After starting a nationwide controversy by putting alleged Boston bomber Dzokhar Tsaernaev on the cover, Rolling Stone played it considerably safer with the follow-up issue, going with one of the most American Americans of all-time, Bruce Springsteen. The reason for his appearance on the cover - ostensibly, at least - was because he came in at #1 on the magazine's list of the 50 best live acts currently touring. The list was a more-or-less agreeable mixture of acts old and new from a diverse set of genres and while I may have had a few beefs with it (no Flaming Lips?!), as someone who has had the distinct pleasure of seeing The Boss live, I can happily tell you they didn't screw up the top spot.

I saw Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band on November 22, 2009 at HSBC Arena. It was the final show of the Working On A Dream Tour, and the last show Clarence Clemons would ever play with the band. It was by far the best show I've ever seen. During those three and a half hours, we were blown away by the endless amount of energy and soul that one man was capable of delivering. But saying that a Springsteen show is a religious experience is hardly an original statement, however true it may be. So, let's talk about something different: what makes a live act a transcendent experience.

In the case of Springsteen, it was many things. Singing along to all of the songs I know by heart was fun, but it was the force behind those songs that made it more than a by the book greatest hits affair. The appearance of several obscure cuts and covers didn't hurt either.

At times, the "Greatest Hits" concert can be fun, even if it's predictable. When I saw Alice Cooper at Darien Lake last summer, he played a set heavy on songs I was already quite familiar with, and that was just fine. In that setting, hearing the songs - as well as the special effects - we're all familiar with was a great experience because it allowed me and everyone else in the crowd the experience of seeing a quintessential Alice Cooper Show.

On the other hand, a show can also be special because of the lack of popular songs. I've discussed this before when Tom Petty made the choice to break out the deep cuts on his latest tour. The first time you see a beloved act, you might crave the greatest hits package, since those are the songs that likely introduced you to the band's music, but the second time around it gets predictable. Anyone who truly cares about a band or musician has deep cuts by that act that rank among their most treasured songs, and hearing them in concert - especially when you don't expect to - can be a truly marvelous experience.

Sometimes, it's not the set list that matters, so much as the effort that goes into bringing it to life. I'd be lying if I claimed to hold the same reverence for Dave Matthews that his most hardcore fans do, but I can certainly understand why his live shows have such a wide appeal. Hearing completely different versions of the songs you've come to know and love stretch on into euphoric jams would obviously be a great experience if you happen to be into that sort of thing. There are so many bands that thrive in the live setting but struggle to capture the same vibe in the studio to the point where you pretty much have to seem them live to get a true understanding what they are capable of.

If Springsteen is the best show I've ever seen, #2 would probably be Adrian Belew's gig at the Tralf in October 2011. His expert guitar playing, as well as the amazing groove he and his band mates were able to capture blew me away. A lot of times, virtuosity like that is hard to appreciate when listening to a studio recording. That's why acts like Joe Bonamassa and Robert Randolph tend to be better in concert than in the studio. To watch a virtuoso in motion is just more electrifying and exciting that simply listening to a guitar solo on record, regardless of how much expert playing might be going into that solo. It's just the magic of being there.

A great concert can be great for any number of reasons. Maybe it's because the band brought out one of your personal favorites that you don't get to hear much. Maybe they went into a 20-minute jam that you'll be telling your grandchildren about. In any case, the thrill of live music comes in many forms, and it's safe to say, it will outlast all of us.