"NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN - LIVE AT THE ROSE BOWL" DEPECHE MODE (1988)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

The year was 1988. Almost overnight, Depeche Mode was thrust into the masses. They were taking over stadiums on an ambitious tour across the states. On “Never Let Me Down Again” at the Rose Bowl, we experience a band transcending the boundaries of traditional stadium rock. It rode on the back of Martin Gore’s grating electric guitar riff, all while David Gahan steered a new alt rock universe into euphoria with his arms waving in the air.

“We're flying high. We're watching the world pass us by. Never want to come down. Never want to put my feet back down on the ground.”

"GOLDEN - LIVE AT THE FILLMORE" MY MORNING JACKET (2005)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

There’s a magical element to live shows that many of us have been missing since the pandemic began. That special aura that comes with quieter songs. Songs that transport us and immerse us well into the night. That’s “Golden”, one of My Morning Jacket’s slower, sleepier songs. The band’s live recording at The Fillmore is full of live magic—the kind of performance that makes you wish the concert never ends.

“Sure sometimes they thrill me. But nothin' could ever chill me. Like the way they make the time just disappear.”

"OLD FRIENDS - LIVE AT CENTRAL PARK" SIMON & GARFUNKEL (1981)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

On September 19, 1981, Simon & Garfunkel played a benefit concert at the Great Lawn. The first song in the encore was “Old Friends”. There was nothing except Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s vocals and Simon’s acoustic guitar. With no other instrumentation and nowhere to hide, that summer evening performance in Central Park showcased just how good their voices were and how simple and honest their songwriting was.

“The sounds of the city sifting through trees settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends.”

"ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL - LIVE AT FOLSOM PRISON" JOHNNY CASH (1968)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

There were 16 songs on the set list for Johnny Cash’s legendary concert to the inmates at Folsom State Prison in California. But “Orange Blossom Special” is the one song that has always stood out to me from that recording. It had the rockabilly swagger that we’ve heard throughout a good bulk of his catalog. But it also did something powerful with the inmates that day that you can clearly hear from the rousing cheers. Containing one of Cash’s fastest, most energetic harmonica solos, the song distracted the men long enough to forget where they were or what their predicament was. That’s a powerful performance.

“I'll ride that Orange Blossom Special and lose these New York blues.”

"BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE - LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD" TALKING HEADS (1983)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

At the momentous concert in Hollywood’s Pantage Theatre, Talking Heads slowed some songs down and reinvented others. But with “Burning Down the House”, the band added more fuel and vigor to an already artfully intense song. Jerry Harrison’s keyboard mastery manifested in an impressive combination of power and precision, culminating in the minute long synth solo.

“Watch out, you might get what you're after. Cool babies, strange but not a stranger. I'm an ordinary guy burning down the house.”

"POLLY - UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK" NIRVANA (1993)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

MTV Unplugged had been going for a few years, but Nirvana’s appearance for the acoustic series at Sony Music Studios in New York City felt like a reboot. Just five month’s before Kurt Cobain’s death, they translated the sonic grunge of Nirvana into an unplugged setting. One of Cobain’s finest songwriting showcases, “Polly” was played quieter, slower, moodier. But it wasn’t even an ounce less powerful than the recording on Nevermind.

“I think she wants some water to put out the blow torch.”

"HEY JOE - LIVE AT MONTEREY" JIMI HENDRIX (1967)

In my series “Long Live Live”, I’m highlighting some of the most revered live recordings of all time. You’ll see my musical biases, but there’s no doubt that each of these tracks played a pivotal role in shaping music history. I started Mental Jukebox last year because I needed another music listening outlet when there were no more live shows to go to. These songs remind me that nothing will ever replace the blend of atmosphere and performance captured in the live experience.

At the time of Jimi’s legendary performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, “Hey Joe” was a brand new song. In many ways, it’s a microcosm of everything that’s incredible about Hendrix. It’s his effortless blend of blues, hard rock and ingenious ability to reinvent other people’s songs with incredible power. “Hey Joe”, more than any other Hendrix classic, is exactly the kind of song that I miss hearing live.

“Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?”