Felix White
Talking Heads – Live in Rome 1980
I remember when I was into the Talking Heads of the “Remain In Light” era, John Reid, the manager of The Maccabees, told me that when this song was released, he felt like the music was radiating from another universe. Hearing this song at the time really bought into the vision. I pictured myself listening to this song for the first time in 1980 and had no idea how it was made. I was really excited when I found this song a few months later. It's a record that captures that time so well. The crowd is so Italian, even the unison chants have that Italian heat and expressiveness. You feel this sense of something elusive becoming graspable. It's like the whole crowd starts to understand how real it is, and when they do, the whole thing becomes a kind of pure cosmic celebration. It's one of the best things on the Internet.
Bob Dylan – MTV Unplugged 1994 Rehearsals
Bob's current favorite is his late '80s religious period. We listen to this song like a ritual before going onstage, mainly because we know this is the only time we won't be asked to change the song. This time Bob is on the other side, proving himself. Usually Bob plays on his latest form, but on this MTV Unplugged, he seems in a hurry to let people know how many hits he has. The result is a look at the best of Bob's live show. The rehearsal is available in full on YouTube, and it's clearly a camera check, allowing Dylan fans to experience what we all secretly dream of: a show with just Bob and the band in the audience, performing as if no one is watching, as if no one is watching.
Hugo White
Jamie T – Glastonbury 2022
In a festival world full of backtracks and perfect choreography, this set was the perfect antidote. [He’d played] Jamie T came out unrehearsed after not playing live in years and laid it all on the line. An hour of loud and unpredictable music. It's refreshing to see such moments in music. I was happy to play the last two songs with Jamie and company, but I'd never heard a crowd go crazy like that. It was beautiful, infectious and tense.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Glastonbury 2023
Incredible musicality, captivating to watch. This is a great show that shows what live music should be like. The band alternates between instruments and singing. Complex, simple and true. Plus, as an added bonus, [frontman] Ruben Nelson sings the entire song while chewing gum.
Will White
Nina Simone – Live at Montreux 1976
The way Nina Simone stands before the audience before sitting down at the piano is so challenging, she focuses all her intense energy. What follows is a very emotional performance. You find everything there is, but nothing in isolation. It's a messy mess of joy, pain, sadness, funny emotions. The band is doing the impossible to keep up with her. Just watch, it's extraordinary.
Radiohead – Glastonbury 2003
Any Radiohead headline would have been fine, I love them all. But I remember watching this one on TV as a teenager and feeling this magical feeling that music gives you, especially at that age, that sense of inner self. It was like it opened a door into my mind that allowed my imagination to expand. I still get that feeling when I look back on it. I'm so grateful that these headlines were there when I was a young, confused, curious teenager.
Jamie Morrison
Tyler, the Creator – Coachella 2024
I love Tyler's energy and his stage shows. They're always so elaborate and very theatrical. For his Coachella show this year, he used a Wes Anderson-inspired set design from Asteroid City. The highlight for me was when Tyler comes on stage crashing through the caravan like a stuntman. Big production, big atmosphere.
Adele – BST Hyde Park 2022
My second favourite was Adele's gig in Hyde Park a few years ago. Adele's gig was not your typical gig – it was half music, half comedy and had a really wholesome vibe. The picturesque warm summer evening in London was the perfect backdrop for her world class chatter and singing. Again, a fantastic atmosphere.
Taking a trip down memory lane…
The members of 86TVs are no strangers to festival season, so what are some of their most memorable memories?
Felix: My favorite memory at the Maccabees is, without a doubt, Sam [Doyle] Falling asleep at the Pukkelpop Festival in Belgium. The show started at 11am and back then you needed at least a couple of drinks before you played. By 2pm he was wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt, passed out in the common area backstage and had become a bit of a tourist attraction. Like a godsend, John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl appeared during his short slumber and I organised a photo for Sam with his heroes that he didn't know about until it started going viral the next day. This is still talked about every year and to be honest, I'm starting to wonder if I should get some royalties for it.
Intention: I don't really like being in big crowds and I'm not a big festival goer, but I've had a great time playing at festivals. But I've met and seen countless amazing artists I admire from all over the world. Karin Dreijer from The Knife/Fever Ray was especially cool. I also loved seeing The Hives walking around backstage in matching outfits all day, because who wouldn't be into that?
86TVs' new single “Someone Else's Dream” has been released.