My Top 10 Live Performances

I originally made this list, on 12 January 2014, following a concert by Bastille at Emmarentia dam. The original post was done on my old blog (on the now defunct Jux blogging platform). I decided to update it when I ported it over to my new blog on Medium.

It’s hard to pick what the best performances are as it’s not just the music that factors in to the decision (although it is obviously a big one). The crowd, lighting, sound and effects also play big roles in a successful live performance. As well as my personal state at the moment of the show.

It’s really hard to whittle over 70 performances by international bands down to 10, but the following were my 10 favourites so far.

10. Eagles of Death Metal at OppiKoppi 2012

This was an insane show I got to witness with most of my best friends — Even Sous woke up for this one.

There is not a lot to the music of Eagles of Death Metal. Just good, fun, old school rock and roll. And if there is one place where this genre is absolutely adored it is at OppiKoppi.

“All you rock and roll fans out here in the desert” — Not that Koppi is a desert, but the band really appreciated the love the crowd showed them. It was a great show filled with funny one liners, girls flashing their boobs and the greatest mustache in the world — on a ginger!

Highlight: I Want You Soo Hard (Boy’s Bad News)

9. Bloc Party at Rock Werchter 2013

I’ve seen Bloc Party twice and they where great both times. At In The City 2012 they played a headlining spot and as such the set-list was better.

However the crowd and the vibe at Rock Werchter was insane. Arriving a bit into the second song, after watching The National on the main stage, Bloc Party already had the crowd inside the Tent dancing and jumping. They maintained this party for the entire set and we just danced and jumped our way forward with 17 000 people inside The Barn.

Bloc Party closed the set with This Modern Love, Flux and Helicopter and needless to say, the crowd exploded during this.

The biggest party at a performance, ever.

Highlight: This Modern Love

8. Jimmy Eat World at KOKO 2013

The Venue. Wow. If I could only watch live music at one place for the rest of my life, it would be at KOKO in Camden, London.

KOKO is a 1400 capacity, three level theatre with the biggest disco ball in the world hanging overhead.

London crowds are also the best and the mosh pit (YES, they mosh to JEW) was great, especially during “Let it Happen”.

This show formed part of the Damage album launch tour, which meant that the band got to showcase some of their newest material, and it was great material to perform live, a highlight being the show opener “I will steal you back”

Now if they can only do something about the drinks prices. ??5 a draught is harsh on any Saffas wallet.

Highlight: Let it Happen

7. Billy Talent at OppiKoppi 2010

What can I say about this show except that it capped off one of the best weekends of my life. Billy Talent was the headline act at my first OppiKoppi and they were perfect in closing out the magical and mystical experience that was my first OppiKoppi.

Our group and the entire crowd went crazy, kicking up a massive dust storm during the entire show. The interaction between the band and the crowd was great. It was also great to hear that the band also attended the festival that day, walking around,checking out the local acts and experiencing the magic of OppiKoppi.

To this day, the best act I’ve seen at OppiKoppi

Highlight: Devil in a Midnight Mass

6. Metallica at Coke Fest 2006

These guys are legends. They own the stage. They have mastered the art of performing. The crowd are not called fans, they are called friends. These guys just know how to dominate.

I got to see them for my 18th Birthday and it was awesome! Playing over two hours and not once missing a single note, I knew in those moments that I was in the presence of greatness. The highlight of the show for me being the performance of “One” and hearing Kirk Hammet bust out all the solo’s was out of this world.

I would have loved to see them again in 2013, but the date clashed with my sister’s wedding and family had to come first. However, the memory of seeing them in 2006 is one that I will always cherish.

Highlight: One

5. Ben Howard at Rock Werchter 2013

The look of amazement on Ben’s face sums it up. The mainly belgian crowd loved his set and he loved performing it for them. Ben is an amazing artist that loves his fans and loves performing for them.

Ben performed in The Barn, a 17000 capacity tent with a wooden floor. The entire tent and the outsides where packed to see him. Not a small achievement considering his set started midway through the Kings of Leon set on the main stage.

But when the entire wooden floor shook as 34000 feet pounded on it to the beat of “Keep your head up”, I knew that skipping half of the Kings of Leon set was totally worth it.

Highlight: Keep Your Head Up

4. The National at Rock Werchter 2013

The National, the band we were most excited to see at Rock Werchter. I’ve always been a massive fan of the band and they were at the top of my MUST SEE list.

And everything about their live performance was perfect. Matt Berninger, glass of white wine in hand, is an insane performer. This show had it all, running through the crowd whilst Bloodbuzz Ohio played, just to get into the golden circle. Not so easy in a 86 000 crowd, dragging a skinny blonde girl along. And what a good decision that was, as the crazy lead singer got into the crowd and walked past us shouting “I won’t fuck us over, I’m Mr. November”

Seeing the band, at the height of their power was inspiring and moving. The emotion in this man’s baritone voice is too powerful.

A great show, one that I wished would never end.

Highlight: Terrible Love

3. Sigur Rós at Rock Werchter 2013

It’s hard to describe why this was such an amazing performance. It was a great case of where the whole is so much more than the sum of the parts, even in this case where all the parts are extremely talented.

The dark and eerie vibe, the lighting and effects on stage, the 9 girls playing violins and the military suits worn by the band all contributed to an eerily beautiful show.

Usually at shows I love to sing along with the band, but in this case, it was mind blowing to just stand (front row) and witness perfection being created by Jonsi and the rest of the band. I mean, the guy plays the guitar with a bow. That’s gotta be one of the coolest things ever.

Hauntingly beautiful show. Capping off a great day with the best performance. A day that included Vampire Weekend, Palma Violets, Biffy Clyro, The National and Bloc Party. No small feat.

Highlight: Hoppípolla

2. The Tallest Man on Earth at Joburg Theatre 2012

I think that this guy must feel extremely uncomfortable when he doesn’t have his guitar in hand. He is so good on it that it has to be an essential part of his being.

I feel sorry for the people who missed out on seeing him. I would want everyone who loves his music to experience it live in an intimate venue.

Only once in my life have I broken down into complete tears for something beautiful and that was during The Tallest Man on Earth’s performance at the Joburg Theatre. When Kristian Matsson and Amanda Hollingby Matsson joined forces to perform the closing song “Thrown right at me”, the sheer beauty of the moment was too much for me.

Highlight: Thrown right at Me

1. We Were Promised Jetpacks at B72 2014

I thought for a long time that no show would ever surpass the Tallest Man gig, and I definitely wasn't expecting it to come from this band. But, sometimes when you don’t really have high expectations, you get blown away.

And it started with the venue. B72 is situated in two U-Bahn arches underneath Vienna’s U6, resulting in the 200 capacity venue trembling every time the train passes overhead.

The other patrons are all extremely friendly and it’s very easy to strike up a conversation with other true music lovers and fans, not pretentious hipsters and cool kids.

The supporting act for the evening was Fatherson, another Scottish band with immense talent. They blew me away with their raw sound and emotional lyrics on their opening song, An Island, and carried this through until the very end of their set. If you’ve never heard of this band, I highly recommend giving them a listen.

After the opening act, I spent some time chatting to the lead singer of Fatherson about their music, travelling and how a South African ends up at a We Were Promised Jetpacks gig in Vienna. And then it was time for the main act.

Unceremoniously climbing on to the tiny stage from between the crowd, the band opened with “Safety in Numbers”, from their brand new album. The sound was amazing and the small venue and crowd generated an amazing vibe. The skill of the band members really impressed me, especially the lead guitarist, who seemed like he was on his own planet with this guitar.

It’s hard to describe how impressed I was with the show and how much fun I was having as the band played a mixture of old and new songs with energy and tightness. I was entirely caught up in the show and each song. Singing along and enjoying the music whilst appreciating being in the moment.

Until, those first two strums on Sore Thumb. Wow. I was transported into raw emotion. This song gripped my entire being and in that moment I entirely understood it. It’s meaning, emotions, feelings. Perfection.

Retrace all my steps, which helps when I start to forget.

You said that to me, like the stories the thoughts never see.

I pray my whole day, to see what disasters we live that could call out her name and then wait,

let’s see what comes crawling back, and I recover….

The rest of the performance was amazing and I rode my emotional high through it.

After the show I spent sometime chatting to the lead singers from both bands over a beer and got signed vinyl copies of Fatherson’s debut album, An Island, as well as We Were Promised Jetpacks’ Unraveling. I also got the signed setlist from WWPJ.

These memorabilia will always remind me of the best gig I have ever attended.

Highlight: Sore Thumb