I loved the music of Natasha Atlas (of TransGlobalUnderground) for years, but when I saw her live it was so disappointing.

On the other hand, I had no great expectation of the Temptations, and they were brilliant live. They were so slick, it was amazing.

Tom Jones is also a great live act. He isn't a dancer, but he has a fantastic voice.

I loved the following artists after I saw them live:

Macy Gray
Anita Baker
Jill Scott

i didn't even know who Ben Harper was before i saw him open up for TTD back when Symphony or Damn was out. it was a small venue and his performance was very nuanced, emotional, and heartfelt. been a fan ever since.