Generally though, I'd like THE HITS. I'd like them played so I can sing along and grin and know exactly when the middle 8 comes in, etc etc. I don't much care for improvisation. Usually.

I want a smiling front man. I want some form of interaction with the crowd.

I am always open to a comedy cover version, yes.

This is general, and changes though. For instance, I'd want different things from The Thermals than I would from Hot Chip. Or whoever.

the only thing that really matters to me is that the band have some passion for the performance. i'm quite happy for bands to fuck around with songs and play obscure stuff as long as they actually want to do so in the first place.

1) Not necessarily, Fiery furnaces are one of the best live bands about and they change their songs around a lot. Although comedy Bluegrass, techno, ... versions never go down well.

2) This is normally good, but trying to hard to be 'fun' rather than playing decent songs often isn't.

3) Yes, usually.

4) No, these are usually crap and annoying, although can be the highlight if the band are bad and you haven't heard any of their stuff before.

but faster.

Most records these days are produced so the actual musicianship (where there is any) is disguised behind the beat and stuff. Bloody pop these days. I want to suddenly see somebody sing or play and instrument and go "oh THAT'S why they're so good".

I also want them to seem like they want to be doing it. I would appreciate a smile from even the most miserable bands I listen to.

Also, they should be able to control the crowd.

physically appealing in some way
open to the audience
don't have to dance

Blood
Marshmallows

Yet to find a band who have delivered on the last one.

boobs

Lot's of energy onstage, including dancing, jumping running about.

Humour and a happy frontman.

Lot's of fast and dancable songs, preferably playing hits over little known songs (Less people knowing the song in the crowd obv. means less response to the songs).

Only one cover at most of a popular song 60% or more of the crowd would actually know.

Most of all: energy and fun.

they pretty much did what i want in a gig. Thats being fun yet originally so, not by being kooky.

i want the hits - hard, fast and furious.

i want them to tear the nuts right out of the audience's collective sack and blast them back with volume and speed.

i don't want to hear "our new record came out here yesterday. here's a song from it!".

i don't want slow songs.

i want the band to smile when they see how much fun the audience is having.

i want it to be fun, "rockin'" and also kinda sexy.

i want the band to be dripping in sweat because they've been thrashing about the stage and jumping around, not just because it's really hot under all the lights.

i want my eyes to stay on the band, not looking around for hotties in the audience.

i want to feel like anything could happen.

sadly, these days you can almost sense the segues into songs and you can guess what most bands will open up with. i've also noticed volume has been a problem. when i saw blood red shoes a while ago, i was kinda disappointed. when i saw them a year ago, they were pretty fucking loud, but after the most recent time i was left feeling like i wanted to crank the volume. they're not the only band i've felt that with. sort this out, please.

all the women musicians should play topless.

OR - at the moment, just that the utter cretins videoing it with the camera phones would go away for good.

Joe - www.anewbandaday.com

or group yells

but as i tend to go and see acts on the quieter end of the spectrum then i'll answer from that perspective:

- i don't want the songs to sound exactly the same but i don't want endless noodling. i'm also scared of going to see iron and wine because i've heard he surrounds himself with musos and his songs sound best stripped down
- i don't want wackiness, but a bit of between-song banter is good
- not really!
- no! though belle and sebastian do some great cover versions live.

for example the last few weeks I saw HEALTH and The Mae Shi at seperate gigs...

HEALTH just played out of their skin all their songs where perfect and intence more than I could of ever hoped for from them ACE!

The Mae-Shi where mad and got in the crowd and partyed with us all the way thru and still played their tunes ace.

Both gigs where awsome and both well diffrent. As long as the band play well and you enjoy it I dunno what I want hehe

Regardless of the genre.

my favourite part of gigs is the talking in between songs?!
Well obviously not my favourite bit, but i find it interesting.

and similarly, the desire to wiggle ones knees a little! Also, as illustrated by Jens Lekman, a little air xylophone is always welcome! But to the above:

1. No, not really. This was one of my main gripes with Vampire Weekend at ATP. I'm not a massive fan of their album, but it was disappointing to see them play it straight off, there was no difference between the live interpretation and the record.

2. Possibly fun, yes, but for bands where LC!-style fun would be inappropriate, I'd just prefer them to not take themselves too seriously.

3. As written above, anything from a little knee wiggle can be nice if it's a quiet band, up to a hugely energetic dance, such as for Hot Chip on Saturday! If it's a less visual band (ie, Harmonia), being able to dance with abandon and not feel obliged to look at the stage is nice.

4. No, not really. I saw Howlin Rain last week, and they encored with a cover of Keep Me Hanging On, which was plain embarrassing, but saying that, Tegan and Sara sometimes cover Rihanna's Umbrella, which is quite entertaining.

'nuff said.

Stage presence. Banter. Tightness. Enthusiasm.