Ten classic rock bands that were better live than on their studio albums

Grateful Dead

Away from the down-and-dirty rock and roll playing out on stage, there was another option that could make a gig special. The Grateful Dead rocked with the best, but they also had a reputation for riffing, jamming, and improvising on stage. That added an edge, a difference for fans. In the end, there have been a lot of live recordings, official and otherwise. 

But the real thing was to see the Grateful Dead do their own thing live in front of you. It was a trip worth making. They had some great albums but many, many more superb live shows. 

Phish

A similar theme applies to Phish. You may have liked their music, I guess you probably wouldn’t be buying a ticket for a gig if you didn’t. But again, on stage, the band added another dynamic. They could make each concert sound different. Not by varying the setlist massively but more by the way their songs were interpreted and performed on the night.

Phish were enthusiasts of taking a song for a walk with improvisation and extended soloing. They often played like it was a fun jamming session but on stage in front of an audience rather than in some practice studio. Which made each event its own unique performance. Fans can reminisce based on what they saw and heard on the particular night they were there. 

Santana

Another variation on that you had to be there theme. Led by Carlos Santana, this band was a specialist at bringing together an amazing mix of jazz, rock, Latin, and other world music themes. Santana himself, with his brilliant guitar playing, could easily go off on an extended groove, and did so regularly on stage, with the band following on. Magic moments that had to be seen and heard rather than just heard. 

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