The 50 Greatest Live Acts Right Now
"Rolling Stone" has put together a list of The 50 Greatest Live Acts Right Now. To come up with the list, they asked a panel of writers, industry figures and artists to vote on their favorite live performers at this time.
To be eligible for this, a performer must have toured within the last five years and NOT announced their retirement.
Here's the Top 25:
1. Bruce Springsteen
2. Prince
3. The Rolling Stones
4. Arcade Fire
5. Neil Young
6. Jay-Z
7. Radiohead
8. Jack White
9. Rage Against the Machine
10. My Morning Jacket
11. U2
12. Wilco
13. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
14. The Black Keys
15. Paul McCartney
16. Alabama Shakes
17. Nine Inch Nails
18. Metallica
19. The Roots
20. Kanye West
21. Red Hot Chili Peppers
22. Tom Waits
23. Pearl Jam
24. Dave Matthews Band
25. Phish
Since this is sort of a popularity contest (with writers and "industry" people accounting for a big chunk of the voting) there aren't going to be too many OBSCURE bands, old or new, on the list.
That being said, it's somewhat surprising that Dave Matthews Band and Phish were so low...since they're both KNOWN as being great live bands, even if that's more of a legend at this point than actually being TRUE.
You can find the complete list, along with some editorializing at RollingStone.com.
What would be YOUR vote for the "Greatest Live Act Right Now". And for continuity, let's assume "Rolling Stone's" rule of it being an act that has toured in the last five years, and hasn't announced their retirement.