Last year was Radiohead's first without any concerts. When the band returned to the stage this January, and later headlined a few stateside festivals in August, it gave us ample reminder what we'd missed. But while Thom & Co got the most votes, we knew that once Kevin Barnes brought a horse on stage of Montreal would place high. On a simpler scale, bands like My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver, and Fleet Foxes just sound good live (that falsetto, those guitars, those almost too perfect voices). Girl Talk, on the other hand, can be more about what's going on around him that what he has on his laptop, and speaking from APW experience, he's definitely upped the props in '08. Nobody should be surprised that Smashing Pumpkins didn't crack the top 50, though we should mention that Grizzly Bear, Deerhunter, My Bloody Valentine, Okkervil River, the National, and Wolf Parade all finished strong.
10
TV On The Radio
9
Bon Iver
8
Sigur Rós
7
Animal Collective
6
Girl Talk
5
Fleet Foxes
4
The Hold Steady
3
My Morning Jacket
2
of Montreal
1
Radiohead
My Bloody Valentine?
Hello?
Is this thing on?
Score = 2
Why the fuck isn't My Bloody Valentine number 1?
Score = 0
Not that many people saw them as they didn't play that many shows.
Score = 5
and it's not the mid 90's anymore. get over it and save what's left of your eardrums.
Score = -1
Of course Radiohead is number 1, no argument here.
But Of Montreal better than The Hold Steady live....just awful!
Score = -5
But....but...BUT...the theatrics!!!
Score = 1
No Ryan Adams & The Cardinals? Their shows can guarantee three hours of rock & stand-up comedy attempts.
Score = 0
I saw most of these groups this year and MBV wiped the floor with all of them, save maybe for Radiohead.
Score = 0
those are some great facial expressions
Score = 4
the fact that langhorne slim isn't on this list makes it laughable.
Score = -1
You know who's good live? LCD Soundsystem. I saw them play with Arcade Fire at Randall's Island and they totally stole the show. I also hear DragonForce puts on a great live performance, but their music is an acquired taste...
Score = 2
Agreed,
I saw LCD Soundsystem and Arcade fire at a festival in europe last year and LCD Soundsystem blew my mind. Arcade Fire was a little lack-luster on the other hand.
Both great bands though.
Score = 0
I second the MBV comment above. I have seen pretty much every act up there...MBV were the live show of the year....also, I don't think LCD stole anything from Arcade Fire, but they came pretty close...that was an amazing show all around, too.
Score = -1
the hold steady? really?
Score = -1
You obviously haven't seen their show...it's ok. I'll let it slide.
Score = -1
The guy from Fleet Foxes looks like Russell Brand.
Score = 2
#1 should say "The Cribs" and have a pic of a Jarman brother in place of Thom Yorke doing a Down's syndrome impression.
Score = -3
MMJ weren't as good live this year. After Z was when I like them the most
Score = -5
GOGOL BORDELLO is the best live band...
Score = -3
this list isn't bad
but MBV need some recognition
Score = -1
Animal Collective? Ya roight! (I loved AC's show last night you guys, my favorite part was when Avey Tare kept swaying and Panda Bear KEPT STANDING THERE)
Somebody tell me a few people voted for Monotonix.
Score = 2
every time i see that fleet foxes guy in that particular picture, i always think he looks like miley cyrus with a beard
does ANYONE know what i'm talking about??
Score = 4
let me take a quote out of the kevin smith book and say "Fuck radiohead. Fuck them in their stupid asses."
Score = -10
Kevin Smith says that?? Man, I don't like Kevin Smith anymore.
Score = 3
are you fucking shitting me that grizzly bear isn't on this list? c'mon Stereogum! This is the palace of middle-road safe-as-white-bread indie rock and you're not even supporting your best. anyone who has seen grizzly bear over the past year or year and a half knows that they belong light years ahead of a gimmick-based anarcho-capitalist musical-theatre-glam collective.
Score = 2
which is probably why they won last year. and moreover, probably another reason radiohead is number 1. the best shows of the year were gbear / radiohead.
Score = 3
no one dances like thom... that little "ian curtis as excitable boxer" dance, brilliant
Score = 0
I agree with a lot of people who say My Bloody Valentine is one of the greatest bands playing today and it brought my heart great joy when they came out of retirement. But in my mind the greatest live act is Elephant 6 Collective and their current tour. Anyone else think so?
Score = -1
I agree with a lot of people who say My Bloody Valentine is one of the greatest bands playing today and it brought my heart great joy when they came out of retirement. But in my mind the greatest live act is Elephant 6 Collective and their current tour. Anyone else think so?
Score = -1
MMJ at Bonnaroo 2008. Live music experiences do not get better.
Score = 1
dragonforce. nuff said.
Score = -3
Man Man
Score = 2
can i ask WHY is Of Montreal on every.damn.list? Are they that good? Are they seriously the best live band ever? Every song Ive heard from them is annoying and pure, ridiculous shiet. Im done, stereogum....
Score = -2
Eagles of Death Metal should've been put on this list. They did a two-hour set in Boston last month, and was the most amazing show I've ever seen. The energy and enthusiasm that Jesse Hughes & company have cannot be compared with some of these acts that made it on the list.
Score = 0
Battles. Hands down.
Score = 0
i saw ra ra riot three times this year and they were incredible each time; i have never seen so much energy from a band ever in my life. i don't know if they're top ten material, but still... they deserve some love.
Score = 0
I'm really surprised Tegan and Sara aren't on this list. How many of these bands sold out most of their worldwide shows? How many of these bands had 4 sold out shows in a row in L.A. with people sleeping on the sidewalk in line waiting to get in the next night? Tegan and Sara are fucking amazing live.
Score = 2
Despite the holistically mediocre new album, seeing of Montreal was still my second favorite concert-going experience ever, after Radiohead. I do wish to see Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective live though... you know, for comparison's sake...
Let's tag Sigur Ros, Fleet Foxes, and The Hold Steady on to that while we're at it, now they all just have to come to Tampa or Orlando (I'd have a better odds having Craig Finn showing up drunk at my doorstep, if he's such a fan of Ybor...)
Score = 0
Didn't anyone see The Dodos this year?!
Score = 2
if you haven't see of montreal live, you wouldn't understand. and monotonix will be #1 for 2009 when they finally get some recognition.
Score = 1
No Tegan and Sara?!?!?! They are the most amazing live, top 5 at least. This is just ridiculous.
Score = 0
My Morning Jacket was SO much better than Radiohead! Or anyone else I have ever seen, with an exception of Bjork!
Score = -1
WFT? NO Ryan Adams & the Cardinals??
Disappointed, but hardly surprised.
Score = 0
UHH.
HEALTH?
Score = 1
I saw Radiohead play their first 2 songs at Lolla and then promptly left.
Raconteurs are missing from this list... shame.
Score = -4
Good call. They should have been the Sunday night headliner, when I was ready to go to sleep anyway. Being disappointed in my first Radiohead show was bad enough, but sucking the wind out of a Friday night in Chicago just added insult to injury.
Score = -1
i've seen Radiohead, Animal Collective, TV on the Radio, Girl Talk, Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and The Hold Steady. Radiohead is justified in being #1.
The band that needs to be up on this list is Wolf Parade. i was not particularly enthused about Mount Zoomer but their live show was OUTSTANDING. see them play Kissing The Beehive and you will not argue otherwise.
(i have not seen Grizzly Bear and that pains me)
Score = 1
MMJ at Bonnaroo 2008 was an amazing four hours and a half hours. And I wasn't even on drugs.
Score = 0
I have to disagree. I've seen Of Montreal twice and both times he acted like a total pre-madonna. He had to change clothes like 3 times so everyone was left waiting for the show to go on....why? And the second time I saw them one of his pedals wasn't working properly so he pouted a bit and then picked it up and chunked it off the stage and was bitching about it like a little girl.
Now Monotonix puts on a hell of a live show, but I could care less to ever hear their music again. It's not all about the live show, the music has to be something worth while as well.
Just an opinion though.
Score = 1
I don't know why this posted 3 times. oh well...
Score = 0
The Uglysuit gets my vote. Those guys blew me away. You gotta go check them out if you ever get the chance. Awesome!!!
Ratatat was pretty bad ass too.
Score = 1
Where is Nine Inch Nails on this list?
They are, hands down, the best live act of 2008
Score = 0
So pumped to see AC in Chitown next month
Most fun I've had at a show this year: Hold Steady
Most life-changing: Radiohead
Worst: MGMT, hands-down
Score = 0
i'm so confused...people actually like the hold steady?? thats a joke right? they're one of the shittiest bands of the last year.
Score = 2
I'm extremely surprised to not see Les Savy Fav on this list. They were easily the best show I went to this year.
Score = 0
Where the fuck is amanda palmer?
Score = 1
Where is DR. DOG ?? Anyone who has seen them live ends up dancing/singing with them. They are so fun and real, live. No pretentious crap like the rest.. They have been all over the world this year to perform the new "FATE" songs, and they were loved in every country!! Dr. Dog fans are howling mad to see them onitted from the lists when they are such great writers and performers.. not like some of this media bubble gum crap..
Score = 1
i feel that Ratatat is missing from this list. Their show is awesome. I also think TVOTR should be a few notches higher.
Score = 0
i'm being risky posting this on Stereogum, but
the Black Crowes were one of the best live bands I've seen this year
I saw Wilco twice and they've still got it, but not for the top 10 especially since i don't even think they were on a full tour this year
and the Foo Fighters also
Score = 0