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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: Mobius on December 12, 2009, 01:18:14 am
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Tough to narrow down, but I think these were mine, in no order . . .
The Strokes 9:30 Club Oct 2001
Radiohead Tower Theater June 2006
White Stripes Hammerstein Ballroom April 2003
Guided By Voices 9:30 Club May 2001
Leonard Cohen Radio City Music Hall May 2009
Paul McCartney Boardwalk Hall Sept 2002
My Bloody Valentine The National July 2009
Pixies DAR Dec 2004
Stevie Wonder Verizon Oct 2007
The Stooges 9:30 Club April 2007
Most regretted miss: Daft Punk
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hmm....that is very hard to remember and pick just 10 but I'll try a few.. these are the ones that mean a lot to me..they were great shows but in some cases they also just meant a lot..I'm sure I'm forgetting a few:
Joao Gilberto I want to say in 2003 in NYC at Carnegie:
To see/hear Joao was a dream come true...
Guided by Voices I want to say 2004 at Recher:
i thought they were a bit past their prime but then I saw this show and they tore the roof off the place
Ween earlier this summer at Bottle and Cork in Dewey:
One of my favorite live bands..
Lou Donaldson at Ramshead Annapolis I think it was 2007;
Blue Note legend still has it. caught him from a table a few feet away.. unlike say Sonny Rollins he was entertaining..
Toots and the Maytals at the 930 I think in 2006:
Only time I've been on the 930 stage (during Monkey man)...Toots was unbelievable..practically turned the 930 into a church..the next day he was on NPR on Kojo and I managed to talk with him a bit.
Los Autenticos Decadentes at State Theatre I think it was 2007:
Probably most fun show I've seen.. These guys are an unbelievable good time live..
AC DC at Verizon last year:
I travelled up for the tour opener never having seen them and them being my favorite band.. Anyways they didn't have it all quite together opening night but two weeks later at Verizon they did...
Rolling Stones Baltimore 2006:
After hearing all the bullshit about how they were too old it was great to see them kick total ass... This is generally recognized to be one of the better shows from Bigger Bang tour and was in the smallest arena.. The feeling was electric before they went on and the Baltimore crowd was into their first appearance there since 69 (get yer ya yas has one or two songs recorded at the same venue)
Luna in Buenos Aires 2002
This one meant so much.. nobody was coming down to Argentina and then one of my favorite bands comes in the middle of the depression...I walked in a few seconds late to the sound of 23 minutes in brussels...goosebumpage... talked to band afterwards.. just great
Jorge Ben at Birchmere 2003 or 2004
Another dream fulfilled... wonderful show once it got going and afterwards anyone that wanted to could be taken in turn backstage to meet him/take pictures/get autographs...
Charly Garcia in Buenos Aires at Roxy Club 2002
Charly as is his thing went on at about 2 am and played til 6!
Tony Bennett at Wolftrap 2008
I have to put in a good word also for Los Amigos INvisibles who I saw many times and I think is the best party band around... Also, the first time I saw the Pogues and the Stooges at the 930 was pretty special.. and many other shows I'm forgetting... Also a shout out to Mimi Maura at many shows in Buenos Aires in 2001/2002...Some great free shows in DC too such as WIllie Colon at Ronald Reagan Bldg... Ben andrews at madams organ many times (why did you leave?!?)
Biggest regrets: not seeing Joaquin Sabina or Andres Calamaro
Did not measure up to perhaps too lofty expectations: Manu Chao and Sonny Rollins
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OK, I'll play.... Here's my list in chronological order:
2003/08/20 Radiohead (Merriweather Post Pavilion, Washington, DC)
2004/05/13 TV on the Radio/The Birdland/The Apollo Heights/The Six Parts Seven/The Hush (Supreme Imperial, Baltimore, MD)
2005/01/21 Colin Meloy (Iota, Arlington, VA)
2005/01/30 The Arcade Fire/Final Fantasy (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2005/02/24 Wilco (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2006/04/09 Neko Case/Martha Wainwright (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2006/08/03 Sleater-Kinney (9:30 Club, Washington, DC) [Farewell Tour]
2006/10/15 Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2007/05/04 The Arcade Fire/The National (D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Washington, DC)
2007/07/26 The Swell Season (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2007/07/28 The White Stripes (Patriot Center, George Mason University, VA)
2007/10/25 Jens Lekman (Black Cat, Washington, DC)
2008/06/11 R.E.M./Modest Mouse/The National (Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD)
2009/07/30 My Bloody Valentine (The National, Richmond, VA)
Those are the ones that stand out. They're each special, magical shows that I hope I never forget.
Honorable Mentions:
2002/04/30 Garbage/Abandoned Pools (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2003/10/08 R.E.M./Pete Yorn (Patriot Center, George Mason University, VA)
2004/04/01 The Crystal Method/DJ Hyper (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2004/04/22 Sleater-Kinney/The Thermals (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2004/06/01 Beulah/Dios (Black Cat, Washington, DC)
2004/06/09 Wilco (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2004/10/14 Mission of Burma/Channels (Black Cat, Washington, DC)
2004/12/08 Pixies/TV on the Radio/The Bennies (D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Washington, DC)
2005/03/23 Robyn Hitchcock/Meredith Bragg (Black Cat, Washington, DC)
2006/01/28 Colin Meloy/Laura Viers (Birchmere, Arlington, VA)
2006/03/29 Stellastarr*/Editors (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2006/10/15 TV on the Radio (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2007/07/14 The Decemberists with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD)
2008/03/18 God Is An Astronaut (The Ottobar, Baltimore, MD)
2008/04/13 Colin Meloy/Laura Gibson (9:30 Club, Washington, DC)
2006/07/15 Mission of Burma (Black Cat, Washington, DC)
2009/01/18 Moby (DJ) (9:30 Club, Washington, DC) [Inauguration Night]
2009/06/08 The Decemberists/Andrew Bird/Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 (Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD)
2009/08/28 The Flaming Lips/Explosions in the Sky (Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD)
2009/11/30 Pixies/Jay Reatard (D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Washington, DC)
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I didn't start going to concerts till about a few years ago so I will just do my top five (not in order):
Lou Reed (April 2008, 930)
I'm biased because Lou is one of my all time favorites, but I loved the show.
Leonard Cohen (Merriweather, May 2008)
A legend that performed for 3 hours.
Decemberists w/the BSO (Merriweather Summer, 2006)
Still one of my most listened to bootlegs.
Paul McCartney (August 2009, Fedex Field)
A was completely surprised by how good this show was.
Andrew Bird w/ St. Vincent (November 2009, 930)
Great Double Bill
Biggest Misses:
Got into David Bowie and John Cale about a year too late to seem them play U.S. shows.
Apparently John Cale played at the 930 in 2004 or 2005, did anyone see this?
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This is going to be hard:
2003 Sex Pistols - 930 club, original lineup did the first album and a couple extras. Then done. Perfect.
2008 Spiritualized - 930 club, the one on NPR. I have seen them many times, sometimes over orchestrated, this one was just right. Guitarist was on fire, Jason smashed his guitar!
2001 or 2 Chemical Brothers 930 club, they were on.
2004-5? (have to look at the t-shirt) Helios Creed - Fletchers. It was the volume working in their favor. Viceral, intense, and just killer.
2004 (?) Sigur Ros - 930 club, think it was for the second album, Album Leaf (or something like that) opened. Showed me that the drummer is their secret weapon.
2003 (?) Comets on Fire - Ottobar. When they hit the first note, 1/2 the audience took a big step backwards, 1/2 a big step forward. They were not phoning it in.
2009 Jesus Lizard - 930/Sonar.
2002 Fugazi - Ft. Reno. Last show on US soil, the time limit meant that they did a killer set that didn't drag.
2007 (?) The Hives and The Donnas - 930 club, somewhere I have the Donnas setlist. I have never seen so much extra writing on a setlist. And the Hives, finally caught them live, another 100% show.
2006 (?) The Polyphonic Spree - 930 club. It was just such a happy uplifting show. I was in a bad mood that time and it popped me out.
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The Magnetic Fields, 6/2000 at Great American Music Hall (69 Love Songs in its entirety over two nights)
godspeed! you black emperor, 10/2000 at Great American Music Hall
Sigur Ros, 5/2001 at The Fillmore
Luna, 2/2005 at the Fillmore
The Go-Betweens (2000 and 2005) both shows at Slim's
Underworld at the Warfield, 10/2002
Sleater-Kinney at Starlight Ballroom, 7/2006 (farewell tour, sweatiest show ever)
Belle & Sebastian @ 930 Club, 3/2006 (two nights)
The Beta Band at the Fillmore (2001, 2002)
Broken Social Scene @ 930 Club, 11/2006
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Sir HC got me thinking of a few. Now, if only the memory would kick in.
(No particular order)
Spiritualized - Toss up between 2 shows, both at the 9:30 Club. One was sometime around April 23rd, 2002 (BRMC opened, if that helps to date). The other was the 2008 show. Both shows totally blew me away! Both somewhat different but in ways that make it impossible for me to pick one over the other. My only problem with the 2008 show was I thought the back up singers should have been pushed further back (musically speaking, not physically). A little of them was an enhancement but I felt that they also got in the way when they had a larger role. Just my opinion and tastes but I did read that complaint elsewhere at some point. In the end, it was just a very minor complaint because the show was incredible.
SIANspheric - Guessing somewhere around 2005 at DC9. Also played with Bryce Woodale and Northern Chorus who also both added to a great night. Though I expected a good show, I had no idea that I would be treated to one of my all time favorite performances. Once SIANSpheric hit the stage, it was like I was hit with some sort of contact laudanum high. (No drugs at all involved, mind you.) If I'm not mistaken, I think maybe Snail put this show on but could be wrong. He was there but not too many others. A nice little group of people for the show but not enough to get in my way which made it all the more comfortable. Was very, very lucky to get to see the band because they fell apart shortly afterwards.
Sigur Ros - The 2nd night when they played the 9:30 Club a number of years ago. With a little research, we could pin it down because I remember that they were performing their encore just as the first shot was fired in the Iraqi war. Maybe March 22, or something like that. (That was a whole other mind blower of a different type.) Sir HC was dead on about their drummer. Before I saw them, like everyone else, I had assumed that Jonsi was the main thrust of the band. No way!!! That drummer, (Ori, Yuri, or something like that) was like a one man band with the others being just extra instruments he has at hand. This man is much, much more than a drummer and an incredible drummer, at that while he's actually playing drums. He makes your average drummer look like a little kid in kindergarten banging on toy bongos. Btw, the opener was The Album Leaf with help from a couple of the Sigur Ros members.
Massive Attack - 9:30 Club in the last couple years. 2nd night. A beautiful coalition of great musicians joining together to put on one very enjoyable show.
Kraftwerk - 9:30 Club in the last couple of years. 2nd night... (I think they played 2 nights). What can I say? Kraftwerk were Kraftwerk.
The Hives - The MTV show at the Recher Theatre in Baltimore. 2004 or so. Really about the same as when I saw them about 2 weeks later at the Black Cat but the first show had the power of it completely surprising me with what a blast they are. Funny thing is, I never listen to their music by itself as it's just not all that interesting to me but their shows are total controlled fun. It's like they tried to take the magic of Beatlemania and incorporate it into their own Hivemania... and it works.
A Place To Bury Strangers - A few years ago in October at The Warehouse Next Door. They were a last minute replacement for Alcian Blue who broke up only days or weeks before. They opened for Secret Shine. Secret Shine were good but, quite frankly, they didn't have a chance performing after APTBS. As many times as I've seen them, this was by far, their best. Small and intimate setting and the band experimented with a few different dynamics picked up from The Vandelles, which greatly worked in their favor. (Ollie admitted that to me afterwards when I mentioned something about a little bit of similiar sounds as they.) A quick set but my ass left thoroughly rocked off its bones.
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I'll have to think a little while on this, but off the top of my head:
December 2004 - Arcade Fire (Bottom of the Hill)
September 2007 - Nouvelle Vague (The Fillmore)
February 2003 - Great White (The Station)
Spring 2003 - Interpol (9:30 club)
May 2005 - Pixies (Warfield)
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tough assignment, but here's the top 10 (in chronological order):
Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes 7/8/00 E-Centre Camden NJ
The Who / Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros 11/13/00 London Arena, Canary Wharf, London UK
Roxy Music 7/23/01 Theater at MSG, NYC
Peter Gabriel 10/24/02 MCI Center WDC
David Bowie 5/16/04 Pat Ctr Fairfax VA
Roger Waters 9/23/06 Nissan Pav Bristow VA
Radiohead 5/11/08 Nissan Pav Bristow VA
David Byrne 6/6/09 Wolf Trap Vienna VA
U2 / Muse 9/29/09 FedEx Field MD
Bruce Springsteen 11/2/09 VCtr WDC
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Sir HC got me thinking of a few. Now, if only the memory would kick in.
(No particular order)
Spiritualized - Toss up between 2 shows, both at the 9:30 Club. One was sometime around April 23rd, 2002 (BRMC opened, if that helps to date). The other was the 2008 show. Both shows totally blew me away! Both somewhat different but in ways that make it impossible for me to pick one over the other. My only problem with the 2008 show was I thought the back up singers should have been pushed further back (musically speaking, not physically). A little of them was an enhancement but I felt that they also got in the way when they had a larger role. Just my opinion and tastes but I did read that complaint elsewhere at some point. In the end, it was just a very minor complaint because the show was incredible.
SIANspheric - Guessing somewhere around 2005 at DC9. Also played with Bryce Woodale and Northern Chorus who also both added to a great night. Though I expected a good show, I had no idea that I would be treated to one of my all time favorite performances. Once SIANSpheric hit the stage, it was like I was hit with some sort of contact laudanum high. (No drugs at all involved, mind you.) If I'm not mistaken, I think maybe Snail put this show on but could be wrong. He was there but not too many others. A nice little group of people for the show but not enough to get in my way which made it all the more comfortable. Was very, very lucky to get to see the band because they fell apart shortly afterwards.
Sigur Ros - The 2nd night when they played the 9:30 Club a number of years ago. With a little research, we could pin it down because I remember that they were performing their encore just as the first shot was fired in the Iraqi war. Maybe March 22, or something like that. (That was a whole other mind blower of a different type.) Sir HC was dead on about their drummer. Before I saw them, like everyone else, I had assumed that Jonsi was the main thrust of the band. No way!!! That drummer, (Ori, Yuri, or something like that) was like a one man band with the others being just extra instruments he has at hand. This man is much, much more than a drummer and an incredible drummer, at that while he's actually playing drums. He makes your average drummer look like a little kid in kindergarten banging on toy bongos. Btw, the opener was The Album Leaf with help from a couple of the Sigur Ros members.
Massive Attack - 9:30 Club in the last couple years. 2nd night. A beautiful coalition of great musicians joining together to put on one very enjoyable show.
Kraftwerk - 9:30 Club in the last couple of years. 2nd night... (I think they played 2 nights). What can I say? Kraftwerk were Kraftwerk.
The Hives - The MTV show at the Recher Theatre in Baltimore. 2004 or so. Really about the same as when I saw them about 2 weeks later at the Black Cat but the first show had the power of it completely surprising me with what a blast they are. Funny thing is, I never listen to their music by itself as it's just not all that interesting to me but their shows are total controlled fun. It's like they tried to take the magic of Beatlemania and incorporate it into their own Hivemania... and it works.
A Place To Bury Strangers - A few years ago in October at The Warehouse Next Door. They were a last minute replacement for Alcian Blue who broke up only days or weeks before. They opened for Secret Shine. Secret Shine were good but, quite frankly, they didn't have a chance performing after APTBS. As many times as I've seen them, this was by far, their best. Small and intimate setting and the band experimented with a few different dynamics picked up from The Vandelles, which greatly worked in their favor. (Ollie admitted that to me afterwards when I mentioned something about a little bit of similiar sounds as they.) A quick set but my ass left thoroughly rocked off its bones.
For spiritualized I was out of the main throw of the PA, so the singers were kept in the background. That was the same Kraftwork, Sigur Ros and Massive Attack shows I was at. I thought they were amazing. I forgot about them...
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the ones I can recall:
Comets on Fire/Sounds of Kaleidoscope -- Black Cat, somewhere around 2006, after 'Avatar' came out. In my top 3 all-time shows.
Stellastarr/Ambulance/Killers -- Black Cat. Killers were fun and clearly a band on the rise, skipped Ambulance, and then Stellastarr killed. Thought for sure they were going to be huge.
Guided by Voices -- 9:30, 2001 or 2002, right after Universal Truths came out. Incredible show, even better IMO than the farewell show in 2004.
Arcade Fire & National -- DAR, great show, still listen to the recording a fair amount
Raveonettes -- Still have never seen the Black Cat go as crazy as they did as this show. Total surprise how good this was.
Hives -- Black Cat show a year or so ago
DMBQ -- DC9, a few days before the car crash that killed their drummer. The mountain of drums the singer built, and then smote, was a thing of beauty
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10. Paul Simon and friends at the Warner Theatre for the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on May 23rd, 2007
An incredible roster of artists, but most meaningful to me was getting to see Paul play ?Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes? with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
9. Sarah McLachlan/Barenaked Ladies on NCL Jewel in Stardust Theater for Ships and Dip V on February 5th, 2009
They really gave it their all ? at the time we thought it was because it was the last night of the cruise, but it turned out to be Steven?s last show with them, a tart but sweet memory.
8. Billy Idol/Coldplay/Foo Fighters at M & T Bank Stadium for the HFStival on May 14th, 2005
7. R.E.M./Pearl Jam/James Taylor/Dixie Chicks/Dave Matthews Band/Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at MCI Center for Vote For Change on October 11th, 2004
6. Dave Matthews Band/Kelly Clarkson/Bon Jovi/Smashing Pumpkins/Roger Waters/The Police at Giants Stadium for Live Earth on July 7th, 2007
I love festivals, and it?s the chance to see artist after amazing artist that really make it memorable.
5. Aerosmith at Foxboro Stadium for the WBCN River Rave on May 26th, 2001
This was also at a festival, but a single moment. When they play ?Sweet Emotion?, Tom Hamilton plays a long bass intro, and just as they broke into the main part of the song, lightning split the sky directly behind them. Best light show ever.
4. Rush at AmSouth Amphitheatre on August 14th, 2002
I vowed to see these guys from the front row, and it was cheaper to buy airfare to Nashville, rent a room and a car and buy a front row ticket there then just buy one front row ticket in DC. Oh well, still an incredible night, plus I made it out of the venue so fast I saw Neil?s van leaving.
3. Paul McCartney with Ringo Starr at Radio City Music Hall for Change Begins Within on April 4th, 2009
Never got a chance to see George, wasn?t passing up a chance to see the last two Beatles together. Totally worth it.
2. David Gilmour with Richard Wright at Massey Hall, April 9th, 2006
I did see the Waters-less Pink Floyd twice, but ?Shine On You Crazy Diamond? and ?Echoes? in a small theater blew the top of my head off.
1. Queen + Paul Rodgers at Continental Airlines Arena on October 16th, 2005
I was hoping for a show like this for years. I saw U2 for the second time a week later. They might as well been a tribute band, this show set the bar so high I wonder if it will ever be hit again.
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February 2003 - Great White (The Station)
Oh my.
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Stellastarr/Ambulance/Killers -- Black Cat. Killers were fun and clearly a band on the rise, skipped Ambulance, and then Stellastarr killed. Thought for sure they were going to be huge.
That was the same night TV on the Radio played the Backstage. I bought a ticket for both, hoping to see the Killers first, followed by TV on the Radio, and then back upstairs for Stellastarr*, but it didn't work out quite as well as I would have liked. The Backstage was packed from the get-go, so I didn't think I could skip out and then come back and still get a decent spot, so I skipped the Killers and regretted it for a long time afterward. Then, TV on the Radio went on later than expected, so by the time they finished and I ran upstairs, I only heard the last two songs by Stellastarr*. That night could have been epic, but the timing just didn't quite work. Seeing TV on the Radio for the first time though was a game-changer in any case.
Raveonettes -- Still have never seen the Black Cat go as crazy as they did as this show. Total surprise how good this was.
Which show? They've played there a few times. I saw them there in March 2008 and January 2009 (both excellent), and I'm fairly sure there have been others.
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Interesting (re: the Stellastarr/TV on the Radio thing). I now have a very vague memory of my buddy saying there was a cool band playing downstairs and me saying something like "TV Radio what now? Dude, that sounds retarded."
As for the Raveonettes show, I can't remember the date. I think it was the show right after Pretty in Black came out. What I remember is that there were times when there were 4 guitars going on stage.
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Here are my top 10 of the decade in chronological order:
1. Radiohead, Atlanta, GA, 2001 - Amnesiac/Kid A tour, sick.
2. Tool, Raleigh, NC, 2001 - Lateralus tour from a 5th row seat, double sick.
3. Bob Dylan, Winston-Salem, NC, 2002 - The peak of late-period Dylan
4. Spiritualized/Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Carrboro, NC, 2002 - The '08 Spiritualized show from 9:30 also ranks very high
5. Richard Thompson Band, Durham, NC, 2003 - Guitar bliss
6. Wilco/Flaming Lips/Sleater-Kinney, NYC, 2004/2005 - Best triple bill ever
7. Death from Above 1979/Queens of the Stone Age/Nine Inch Nails, DC, 2005 - Sick triple bill, all three bands killed it, another great triple bill was TV on the Radio/Bauhaus/NIN in 2006
8. Iggy and the Stooges, 9:30 club, DC, 2007 - Best club show I've ever seen, Iggy is insane
9. My Morning Jacket, NYC 2008/2009 - Epic New Years MMJ show
10. Pearl Jam, Closing of the Philadelphia Spectrum, 2009 - Played for over 3.5 hours, pulled out ALL the stops
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For me these aren't necessarily the best, but they really stand out as the most memorable.
The Pixies & Kraftwerk @ Coachella (2004)
Death Cab For Cutie @ the Hollywood Bowl (7/5/2009)
Queens of the Stone Age @ the Warfield (10/11/2003)
Sonic Youth @ Valle Giulia, Rome (IT) (7/2/2004)
Elliott Smith w/Grandaddy @ 9:30 Club (10/26/2000)
Iggy & the Stooges @ Electric Factory (April 2007)
Belle & Sebastian @ the Hollywood Bowl (July 2006)
Social Distortion @ 9:30 Club (Nov. 2001)
PJ Harvey @ Black Cat (Dec. 2000)
Fischerspooner @ 9:30 Club (5/10/2009)
Air @ 9:30 Club (4/8/2004)
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How the f do you guys remember the actual dates?
No order:
Jesus Lizard (Sonar, 2009)
Radiohead at Lollapalooza (2008)
The Roots, TV on the Radio and Public Enemy (Philadelphia (2008)
Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy (Montreal, maybe 2004)
PJ Harvey (that early show she did at 9:30 maybe five years ago)
All Good Festival (the one with Ween and Les Claypool, maybe three years ago)
Pixies (that first DAR show they did when they reunited)
Clutch (they tour constantly - my favorites were the early-decade 9:30 shows)
Rollins/X (Cleveland, a few years back)
Iggy Pop and the Stooges (Boston during the reunion tour)
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How the f do you guys remember the actual dates?
For the most people, ticket stubs. For the uber-nerdy, an excel spreadsheet.
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How the f do you guys remember the actual dates?
For the most people, ticket stubs. For the uber-nerdy, an excel spreadsheet.
And then there are the freaks of nature, like myself, who can pull a date out for a few things. Too lazy to bother with researching tickets, nor do I bother with calendars for such things.
Though my brain is rotting away and I can't seem to remember simple things anymore, there are those odd things that stick. Regarding my concerts, it's usually because I can match it up to other circumstances around that time. Some you might guess but mostly convuluted circumstances that would often mean something only to me.
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Here are my top 10 of the decade in chronological order:
1. Radiohead, Atlanta, GA, 2001 - Amnesiac/Kid A tour, sick.
2. Tool, Raleigh, NC, 2001 - Lateralus tour from a 5th row seat, double sick.
3. Bob Dylan, Winston-Salem, NC, 2002 - The peak of late-period Dylan
4. Spiritualized/Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Carrboro, NC, 2002 - The '08 Spiritualized show from 9:30 also ranks very high
5. Richard Thompson Band, Durham, NC, 2003 - Guitar bliss
6. Wilco/Flaming Lips/Sleater-Kinney, NYC, 2004/2005 - Best triple bill ever
7. Death from Above 1979/Queens of the Stone Age/Nine Inch Nails, DC, 2005 - Sick triple bill, all three bands killed it, another great triple bill was TV on the Radio/Bauhaus/NIN in 2006
8. Iggy and the Stooges, 9:30 club, DC, 2007 - Best club show I've ever seen, Iggy is insane
9. My Morning Jacket, NYC 2008/2009 - Epic New Years MMJ show
10. Pearl Jam, Closing of the Philadelphia Spectrum, 2009 - Played for over 3.5 hours, pulled out ALL the stops
Well it all depends on your taste but i saw Dylan end of 2002 and to me the peak of late period Dylan is late 1996/1997...agree about 8
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How the f do you guys remember the actual dates?
I write them all down in a book. I've kept it since 1976.
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Apparently John Cale played at the 930 in 2004 or 2005, did anyone see this?
i did, with about 90 others. sadly underattended. started a bit slow but ended on fire. not the best cale show i've seen -- that would've been with red house painters in 1996 in boston -- but it was solid.
top ten shows of 2000-2009? hard to answer. i'll count the two MBV shows last year as one. in no particular order:
1) flaherty/corsano duo @ 611 florida (my house), 2/28/03...changed my life, most specifically, being the first show i ever booked.
2) six organs of admittance/jack rose @ 611 florida, 4/22/04...RIP jack :(
3) MBV @ roseland, 9/22/08 and 9/23/08 (i think)...waited roughly 15 years for this, and did not disappoint
4) negativland @ warehouse theatre, 8/5/07
5) trad gras och stenar/miighty flashlight/the big huge @ talking head, 7/1/04
6) kinski/ostinato @ warehouse next door, 8/26/05
7) whitehouse/pig destroyer/wolf eyes @ dc9, 3/2/06
8 ) merzbow/keiji haino/religious knives/demons @ no fun fest (the hook), 5/19/07
9) ghost/six organs of admittance @ andy warhol museum, 9/24/04
10) the stooges @ 9:30 club, 4/5/07
honorable mention: roky erickson & the explosives @ southpaw, 4/13/07
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i guess my top 11 (don't have time to filter anymore), in no particular order except the last:
- Stooges @ 930, 2007
- sigur ros @ grand ballroom, NYC, 2008
angels were in the room that night. i arguably had one of the worse seats in the house - upper back corner, ended up standing against the back wall behind the sound tech for most of the show - and i couldn't have been happier.
- prince @ verizon center, 2004
blew. my. mind.
- hallucinogen @ sola luna festival, samothraki, greece
granddady of psytrance proved that he still had it. amazing location, too.
- Radiohead @ hollywood bowl 2, 2008 (although superpages center in dallas was pretty damn special too)
- foo fighters acoustic @ DAR, 2006
- ac/dc @ wachovia, 2008
- spiritualized @ apollo theater, 2007
- franz ferdinand w/DCFC, DAR, 2006
- radiohead @ tower theater, 2006
the definition of a mind-blowing show
... aaaaaaaaaand arguably best show ever:
- daft punk @ lollapalooza
followed closely by their show @ vegoose... waddaya expect, it's live daft)
honorable mentions:
- thievery @ 930, 2005 (their first holiday multi-night stand... pretty sure it was 2005)
- ratm @ coachella (arguably only because it reminded me of their pre-breakup hayday)
- beck in the backroom, 2006
- coldplay @ nissan pavilion, 2005 (no, i don't care what you think, it was a great show)
- bob dylan w/the raconteurs, patriot center, 2006 (apparently we got bobby on a good night)
- kids in the hall, nokia theater, 2008 (do comedy shows count? 'cause this one was EPIC)
- calvin harris @ mercury lounge, NYC, 2007 ((very very close to being in the top 10)
- chemical brothers w/ladytron, mccarren pool, 2007
- Thievery Corp w/ TVotR, ladytron & frederico aubele, MPP, 2008 (just when i though TC were over the hill, they put together a great show. great support too.)
- arcade fire w/lcd soundsystem & blonde redhead, randall's island, 2007
- explosions in the sky, 930, 2007
- gogol bordello, 930 club, 2006 (i'm a little bored of them now, but that was an amazing first-time experience)
- ben gibbard acoustic @ 930, 2007 (both shows - liked the first one so much i ran outside, found a ticket and saw it again)
- NIN @ T5, 2009 (second night)
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Sweetcell is a CARL.
Corporate Arena Rock Lover
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we are both CARLs? (inside joke ;D)
but yes, i don't limit myself to the BC's backroom. have nothing against raw, i just happen to prefer polished and over-the-top. when you're in the the first few rows it's easy to forget there are 20,000 people behind you.
so, under the right conditions, i like 'em big <insert innuendo here>.
(small aside: depending how you count it around half of my list were arena shows, and only about half could be considered arena rock)
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A Tribe called quest @ Merriweather 2008
Thievery Corporation @ 930 club 2006
Beastie Boys @ Virgin Festival 2007
Massive Attack @ 930 club 2006 (both nights)
Deftones @ 930 club 2004
The Roots @ cole field house 2004
Dillinger Escape Plan @ the ottobar. February 6 2009 (one of the best birthdays i ever had)
Jay-z @ Warner Theater. (Inauguration eve show. Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Mayor Adrian Fenty was there)
My Bloody Valentine @ the National 2009
Kanye West @ Virgin Festival 2008
Honorable Mentions:
All Points West 2009 (Jay-z, My bloody Valentine, Silversun Pickups)
Thievery Corporation/TVOTR/Ladytron/... @ MPP
TV on the radio @ 930 club 2007 (2nd night)
LCD sound system @ 930 club 2007
Air @ 930 club 2007
Brand New @ rams head live 2007
DJ Shadow/Cut Chemist/Kid Koala @ 930 club 2008
Animal Collective @ 930 club 2009
Any time i got to see The Roots live the past 6 years
Biggest Misses:
Arcade fire @ 930 club
Daft Punk
Sigur Ros @ 930 club 2001
Prince @ verizon center
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Patti Smith @ 930 ('07)
James @ 930 ('08)
Chemical Brothers @ SCL ('04)
PJ Harvey/Morrissey @ SCL ('04)
Depeche Mode @ Patriot Center ('06)
Aguaturbia @ SCL ('04)
Black Mountain @ R&R Hotel ('08)
Nine Inch Nails @ MCI Center ('05)
KOOP @ 930 ('07)
Lisa Gerrard @ Birchmere ('07)
The Good, The Bad & The Queen @ 930 ('07)
Massive Attack @ SCL ('04)
T O O L @ Verizon Center ('06)
NIN/JA @ Merriweather ('09)
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Rage Against the Machine/Stone Temple Pilots/Deftones @ Fedex Field-May 00
Black Flag WM3 Benefit w/ Henry Rollins and Keith Morris-June 03
Beastie Boys @ Patriot Center-October 04
Social Distortion @ House of Blues Sunset Strip-Dec 05
Sleater-Kinney @ 930-August 06
The Evens @ St Stephens Church-December 06
The Stooges @ 930-April 07
Aggrolites @ Black Cat Backstage-August 07
Mission of Burma @ Black Cat-June 08
PJ Harvey and John Parish @ WArner Theatre-Jun 09
Honorable Mentions:
The Jesus Lizard @ 930-November 09
Bob Mould @ 930-October 09
Naked Raygun @ Ottobar-Septmber 09
Gray Matter @ Black Cat-September 08
X @ House of blues Sunset Strip-December 05
Rilo Kiley @ 930-September 07
Garbage @ 930-April 05
Bad Religion @ 930-October 04
The Cramps @ 930-October 04
Sonic Youth @ 930-August 04
Worst Miss:
Fugazi's last show @ Fort Reno-June 02
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I am very blessed to have the opportunity to see shows and each of my "Top 11 of the '00s" have a story... So these are in chronological order:
1. Tool - Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC - May 20, 2001
After a loooong break due to lawsuits with labels etc, they played their first show at Hammerstein and debuted new material from Lateralus. I took the train up to New York and have never been so anxious before a show. I could feel my heart racing.... The last time I had seen them was 1996 at the Capitol Ballroom which was a heavenly experience and I had been waiting a long time for them to return.
2. United We Stand - RFK Stadium, DC - October 21, 2001
I worked for Clear Channel at the time and ended up working in the photographer's pit for the entire show. The organization of the day was absolutely terrible and was hosted by John Stamos?? huh. But, I got to see a laundry list of artists from a few feet away. Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys, James Brown, Train, Mariah Carey, Pink... the list goes on. Michael Jackson closed the show and he was the only one where photographers weren't allowed in the pit. I watched his crappy two songs from the RFK press box. I got home at 5am but it was totally worth it.
3. Sigur Ros - Lincoln Theater, DC - November 4, 2002
The first time I saw Sigur Ros. I went alone and was just fascinated at the beauty of the theater, the sound quality and how on-fire the band was. Their other shows have been amazing but there was something magical that night at the Lincoln.
4. Elbow - Brixton Academy, UK - February 19, 2004
I had seen Elbow open for Doves at the 9:30 Club in 2002. They absolutely outperformed Doves and quickly became one of my favorite bands. I was desperate to see them play again but sadly, it took them years to come back to the states. So.... I decided to go see them! I was planning a trip to the UK anyway and worked it around their show.... They played much of their material from "Asleep in the Back" and "Cast of Thousands" -- They did a huge balloon drop during Grace Under Pressure which was so awesome. Finally, another UK band called Alfie opened up who were great. They have broken up since.
5. The Polyphonic Spree - Kennedy Center, DC - August 25, 2004
Polyphonic played a free show on the millenium stage which was held outdoors. The weather was perfect, the crowd was lively and the price was right. An awesome fun time overall!
6. Daniel Lanois - Carnegie Hall, NYC - February 3, 2006
Of course, producer of U2's most famous albums (Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby) but Lanois has an amazing solo discography and is one of the most proficent guitar players I've ever seen live. Lanois on slide guitar is a beautiful thing.... His drummer, Brian Blade, is a fantastic jazz drummer. Emmylou Harris was a surprise guest and sang three songs with Daniel.
7. David Gilmour - Rosemont Theater, IL - April 12, 2006
My all-time musical idol and probably the best show I've ever seen. My only other time seeing Pink Floyd was in 1994. My father and I made a pact in 1994 that no matter where they play, we would travel. After a long 12 year wait, it was time to travel to Chicago. My best friend and step-mother came as well. My first time in Chi-town; Greg and I went to a Cubs game and all of us toured downtown. We had 15th row seats in the theater. The first was set was Gilmours solo album with the second the "Greatest Hits" -- Echoes tore the roof off that night; really the whole show did... I also got to see Richard Wright who sadly passed away two years ago. The show and the trip overall will be one of the most memorables events of my life.
8. Radiohead - Tower Theater, PA - June 1, 2006
Front row. Enough said! A Radiohead show is something special but to be able to converse with Ed O'Brien during the set is something totally different. The opening song was "You and Whose Army" and when Thom creeped his head from behind the piano, chills ran up and down my spine from beginning to end.
9. Elbow - 6th & I Synagogue, DC - April 27, 2008
Elbow is the only band to appear twice on my list. This was my first time seeing them since Brixton in 2004. Since seats are first come-first serve at the synagogue, I scoped out the venue at the Eels show a couple months earlier. I learned that under no circumstance should you sit on the sides or behind the pillars towards the bac. I arrived two hours before doors and got to hear soundcheck. After the doors opened, my friends and I got front row plastered right in front of Guy Garvey. The sound quality was spot-on and Elbow has a grace, smoothness and style that few others band have these days.
10. Coldplay - Verizon Center, DC - October 31, 2008
I was able to get 5th row floor tickets. Say what you want about Coldplay, but they put on an absolutely amazing show. I cooled on them after Parachutes but I really do like Viva la Vida; even if it's a Joe Satriani rip-off. haha. Chris Martin gets most of the attention but it was interesting to watch the other guys. A good arena spectacle is always fun.
11. Josh Tillman - 9:30 Club, DC - November 18, 2009
The drummer of Fleet Foxes played to a 100 people at an empty early show at the 9:30 Club but he and the band filled the room with a harder-edge sound than what I'm used to with him. The evening became spiritual for me and I was in a zone for the entire performance. Under-attended shows at 9:30 are like hidden gems. If the artist can just go with the vibe and capture the room, there is nothing better. That's what Josh did.
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Will add my dates later but you all probably know them:
Bob Dylan @ 930
Air @ 930
Glen Phillips 2 nights @ JJ
Teitur @ JJ
Swell Season @ 930
and Ryan Adams @ 930 RnR tour was pretty damn funny, but LiH tour gets a mention b/c it's the one time (other than recent SS show, see above) that I heard the club absolutely silent.
(during "Wonderwall" cover and it was pretty powerful.)
Oh, and I should list Ryan w/ the Cardinals show was frickin' amazing esp. Catherine Popper
HM: Bloc Party @ 930 (I just had fun)
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Top (selling) Act Of The Decade: Dave Matthews Band
http://pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2009/12/31/702459.aspx