There is a big difference between live performance and recorded performance, and many bands seem to thrive in either one or the other…sometimes it all comes together. Here are five bands which will give you all they have to give in a live setting. These bands were chosen, because they are currently working bands, and these are shows you want to see if you are looking to blow off some energy, and be entertained.

Melt Banana

The old pros of the Japanese band Melt Banana are perhaps as high energy as it gets. Their blend of art punk noise is simply mind blowing, and they pull no punches with their live show. It is always a mosh pit friendly experience, and watching guitar snake charmer Ichirou Agata work his sonic assault is amazing, as Yasuko Onuki races through her bizarre lyrics at breakneck speed.

Melt Banana- performing “Free the Bee”

Melt Banana- Official Site

Man Man

Man Man are all man, 100% sweating testosterone man jumping around banging pots and pans, sporting their white outfits and manly mustaches, they are totally fun and you should catch them while they are still on the rise to an inevitable manly stardom.

Man Man- performing “Push The Eagle’s Stomach”

Man Man- Official Site

Peaches

Miss Peaches understands everything about live performance, and she brings it when it needs to be brought. She commands the center of attention, and handles the stage like the pro that she is. In addition she always has hilarious stage costumes and props to add fun to the teachings of Peaches. Time to get educated.

Peaches- performing Shake Ur Dix

Peaches- Official Site

Riverboat Gamblers

These guys are not the most original act on the list, however they put it all on the line every time they play. Full on great punk rock with all the energy and apparently vomiting (see video) you’d expect from such an event. Singer Mike Weibe is a live wire, bouncing all over the stage and more oft than not off into the crowd. This band seems to be eternally touring, and it’s a wonder they are not much bigger already. Don’t miss them live.

Riverboat Gamblers- performing On Again Off Again

Riverboat Gamblers- Official Site

Trans Am

It’s all about drummer Sebastian Thompson “a.k.a. Seb” (seriously it says that on wikipedia). He’s usually shirtless for the ladies, and has been sporting a large gold chain more recently…for the bling? They rock hard and fast live, and “Seb” is always a big ham on the drums…as well as being a phenomenal drummer of course. The other two Trans Amers are also great to watch…it’s just really hard to imagine competing with “Seb”.

Trans Am- Live Medley

Trans Am- Official Site

Peaches proves once again why she has won my heart, and the hearts of so many others. Here she is, probably given the scheduling shaft, and having to play during the day at some music festival. Watch as she performs probably the best song ever written (yeah i know, but c’mon it is a great one) and takes a leisurely stroll out into the crowd. It seems 3/4 of the people just looked stunned that this woman in a XXX cape is singing “fuck the pain away” out in their midst, she does eventually find some fans to help out.

Peaches Live:

Peaches: Official Website

Ben lies…and he has a wicked badass homostasche that is getting him all sorts of play at the local coffee shops from the boys (or so he claims). We were led to believe Trans Am was playing an early all ages show at Congress which prompted me to arrive at…9:30 or so. Granted Ben also was there and had to endure 3 hours and two opening bands right there long with me…although by the time Trans Am took the stage I was a bit worn down. Last year’s Trans Am show at Plush was one of the best of the year, which is about the only reason we stuck around. The band played without the video backdrop from last year which was another let down, as it provided a nice alternative to shirtless mighty Sebastian and his gold rope chain necklace (totally rad). Sebastian and bass player Nathan Means do a lot of staring out at the audience while the rock out…and rock out they do. Most of the allure of Trans Am, for me anyway, is their ability to lock into a wicked hard groove, and then thanks to the talents of “Seb” throw in some bizarre stops, or flip the beat effortlessly. They did this repeatedly in the set and even treated the crowd to a nice nod to Deep Purple’s Space Truckin’ in the middle of one song. Sadly the set seemed short, and after the long wait through two bands that probably could have played a bit earlier (and less) the show was a bit of a disappointment. Rock out to this fun and trippy video for the song Tesco vs Sainsburys. Oh wait first watch this dude…and his Trans Am, it’s dudes like this and their unyielding love for their metal girlfriends that surely inspired the band name…

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 1979 “This video is an Introduction to you. Espacially the sound is beautiful…”

Trans Am: Tesco vs Sainsburys:

This is a band you need to see live to fully appreciate. They have been compared to Zappa, Beefheart, and Waits among others. Some of their chaotic percussion heavy tunes, with falsetto yelping vocals like “Push the Eagles Stomach” reminded me of the great Japanese band Boredoms (a bit less intense). The show last night was a damn good one, and showcased a well oiled sweaty mustached bunch of Man Men dressed in their white polos, war paint, and headbands. Man Man is simply amazing in the fact that all the members are multi-talented, playing numerous instruments, as well as non instruments with a wild abandon that sometimes veers out of control. That is to be expected and hardly even noticeable as there is so much going on at any given time onstage that it’s often difficult to keep track of whose singing. Main Man Honus Honus does active duty as front man most of the time pounding his rhodes and belting out his husky vocals over the cacaphony of clanging, banging and yelping, often leaving his seat to levitate far above his comrades. Check out these videos, the second being a comical and actually decent cover of Bulls on Parade, which would probably put a smile on Zack De La Rocha’s face.

Man Man - Push The Eagle’s Stomach

Man Man - Bulls on Parade

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Man Man: Official Site
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