The live concert industry is always changing and evolving. With constant and exciting tours or festival announcements, we figured it best to countdown some of the best live artists we’ve seen in our lifetime.
To qualify for this, I’m looking strictly at performance. I am removing all lights and technical aspects of a live show. These artists are just as good at Madison Square Garden as they would be at the Meatlocker in Montclair NJ. As someone who has been to over 800 concerts, this was no easy stretch. A top 50 list could easily have been made. If you’re in search of a great show that may even change your life, look no further.
5.) Save Face
The first band on this list is by far the newest. They had their debut album Merci in 2018, but they didn’t explode onto the scene until 2021 with their record Another Kill For The Highlight Reel. Instantly they became loved by emo, punk, and rock fans alike. It’s easy to see why. When seeing this band live, you’re witnessing an event. The energy they give back to the crowd with every performance is unbelievable. You are not witnessing this band from the bar casually. When you see Save Face live, you will be in the pit or headbanging, guaranteed.
4.) Boston Manor
The craziest part of a Boston Manor show is the synergy. Every single member is perfectly in tune with each other and the crowd. It doesn’t feel like you’re watching a band. Instead, you are a part of something greater than yourself. The entire room feels like one community, all rocking out in the same rhythms. I personally have seen this band 5 times now, and it holds up every single time. I have no idea how they do it, but they are one of the best bands you can see live. Their new album Sundiver was just released last September.
3.) Senses Fail
Senses Fail has, and will always continue to be, a prime example of a live act done right. Seeing them for the first time is something you will never forget. The band is mesmerizing with their enthusiasm, technique, and sound. Imaging hearing their already high energy music but super charged and bigger than life. Buddy Nielsen, their frontman, throws the microphone as high as he can, and catches it mid-song. The band does spin kicks and sucks the audience into the performance with every note. It is physically impossible to be bored and watch their stunning set. Senses Fail may have been a band for almost 20 years, but we will never turn down an opportunity to see them live.
2.) Ice Nine Kills
The metalcore legends from Boston MA take the second spot on our list. Ice Nine Kills take horror movies and brings them to life. It feels like you’re watching a concert, a play, a musical, and a movie all at once. They utilize every form of the entertainment industry to make their shows as enthralling as possible. Imagine witnessing the shower scene from Alfred Hitchock’s Psycho acted out in front of you, while inside a mosh pit and crowd surfers flying overhead. It’s genuinely insane. Ice Nine Kills does live performances better than any band in their scene, and it is why they have exponentially grown their fanbase with every tour. You do not want to miss this band.
1.) Fever 333
When you see Fever 333 live for the first time, prepare to have your life changed. You remember the event like it was yesterday. You will recall what foods you were eating before the show, the smell of the venue, or the shirt you were wearing. That is how memorable a Fever 333 concert is. It stays with you forever. This band doesn’t put on a show, so much as they unleash controlled mayhem. There is not an area Jason Aalon Butler won’t climb. The guitarists and drummer get inside the crowd frequently. Fever 333 makes every show an interactive experience that you personally are engaging with. They give it their all, to the point you wonder how a human being can have that much energy in their body. You do not want to miss this band live.
