from the net: beautiful live performances by musicians.

I’m not sure if i’ve mentioned my love affair with music, ‘language of the gods.’ one of the most powerful tools to actually get human beings to largely feel the same or similar emotion, or to gather for the same cause, or to all AGREE on something, anything… is music.

i’ve compiled a list of youtube videos of inspiring, touching, and/or interesting live performances. this list can aid people who’ve never been to a concert, only had bad experiences, have difficulty finding good quality live versions, or simply inspire. obviously these digital video representations won’t contain all the power and energy that presence at an actual live performance would have, but i love them regardless. i’ve tried to cover most genres/styles from the last few decades and span lesser-known musicians to cultural icons.

of course, everyone has their opinions and some may feel a certain artist does or does not belong on this list. i feel each artist has their own pros + cons and things to offer, and there’s quite a bit here to choose from

queen: pure rockin’ performances.

killer queen [hq, live]
we are the champions [hq, live]

radiohead: powerful and moving.

reckoner [live, in the basement]
nice dream [hq, live, acoustic]
fake plastic trees [hq, acoustic]

lupe fiasco: inspirational hip-hop on a new level.

superstar feat. matthew santos [hq, live]

louis armstrong: a class act.

what a wonderful world [hq, live]

the watchmen: truly touching.

all uncovered + stereo [reunited, private show, feat. thornley of big wreck.]

supertramp: underrated by my generation.

the logical song [roger hodgson + ringo starr feat. thornley of big wreck.]
goodbye stranger [hq, live.]

nine inch nails: distilled energy.

discipline [hq, live rehearsal]
the frail->closer [hq, live, seatlle] – click watch in high quality for awesome visuals.
right where it belongs [hq, live, dvd]
the hand that feeds [hq, live, dvd]

led zeppelin: pioneers who don’t disappoint.

stairway to heaven [hq, live]
babe i’m gonna leave you [live]

daft punk: reinterpreting and remixing all the time.

around the world + harder, better, faster, stronger [hq, live]

sigur ros: wistful and beautiful.

vaka [hq, live]
svefn g englar [hq, live]

tool: strongly connected.

jambi [hq, live]
the pot [hq, live]
parabol/parabola [hq, live]
positive speech [hq, live]

mos def: honest, real, and improvisational.

amazing freestyle [hq, live]
umi says [hq, chappelle bloc party, audio only]
unknown over j-dilla beat [hq, live]

tea party: just wow.

zahena->the halcyon days [hq, live]
the messenger [hq, live] and an awesome solo acoustic version.
psychopomp [hq, live] and an awesome solo tabla/acoustic version. tea party have some serious soul live.

pearl jam: friendly.

rearviewmirror [hq, live]
yellow ledbetter [hq, live]
baba o’reilly [hq, live]

postal service: kinda rare

[this is] the dream of evan and chan [live]

matthew good: poetic emotion.

apparitions [hq, live, acoustic]
champions of nothing/interview/suburbia [hq, live]
near fantastica [hq, live]
strange days [live from matt's house]

clint black: doesn’t let fans bootleg

live and learn [hq audio, live]

metallica: talent, skill, and attitude.

unforgiven [hq, live]
the day that never comes [hq, live]
turn the page [hq, live]

rage against the machine: feel it for the cause, man.

know your enemy [hq, live]
guerrilla radio [hq, live]

depeche mode: 80s star power.

enjoy the silence [hq, live]
black celebration [hq, live]

ac/dc: rock and roll puts on a show.

thunderstruck [hq, live]
back in black [hq, live]

david usher: beautiful.

black black heart [hq, live]
st. lawrence river [hq, live]
million [hq, live]

carlos santana: he made this song his own.

black magic woman [hq, live]

tori amos: alt. femme awesomeness.

bouncing off clouds [hq, live]
raspberry swirl [hq, live]
caught a lite sneeze [hq, live]

michael jackson: !?!

billie jean [hq, live]
smooth criminal [hq, live]

chemical brothers: move ‘em.

do it again [hq, live]
temptation [cover] + star guitar [hq, live]

sean paul: bless’ wid a t’ick accent.

acapella [hq, live]
baby boy [hq, live]

regina spektor: vox and words.

real love [cover] [hq, live]
fidelity [hq, live]

blue rodeo: tugs at the heart-strings.

5 days in may [hq, live]

tina turner: simply the best?

simply the best [hq, live]

dallas green: a personal fave.

love don’t live here anymore [hq, live]
boiled frogs [hq, live]
happiness by the kilowatt [hq, live]
the girl [hq, live]

jimi hendrix experience: experience is the right word.

all along the watchtower [hq, live]
voodoo chile [hq, live]

al green: love vibes

i’m so tired of being alone [hq, live]
how do you mend a broken heart [hq, live]

red hot chili peppers: hmm…

californication [hq, live]
under the bridge [hq, live]

usher: knows how to get the masses movin’. or swooning.

yeah [hq, live]
love in this club [hq, live]

christina aguilera: surreal vocals.

beautiful [hq, live]
it’s impossibe w/ andrea bocelli [hq, live]

rush: 3 extremely talented people.

freewill [live, drummer-cam]
tom sawyer [hq, live, colbert]
closer to the heart [hq, live]

bob marley: one love.

stir it up [hq, live]

sevendust: another underrated.

angel’s son [hq, live]
broken down [hq, live]

the beatles: need no comment.

ticket to ride [soundboard, live]
she loves you [hq, live, crowd]

u2: controversial and catchy.

*the saints are coming feat. green day [hq, live]
*where the streets have no name [hq, live]
one [hq, live]
with or without you [hq, live, crowd]

*u2 clips taken from here – topher lytle blog.

smashing pumpkins: sordid

1979 [hq, live]
tonight, tonight [hq, live]
tear [hq, live]

johnny cash: a legend.

walk the line [hq, live]
ring of fire feat. willie nelson [hq, live]

justin timberlake: brings sexy back with his performances.

my love [hq, live, acoustic]

weakerthans: so so beautiful.

left and leaving [hq, live]
civil twilight [hq, live]

james taylor: awesome rendition.

fire and rain [hq, live, strings]

rihanna: raw sex appeal with a beat.

umbrella [hq, live, mellow] + umbrella [hq, live, amped]
don’t stop the music [hq, live]

live: divine.

the dolphin’s cry [hq, live]
they stood up for love [hq, live, piano]

tupac shakur: rarely recorded well.

hit ‘em up [live]

eminem: he is whatever i say he is…

stan feat. elton john [hq, live]
lose yourself [hq, live]

dave matthews band: hard to choose out of a massive live repetoire.

two step [hq, live, extra lyrics]
crash into me feat. tim reynolds [hq, live]

dream theatre: art-rock, live.

learn to live [hq, live]

electric light orchestra: experimental and awesome.

telephone line [hq, live]
mr. blue sky [hq, live]

elvis presley: prolific creator.

burning love [hq, live]
in the ghetto [hq, live]

switchfoot: positive tracks.

meant to live [hq, live, acoustic] and meant to live [hq, live, kilborn]

dare you to move [hq, live, letterman]

coheed and cambria: the new art rock.

wake up [hq, live, studio]
the suffering [hq, live]
the running free [hq, live]

coldplay: can’t deny they’ve got something.

fix you [hq, live]
live forever feat. noel gallagher [hq, live, acoustic]
clocks [hq, live]

pink floyd: ahead of their time.

wish you were here [hq, live]
comfortably numb [hq, live]

annie lennox: prefer the manson cover?

sweet dreams [hq, live]
here comes the rain again [hq, live, low volume]