I second the Patrice Pike recommendation. She plays in Houston quite a bit too. Also, when in Austin check out Ginger Leigh. That girl can sing. I saw her in a nice, intimate little bar and it was an incredible show. I had to get up early in the morning and really needed to go home, but I just couldn't pull myself away.

Best live band ever. Here is the proof: www.flickr.com/photos/kexp/sets/72157600337796870/

I have seen Wyclef Jean in concert twice now and have had a heck of a time both times. He's totally engaged with his audience and basically organizes one of the best house parties you have ever been to. Worth the price and he's not so popular that he sells out gargantuan venues.

A few acts not to miss:

MY MORNING JACKET! They are arguably the best live band right now. They're not touring much this year, but if you have the opportunity, I beg you to see this band live. They will melt your face off.

Michael Franti and Spearhead. Simply awesome performer, great songs, and spot on musicianship. A fun concert. At this year's Bonnaroo he even led us all in a sing along to the Sesame Street theme. Even the most jaded hipster was singing along with a smile on their face.

Tea Leaf Green. These guys really bring the goods live. Prime live cuts: "Sex in the '70s" & "Taught to be Proud"

Greg Brown. The best folk singer nobody's ever heard of. He brings you in with his voice and storytelling. Prime live cut: "Canned Goods."

Railroad Earth. Bluegrass with a back beat and a Grateful Dead heart. Great live band.

I mentioned My Morning Jacket, right?

I do not seem to see that many live national level shows these days, but recently I went into a Foo Fighters concert not that much of a fan and came away blown away. And any live clips I have seen of them have been impressive.

I had no idea who Kaiser Chiefs were, but they did a great show, too. Came across much better than they do to me on CD.

I have not actually seen them live, but from video clicks, I am betting that The Arcade Fire lives up to its rep and is amazing live.

Springsteen plus the E-Street Band seems to deliver.

Most concerts of any size probably disappoint. I am not up to date enough to dis anyone, although I have seem quite a few. The Foos were just outstanding, though. The real deal.

The litle town of Carrboro, N.C., was live and popping when Method Man and a few of his WuTang clanmates recently performed in the storied Cat's Cradle music hall. Awesome show in front of a soldout crowd of mostly white boys from the neighborhing UNC-Chapel Hill campus, just down Tobacco Road from Duke University. I witnessed the power of music over race relations as those clean-cut Tarheels shouted every word to every song with Meth (waving their hands in the air like they just didn't care!). They held Method Man on their shoulders when he took a dive and fearlessly proceeded to walk across -- on top of -- the audience from the stage to the bar in the back. Meth's in good athletic shape, still has good breath control, and has enough of a repertoire to rock the spot. He was particularly engaging in a small club setting. My first hiphop experience with a room full of white boys. Don't stop the party rock!

1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - quite possibly the best live show I've ever seen.

2. Gillian Welch - Old Crow Medicine Show opened - it's tough to say which was better, what a show!

3. Flogging Molly - Irish/Punk music, how can you go wrong?

Tom Waits is f*cking amazing. To see that incredible voice booming out of that skinny, electric body was breathtaking. And the man has class.

For my money, Wilco is the best large-scale rock band these days, but TV on the Radio might catch up to them. People tell me Radiohead is up there.

McCoy Tyner pounds the heaviest, most relentless hard bop I've ever heard in my life.

If Charles Mingus formed a funk band, it would sound like Boostamonte.

David Murray is from another planet.

The Jacob Fredd Jazz Odyssey lives up to its name. The drummer holds them back, but they go on some wicked journeys.

I love every incarnation I've seen Skerik and Matt Dillon (formerly of Critters Buggin') in. Their musical rigor, interplay, eclecticism, and audacaioiusness can't be beat.

Gang Gang Dance sucked me deep into their crazy polyrhythms.

Mike Watt is a force of nature, no matter who he's playing with.

I'll never forget seeing the Extra Action Marching Band run a bad hair metal band off the stage of the Giant Rubber Ducky at Burning Man.

The way the Boredoms pulled precise changes out of cacophony blew me away.

I never miss a show of local boys My Last Day on Earth.

The happiness and danciness emanating from Toots and the Maytals should be bottled and shipped off to war zones.

I almost didn't go see Bruce Springsteen solo acoustic, but he was intense. I've never seen anyone command an auditorium with an acoustic guitar like that.

Todd Snider tells the same stories every time, but he can make a theater or a festival feel intimate.

Jason Webley has earned a cult following with his 2 hour+ one man accordion band shows. I've never seen anyone get jaded hipsters to sing along and act like kindergartners like he can.

Jonathan Richman is enthralling and heart breaking.

Antony and the Johnsons and CocoRosie made me cry.

When I think of New Orleans good time music, I think of Anders Osborne--ideally at the Rock n Bowl.

Daniel Lanois plays healing music. It's like a soft blanket that envelopes you. His guitar tone is the most luscious I've ever heard.

But having said all that, none of them are in the same league as the Grateful Dead.

Neurosis is the "bizarro world" Grateful Dead. They're the only band that approaches the same magnitude of primal musical energy.

And Akron/Family might be the most psychedelic show I've ever seen.

I can only think of three bad trips (that I haven't repressed):

Will Bernard sounds like he should be good, but he can't finish a solo to save his life and he has no guts or imagination.

The String Cheese Incident has the emotional range of an ecstasy overdose.

M83 was so lifeless and pre-recorded, I haven't listened to his great music since.