Best live shows this year 2009

[James Ford]

> 1. Pogues, 9:30 Club March 18.

> 2. David Byrne with Devotchka,
> Wolftrap.
> 3. Wilco, Wolftrap.
>  
> 4. Elvis Perkins in Dearland,
> Rock and Roll Hotel
>
>  
> 5. Justin Earle, Groovin in the
> Garden, Richmond.
>  
> 6. M Ward, Sixth and I Synagogue.


First time seeing Pogues and Byrne, after being a long time fan.

[sweetcell]

"ozric tentacles @ johnny brenda's, philly"

Kind of a shocker seeing this on your list. Isn't Ed pretty much the only original band member left?
The show of theirs I caught five-ish years ago was pretty damn good, though.

at the state theater?  i was there, good show.  didn't realize they toured this year.

yeah, ed is the only original member left.

[azaghal1981]

State Theatre indeed.

I think the closest they got to us this year was the 8x10. Had to say "no thanks."

[Bombay Chutney]

A few highlights from this year...

1/ 7/09 Edie Sedgwick    Black Cat Backstage   
3/11/09 R.E.M. Tribute    Carnegie Hall   
5/11/09 Leonard Cohen   Merriweather Post Pavilion 
5/12/09 The Damned/The Bellrays    Black Cat   
5/18/09 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band    Verizon Center
5/27/09 Holy Fuck/Crocodiles   Rock And Roll Hotel
6/ 5/09  A Place To Bury Strangers/Caverns   Rock And Roll Hotel   
8/ 1/09  Paul McCartney/Thievery Corporation (DJ Set)   FedEx Field
10/14/09  Them Crooked Vultures   9:30 Club   
11/11/09  Bob Dylan     Patriot Center   

[Vas Deferens]

top 30 faves 

Spiritualized/The Jesus Lizard/The New Year/MBV/The Jayhawks @ Primavera Fest, Barcelona
Leonard Cohen @ Beacon Theater, NYC
Kylie Minogue @ Fox Theater, Oakland
PJ Harvey @ Irving Plaza, NYC
The Juan MacLean @ Black Cat
Mono @ RnR Hotel
Mogwai @ 930
Built to Spill @ 930
The Tallest Man on Earth @ Black Cat
The Veils @ RnR
A Hawk & A Hacksaw @ RnR
Asobi Seksu @ Slim's, SF
Patrick Wolf @ RnR
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings @ 930
Elbow @ 930
Los Amigos Invisibles @ 930
Evangelicals @ Red and Black
Rodriguez @ Slim's, SF
Califone @ RnR
Bowerbirds @ Black Cat
Marissa Nadler / Alela Diane @ DC9
Plants & Animals @ DC9
Phosphorescent @ Black Cat
The Pixies @ DAR
The Hidden Cameras @ RnR
Antony & the Johnsons @ Sixth and I
Dan Deacon Ensemble @ 930
Elvis Perkins @ RnR
AA Bondy @ RnR
The Decemberists/Andrew Bird @ Merriweather

[Got Haggis?]

Dan Deacon Ensemble @ Bowery Ballroom (i've seen him a ton of times in baltimore, but this show was great)
My Bloody Valentine @ The National
Jesus Lizard @ Sonar
Beach House / Celebration @ outside of the Metro Gallery

[eltee]

Swell Season at 930. The Frames just sounded soooo good. The one show in awhile I didn't want to miss a note.
Bloc Party at 930. Maybe not perfectly polished but damn close. Way fun, an excited crowd and I appreciated this booking, a gift from Seth/twangirl.
Distant third tie: Nada Surf - the appreciative crowd added to the energy and good time. (this was this year right? Agh so long ago)  or Paolo Nutini - just to toss him in the mix b/c he's just a good guy, growing in his craft.

Not best show b/c the sound was off-putting, but I appreciate 930 for the attempt and for bringing the Ben/Jay show.

[bearman🐻]

15) Social Distortion @ House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ (10/17)
14) The Prodigy @ 9:30 Club, DC (5/18)
13) Bruce Springsteen @ Verizon Center, DC (11/2)
12) The Feelies @ 9:30 Club, DC (3/14)
11) Jane's Addiction @ Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, NJ (6/5)
10) The Damned w/the Bellrays @ Black Cat, DC (5/12)
9) Phoenix @ Rock'n'Roll Hotel, DC (6/21)
8 ) Peaches @ 9:30 Club, DC (6/17)
7) Bob Mould Band @ 9:30 Club, DC (10/10)
6) Fischerspooner @ 9:30 Club, DC (5/10)
5) Black Francis @ Hotel Utah Saloon, SF (8/8)
4) Face to Face w/Pegboy @ Sonar, Baltimore, MD (9/19)
3) Pixies @ DAR Constitution Hall, DC (11/30)
Tie: 1&2) Death Cab For Cutie @ Belly Up, Solana Beach and @ Hollywood Bowl (7/3, 7/5)

[teepo]

my bloody valentine @ national
ghost/magic markers @ music hall of williamsburg
9boadrums/jesus lizard/laming lips/onedia/ @ atp09
pixies @ dar
glenn kotche @ claire smith
sonic youth  @ 930
dinosaur jr @ ottobar
mono w/ wordless music @ society for ethical culture concert hall
crimson grail for 200 guitars @ lincoln center
faust @ blackcat


haven't really gone outside my house this year. i blame mbv for having satisfied all my needs.

[teepo]

"keinji heino & tony conrad @ international house, philly"

Damn really? How'd I miss that one?

Tony Conrad's quickly getting up there and I've yet to see him.

i bought my ticket way in advance and faked out on the day of the show

[Vas Deferens]

no The Juan MacLean at Black Cat? I'm sure you can toss out Jandek...just think about the super extended version (25 minutes?) of Happy House...that was pretty hypnotic, eh? 

and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~launch me into spaceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~~~~~~~~

Mine isn't set in stone but here's what I got at the moment:

Top three are interchangeable:
Antony and the Johnsons at Town Hall NYC 2/19
 Ghost/Magik Markers Velvet Lounge DC 5/10
 My Bloody Valentine National Richmond 7/30
4. Them Crooked Vultures 930 Club 10/14
5. Devo 930 club 11/15
6. Sonic Youth 930 Club 7/7
7. The Tallest Man on Earth Black Cat 6/16
8. Dinosaur Jr. 930 Club 10/8
9. Jandek Load of Fun Theater Baltimore 11/14
10. Primal Scream 930 Club 3/27

[azaghal1981]

Jandek stays. TJM was good but nowhere near top 10 material for me.

[snailhook]

Kind of a shocker seeing this on your list. Isn't Ed pretty much the only original band member left?
The show of theirs I caught five-ish years ago was pretty damn good, though.

yeah, he's the only original member.  his wife brandy is now playing bass, and she's really good.  i used to love the ozrics in the '90s, and have always considered them more of a space-rock band in the vein of hawkwind or gong than a noodly jam band.  the rhythm sectionhas always been rock-solid and motoric.  they played for over two hours at jb's, and there were hardly any dull moments.  waaaay better than the 2004 tour.

the haino/conrad set was intense, but everything haino does is gripping and urgent.  if he did a duet with a fucking pigeon, it'd be in my top ten shows of the year.
 
 
 

[mdh9857]

I'll just say it, and deal with the consequences.

P!nk at Patriot Center
Kylie Minogue at Hammerstein Ballroom

P!nk puts on one hell of a show.

[MonkeyPants]

Distant third tie: Nada Surf - the appreciative crowd added to the energy and good time. (this was this year right? Agh so long ago) 

Nope - both Nada Surf shows were in 2008 and they were both amongst my top shows from last year.