Cities have started to reopen (NYC is in the early stages) and some people are finding socially remote ways to host concerts, but the world of live entertainment as we know it is still far from normal. . Aside from watching the many livestreams that happen every day, one thing we’ve turned to in these non-concert times is the live concert footage, and luckily there is YouTube which has an incredible array of live footage. from all the history of pop music, from movie clips of concerts, TV performances and other professional filming footage, to tons of videos made by fans of shows. If you’re looking for a place to start, we’ve picked out some of our favorites. Here are five more:
Kendrick Lamar @ Reading and Leeds 2018
Kendrick Lamar apparently has a new album on the way, although he’s been pretty quiet about it. He did, however, appear to protest in the streets of Compton on Sunday – a move that was not surprising given Kendrick’s possibly final one-generation protest anthem. If you’ve been craving Kendrick’s music lately, you’re far from alone, and this excellent pro-shot video from Kenny’s THIN.-The headliner of the era in Reading and Leeds is extremely worth seeing. [Andrew Sacher]
Moses Sumney @ KEXP Studios – 09/28/2017
Moses Sumney released his best album to date, and one of our favorites of the year so far, the double LP græ, This year. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to see him on tour yet due to the coronavirus, so instead we revisit this wonderful studio session filmed a few days after the release of his first LP, Aromanticism. He really showcases his gorgeous voice and eclectic, genre-defying music. [Amanda Hatfield]
Griselda @ Novo Theater in Los Angeles, CA – 03/06/2020
Griselda is having a serious moment right now. 2019 has been the biggest year yet for these gritty Buffalo-based rap traditionalists, and 2020 has only been bigger. It is included a Fall on appearance, several projects and more in progress (including Westside Gunn’s Pray for Paris and two Conway EPs), tons of must-see guest verses (including one with Lil Wayne) and a tour earlier this year for the band’s debut album and Shady Records debut, WWCD. This video shot by fans from the LA stop of this tour shows just how well WSG, Conway, Benny the Butcher and their associates (including Boldy James, The Alchemist and Keisha Plum) can command a crowd, and it also proves that what you hear on the album is what you get in person. Their talent is undeniable. [Andrew Sacher]
LCD audio system @ Primavera Sound 2016
It took only five years for James Murphy, after LCD’s “last gig” at Madison Square Garden, to decide he wanted to reform the band. While you can complain about his conviction, no one who went to see them live on the next tour seemed upset that they were back. This Primavera Sound set is before they start working in songs from 2017 American dream, so they’re all hits, starting with “Us v Them” and going through “All My Friends” and the Barcelona crowd is eating it all. [Bill Pearis]
The monks on ‘Beat, Beat, Beat’ 1966
The Monks were a garage rock band made up of bored GI’s stationed in German in the 60s. They dressed as monks and also shaved their heads, but the blurry, droney, and organ-powered sound they had. created was even crazier and turned out to be influential. The Fall covered two of their songs on Extricate in 1990 and Rick Rubin and Henry Rollins re-released their 1966 debut album, Black Monk Time, through their label Infinite Zero. During their brief stay together, they appeared on the German TV show Beat Beat Beat, performing six songs which are all quite fantastic. [Bill Pearis]
For more of our favorite live videos, head here.
