Best Live Shows of 2008

[mr. pretentious]

Still working on mine, 'cause let's face it -- there were a ton of them.

Can't wait to see all yours, though!

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I can never actually remember what shows I saw during a given year, and I probably only see a dozen or so. I can't imagine how some of you keep up with all you say in your head.

Let me think...

Wilco, 9:30 Club (was that this year?)
Old 97's, Tractor Tavern
Fleet Foxes at Black Cat (first time on mainstage)
Nada Surf, twice at 9:30, once at Bumbershoot
Band of Horses, Bumbershoot
Drive By Truckers, 9:30 Club
Shearwater, Millenium Stage

I think those are the ones worthy of a "best of" list for me.

[Giles]

oh that's easy:

DIGITALISM (DC9)

oh and the JAMES show   

[sweetcell]

i went to a lot less shows in 2008, mostly because of my change in geography... gawd do i miss being within walking distance of the 930, the black cat, and so many other great venues.  here's my "best of 2008" list, in approximate order:

• radiohead - either dallas or hollywood bowl night 2.  all the shows from this tour were mind-blowing, but these two defied description.  on my short list for best show ever.
• AC/DC @ wachovia center - undiluted old-school arena rock
• sigur ros @ grand ballroom, NYC - blissfully epic.
• calvin harris @ bowery ballroom, NYC
• kids in the hall @ nokia theater, NYC
• adam west @ DC9 - fierce.  what a way to go out.
• Kooza (Cirque du Soleil) @ philly - amazing and stressful.
• thievery corp/tv on the radio/ladytron @ merriweather
• nick cave @ 930 club
• sonic youth @ battery park, nyc
• gnarls barkley & H&LA @ 930 club

honorable mentions go to the raconteurs @ 930, deadmau5 @ irving plaza, ulrich schnauss @ velvet lounge, digitalism @ DC9 and tom morello @ black cat.

I can never actually remember what shows I saw during a given year, and I probably only see a dozen or so. I can't imagine how some of you keep up with all you say in your head.

i couldn't remember them all either.  i had to consult my ticket stub collection. 

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

i couldn't remember them all either.  i had to consult my ticket stub collection. 

I have an excel spreadsheet.

My favorite was either Radiohead at Nissan or the Thievery/TV on the Radio/Ladytron show at Merriweather.

Other notables:
Denali @ The National
Smashing Pumpkins @ DAR (Night Two)
Girl Talk @ Toad's Place
Ulrich Schnauss/Auburn Lull/Screen Vinyl Image @ Velvet Lounge
The Cure @ Patriot Center
Lou Reed @ The National
Broken Social Scene @ Toad's Place
The National @ The National
Daniel Johnston @ The National
Smashing Pumpkins @ Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
Rilo Kiley @ Toad's Place

[Jaguar]

Ulrich Schnauss/Auburn Lull/Screen Vinyl Image @ Velvet Lounge

This was an off year for me and made it out to very few shows. This show is on my short list except they were all much better the next night at The Metro Gallery in Baltimore.

Would have to say the best show of the year for me though was Spiritualized at the 9:30 Club. A very good show!

When was Massive Attack? Add that (2nd night) if it was last Spriing. I'm losing it! 

[Relaxer]

Massive Attack? Wasn't that 2006? If so, then you're really slipping there Jag.

[Jaguar]

Massive Attack? Wasn't that 2006? If so, then you're really slipping there Jag.

Nah. Maybe 2007. Where's SaintAngie? She'll know.

[Julian, Alleged Computer F**kface]

Massive Attack was 2006. I remember because I was living in Detroit at the time.

I wanted to go to Spiritualized so bad but had to be in Atlanta that weekend.

My biggest disappointment was that Portishead never played any US show other then Coachella. And the Verve never hit DC either.

[azaghal1981]

MBV MBV MBV!!!!!!!!!!!


Possibly best ever.


Will have to think about the rest.


Massive Attack was definitely fall '06.

[Bombay Chutney]

hmmm....

Stooges @ Virgin Fest
Eddie Vedder @ The Warner (night 2)
Holy Fuck/A Place To Bury Strangers @ RnR Hotel
R.E.M. @ Walnut Creek
Nick Cave @ 9:30 (10/5)
AC/DC @ Verizon
Eagles of Death Metal/Duke Spirit @ 9:30

I'm hoping to add The Damned to the list before the end of the year.

[mr. pretentious]

1.  My Bloody Valentine @ Aragon Ballroom, Chicago
2.  Radiohead @ Nissan Pavilion
3.  Mission of Burma @ Black Cat
4.  R.E.M. @ Merriweather
5.  Flight of the Conchords @ Lisner Auditorium
6.  The Walkmen @ 9:30
7.  The Magnetic Fields @ Lisner Auditorium
8.  Wilco @ 9:30
9.  The Silver Beats @ 9:30
10. The Hives w/ the Donnas @ 9:30

Honorable Mentions: Oxford Collapse @ Black Cat (Backstage), Les Savy Fav @ Pitchfork Music Festival, Mates of State @ Black Cat, Nada Surf @ 9:30, and Buffalo Tom @ Black Cat

Biggest Disappointment: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks @ 9:30

BEST YEAR FOR CONCERTS EVER.

[Sage 703]

First that come to mind, but I'm positive there are more:

Elbow - Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
Adele - Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
Radiohead - Lollapalooza
Rage Against the Machine - Lollapalooza
Spank Rock - Lollapalooza
The Hives - 9:30 Club
Jay-Z - John Paul Jones Arena
Nine Inch Nails - V Fest

[Giles]

oh and the Young @ Heart concert at Duke Ellington. 

here's the ranking of the few concerts I saw this year:

- Digitalism (DC9 3/24)
- James (9:30 Club 9/18)
- Young @ Heart [w/ Georgetown Phantoms] (Duke Ellington School for the Arts 9/6)
- DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist [w/ Kid Koala] (9:30 Club 1/24)
- Eels (6th and I Historic Synagogue 3/29)
- Hot Chip (9:30 Club 10/8)
- Justice [w/ Busy (DJ set)] (9:30 Club 3/12)
- Stereophonics (9:30 Club 9/11)

[Vas Deferens]

I'll probably end up adding more to this list when I get home tonight, but here goes...

James @ 930
Spiritualized @ 930
Wilco @ 930
Nick Cave @ 930
Calexico @ 930
Mission of Burma @ Black Cat
Delta Spirit @ DC9
The Homosexuals @ Velvet Lounge
Carla Bozulich's Evangelista @ Velvet Lounge
Simian Mobile Disco @ Mezzanine, San Francisco
Broken Social Scene @ Metro, Chicago
The Magnetic Fields @ Herbst Theater, San Francisco
Dirty Projectors @ Black Cat
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings @ Black Cat
Eagles of Death Metal @ 930
THE EX with Getatchew Mekurya @ Black Cat