In your opinion, what makes a great live performance?

[B. Vicious]

Okay, so i was thinking to myself today, what makes a great live performance. My 2 favorite band's (avenged sevenfold, bullet for my valentine) live performances are considered terrible (from what i've seen others say within forums, not just this one) HOWEVER, i have seen both in concert, and because i enjoy listening to the music more than just going around acting crazy as hell in the mosh pit, i thought they sounded great, and the lights and pyrotechnics were stellar. So I want to ask you, the people of these forums, what in your opinion makes a great live performance.

[supernova1324]

Good rough sound that isn't duplicate of the studio version and isn't horrible.
Improv in songs
Guitar/drum battles
Humor
Trash talk
Pyrotechnics
Both acoustic and electric songs

More things that I can't be bothered to name.

[Runesmith]

Energy and a close connection with the fans, primarily.

I also might be one of the few people alive who think pyrotechnics actually make a show much worse than normal.

[supernova1324]

Energy and a close connection with the fans, primarily.

I also might be one of the few people alive who think pyrotechnics actually make a show much worse than normal.

Depends on how they are used.

[Lolicat]

Anything like pyro, costumes, set-pieces automatically turns me off, sorry.

[MronoC]

Anything like pyro, costumes, set-pieces automatically turns me off, sorry.

I'm tempted to agree, but Alice Cooper is still the best show I've ever seen.

I think a big part of a great live performance is the audience, if it's an audience of hardcore fans who really get in to it, the energy is reciprocated back and forth.

[AxlVanHagar]

Anything like pyro, costumes, set-pieces automatically turns me off, sorry.

Depends on how they are used for me. Are they used to augment and enhance the show? Then cool. Are they being completely relied on for the show? Then boo!

A performer like Alice Cooper uses them to great effect to enhance the show, brings them out every once in awhile to to give that extra added punch to a song, he used them as an exclamation point. KISS is filled with with lights and pyro but they use them well in much the same way Cooper does, they tend to do it more often. I've also seen both not use any theatrics what-so-ever.

Alice during the Bare Bones Tour didn't even whear his standard makeup and there was no theatrics or set pieces at all. Stll a great show! He still performed very well, interacting with the audience more than usual since he wasn't in character, and goofing around with the band more. It was still awesome.

KISS on the Hot In The Shade Tour were co-headlining with Whitesnake when i saw them. Because KISS were to go on first they were not allowed to use any of their show pieces, the giant sphinx, lights, pyro etc. KISS came out angry and pissed off in their street clothes pretty much and rocked the **** out of the building that night. killer setlist, and really played! That was the best show I have ever seen KISS put on.

So both of those bands while known for set pieces, and theatrics and such are quite capable of doing it without. The fans expect a certain show with them so they tend to deliver. A band like say GWAR I don't think are capable of doing it with out all the other stuff and to the best of my knowlege have never attempted it. There's a band that relies on the stuff you're talking about. I really think it comes down to how that kind of thing is used and wether or not the bands in question are able to do it without the added stuff.

[Insane3]

Alice Cooper

You could simply have said that, we would have undestood your point.

[Insane3]

Anything like pyro, costumes, set-pieces automatically turns me off, sorry.

I don't agree. When I see a show, I want it to be somehow different then when I listen to the cd. I want it to be visually original.
Examples: The Wall tour, Ziggy Stardust, Genesis' early tours.

[franticfish]

Tension between band members often results in performances I like Improvisation and a sound that isn't exactly like the studio recording.