Basically, no shows are taking place due to the coronavirus outbreak (although some artists are doing live streams instead), but if you’re already watching a show, or just need a ‘a brief distraction from the craziness of the world right now, luckily there’s YouTube which has an incredible range of live footage from all over pop music history, film clips from concerts, TV performances and live music. other professionally shot footage, to tons of fan-shot videos from shows. If you’re looking for a place to start, we’ve selected some of our favorites. Here are five more:
Howling Trees @ Rockpalast Germany – 11/15/1996
Mark Lanegan has a great new solo album today, so what better time than now to rewatch a great live video from his classic grunge-era band Screaming Trees. And making this video even cooler is that it’s from the tour where Josh Homme was the band’s touring guitarist, after Kyuss broke up but before they formed Queens of the Stone Age, which Mark Lanegan became a frequent collaborator. Screaming Trees has always veered on the psychedelic side of alternative rock, and it really shows in this set, which evolves into a handful of jammy freakouts. Mark’s voice sounds good too. [Andrew Sacher]
Garbage @ Edinburgh Castle in Scotland – 01/07/1999
If tours were happening this summer, we’d be excited to see Garbage open the Alanis Morissette gig. Little shredded pill 25th anniversary tour alongside Liz Phair (the same line-up that also toured together in 1998), but since they haven’t, let’s rewatch this landmark show from Shirley Manson’s hometown on the Version 2.0 turned instead. They played the show next to Edinburgh Castle for the opening of the Scottish Parliament celebration, and it aired on New Years Day 2000. According to GarbageBase.comit was the first and only time they covered “John Anderson” by Robert Burns and “Don’t Let Me Down” by the Beatles, and they also played many of the now classic songs from their first two albums and seemed fantastic all the way. time. [Andrew Sacher]
Oasis – Live at Maine Road 1996
In 1996, Oasis were the biggest band in England – not to mention, in their minds, The World. They hadn’t made any bad records yet, Guigsy and Bonehead were still in the band, and drugs were still fun. The arrogance was matched by air and the crowds – in this case a football stadium just outside Oasis’ hometown of Manchester – ate it all up, blow after blow. [Bill Pearis]
Slade @ Winterland 8/04/1975
Oasis cover Slade’s “Cum on Feel the Noize” for the encore of their Maine Road gig above, so here’s the real Slade who, in the early 70s, was just as unstoppable as the Gallaghers were in the 1970s. 90. In fact, Slade has racked up 17 consecutive UK Top 20 hits. America loved them too, as this concert shot at San Francisco’s Winterland in 1975 shows. This show has it all – flares, glitter, top hats, riffs, bass solos, song titles with almost no correctly spelled words – everything except being shot in color. Oscillate! [Bill Pearis]
The Weakerthans @ Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg – 4/2009
John K Samson’s beloved band The Weakerthans have been apart for over five years now, but their influence hasn’t faded, and this show from Winnipeg’s hometown a few years after their fourth and final album, Visit of Reunion, is a good reminder why. It’s a pristine recording with a fantastic setlist (including two-thirds of Virtute the Cat’s saga – part three, “Virtute at Rest”, won’t be released until Samson’s solo album in 2016 winter wheat) and listening to him is a great comfort in these strange times of quarantine. [Amanda Hatfield]
Check out a photo gallery of Garbage in New York on their Version 2.0 20th Anniversary Tour:
For more of our favorite live videos, head here.
