I've looked for a similar thread but found nothing. I though it would be worth having a discussion of the best live performances witnessed, outside of the context of the "Best of" year end threads. Obviously there's a certain amount of subjectivity discussing the "best" live performances, but I'm thinking of those shows which feel like life-changing, ego-smashing or soul-shaking events. bands or artists who are at the height of their powers, even if just for one tour or even one night! Or at the very least are exceptionally good. Not just the usual good set from a good night type of stuff.
I'll start off with a few, some of which aren't noise/industrial related but need to be included.
Linekraft @ Hospital Fest, Queens, 12-8-18 - I know this just happened, but this was my impetus for creating this thread. this wasn't just the best performance of the night, this was the best performance I saw all year, by leaps and bounds. literally no aspect was lacking. the music itself, absurdly loud, consistently engaging, with distinct songs. the energy level from Masahiko was 100% the whole time. the backing videos were on point. and of course you get the industrial metal drum abuse as the cherry on top. and Masahiko's use of the on/off tape recorder combined with physical flailing was like watching someone get struck by lightning over and over. totally amazing.
Jaako Vanhala @ UFoI II, London, 5-2-15 - This is the only time I've seen JV live, so my context is limited, but holy fucking shit. I think a lot of people felt this was the best performance of the weekend. It didn't hurt that it was one of the only pure harsh noise sets, but it wasn't just contrast that made it stand out. it was pure glorious noise. the sound of electrified steel that literally energized the entire audience. extremely harsh yet so joyous in its expression it was impossible to frown.
Solmania & Jojo Hiroshige @ Noise May Day 2009, Osaka, 5-09 - now I can't remember if JoJo Hiroshige played with Solmania or after... I think it was after, but I was in a very frenzied and drunken state. What I remember is an endless wall of brain melting noise from Solmania, so completely crushing and massive I could barely move and then at some point Jojo came out into the crowd swinging a cinderblock around and then the next thing I knew I was holding on to the other end spinning in a circle with him until we threw it into a wall. it was fucking nuts. and I think this was all before Masonna closed the night out with a 45 second set. But Solmania's performance made me fall in love with them forever and Jojo's reckless disregard for human safety crowned him "noise king" in my mind.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor @ the Trocadero, Philly, 3-19-11 - GY!BE were really influential on my music taste. this show was massively built up in my mind. I never thought I'd see GY!BE and I didn't expect them to live up to my mental vision and yet it was infinitely more sublime than anything i could have expected. things were immediately made more serious when 3-5 minutes into the set a girl standing near me had a seizure and carried out by her friends after a few minutes. I was in the very front for most of the 2+hr performance wondering if the music would drive me to brain overload. the visuals were stunning! the selection of tracks, many of which were from "Lift Yr. Fists", couldn't have been better. the emotional weight of the recorded music always carried was doubled in effect live. truly unforgettable. and somehow when I saw them 2 or 3 years later, so much of that magic was completely absent...
Autechre @ the Black Cat, Washington DC, 4-18-08 - this was on their tour for "Quaristice". I saw them again in support of "Exai" and it's hard to decide which was better. While the "Exai" show was 2+hrs of digital sculptures being smashed into your brain, the first time was an awesome balance of extremely detailed electronic onslaught with a backing beat you could dance to it. there was zero visual component, as Sean Brown and Rob Booth stood behind their wall of gear in a pitch dark concert hall. it was all about the music, and the music was so good it was all you needed. (and the stupid amounts of DXM pumping through my system added to the experience).
I have a few more to share but that's enough for now.
