Anyone who knows me will know my love for live music. Nothing comes close to seeing it first person at a gig, the way the music vibrates through your body and you can connect not only to the band or musician playing but the many people around as you as you join in on a mutual experience. Sometimes, something very special happens that you could only ever experience at that exact moment in time.
Often, the greatest live performances have been captured on camera, and so despite not being there and experiencing it first hand you get to discover and enjoy it thanks to the amazing thing that is the internet.
I have compiled some of what I believe to be the best live performances captured on camera. These are made up of live gigs in front of crowds as well as in studio live lounge type recordings. This is of course suited to my taste in music and are the ones which I have discover and watch frequently. I am very keen to hear any suggestions on other ones I may have missed which I can add to the list for myself and others to enjoy on their down time.
Before any further rambling, here is my list of Greatest Live Performances.
Paulo Nutini – Iron Sky Live at Abbey Road
This is the first video that inspired me to do this list. It is simply one of the greatest musical performances i’ve seen in my life. It encaptures everything that just great about live music as it couldn’t have come from a studio recording.
The passion in Paulo’s voice as he almost overextends his range toward the end, the tightness of the band and the beautiful, minimal video work which makes it a pleasure to watch.
I think this video was made as a statement, it was recorded around the time of 2014 independence referendum and although Paulo ruled out the song being about that topic specifically, it is about much more than that. When I watch it I see an almost Bob Marley type protest in his performance which never fails to give me goosebumps.
Adele also said it was ‘One of the best things I’ve ever seen in my life’.
Queen – Live Aid
You wouldn’t be able to compile this list without including this stunning live performance by Freddie Mercury. I say Freddie because I watched an interview where Bryan May said that the band all played pretty average and it was Freddie’s incredible performance that elevated it to legendary status.
Freddie Mercury will go down as one of the all time great performers, but interestingly enough at this time Queen was still very much struggling to cement their legacy as many critics still considered them just another Glam Rock band. Freddie played this knowing he was dying of AIDS and it feels like he put everything he had and more into this performance which not only confirmed them as one of the great bands of that era but also going down as one of the greatest live performances of all time.
Kiesza – Prayer in C Cover
I’ve added this to the list due to it being criminally under rated. Kiesza is of course best known for her viral hit Hideaway but she is so talented and in my opinion extremely under rated as an artist. This cover of a song by Lilly Wood & The Prick is absolutely bliss. It makes you appreciate the lyrics of the song which you’ve most likely heard on the radio in the form of the Robin Schulz remix.
Listen to this with headphones in a quiet space for goosebumps or a tear in your eye.
Mumford & Sons, Baaba Maal – There Will Be Time (Live in South Africa)
This outstanding performance from both Mumford & Sons & South African band Baaba Maal is an absolute gem on Youtube. There is also a studio version on Spotify but in my opinion it doesn’t come close. For me it is the mix of culture and music and the shear joy you can see and hear project from both bands and audience. This is another goosebump inducing masterpiece of a musical performance as well as the recording itself thanks to the HD cameras and Sound equipment which picks up every amazing details.
Noel Gallagher – Slide Away – Acoustic Chicago ’98
This amazing rendition of Slide Away has made the list not only because of the performance itself. but the fact this video wouldn’t of existed if some guy hadn’t snuck in a Camera which was most likely bulky and uncomfortable. Amazingly enough although the footage itself is shaky and pretty shocking at parts, the audio has been picked up so well. Slide Away is one of my favourite Oasis songs but I feel it is suits being acoustic and Noels voice transforms it into an entirely different world.
It is the fact that videos like this prove how important live music is, and that you really have to be there to witness it’s full power. As amazing as this video is it probably doesn’t come close to being in the audience on that night, and i highly doubt Noel will sing this song as perfect ever again.
Wretch 32 – Fire in the Booth
As someone who is big fan of rap music it is no surprise this would make this list. However one of the things I love so much about this video is you could show it to almost anyone, even someone who doesn’t listen to rap music and they usually get lost in the lyrics and delivery. This often finds its way onto a t.v during the early hours of the morning when drinking, but that doesn’t take away from incredible it is. The clever word play and the flawless flow are what make it stand out, ruined only by the interruption by the presenter.
Nina Simone – Aint Got No, I got Life (Live in London 1968)
Nina Simone is an incredible artist and an inspiration to myself and many others, including singers song writers and even Actors and film makers (such as Andy Serkis who claimed he was inspired by Nina Simone in an interview I watched recently). Even today you hear how difficult the music industry for females, can you imagine how hard it would have been for Nina during that time period. Much of what she sings about are just as important today as they were back then.
I have been watching this video for years. It manages to lift me up when I feel at my lowest points, often bringing a small tear to my eye. My favourite thing about this song, and music in general is how it can transform your perspective on things after just listening to it once.
DMA’s – Believe
This cover of Cher’s classic ‘Believe’ is a brilliant showcase of the vocals Tommy O’Dell – the lead singer of the DMAS. I think what makes it stand out so much is the beautiful vocals contrasting with the fact he’s wearing a shirt and track suit bottoms. Seeing the song stripped back like this makes you appreciate the lyrics and the quality of the song itself. As said by Tommy himself. I believe this may be up there with one of the greatest covers of the past decade.
Ocean – John Butler
Back when the internet was still young and youtube was only a website and not an app. We would watch this low quality recording of John Butler playing his masterpiece Ocean. There is an updated one in high quality and better sound but personally i still cant keep away from the version. I feel the performance itself is better and being in front of a live audience where you can tell each and every person is mesmerised by the skill and art in front of them.
The Snuts – Like a Breeze
This is a personal one for me, it is a band I grew up with one whom I have worked with a lot over the years. I’m in the audience watching them as they play this song for Sofar Sounds where they also recorded Mixer which was professionally recorded. It’s the first time I’ve seen the song and what I think may be the last. The only ever recording was this hand held phone recording from our friend Pauline who was on the trip to London with us. Although the sound isn’t great I still watch this regularly. It just might be (in my opinion) the best song ever written that was never actually released.