Best concerts of 2010

[lotusamerica]

I'm not sure what to make of my list, as I have more repeats than usual, but hey, when I liked something I really liked it I guess. Still a couple shows to go...

1 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers / DBT – July 24 – Pittsburgh
2 - MMJ – It Still Moves – Oct 21 - NYC
3 - MMJ – Z – Oct 22 - NYC
4 - DBT – Oct 30 - Richmond
5 - Wilco - March 29 – Richmond
6 - Black Crowes – Nov 16 - Richmond
7 - Tom Petty & Heartbreakers / Los Lobos – Oct 6 - San Diego
8 - Flogging Molly - April 29 –Richmond
9 - The Hold Steady – Sep 20 - – Richmond
10 - Jeff Tweedy – Dec 8 – Charlottesville

[cortez the killer]

I didn't get to see as many shows as I would have liked to. That said, I did see some excellent ones.

The National House of Blues (Boston)
Alejandro Escovedo Infinity Music Hall (Norfolk, CT)
The Dexateens T.T. The Bear's (Cambridge, MA)
James McMurtry Iron Horse Music Hall (Northampton, MA)

[dee dee]

Didn't see nearly as many shows as I did last year. But these would be the fave 5 performances.

1. Black Keys - Bonnaroo (June)
2. Drive-by Truckers - Dekalb, IL (July)
2a. Drive-by Truckers The Pageant in St. Louis (October)
3. Todd Snider two night run at the Old Rock House in St. Louis (February)
4. Two Cow Garage - Off Broadway in St. Louis (December)
5. Those Darlins - Off Broadway in St. Louis (March)

[shuffle]

according to my lastfm I went to 38 shows this year (including two festivals counted as one show), plus dbt, chief and muse cancelled on me. just gonna do top 5 live artists, because the list would be a bit fucked up otherwise.

1. The Tallest Man On Earth (February 28, December 6 & December 7)
2. Håkan Hellström (August 14 @ Way Out West Festival & November 13)
3. Phosphorecent (September 22, supported by Timber Timbre)
4. LCD Soundsystem (August 13 @ Way Out West Festival)
5. Mark Kozelek (October 25)

[drtpants]

Poverty largely kept me out of the clubs this year.

DBT @ The Majestic, Madison, WI. September 28th(?)
Titus Andronicus @ Triple Rock Minneapolis August ?

Saw other shit that was good but not great. DBT at the Vic was good but not as good as the above listed show, ditto the DBT DeKalb show.. There might have been other stuff that should make the list but I can't recall it at present. Jay Farrar" solo" @ the Majestic...Lucero @ High Noon Saloon, Madison

[drtpants]

according to my lastfm I went to 38 shows this year (including two festivals counted as one show), plus dbt, chief and muse cancelled on me. just gonna do top 5 live artists, because the list would be a bit fucked up otherwise.

1. The Tallest Man On Earth (February 28, December 6 & December 7)
2. Håkan Hellström (August 14 @ Way Out West Festival & November 13)
3. Phosphorecent (September 22, supported by Timber Timbre)
4. LCD Soundsystem (August 13 @ Way Out West Festival)
5. Mark Kozelek (October 25)

How was your Kozelek experience? I've heard he's either great or he sucks and there's no way of knowing until the show starts.

[Penny Lane]

2 - MMJ – It Still Moves – Oct 21 - NYC
3 - MMJ – Z – Oct 22 - NYC

Si!

I'll especially never forget being on the rail for Z night, when Jim threw me a banana during Careless Whisper.

[shuffle]

according to my lastfm I went to 38 shows this year (including two festivals counted as one show), plus dbt, chief and muse cancelled on me. just gonna do top 5 live artists, because the list would be a bit fucked up otherwise.

1. The Tallest Man On Earth (February 28, December 6 & December 7)
2. Håkan Hellström (August 14 @ Way Out West Festival & November 13)
3. Phosphorecent (September 22, supported by Timber Timbre)
4. LCD Soundsystem (August 13 @ Way Out West Festival)
5. Mark Kozelek (October 25)

How was your Kozelek experience? I've heard he's either great or he sucks and there's no way of knowing until the show starts.

I was a bit worried before the show, because I've heard that about him too, plus he's supposed to be kind of an asshole. this show was great though, he was in a good mood, joking and saying that everyone was too quiet and serious (it was in this old beautiful seated theatre). musically it was great, his vocals were amazing, and he's an excellent guitarist. only complaint is that he always had to show how great of a classical guitarist he's become at the end of pretty much every song but then again, I'd rather listen to that than a drum solo or whatever...

[Penny Lane]

This is hard..

1. My Morning Jacket: At Dawn T5 night 2
2. My Morning Jacket: It still moves T5 night 3
3. DBT: Atlanta Variety Theater night 1
4. Wilco: Welmont Theater; night 1
5. The Ramble-DBT
6. Dear Companion tour, Ben Sollee, Jim James, Daniel Martin Moore: Music Hall Williamsburg
7. John Prine (w/Kris Kristofferson/OCMS) Bonnaroo
8. Jackie Greene: Brooklyn Bowl Feb 14
9. North Mississippi Allstars: Tipitinas, Jazz Fest
10. My Morning Jacket: Louisville hometown show: YUM Center
11. Radiators: Tipitinas, Jazz Fest
12. Band of Horses: Greek Theater SF

[lotusamerica]

2 - MMJ – It Still Moves – Oct 21 - NYC
3 - MMJ – Z – Oct 22 - NYC

Si!

I'll especially never forget being on the rail for Z night, when Jim threw me a banana during Careless Whisper.

Bananas, bananas...!

The last night at T5 was really good too, and I could have swapped it on the list for the others even simply based on the encore alone. And during the Z show, I texted a friend that it was the best show of the year, so it's all juggleable... and looking at your list, it looks like you really get around!

[Penny Lane]

2 - MMJ – It Still Moves – Oct 21 - NYC
3 - MMJ – Z – Oct 22 - NYC

Si!

I'll especially never forget being on the rail for Z night, when Jim threw me a banana during Careless Whisper.

Bananas, bananas...!

The last night at T5 was really good too, and I could have swapped it on the list for the others even simply based on the encore alone. And during the Z show, I texted a friend that it was the best show of the year, so it's all juggleable... and looking at your list, it looks like you really get around!

i agree about EU night, only i was running a high grade fever by that point and after 5 nights of concerts in a row, it's all a blur. (went to carl's solo gig on the night off)...
i do remember the surprise OBH for the encore, which i didn't expect...i could have had all 5 nights on this list actually...(sigh)

[BigTom]

I'm not sure what to make of my list, as I have more repeats than usual, but hey, when I liked something I really liked it I guess. Still a couple shows to go...

1 - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers / DBT – July 24 – Pittsburgh
2 - MMJ – It Still Moves – Oct 21 - NYC
3 - MMJ – Z – Oct 22 - NYC
4 - DBT – Oct 30 - Richmond
5 - Wilco - March 29 – Richmond
6 - Black Crowes – Nov 16 - Richmond
7 - Tom Petty & Heartbreakers / Los Lobos – Oct 6 - San Diego
8 - Flogging Molly - April 29 –Richmond
9 - The Hold Steady – Sep 20 - – Richmond
10 - Jeff Tweedy – Dec 8 – Charlottesville

I thought the MMJ at Merriweather that we all went to was pretty epic also. Trying to come up with a list of my own.

[brstigerfan]

1a) Neil Young - Spartanburg, SC - May
1b) Levon Helm/DBT - Ramble -June
2) Justin Townes Earle - Charleston, SC - December
3) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Charlotte, NC - September

It's really hard for me to differentiate between the Neil young show and the Ramble. The fact that they were within a week of each other is even crazier. Both were incredible.

[bovine knievel]

1. Black Crowes - SF Fillmore
2. DBT - SF Fillmore
3. Mother Hips - Sierra Nevada Big Room - Chico
4. Black Crowes - Britt Stage - Jacksonville, OR
5. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Sierra Nevada Big Room - Chico
6. Ryan Bingham - El Rey Theater - Chico

[Cubfan06]

1) Phish- Alpine Valley. East Troy, WI 8/14/10 (Out of my 38 Phish shows since '96. The best show other than NYE '00 Big Cypress show in the Everglades)

2) Buddy Guy @ Buddy Guy Legends in Chicago. January 2010.

3) (tie) DBT at the Vic Theatre in Chicago in May and DBT at Buster's Billiards in Lexington, KY the next night. The setlist and band enthusiasm at the Chicago show was unrivaled, but the crowd and venue in Lexington was perfect.

4) Alejandro Escovedo at the Woodstock Opera House in March. Very small town show in between his Chicago and Madison shows at 3 pm in the afternoon. Seated show with probably only 30-40 people in attendence. TC was in attendence and would probably attest to its greatness.

5) Jeff Tweedy all request benefit at the Vic Theatre.

6) The Trey Anastasio Band- State Theatre, Minneapolis, MN...April?

7) DBT- Otto's in Dekalb

8) The Smoking Popes at Schubas in Chicago

9) DBT- Pabst Theatere, Milwaukee

10) DBT-40 Watt (In spite of the lack of setlist variation from night to night, it was a damn good time. Would love to see them mix it up a little bit more this year. )

[Clams]

I don't see all that many shows. But I pick 'em carefully. I pretty much enjoyed every one that I saw this year. These were the standouts for me...

DBT at the Recher in April (easily the best of the three shows I saw this year, Philly and Rehoboth being the other two)
Ryan Bingham and the Rustlanders at the Northstar Bar in Philly
McMurtry at the World Cafe Live
Jason Isbell (Paste tour) at the Northstar
Phosphorescent in Rittenhouse Square in Philly

[dime in the gutter]

don't see alot of shows. too old and i drink too much when i do go. shit hammered drunk. so i choose with strategery.

missed lee baines 3 and glory fires last week. heard it was ass shaking.

tbird and the breaks....chelseas/br,la
dexateens/dbt....mobile
futurebirds/dead confederate...chelseas/br,la.
dexateens/chelseas/br, la

think i saw ryan bingham this year....horrid crowd. i went to the bar after 1/2 a song. never again.

[Tequila Cowboy]

I saw more DBT shows this year than last, but less of others. I think all combined I saw 24 shows. here are the best:

Alejandro Escovedo- Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock, IL

Just an amazing show at the building that served as the hotel (the outside anyway) in Groundhog Day. Beautiful, small theater and Alejandro didn't disappoint. He was smiling, laughing, talking about the local sights and mexican food. Oh and he rocked like a motherfucker. All this at 2:00 PM on a Sunday afternoon for $16.

Two Cow Garage- Madison, WI

Thirty people and a show to curl your toes. These guys are as authentic as it gets and rocked our asses off. So, so good.

DBT- Madison, WI 9/28

1. That Man I Shot

2. 3 Dimes Down

3. The Fourth Night Of My Drinking

4. Get Downtown

5. (It's Gonna Be) I Told You So

6. This Fuckin' Job

7. Birthday Boy

8. Daddy Needs A Drink

9. A Ghost To Most

10. Everybody Needs Love

11. Delta Dawn (w/ Kelly Hogan)

12. Sands Of Iwo Jima

13. Panties In Your Purse

14. Santa Fe

15. Women Without Whiskey

16. Lookout Mountain

17. Zip City

18. Sink Hole

19. Self Destructive Zones

20. Hell No, I Ain't Happy

21. Marry Me

22. Let There Be Rock

23. Shut Up and Get On The Plane

24. Angels and Fuselage (w/ Kelly Hogan)

Nuff said.

Roadside Graves- Milwaukee, WI

Small bar in Milwaukee, twenty people tops. Nice guys, hard working band. Rocked the house. I'll see these fuckers anytime. Liv Tyler is an amazing song.

Justin Townes Earle- Chicago, IL

Just after his arrest in Indianapolis and before his rehab stint, JTE was angry, comical and brilliant. His fiddle player broke a string three songs in and JTE played the rest of the night solo, complete with stories of his days living in Chi-Town. Top notch.

[Penny Lane]

I
Two Cow Garage- Madison, WI

Thirty people and a show to curl your toes. These guys are as authentic as it gets and rocked our asses off. So, so good.

TC, i saw them play at a birthday party in Hoboken at a bar no one even knows about
it's like someone's back garage (called DCs) they do rock out...

[cortez the killer]

don't see alot of shows. too old and i drink too much when i do go. shit hammered drunk. so i choose with strategery.

Les Miles is rubbing off on you.

[Rusty Shackleford]

1. Wilco, The Strathmore, North Bethesda MD

A 3-hour "evening with Wilco" show, featuring 2 electric sets, one "living room"-style acoustic set, and a Big Star cover in the encore. It doesn't get much better than that.

2. The Bottle Rockets, Iota, Arlington VA

First time seeing them--they still rock. Tons of songs off "Brooklyn Side," lively stage banter, and a small but enthusiastic crowd. A good time was had by all.

3. Teenage Fanclub w/the Vaselines, 9:30 Club, DC

First time seeing the Fannies as well, having followed them off and on since Bandwagonesque. I hope they don't wait another 5 years before coming back.

4. Drive-By Truckers, 9:30 Club, DC

So....damn....hot....

5. Jeff Tweedy, Lincoln Theatre, DC

"Pieholden Suite" worked surprisingly well as a solo affair, and "At My Window Sad and Lonely" with John and Pat was great, but most of these songs really needed more Wilco.

6. Jay Farrar & Mark Spencer, The Birchmere, Alexandria VA

"Still Be Around" alone almost got this one into the top 5.

[dime in the gutter]

don't see alot of shows. too old and i drink too much when i do go. shit hammered drunk. so i choose with strategery.

Les Miles is rubbing off on you.

[Jeremy]

Not as much quantity as quality this year. New baby really put a damper in my fall show attendance.

1. Neil Young-Spartanburg Auditorium, Spartanburg SC-May First time seeing him and was a great show.
2. DBT-The Orange Peel-Asheville NC-April Night 2-Middle of the show went like this: The Deeper In, One Of These Days, Tales Facing Up, Panties In Your Purse, The Tough Sell, Plastic Flowers On The Highway
3. James McMurtry-The Handlebar-Geenville SC-July-Dude is badass.
4. The Hold Steady-The Orange Peel-Asheville NC-September-Got to hang out with some snifflin indie kids and enjoy a great show.
5. Xmas Jam-Asheville Civic Center-Asheville NC-Dec-Even though the Truckers canceled, still had a great time. UM always puts on a good show, Warren Haynes Band sounded great, Steve Miller was unexpectedly good and Greg Allman is always fun to hear. Also Dirty Dozen always is a treat. Not too mention christmas time in asheville is awesome.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

5. Xmas Jam-Asheville Civic Center-Asheville NC-Dec-Even though the Truckers canceled, still had a great time. UM always puts on a good show, Warren Haynes Band sounded great, Steve Miller was unexpectedly good and Greg Allman is always fun to hear.

Steve Miller catches a lot of shit. Just because an artist has been played to death on Classic Rock radio doesn't mean they're to be avoided at all costs. I'm an unabashed fan of his work both with the more well known Steve Miller Band of the 70s and his more blues based work with the band of the same name from the 60s. Folks that aren't fans love to point to Abracadabra as a reason for their hatred but I'm not referring to that song here.

[tinnitus photography]

I spent a fair bit of time last night and today going through all the shows I've seen this year (about 240 or so total performances), and came up w/ my top 22 and honorable mentions...click on the pic to see more

[Tequila Cowboy]

5. Xmas Jam-Asheville Civic Center-Asheville NC-Dec-Even though the Truckers canceled, still had a great time. UM always puts on a good show, Warren Haynes Band sounded great, Steve Miller was unexpectedly good and Greg Allman is always fun to hear.

Steve Miller catches a lot of shit. Just because an artist has been played to death on Classic Rock radio doesn't mean they're to be avoided at all costs. I'm an unabashed fan of his work both with the more well known Steve Miller Band of the 70s and his more blues based work with the band of the same name from the 60s. Folks that aren't fans love to point to Abracadabra as a reason for their hatred but I'm not referring to that song here.

I agree. Unfairly maligned. Dude did some great stuff.

[drtpants]

5. Xmas Jam-Asheville Civic Center-Asheville NC-Dec-Even though the Truckers canceled, still had a great time. UM always puts on a good show, Warren Haynes Band sounded great, Steve Miller was unexpectedly good and Greg Allman is always fun to hear.

Steve Miller catches a lot of shit. Just because an artist has been played to death on Classic Rock radio doesn't mean they're to be avoided at all costs. I'm an unabashed fan of his work both with the more well known Steve Miller Band of the 70s and his more blues based work with the band of the same name from the 60s. Folks that aren't fans love to point to Abracadabra as a reason for their hatred but I'm not referring to that song here.

I agree. Unfairly maligned. Dude did some great stuff.

I love the old bluesy stuff. But even if we're just judging on the later hits he's great. Writer of some of the best hooks of all time. "True Fine Love" is my all-time favorite song to play when I'm stuck at a bar with a shitty jukebox.

[cortez the killer]

I spent a fair bit of time last night and today going through all the shows I've seen this year (about 240 or so total performances), and came up w/ my top 22 and honorable mentions...click on the pic to see more

The ultimate raod warrior. Great stuff tinnitus. I love the GBV shot:

[Roy]

I spent a fair bit of time last night and today going through all the shows I've seen this year (about 240 or so total performances), and came up w/ my top 22 and honorable mentions...click on the pic to see more

The ultimate raod warrior. Great stuff tinnitus. I love the GBV shot:

That is an awesome shot! I have blown up version of this shot hanging in my family room. Thanks, TIM!!

[dime in the gutter]

i want to be tinnitus when i grow up.