2008 in Review: Shows

Seems like I don't get out all that much and then going back over what concerts I went to, it averages to more than one night a week. I should be thankful. Also thankful that the quantity is backed up with some real quality. Not too many bad shows. I won't list them all (although I'm happy to). Here are the top 25 with some notes and links to reviews for the ones I wrote.

1. The Dreamers/Essential Cinema @ St. Ann's Warehouse (Brooklyn) 28 February/1 March
an amazing couple of nights of music in a great room; review here

2. Marco Benevento January residency @ Sullivan Hall
especially 1/10 and 1/31 which were transcendentally jamtastic; reviews here (1/3/08), here (1/10/08) and here (1/31/08)

3. All Points West Festival [Radiohead, Andrew Bird, Mates of State, Grizzly Bear, Go Team, et al] @ Liberty State Park (Jersey City, NJ) 8 August
As a festival, this was pretty shitty, but the music was hard to beat. Watching a set of Bird and then walking over to Radiohead is nearly as good as it gets.

4. Freaks Ball VIII [Bustle In Your Hedgerow, American Babies, Mocean Worker] @ Southpaw (Brooklyn) 9 February
Like clockwork, the party of the year. Just like it will be in 2009. Sloppy, rocking sets from Bustle.

5. Broken Social Scene @ Mercury Lounge 17 July
This was the Brendan Canning release show and was an utterly ragged, drunken show from start to finish. But it was quintessential BSS and in a nice intimate room. Couldn't have been more fun. Don't miss these guys!

6. Widespread Panic @ Fillmore 19 November
Review here.

7. My Morning Jacket @ Radio City Music Hall 20 June
It was the standard MMJ show. Except it was at Radio City and Jim James was literally climbing the walls while shredding his guitar. In reality, this is probably just a placeholder for the NYE show at MSG, but that'd be getting ahead of ourselves.

8. The Musical Box @ IMAC (Huntington) 2 May
Hometown dork out. Review here.

9. Stephen Malkmus & Jicks (John Vanderslice opened) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn) 2 April
Malkmus backed up his superlative album with a superlative live show at this kick-ass new venue in Brooklyn. Lots of expansive, rocking post-jam goo. This band is tight.

10. Rana @ Mercury Lounge 15 August (& 12 October)
The return of Rana was triumphant. The morning after was not. Neddy's faves. Review here.

The rest of the top 25:
11. Apollo Sunshine @ Half Moon Cruise (8/5), Monkeytown (Brooklyn, NY) (9/16), Mercury Lounge (10/29) Review
12. HeadCount Benefit (11/3)@ Highline Ballroom
13. The Bad Plus @ Blue Note (3/19), Concert Hall (6/24) Village Vanguard (9/23),
14. David Byrne @ Landmark Theater (Syracuse, NY) (11/29) Review
15. The Sea and Cake @ Music Hall (Brooklyn, NY) (11/11)
16. Benevento/Russo Duo @ Spiegeltent (9/23), Mexicali Blues (Teaneck, NJ) (3/27)
17. Scotty Hard benefit @ Highline Ballroom (3/19)
18. Grey Fox Festival @ Walsh Farm (Oak Hill, NY) (8/19)
19. Neil Young/Wilco @ Madison Square Garden (12/16)
20. Rashanim @ Stanton St. Shul (4/3 review, 5/22 review)
21. Widespread Panic @ United Palace Theater (4/5) Review
22. Rilo Kiley @ Terminal 5 (6/2)
23. Medeski, Martin & Wood/Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog @ Prospect Park Bandshell (Brooklyn) (6/19)
24. The New Mastersounds @ Sullivan Hall (11/8)
25. The Wood Brothers @ Bowery Ballroom (5/17) Review