journey to the land of oriental rugs
December 5, 2012 8:40 PM

Musicfilter: what are the best live "sessions" on Youtube? Recommend me your favorites!

I love these performances because they're live, and a fresh new take from the studio version, but generally also have good sound quality and aren't recorded out of someone's tinny phone next to a shrieking audience member. I guess the gold standard for this is KEXP, but even they have such a vast back-catalog that I'd love to be directed to some favorites.

Thanks!
posted by threeants to Media & Arts (19 answers total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
What about Black Cab Sessions like this one with Bon Iver.
posted by livinglearning at 8:48 PM on December 5, 2012


Thanks! Yeah, just to clarify, I'm looking for specific videos (like the Bon Iver one you linked) rather than "check out the XYZ sessions".
posted by threeants at 8:51 PM on December 5, 2012


My intro to Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You" was this awesome session from Daryl Hall's Live From Daryl's House series.
posted by Lazlo at 9:04 PM on December 5, 2012


I really like Grizzly Bear's appearance on Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW a few years ago, not long after their Friend EP came out. My favorite songs are starred:

Alligator*
He Hit Me
While You Wait For The Others*
Deep Blue Sea
Knife*
Little Brother*
(Whole session, including intro/outro)
posted by zsazsa at 9:07 PM on December 5, 2012


I'm a big fan of NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series, like Buke and Gass .

Also, most of Southern Soul's work is stunning. Examples: PS I Love You, Army Girls.
posted by Paper rabies at 9:08 PM on December 5, 2012


Nina Simone - Ain't Got No...I've Got Life is my favourite performance on YouTube.
posted by dydecker at 9:17 PM on December 5, 2012


Menomena perform 'Weird' in some guy named Juan's basement.
posted by mannequito at 9:25 PM on December 5, 2012


Tortoise - Live at Werchter.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:39 PM on December 5, 2012


The Dodos — Red and Purple

Lady Gaga — Paparazzi

Grizzly Bear — Southern Point

Dirty Projectors — No Intention

Regina Spektor — No Surprises

Tori Amos — Precious Things

Aloe Blacc — Loving You is Killing Me

Adele — Chasing Pavements

Radiohead — Just

Fort Wilson Riot — Love Song for Mabee Burlingham (full disclosure: friends of mine)
posted by John Cohen at 9:45 PM on December 5, 2012


Antibalas - Dirty Money
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:01 PM on December 5, 2012


Grimes has a good session in Seattle that you could look up.
posted by oceanjesse at 10:06 PM on December 5, 2012


Phone means no links, but if you like Pearl Jam at all, their Immagine in Cornice is a live concert DVD which has bits up on YouTube. Vedder does A Quick One While He's Away with My Morning Jacket that is absolutely astounding. I can't recommend it enough.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:53 AM on December 6, 2012


This Bon Iver one is better (and longer) - at AIR Studios

Radiohead - Scotch Mist
posted by victory_laser at 2:39 AM on December 6, 2012


On the subject of Radiohead - From the Basement. Inspiring. Excellent sound quality.
posted by mopheeoos at 2:50 AM on December 6, 2012


It's not YouTube, but Austin City Limits has a gigantic backlog of excellent, well-recorded live music dating back to the '70s. Their website doles them out a bit miserlyly for my tastes (a handful of full episodes, and then many individual songs available at any given time) but there is a TON of great stuff there. Don't judge by the 4 full episodes that are up there right now.

Austin City Limits or ACL is a pretty good search term on YouTube, too.
posted by dirtdirt at 7:26 AM on December 6, 2012


This might not be quite what you're looking for, but the National performing Start a War while sitting around a long table with friends is lovely. It's part of La Blogothèque's Take Away Sessions, almost all of which are bands performing songs in settings other than concert venues.
posted by jeudi at 8:36 AM on December 6, 2012


The videos of Radiohead covering The Smiths are quite good.
posted by 4ster at 1:27 PM on December 6, 2012


This 4-song solo acoustic performance by Sam Beam (Iron and Wine) is really great:
Iron And Wine: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
posted by prinado at 1:48 PM on December 6, 2012


More Tiny Desk: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
posted by illenion at 1:13 PM on December 11, 2012


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