anniversary of Ten and nugs offered a $30/year subscription deal. I am still somehow paying just that.

I just did get the Springsteen comp in, so…

Bruce Springsteen - The Live Series: Songs From Around the World Vol. 2

The Boss had a good run of these, but this one sadly lacks the energy that those each brought and feels like it doesn’t add much. Hungry Heart and Ghosts are the best of the bunch, but there is a surprisingly good Human Touch here. I guess some times to get to the better you gotta get the worse.

The Essential Performance: Hungry Heart, Ghosts

Up Next: Bruce Springsteen - The Live Series: Songs of Conscience

[zeb]

Give this a whirl, liebzz.

[liebzz]

It’s a last minute addition.

[liebzz]

Bruce Springsteen - The Live Series: Songs of Conscience

This is the most recent and I think last of the official Live Series compilations that I will cover. While everything here is good, very little of this recreates the stratospheric live performances that Springsteen so readily conjures. Souls of the Departed is quite good, Long Walk Home is a welcome addition (there’s not much you get to hear from Magic), The Ghost of Tom Joad is also good, along with Sun City, Youngstown, 41 Shots, and If I Was the Priest. Last Man Standing is poignant on mortality as always, though I wish there were a few more barn burners on here.

The Essential Performance: Youngstown, If I Was the Priest

Up Next: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Live at the Ryman, Vol. 2

[liebzz]

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Live at the Ryman Vol. 2

As noted in the thread, I can say that my initial reaction to Jason Isbell’s music was pretty neutral. I liked it well enough, but never really felt drawn to it, with the exception of Miles, which I really liked off last year’s Weathervanes. Even with the first iteration of Live at the Ryman, I wasn’t completely sold. Really until today. Something about these performances, how a redneck special like King of Oklahoma can turn into an earned statement on the instrumental breakdown, same with The Last Song I Will Write, and This Ain’t It finds its genius in performance. Miles is as killer as I remember it. Room at the Top is a wonderful cover. Cast Iron Skillet is a clear winner on the acoustic mini set, but this thing really brings home what I had been missing: an almost Springsteen like belief in the power of his stories as told to a live audience with a great band. Can’t ask for much more than that, even with that gruff southern twang.

The Essential Performances: Save the World, King of Oklahoma, Middle of the Morning, The Last Song I Will Write, Cast Iron Skillet, Miles, When We Were Close, Room at the Top, This Ain’t It (told you I liked this one)

Up Next: Spafford - Live in Montana

[liebzz]

Spafford - Live in Montana

Sometimes this band is on fire for long stretches where it’s nearly impossible not to love them. And then, there are times where they aimlessly meander through a set and you wonder why you liked them in the first place. A feast or famine. This one is largely in the latter category and they don’t really push the envelope save for a nice cover of Mad World by Tears For Fears, and a mostly on point Electric Taco Stand. Good bands have dull nights, but they usually don’t release those nights as live albums.

The Essential Performance: Mad World

Up Next: Tropical Fuck Storm’s Inflatable Graveyard

[liebzz]

Tropical Fuck Storm’s Inflatable Graveyard

So the title sets up expectations. Ridiculous. Tossed off. Maybe a bit more than chaotic. And yet, this one is catchier than the title suggests. This Aussie band certainly paints a different landscape - maybe not as drastic as their contemporaries Aussies with a bizarre band name, but certainly tinkering around the edges. And the guitar noise rock Stayin’ Alive cover is real good fun to finish this off. Braindrops might be my favorite here but it’s all pretty close.

The Essential Performance: Braindrops, Stayin’ Alive

Up Next: Spafford - Live in Reno

[oasisfan35]

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Live at the Ryman Vol. 2

As noted in the thread, I can say that my initial reaction to Jason Isbell’s music was pretty neutral. I liked it well enough, but never really felt drawn to it, with the exception of Miles, which I really liked off last year’s Weathervanes. Even with the first iteration of Live at the Ryman, I wasn’t completely sold. Really until today. Something about these performances, how a redneck special like King of Oklahoma can turn into an earned statement on the instrumental breakdown, same with The Last Song I Will Write, and This Ain’t It finds its genius in performance. Miles is as killer as I remember it. Room at the Top is a wonderful cover. Cast Iron Skillet is a clear winner on the acoustic mini set, but this thing really brings home what I had been missing: an almost Springsteen like belief in the power of his stories as told to a live audience with a great band. Can’t ask for much more than that, even with that gruff southern twang.

The Essential Performances: Save the World, King of Oklahoma, Middle of the Morning, The Last Song I Will Write, Cast Iron Skillet, Miles, When We Were Close, Room at the Top, This Ain’t It (told you I liked this one)

Up Next: Spafford - Live in Montana

I think Weathervanes is an incredibly strong album that lends itself well to the live renditions. The inclusion of The Last Song I Will Write is just tremendous and Room at the Top such a pleasant surprise. I really dig that Springsteen-esque comparison, that is pretty spot on.

[liebzz]

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - Live at the Ryman Vol. 2

As noted in the thread, I can say that my initial reaction to Jason Isbell’s music was pretty neutral. I liked it well enough, but never really felt drawn to it, with the exception of Miles, which I really liked off last year’s Weathervanes. Even with the first iteration of Live at the Ryman, I wasn’t completely sold. Really until today. Something about these performances, how a redneck special like King of Oklahoma can turn into an earned statement on the instrumental breakdown, same with The Last Song I Will Write, and This Ain’t It finds its genius in performance. Miles is as killer as I remember it. Room at the Top is a wonderful cover. Cast Iron Skillet is a clear winner on the acoustic mini set, but this thing really brings home what I had been missing: an almost Springsteen like belief in the power of his stories as told to a live audience with a great band. Can’t ask for much more than that, even with that gruff southern twang.

The Essential Performances: Save the World, King of Oklahoma, Middle of the Morning, The Last Song I Will Write, Cast Iron Skillet, Miles, When We Were Close, Room at the Top, This Ain’t It (told you I liked this one)

Up Next: Spafford - Live in Montana

I think Weathervanes is an incredibly strong album that lends itself well to the live renditions. The inclusion of The Last Song I Will Write is just tremendous and Room at the Top such a pleasant surprise. I really dig that Springsteen-esque comparison, that is pretty spot on.

The goal is to be as spot on as I can be considering I am not the most well versed but using my streaming accounts to make up for many years of lost time on this. This one journey has been ongoing since March 2023. Crazy.

[liebzz]

Spafford - Live in Reno

This one is from the Fall 2023. Much like the last one by Spafford, this one also spends a long time feeling stuck in neutral. At their best, this band pushes the pace and really catches fire, but when they kind of hedge and wait for fire to strike, they can get quite dull. It happens too much here, and where the climactic jams in Legend or Mind’s Unchained are great, it takes just too long to get there. Doghouse > Part II is probably the most consistently good this band is on this release.

The Essential Performance: Doghouse > Part II

Up Next: Goose - Live at the Fox Theatre

[liebzz]

Goose - Live at the Fox Theatre

I relatively certain this is the final live album from a sort of young jam band era, or at least the generation in the process of grabbing the baton from the likes of Phish and friends someday soon. This is Goose in very fine form, using both immediate blasts and long jams to express the moment. Night 1 was highlighted by a bizarre cover of Rock the Casbah that alternated between high energy pop rock and psychedelia, along with Bob Don, an epic jam in Hungersite, Give It Time, the always Rockin’ Thatch, and closing with a strong Turbulance & the Night Rays. Night 2 features a strong Mr. Action, Silver Rising and SOS that are killer, a massive Tumble that is a fully engaging long jam, the best Red Bird I have heard yet, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, and closing with Factory Fiction. This one is very good nearly too to bottom across 2 of the 3 shows in this run.

The Essential Performances: Rock the Casbah, Bob Don, Give It Time, Thatch, Turbulance & the Night Rays, Mr. Action, Silver Rising, SOS, Tumble, Red Bird, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Up Next: Phish - The Spectrum ‘97

[liebzz]

Phish - The Spectrum ‘97

We’ve hit the point in this journey where we’re getting in some last licks from bands I have featured throughout. This is yet another phenomenal ‘97 release from Phish, unearthed at least to streaming this year. The band is basically on fire for nearly all 5.5 hours across 2 shows. The opening run from the first show of Buried Alive, Down With Disease, Makisupa Policeman, Chalk Dust Torture, Ghost, and Divided Sky has not a dull moment as they weave through genres, Mike’s Song, Ya Mar, Weekapaug Groove, Bouncing Around the Room, Character Zero and Sample in a Jar all highlight set 2 on night 1 that has a near perfect setlist.

Night 2 similarly has a very good setlist and performances as well. The entire first set is killer, whereas there’s a bit of a lull to start set 2. We catch fire again though from Prince Caspian abruptly changing course to Edgar Winter’s Frankenstein. Crossroads is a nice finish to this one heavy on the covers.

The Essential Performances: Down With Disease, Makisupa Policeman, Chalk Dust Torture, Ya Mar, Weekapaug Groove, Punch You In the Eye, My Soul, Drowned, Gumbo, 2001, You Enjoy Myself, Prince Caspian, Frankenstein, Crossroads

Up Next: Dark Star Orchestra - Live @ the Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA 1/27/24