Nothing beats live music. (We probably don’t need to tell you that, but stick with us here.) Whether you’re shoulder-to-shoulder in a sweaty basement or standing in a field screaming along with thousands of strangers, that kind of shared experience is one of the greatest feelings in the world. We don’t get it often enough.
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But life isn’t all mosh pits. If you cracked open a beer and started screaming Death Grips lyrics at your desk right now, H.R. would probably want to have a word with you. Depends on your job, I guess…
So what’s the next best thing? Live albums.
It’s more than just the songs themselves. You’ve got crowd noise, stage banter, and maybe some flubbed notes and squalls of feedback here and there, but it’s OK! This isn’t supposed to be perfect! The best recordings capture an artist’s energy and the connection they have with their audience in that moment. It’s a unique performance that happened once and never again, like lightning in a bottle (except you can take this lightning out of the bottle during your commute or while you’re doing homework or whatever).
Live at the Hideout (Screaming Females)
One of our personal favorites was recorded right here in Chicago. Produced by Electrical Audio head honcho Steve Albini (Nirvana’s In Utero, Jawbreaker’s 24 Hour Revenge Therapy), the explosive, no-nonsense Live at the Hideout might actually be the best way to introduce someone to Screaming Females. The fourteen-track collection draws from their first five albums, primarily focusing on songs where they get to improvise and stray from the original studio recordings. Just listen to the seven-minute version of “Lights Out,” and you’ll get what this band is all about, bristling with a defiant, frantic energy.
Skin and Bones (Foo Fighters)
That opportunity to experiment and reinterpret songs after years of touring is one of the best parts about seeing a veteran act live. Most people think of Foo Fighters shows as loud arena rock extravaganzas, but 2006’s Skin and Bones found the band reimagining classic songs like “Big Me,” “Best of You” and “My Hero” in intimate acoustic arrangements. Their expanded eight-piece lineup included violin, harmonica and more. This isn’t just their greatest hits, either, featuring rarities like Nirvana’s “Marigold” and the title track, which was a b-side to the “DOA” single.
Shows of a Lost World (The Cure)
The Cure are famous for playing marathon sets that include unreleased material, fan favorites and all the hits you can handle (and those guys have a lot of hits). This year’s phenomenal Shows of a Lost World tour has featured more surprises than ever, like dusting off “A Thousand Hours” and “Six Different Ways” for their first live performances since 1987.
So where should you start? 1993’s Show and Paris do an amazing job of documenting their tour behind Wish, including transcendent versions of “A Letter to Elise,” “From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea” and “Trust.” (Plus, listen to those happy screams at the beginning of “Doing the Unstuck!”) Meanwhile, 2019’s Anniversary and Curætion-25 albums offer a career-spanning spectacle that proves just how deep these alt-rock veterans can reach into their catalog on any given night.
Riot Fest 2023 Tickets + Lineup
We made a playlist featuring live highlights from all of these bands and more, but you need to experience their sets for yourself. Three-day and single day tickets are available now!
Haven’t bought your ticket yet?
No worries, here are some buttons to do just that.
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Riot Fest 2023 Tickets + Lineup
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