Top Ten Live Shows of 2008
Sometimes seeing a band live makes all the difference in the world. In some instances those shows become better than listening to the album ever can be, it just adds something that can never quite be replicated like when you heard it played live. A lot of these shows were just like that:
#1 – Radiohead – Nissan Pavilion
NOTHING, could have prepared me for last night’s Radiohead show at Nissan Pavilion … You know when there us a huge storm with lightening and thunder and it pours down like you read about in the bible for about 10 minutes then it’s done? Well take out the thunder and lightening, and prolong the biblical pouring for 3+ hours and you might be in the ballpark.
The lyrics to “Paranoid Android” literally came to life as Thom, and the entire water logged crowd, sang ” Rain down, rain down, come on rain down on me. From a great height, from a great height height height”; some even with their hands up in the air almost taunting the clouds “bring it on you bastard”.
2 – Roger Waters – Coachella
There were frequent WOW moments during this 2 plus hour set … He ended the first half of the set with the now-infamous Pig flying over the crowd while 60 foot flames flew up on both sides of the stage … After an intermission the band came out and did a perfect front to back of Darkside of the Moon. I had heard about pink floyd’s infamous quadraphonic sound, but never did i think it would sound as good (and real) as when they started playing “On the Run”. All the sound effects – cars whizzing buy, synthesizers, people’s voices – had people looking behind them to make sure a car really wasn’t about to plow into them.
3 – Cut Copy – Coachella
One of the highlights of the festival, Cut Copy blew people’s socks off with their 80’s dance/rock-rave, frequently counting down to the breaks, leaving the audience jumping up and down halfway back in the tent or more … I have been waiting to see them since their debut album came out in 2004 and they didn’t disappoint. Probably my top non-main stage act of the festival.
4 – Crystal Castes/Health – Ottobar
Little did I know that before entering the Ottobar on Sunday night I would be taking part in some sort of face melting/ strobe light marathon. [HEALTH] was an intense performance. I have never heard a noise band play live and have everything be orchestrated so well without it coming off as too contrived … You felt like you were at some strange tribal cult face melting ritual.
[When Crystal Castles started] Strobe lights began flashing, the creepy electronic circa Super Mario Brothers on acid in 1990 began to play and you could see a quick shadow come in from the right of the stage … Everyone started jumping and we made our way to the front of the stage where we were pretty much lifted off the ground for the next 45 minutes, both physically and mentally.
5 – The Ex with Gétatchèw Mèkurya – Ottobar
My buddy dragged me to this show last night knowing absolutely nothing about The Ex, and even less about Getachew Mekuria. I left the show having experienced the rare show that became more than a show, but an event.
Seriously, I can’t describe this show without coming across as an uber-fanboy. Let;s just say it was the loudest I have heard a crowd scream and clap for an encore…a second one.
6 – Prince – Coachella
I mean, it’s prince. What can I say other than he is amazing. SO effortless of a performer, specifically on his guitar solos, which were plentiful in this set.
The purple one played way past thecurfew , ending his set at 1AM. Highlights (other than all the hits) were a cover he did of “Creep”, and ending the set with “Purple Rain”. Or so we thought…then he came back out saying “they told me i couldn’t come back out, but i couldn’t stop myself” and ripped into “Let’s Go Crazy”. It was hysterical to see everyone: hippies, hipsters, pinkfloyd heads, etc dancing around to “And if de-elevator tries 2 bring u down”.
7 – The Mae Shi/Death Set/The Oxes – Whartscape
Holy Shit is what i think I text messaged a couple of my friends halfway through [The MaeShi's] set. A band that is not to be missed if they come to a town near you. Not even going to try and describe it. Possibly my favorite set of the day.
[The Death Set] lived up to everything I had heard about them. The locals certainly knew how to react to the band’s set: ensure chaos ensued.
I had heard [The Oxes were] a band not to be missed. Consider that recommendation correct: Total rock pandemonium. You would have thought Fugazi was playing…the crowd was in a total mid-90’s era mosh by halfway into the first song.
8 – Shearwater – Black Cat Basement
So on to Shearwater. Singer Jonathan Meiburg began the show with a hauntingly powerful acapella intro that made the entire audience stand very still with mouth agape … I don’t know if it was because of the NPR recording or not, but the sound was impeccable. Probably one of the best sounding shows I have been too.
Overall an amazing lush sound for such a small space. This is a must see band and might be one of the best shows we see all year.
9 – Portishead – Coachella
Really intense and amazing performance … They were so good that Jim James, of MMJ, gave them props the next day by saying something like “Listening to Portishead is like being trapped in a crazy fun house nightmare and her voice is like a witch leading you through it”. I couldn’t have explained it better.
10 – Grails/Silver Apples – Ottobar
I forgot to write about this one, but if you think the Grails albums are intense…just go to one of their shows. At one point they had mics hanging in various parts of the drums with various dub effects and they went on a 15 minute drum solo as the mics got moved up and down for an amazing effect. Add in the crazy homemade instruments of Silver Apples and you have something you won’t soon forget.
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Tags: Uncategorized , live , top ten
Despite how horrid it was getting in and out of Nissan Pavilion, I can agree with your #1 though it wasn’t my top Radiohead performance of the year. Missed the rest of your shows, though I did catch Crystal Castles at Popped in Philly and it was berserk. My top list of shows would be
12. Soulwax – Virgin Fest
11. Rabbit in the Moon – Virgin Fest
10. Crystal Castles – Popped! Fest
9. Dan Deacon – Popped! Fest
8. Spank Rock – Lollapalooza
7. Radiohead – Susquehanna Bank Center
6. Pendulum – Ottobar
5. Girl Talk – Lollapalooza
4. Underworld – Virgin Fest
3. Innerpartysystem – Fletcher’s
2. Radiohead – Lollapalooza
1. The Presets & Cut Copy – 9:30 Club
on January 26th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Nice list. Despite seeing about 100 bands this year, looks like i still missed some great shows. can’t make it to everything i guess.
on January 26th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
i love that you put crystal castles so high on your list, that is one of those concerts that sticks out in my mind from last year that I didn’t expect to. Innerpartysystem? Intersting, will have to check them out.
on January 26th, 2009 at 11:50 pm