Live on Repeat: Vol. 3
Songs, performances, and moments that remind me why live music matters
There’s something about live music videos that studio recordings can’t quite capture. They freeze a moment in time — not just the sound of a band or solo artist, but the feeling of where they were in their journey, where the crowd was in theirs, and what the world looked like around them.
These are a few of my favourites at the moment.
Melissa - Jackson Browne & Gregg Allman from All My Friends... The Songs And Voice of Gregg Allman (2014)
These two need absolutely no introduction — two of the greatest songwriters there ever was.
On the 10th January 2014, musicians and friends came together at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta for All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman, a special tribute concert honouring one of rock’s true greats. The star-studded night featured unforgettable collaborations from artists paying tribute to the voice and songwriting of Gregg Allman, whose work with The Allman Brothers Band and as a solo artist left a lasting mark on rock, blues, and soul. Already a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Allman’s voice and songs remain some of the most powerful and unmistakable in modern music.
My favourite ABB song, and currently on heavy rotation on YouTube. I must admit, until very recently, I didn’t know much about the band at all. I recently read Cameron Crowe’s autobiography, where he talks about going on the road with the band and how his relationship with Gregg Allman began strained before eventually growing into a great mutual respect.
Reading this encouraged me to give them a proper listen, so I started with Eat a Peach, which I later received on vinyl as a birthday present. From the opening notes of “Melissa”, I was hooked, the beautiful acoustics, heartfelt lyrics, and Gregg Allman’s distinctive voice completely drew me in.
I’ll Give You Money - Peter Frampton on The Midnight Special (1975)
Another artist I didn’t know much about until very recently.
I’ve been posting on Substack for around four months now, and on almost every post where I’ve asked about favourite gigs or live albums, at least one person has mentioned Frampton Comes Alive! as their all-time favourite.
I knew the name and vaguely knew who Peter Frampton was, but mostly because he co-wrote the music for my favourite film, Almost Famous, directed by Cameron Crowe. He also makes a brief cameo in the film as the road manager for Humble Pie, the very band he was once a member of.
One day, travelling into London for work, I decided it was finally time to give the album a proper listen and find out for myself if it really lived up to the hype. I can confirm, it absolutely does.
I loved it straight away. I listened to it multiple times on the train, eyes closed, probably getting a few funny looks as I sat there nodding along to every song.
The standout for me was “I’ll Give You Money.” The opening drums instantly reminded me of Led Zeppelin’s “When the Levee Breaks,” which pulled me in straight away. Then comes that heavy guitar riff, leading into a short solo before Frampton’s vocals kick in, it’s an irresistible opening.
It also gave me serious Stillwater vibes, the fictional band from Almost Famous, and I could easily imagine them playing it. For me, the song just landed perfectly.
Here he is performing it on The Midnight Special in 1975.
Only Love Can Hurt Like This - Paloma Faith - Off The Cuff (2014)
I don’t know how well known Paloma Faith is overseas, but here in the UK she’s widely recognised for her powerful vocals and larger-than-life personality. I’ve always admired her voice, even though I never fully connected with much of her music. Still, there’s never been any doubt about her talent.
This is probably her most well-known song, and I remember it being everywhere when it was released, constantly playing on radio stations across the UK. Written by Diane Warren, it peaked at number six and remains her highest-charting single in the UK.
It wasn’t until recently, though, that I came across this live version, just Paloma and a pianist in a much more intimate setting. After hearing it, I ended up going down the rabbit hole, watching different performances of the song, but this one is easily my favourite.
Stripped back like this, it hits even harder — raw, emotional, and incredibly powerful. If you’ve ever been through heartbreak, this song will resonate with you. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.
Kings of Leon - Live at the O2, London, England - Full Concert
Yet another KOL video!
I recently watched Kings of Leon – Live at the O2, London on YouTube. Having seen the band live more times than any other, and being largely disappointed with their new material, I was craving some good old early “KOL”, and this gig was more than enough to satisfy my hunger and give me an injection of teenage nostalgia to go with it. After the 2+ hour long, “no-skip” setlist finished, I sat and stared at the ending credits and thought to myself, how f***ing great were KOL in the 00s?!
In 2009 Kings of Leon were on top of the world. Selling out stadiums, arenas and headlining major festivals across the globe. For me, they were the best band around at the time and the songs on their first five albums bring back many memories between 2003 and 2010. The gig is from the tour of their fourth studio album ‘Only by the Night’ — when they were arguably at their creative peak. The setlist is crammed with 22 songs including hits Knocked Up, Fans, Red Morning Light, Use Somebody, Sex on Fire and many more. Every song makes me on a journey back to a specific memory in my life, isn’t it great how music can do that?
For anyone who adored this band in their teens, like me, wanting to relive their youth or just get a large dose of some real, pure 00s rock ‘n’ roll at its absolute finest, then grab a beer (or beverage of choice) put your phone on silent and just sit back and watch this gig in its entirety and you won’t be disappointed.
Knights of Cydonia - Muse - Live at Rome Olympic Stadium (2013)
Have you ever watched a song or a gig on YouTube that you didn’t even attend, yet still get instant chills the second you press play? This video does that for me. Every. Single. Time.
For those who don’t know Muse, they’re an English rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocals), and Dominic Howard (drums). Known for their explosive live shows, Muse blend heavy, fast-paced alternative rock with classical and cinematic influences, and this performance is the perfect example of that.
This is probably my favourite song by the band. Closing their 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations, it’s one of those tracks that feels like it was made to be played live, feeding off the energy of a huge crowd.
It begins with Chris Wolstenholme standing in front of 80,000 people, playing the harmonica intro to Ennio Morricone’s “Man With a Harmonica” from the 1968 epic Once Upon a Time in the West, directed by Sergio Leone. The haunting sound builds the tension perfectly, while the band quietly simmers in the background, complementing every note.
What follows is eight minutes of pure rock energy.
I won’t bore you by describing every detail, I’ll let the music do the talking instead.
Have a listen and tell me what you think (play it loud… very loud).
Live performances have a way of making songs feel different. Sometimes better, sometimes more personal, and sometimes they make you fall in love with a song or artist all over again. That’s what this series is really about for me: finding those versions you keep coming back to, the ones that stop you mid-scroll and demand your full attention.
These are mine right now, but I’d love to hear yours. What live performances do you keep going back to? The ones that give you chills every single time, even years later.
As always, thanks for reading, and if you’ve got a recommendation, send it my way. I’m always looking for the next one to put on repeat.