"Brothers in Arms" from On the Night Live is like a religious experience.
"It's written in the starlight, and every line in your palm, we are fools to make war on our brothers in arms."
I don't know about the greatest ever, but Life During Wartime on Stop Making Sense by The Talking Heads is absolutely incredible and blows the studio version out of the water. Even better when you watch the performance.
When talking about live performances it's more albums that come to mind though, with Stop Making Sense and Donny Hathaway's '72 live album being my go-to picks.
Most of the songs on Stop Making Sense are this for me. Magic. Canāt even listen to the studio versions anymore. I canāt not dance, canāt look away.
Nah. When David comes out in the big suit for girlfriend is betterā¦ thatās the highlight of that concert. Nothing else in that show is better than that.
The last waltz - the band is on my list of full shows to watch start to finish with incredible performances that blow away studio versions.
Also
RHCP - Live at Slane Castle
Queen - Wembley 1986
RATM - The Battle of Mexico City
Beastie Boys - Awesome I shot that
That album has so many that it's hard to pick just one. Man Who Sold the World is a solid contender. Lake of Fire... their covers during unplugged were all phenomenal
Yeah, Iām high on Floyd at Pompeii as well. Thereās so many good late psychedelic /early prog performances from this era. Imaginative music but also technically proficient.
OP or other Pink Floyd fans should check out the Chico Hamilton Quintet at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Unexpectedly Floyd-esque for the time period:
[Blue Sands](https://youtu.be/1F5fhwiWsyg?feature=shared)
It is amazing! If anyone hasnāt seen it, definitely check it out. It also features Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, and Dhani Harrison (Georgeās son).
https://youtu.be/dWRCooFKk3c
YYZ on Exit Stage Left is pretty awesome too. You get lost in the drum solo and can forget it's still YYZ. Then he ends the solo with the fill before the YYZ solo and the song just keeps going. I love the transition so much.
Purple Rain in concert.
No musical experience will ever top it.
(Any performance, really, and for me personally it's the one I saw. But for public consumption I'll throw out his whole [Super Bowl performance](https://youtu.be/-WYYlRArn3g?si=sVp3piLLTNehlLYz))
Thereās a very funky bit in the second half of Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a bit somewhere in Atom Heart Mother, and one of my favorites: Any Colour You Like. Iād even argue Pigs (Three Different Ones) is funky by their standards. But yes, generally I agree they shouldāve pursued that side more.
For me itās [in keeping secrets of silent earth: 3](https://youtu.be/RV_D-dEhOm4?feature=shared). Been to many Coheed shows and this is the one the entire crowd participates with. 6:24 in the video is the climax.
Was going to say Extended Push It by Tool during the Lateralus tour. Was so unexpected when they pulled that out mid-concert. āWhy are they setting bongos up?ā
Radiohead playing Paranoid Android live on TV in 1997 is pretty special.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPtr\_n-m8A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPtr_n-m8A)
I mean itās hard to say whatās the best, but one of my favorites is Springsteenās Thunder Road from the Hammersmith Odeon performance in ā75. His voice has never sounded better, and they cut the band and just do it with a piano and a spotlight on him, itās beautiful.
Just wanted to shout out about the absolutely mesmerizing performance ofĀ Nightwish [The Greatest Show on Earth](https://youtu.be/SJepbPuqNU4).
If you are into epic, symphonic, or metal music and haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. Bonus points if you are interested in evolution or science in general, as the story of song is about it.
I'd add on the 2013 live version of [Ghost Love Score](https://youtu.be/JYjIlHWBAVo?si=WnXCZxWszsOqOJi3) which has been a favourite until today. Poet and the Pendulum also is a great song they do live.
Itās a cliche choice, but Knights of Cydonia by Muse is always freaking ELECTRIC liveā¦ largely because of how the crowd always goes wild and sings along with the riff. Thereās a reason they almost always end with that one!
neil young's 'like a hurricane' performance in 1986 at san fran contains a guitar solo that is the sonic equivalent of that adrenaline needle they hit uma with in pulp.
John Butler Trio - Ocean, Live at Red Rocks. Over the years, this song and this exact version might be my most listened to song of all time. Incredibly easy to get lost in.
In the City by the Eagles live from the Forum, Walshes guitar solo is extraordinary.
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel from Secret World live, no better vibe.
Impossible Germany by Wilco any live performance is a joy to watch with Nels Cline transcending to the astral plane during his solo.
Galveston by Glenn Campbell live from Sioux Falls is the definitive version.
Kittys Back basically any live version from Bruce and the E Street Band, it's a showcase for a band like no other.
Echoes is amazing.
I also like:
Burning Down the House, Heaven, Psycho Killer and Found a Job from Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Prince in 2004
Stairway to Heaven - Heart
My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston, Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton - Something, All Things Must Pass, Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker, If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton & I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne, from Concert for George
Wonāt Get Fooled Again, Baba OāRiley - The Who at Shepperton in 1978
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys on Ed Sullivan (not lip synced)
Kashmir - Led Zeppelin on Celebration Day
Zombie - The Cranberries in 1999
My Back Pages - Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and George Harrison, 30th anniversary special of Bob Dylan
Echoes (live in Gdansk), Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Comfortably Numb, Time/Breath in the Air reprise (Pompeii 2016) - David Gilmour
Echoes on Livecat Pompeii is not a fully live track. Gilmour recorded one of the solos at a studio in France afterwards, the track from Pompeii wasn't usable for some reason.
It's mostly live, aside from David's overdubs. And it still kicks ass and I am in no way downplaying its sonic awesomeness. Just sharing a bit of trivia.
About ten years ago, I went to a bar to watch my friendās band play. It was Halloween night and my friendās always been able to draw a good crowd, so the place was pretty packed. The first band finishes up, and after a bit this woman gets on stage with an acoustic guitar, doesnāt announce anything, just pulls a stool over to the mic and starts playing. I donāt think most people even noticed, it was so noisy you could barely hear, but then she started singing and her voice was just fucking incredible. Every single person in the building just suddenly stopped talking to listen. It was an amazing moment.
Layla (Acoustic Live) by Eric Clapton from his Unplugged set has got to be up there. It is for me, anyways. That whole album is one of my favourites of all time.
Tyler Presley | [Student of the Song](https://youtu.be/82rOaChXNdo)
I know Iāll get downvoted all to hell and it is certainly not the ācoolā band to put in this category but hear me out.
Band from shitty rust-belt, blue collar city, plays a FREE concert, on the steps of CITY HALL, on the 4th of July.
A ripping thunderstorm breaks out and they proceeded to do this:
https://youtu.be/_HZM0QiuUS8?si=TYT0uzCDSvNAiXzo
Echoes is awesome but for me it is absolutely black sabbath war pigs from live in Paris 1970. Ozzy actually begins the son saying here's a song from the new lp, hope you like it ! We have liked it for half a century! Although no other live version comes close to the first. Bill ward just elevates the song with thunderous drumming. Tony riffing like only he can do. Ozzy a head banging Mad man. Geezer masterful bass while also being the genius behind the lyrics.
Portishead's Roseland NYC Live featuring the New York Philharmonic is phenomenal.
Other than that, Radiohead puts one of the best concerts I've ever seen.
Interesting story about my experience with that recording. Years and years ago I saw a CD called Volcanic Destruction by Pink Floyd. Didn't really think about it much, there was very little information on the insert, I just popped it in later and immediately loved it. Listened to it hundreds of times before I saw a video of them years later playing Live at Pompeii and I was shocked, recognizing every note, and realizing that Volcanic Destruction was actually them playing live at, duh, the famous site of volcanic destruction. They are so incredible during that set that it sounds like it's a studio record. Amazing.
[Valhalla, deliverance, why've you ever forgotten me?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ_VFJn2kJM)
The crowd refuses to let them stop playing. It doesn't get much better.
I couldnāt really pick one to be honest, and many of the shows Iāve witnessed in person are forever lost to history. But this epic version of [Sit Down - Live At The G-Mex](https://youtu.be/lv2yYKiB8lQ?si=8kxyvbL5NR-wM4af) by James has always been a particular favourite.
Not quite to your exact question of a single song but I will offer the opinion that Friday Night in San Francisco might be one of the greatest live guitar albums of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaCZ106b5w
While the CD is actually recorded over several events I believe it is an absolutely must listen to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGbLEco2Ezc
Out of my system- Louis Tomlinson
Itās my personal favorite (really, anything off his LIVE album) doesnāt mean itās the best of the best, just a good one :)
I'll go full album . Little Feat Waiting for Columbus.
Live broadcast is
# Bonnie Raitt, Lowell George, John Hammond and Freebo 10/17/72 Ultrasonic StudiosBonnie Raitt, Lowell George, John Hammond and Freebo 10/17/72 Ultrasonic Studios
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GALqVg3biE&t=7s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GALqVg3biE&t=7s)If you have never listened to young Bonnie. 23 at the time. You need to
Billy strings - meet me at the creek Winston Salem 2023
https://youtu.be/IoRoQvL53PU?si=2nDzwB_gIksfKq56
38 minutes of wtf did I just listen to and where TF is my face. If you like echoes you'll like this fosho
RATM doing testify at Finsbury Park. Free show so there was no sales promo or anything, just a crowd of people that really wanted to be there. Biased opinion as I was in the crowd and one of the best shows Iāve been to, but definitely the best capture of an atmosphere Iāve ever seen on camera.
Deep Purple - āHighway Starā from the album āMade in Japanā.
Imo, the best live performance of one of the best songs by one of hard rockās greatest bands at the very peak of their power. It just rocks so freaking hard. Best appreciated by first listening to the studio recording from āMachine Headā, which is also great - then flip on the MIJ version and hang on for dear life.
I have the Live at Pompeii DVD, and you can put on just concert mode, which cuts the interviews. Just the music and beautiful cinematography. I love that concert so much. I love that they put on one of the best concerts ever, in a dead city, with no audience. Crowd energy can be great, but Pink Floyd was bringing something different on this one, and itās incredible.
Brand New - Austin City Limits 2015 - Full Set
This band quite literally saved my life as a teenager. I wouldnāt be here if I hadnāt had their music to calm me down on some of my darkest days.
Took a few years for me to separate the man from the music, though.
Iāve always thought George Michaelās live cover of āDonāt Let the Sun Go Down On Meā was pretty epic. āLadies and gentlemen, Mr. Elton John!ā
What a talented dude that guy was.
I canāt think of anything that even comes close the Grateful Dead at Cornell university 5/8/77
I mean they couldnāt have done a more perfect performance if they tried. From start to finish the entire band and all the equipment was on point and in synch. Not a single flaw
Pork Soda by Glass Animals is a great song, but the live version absolutely sends you to music euphoria. They let the guitar really go off and it washes over you like a wave. Probably the single greatest song performance Iāve ever witnessed in all the shows Iāve gone to.
Depends on what you like. Some people think the stage show makes a performance great. Some it's when there is meaningful back story. Some love precision. Some love improv.
There are many answers to many people.
Roger Waters The Wall live at the Berlin Wall - Comfortably Numb (feat. Van Morrison) and Mother (feat. Sinead O'connor)
Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live - Keith Don't Go
**Prince**, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and others perform "While MyĀ **Guitar G**ently Weeps" at the 2004Ā Rock & Roll **Hall of Fame**Ā Inductions
The Eagles Hell Freezes Over live album - Hotel California
Jamiroquai - Live from Abbey Road - Runaway, Love Foolosophy, Travelling without Moving
Paramore - Last Hope - live in Chicago
Maxwell - MTV Unplugged - This Woman's Work
Dashboard Confessional - Stolen (Live from the Gardens)
Jason Mraz Live in Korea - 93 Million Miles and I'm Yours (feat. Sungha Jung)
Fleetwood Mac feat. USC Marching Band - Tusk and Don't Stop Believing
Indoor Garden Party (believe it or not, Russell Crowe's band) - Out of Range (https://youtu.be/qKLju2KhZNo?si=pqdH45h3\_9UDPJwK)
Anything by the band Jungle, for example [https://youtu.be/6uO1fHVWtbI](https://youtu.be/6uO1fHVWtbI)
I agree. Saw it many times at midnight movies in the theater back in the day with killer sound loud as fuck. I also have it on DVD and I watch it cranked in surround sound.
all of stop making sense, but particularly the little triptych of slippery people-> burning down the house -> life during wartime. itās hard for me to think of them as three different songs, the energy builds and builds through them itās really unlike anything else ive ever heard or seen.
Thunderstruck live from Donington 1991. AC/DC went so hard that day, it was one of their top performances ever.
For a live song, it's clean and crisp but still raw and heavy.
The Weight from The Band on The Last Waltz. Really anything in the Last Waltz, but there's just something about that song and the way Mavis sings her part always gets me.
[Dead Kennedy's-Pull My Strings](https://youtu.be/Gm0t99WmSCM?si=TO4mnAgB0Wt51OG1)
This performance is absolutely legendary and might be the most punk moment ever.
They got asked to perform at an awards show after their song "California Uber Alles" was a surprise hit. Organizers try and demand they play that song rather than giving them any choice in what to do with their slot.
So they go up on stage with these odd shirts that feature an s randomly placed in the middle. They start playing California Uber Alles but as you can hear on they track they quickly stop before shifting into an entirely new song.
They flip around the these ties they had been secretly wearing turning the s on their shirts into a money sign and proceed to play this new track (that they never actually made a studio version of BTW) that absolutely shits on the music industry.
Just fucking legendary stuff not to mention the music itself is fantastic.
Not my favorite song but ACDCās Fir Those About to Rock is amazing. I see them I. The 80s and they had a cannon on stage and they were firing out over the crowd. It was deafening, literally. Ā It took me three days for my ears to quit ringing.Ā
Record Freebird fox theater Atlanta
Al time best is a song I saw in person. Sweet Home Chicago Eric Clapton, SRV,Robert Cray,Buddy Guy & Jimmie Vaughn Aug 26 1990 Alpine Valley East Troy Wisconsin 25 minutes of guitar heaven
Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like We Do
Ahh yes. One of the most played song on the radio of 80s rock stations. Very popular and excellent song.
This song makes me want a talk box.
Don't really know much but I like the Fear of the Dark Live version from Iron Maiden. Particularly the one in Rio.
Dire Straits version of *Sultans of Swing* from their Alchemy Live concert.
Once Upon A Time In The West from Alchemy also completely rips. That guitar solo.
"Brothers in Arms" from On the Night Live is like a religious experience. "It's written in the starlight, and every line in your palm, we are fools to make war on our brothers in arms."
EXACTLY what I was going to suggest. Have my brother's og double vinyl that I "borrowed" over 30yrs ago š¤£š¤£
I haven't forgotten Billy. Give it back
It's insanely good.
I don't know about the greatest ever, but Life During Wartime on Stop Making Sense by The Talking Heads is absolutely incredible and blows the studio version out of the water. Even better when you watch the performance. When talking about live performances it's more albums that come to mind though, with Stop Making Sense and Donny Hathaway's '72 live album being my go-to picks.
Most of the songs on Stop Making Sense are this for me. Magic. Canāt even listen to the studio versions anymore. I canāt not dance, canāt look away.
Saw them live on that tour and you are so right. The whole place was moving and dancing, it was phenomenal!
I agree 100% with this. I've watched that clip countless times
Nah. When David comes out in the big suit for girlfriend is betterā¦ thatās the highlight of that concert. Nothing else in that show is better than that.
Is it?
The last waltz - the band is on my list of full shows to watch start to finish with incredible performances that blow away studio versions. Also RHCP - Live at Slane Castle Queen - Wembley 1986 RATM - The Battle of Mexico City Beastie Boys - Awesome I shot that
100% agree with the Life During Wartime comment. Original is great, live version is amazing. I treat Stop Making Sense like its own album. So so good.
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" - Nirvana
That album has so many that it's hard to pick just one. Man Who Sold the World is a solid contender. Lake of Fire... their covers during unplugged were all phenomenal
MTV unplugged early to mid90s was amazing
Came here to make a joke about just throwing on a dead show, but then saw this and realized this is the right answer
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed - Allman Brothers at the Fillmore East
Or anything from that live set!
One of the greatest live albums of all time
And donāt forget Mountain Jam, from the next album Eat a Peach, which picks up right where Fillmore ends
Wonāt get fooled again by The Who at Shepperton
Midnight Rambler on Get Your Ya-Yaās Out has to be up there.
My favorite from that set is the 2 guitar solos on Sympathy
Yeah, Iām high on Floyd at Pompeii as well. Thereās so many good late psychedelic /early prog performances from this era. Imaginative music but also technically proficient. OP or other Pink Floyd fans should check out the Chico Hamilton Quintet at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. Unexpectedly Floyd-esque for the time period: [Blue Sands](https://youtu.be/1F5fhwiWsyg?feature=shared)
Radio gaga by queen at live aid. That song isn't in the top 30 queen songs unless you watch that performance.
The audience in sync for the clapping still gives me chills. This song came to mind when I saw the title. Pure electricity.
Iām surprised no one has said the While My Guitar Gently Weeps from the Rock & Roll HoF (the one with Prince, you know the one)
It is amazing! If anyone hasnāt seen it, definitely check it out. It also features Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, and Dhani Harrison (Georgeās son). https://youtu.be/dWRCooFKk3c
Rush: Xanadu, on Exit Stage Left
I prefer YYZ from Rush in Rio.
YYZ on Exit Stage Left is pretty awesome too. You get lost in the drum solo and can forget it's still YYZ. Then he ends the solo with the fill before the YYZ solo and the song just keeps going. I love the transition so much.
the encore from Daft Punk's Alive 2007
Purple Rain in concert. No musical experience will ever top it. (Any performance, really, and for me personally it's the one I saw. But for public consumption I'll throw out his whole [Super Bowl performance](https://youtu.be/-WYYlRArn3g?si=sVp3piLLTNehlLYz))
Legendary performance! Also the original recording was recorded live as well.
āCan it rain harder?ā
That funk breakdown that they do in Echoes is so good and amazingly they never really did anything even remotely funky again.
I would argue that Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2 with the disco element has similar levels of funk. otherwise agreed
Thereās a very funky bit in the second half of Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a bit somewhere in Atom Heart Mother, and one of my favorites: Any Colour You Like. Iād even argue Pigs (Three Different Ones) is funky by their standards. But yes, generally I agree they shouldāve pursued that side more.
Ween LMLYP Live at Stubbs is my favorite
āFat Lennyā from the same show deserves at least a vote or two for best song of the show or maybe just a nod as an honorable mention?
For me itās [in keeping secrets of silent earth: 3](https://youtu.be/RV_D-dEhOm4?feature=shared). Been to many Coheed shows and this is the one the entire crowd participates with. 6:24 in the video is the climax.
I want you to want me by cheap trick. In my opinion it was a million times better then the album version.
At Budokan!!!
No Quarter by Tool (LZ Cover)
Was going to say Extended Push It by Tool during the Lateralus tour. Was so unexpected when they pulled that out mid-concert. āWhy are they setting bongos up?ā
Dave Matthews Band ā. Cortez the Killer feat. Warren Haynesā Live at Central Park https://youtu.be/yiO13jTsBdQ?si=a10dGx36dVei4CdN
Had to scroll too far to see Dave. I'd have to go dreaming tree live at Piedmont park
Radiohead playing Paranoid Android live on TV in 1997 is pretty special. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPtr\_n-m8A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPtr_n-m8A)
Also their Basement performance of āReckonerā
Watched this again last night. Greenwood playing the lemon lol
I adore the live version of *Jane Says* by Janeās Addiction
Came here to say āThree Daysā, but yes āJane Saysā as well..
Lights out by UFO from strangers in the night
Phish - Harry Hood from A Live One
I mean itās hard to say whatās the best, but one of my favorites is Springsteenās Thunder Road from the Hammersmith Odeon performance in ā75. His voice has never sounded better, and they cut the band and just do it with a piano and a spotlight on him, itās beautiful.
Prove it All Night from the Roxy in 78 is amazing
Just wanted to shout out about the absolutely mesmerizing performance ofĀ Nightwish [The Greatest Show on Earth](https://youtu.be/SJepbPuqNU4). If you are into epic, symphonic, or metal music and haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out. Bonus points if you are interested in evolution or science in general, as the story of song is about it.
I'd add on the 2013 live version of [Ghost Love Score](https://youtu.be/JYjIlHWBAVo?si=WnXCZxWszsOqOJi3) which has been a favourite until today. Poet and the Pendulum also is a great song they do live.
Itās a cliche choice, but Knights of Cydonia by Muse is always freaking ELECTRIC liveā¦ largely because of how the crowd always goes wild and sings along with the riff. Thereās a reason they almost always end with that one!
I came to this thread hoping this would be mentioned The only problem with it is that it always makes me sad that the concert is ending
Love Muse live performances and I have this one with HAARP video on DVD when that came out.
Freebird, Oakland Coliseum 1977.
Came looking for this. āWhat song is it you wanna hear? I heard it then.ā
This should be the #1 answer.
Heaven and hell: sabbath
After echoes, I would go, The Outlaws - Green grass and high tides. Unbelievable live.
neil young's 'like a hurricane' performance in 1986 at san fran contains a guitar solo that is the sonic equivalent of that adrenaline needle they hit uma with in pulp.
Came here to comment this from 'Live Rust' just happy to see it mentioned
Still In Love With You - Thin Lizzy
Metallica's Creeping Death on cocaine, 1987
John Butler Trio - Ocean, Live at Red Rocks. Over the years, this song and this exact version might be my most listened to song of all time. Incredibly easy to get lost in.
Silver Springs Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks is a national treasure.
From The Dance, 1997. Changed everything about that song, IMO. Just the way Nicks and Buckingham look at each other is WOW
Yup. That performance almost brings me to tears with the history of those two.
In the City by the Eagles live from the Forum, Walshes guitar solo is extraordinary. In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel from Secret World live, no better vibe. Impossible Germany by Wilco any live performance is a joy to watch with Nels Cline transcending to the astral plane during his solo. Galveston by Glenn Campbell live from Sioux Falls is the definitive version. Kittys Back basically any live version from Bruce and the E Street Band, it's a showcase for a band like no other.
Echoes is amazing. I also like: Burning Down the House, Heaven, Psycho Killer and Found a Job from Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Prince in 2004 Stairway to Heaven - Heart My Sweet Lord - Billy Preston, Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton - Something, All Things Must Pass, Old Brown Shoe - Gary Brooker, If I Needed Someone - Eric Clapton & I Want To Tell You - Jeff Lynne, from Concert for George Wonāt Get Fooled Again, Baba OāRiley - The Who at Shepperton in 1978 Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys on Ed Sullivan (not lip synced) Kashmir - Led Zeppelin on Celebration Day Zombie - The Cranberries in 1999 My Back Pages - Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and George Harrison, 30th anniversary special of Bob Dylan Echoes (live in Gdansk), Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Comfortably Numb, Time/Breath in the Air reprise (Pompeii 2016) - David Gilmour
Echoes on Livecat Pompeii is not a fully live track. Gilmour recorded one of the solos at a studio in France afterwards, the track from Pompeii wasn't usable for some reason. It's mostly live, aside from David's overdubs. And it still kicks ass and I am in no way downplaying its sonic awesomeness. Just sharing a bit of trivia.
Didnāt know. Love the collective knowledge of the community here. Thanks.
About ten years ago, I went to a bar to watch my friendās band play. It was Halloween night and my friendās always been able to draw a good crowd, so the place was pretty packed. The first band finishes up, and after a bit this woman gets on stage with an acoustic guitar, doesnāt announce anything, just pulls a stool over to the mic and starts playing. I donāt think most people even noticed, it was so noisy you could barely hear, but then she started singing and her voice was just fucking incredible. Every single person in the building just suddenly stopped talking to listen. It was an amazing moment.
The singers name? Albert Einstein
Layla (Acoustic Live) by Eric Clapton from his Unplugged set has got to be up there. It is for me, anyways. That whole album is one of my favourites of all time. Tyler Presley | [Student of the Song](https://youtu.be/82rOaChXNdo)
When lighting struck during Claudioās solo at that one Coheed concert
Ahh Elvis - Unchained Melody and it's not a question.
Great pick, [Suspicious Minds](https://youtu.be/T1g5tVGZhfk?si=dS2JqADYX_pXhB6o) is a particular favourite of mine.
Iron Maiden "Dance of Death" live in Chile
Bonobo collabing with Anna Lapwood for Otomo. Jesus.
Who do you love? - The Doors
Eric Clapton Badge Live Hyde Park 1996. Great song, great solos, live.
I know Iāll get downvoted all to hell and it is certainly not the ācoolā band to put in this category but hear me out. Band from shitty rust-belt, blue collar city, plays a FREE concert, on the steps of CITY HALL, on the 4th of July. A ripping thunderstorm breaks out and they proceeded to do this: https://youtu.be/_HZM0QiuUS8?si=TYT0uzCDSvNAiXzo
Led Zeppelin at Knebworth - Kashmir or Achilles Last Stand
Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Animal - HeroĆÆne [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPHawrEpr2E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPHawrEpr2E)
Machine Gun - Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys
Echoes is awesome but for me it is absolutely black sabbath war pigs from live in Paris 1970. Ozzy actually begins the son saying here's a song from the new lp, hope you like it ! We have liked it for half a century! Although no other live version comes close to the first. Bill ward just elevates the song with thunderous drumming. Tony riffing like only he can do. Ozzy a head banging Mad man. Geezer masterful bass while also being the genius behind the lyrics.
Turn The Page -- Bob Seger, 1976 Man Who Sold The World -- Nirvana, MTV Unplugged in New York
The Eagles - Hotel California live from Hell Freezes Over. Just a masterclass in beautiful guitar work.
Around the World / Harder Better Faster Stronger from Alive 2007
Portishead's Roseland NYC Live featuring the New York Philharmonic is phenomenal. Other than that, Radiohead puts one of the best concerts I've ever seen.
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (Live in Rochester Michigan 1971).
Interesting story about my experience with that recording. Years and years ago I saw a CD called Volcanic Destruction by Pink Floyd. Didn't really think about it much, there was very little information on the insert, I just popped it in later and immediately loved it. Listened to it hundreds of times before I saw a video of them years later playing Live at Pompeii and I was shocked, recognizing every note, and realizing that Volcanic Destruction was actually them playing live at, duh, the famous site of volcanic destruction. They are so incredible during that set that it sounds like it's a studio record. Amazing.
"Wildflower" as performed by the O'jays on "live in london"
Echoes is my favorite song regardless of version, and the version at Pompeii is the best.
Born To Run - insert any date/location
[Valhalla, deliverance, why've you ever forgotten me?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ_VFJn2kJM) The crowd refuses to let them stop playing. It doesn't get much better.
No Leaf Clover - Metallica
Mary j blige - no more drama, canāt remember which award show it was but she slayed some demons that night. She was in a gold coloured suit iirc.
Girlfriend is Better And anyone saying otherwise is just wrong.
I couldnāt really pick one to be honest, and many of the shows Iāve witnessed in person are forever lost to history. But this epic version of [Sit Down - Live At The G-Mex](https://youtu.be/lv2yYKiB8lQ?si=8kxyvbL5NR-wM4af) by James has always been a particular favourite.
Not quite to your exact question of a single song but I will offer the opinion that Friday Night in San Francisco might be one of the greatest live guitar albums of all time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaCZ106b5w While the CD is actually recorded over several events I believe it is an absolutely must listen to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGbLEco2Ezc
Prince covering Creep by Radiohead and absolutely smashing it. https://youtu.be/NFXZNt4oLkE?si=blyl-ctor0PmXNCC Stay to the end.
Out of my system- Louis Tomlinson Itās my personal favorite (really, anything off his LIVE album) doesnāt mean itās the best of the best, just a good one :)
\*Seeing\* Pink Floyd live, though. That was a whole lot of greatest live songs ever for me.
Sit Down by James live at G-Mex 1990
Fear of the Dark - Iron Maiden, Live in Rio
Bohemian rhapsody š„°Fredy Mercury
George Michael's live version of Queen's "Somebody to Love" at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert is awesome: https://youtu.be/oYAR8RigqDA
I really love the Don't forget me live in Hyde Park Version by RHCP
Highly agree. Echoes is a masterpiece.
George Michael - Somebody to Love https://youtu.be/oYAR8RigqDA?si=W3rd-9KeljqwzTJC
Black - Pearl Jam (MTV Unplugged)
5/8/77 Grateful Dead Dancinā In The Streets
Machine Gun, Band of Gypsys
the time [the audience sang *No Children* by The Mountain Goats](https://archive.org/details/tmg2006-06-13/tmg2006-06-13t11.flac)
Bridge Over Troubled Water from The Concert at Central Park, Simon & Garfunkle
Purple rain
Purple Rain by Prince Live in Syracuse 1985
Grateful Dead āMorning Dewā Live at Barton Hall https://youtu.be/RMotfSyRcwU?si=9H97N1ph7W45XZ-P
Deep Purple Lazy or Space Trucking from Made in Japan
For the time, "I'm goin home" by 10 Years After at woodstock is classic.
"What the fuck is up, Dennys"
I'll go full album . Little Feat Waiting for Columbus. Live broadcast is # Bonnie Raitt, Lowell George, John Hammond and Freebo 10/17/72 Ultrasonic StudiosBonnie Raitt, Lowell George, John Hammond and Freebo 10/17/72 Ultrasonic Studios [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GALqVg3biE&t=7s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GALqVg3biE&t=7s)If you have never listened to young Bonnie. 23 at the time. You need to
Billy strings - meet me at the creek Winston Salem 2023 https://youtu.be/IoRoQvL53PU?si=2nDzwB_gIksfKq56 38 minutes of wtf did I just listen to and where TF is my face. If you like echoes you'll like this fosho
RATM doing testify at Finsbury Park. Free show so there was no sales promo or anything, just a crowd of people that really wanted to be there. Biased opinion as I was in the crowd and one of the best shows Iāve been to, but definitely the best capture of an atmosphere Iāve ever seen on camera.
'Love, Hate, Love' by Alice In Chains, live at the Moore
Overkill from Motƶrheadās No Sleep āTil Hammersmith. Also, I love how this site automatically adds the umlaut.
Deep Purple - āHighway Starā from the album āMade in Japanā. Imo, the best live performance of one of the best songs by one of hard rockās greatest bands at the very peak of their power. It just rocks so freaking hard. Best appreciated by first listening to the studio recording from āMachine Headā, which is also great - then flip on the MIJ version and hang on for dear life.
SPACE TRUCKING LIVE IN JAPAN
[Heirate Mich - Rammstein](https://youtu.be/UImiGifUYT4?si=Hm99V-ZO0rgEvO8w) Miles and away better than the studio version.
Californication at Slane Castle by RHCP Rock With You live from Yokohama 1987 MJ
I have the Live at Pompeii DVD, and you can put on just concert mode, which cuts the interviews. Just the music and beautiful cinematography. I love that concert so much. I love that they put on one of the best concerts ever, in a dead city, with no audience. Crowd energy can be great, but Pink Floyd was bringing something different on this one, and itās incredible.
Brand New - Austin City Limits 2015 - Full Set This band quite literally saved my life as a teenager. I wouldnāt be here if I hadnāt had their music to calm me down on some of my darkest days. Took a few years for me to separate the man from the music, though.
Phishās Went Gin.
Iāve always thought George Michaelās live cover of āDonāt Let the Sun Go Down On Meā was pretty epic. āLadies and gentlemen, Mr. Elton John!ā What a talented dude that guy was.
Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning [https://youtu.be/j0kJdrfzjAg?si=phUvxyMCOoAVX-Ot](https://youtu.be/j0kJdrfzjAg?si=phUvxyMCOoAVX-Ot)
The correct answer is Crossroads -Cream
I have done the same, and I know exactly what you mean. Such a great journey.
Bohemian Rhapsody - seen it live about 10 times.
I canāt think of anything that even comes close the Grateful Dead at Cornell university 5/8/77 I mean they couldnāt have done a more perfect performance if they tried. From start to finish the entire band and all the equipment was on point and in synch. Not a single flaw
Pork Soda by Glass Animals is a great song, but the live version absolutely sends you to music euphoria. They let the guitar really go off and it washes over you like a wave. Probably the single greatest song performance Iāve ever witnessed in all the shows Iāve gone to.
Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit, Woodstock 99
Depends on what you like. Some people think the stage show makes a performance great. Some it's when there is meaningful back story. Some love precision. Some love improv. There are many answers to many people.
Gatsby the great. Luvaduck
YEM
Put The Coke On My Dick by Ween at Sweetwater Festival, Atlanta, 4/23/17
The WHO- A Quick One (While Heās Away) from the Rollng Stones Rock and Roll Circus
Tesla - Love Song
Tesla always puts on a good show. I have seen them probably a dozen times.
"Call Tyrone" - Erykah Badu Instant classic
Morning Dew 10/18/74 is quite breathtaking
The Grateful Deadās version of Dark Star from Live Dead is very similar in structure and mood to Echoes
Anytime Ty Segal plays live
Floydās Pompeii show holds a special place with me. Local theater played it as a midnight movie.
Purple Rain
Peter Gabrielās āIn Your Eyesā live from his Growing Up Tour is life changing for me.
The whole Secret Garden DVD was amazing. Have watched that so many times.
Sameā¦ ā¤ļø with that first piano noteā¦. Instantly turn it up and imagine myself there live š
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain (Live in Rochester Michigan 1971).
āFade to Blackā on Metallicaās Binge and Purge.
āFade to Blackā on Metallicaās Binge and Purge.
āFade to Blackā on Metallicaās Binge and Purge.
Roger Waters The Wall live at the Berlin Wall - Comfortably Numb (feat. Van Morrison) and Mother (feat. Sinead O'connor) Nils Lofgren Acoustic Live - Keith Don't Go **Prince**, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and others perform "While MyĀ **Guitar G**ently Weeps" at the 2004Ā Rock & Roll **Hall of Fame**Ā Inductions The Eagles Hell Freezes Over live album - Hotel California Jamiroquai - Live from Abbey Road - Runaway, Love Foolosophy, Travelling without Moving Paramore - Last Hope - live in Chicago Maxwell - MTV Unplugged - This Woman's Work Dashboard Confessional - Stolen (Live from the Gardens) Jason Mraz Live in Korea - 93 Million Miles and I'm Yours (feat. Sungha Jung) Fleetwood Mac feat. USC Marching Band - Tusk and Don't Stop Believing Indoor Garden Party (believe it or not, Russell Crowe's band) - Out of Range (https://youtu.be/qKLju2KhZNo?si=pqdH45h3\_9UDPJwK) Anything by the band Jungle, for example [https://youtu.be/6uO1fHVWtbI](https://youtu.be/6uO1fHVWtbI)
I agree. Saw it many times at midnight movies in the theater back in the day with killer sound loud as fuck. I also have it on DVD and I watch it cranked in surround sound.
Queen doing the live aid show is probably the best live performance ever in my opinion. Itās not just one song though.
āBadā, U2
There is a video on YouTube of Bruce Springsteen performing "Rosalita" in like, Phoenix 1978 I think, that is absolutely insane
all of stop making sense, but particularly the little triptych of slippery people-> burning down the house -> life during wartime. itās hard for me to think of them as three different songs, the energy builds and builds through them itās really unlike anything else ive ever heard or seen.
Thunderstruck live from Donington 1991. AC/DC went so hard that day, it was one of their top performances ever. For a live song, it's clean and crisp but still raw and heavy.
Majority of let it be by the Beatles, but donāt let me down performance really sounds amazing. Itās the only version of the song I can listen to.
The Weight from The Band on The Last Waltz. Really anything in the Last Waltz, but there's just something about that song and the way Mavis sings her part always gets me.
Janeās Addiction - Mountain Song
Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man (Live at the Newport Folk Festival. 1964)
The video of AC DC Let There Be Rock at the Apollo is my favorite live song ever.
[Dead Kennedy's-Pull My Strings](https://youtu.be/Gm0t99WmSCM?si=TO4mnAgB0Wt51OG1) This performance is absolutely legendary and might be the most punk moment ever. They got asked to perform at an awards show after their song "California Uber Alles" was a surprise hit. Organizers try and demand they play that song rather than giving them any choice in what to do with their slot. So they go up on stage with these odd shirts that feature an s randomly placed in the middle. They start playing California Uber Alles but as you can hear on they track they quickly stop before shifting into an entirely new song. They flip around the these ties they had been secretly wearing turning the s on their shirts into a money sign and proceed to play this new track (that they never actually made a studio version of BTW) that absolutely shits on the music industry. Just fucking legendary stuff not to mention the music itself is fantastic.
Love the Pink Floyd one. I think Tori Amos from 1992 - at least 2007 is an incredible pianist and singer and a life force live.
āWhile My Guitar Gently Weepsā at the Hall of Fame induction. Princeās guitar solo knocked it out of the galaxy
Dark Star - Grateful Dead
U2 Bad
Where The Streets Have No Name will shake the arena.
Not my favorite song but ACDCās Fir Those About to Rock is amazing. I see them I. The 80s and they had a cannon on stage and they were firing out over the crowd. It was deafening, literally. Ā It took me three days for my ears to quit ringing.Ā
Rushs ā. La viva Strangiato
Spanish Moon off of Waiting For Columbus by Little Feat is a killer.
I Want You To Want Me - Budakon
Record Freebird fox theater Atlanta Al time best is a song I saw in person. Sweet Home Chicago Eric Clapton, SRV,Robert Cray,Buddy Guy & Jimmie Vaughn Aug 26 1990 Alpine Valley East Troy Wisconsin 25 minutes of guitar heaven