Your favorite gigs 2009

oh these times of economic recession.

gudrun gut and tenniscoats @ brisbane powerhouse (it was free too!!)

Spiritualized @ Donaufestival, Krems, Austria

Ha, wilter, my immediate response to thread question was also tenniscoats, but this time @ The Prince Albert, Brighton.

My Bloody Valentine @ Effenaar, Eindhoven
The Gaslight Anthem/Polar Bear club @ Vera, Groningen
Trail Of Dead @ Vera, Groningen
Ignite @ Iduna, Drachten (last week)

xpost they're so cute!

Gryphon, QEH

1. Crystal Stilts / Manhattan Love Suicides
2. Neil Young
3. Elbow / The Acorn
4. Late Of The Pier
5. La Roux / Heartbeat / Magistrates / Chapman Family
6. Lionel Richie
7. White Denim
8. David Byrne
9. The Specials
10. Telepathe / Times New Viking / Rainbow Arabia / Icy Demons
11. Basement Jaxx
12. Unicorn Kid
13. Animal Collective
14. Doves
15. Portico Quartet / Red / Natalie Duncan

Worst: Maximo Park.

1. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti at Barden's Boudoir
2. T.I.T.S + Katie Stelmanis at Barden's Boudoir
3. Ponytail at the 100 Club

And hopefully Corrupted + Thorr's Hammer this Sunday at the Scala!

Black Dice!

Spectrum/Cheval Sombre @ Mercury Lounge NYC May 2009

My Bloody Valentine - El Rey Theater
Brian Jonestown Massacre, Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Coachella
The Church - The Roxy
Windy & Carl - Echo Curio

Fabulous Diamonds (Brussels)
Dolphins Into The Future (Knokke)
Group Doueh (Hasselt)
Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti (Brussels)

most out there : Ludo Mich, Charlemagne Palestine and Monotonix

also, i missed Grace Jones twice

SunnO))) Grimrobes, south London
Factory Floor various
Electric Wizard Minehead
Sleep various
Jesus Lizard various
Group Doueh/Omar Souleyman, London
Rameses London
Pixies London
Snowman London
Corsano Flower London
David Byrne London
The Laurel Collective London
The Vile Imbeciles London
Teeth Of The Sea various
RocketToTheSky Traena
Slagsmalsklubben Traena
Acid Mothers Temple London
Throbbing Gristle London

Sleep and TJL seconded; the 30 mins I managed to see of Sleep was STILL enough to qualify them. Other stuff: Logic Problem / Shitty Limits a fortnight ago; DJ Godfather, Aphex & Hecker and DJ Bennetti at the Bloc Weekender; Dirty Projectors in March; Thou and Moloch about a month ago; Future Of The Left in a couple of places. Feels like so far this year I've ended up seeing quite a lot of stuff that was... above average and justified coming out for, but didn't really hit the next level. Not sure what to think about that exactly

-Van Dyke Parks
-Tenniscoats

afrirampo
neil young
toumani diabate <---- the best
fever ray

omar souleyman & group doueh
emily jane white
jonathan richman
der nino aus wien
stanley brinks & the wave pictures

so it was smart of me to decide I was too tired to wait around for Tenniscoats, yeah. Bugger.

ATP New York 2009.

the juan maclean/the field/laserfang - great set from all 3 bands

-Van Dyke Parks
-Tenniscoats

where do you live that had both of these?
missing tenniscoats over the past few records is a major regret

Edwyn Collins & Teenage Fanclub
The Lucksmiths
iliketrains

Best gigs over the past three months:

1. Cliff Richard & the Shadows
2. Bat For Lashes/Yeasayer
3. Human League (V Festival)
4. Zun Zun Egui (supporting Fuck Buttons, who I caught on an off night)
5. Dizzee Rascal
6. Bellowhead
7. The Unthanks
8. Ungdomskulen
9. Lau
10. Tinchy Stryder
11. Melanie Safka
12. Miike Snow (V Festival)
13. Slaid Cleaves
14. The Nolans
15. Okkervil River

Worst: Oasis, V Festival.

xposts brisbane

fleetwood mac

Sonore and The Thing – stunning free improv double header
Jandek
Carla Bozulich

stanley brinks & the wave pictures
yep this was a good night. stan borrowed my amp and made it sound better than I ever did. where did you see 'em?

Omar Souleyman & Group Doueh
Nate Young/Aaron Dilloway
Otomo Yoshihide/Christian Marclay/Sachiko M
The Rebel + Courtis/Moore duo
Sic Alps
Andrew WK
Wizz Jones + Wolf People + a beer in my hand out outside my front door

pissed I missed:
Scott Foust/Frans de Waard
Cut & Splice festival
Colour Out of Space (once again)

Christian Fennesz last night doing the laptop + guitar thing. Quite beautiful.

Ariel Pink @ Bardens Boudoir
Radiant Dragons / Bo Ningen / Nissenmondai @ Bardens Boudoir
Gas @ Barbican
Juan Maclean @ somewhere in Shoreditch
Kraftwerk @ Bestival
Introducing @ Bestival
Drum Eyes @ Lexington
Otomo Yoshihide/Christian Marclay/Sachiko M
Marshall Allen @ Cafe Oto
Fuck Buttons @ Heaven
Ducktails @ Old Blue Last
Gang Gang Dance @ Dingwalls
About (ALEXIS TAYLOR JOHN COXON PAT THOMAS CHARLES HAYWARD) @ Dingwalls

Devo, London
Jesus Lizard, London

both at The Forum, natch

Sleep and TJL seconded; the 30 mins I managed to see of Sleep was STILL enough to qualify them. Other stuff: Logic Problem / Shitty Limits a fortnight ago; DJ Godfather, Aphex & Hecker and DJ Bennetti at the Bloc Weekender; Dirty Projectors in March; Thou and Moloch about a month ago; Future Of The Left in a couple of places. Feels like so far this year I've ended up seeing quite a lot of stuff that was... above average and justified coming out for, but didn't really hit the next level. Not sure what to think about that exactly

― Pissed Jenas (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, July 21, 2009 11:00 PM (4 months ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

^stuff I'd add to this: Corrupted, Thorr's Hammer, Head of David and Earthless at Supersonic; Dirty Three at Green Man; Lightning Bolt in Bristol last week

This maybe shouldn't bother me but I wish I saw more shows or whatever that gave me the impression they were a big deal for the band... of those four bands at Supersonic two of them were playing the UK for the first time and one was playing for the first time in almost 20 years so that was a big deal in its own way, OTOH as much as I had a great time bugging out to Lightning Bolt I didn't really come away thinking it was anything special for them

of the ones I can remember:

faith no more @ the corn exchange, edinburgh
the flaming lips @ the academy, glasgow
sunn o))) @ corsica studios, london
sunn o))) @ stereo, glasgow
bong/the radiation line/lords of bastard/sister iodine/interstellar nightmare @ henry's, edinburgh
kultur shock @ the underworld, london
kong @ nice'n'sleazy's, glasgow
part chimp/divorce @ stereo, glasgow
black sun @ 13th note, glasgow
divorce @ the captain's rest, glasgow
vom @ 13th note, glasgow
vomir/gruel/atomized/skullflower @ glasgow implodes, 13th note
mogwai/the thing @ field day, london
triple school/tattie toes @nice'n'sleazy, glasgow

Mayhem/Cattle Decapitation/Withered, twice, the L.A. show being better than Albuqurque.

Everything at UnSound Festival Krakow

Three Friends (Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-On-Sea)
Angel Witch (Underworld, London)
Gryphon (Queen Elizabeth Hall, London)
Goblin (Scala, London)
Magma (Barbican, London)
Steve Reich (Royal Festival Hall, London)

PROG

*jealous*

the xx - hoxton music hall
beyoncé - o2
jazmine sullivan - jazz café
fever ray - royal festival hall
grace jones - roundhouse

harmonia @ east brunswick club

Sébastien Tellier, Chairlift @ The Independent, SF
Fever Ray @ The Regency Ballroom, SF
Animal Collective @ The Fox Theatre, Oakland - performance and sound were great, but fuck this place's assigned seating. I can't believe we paid that much to sit up in a balcony and have to stay in our seats the whole time.

Breeders + Times New Viking in Lawrence KS.
That's all I can even think of. Been a bad year for concerts in Missouri imo.
Things are looking up, though.

I missed the Prince Rama of Ayodha/Expo 70 DIY basement show, that would probably be on here.
Still pissed.

The New York Dolls the other night was pretty amazing.

Fleetwood Mac at Wembley Arena
Two at the O2, both much to my surprise - Green Day and Miley Cyrus (at least until she interrupted the show for a trailer for her new movie on the screens)
Springsteen in Hyde Park
Broken Records at the Water Rats
Stornoway at the Slaughtered Lamb
The Broken Family Band at the Garage
The Low Anthem at Hoxton Hall
The Hold Steady at Islington Academy
Mastodon at Islington Academy

If La Roux had the personality to match the songs, she'd have been up there.

1) Beyonce 2) Gong 3) Cliff Richard & the Shadows 4) Crystal Stilts, Manhattan Love Suicides 5) The Unthanks 6) The Specials 7) Neil Young 8) Elbow 9) Gary Numan (Pleasure Principle tour) 10) Lau

[...]

45) Kaiser Chiefs 46) Alesha Dixon 47) Maximo Park

Support acts of the year: Icy Demons (for Telepathe), Zun Zun Egui (for Fuck Buttons)

Zun Zun Egui < good to hear, these fellows are supporting the Ex on their tour next year iirc

And aargh, how could I forget the worst set of 2009, by some considerable distance: Oasis at V Festival. Small wonder they ditched the second night, and indeed their entire future.

Best shows in Dublin by touring bands:
Grizzly Bear @ Vicar Street
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti @ Whelan's upstairs
Deerhoof @ Whelan's
Sic Alps @ The Joinery
No Age @ Exchange

Favourite local live acts:
Valerie Francis
Heathers
I ♡ The Monster Hero
The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock

Plus Primavera:
Black Lips, Neil Young, Wavves, Throwing Muses, Yo La Tengo, Oneida, & Ghostface!

1. Tenniscoats at The Prince Albert, Brighton - June 2009

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3604652539_8a2549db98.jpg

'Temporacha' was one of the most beautiful, delicate records of the year, and this show was the most sublimely heartwarming, charming, enrapturing show of the year for me. A crammed show at the finest 100 capacity venue in Brighton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Laknqv_D7Y

2. The Trembling Bells / Hamilton Yarns at The Hope, Brighton - April 2009

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3483201179_ac4e9c3b7e.jpg

'Carbeth' is a stunning record, at heart a trad-folk/rock record in hock to Fairport and their ilk but put together by such a talented cast it's got a massive spirit of its own and a giddy euphoria about it that makes it a bit spesh. This gig made me realise that in fullness. A stunning set, ending with an old acapella sung Sussex folk song, a eulogy to the Downs. Before, Vinnie's powerful voice transports the songs to a dramatic level that's gobsmacking live, counterbalanced by Alex Neilson's less developed burr which gives the group an air of playfulness.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3431229354_1c97e3484c.jpg

Before that local experimental folkers Hamilton Yarns (above) had played a rare electric set, avant-folk with synths, a harmonium, other things. I got so drunk/enthusiastic I ended up in a ridiculous but ace discussion with one of them about how the analog synth is *the* folk instrument of our times. It made total sense at the time.

3. Dirty Projectors / Lucky Dragons / Polar Bear at Komedia, Brighton - March 2009

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3407351899_d691bdbc65.jpg
(Photo by Greg Neate)

Dirty Projectors brought 'Bitte Orca' to life here; the intricate vocals sound amazing on record but are mindblowing live. A mere 45 minute set as they were the middle turn but utterly gobsmacking all through. Lucky Dragons was fantastic too, opening the show with an audience inclusive set which somehow sounded amazing as well as getting 20 odd strangers to fondle wires and bang sticks on the floor, not to mention playing rocks.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/3483558650_287cf71a7c.jpg

4. Fennesz / Grouper / Natural Snow Buildings at St Giles In The Fields, London - November 2009

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2506/4074018560_b94642c5f7.jpg
Fennesz

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/4074017330_38de4abee6.jpg
Grouper

NSB were a sublime start, seeming ordinary and post-rock at the start, but their 20 minute piece evolving into a pretty, shimmering, post-gaze wonder. Grouper started with 10 minutes of tape loops, slowly building, creating a dense sea for her voice and guitar to ride a lifeboat over. Spellbinding. She's getting more songy, but the vocals aren't always as clear as on 'DADDUAH'. Fennesz was majestic. Didn't need to be watched, just heard, as his very, very loud laptop/guitar compositions boomed through this fantastic old building. I spent much of this gig in the gods, on my knees at the side of some chairs, peeping over the ledge, avoiding blocking people off. Somehow that wasn't an annoyance...unlike Fennesz getting cut off prematurely due to the venues built in curfew power-outer. Still, amazing.

5. Peter Broderick at The Freebutt, Brighton - February 2009

Sublime looping. Packed crowd. Two shit supports. Then PB comes out, plays like an orchestra, all layers, loops, beauty. Spellbinding. Have never seen so many awestruck folks head straight to the merch to buy a record, he must've made a grand that night.

Wilco-Maine State Pier

Future of the Left at the El Mocambo.
Vampire Weekend at the Horseshoe.
Yo La Tengo at the Opera House.
Lucero at Lee's Palace.
The Hold Steady at Lee's Palace.
Anticipating this Friday's Constantines show at Call the Office will also be terrific.

1) Faust / Sunn O))) (Orange Peel, Asheville, NC)
2) Richard Thompson (Variety Playhouse, Atlanta)
3) The Necks (Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, TN)
4) Mike Watt and the Missingmen / Dinosaur Jr. (Orange Peel, Asheville, NC)
5) Richard Smith (Barking Legs Theater, Chattanooga, TN)

Honorable Mention: Adrian Belew Power Trio, Arrington de Dionyso, Little Bang Theory, Mitch Easter's Gravel Truck, Meat Puppets, Shelley Hirsch and the Shaking Ray Levis

dirty projectors run through @ eat records night before the bjork show
usaisamonster last show evar @ harket motel.. w/ awesome color + awesome set by dreskull
david byrne @ prospect park hell yeah

Dan Auerbach / Hacienda @ Showbox, Seattle
Afro-Cuban All-Stars @ Pantages Theater, Tacoma
Janelle Monae @ Bumbershoot Fest, Seattle

ATP New York 2009.

― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Sunday, November 1, 2009 9:51 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Just 7 gigs this year, with #1 looking down from a great height on the rest.

1. Fever Ray (De Doelen, Rotterdam)

2. Gas (Theater Kikker, Utrecht)
3. My Bloody Valentine (Effenaar, Eindhoven)
4. Moritz von Oswald Trio (Trouw, Amsterdam)
5. Matias Aguayo (Trouw, Amsterdam)
6. David Byrne (Vredenburg, Leidsche Rijn/Utrecht)
7. Bruce Springsteen (ArenA, Amsterdam)

Mark Eitzel (with Marc Chapelle and Franz Nicolay) - St Margaret's Church, Manchester.

Phoenix - Manchester Academy 2.

forgot vialka @ the twisted wheel, glasgow.

how could I forget vialka?!

Ewan Pearson @ Poste, Jakarta. I didn't know he could be THAT good.