I was going to put this in sig form, but I thought it'd make for an interesting thread. Acknowledging that musical acts vary so widely that quantification into list form is difficult, I'm doing it anyway and inviting you to do it to. What are your favorite (Top Ten) artists of all time?

Here's mine:

1. Rush
2. The Beatles
3. Green Day
4. R.E.M.
5. The Who/Pete Townshend
6. Pink Floyd
7. Blake Babies/Juliana Hatfield
8. Rilo Kiley/Jenny Lewis
9. Queen
10. Weezer

Honorable mention: Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler, XTC, Yes, Weird Al Yankovic, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, the Police/Sting, U2, Simon and Garfunkel/Paul Simon, John Cougar Mellencamp, Garbage, Billy Joel, Elton John, Living Colour, Celine Dion (j/k!).

This was harder than I thought, so I put a lot in the honorable mention. Some of those were in the top ten until I remembered somebody who dispaced them.

I wasn't sure if there had been a thread like this in the past. Any Axiom historians who find may find one - link away, but let's update, too, shall we?

1. Regina Spektor
2. Marina and the Diamonds
3. Rasputina
4. Metric
5. Cake

I have too many other favorites, but I can only list those 5 with conviction.

Somewhere, the members of Catatonia are sobbing.

I can't even name any of the guys from that band, even though I have all of their stuff.

I'm sure that Regina will be relieved that Martina has not stolen her mojo. What's the gap between your #1 and #2, and is it narrowing?

Nah, Regina is on a different level, but Marina does crack me up.

I'll have to get some Cake. I think I've liked everything I've heard by them, but I haven't heard much.

They don't change their formula much from album to album, but I don't mind. I like singing along to each one.

Hmm. I always mix them up with Barenaked Ladies.

I thought I'd add mine since it's probably much different than most of you. In no particular order.

1. Gipsy Kings.
2. Shakira.
3. Ana Gabriel.
4. Jethro Tull.
5. Satana.
6. Paul McCartney.
7. Idina Menzel.
8. Laura Pausini.
9. Lila Downs.
10. Dave Matthews.

Let's see... in no particular order
1. Bela Fleck
2. Metallica (sorry, everyone...)
3. Tool
4. Rush
5. Bobby McFerrin

um... I'm sure there's a bunch of others, but I'll go with those for now.

Top ten huh?

Well, in the Rock And/Or Roll category, and if I have to pick only 10, they would be...

1.The Beatles (surprise... NOT!)
2.Frank Zappa
3.Kate Bush
4.Todd Rundgren
5.XTC
6.The Residents (yeah, I'm weird)
7.King Crimson
8.Genesis (with Gabriel and Hackett ONLY)
9.Yes
!0.Gentle Giant

Oh noes! I made my list too prog heavy!!! No room for punk or power pop!!!

Top 10 jazz is MUCH easier!!!

1.Miles Davis
2.Herbie Hancock
3.Carla Bley
4.Wayne Shorter
5.Charles Mingus
6.Chick Corea
7.John Coltrane
8.Eric Dolphy
9.Tony Williams
10.Sun Ra
2.

Here's my old school input in no particular order ('cept for #1)...

1. Stevie Ray Vaughan (SURPRISE!)
2. Pink Floyd
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Collective Soul
5. Otis Taylor
6. Buddy Guy
7. Black Keys
8. Allman Brothers
9. Eric Clapton
10 George Thorogood
11 John Hiatt

Don't know about being my 'best' acts but the listed bands gets their share of airplay in my home.

Oh yeah, the Beatles. Them.

1. SRV
2. Heart
3. Elton John
4. Aerosmith
5. Zeppelin
6. ZZ Topp
7. Beatles
8. Pink Floyd
9. AC/DC
10.Rush

I couldn't believe the exception of Led Zep until Rick. Thanks, dude!

I need you here with me and not way over in a bucket seat.

I forgot honorable mentions to Led Zeppelin and They Might Be Giants.

I have seen six of my top ten in concert. Two were with pmbuko!

I've only seen Regina and Metric of the ones I listed. I really need to see the others.

I'd rather have a free bottle in front of me than a prefrontal lobotomy.

Can't you have both?

Doobie Brothers x 5
Rush x 2
Kim Mitchell / Max Webster x 3 or more
Queen x 2
Supertramp x 1
Police x 1
XTC - never seen live
Propaganda - never seen live
Saga x 1
Boston x 1
And the list goes on…

I'll list my favourites as they come to mind rather than number them since I sometimes prefer one group/singer over another at a given time.

1)Classic: Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Beatles, Stones('73 or earlier), Moody Blues, Elton John(pre-powder blue jumpsuite era)

**Honourable Mention: Doors, Rush, Foreigner, SRV, Supertramp

2)Easy on thy ears: Eagles, Neil Young(older stuff), Loreena McKennitt, Gordon Lightfoot, Fleetwood Mac

**Honourable Mention: Norah Jones, Leonard Cohen

3)Grungie stuff: Pearl Jam, Our Lady Peace, Live

**Honourable Mention: Nirvana

Concert update:

1. Rush x 7 (1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2002, 2008)
3. Green Day x 1
4. R.E.M. x 1
8. Rilo Kiley/Jenny Lewis x 1
9. Queen x 1 (disclaimer, the "Queen + Paul Rodgers" tour)
10. Weezer x 1

Honorable mention:

Foo Fighters x 3
Sting x 1
Paul Simon x 1
Guadalcanal Diary/Murray Attaway x 1 each
Howard Jones x 1

(with pmbuko)

1. Dire Straits
2. Pink Floyd
3. REM
4. Eagles
5. Aerosmith
6. Queen
7. Cars
8. Police
9. AC-DC
10. Neil Young

What? no "Honourable Mentions", Ed?

Oh yeah, Sting. And anything Mark Knopfler does.

Niel Young
Yes
Pink Floyd
Led Zep
Jethro Tull
Muddy Waters (cuz he is such an amazing live performer)
Gentle Giant
Bach
Chick Korea
Beatles

Artist at the top of my 'need to see in concert' list: Hiromi Uehara

It is so hard to pick just 10 but here are the first 10 that come to mind:

1. Yes
2. Genesis with Peter Gabriel
3. Weather Report (with Jaco & Wayne Shorter)
4. Steely Dan
5. Paul Westerburg
6. Tom Waits
7. Porcupine Tree
8. Jethro Tull
9. Joni Mitchell
10. Peter Gabriel

1. Black Sabbath
2. Eagles
3. Disturbed
4. Godsmack
5. Nightwish (with Tarja)
6. Within Temptation
7. Metallica
8. Pink Floyd
9. Lacuna Coil
10. Linda Ronstadt

Oops, missed Genesis/Gabriel in my list.

Its very hard to come up with just 10

Trouble is, my top 10 list is actually more of a rotating top 50 list. My top 10, six months from now, will probably be a little different.

Hmmm, I should have mentioned CCR since nobody else did! oh, and The Band, Stevie Winwood, early Styx(no "Roboto stuff") and Boston...

In no particular order:

The Beatles
Pink Floyd
ELO
Queen
Blondie
ABBA
Rush
Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass
The Grateful Dead
Puffy (aka Puffy AmiYumi)

Honorable mentions some of which could move up. Miles Davis, Cars, Jethro Tull, Epica, Hiromi’s Sonic Bloom, Nena, The Manhattan Transfer, Styx, Oreskaband, Angela, Astral Projection, The Bangles, Deep Purple, Nightwish, Yoko Kanno (composer)

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Arthur Rubinstein

Vladimir Horowitz

Anna Moffo

Leontyne Price

Martha Argerich

Itzhak Perlman

Placido Domingo

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Earl Wild

1) Ra
2) Dispatch
3) The John Butler Trio
4) The Jimi Hendrix Experience
5) The Red Hot Chili Peppers
6) The Offspring
7) Gorillaz
8) Skindred
9) Disturbed
10) System of a Down

For Jazz:

1) Miles Davis
2) John Coltrane
3) Charlie Parker
4) Louis Armstrong
5) Charles Mingus
6) Thelonius Monk
7) Dave Brubeck
8) Sonny Rollins
9) Stanley Turrentine
10) Joshua Redman

For Rock - I will go with the best acts that I have seen live (in no particular order):

1) The Rolling Stones
2) The Who
3) Queen (with Freddie Mercury)
4) Heart
5) Tori Amos
6) Sarah MacLachlan
7) Bob Seger
8) Tom Petty
9) Natalie Merchant
10) Styx

I was waiting for your list John. My parents were big Perlman fans and I remember watiching a classical documentary series featuring him as a host and at times performer.

Dean. Interesting list, but not surprising coming from you. I forgot the Dead. They would make my top 20 list with their varied styles. Blues for Allah is my favourite from them.

David. Though I never owned anythign by him until very recently, Dave Brubek is right up there for me as well.

I'm still waiting for someone to put Dwight Yoakam in their top 10.

I would like to add Blondie, the Cars, and Tom Petty to my favorites. Would have loved to see any of them live. Maybe with Tom there's a chance, still.

For an honorable mention I have to pick Styx and Boston.

I've probably seen Tom Petty four or five times. He always puts on a solid no frills jam session.

You can at least see him embalmed and animated!

You still have a chance for Blondie too. Debby Harry was playing close by at a casino not long ago, much to my surprise.

I struggled with this all day. No way I can pick 10. There are too many types of music to listen too. Since the themes seems to be rock and it's predecessors, I tried to mix up a few styles in that focus to keep my mind from exploding with names. I bet if you asked me an hour from now I'd make changes but here goes.

1 Collective Soul
For sheer musical talent and ability to diversify within their own style.

2 GreenDay
For their extremely addictive mix of simple, energetic punk but often with much more complex musicality.

3 Pink Floyd Again, again a sheer musical talent that practically invented their own style of music.

4 Stevie Ray Vaughn
An epic artist that simply makes you feel good.

5 AC/DC
Call it what you will, but when you just plain need it, it's pure energy.

6 The Dave Matthews Band
Self Explanatory

7 Rush
Although I now officially hate Neil Peart for effortlessly being immeasurably better than I will ever be.

8 Loreena McKennitt
OK, not rock but I'd feel guilty leaving her out. I love Celtic music and her voice is the closest to you can hear to angels singing without actually dying. "The Mummers Dance" still hypnotizes me.

9 The John Butler Trio
Nice Pick Zero. I didn't expect anyone else to catch it. I'm always impressed by artists not afraid to mix and match genres in new ways.

10 BB King
I know there are more talented blues artists but after seeing him put on a better show sitting down than most can do standing up, he holds an honorable spot on my top ten that will be hard to knock out of place.

I penciled out winners in over a dozen or more other categories because I'm totally bored at work today. Everything from classical to World to Nu Metal. It became too long a list to post here without destroying the top 10 theme.

Just wanted to commend Murph for sticking to 10 and for the great annotations.

I'm not playing. Yet.

it was difficult, very very difficult.

Edit:
I originally typed "It was Hard, very hard." but then I figured I risked a string of "That's what she said." Jokes.

The late 70's were probably the last time for rock/pop innovation on a wide scale level. Sadly, things only go down from there... Grunge? Emo? NuMetal? Give me an f'n break.

After Kurt Cobain blew his brains out, we got boy bands and underage pop tarts singing (er... lip synching) in their underwear.

Good music is still being made, you just have to wade through a ton of mediocre crap.

Anyway, enough rant, here's my New Wave top 10:

Cars
Devo
Blondie
The dB's
Talking Heads
Television
Squeeze
Joe Jackson
The Knack
Elvis Costello

Now where did I put my skinny tie...

I forgot that I had seen AC/DC and they were much better than Styx.

I'd add the Clash, Flock of Seagulls, Platinum Blonde, and Roxy Music to the late 70s early 80s (alternate)list.

A great, great band that is vastly underrated.

You have pretty good taste in music for someone living in Georgia! (I'm in Atlanta btw.)

Kinda wish I lived in Canada lately though... Mellow, friendly people, great loudspeakers, socialized medicine, quasi legal cannabis...

Sounds like paradise, 'eh?

Amazing band. Which makes me think of...

Brian Eno. A genre unto himself.

Mark, do you still have your Grumpy old Man hat handy to lend to Savant? I lost mine throwing it at kids on my lawn.

While I agree with you in some ways, (mediocre is mediocre no matter how you dress it up(and Medic8r is Medic8r, except when he is BigWyRes.)) I generally applaud when new generations take music, change and turn it into their own, even if I don't care for it much. Reminds me of when my parent's couldn't understand my music.

For me, Grunge was a refreshing change from the mediocrity of radio pop that never seems to evolve much. Now, I'm even into "some" of the more innovative Nu Metal groups now at age 40. Although the rampant copy cat stuff falls into your mediocre category.

Can't say I'm a big emo fan but it certainly sparked it's own culture proving that it has mass appeal to that group of people. I try to be open minded to their opinions verses mine and remember that I used to like some pretty questionable music in my youth as well. Some of it stood the test of time. Others.... faltered into oblivion where it belonged.

Love your list though, you certainly can't go wrong there. Not familiar with Television though. All the rest are great!

Hi all,

This will date me, but I don't care. I've lived through some wonderful decades and eras of music.

In no particular order and mixing genres:

1. Chuck Berry

2. Little Richard, the Dell Vikings

3. Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis

4. Janis Joplin and Joe Cocker (together in concert!)

5. Lambert, Hendricks and Ross (great jazz vocal trio)

6. Ray Charles

7. Gospel at Colonus (black gospel musical version of Sophocles' tragedy with Clarence Fountain and the Blind Boys of Alabama)

8. Oscar Peterson

9. Pete Seeger and The Weavers

10. Il Trittico and Tales of Hoffman at the New York Metropolitan Opera

Runners up: Joni Mitchell at a small club in Toronto (The Riverboat) before she became famous in the US.
John Rutter Requiem at Carnegie Hall. Several great folk acts, Ian and Sylvia, The Tarriers, Jim Kweskin Jug Band; Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks (before they became The Band, backing up Dylan); Levon Helm (Midnight Ramble at his Woodstock studio).

Lots of other great ones.

Alan

That would have been something to see Joni when she was playing small clubs and coffee shops down in Yorkville, Alan.

In no particular order (other than Pearl Jam number 1), my favorite ten are:

Pearl Jam
Foo Fighters
Guns N Roses
Rage Against the Machine
The Doors
U2
Gogol Bordello
Muse
The Beatles
Stone Temple Pilots

Honorable mention for me is Pink Floyd and Counting Crows.

Lol! Yeah, I'm ready for that hat, yo.

Believe me, I want to see the glass as half full, but I work in the music industry, and to say that it is in a decline would be an understatement. Will it recover? I'd like to think so, but...

It seems, for now, that popular culture may have peaked somewhere around the late 60's/early 70's (music, film, art, cars, fashion etc.) and since then, despite all of the wonderful technological advances we have made, things (the arts specifically) have gotten worse, not better.

Craft is not as important as instant, shallow and fleeting fame. It's not this generations fault as much as it is the media and the culture of celebrity that dominates it.

I work with a lot of young musicians, and they are generally very frustrated with the music scene right now. It's like they came to the party too late and the avenues and resources that were once available to foster creative music and fund ambitious projects are just no longer there.

What's funny is, most young people I know that care about music, have their iPods filled with stuff like the Who, Beatles, Hendrix, Zeppelin etc. The music (for shame) of their parents!!!

My girlfriend, who just turned the ripe old age of 22, can talk for hours about obscure Italian prog rock from the 70's or say, Patsy Cline, but has absolutely no interest at all in whatever the latest drivel that is spewed forth by My Chemical Romance or Lady Goo Goo or (insert "popular" band/artist name here). To her and her oh-so-hip friends, that crap is: "Uninspired commercial cheese foisted upon an unsuspecting brainwashed youth..." (actual quote btw. I guess that's why I loves the gal)

So, old IS the new "new"!

Now get off my lawn dammit!

They stopped making real music in the early '70s

Bah!! Kids today... GET OFF MY, um, SNOW...

1. Fleetwood Mac. Rumours is the perfect album and should be studied in music class by every child.

2 Aerosmith. Most punks today have no Idea this band used to be good.

3. REO Speedwagon

4. Karen Carpenter. The finest female voice,ever. The bastard who called her fat in a review should be charged in her death.

5. Kathy Troccoli. A christian singer in the same league as Karen. Reunion records was founded because none of the stuck up ccm labels of the time would touch a voice deemed "sexy".

6. Molly Hatchet

7. Olivia Newton-John

8. The Sundays. Why the hell was I not told of this group before?

9. ABBA. People today like to make fun of 70's icons like ABBA, they're sadly mistaken.

10. I continue to be surprised by some of the talent of today, cake,Philosopher Kings,IVY,The Donnas,Ronnie Jordan,Paul Taylor... Found thanks to Pandora or the occasional tv show.

Now get off my lawn

I agree with you here. I try to follow the local music industry here both because there is some great talent brewing and because it is as you say. They have returned to being artists instead of striving to be celebrities. Unfortunately, the ones that are getting the big breaks are the ones who are conforming to popular, radio play, type music. The way to get a big break here now is to sell your songs to big network TV shows like Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill and others.

Fortunately, even more are concentrating on making music in their own fashion, making for a very robust and diversified young music scene here and you are right, they are quoting influences from the 70's way more than current.

It's still a big population split even in the youth. While the phrase is somewhat 'grumpy old man hat' deserving in it's own right, I sum it up like this. "The McDonald's kids are still listening to the 'Industry led,dollar driven' music but there is an ever growing army of coffee shop kids who are actually passionate about music".

There may be hope for it all yet.

Best of all, you can go to small 'coffee shop kid' bars at my age, have a beer and enjoy these great new bands and these kids don't even blink an eye at you, despite your age. As long as you are there for the music, they accept you as one of their own. Not so much at shows for the more "popular" big bands. Then all you get is a lot of stares and eye rolls like you belong in a nursing home. This says a lot for the two cultures. Like you, I don't blame those kids either. They are simply mirroring the industry that they are following.

Now excuse me while I put aside my wisdom and listen to some Nickelback. I agree about Chad's voice but despite all the above, I'll also admit I'm a sucker for high energy music with a strong metal guitar style.

Aww, man, I just remembered Sugar/Bob Mould/Husker Du. I would have him/them in the top fifteen.

I agree with Murph about there being a split in the quality of music these days. I do have to admit, though, that I hate to agree with him given his reference to liking Nickleback. (As I mentioned in my earlier post, Pearl Jam is my favorite group. And, to like Pearl Jam, one simply must dislike Nickleback. I lurk on the Pearl Jam website, and the shots people take at Nickleback are pretty constant and quite funny. I think it's because the lead singer once said something negative about Pearl Jam. They are a tough crowd on the Pearl Jam site. Assuming it works, this link gives you a taste. http://forums.pearljam.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=120467. Frankly, until I learned on that site that I am “supposed” to hate them, I was completely indifferent to Nickleback. I’m just easily persuaded.)

In any event, I think if one looks there is some good, new music to be found. I just think for the most part it is not played on the radio. I love going to festival-type concerts and watching highlights of festivals on a cable station that shows concerts most of the day (I think its now called Palladium). I found some really good music that way that is a bit off the beaten path. Gogol Bordello, mentioned in my post above, is fantastic (though most friends I've introduced it to have given it a thumb down), especially live. Wolfmother has two good albums out. The Strokes and Interpol are fantastic. The Kooks, the Fratellis, Paolo Nutini, and Rodrigo y Gabriella are others I’ve found that aren’t real big names but make good music. It’s not necessarily groundbreaking stuff, but I think it’s good.

Also, Muse is getting quite popular, but their music is very good. Same with Kings of Leon. If you haven't checked it out yet, Them Crooked Vultures is fantastic. Granted, it is a "super group" of "older" dudes, but it is new music. “Real” Weezer fans would disagree, but I think they still are making very good music. I also think Green Day’s two most recent albums are classics, particularly American Idiot. Nine Inch Nails is pretty much done, but they are relatively recent and made some real good music. Also, relatively recent and a bit groundbreaking—Radiohead. Red Hot Chili Peppers put out two good albums as their last two albums, though I think that will stop since their lead guitarist is leaving again.

I’m actually not sure what to make of the fact that as I’ve gotten older my musical tastes have moved more toward the teen-angst kind of stuff. In my high school years (early 80s), I was nothing but a classic rock kind of guy. I think my change in musical taste toward the more juvenile is a form of a midlife crisis. At least it’s a relatively harmless one.

Sounds like we have very similar music tastes in the Rock Genre. I'll be checking out the couple of names I don't recognize like Gogol Bordello and The Fratellis because I love all the other ones that I did recognize. I also vote American Idiot as the best rock album ever made...... in the 2000 century anyways.

Hey, I'm going to ditto most of what you two guys said. MarkSJohnson would also agree with us on the awesomeness of American Idiot.

I saw 500 Days of Summer last night and used Shazam to tag a song I liked. Turned out to be Vagabond, by Wolfmother. Good music in that movie.

What's funny is I was going to say I think American Idiot is one of the two or three best albums ever made, but normally people look at me cross-eyed when I say that, so I bit my tongue.

And Murph, as I said, most people don't go for Gogol Bordello. They are very interesting though in terms of their makeup and their music. I first saw them live, and loved them, so that probably affected my view of them when I started buying their albums.

A fried of mine described the Fratellis as college frat type of music. It's not too deep, but I think they are pretty talented guys.

Every decade has had its own really terrible, mass produced record company exec music. See bubblegum pop, disco (yes, disco, live with it people, it was awful), a whole lot of 80s pop and hair bands (see above), 90s pop, and Aught pop, which expanded into the alternative genre (hey, record company execs are stupid, but they can find money...)

I saw that Regina was on the soundtrack album twice. I've heard good things about the movie. I'll have to watch it sometime. I like Zooey Deschanel, but I kind of hate Joseph Gordon-Levitt after having to see him too many times with bad hair on that show I didn't like. And there's something about his face that I just want to punch. But I'm sure he's really a nice guy.

I wish I could find money and lots of it

There is a reason for that. Something very special happened starting sometime in the 60s. There was a period where some artists had a fair amount of latitude in the direction they took their creative content. There was a LOT of creativity in the industry for a period of 10 years or so before the recording companies started to impose their control again. I think that it was also driven by the profits generated in that period. When you are making buckets of money as a studio, its a lot easier to say yes to things you personally do not like, but that might make you money. It is easy to take risk.

It seems to be a natural human tendency to try to take more and more control as things get worse.

The creative talent is still out there, it just does not have the freedom or financing it did in the 60s and early 70s.

Or maybe we're all just getting old. Charles seems to find plenty of creative modern stuff.

Speak for yourself.


Hey you kids get off my lawn!!!

And Jay is caught up with my posts again. Grrr.

You're still on the top 5 list, for the moment.

See, what you need to do is both pass JohnK, then you can both be on the list.

Good point. I hope that doesn't upset his Slavic soul.

Just to deflate that a little, I doubt that all of the artists from the '60s and '70s only listened to their peers. I think it's always been a point of credibility to like older stuff. Also, I thought people who care about music listened to vinyl, not to iPods. Ha ha.

Then he'll need a soothing salve for his Slavic soul.

Witty wordplay - well written!

I'm not saying that it does not exist, its just not financed by the majors (and so pushed off to the side). Do you think that the big lables would pay for something like Saucer Full of Secrets of Atom Heart Mothers these days. Not likely.

I consider myself a pretty big Pink Floyd fan, but I'm not a real fan of A Saucerful of Secrets (other than Set the Controls . . . .). I haven't listened to it in a while, though. Maybe I'll take another listen, since you seem to be referencing it as a worthwhile album.

I do love Animals and the Final Cut. Haven't listened to them in a while either. I may end up on a Pink Floyd role as a result of this thread.

Actually, thats the point. A lot of the early Floyd stuff was very difficult to listen to: experimental. In today's environment they would never have lasted long enough to be a commercial success.

The record companies these days are lazy, to me anyway, they seem quite content to keep churning out Beyonces, Rhianons, Agillaras, Fergies....basically the same thing.

Will we EVER see another Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, SRV, Queen......?

Took me a long time to refine the criteria for this list.

I finally settled on "cumulative joy, with expectation for more".

No order and no annotations for now. But just ten.

AC/DC
Yes
Rush
The Who
John Hiatt
Lyle Lovett
Steve Ray Vaughan
Elton John
Ella Fitzgerald
Barenaked Ladies

Probably my favorite live act that I have seen would be Tool. Not only was the performance entertaining/interesting/wierd but they sounded unbelievable live, unlike alot of live performances I have seen and the special effects used were quite nice as well.

I have seen Tool in concert once before and I must say that I agree.

I'll need to revise my list if it pertains to acts I have actually seen in person. Luckily some will stay in there and in a very similar order.

I don't think that was the intent of the original thread; if so, I'd have to revise somewhat too. I thought there was a separate thread some time ago about favorite live performances.

I have only seen a handful of live shows, admittedly as much as I like different genres of music I haven't been to many live shows. I did go to the Vancouver Symphony over the weekend for the first time, and that was super cool.

Anyway, shows that I have actually seen, in order of best show:

Metallica x 5 (Including once in London, they happened to be there when I was there, super cool)
Megadeth x 1
Godsmack x 4
Nickelback x 1

I'm also going to Motley Crue next week, free tickets!! lol

On the list: Tool, Offspring, Green Day, Rush, Disturbed. Admittedly I have missed them all a few times.. I don't really know what I was thinking, especially Tool.

Does anyone have the Rush R30 Blue-Ray? Is it any good?

I think Mel(onn) has R30 in BR. I've got the DVD, but the BR is supposed to be much better as well as having the entire concert on it.

Yeah, what Adrian said. I knew somebody had posted a glowing review that made me think I needed to get the BD even though I already own and enjoy the DVD.

I had it in my hand the other day, and put it back because I was not sure. I'll keep an eye out for it again.

If you like the DVD get the Blu ray. you won't be disappointed. IMO
Mel
It's about time I reached 400

If they are ever playing in your area and you love great live music, you simply must see Zappa Plays Zappa.

Just saw them Monday night here in Atlanta and they absolutely killed live. Very rare to see that level of musical skill displayed by younger musicians in this day and age. Frank would be (probably is somewhere) proud of Dweezil's brilliantly successful attempt to expose the music of his father, perhaps one of the greatest 20th century composers America has ever produced, Frank Zappa.

If you like rock, jazz, classical, avant-garde, funk or whatever type of music, you would do well to check them out.

They have some video up at their site: http://www.zappaplayszappa.com/

These threads are always fun. This one surprises me in the one act that is missing. I'll put him on top of my list-might be showing my age here, but of few of the shows I've seen of his have been amazing.

1. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

and now in no particular order.

2. the Replacements
3. the Who
4. Rolling Stones
5. Tom Petty
6. North Mississippi All Stars
7. Allman Bros/Gov't Mule/Derek Trucks (none of the members of this family of bands have ever let me down)
8. John Hiatt
9. Taj Mahal Trio (2008 show in a Minnesota prairie casino rivaled any old Foghat show for sheer energy and volume)
10. Stevie Ray and Double Trouble - probably deserves to be first, I only got to see him twice

That is a very nice list there Jorge!

This wasn't easy at all. Could easily double the list!

- in no particular order

For Rock:

The Beatles
Bob Seger
Tom Petty / Heartbreakers
Genesis with and without Gabriel
Phil Collins and Company
PInk Floyd
Police
Elvis Costello
Eagles
Green Day

For Blues:

BB King
Albert King
Freddie King
SRV
Joe Bonamassa
John Lee Hooker
Muddy Waters
Fleetwood Mac
Christone Ingram
Markus King Band

For Jazz:

Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Louis Armstrong
Charles Mingus
Jeff Lorber Fusion
Grover Washington Jr
Pat Metheny
Dave Brubeck
Al Di Meola
Ben Webster

For the I don't have a category/name for this genre:

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (aka Sting)
Jeff beck
Eric Clapton
The Corrs
Enya
Brian Culbertson (kind of like Jazz but not really)
Steely Dan
Chris Botti
Dave Mattews
Chris Stapleton

Honorable mention:

The Doors
Fleetwood Mac (Buckingham Nicks era)
Chris Cornell
John Mayer
Larry Carlton
Eric Johnson
Billy Strings
Allman Brothers
John Scofield
Joe Cocker
Traffic
Led Zeppelin
Roxy Music (Brian Eno)
Nora Jones

Hmm...10 will be tough, but here are the one's that first sprang to mind...in no particular order:

Tom Waits
Oscar Peterson
Marcus Miller
Cowboy Junkies
Tragically Hip
Yo La Tengo
Nine Inch Nails/David Bowie
Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood
Sigur Rós
Ron Carter

Guess I can’t follow directions very well. I was having too much fun. Not really a list of the top ten all time.
Sorry
Jeff