A great musical artist can do two important things: One is to make fantastic albums, and the second is to put on a thrilling live show. The gigs don't have to be loud and raucous. They simply need to be entertaining.
But what kind of music you like obviously matters. You might love metal and enjoy seeing Metallica, but abhor country, and even the best George Strait show will not move your meter. This is mentioned because the poll which you are about to read about is one taken of readers who love alt-rock.
Shakira might be loved by millions, but she might not be loved by this certain group of people. A couple of bands you never heard of might be, however. And if you are not a fan of them, it's fine. Fan polls don't mean too much other than to the people doing the voting.
Poll of the top 5 current live bands is surprising
For instance, Phish easily led the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame fan vote, but did not get chosen for induction. Again, for a band to be truly great, they need consistently amazing albums (Phish is hit and miss) and elite live shows (Phish does that).
The poll was taken by Alternative Press and based solely on fans. One of the top five groups could have the kind of fanbase that jumps at a chance to show their love, while a better-known (and simply better) band's fans might not be so into voting. (Again, this is what happened with Phish and the Rock Hall.
This is how the AP vote turned out for the top five live bands right now:
5. Pierce the Veil
4. Turnstile
3. L.S. Dunes
2. Twenty-One Pilots
1. ONE OK ROCK
We can dismiss Twenty-One Pilots here. Their fans are like Phishheads who think the band is the bee's knees and will try to push them forward in any poll. That's fine. That's what being a fan is about.
But Twenty-One Pilots is truly a more successful version of Savage Garden. Their songs are forgettable and of their time, and not timeless.
The most shocking band listed might be the one you might not have heard of, ONE OK ROCK. These fellas are a Japanese rock band that formed about two decades ago. They make great music.
As AP writes, "(ONE OK ROCK's) fanbase is fierce, deeply loyal, and empathic, creating community wherever they go. That extends to their live shows in particular, where that energy culminates spectacularly."
If you happen to be near a city where they are playing this year (and they are playing a lot of shows), you should see them. The experience might just change your life.