VH1 Staff Picks: 14 Amazing Bands You 'Need' To See Perform Live In 2014
If you're a music lover (or even if you're not) there are few things greater than seeing a band perform live. At its best, it's like watching magic happen right in front of your eyes! But we know that tickets sometimes ain't cheap, and sometimes going to see a show can be a big investment. So your friendly neighborhood VH1 staffers have decided to pool our knowledge (and our ticket stubs) and give our picks for the very best live musicians in the biz. If you ever get a chance, be sure to beg, borrow or steal a ticket, because these folks are not to be missed! And if they're not touring, then do whatever you can to gain access to their homes and listen to them sing in the shower, because your musical existence will never be complete without these epic performers making sweet love to your ear drums. Get your lighters out, because here are 14 of the best concerts you will ever see...
14. Guster
Shout-out to the underdogs! This Boston-bred alternative rock band is the best thing from the '90s. Okay, them and the internet. The chilled out group still has steam, and now performs to their original fans… plus their fan's kids. What's cooler than that? Despite Guster's family-friendly persona, you can expect a lot of badass entertainment at one of their concerts. Recently I attended their "Parachute" anniversary concert at the Brooklyn Bowl, and it felt like a family reunion (In the best way. No creepy uncles were to be found.) A fan gave frontman Ryan Miller the shirt he wore on the Parachute album, and he swiftly changed into it for the remainder of the set. And multi-instrumentalist Joe Pisapia, who was a member of the group from 2003-2010, joined the gang for a surprise end-of-show performance. Finally, they did loads of encores. Trust me, snag a seat (or stance) at one of their shows. It's heart-warming worth it. -Sam Friedman
13. Yeah Yeahs Yeahs
Every time I see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs the evening feels like one big celebration with a few thousand of your closest friends. There's no way you can leave the show not on a musical high and not covered in confetti. Karen O is otherworldly and I've officially declared her my spirit animal. -Crystal Puccio
12. Robyn
Robyn is a force of nature that has been trapped within flesh and blood, so if you ever have a chance to see her do anything in person (i.e. a tour, a club gig, buying groceries at the store, breathing), DO SO. I got the opportunity to see her do a secret intimate club gig a few years back and I think it was not only one of the best live shows I've ever seen, but it was a spiritual awakening. Even for a small crowd, Robyn invokes the dance gods and transforms her audience to a netherworld. -Meghan O'Keefe
11. Wilco
Jeff Tweedy and company have been together for almost 20 years, and I've seen them in concert more times than I can count, but every single performance feels fresh. Their sound is layered and complex (sometimes there are several guitars and two keyboards on stage), lead by guitarist Nels Cline --- get your spot in front of stage right to see him in action --- and Jeff's light-hearted between song banter belies any melancholy bent in their song lyrics. I've seen them at the main stage of Bonnaroo and in a tiny rock club in Williamsburg, and no matter the size of the venue, every note is perfectly flawed in the way that rock and roll should be. Get lost in "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" or "Impossible Germany" and you will be hooked. -Sabrina Rojas Weiss
10. The Roots
Philly’s legendary Roots crew keeps the crowd moving with hits from their extensive catalog, but they’re known to bust into a few covers just to keep you on your toes. -Rahsheeda Ali
9. Radiohead
If you need confirmation that Thom Yorke has way more energy than you do, make sure to snag tickets to see Radiohead live. All of the complex arrangements heard on their LPs are replicated in front of your face, and the band definitely doesn’t disappoint. Plus, you’ll probably be treated to an encore (or two). -Rahsheeda Ali
When you're watching 23-year-old front woman Brittany Howard, you get the impression that you're watching a future legend. She belts like Janis Joplin, she shreds like Jimi Hendrix, and she's got enough soul to give Aretha Franklin a run for her money! Heavy (some would say hyperbolic) praise? Perhaps. But these guys are the real deal. 'Shakes are perhaps the most exciting band playing today, so catch 'em in their prime! -Jordan Runtagh
7. Drake
No one in the game is having more fun performing live than Drake. His forearms flail about as if independent from his upper body during party anthems like "Pop That" and "Started From the Bottom," and he has no problem pushing his catalog to the side to rise to the rafters and converse with fans for a solid 30 minutes. If that doesn't make you feel wanted (for one night only, but still) I don't know what does. -Emily Exton
6. Phish
As a general rule of thumb, I don't really care for jam bands. There are too many hippies and not enough hooks, and I've always felt that noodling is something to be enjoyed while sipping on ramen. All kidding aside, though, run --DON'T WALK!!-- to purchase a Phish ticket the next time they come through your town. If it helps to convince you, pretend you're on a cultural anthropology expedition and your mission is to soak up the culture of the most carefree members of our society. Go to the venue with an open mind, a few friends, and a pot brownie or three and I promise that you'll be blown away by the lights, the music, the witty rapport (and, of course, the THC) for the next three hours. WOLFMAN'S BROTHER, MANNNNN! -Mark Graham
First time I saw him the opening band was an unknown group from L.A. called Jane’s Addiction. They were pretty good but Iggy made their set seem forgettable. Shirt off, all over the place, singing the cream of his Stooges material and manhandling mic stands like they were mortal enemies and considering he brained himself with them a few times maybe they were. The reconstituted Stooges are one of the great unsung bands of rock n’roll, punk, hard rock or otherwise, and are now finally getting their due. Iggy is 66 and has more energy on-stage than performers a third his age and the band still attack their material like feral dogs with a mailman in site. -Ben Smith
4. Beyonce
There's a reason she's called the Queen. Now with five solo albums to choose from, as well as ample Destiny's Child tracks and the occasional Alanis Morissette, Prince or Lauryn Hill (if you're lucky) cover, Beyonce's musical selections never disappoint. Pair that with legitimately jaw-dropping choreography (as in, "How did she do that ever, let alone five months after giving birth) and you have a fast-moving show that's supremely entertaining from start to finish. -Emily Exton
Even when sharing the stage with the formidable Jay Z, JT takes the crown. His exuberance and child-like enthusiasm at getting to perform in front of actual people is refreshing, even after years of boy band fame, big-name acting roles and magazine cover dedicated to his wedding day. Vocally, his live show is on point and it's never not enjoyable to hear him add profanity wherever he likes and interrupt a familiar song with Juicy J choruses. -Emily Exton
2. Prince
"Prince: Number One performer. Mic drop." says VH1's own Orlando Lima. What else is there to say? Looking at his stellar set at the 2007 Super Bowl (or pretty much any gig he's ever played), it's hard to argue with that! The Legend of Paisley Park legend has been going crazy and making it (purple) rain for decades now.
We'll admit it up front: for years we didn't really get the big fuss about Springsteen. Sure, he's got some good tunes, but what's with all of the fanatical devotion that's been going for 40 years without stop? Then we saw him live...and suddenly, we got it. His epic three-hour performances feel like a religious revival meeting, with Bruce presiding from the stage, leading a roll call of his (pretty mammoth) E-Street Band. He creates a community in a stadium, and appears to have a blast doing it. Simply put, the guy clearly cares. He wants to save your soul with rock 'n' roll, and he'll go as long as it takes -displaying more energy as 63 than we do at half that age. Have no doubt, Bruce truly is The Boss. -Jordan Runtagh
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Because seriously, how often do you get to see a Beatle?
[Photo: Getty Images]