I never saw Elliott Smith live either. He was my favorite artist in high school and college but every time he came through Minneapolis it was a 21+ show. I was really mad about that. It really bothers me that clubs take out the core audience in favor of people who just want to get drunk. Nothing wrong with drinking at a show or even getting drunk for that matter. It's rock and roll. But, cutting out a large part of the audience to cater to it is appalling and damaging to the local music scene. Actually, Minnesota clubs have cut back on 21+ shows in the past 5-6 years and our scene has become respectable again. Imagine that.
"some bands who release awesome music, are terrible live." My textbook example is Son Volt. When I lived in New York, their CD Trace was a great comfort when I was homesick for the south. Then I saw them live...just appalling.
"and some amazing live bands, release horrible music." I can't really think of an example, but I just picked up the new R.E.M. Live CD, and many of the songs I hated on Around the Sun actually sound quite good live (especially "Electron Blue" and "Boy in the Well"). Now my theory is that they're actually still writing good songs but the production on their post-Bill Berry albums has been totally screwed up (it would be pretty to think so, anyway).
I don't really get out to shows much any more. Memorable ones include:
Oingo Boingo, Houston, 1983 (shut up--it was my first)
UB40 and the Police, Houston, 1983
Squeeze, Houston, 1984 (still in my top 2 or 3 shows ever--I really liked Difford & Tillbrook)
Violent Femmes, Milwaukee, 1988
Too many to name in Austin, 1990-1992 (highlights were Arc Angels and Darden Smith among the locals, and a surprisingly good Bowie show)
Lollapalooza with Primus, 1992? (there were other bands, but I only remember Primus)
Radiohead, New York, 1998 (liked the show better than OK Computer, actually)
X, San Francisco, 1999 (with Billy Zoom back in the band)
Liz Phair, State College, PA, 1999 (in a tiny, sweaty club)
The White Stripes, Houston, 2003
The Hives, Chicago, 2003
R.E.M., Houston, 2003 (my fourth and most recent time seeing them; their live show constantly improves)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at SXSW in Austin; I think it was '04
