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Give us some suggestions for entertaining, soul-lifting live bands to go watch. The past 2 years have been shite, and this year has been the worst for me, and I'm going to make more of an effort to get out and about gig-wise.
I'll go first: i've just come back from seeing Elvana in Swansea. Havent felt so happy in ages, properly lifted my mood.
No shoe gazing bands, please, just bands which engage with the crowd and lift spirits.
Feet!
Saw them a couple of years ago. Crazy!
Feet
I hear they're legends.
Sleeper.
Saw them at Bristol O2 Academy on Thursday, on their ’The It Girl’ 25th Anniversary tour, and they were absolutely on top form. Saw them at The Fleece & Firkin as it was twenty five years ago, and with two extra members in the band, they’re as entertaining now as they were back then, actually better, with keys and a second guitarist, the sound is fuller.
Went to see Feeder at the Manchester Academy last night, absolutely mega.
Alabama 3 have been great whenever I've seen them.
Not very practical but the Hold Steady are always incredible live. Craig Finn's touring soon but the non-THS stuff tends to be a bit, well, flatter, more depressing.
Frank Turner, if you can get over/into the cultishness, is great live. Seen him a lot of times and it's only occasionally been less than brilliant, he's touring again soon.
This one's a dodgy recommend because I've not actually seen them live yet, because of covid, but I'm expecting awesomeness- Brass Against, the metal brass band covers guys. Yes, the "pissed on a fan's face" woman, but, I promise I had tickets before that.
I’ve never been to a bad Thunder gig. Always good energy, always feels like a party.
I'm not a massive fan of all their music, but live the Bare Naked Ladies are brilliant. They have great fun on stage and lots of god banter between songs. And stuff tailored to each particular venue as well.
They are touring Britain at the moment. Their support (Boothby Graffoe) is superb too, though he can be a bit of an acquired taste.
I've only seen them as a support act, but Crapsons are amazing live. Nice guys too.
Buzzcocks (well one of them) were good last night. Not everybodies cup of tea admittedly but there were loads of young uns there, many with mums & dads.
Yellowhouse are very good, rock covers.
Saw From The Jam supported by The Selecter back end of last year, both were brilliant.
And Jools Holland is doing the rounds at the moment, if it's audience involvement and party atmos you're after
As I always say at these threads, Wheatus. Not touring UK currently but suspect will be later in the year or next.
Off!
Saw them a few years ago at King tuts.
Just brilliant gig at a great venue
GWAR are touring currently.
The Flaming Lips always do an amazing gig
Ezra Furman. Touring later in the year (London gig is at the Roundhouse).
Likewise The Burning Hell - hopefully playing Bush Hall after the summer (and a load of cancelled/cut short tours in the last 2 years)
Idles/McClusky
The Hives are in Derby this month, they're ace live
Joe Cocker.
Really hoping he's touring again this year.
Last year I saw Alestorm (pirate metal) and Bootyard bandits (country metal) at the same show, one of the most fun gigs I've ever been too!
i’ve just come back from seeing Elvana in Swansea
They are playing at my local festival (Y-Not) in July, can't wait to see them
Sleeper.
Louise still looking fit tbf
On tour soon and most uplifting band I have ever seen (about 5 times) is !!! (aka Chk Chk Chk)
They are awesome.
(Seeing ****ing Sleeper with CountZero taking his shit photos in front of me would be the most depressing thing ever!)
Saw Wet Leg the other day (as on the Gigs thread) and they are a pretty uplifting experience.
I’m not into chin stroking, real ale pint holding head nodding music, I need a bit of entertainment
edit, you basically get that level of silliness with their live show
The Proclaimers, preferably in Scotland somewhere. Not my usual choice but went along and it was bouncing, literally. If you could catch them at the Barras it would be awesome.
If you don't mind a bit of Brit pop, then you can't fail to come out of a shed 7 gig with a smile on your face
Lancashire Hotpots (only semi-joking)
I’d say preferably in Lancashire but not sure they’ve ever been anywhere else.
Yes, henge are a laugh, as are flaming lips
I'll add Anna Meredith
GWAR are touring currently
'There's nothing like hippie hunting'
Saw them in the early nineties? Took ages to get the fake blood out of my hair. Being blonde, it looked a bit like I'd dyed my hair pink.
Feet
I hear they’re legends.
Did this get the credit it deserves?
The Hives +1. Always a great very positive vibe.
Clutch!
James. Absolutely brilliant live, especially open air gigs.
Feet
I hear they’re legends.
Did this get the credit it deserves?
No, it was trodden on.
+ 1 for Alabama 3 … always a great night even after the passing of the Reverend
Another great night is Holy Moly and The Crackers,
And you won’t need a mortgage to see either
militantmandy
Clutch!
That was going to be my answer yesterday though they won't be playing near to the OP till December.13th
Post Modern Jukebox - Watched them last night at the Usher Hall.
Properly entertaining evening - stunning singers and a band who can properly play!
Also first time I've been to a gig where the drummer does a tap dancing solo... 🤣
Not the Sisters of Mercy, if Saturday's gig (here in Madrid) was anything to go by. The band might have been great, but the sound was so dismal it sucked all the life out of it. Apparently they were shit in Barcelona yesterday, too.
Is you can catch Sumo Cyco next time they are in the UK (probably later this year) I highly recommend them. Ace band live and good people to boot.
I know it's old chap stuff (the audience was a sea of grey hair!) but saw Peter Knight's Gigspanner last night. Fantastic musicians.
Massive wagons
Wildhearts when on form
Thunders a good shout too
Pearl jam or eddie vedder unreal.
fatoldgit
Full Member
+ 1 for Alabama 3 … always a great night even after the passing of the ReverendAnother great night is Holy Moly and The Crackers,
And you won’t need a mortgage to see either
+1 again for A3. Also Holy Moly & the Crackers, they've been good both times I've seen them. "Colonel Mustard & the Dijon 5" definitely bring the party, "Peat & Diesel" and "Oh My God it's The Church" - you'll be smiling after spending £15 wisely seeing any of these. And I did see the Lancashire Hotpots outside of Lancashire - another great feel good band.
It is indeed hard not to enjoy yourself at a Clutch gig.
For energy I d go hives, idles
For audience engagement I d go james
Saw The Divine Comedy last month, really talented, did his songs in alphabetic order and talked about each one, more of a show than a gig. Would deffo go again
Frank Turners whole career is built on live shows so he knows how to put on a good one. Feeder as someone else mentioned are awesome, Tony thingymijig the lead singer from Terrorvision does some one man shows which are great.
Possibly the best gig I’ve been to - ZZ Top, Manchester O2 about five years ago.
Audience full of ageing angels, spectacular rapport with the audience, and just plain fun.
High art? Probably not, but I’d have loved to see them again.
Only seen them when supporting other bands but Reverend And The Makers are epic live. Loud, frantic, engaging, properly get a crowd bouncing.
Might try and see Shed Seven again sometime. Probably seen them more than any other band including an acoustic gig Rick Witter and Paul Banks did at Fibbers in York which was one of the best I've been to. Interested to see how they are now that half the band have left!
Lancashire Hotpots (only semi-joking)
I’d say preferably in Lancashire but not sure they’ve ever been anywhere else.
They're ace! And they go all over the country. Guaranteed a good night out.
I've had good times with several of the bands suggested above: The Hold Steady, The Flaming Lips (usually), Alabama 3 (usually), The Hives and Frank Turner are all pretty good or better.
Some additional suggestions I'd make include The Heavy, Broken Social Scene and Bob Mould. Broken Social Scene in particular can put on a really enjoyable, uplifting show. The Computers have reformed I gather so they'd be worth checking out too.
Talking Heads/David Byrne
(+1) Flaming Lips
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
Beck
Bruno Mars
Little Simz
Parliament
Blue Man Group
Snoop Dogg
Also Prince, James Brown, David Bowie, Nina Simone, Queen occur to my mind when thinking of past greats. Each entertaining and engaging in their own powerful way. Which, for that matter also makes me think of Cardiacs. RIP.
Due to attend Oh Sees concert in a couple of weeks and have great expectations 🎸⚡️🥁🥁
elsketcho
Free MemberThe Flaming Lips always do an amazing gig
Posted 2 days ago
Reminds me to hunt out the ticket I bought for Leeds Uni gig in July 2020… was postponed to 2021 , and is now ( I think ) scheduled for July 2022 …. Best check that as well I guess
James, Shed Seven and Sleeper all very good live and seen all recently. Elvana amazing too.
Possibly showing my (lack of) age here...
Paramore (first 'big' band I saw live as a young teenager)
Slaves
Marmozets
Jamie T
Estrons
Taylor swift (no shame, she was incredible live at big weekend a few years back)
I like when you go to a music festival and you see random acts that you wouldn’t normally seek out, and you don’t know what to expect from them but then wind up being surprised/converted by just how entertaining/engaging/talented etc they are!
Have been won over more than a few times by artists (and genres) in this way. A few off the top:
Plan B
Paloma Faith
DakhaBrakha
Osibisa
Tinariwen
Gregory Isaacs (RIP)
Amyl and the Sniffers
If you fancy an Aussie punk rock band fronted by a wild bikini-clad peroxide blonde then this band is for you. Excellent mosh pit!
Another shout for Shed Seven, always a good gig, always smiling after seeing them.
The Lottery Winners are entertaining as well well.
Teenage Fanclub are very good live.
The Charlatans, great live band.
Inhaler were amazing in London late last year.
Palaye Royale were also better than i expected.
Luke Combs (seen him 3 times now)
Ashley McBryde
Fatboy Slim puts on a good show.
Taylor swift (no shame, she was incredible live at big weekend a few years back)
Agree 100% - she was amazing when we saw her (2018)
Frank Turners whole career is built on live shows so he knows how to put on a good one.
+1 for Frank Turner and uplifting live shows
He's got a few UK dates this month, then back in September