Top Shows of 2010

[Mr.Whippy]

1.  Tool, Red Rocks, Colorado
2.  Spiritualized, "Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space", Radio City Music Hall, NYC. 
3.  Roger Water The Wall, Pittsburgh.
4.  Thom Yorke and Atoms for Peace, Coachella. 
5.  My Morning Jacket, tie between "The Tennessee Fire" in NYC and summer tour show in Philadelphia. 
6.  Sonic Youth, Prospect Park, Brooklyn. 
7.  Neil Young, DAR, Washington DC. 
8.  Wilco, Philadelphia (though the Strathmore show was very good, too)
9.  Dead Weather, 9:30 club
10.  Richard Thompson, Grand Opera House, Wilmington, Delaware. 
 
Honarable mentions:
Grinderman at 9:30
The Church at the State Th. in Falls Church
Les Claypool at Bonnaroo
Muse at Patriot Center
Puscifer at Lincoln Th.
Public Image Ltd. at 9:30
LCD Soundsystem at Bonnaroo and ACL
Fever Ray at Coachella
Pavement in Pomona, CA
A Place to Bury Strangers at Ram's Head in Baltimore

Worst show of this year and probably several others:  Of Montreal at 9:30

[Mr.Whippy]

in chronological order:

33) Bert Jansch/Pegi Young (w/ Neil Young backing her) @ Bell House, 12/15/10

How much of Pegi's set did Neil play for?  He didn't come out at all at the show here in Jammin Java in Vienna.

I really should have put Bert Jansch on my list.  I walked away from that show just dumbfounded at the display of talent I had just seen.

[Vas Deferens]

forgot to include:

Unrest/Rondelles @Black Cat
Human Eye @Golden West Cafe
Grinderman @930

Rangda @Golden West Cafe
Anvil @930
Gang Gang Dance @RNR
Buzzcocks @BC
Thee Mt. Silver Zion @Ottobar
Beach House @2640 Space
LCD Soundsystem @Fillmore, SF
Mono @930
Boris @930
Tinariwen @930
Heartless Bastards @Ottobar
Spiritualized @Radio City Music Hall
Fabulous Diamonds @Golden West Cafe
Lower Dens @Ottobar
Isobel Campbell w/ Mark Lanegan @RNR
The Walkmen @930
Underworld @930
FLOOR @FunFunFun Austin
Magma @La Maison Française
Magnetic Fields @Lisner

ok, that's 20

[K8teebug]

LCD Soundsystem at V Fest
Grinderman at 930

[snailhook]

How much of Pegi's set did Neil play for?  He didn't come out at all at the show here in Jammin Java in Vienna.

The whole set. She actually had Neil's band backing her, at least Spooner Oldham on keys and Rick Rosas on bass. Not sure who the drummer and rhythm guitarist were, but they looked familiar. Neil hung out in the back corner, stage left. He played some nice leads and sang back-up occasionally. They closed the set with "Doghouse," an obscure NY outtake from 1987. I've seen Neil about a dozen times, and this was the closest I've ever gotten to the man. To be honest, Pegi's songs are ok, but hearing Neil embellish them with his playing was special.

I really should have put Bert Jansch on my list.  I walked away from that show just dumbfounded at the display of talent I had just seen.

Yes indeed. Bert Jansch is a true guitar hero: tasteful, inventive, and emotional without being heavy-handed. His vocals and songs are top-notch, too. I wish he toured the States more often. Kudos to Neil for asking Bert to open for him this year. More people should know who Bert Jansch is.

Mr. Whippy, are you familiar with Michael Chapman? He's from the UK and is a peer to Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Nick Drake, etc. He's supposed to come back to the States this year, and I'll book him in DC. One of the most underrated songwriters and guitarists around. If you dig NY, RT, Jansch, Tom Waits, etc., you gotta check this guy out.

[nkotb]

I saw so few shows this year that my list is practically every show I saw.  The only one I can think that's left off is the Surfer Blood/POBPAH show, since that was pretty whatever.

Lightning Bolt at DC9
Gene Ween at Black Cat
Pavement at Virgin Fest
LCD at Virgin Fest
GBV at 9:30
Superchunk at 9:30
B&S at DAR

Yeah, pretty tame year on this end.  I blame the baby.  He's SOOOOOOO needy!!

[godsshoeshine]

i only went to gbv this year. same baby reasons

[Mr.Whippy]

Mr. Whippy, are you familiar with Michael Chapman? He's from the UK and is a peer to Bert Jansch, John Martyn, Nick Drake, etc. He's supposed to come back to the States this year, and I'll book him in DC. One of the most underrated songwriters and guitarists around. If you dig NY, RT, Jansch, Tom Waits, etc., you gotta check this guy out.

I'm not familiar with Michael Chapman, but will check him out ASAP based on what you wrote, and I'll definitely go see him if he comes to DC.

Yes, it was amazing to get to see Bert in the US this year two different times, even if the opening set for Neil was a bit hard to enjoy due to chatter/commotion and even some borderline heckling from the crowd at the DC show.

[azaghal1981]

I was skeptical re:Jansch because of the medical issues and concerned that it'd be hard to watch and I'd leave feeling sorry for him. Guess I should've gone to that show.


Everything Snailhook said re:Chapman...


Would love to see him at The Cherch! That'd be the perfect setting in DC for him.

[Bombay Chutney]

2/20/10  Mission Of Burma/Office Of Future Plans   Black Cat   
3/ 5/10  Bob Mould   Avalon Theater   
3/30/10  Partyline   Black Cat Backstage
5/11/10  Buzzcocks/The Dollyrots   Black Cat   
5/12/10  Public Image Ltd.   9:30 Club
5/13/10  Pearl Jam   Jiffy Lube Live
5/25/10  Diana Ross   Strathmore
5/31/10  9:30 Club 30th Anniversary Show   
6/27/10  Hole   9:30 Club (I cant decide if I loved it or hated it)
7/10/10  Teenbeat Anniversary  Black Cat
9/17/10  No Age/Holy Fuck   Black Cat   
10/20/10  Gary Numan   Black Cat   

[Mr.Whippy]

I was skeptical re:Jansch because of the medical issues and concerned that it'd be hard to watch and I'd leave feeling sorry for him. Guess I should've gone to that show.

I saw Jansch a few times in the 90's (once at Barnes of Wolf Trap), and I think he was just as good now as then. He seemed more somber this year, but his health seemed fine.  Given how rarely he tours, I was shocked that he did 2 US swings this year.

[snailhook]

I never saw Jansch in the '90s, but from all accounts of people I know who have seen him numerous times throughout the years, dating back to the '70s, he has never been anything less than commanding in a live setting. I don't think he plays live if he's not feeling up to it.  I've seen him live four times now, and each and every time is a magical experience.  There's nothing like the inflection of his voice nor the resonance and power of his acoustic guitar.  If I had to choose the two best acoustic guitarists/singer-songwriters in my collection, they would be Jansch and Chapman.

[Hieronymus]

Worst show of this year and probably several others:  Of Montreal at 9:30

Jesus Christ don't remind me. May never be able to listen to those guys again.

And Jansch was fucking on point at Jammin' Java. Personal hero. Glad to see so much love for the man 'round here. (And if you bring M. Chapman to the DMV I'll be there!)

Most of these lists are lots of shows I would've hit up had I had the flexibility and means. Can we switch lives for a while?

[azaghal1981]

Michael Chapman would have to play a living room. I can't see it working any other way. Well, I can but it would be nowhere near as cool. Still sorry I missed his 611 set some years ago.

[agenthal]

1. Muse, Biffy Clyro, White Lies, Lily Allen, White Rabbits, The Big Pink, I Am Arrows, 9/10-11 - Wembley Stadium
2. Muse, Metric, 10/24 - Prudential Center
3. Florence + The Machine, The Temper Trap, 4/6 - 9:30 Club
4. Gorillaz, NERD, 10/11 - Patriot Center
5. Muse, Silversun Pickups, 3/5 - Madison Sq. Garden
6. Soundgarden, Minus the Bear, 8/5 - Vic Theatre
7. LCD Soundsystem, 10/9 - ACL
8. Empire of the Sun, 8/9 - Terminal 5
9. Arcade Fire, 8/8 - Lolla
10. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, 7/6 - La Zona Rosa

Honorable Mentions
Janelle Monae - Voodoo Fest
Biffy Clyro - DC9
Street Sweeper Social Club - Voodoo Fest
The Strokes - ACL
Warpaint - Rock N Roll Hotel
Miike Snow - ACL
All the other Muse shows I saw this year...which was a lot.