Whether you’re a dedicated music aficionado or just a casual dabbler, there are a few live acts that just stand head and shoulders above the rest. If you are a resident of a buzzing metropolis like London or New York, the acts on this month’s bucket list will probably be rolling through your hood soon as they tend to do world tours fairly often. But that doesn’t mean getting tickets will be a breeze. The last time Bruce Springsteen visited London, the tickets to his show at the Wembley Arena sold out in nine minutes! So be prepared so scramble if any of these artists are on your list.
Whether you’re a dedicated music aficionado or just a casual dabbler, there are a few live acts that just stand head and shoulders above the rest. If you are a resident of a buzzing metropolis like London or New York, the acts on this month’s bucket list will probably be rolling through your hood soon as they tend to do world tours fairly often. But that doesn’t mean getting tickets will be a breeze. The last time Bruce Springsteen visited London, the tickets to his show at the Wembley Arena sold out in nine minutes! So be prepared so scramble if any of these artists are on your list.
Beyoncé
In a few short years, Beyonce has become queen of the universe. Her live shows are where she holds court, with feet-blistering choreography and spectacular sets. It’s surprising just how many ubiquitous hits she’s been behind in the last few years, as you find yourself singling along to every song. Someone who has achieved such a level of pop-culture saturation is bound to pick up many haters, but it’s surprising how hard it is to find any. Queen Bey reigns supreme.
Bruce Springsteen
Seeing the Boss is as close as you can get to a spiritual rock experience. The Boss joyfully presides over sprawling stadia of devoted fans, conducting massive sing-alongs to classics like ‘Thunder Road’ and ‘Born in the USA’. His shows with the E Street Band typically run for three hours or longer. And he’s still shaking what his mama gave him. Not bad for a 64-year-old year old.
Arcade Fire
With a touring band that hovers around the ten-member mark, Arcade Fire creates a glorious indie-rock symphony on stage, with members spontaneously swapping instruments and grabbing whatever is at hand to add yet another brick to the wall of sound. The anthemic ‘Wake Up’ from their debut album is a highlight, with audience members and the band throwing their voices up to the heavens together every time it’s performed.
The Roots
Hip-hop’s pre-eminent live band, The Roots’ journey to mass-consciousness has been a slow one, allowing them the freedom to not compromise on their sound or vision. Being Jimmy Fallon’s house band exposed the world to their versatility, as they backed Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon. They’re at their most vital when they’re getting stuck into their own classics, such as ‘Break You Off’ or ‘The Seed (2.0)’.
Radiohead
For a band that naysayers often accuse of cerebral navel-gazing, Radiohead have one hell of a party onstage. They aren’t the types to dig into the hits too often, so don’t expect them to play ‘Creep’ at any point. They will, however, prove why they’re one of the most exciting and respected bands on the planet with their diverse influences and whip-smart innovativeness. And, of course, you’ll see Thom Yorke whipping out his infamous jerky-jerky dance moves.
Prince
It will forever baffle us how such a tiny man creates such a storm onstage. Must be the platform boots. The diminutive lord of funk is operating at maximum velocity at the moment with a brand new band tearing into his formidable back catalogue. Each show is different from one night to another, as he reinvents old songs at will, pulling together every genre under the sun into a musical mélange.
Jay-Z
Mr Beyonce Knowles really brings the thunder to his live shows. His live band is one of the best in the biz, adding muscle and grit to tracks like ‘99 Problems’ and ‘Encore’. He’s also a stickler for flawless sound setups, so you’re sure to hear every snare hit and well-crafted syllable he spits out. Tickets aren’t cheap, but he has to pay for all that bling somehow. After all, he’s not a businessman; he’s a business, man.
Lady Gaga
Don’t even think about writing her off as a vacuous popstar. Lady Gaga built up credibility as a performance artist in New York’s underground art scene and is a talented songwriter and pianist – and a damn good singer to boot. Her shows are spectacles in every sense of the word, combining towering sets with detailed choreography and pumping dance anthems. And it’s always fun to see the outfits she turns up in.
