Top 10 Unique Bands You HAVE to See Live Once

#10: Angine de Poitrine

Are the two members of Angine de Poitrine delivering style over substance? Not if you ask the band’s fans, who have flocked to this Quebecois duo’s style of mathematical, experimental rock. There’s a headiness to the arrangements here which feel simultaneously intense and mesmerizing, since Angine de Poitrine can come across as loud and noisy one minute, and cerebral the next. Their angular discordance admittedly isn’t for everyone, but for music fans that have “seen it all and heard it all,” Angine de Poitrine could just represent something of a revelation within the live arena.

#9: Fishbone

The unique musical attack of Fishbone is as unpredictable as their stage shows; the best kind of controlled chaos for a truly unique concert experience. Sounds of punk, funk, ska and even heavy metal are tossed into a blender, with predictably quirky results. It’s this eclecticism that essentially makes a Fishbone show so fun, since fans could be jumping up and down one minute, and moshing hard across the dance floor the next. The line between band and fan certainly feels blurred at a Fishbone show, and it’s this feeling of inclusivity that has us heartily recommend you check them out the next time a tour stops in your area. You won’t regret it.

#8: FKA Twigs

Singer, songwriter and dancer FKA Twigs may not be a “band” in the strictest sense of the word, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check out her music, or accompanying live show. This English performer blends R&B, rock and pop together in a manner that her fans feel is fresh and innovative. Meanwhile, seeing FKA Twigs live is often a multimedia experience; a feast for the eyes and ears that makes the most out of the singer’s background in choreography. Lighting and bold fashion choices serve as lush backdrops for FKA Twigs’ pop prowess, creating a show that many who see this performer won’t soon forget.

#7: Nine Inch Nails

It’s interesting to see how Nine Inch Nails have progressed as a live act throughout the years. We use the word “act,” despite knowing full well how NIN is, and has always been Trent Reznor’s baby. Reznor has employed a lot of talented live musicians over the years, however, including Richard Patrick, Robin Finck and Chris Vrenna. This has resulted in concerts that have, depending on the decade, ranged from intense industrial-metal assaults to more cerebral and atmospherically dense soundscapes. This diversity has continually made a Nine Inch Nails tour announcement something to celebrate, since fans already know how Reznor and his hired hands have dedicated themselves to making such an event feel special.

#6: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard

Whoever said that progressive rock was dead probably hasn’t heard of Australia’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. The creative spirit present during the ‘60s and ‘70s psychedelic era feels alive within this group’s music, which takes those musical lessons and combines them with a contemporary feel. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are also a much heavier proposition than their progressive forebears, bringing a thrashing, aggressive vibe to their live shows. Mosh pits are frequent, as is diversity within the crowd of fans who usually show up to see King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard do their thing.

#5: Death Grips

It’s difficult to try and categorize Sacramento, California’s Death Grips, yet that’s probably exactly how this unique group would want things, at the end of the day. That’s because this creative collective loves to throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, from hip-hop and rock to industrial and electronic elements. Sound serves as a weapon here for Death Grips, with their driven live performances focusing less on conversation and more on a sonic attack. A confrontation of grooves and sounds to make the body move, and the mind think.

#4: Rammstein

A Rammstein show is definitely NSFW. Want proof? How about the time a 1998 concert stop on the Family Values Tour in Worcester, Massachusetts had some members of Rammstein freakin’ arrested? Yup, the fire and, ahem, “fluids” certainly fly at a Rammstein gig, but fans of this industrial metal powerhouse probably wouldn’t want it any other way. The band’s frontman, Till Lindemann, plays with fire so frequently that he even decided to become a licensed pyrotechnician after a tour accident back in ‘96. Rammstein shows feel just as dangerous today, however, a meeting of metal and machine with a fetishistic atmosphere and an “anything goes” level of unpredictability.

#3: The Flaming Lips

The psychedelic era lives on within the modern music of Wayne Coyne and his group, The Flaming Lips. A live concert from The Lips isn’t so much of an acid-trip bummer as it is a positive affirmation of life, however, a freaky and communal experience that’s been said to bring a lot of different kinds of people together. And isn’t that one of the finest aspects of live music? That connectivity between like-minded folks from various walks of life? The sound of The Flaming Lips has always been difficult to categorize (in the best possible way) and their live shows reflect this eclecticism. Giant inflatables, lasers, and confetti (TONS of confetti) are just a few of the amenities fans should expect at a Lips gig.

#2: GWAR

There is a wealth of lore and mythology behind the group known only as GWAR. Characters like Sleazy P. Martini and Gor-Gor the Dinosaur which will only be familiar to those fans that have followed the career of these shock rockers since the ‘80s. GWAR’s stage shows have always been messy and theatrical affairs, with tons of fake blood to the point where fans either bring tarps for protection…or white t-shirts to show their pride. Unfortunately, the untimely death of GWAR founder and frontman Dave Brockie has resulted in some lineup changes over the years, although the likenesses of Beefcake the Mighty, Balsac the Jaws of Death and Jizmak Da Gusha remain a part of GWAR’s current stage show.

Before we name our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Dillinger Escape Plan

This Metalcore Band Delivers Nonstop Energy & Controlled Chaos

TWICE

This K-Pop Girl Group Uses Epic 360 Staging For Their Live Shows

100 gecs

With Insane Visuals & Audience Interaction, This Band Brings Hyperpop To The Masses

#1: Gorillaz

The idea of a “virtual band” may have seemed like something out of a science fiction movie prior to the formation of Gorillaz in 1998. Yet, the success of this collaboration between Blur’s Damon Albarn and “Tank Girl” creator Jamie Hewlett essentially broke open the doors for similar projects, such as Dethklok, to emerge in its wake. A live performance from Gorillaz remains unlike any other, however, with both live musicians and their animated counterparts taking the stage. Long setlists and guest appearances are also the norm, while huge LCD screens bring all of the Gorillaz lore front and center for all those in attendance.

What’s the best live show you’ve ever seen? Let us know in the comments!