Mid Year Best Live Shows

In no particular order:

Kanye @ Nissan
Boredoms @ 9:30
Tom Waits (in picturesque Jacksonville!)
Radiohead @ Soggy Nissan
Love Is All @ Black Cat (backstage)

Seen a few more (Wilco, Battles, and Mission of Burma notable among them) but my "best" list stops at those 5 for now. I'm really elated that I've already seen so many shows I'd call amazing in just a few month span.

Editors @ 930
Nada Surf @ 930
Spoon @ Sonar
Pearl Jam - Camden I
DeVotchKa @ 930

The Raconteurs, X, Lupe Fiasco and Ghostland Observatory (all at 930) were also awesome.

The Hives
Fleet Foxes
Kanye West.

Correction: That was a southern Cali *area code* tour that X did, as opposed to a zip code tour. I'm guessing the latter would've proven a bit grueling.

unfortunately i haven't seen anything this year other than explosions in the sky.
i don't think i'm going to be going to a lot of shows this year… might not even break 10 shows, which would be unfortunate.

I would've enjoyed that Boredoms show so much more if I wasn't so tired.


A huge ball of chaotic energy crushing you repeatedly for 100 minutes nonstop while you're already beat to begin with isn't very pleasant.


I did love the Brian Chippendale set, though.

Carl Craig @ DEMF
DBX @ DEMF
Egyptian Lover @ DEMF
The Dirtbombs
The Points at some Greenbelt festival

What I came up with after racking my brain for honorable mentions:
A Place To Bury Strangers at RNR Hotel (would've been in my top 5 if it wasn't a short opener set; the 10/22 930 club show with Sian Alice Group will be up there for sure)
Stars of the Lid/Christopher Willits/Hammock at Iota (the setting for this show was horrible but the music was blissful)
Jens Lekman at Black Cat (this was great but the show I saw last year was greater)
Fuck Buttons at RNR Hotel (amazing set but the night had a damper on it due to Caribou's drummer getting injured at the last minute)
Boredoms at 930 (I was way too tired for this show; way too drained to enjoy it properly; sorry boredoms, it's not you, it's me)
Psychedelic Horseshit/Fabulous Diamonds at 611 Florida AVE
Jack Rose and one Black Twig picker/Fern Knight/Glenn Jones/Alexander Turnquist at Velvet Lounge
Full House Fest at Floristree
Kohoutek/Major Stars at Velvet Lounge

Forgot about the Hives show…

forgot this:

The Magnetic Fields, 2 shows in SF. Probably my #2.

Top 10 so far, in no particular order.

Calvin Harris @ Bowery Ballroom
Radiohead @ Tampa
Liz Phair @ Hiro Ballroom
Gnarls Barkley @ Penn's Landing
Escort / Gui Boratto / Kelley Polar @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
R.E.M. @ Boston
Spice Girls @ Verizon Center
Santogold / Spank Rock / The Whip @ SXSW
Hot Chip @ Highline Ballroom
Jill Scott @ Carnegie Hall

If the Goldfrapp show would've been a little bit longer, I'd have added it. Robyn, B-52's, Spoon are runner ups.

i totally forgot calvin: fail. please put him as my #3. amazing show, he's consistent that way.

DJ Shadow/Cut Chemist @ 930
Jay-z @ 1st Mariner
M83 @ the black cat
Thievery Corporation, Tv on the radio, etc. @ Merriweather

Lou Reed - National/Richmond
Radiohead - Hell (3rd level)
R.E.M. - Merriweather
The Verve - WaMu NYC

MSTRKRFT
The Raconteurs

All others escape me

1.) Pearl Jam w/ Kings of Leon - Virginia Beach Amphitheater
2.) Pearl Jam - Verizon Center (D.C.)
3.) Nicole Atkins & The Sea - Rock N' Roll Hotel
4.) Iron Maiden - Merriweather Post Pavilion
5.) Ambulance LTD - Rock N' Roll Hotel

Looks like I missed out on that Radiohead show. It's appearing on most of the lists.

By the end of the year, I'm sure I'll be able to add:
- Spiritualized - 9:30 Club
- Eddie Vedder - Warner Theatre
- Cat Power and BRMC - V-Fest

Since I know I'll be in the minority for these:

Cobra Starship: 9:30 Club/ Art Attack (UMD)
The Bravery: Art Attack (UMD)
The Cab: 9:30 Club

Tonight going to see Jay Brannan and apparently he's great so that may be added to the list. And I'm sure something from V-Fest will.

I'd add the show last night - Damon Albarn and The Honest Jon's Revue

1. Los Autenticos Decadentes (State Theatre)


2. The Silver Beats (930)
3. Iron Maiden (Merriweather)
4. Los Amigos Invisibles (Black Cat)


5. The Pogues (930 both nights..)

I enjoyed many others including Tom Petty, Lou Reed, Sonny Rollins..

but the above 5 shows were a lot of fun emphasis on a good time…I just walked out of these on a high…