UPDATE: Devo has announced its only headlining shows of the year, in New York and Los Angeles.
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PREVIOUSLY:
Basically no show is taking place due to the coronavirus outbreak (although some artists are doing live streams instead), but if you’re already looking forward to a show, or just need a brief distraction from the craziness of the world right now, luckily there There’s YouTube which has an incredible range of live footage from throughout pop music history, from movie clips of concerts, TV performances and other professionally shot footage, to tons of videos shot by fans from broadcasts. If you’re looking for a place to start, we’ve selected some of our favorites. Here are five more:
The treatment – To show (1992)
Isolation made me want to listen to a lot of music with a dark tone, so naturally I listened to a lot of The Cure. For some reason I was kind of on a To wish kick lately so for today’s live videos I thought I’d go with The Cure’s 1993 live album/movie To show, which was shot on To wish tower. The entire movie isn’t on YouTube, but this playlist has most of it, and To show always worth revisiting. It’s basically a greatest hit, and Robert Smith and the rest of the band looked and sounded fantastic on this tour. There’s no shortage of great live Cure footage, but you can never go wrong with To show. [Andrew Sacher]
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Devote on Chorus, 1978
By the time of their debut album in 1978, Devo had it all figured out: the choppy art-punk sound, the sci-fi look of Nuclear Family, the alienated lyrical turn. It all really came together in their manic, choreographed show that was truly unlike any other at the time. And what better to live than on French television where when they ask “Are we not men?” the whole audience, with an audible French accent, shouts “WE ARE DEVO!” Watch them burn through “Satisfaction”, “Uncontrollable Urge”, “Mongoloid”, “Come Back Jonee” and more. It’s fantastic ! [Bill Pearis]
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Songs: Ohia @ Cox18 in Milan – 09/29/2000
As I said, I listened to dark music. Here is one from the much missed Jason Molina and his band Songs:Ohia which was filmed in Italy just between the releases of the band’s two albums in 2000, The lioness and ghost tropic. It’s a very cool video, visually and sonically, and it’s truly amazing how emotionally devastating Jason’s voice was. [Andrew Sacher]
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David Byrne & St. Vincent @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN – 10/02/2012
Before David Byrne and St. Vincent Launch Their Newest Separate Choreographed Shows – St. Vincent’s Supporting 2017 MASSDUCTION, and David Byrne in support of 2018 American utopia, an acclaimed live show that has since gone to Broadway – they joined forces for the tour supporting their 2012 collaborative album I love this giant. Another choreographed show, it was an exciting opportunity to see David and Annie on stage together, reimagining their originals while performing I love this giant songs together. It also serves as a great prequel to some of American utopiaimagery and direction. [Amanda Hatfield]
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Arab Strap @ Primavera Sound NOS 2017
It’s Aidan Moffat’s 50th birthday today, so wish him a happy birthday as you watch his band Arab Strap play Primavera Sound NOS in 2017, as part of their 20th anniversary reunion tour. Adrian and Malcolm Middleton, and the rest of the band are in fine form here, their biolous sound all the more apt in the age of Brexit and Trump. [Bill Pearis]
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For more of our favorite live videos, head here.
