Bands that you expected to be shit live but weren't
 

Seeing as we're going on about live acts that weren't up to scratch, how's about those that had no business to be good, but were?

I usually hate all-electronic bands in live performance, but Springheel Jack were absolutely fantastic when I saw them.

I've had a great time at a few gigs that I've been to with my girlfriend: Atomic Kitten, Sugababes, Shania Twain.

buckcherry

Ricky Martin was awesome live and (excluding myself) i'm sure a lot of people here would find him appaling.One of the best pop gigs i've been to.

i go with slipknot who were absurdly entertaining at Reading a few years back.

Robert Plant

The Charlatans,yes!Inspiral Carpets were also one of those bands that i wasn't particularly fond of on record but i enjoyed live more than i thought i'd do.

Franz Ferdinand made me jump sweat and have fun during all their set back in 2004 (or was that 2003?). That very night SY ended the festival's day, so maybe I was in a "positive" kinda mood, but i still think FF made a great "rockin'" gig.

Dinosaur Jr. was way better then I expected.

Primal Scream, Vanishing Point era were utterly amazing, and louder than God. S Club 7 put on a great live show. Kenny Rogers last year at a British enormodome was surprisingly intimate and wonderful. NIN at Glastonbury surprised me, as did Ash. Oh, the Dropkick Murphys are probably the best example I can think of. By all rights they are appaling, but I really enjoyed it.

I've seen a few industrial bands manage to not be entirely shit, and whenever I see a hardcore/ metal show I like I'm pleasantly surprised. Mostly these are bands no-one more than 7 miles away from me will have heard of, so I'll refrain from listing them. I have enjoyed Marilyn Manson and Slipknot shows in the past. And Cradle of Filth.

This is probably showing up quite how nice I am to my metaller friends more than anything...

I saw Primal Scream once (XTRMNTR), and they were incredible. I was just along for the ride on a road trip to Chicago to see them for free, and I had a great time.

Gospel Gossip. Who can make good music with that name? It's utterly wrong.

Hockey Night. While I expected them to be decent were actually one of the funnest acts I've ever seen.

Danielson. Weird good.

Cat Power. No matter how much I love her I expected her to be shit but even with finishing only half of her songs, she was great.

Dirty Projectors. The album I had was so fucking gay but live they were absolutely great.

I was once dragged to see a glammy rock outfit called Bang Tango live, around 1991 I think,at the Krazyhouse in Liverpool. They really sucked on record, but they opened the show with five minutes of feedback and noise and progressed nicely from there.

If you're interested, you should buy the live LP and nothing else.

When you expect nothing from a band and you have fun for some reason its always a return on your investment at least

Case in pont. Even it was a bit ironic.
One freind did go "YEAH!! SOMETIMES I DONT WANT TO DO MY HOMEWORK TOO!"

linkin park, slipknot, marilyn manson at ozzfest 6 years ago, all blown away by black sabbath though

papa roach on the otherhand, not even that crowd liked them, like one girl who was a little too into them and that was it, they fucking sucked

Slipknot....they were the first band I thought of.
Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes.....it was fucking great.

Dizzee Rascal, GZA and Coldcut were great live, although I didn't expect much.

We just played with them last thursday. Where did you see them?

mmmmmm, the dandy warhols were great live, oh and giant drag.

nobody really.

I never expect bands to 'suck live', but usually when there's fuckups and shit, it makes it more interesting/funny.

yeah sometimes, although when i saw Dinosaur jr (for the 2nd time, 1st time they rocked!!!) they had some problems with Lou's Amp and they spent about 10 minutes ignoring the audience trying to fix it, usually when stuff goes wrong the band are apologetic and try to make it funny or at least talk to the audience to pass the time. They just ignored us.

probably some metal band or something. i literally dont have the energy to type anything else.

Magik Markers forever.

I'd have to say Blur. I saw them on that Revolver tour in the early 90s. They were playing with Dinosaur Jnr, the Mary Chain and the Valentines. Needless to say they were the band that I was least bothered about seeing. However I can also say, with my hand on my heart, that they put on a great show, blowing the other bands off-stage. Dinosaur, for example, were AWFUL that night.

I expected the Violent Femmes to be decent but they were one of the best bands I've ever seen.

I had no expectations of Feeder at Reading festival 2001, but it was the first time i was ever in a moshpit, the sun was beating down and id just got out of school. Twas a joyous time.

I don't expect much from openers, usually.
I didn't know anything about Davy Jones Locker when they opened for Dinosaur Jr in 91; I had just heard that they were from Thionville - hence, French. It turned out I was more pleased by their set than by Dino.
Same thing for Eiffel in 96, for what they called their first show, opening for the Cramps (who were excellent).
The biggest surprise was the Launderettes. I had read a summary of their work, a Norwegian all-girls band playing rock, and I expected something like Europe meets Girlschool.
From their warm up to the end of the set it was great. I was early at the venue and got to hear through the opened door the band playing a wonderful tune that would appear on their second LP.
They opened for Holly Golightly. Didn't expect much from her (but I'm a sucker for thee Headcoatees) and it wasn't great. Bruce Brand is rather terrible as a guitar player.