3/15 - joanna newsom @ ukranian federation @ montreal, qc

favourite album, favourite show! in a church with immaculate sound and incredibly well crafted performance.

5/18 - neil young, bert jansch @ palace theatre @ albany, ny

terrible crowd – why are neil's audiences everywhere i've seen him play so shit? – but a real treat to witness the very first performances of several of the songs that comprised "le noise". first night of tour, and the clarification of "i said solo they said acoustic".

6/12 - phish @ blossom @ cuyahoga falls, oh

very fun show at a great venue. no expectations, just pure enjoyment. potentially the one time i'll ever purchase plane tickets to central america drunk n' stoned before the encore, or else lose the hold.

9/29 - van dyke parks, clare & the reasons @ music gallery @ toronto, on

extremely fortunate to see vdp on his "first solo tour" in over 40 years of making music, in my favourite venue (converted church) in toronto. totally charming and certifiably brilliant in his performance and a genius personality as well. even more stunning was clare & the reasons as openers. amazing song craft, sensual performance.

Gorillaz @ Coachella - best show of the year hands down
Jonsi @ Coachella - chills the entire time. just infuckingcredible
Fever Ray @ Coachella - unlike anything i've ever seen, spooky, weird, sounded outstanding
Deerhunter @ Coachella - laid out in the sun and they sounded absolutely perfect
Phoenix @ Coachella - up close and personal, loudest crowd i've been a part of
Beach House @ Coachella - meditative while laying in the grass
Surfer Blood - Orlando - drunken and rowdy
D.R.I. - Ft. Lauderdale - hung out with a bunch of old skate bros, and D.R.I. killed it

From a blog post of mine:

5. Free Energy at Snug Harbor, Charlotte, NC, 6/2 - I always love a small club show where the band is just on, and this was certainly the case for Free Energy, a band I wasn’t too familiar with before seeing them that night.

4. The National and Owen Pallett at Progress Energy Center, Raleigh, NC, 10/4 - My favorite current band in top form, with Matt Berninger doing his crazed lead singer thing (as opposed to him being painfully shy when I first saw them in 2005). As stated before, Owen Pallett was a revelation live.

3. Major Lazer at Pitchfork Music Festival, Union Park, Chicago, IL, 7/18 - This show was less of a concert and more of a performance art show. We thought we were just getting a good spot for headliners Pavement, but this turned out to be so much more than just camping out for a good spot. The show had Chinese dragon dancers, ballerinas, daggering, daggering from on top of a ladder, toilet paper, chugging Hennessy, and a bunch of other crazy shit I’m most likely forgetting, with Diplo and hypeman Skerrit Bwoy leading the way.

2. Pavement at Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA, 9/26 - I finally saw my favorite band ever this year (and two times at that). This one trumps the first time I saw them at Pitchfork because it wasn’t ridiculously hot and sweaty and the crowd’s median age meant it was too old for things like crowdsurfing and moshing. But also, the band wasn’t crunched for time in a festival timeslot with a noise ordinance looming and actually seemed to be in a good mood, which definitely showed on stage.

1. LCD Soundsystem at Bonnaroo, 6/11 - Quite simply, one of the most fun concert experiences I’ve ever had, and from 2:30-4am on the Friday of this year’s Bonnaroo. I would have loved for them to keep going past their timeslot, but unfortunately the people throwing glowsticks at the band kind of ruined the prospect of that for everyone.

Beach House and Washed out at Cat's Cradle on 5/1 would prob be the honorable mention.

here we go magic / new pornographers
that show was so amazing, both bands were outstanding. really small club, so especially np were so big and intense that you could literally see they are meant for a much bigger stage.

panzerballett
funny venue, actually it was a small festival in the building of where I had a rehearsal room couple of years ago. really far outside of the city, really simple organisation and all the other bands were small local not known bands, from indie to metal. panzerballett are from munich and all the musicians usually play in pretty serious jazz outfits. this band is the best german band I know to date. what and how they played was just ridiculously perfect.

here we go magic as headliner
this show was even better, they had time to expand their songs a bit and they created a superb atmosphere. everbody should check them out when they're in town.

ZS
nothing but a trip, this show. one hour noise, almost no light, just some animated projections behind the stage. they played in oneof my favorite venues, it's not bigger than a usual living room.

tame impala
surprisingly sold out at the end, but me and my friend grabbed a ticket before so for us that was great. you couldn't even buy the album there because they forgot it to bring or something. fun space rock show, way better than the album for me.

blitzen trapper
I love these guys since furr and though their new album isn't as strong as the old one, they rule live. fantastic band altogether.

maps & atlases
fantastic show! they delivered the songs of the new album perfectly. very nice guys. the encore was unplugged in the middle of the crowd. you could barely hear them playing but everybody shut up and enjoyed.

trans am
one of my favorite bands ever, I saw them live a couple of times. again really small venue and when you see their show, you just realize how sick this drummer is. awesome night altogether, I won't forget.

interment
never been to such an underground metal show before, but I will go much more often in the coming year. really small, but so much fun.


I've been to a couple of more shows but those above were outstanding. great year for live music in berlin.

My top 3:

1. Joanna Newsom @ Historic Sixth & I Synagogue, Washington DC
An absolutely gorgeous place, and an absolutely transcendent show.

2. Jonsi/Mountain Man @ 9:30 Club, Washington DC
When I saw Sigur Ros on their Takk tour, I was absolutely smitten with how amazing their visuals complimented their sound. Jonsi took the same idea of preparing an intricately animated projection show and transformed his stage presence into that of Peter Pan's Lost Boys. Its not hard to get lost in both sound and sight.

3. Drive-By Truckers/Dave Barbe and the Quick Hooks @ Jefferson Theater, Charlottesville, VA
These weren't the best DBT shows I've seen, but sometimes the experience makes the shows that much better. Meeting up with friends for the weekend, staying in a hotel, seeing the town, drinking some good local brews, and just overall just have a great time...in February.

the two Greg Dulli acoustic shows (NYC / Phili) back to back...

free energy/titus andronicus @ The Earl...Derris was also here, rowdy good time.

Dean Wareham plays Galaxie 500 @ The Earl

Arcade Fire/Spoon @ Verizon Amphitheater

Guided By Voices @ Buckhead Theater

Pavement @ Tabernacle

I didn't go to that many shows this year unfortunately but this one has to be up there. Springsteen and Titus get mentioned together a lot in articles and interviews but they share little in the way of sounds. The threads that bind them are the fact they're both from Jersey, their earnestness, and the fact they give you your money's worth live. They were SPENT by the time they finished. Seeing them really made me appreciate their record more. Especially the deeper cuts. Same with Free Energy. I really like the first few songs on that album but seeing them do the songs from the 2nd half made me like them more. Just an incredibly fun band. They're coming back as headliners in Jan or Feb. Will def be seeing them again. Just a great double bill.


The only other that qualifies:

The Pixies - The Fox Theater, Atlanta - performing the entirety of Doolittle along with every single and B-side from the Doolittle era.

pretty sure the only show i went to this year was Unearthly Trance/Racebannon/SUMA last month

Not many worth-while shows for me locally this year, but these are the top-3.

Feb. 08th- The Residents at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia
I've seen The Residents before (on their Bunny Boy tour), but this was eons better than that one. The prior show was good, but this one was epic.

Mar. 07th- Man Man at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA
Third time I've seen the Man Man crew. The first time may still be the best time--virgin experiences are often the best. But this one came close (and was definitely better than the atrocious Philly show from several years back--though that was bad due to the crowd). They brought the energy, that's for sure.

June 13th- Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys at Long's Park in Lancaster, PA
Ralph Stanley is a legend. Not the sort of show which features high energy or loud... anything. But Stanley is definitely worth seeing. He is short and withered and still knows how to capture everyone's attention.

Honorable Mention:
The Felice Brothers at Long's Park in Lancaster, PA
Not a fan of these guys on record, but live they bring it. Very entertaining on stage. And I'm pretty sure their excursions backstage in between songs were to load back up on coke.

Mine, with no apologies for posting my reviews...

Gorillaz @ Frank Erwin Center
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/ ... frank.html

Black Keys @ Stubb's
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/ ... black.html

Silversun Pickups @ Stubb's
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/ ... ckups.html

Big Boi @ East Side Drive-In
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/ ... st_si.html

Lucero @ SXSW
http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/ ... ucero.html

Honorable mention: Two Cow Garage @ Red 7; Ghostland Observatory @ White Water Amphitheater; Kid Sister @ Mohawk; Social Distortion @ Stubb's; King Khan and The Shrines @ Emo's, Burning Hotels @ The Parish

Good local bands: Ume, Follow That Bird!, The Something Ain't Rights*, Monarch Box, Riverboat Gamblers, Krum Bums, Marmalakes, Riders Against The Storm, Dana Falconberry, Monarchs*, Andrew Anderson, English Teeth, The Ugly Beats, The Sour Notes, Kait Berreckman

*wuddup Phil!

I probably only made a dozen shows this year with all of my school and work stuff. These three really stick out.

10/9-12?/2010 - Mark Mallman MARATHON III - I've never been a huge fan of his music but the dude played a show for 78 hours straight at the Turf Club in St. Paul, MN. I went a couple times over that weekend and watched. I also tuned in and watched online a bit while he rocked the venue after it had closed. I've never seen anything so inspirational in my entire life. He had it broken into three (26 hour) themes... blood flow, giant wave, and liquid moth ... kind of repeated these themes within his lyrics throughout the event..It really grew on me.
He had oodles and oodles of local legends and unknowns join him for sets. He broke a foot and kept going. He lost all sense of space. He would go from completely droney and incoherent to standing on top of his keys like some satan possessed rock god. I don't know how this will ever be topped. Maybe his next marathon.

6/26/2010 - Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the Triple Rock in MPLS - Finally got to see Quintron. Loved it loved it loved it!

7/15/2010 - Lightning Bolt at the Triple Rock in MPLS - Finally got to see Lightning Bolt - They completely lived up to everything I thought they would be. Unfortunately, I was probably not excited as I would have been a few years ago when I drove to Chicago to see them. I didn't get into that show. Still awesome to see them either way. So tight.

5/2/10 Drive-By Truckers @ Blue Note in Columbia, MO

Holy shit, the guys played their asses off. No opener, they played probably 30 songs. My gf and I took the hour 1/2 trip to Columbia, spent the night in a hotel and got super fuckin' wasted. Probably my favorite DBT show I've seen. Favorite moment: Can't remember anything other than having a blast.

6/19/10 Marah @ Blueberry Hill St. Louis, MO

Another band I'll see any time they come through town. Favorite moment: Dave standing on top of one of the tables of this small club, playing a scorching solo.

9/30/10 The National / Owen Pallett @ The Pageant St. Louis, MO

Simply blown away. First time I had managed to see the National live and this show nearly shot them up to my "favorite band going" status (Still belongs to DBT). I'll never skip a show of theirs again. Favorite moment: Matt running through the crowd singing "Mr. November"

12/7/10 Lucero @ Off Broadway St. Louis, MO

Another one of those drunk fests where I can't remember much other than jumping around like a fucking idiot and having the time of my life. The horn section they added to their live show was fantastic. Favorite moment: Making it out alive

Saw Jonsi in Boston and was blown away.

Black Keys and Rufus Wainwright were also great.

I haven't been keeping track, but I'll just go with my standard awesome show of Insubordination Fest (last weekend in June).

Automatics, MC Chris, Dirt Bike Annie, Jetty Boys, Nancy, Hextalls, Night Birds, Zatopeks, Full of Fancy, Dear Landlord, Smoking Popes, the Leftovers, Steinways, Dopamines, American Steel, Impulse International, Less Than Jake, Black Wine, and a dozen more all in one weekend!

Nov. 20 The Flaming Lips in Seoul

Pretty much the only show I've seen this year worth mentioning. Dug the theatrics and the hamster ball bit, great energy.

jan. 20th - bone zone, world map, theory engine @ big fung i'm sure no one gives a shit about these bands and they didn't put on the best sets but all in all it was a really fun show at a loft in chinatown.

feb. 19th - andrew w.k., japanther, ninjasonik @ wadsworth atheneum, ct i was so tired and uncomfortable during this show but it was still amazing.

feb. 24th - wild beasts @ great scott finally got to see them and they lived up to my expectations.

mar. 16th - black pus @ great scott brian chippendale of lightning bolt solo. awesome.

apr. 6th - the smith westerns @ great scott their debut album sounds like shit and i hate it for that but live they were great.

apr. 10th - pissed jeans @ great scott love this band

apr. 12th - titus andronicus @ great scott pretty much what dave and derris said above. great to drunk sing along to.

apr. 18th - white mice, mlu @ charlie's kitchen kinda makes up for me not getting to see lightning bolt this year.

apr. 19th - owen pallett @ ica boston just to watch him play all that stuff live with the loops and everything blew my mind.

apr. 25th - harlem @ great scott just a great rock and roll show.

may 6th - caribou, toro y moi @ middle east tight fucking band (i kind of geeked out that john schmersal was playing with him). toro y moi was decent too even though i'm not really into their album.

jun. 14th - first aid kit @ middle east cute chicks and harmonies.

jun. 19th - health, indian jewelry, the death set @ great scott fun show.

jul. 5th - faith no more, neil hamburger @ williamsburg waterfront, nyc hot as fucking balls but really glad i got to see them again and they did not disappoint. neil hamburger was weird in front of such a large audience.

jul. 16th - deer tick @ lupo's, ri maybe it was because they were in their hometown but this was probably one of the most fun shows i've ever been to. they played on a side street and went on for almost 2 hours.

sept. 28th - screaming females @ tt's really glad i chose this over bobby bare jr and/or best coast/male bonding.

oct. 12th - edan/dagha/mr. lif @ church this was phenomenal. he rhymed for like 6 minutes straight, cut records while he was rhyming, played femme fatale over run dmc's rock box and played kazoo.

i probably have loose standards as to what's considered "best".

1. Arcade Fire
2. Buzzcocks
3. Ted Leo
4. Les Savy Fav
5. Melvins

In No Order

DBT and Lucero at House of Blues Boston MA.
Justin Townes Earle at Iron Horse Northampton MA.
Marshes Reunion Show at Flywheel Easthampton MA.
Kylesa/Torche/High On Fire at Pearl Street Nothampton Ma.
Trampled By Turtles/Infamous String Dusters at Iron Horse Northampton Ma.
Outdates/Decievers/Whirl at Smith College

Hmm. Slow year, but good shows.



...but ordering them after 2 is almost moot

Top 5 in rough order would probably be:

John Cale & the UCLA Orchestra Perform Paris 1919
Paul McCartney @ the Hollywood Bowl
Willie Nelson @ the Greek Theatre
Charles Lloyd
Levon Helm @ the Greek Theatre

this might be the first year in a long time I didnt go to any music shows at all. or my memory may just be faulty. did see Louis CK which was great.

Top 10 concerts

1. Arcade Fire – Ryman Auditorium – 8.9.10
2. Stevie Wonder/Jay-Z – Bonnaroo – 6.12.10
3. Neil Young/Burt Jansch – Ryman Auditorium – 6.1.10
4. Beach House/Washed Out – Mercy Lounge – 4.28.10
5. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals/The Avett Brothers – Ryman Auditorium – 10.30.10
6. Bobby Bare Jr/Blue Giant – The Basement – 9.18.10
7. King Charles/Cadillac Sky/Mumford & Sons - War Memorial Auditorium – 11.1.10
8. Bear in Heaven/Crystal Castles - Cannery Ballroom – 9.7.10
9. Akron/Family / Warpaint @ Exit/In – 2.27.10
10. Drive-By Truckers – Cannery Ballroom -6.18.10

I forgot to mention LCD Soundsystem @ The Tabernacle.

One of my least favorite venues, but it never sounded better in there. These guys are absolute masters of what they do. I hope their threat of never touring again turns out to be bullshit.

levon helm @ the ryman most memorable for sure.