Best Live Shows of 2008

[DeathFromAbove1979]

The Hives @ the Cat
The Raconteurs both nights @ 930
Justice @ Sonar [the crowd was awesome but not stupid like at 930]
Eagles of Death Metal @ 930
MSTRKRFT @ Bedrock [they finally got their own light show and it kicks
The Presets @ 930, I was too drunk to remember Cut Copy
Gogol Bordello @ Electric Factory, the fucking punks sucked but it was better than the first Gogol show I saw, they played about twice as long and I think somehow managed to get more people added to their band. Can't wait to see them back at the club.

I need to whip out my stubs to see what else.

[bearman🐻]

1)   My Bloody Valentine @ Aragon Ballroom, Chicago
2)   Social Distortion @ House of Blues, Anaheim
3)   The Cure @ Patriot Center, Fairfax
4)   X @ 9:30 Club
5)   Eagles of Death Metal @ 9:30 Club
6)   Nice Cave & the Bad Seeds @ 9:30 Club
7)   Marilyn Manson @ Electric Factory, Philly
   Southern Culture on the Skids @ 9:30 Club
9)   Lou Reed @ 9:30 Club
10)   Weezer @ GM Place, Vancouver (BC)

[Bombay Chutney]

   Southern Culture on the Skids @ 9:30 Club

That one had some moments, for sure. 

[killsaly]

Justice @ Sonar [the crowd was awesome but not stupid like at 930]

I almost forgot about that one.  That was a great set.  I had a blast that night. 

[xneverwherex]

forgot to add
white lies - empty bottle - chicago
digitalism/holy fuck/a place to bury strangers - they werent all playing the same venue, but it was all the same night.
jose gonzalez acoustic -highline ballroom

[teepo]

1. MBV ATP 09
1. Radiohead, Liars @ Nissan
2. BOREDOMS, Soft Circle, Black Pus at 9:30
*eye needs to spaz out more often
3. 88BOADRUMS in LA
4. Evangelista at Velvet
5. Boris at Blackcat
*while the ottobar show was better overall, the show's rendition of untitled was pure feedback and noiseful bliss.
6. Legendary PinK Dots at RNR

and i'm forgetting a shit ton but the top 3(4) wont change even as i remember.

[azaghal1981]

Hah our lists are gonna come out similar.


How did you leave out the Bishops!?!?!?!


Mine off the top of my head:
1. MBV Roseland 9/23
2. Alan/Richard Bishop Black Cat 6/25 (the night I got hit in the face with Charles Gocher's ashes)
3. Carla Bozulich Velvet Lounge
4. Jack Rose/Fern Knight/Glenn Jones/Alexander Turnquist Velvet
5. Gary Higgins Velvet
6. Boris BC
7. Nick Cave 930
8. Spiritualized 930
9. Major Stars Velvet
10. Dirty Projectors BC

[Vas Deferens]

Forgot to mention the four Jukebox the Ghost shows I saw in 2008, including one last night
Great, great DC band...

Also, NIN and Radiohead @ Lolla.

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

[azaghal1981]

Hmm...


Replace DP with the Homosexuals in my list.

[Samantha]

Hmm...


Replace DP with the Homosexuals in my list.

uuuugh.....

[azaghal1981]

Not a fan of the homosexuals?

[Samantha]

I've never heard them...I just can't believe you didn't see the crude joke opportunities.  I didn't, of course, because I'm a lady.

[conorh98]

In no order, and I only have stubs to some of them so don't have all the details:

PIERCED ARROWS, DC9 (great show! one of the best albums of the year too)
Boredoms, 930
DMBQ, Velvet (awesome colors were good too)
Richard Lloyd, Velvet
Little Howlin Wolf, Snailhook's
Gilberto Gil, Lisner 6/22
David Byrne, Lyric 9/17
Fishbone, State 11/30
The Ex, Black Cat 8/13
Quintron and Miss Pussycat, some art gallery in Chinatown
Chuck Brown, all shows all year
EU, 930 Ben's Chili Bowl Party
Alejandro Escovedo, O St. Mansion
Nudity, Velvet
Nomo, Rock and Roll Hotel

This was a great year for live music.

[Darth Ed]

I wish I could say My Bloody Valentine was the best concert of 2008, but I didn't get to see them in 2008. Ditto for Jenny Lewis and that 6th & I St. concert. I was out of town when tickets went on sale and I missed out on that one. Those are my two biggest regrets of 2008.

Of the shows I did see, I especially enjoyed or was impressed by the following (in chronological order):

2008/03/18 God Is An Astronaut @ The Ottobar (definitely worth the trip to Baltimore)
2008/03/29 The Raveonettes @ Black Cat
2008/04/13 Colin Meloy @ 9:30 Club
2008/04/15 The New Pornographers @ 9:30 Club (they nailed every song and Neko had a broken leg but didn't know it)
2008/05/13 The Black Keys @ 9:30 Club
2008/06/11 R.E.M. @ Merriweather (and The National were easily the best openers of 2008)
2008/10/05 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds @ 9:30 Club (night #1 better than night #2)
2008/10/23 The Rosebuds @ Black Cat (so much fun!)
2008/10/28 Thao Nguyen @ 9:30 Club (part of the Hotel Cafe Tour, but she stood head and shoulders above everyone that night)
2008/11/18 Robyn Hitchcock @ Birchmere (performed the entirety of I Often Dream of Trains!)
               

[Thousand Made-Up Loves]

1. Wolf Parade - Electric Factory
2. Nada Surf - 9:30
3. Mates of State - BC
4. Wilco - The Dump AKA The Riv (Night 4)
5. Nada Surf - Metro
6. Built to Spill - 9:30
7. Walkmen - 9:30

Shows I had to miss, but would have been up there as well: Pearl Jam - VC, MGMT - 9:30