It's all the way live!

Lists. The new black for 2006. If you ain't blogging and/or crafting a mixtape, you're crafting a list of some sort. Spin magazine is no stranger to all things list and in their latest issue they give us this, the 25 Greatest Live Bands Now!


1. U2
2. The Stooges
3. Arcade Fire
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. Radiohead
6. White Stripes
7. Green Day
8. The Hives
9. Prince
10. The Dirtbombs
11. Queens Of The Stone Age
12. Turbonegro
13. My Chemical Romance
14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
15. Riverboat Gamblers
16. The Flaming Lips
17. The Roots
18. My Morning Jacket
19. Art Brut
20. Gogol Bordello
21. Against Me!
22. LCD Soundsystem
23. AFI
24. The Mars Volta
25. Comets On Fire

Not bad. That's the first thought that comes to mind. Remember I said first thought, before I take the time to analyze. Upon first glance I say not bad. Before you get all angry this list isn't just about which band kicks ass on wax, no, this list is which band kicks ass on wax, and then brings it on stage with the sound, the visuals, the charisma, and most importantly the entertainment and consistency. [None of that time to go to the bathroom shit as is the case at a Madonna show when she straps on a guitar.]That is the main reason why U2 is at the top, cause they bring it and they pace it well.

That still doesn't mean I would put them at the top. Granted I have not seen them live, in fact I have only seen five of the 25 acts [Radiohead, The White Stripes, The Hives, Prince, and The Roots] but thanks to the wonders of Youtube, award shows and the like I know who brings it live and that is why I can respect the acts that I need to see but haven't who are on this list. [Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Morning Jacket, The Flaming Lips and Queens of the Stone Age.]

Now let's look at that top ten again. That needs to be rearranged and/or worked with no? [I'm past the first glance not bad stance now] Without adding my own bands and working with what they provide my top ten would look like this:

1.Arcade Fire -from what I hear the band to see live. Known til play til they can't play no more. [literally the instruments come apart, strings go this way and that, etc.]
2.The White Stripes [Jack White knows how to perform and you'll be surprised how two people can remain so fresh and raw for nearly three hrs.]
3.The Hives [Cocky, balls to the walls power-pop punk with hints of Screamin Jay Hawkins, James Brown, and Mick Jagger in frontman Howlin Pete. Did I mention the matching suits, perfect stage lighting and giant Vegas like name plate in the background?]
4.The Flaming Lips [Bringing out the inner kid in us all one concert and psychedlic leaning at a time.]
5.Yeah Yeah Yeahs [Frontwoman Karen O has more persona in her eyelashes than most of her male and female counterparts have in their entire body. And Nick Zinner is a sight to behold for such a nimble little being.]
6.Radiohead [Like a bottle of fine wine...Thom Yorke and company finally seem comfortable with the fact that they have fans who know all the words to their songs. And it shows, particularly in the way they'll play all night if they need to.]
7.U2 [The voice. The hits. The christ like leanings. The size. The capacity. The fans. The screams. The organization.]
8.My Morning Jacket [Finally a band that knows how to jam, groove, move, and entertain an audience. Cop the live album. In stores soon. You'll see what I am talking about. They ain't big on the Bonaroo like circuits for nothing.]
9. Prince. [See U2.]
10. The Roots [Live hip hop (and straight up music for that matter) at its finest. Known to always accomplish that much sought after role of appearing polished and refined while at the same time seeming off the cuff and completely spontaneous.]

And now, the omissions:

1.Wilco. Hands down the first band that comes to mind. Come on now. Are you kidding me? The last two albums were especially crafted to be played live and when they are OH MY GOD. Amazing. Cop the live double album Kicking Television and you'll see what I am talking about.

2.David Bowie. Sure he ain't touring everyone goddamn year like a rolling stone or a madonna, but when he hits a stage [as he did at Area 2 a few years back] he still has it. Handsome, vocally secure, and willing and able to masterfully mix the old with the new. Good times had by all.

3.Peaches. Yeah the schtick should be old by now, but it ain't. Especially when you match the antics to the beats. Too much.

4.The Sounds. Not as popular as they would like to be, but if you get a chance to catch this band live, [all synths and in your face sexuality from frontwoman Maja Ivarsson] you will not be dissapointed. Maya and Karen O, hands down, two of the best frontwomen around right now. No joke.

5. The Hold Steady. You ever go to a bar or some dive and there's a band playing that just gets its audience? The band just knows who they are playing to and treats everyone like bff's along for the ride that is watching them perform.

6. Le Tigre. These girls know how to get down AND get a message across without beating you over the head with it. Nuff said.

That's all for now. But all in all not bad Spin, not bad. But seriously no Wilco? Come on now, come on.