Bands that surprised you live
 

So from responding in the other thread, bands that dissapoint live, I want to hear some bands that you weren't really keen on seeing but were impressed once the show was over(this would more than likely an opening act)

Powerman 5000 - man o man. I saw them on the first summer sanitarium tour in 2000. With a lineup like System of a Down, Powerman 5000, Kid Rock, Korn, and Metallica sans Hetfield, PM5000 was easily my favorite part of the show. Even if you didn't know their music they had all 65,000 people on their feet having a ball. For comparison SOD performed and half the audience just stood there thinking, what is up with that guy? Kid Rock was okay, I hate Korn, so that was okay, and Metallica without Hetfield was a decent experiment but not the same.

Kid Rock - different show. Brother won front row seats. The energy he put into the show is amazing. Of course front row seats didn't hurt. How can you not enjoy a band in the front row? I was definitely impressed. This was after seeing him at the SS Tour mentioned above.

New Order and Morrissey (two separate shows). After hearing for years how terrible each were (and I'm sure they were), the shows *I* saw were fantastic. Especially Morrissey. Which was at the Capitol Ballroom in D.C. about six years ago. Although, it was a short set (50 minutes?). I had also heard he was on and off before you know it. New Order aren't the most exciting band live, but the sound on the first show I saw of theirs was tight.

Another show that blew me away, Curve. I knew they'd be good. But I didn't expect them to be THAT good. Amazing.

I thought The Used put on a good live show. They were at a local club i used to DJ at before they got BIG (well, semi-BIG i suppose)

The most recent one for me is the Dirty Three. For those who don't know anything about the band, it's an Australian instrumental band consisting of a violinist, drummer and guitarist.

For a band whose songs are generally so somber and sad, I had no idea the show would be so much FUN. From Warren Ellis' bizarre song introductions to the rabid intensity of each song, it was just a blast. I wish I could get to a few more shows on this tour, but my schedule just won't allow it. After seeing the show in Chicago, though, I had to be talked out of driving 6 hours to Detroit the next day.

ZWAN.

I was really looking forward to the show because I hear how great Billy Corgan is live, but nothing could have prepared me for the sonical assault that ensued. Even though I would describe ZWAN as a pop rock act akin to The Beatles, I would say that they used some incredible guitar solos, and the bass was cranked up! I am now a ZWAN fan forever.

Where did you see Curve? I saw them at the old 9:30 Club location on F Street, and given it was a tight cramped area to perform in, the show was blinding and LOUD- wow!

But was it good? ;)

Actually, I saw Curve at the new 9:30 Club on V Street. On the "Come Clean" tour. It was the first time I saw them live. I've loved them since "Doppelganger" and never had a chance to see them before. And they haven't been back to the states since. Tell me, since I have only seen them once, did they have bright blew lights shining from behind them? And a fog machine blowing from behind as well. Sometimes, you could only see the outline of their bodies. It was blinding. And definitely loud. But oh my God what a performance. If, by any chance, they do come back to America, I will go see them in more than one city.

10000 Maniacs were not the prissy, librarianesque band I was expecting when I saw them at Stowe on their last tour years ago. Natalie Merchant made some dirty jokes, they played for three hours and they did two Prince covers. One of the best shows I've ever been to. It helped that World Party (a great, underrated band) opened for them.

ZZ Top. I had heard various live tracks that really didn't impress me much, but I went to see them on a lark while travelling for work (nothing else to do) and they put on one hell of a show.

Might have to go see them this summer with Ted Nugent, who also puts on a great show.

I didn't think Stereolab was going to be bad, but they blew my socks off when I saw them in '95. Another band I expected to be average live was World Party, but they also blew me away.

Looper. They opened for The Flaming Lips a couple/three years ago and were by far the superior band. I actually walked out on The Flaming Lips

That's funny, since 10,000 Maniacs performed just about the worst set I've ever seen... They opened for REM in '85 in Lexington KY, and they were horrible, ghastly. Natalie Merchant was the main culprit, as she was very, very drunk. Must have caught em on a bad night, but I've never forgiven them.

Re: Bands that surprised you live
 

<small> </small>Ah, <b>I</b> get it....

.... my first ever concert was to see Judas Priest. Iron Maiden were supporting and at that time I had no idea that it was cool to skip the support band and also had no real expereince of Maidens's oeuvre.

Well, they rocked.

[:lol:] Of course this was before they ever got that new singer.... whatisname.... Bruce Dickenson! Paul Di'anno, although still alive, probably should feature in that "talent-wasting" thread!

R.E.M. -- Obviously, I went because I like their music, but I was surprised how good a show they put on.

I saw the Sprite Liquid Mix package tour last year. We had lawn seats which were unbelievably cheap. BUT... just before the first act came out they let everyone on the lawn come up and sit in the pavillon. The only rules were that we had to leave before the last two bands (311 & Jay-Z) came out. So I paid $18 for kick ass pavillion seats. :)

Well I sat through Nappy Roots who sucked. Then N.E.R.D. came out. I had heard they were good but never heard the music. Well they are AMAZING LIVE! It's a hip-hop group composed of white guys with instruments and the Neptunes. The crowd dug this show so much. We had body surfers IN THE AISLES! It was amazing and crazy. So much fun! Too bad they could only play about 40 or so minutes before Hoobastank had to come out and suck.

Aaron

aww nah, hell naw, ya'll up 'n did it.

Come on that has instant classic written all over it.

Ash. Saw them when they opened for Our Lady Peace recently, absolutely fantastic.

Deicide. I thought they would be halfway decent live, I was wrong.

Behemoth (sp?), never was a fan of them, I don't own any of their CD's, I've just listened to a few tracks here and there. I saw them live, and they were pretty damn good.

I just saw the Lips last Sunday, and given I didn't really have a great day, the show was a lot of fun (I needed to have fun). My only minor quibble was that it seemed that the theatrics and all the flying ballons became a distraction to the actual songs. And Wayne didn't splatter blood on his head during "Waiting for Superman" - I was kind of looking forward to this.

Saw the Delgados last night and was very surprised to how well the songs played out 'live'. Besides the annoying drunk Scotish women in the front (male lead singer Alun didn't look amused by her banter either) the show was fantastic. Top is off with their cover of ELO's "Mr Blue Sky" was icing on the cake!

You HAVE to see Ash when they are the headliner and can perform an hour and half. I so can't wait to see them in June and hear them play "There's A Star" my favourite song from off of "Free All Angels".

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Collective Soul was VERY impressive. I saw them in '96 opening for Van Halen on the Balance tour. They blew Van Halen away in my opinion. Also saw them again in '99 as the headliner. Saw them in Lincoln, Nebraska in a small arena, that was only half full. I was right in the front... (general admission). Excellent, excellent show.

New Order-Great show but my ears were bleeding it was so loud. Louder than VH w/ DLR

Lenny Kravitz-One of my top 5 shows ever. Awesome.

Rinocerose, at an Area 1 show. Never heard anything by them, and only a tiny bit about them. Not necessarily my choice of music, but they actually got everyone off their feet. Definitely a live act worth checking out. Skipping the CDs would be ok.

Whale - Opened for Tricky in Pittsburgh. Before the show, the only song of theirs I'd heard was "Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe" and didn't care that much for it. They were great live...blew Tricky off the stage.

Great Big Sea - Opened for Guster in LA. Knew nothing about them before the show. I wish their set could have been twice as long.

Particle - Saw them at a tiny bar in Vegas two years ago. Knew nothing about them...just went to the place to hang out. Incredible music. Good to see the huge surge in popularity they've gained.

Peter Frampton.

Does he even have any non-live recorded stuff? :lol:

Saw Garbage in October 2001 when they opened for U2 @ Notre Dame. I expected their "studio sound" to not carry over well on stage ... they were PHENOMENAL. I was completely blown away by how good they sounded, although Shirley's butch-cut blonde hair was a disappointment.