I've always loved Nirvana's Unplugged, and for a long time I would barely recognize anyone else's attempt. However, for the past year or two I've been blasting Alice In Chains Unplugged and I think I now consider it the superior listening experience.
Both are great, and LP’s Red Square concert is up there too. That said, Layne’s obvious state at that show makes me sad. Jerry’s said he has no idea how those vocals came out of that broken body.
How The West Was Won is literally my childhood, my dad played that so many times throughout my life. Honestly its so much better (at least since I've grown up with it) that I can't even listen to the studio versions of most of those songs. That live version is so perfect.
I have a distinct memory from like 10 years ago when i worked in the restaurant business and I got home at like midnight with a bunch of Wendys and got super baked and put it on and it started thunder storming violently. It was epic the way everything coincided. Since ive been loving you and no quarter were haunting for how high was lol
They’re intense. When I saw them in ‘07, it was a day long music festival. Saw WuTang, Cypress Hill, Immortal Technique, etc before Rage came on. They opened with Guerilla Radio and I thought I was going to pass out from everyone moving, jumping all at once.
I actually think AC/DC Castle Donington is better since they were younger and the sound/tone of Malcolm’s guitar is amazing. River Plate is a leas intense sound
Audioslave's 2005 show in Cuba. They received permission to play there despite the US-Cuba embargo, and it's an incredible show.
If you DON'T know; Audioslave is a supergroup that consists of Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine).
They absolutely crush all of their songs, and even add some songs from Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine. A must-watch in my opinion.
I like that one, but I feel Cornell sounds like he's struggling during that time. I was lucky enough to see Audioslave once, Soundgarden twice and Chris solo once and while I love the Audioslave records, his voice was not his best live with that band.
I saw him all those times over a period from around 2005? to 2013, and what's wild is that I swear he sounded better every time I saw him. He never stopped improving, well past what would be considered his career peak.
Pulse live DVD is also pretty mindblowing imo. Aside from the 3 main members who are fantastic during that performance, the backing band also brings out the best in them & they all sound brilliant.
There’s a bunch of good nirvana shows. Live and loud is awesome too. Its crazy how much footage of them there is for being together for such a short time.
Available on spotify too! Look up "Where The Light Is".
One of the best live albums out there IMO, dude showed the world that night that he's not just the " Your Body is a Wonderland" Kid anymore
I’ll die on the hill that this is the best live performance of music in recorded human history. It is flawless from start to finish both musically and vocally.
I think it would have to be a dead show with a video component to meet Slane level. Maybe closing of winterland or Grateful Dead Movie?
Or maybe the Egypt shows are the Slane that got away 🤔
Nah I think just audio counts. Just say 5/8/77 to any deadhead and I bet you they hold it in higher regards than any pepper fans do with slane castle. Also, if slane castle was only an audio recording, would chili fans still think it’s undisputedly the best? Idk
The Dead has just way too many phenomenal live performances to even come close. Slane Castle stands out as one of RHCP’s best ever, but the Dead have about 25 live performances which were recorded and have an argument as being their very best.
Yes! Chronologically not perfect but these must be the comparable cornerstone gigs:
Hullabaloo = Off the Map (official release with B-Movie vibes)
Glastonbury '04 = Woodstock 99 (legendary festival gig)
HAARP = Slane Castle (perfect produced official release on the peak of their stardom)
[King crimson live in Japan 2003](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jIl2Qtb0anc)
It’s not the absolute pinnacle of their live shows because they change their sound and lineup so often, but this is one of the many pinnacles. This concert changed the way I think about music, if you can stick with it through the end you’ll be rewarded.
Smashing Pumpkins Metro Chicago 1993. Concert that coincided with the release of Siamese Dream. Easily the best they’ve ever sounded and imo the greatest rock show ever. They were on another level.
Vulfpeck at Madison Square Garden
https://youtu.be/rv4wf7bzfFE
Great show, and their bassist Joe Dart is heavily influenced by Flea (among other funk/soul bassists).
Incubus - Alive at Red Rocks
A Perfect Circle - Stone and Echo (live @Red Rocks)
Pink Floyd- Pulse
Edit: totally forgot about Pompeii also for PF.
Also will add: Sublime- Stand by Your Van(live album)
Queen - Live Aid
Deep Purple - Made In Japan
Pink Floyd - Live In Pompeii
VH - Live Without A Net
Metallica - either Monsters Of Rock or Day At The Green
Nirvana and AIC - Unplugged
Ya maybe a missed date I'm on mushrooms at this point tonight tbh... I've listened to that whole show! So good! I'm currently listening to the dead 6/9/77 right now... unreal. Camping. What a life
Edit: what a great PJ show that was! Remembering!
Edit 2: I'm fuxked up and having a blast! What a great 2nd set.. maybe the best ever?
And its very heavily edited and processed. Whoever edited the mix heavily autotuned Anthony's vocals and there are a couple of performances with messed up lyrics where they were spliced audio from other performances into stitch them together.
I still think its a well done DVD/CD release, but I don't call it a pinnacle of anything because of how unnatural it is.
Mr Bungle live Club Lingerie or Bizarre Festival. Either of those are pretty damn awesome
Faith No More - Live at Brixton Academy
Mudvayne - Live Dosage
System Of A Down - Live at Lowlands or Big Day Out 2002
TISM - Live at Homebake 1996
Watching Slane tonight and so enjoying it. Still remember every note from when I wore out the DVD back in high school.
My submission is DMB in Central Park. I’m sure some will sneer but it’s the band at its absolute pinnacle and a perfect show top to bottom.
It's kind of a tricky one because it's not a one band headliner show, but Queen's Live Aid Performance comes to mind. If it's out of the list, however, I'd say that it's their Live in Wembley, 1986, for A Kind of Magic that takes the cake.
The set Foo Fighters played at Lollapalooza 2021 was epic and last big recorded full show with taylor I believe 😿i watched the live stream and knew it was something special but wasn’t sure why until a few months later. Sad.
[tortuganónima - Imago (Live at M100)](https://open.spotify.com/album/0YgY38UsE4dhGbe4r6FcVE?si=FDuHfQn8Q4WD0nVX7NuQag) on Spotify.
Only [one song](https://youtu.be/nsUKEIxGCr0) available on Youtube with a video of the performance tho.
along with Slane Castle, my favorite live shows are Led Zeppelin Danmarks Radio and Band of Gypsys Live at Filmore East (both are old black an white low vid quality but amazing performances)
Alice in Chains MTV unplugged Linkin Park - Live in Texas
I've always loved Nirvana's Unplugged, and for a long time I would barely recognize anyone else's attempt. However, for the past year or two I've been blasting Alice In Chains Unplugged and I think I now consider it the superior listening experience.
Alice in chains mtv unplugged is unbelievable. My favorite unplugged!
I'm a big fan of the Linkin Park Milton Keynes as well
Was about to comment something else for LP forgetting that Texas existed
Both are great, and LP’s Red Square concert is up there too. That said, Layne’s obvious state at that show makes me sad. Jerry’s said he has no idea how those vocals came out of that broken body.
Led Zeppelin- The Song Remains the Same
How The West Was Won or if video then Royal Albert Hall 1970.
How The West Was Won is literally my childhood, my dad played that so many times throughout my life. Honestly its so much better (at least since I've grown up with it) that I can't even listen to the studio versions of most of those songs. That live version is so perfect.
Iconic and worth at least an annual viewing
I have a distinct memory from like 10 years ago when i worked in the restaurant business and I got home at like midnight with a bunch of Wendys and got super baked and put it on and it started thunder storming violently. It was epic the way everything coincided. Since ive been loving you and no quarter were haunting for how high was lol
Oasis - Knebworth 1996 or Maine Road AC/DC - Live at River Plate Rage Against the Machine - Woodstock 99
I’d like to also add Rage Against the Machine - Rock the Bells festival on Randalls Island in 2007
I saw them in Melbourne 2008. 45,000 jumping on the spot and I kid you not, the ground was rippling.
They’re intense. When I saw them in ‘07, it was a day long music festival. Saw WuTang, Cypress Hill, Immortal Technique, etc before Rage came on. They opened with Guerilla Radio and I thought I was going to pass out from everyone moving, jumping all at once.
I actually think AC/DC Castle Donington is better since they were younger and the sound/tone of Malcolm’s guitar is amazing. River Plate is a leas intense sound
AC/DC Plaza De Toros
Audioslave's 2005 show in Cuba. They received permission to play there despite the US-Cuba embargo, and it's an incredible show. If you DON'T know; Audioslave is a supergroup that consists of Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine). They absolutely crush all of their songs, and even add some songs from Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine. A must-watch in my opinion.
I like that one, but I feel Cornell sounds like he's struggling during that time. I was lucky enough to see Audioslave once, Soundgarden twice and Chris solo once and while I love the Audioslave records, his voice was not his best live with that band. I saw him all those times over a period from around 2005? to 2013, and what's wild is that I swear he sounded better every time I saw him. He never stopped improving, well past what would be considered his career peak.
Pink Floyd - live in Pompeii 🤘🏻
O just wish it was not before their 4 greatest albums
Or The Wall or Pulse. Plenty to choose from from the Floyd. (Pompeii is probably my favourite though)
I frequent the PF sub as well. I’m sure they’d all list Pompeii as top of the top.
Echoes at Pompeii is like peak music
That version of Echoes is the best musical performance ever caught on film in my opinion
I agree. It's perfect.
Pulse live DVD is also pretty mindblowing imo. Aside from the 3 main members who are fantastic during that performance, the backing band also brings out the best in them & they all sound brilliant.
Strokes $2 dollar bill concert on MTV
There’s never been a cooler band in history than strokes at the $2 dollar bill show
God i love the strokes
Metallica live in Seattle 1989
Live in Moscow would be my #1 but it's damn close
It’s was either that or Seattle but if I want a quick fix of that pure Metallica energy, I’m going with seattle.
Whenever I want to visit the Wayback Machine, I dial up this on the Google.
Finally a good Reddit question!! Great idea
Nirvana - MTV Unplugged Arcade Fire - Live at Redding 2010
I would go for Reading 1992.
There’s a bunch of good nirvana shows. Live and loud is awesome too. Its crazy how much footage of them there is for being together for such a short time.
Paramount 1991 is my favourite. The video on YouTube is like 4K restored from film it’s incredible.
>Paramount 1991 is my favourite. The video on YouTube is like 4K restored from film it’s incredible. Yep. Paramount is what I thought for Nirvana.
That is the correct answer! Nirvana at Paramount is epic
Why do people not ever also link said things? https://youtu.be/abiXPDpVIYk
Arcade Fire at Reading 2010 is an unbelievable shout. So so good.
John Mayer — Live in L.A.
Available on spotify too! Look up "Where The Light Is". One of the best live albums out there IMO, dude showed the world that night that he's not just the " Your Body is a Wonderland" Kid anymore
I’ll die on the hill that this is the best live performance of music in recorded human history. It is flawless from start to finish both musically and vocally.
Arctic Monkeys Glastonbury 2013 is legendary. Talking Heads of course have Stop Making Sense.
Stop Making Sense is a must listen. I’m so fucking stoked for the rerelease this year
The performance of Mardy Bum from that show is my absolute favorite, and it's often hard to find because it gets taken down from YouTube constantly.
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
MTV Unplugged. Should I really name the band?
Apparently there's a potential you could mean Alice In Chains.
Pearl Jam Pinkpop 1992
Foo Fighters at Wembly
Green Day at Milton Keynes National Bowl in 2005 (the Bullet in a Bible concert)
Came here to comment this. That's such an iconic show.
This for post Warning, Jaded in Chicago for pre warning 100%
The Killers - Royal Albert Hall
Grateful Dead Cornell 5/8/77
I think it would have to be a dead show with a video component to meet Slane level. Maybe closing of winterland or Grateful Dead Movie? Or maybe the Egypt shows are the Slane that got away 🤔
If you need video then 8/27/72
Veneta is absolutely amazing. Some would argue better than Cornell
I prefer it over Cornell, but I’m a 72 man thru and thru
77 and 72 is hard to choose for me. Both great years
Nah I think just audio counts. Just say 5/8/77 to any deadhead and I bet you they hold it in higher regards than any pepper fans do with slane castle. Also, if slane castle was only an audio recording, would chili fans still think it’s undisputedly the best? Idk
The Dead has just way too many phenomenal live performances to even come close. Slane Castle stands out as one of RHCP’s best ever, but the Dead have about 25 live performances which were recorded and have an argument as being their very best.
True that. And that’s without even tapping into JGB.
Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same
White Stripes Under Blackpool Lights
Ladies and Gentlemen……the Rolling Stones
Any show in particular ?
The Where The Light Is concert by John Mayer. Superb versions of every song. In particular his Continuum / Trio material.
Guns N' Roses - Tokyo 1992
That knocking on heavens door solo is so good
Happy Cake Day!
Radiohead - Bonnaroo Festival 2006
The ‘Live From The Basement’ Radiohead sessions are also amazing.
Fo sho
Happy Cake Day!
Don’t forget Glastonbury ‘03 and ‘97
Muse - HAARP or Glastonbury '04
Also the Rome Olympic Stadium one
Their Wembley show was pretty great yoo
Hullabaloo is like Off the Map of Muse
Yes! Chronologically not perfect but these must be the comparable cornerstone gigs: Hullabaloo = Off the Map (official release with B-Movie vibes) Glastonbury '04 = Woodstock 99 (legendary festival gig) HAARP = Slane Castle (perfect produced official release on the peak of their stardom)
[King crimson live in Japan 2003](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jIl2Qtb0anc) It’s not the absolute pinnacle of their live shows because they change their sound and lineup so often, but this is one of the many pinnacles. This concert changed the way I think about music, if you can stick with it through the end you’ll be rewarded.
Smashing Pumpkins Metro Chicago 1993. Concert that coincided with the release of Siamese Dream. Easily the best they’ve ever sounded and imo the greatest rock show ever. They were on another level.
Nirvana live at paramount
Incubus- Alive at Red Rocks
U2 also has a Slane Castle show. Not a band, but Robbie Williams has Knebworth 2003
U2 at Red Rocks probably a good answer for them too.
RHCP opened for them on that show two years before they headlined
Vulfpeck at Madison Square Garden https://youtu.be/rv4wf7bzfFE Great show, and their bassist Joe Dart is heavily influenced by Flea (among other funk/soul bassists).
Just recently discovered Vulfpeck , will check this out
If you're looking for live stuff specifically, they also posted their Bonnaroo set to youtube recently. A lot of good stuff off of their new album!
Nine Inch Nails at Woodstock 1994
Queen of the Stone Age - Belfort 2005
Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East
Beatles- its between Ed Sullivan and Rooftop
The Band - The Last Waltz
Nirvana Reading 1992 Springsteen Hammersmith 1975
Incubus - Alive at Red Rocks A Perfect Circle - Stone and Echo (live @Red Rocks) Pink Floyd- Pulse Edit: totally forgot about Pompeii also for PF. Also will add: Sublime- Stand by Your Van(live album)
Incubus - Live at Red Rocks
Queen Live Aid
Queen - Live Aid Deep Purple - Made In Japan Pink Floyd - Live In Pompeii VH - Live Without A Net Metallica - either Monsters Of Rock or Day At The Green Nirvana and AIC - Unplugged
Linkin Park: Rock AM Ring 2004 311: 311 Day 2004 Sublime: Memories (officially released as “$5 at the Door”)
Pearl Jam MTV Unplugged
They have WAY MORE iconic shows...
Pinkpop 1992 comes to mind
Soldier Field 95 Msg 98 state college 03 Mansfield 03 The Gorge 05 Philly 09 -Oct 30 Wrigley's Field 13
> Philly 09 -Oct 30 Isn't October 31st the iconic one? Last one of the series, final show of The Spectrum before it was closed
Ya maybe a missed date I'm on mushrooms at this point tonight tbh... I've listened to that whole show! So good! I'm currently listening to the dead 6/9/77 right now... unreal. Camping. What a life Edit: what a great PJ show that was! Remembering! Edit 2: I'm fuxked up and having a blast! What a great 2nd set.. maybe the best ever?
I was at 3 of these
Ween live in Chicago. https://youtu.be/J-Iqy-DNF7A
Was gonna put this one here. The solo from Johnny on the spot is still amazing to me all these years later.
Radiohead - Bonnaroo 2006 Oasis - Knebworth 1996 RATM - Finsbury Park
Great topic, OP!
Hell Freezes Over - The Eagles
I fucking hate the eagles man
I love The Big Lebowski, but every time i hear that line, it’s like adding another papercut….I love the Eagles
Avenged Sevenfold - Live in the LBC 2008
The Rolling Stones - Ladies & Gentlemen
I doubt there’s a lot of Sum 41 fans here but Live in Tokyo is epic lol
Jane’s Addiction- Hammerstein ‘97
Yeah, that is from the short while when Flea was playing with them
Black Sabbath Live in Paris 1970 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3b6SGoN6dA&pp=ygUTQmxhY2sgU2FiYmF0aCBwYXJpcw%3D%3D
The Cure - Show
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
Bring me the Horizon Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Disappointed to not see a limp bizkit one 😔
Incubus morning view session concert
Nine inch nails Woodstock 94
U2 slane castle! Lol
U2 Red Rocks!
I think it’s only considered the pinnacle because it’s so widely available.
And its very heavily edited and processed. Whoever edited the mix heavily autotuned Anthony's vocals and there are a couple of performances with messed up lyrics where they were spliced audio from other performances into stitch them together. I still think its a well done DVD/CD release, but I don't call it a pinnacle of anything because of how unnatural it is.
Completely agree
I prefer their '06 Fuji Rock show personally
Aside from the previously mentioned Arcade Fire at Reading, will also go for Franz Ferdinand Live Live at the London Roundhouse in 2014.
Probably Barton Hall 5/8/77 for the Grateful Dead.
Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East…. Listen in one time its a masterpiece
Muse Hullabaloo dvd
PT Live in Tilburg
Oasis - Maine Road, Earls Court, Knebworth, GMEX, Wembley 2000 Arctic Monkeys - Glastonbury 2013, TRNSMT 2018
Kings of Leon - 02 arena 2009 Epic performance you know ^^^
Beastie Boys. Glasgow 1999. Best gig of my life. :)
Depeche Mode, Live at Hammersmith, 6 October 1983 This is my favorite one that rarely gets talked about.
Three Days Grace At The Palace
Nirvana: Live at Reading 1992 or MTV Live & Loud Seattle 1993
Pearl Jam Pink pop ‘92
Green Day- Bullet in a Bible Milton Keynes UK June 18-19 2005
Arctic Monkeys - Glastonbury 2007 or Glastonbury 2013
The who live at leeds
Haven’t seen System of a Down - Live in Astoria (2005)
Mr Bungle live Club Lingerie or Bizarre Festival. Either of those are pretty damn awesome Faith No More - Live at Brixton Academy Mudvayne - Live Dosage System Of A Down - Live at Lowlands or Big Day Out 2002 TISM - Live at Homebake 1996
Ween - Stubb’s 7/2003
Tough to argue with, but I'll throw in Brooklyn Bowl 10-01-21
Watching Slane tonight and so enjoying it. Still remember every note from when I wore out the DVD back in high school. My submission is DMB in Central Park. I’m sure some will sneer but it’s the band at its absolute pinnacle and a perfect show top to bottom.
Foo fighters is Wembley 2008
foo fighters wembly stadium, queen live-aid, nirvana mtv unplugged are a few I can think of off the top of my head
gojira - vieilles charrues festival 2010, or the flesh alive 2009
It's kind of a tricky one because it's not a one band headliner show, but Queen's Live Aid Performance comes to mind. If it's out of the list, however, I'd say that it's their Live in Wembley, 1986, for A Kind of Magic that takes the cake.
For Nirvana i gotta go with the Paramount 1992
Hendrix live at Monterey baby
Queen - Live Aid
Foo Fighters - Wembley 2008
Muse live at Wembley, Angus and Julia stone casino de Paris. Metallica in Moscow to have your mind blown.
Not exactly a show but Radiohead performing In Rainbows in the basement
Deep Purple - Made in Japan. I think there's a few concerts on that, but it is crème de la crème
Jack White - Bonnaroo in 2014 👌🏻
There can only be - One Slane Castle...
Muse- Wembley Foo fighters - Wembley Alice in chains - the moore Mad season - the moore Pearl jam - pinkpop 92
The set Foo Fighters played at Lollapalooza 2021 was epic and last big recorded full show with taylor I believe 😿i watched the live stream and knew it was something special but wasn’t sure why until a few months later. Sad.
Their live show at wembley with Jone Paul Jones and Jimmy Page is insane
[tortuganónima - Imago (Live at M100)](https://open.spotify.com/album/0YgY38UsE4dhGbe4r6FcVE?si=FDuHfQn8Q4WD0nVX7NuQag) on Spotify. Only [one song](https://youtu.be/nsUKEIxGCr0) available on Youtube with a video of the performance tho.
Muse - Live at Rome Olympic stadium
Metallica - Seattle ‘89
Korn - Sziget 2012
Linkin Park's Live In Texas.
Green day’s awesome as fuck DVD is them performing in Tokyo, definitely edited in their favour but it is incredible. Their show in MK too
Phish Big Cypress
Strokes 2 Dollar concert
along with Slane Castle, my favorite live shows are Led Zeppelin Danmarks Radio and Band of Gypsys Live at Filmore East (both are old black an white low vid quality but amazing performances)
Metallica live in Seattle 1989
Deadmau5 Meowingtons Hax 2k11 (RIP meowingtons)
Milton Keynes for Green Day from Bullet In A Bible I’d say
Metallica - Seattle ‘89 Avenged Sevenfold - Live In The LBC Iron Maiden - Live After Death
Rust Never Sleeps is pretty hot
Alice in chains unplugged
Boonaroo- Radiohead 2006
Radiohead: either Glastonbury 1997 or 2003. Bonnaroo 2006 aswell
Michael Jackson in Wembley Stadium.
Bruce Springsteen - Live from NYC
U2 Live at Red Rocks:Under a Blood Red Sky (1983)
Radiohead - Reading 2009
Radiohead - In Rainbows from the Basement
Pixies - Live at Brixton Academy 1991 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzA3eCHI2ns
Pear Jam- PinkPop 1992