2010:: Favorite Live Shows

Felt like I didn't see as much music as I have in the past and yet still hit 85 shows. Nice work, me!

The raw data:
Number of shows: 85
Number of different bands seen: 100+
Number of bands seen for the first time: 53
Band seen most often: Phish (10)
Number of different venues: 38
Venue hit most often: Bowery Ballroom (13)
Number of cities hit: 10
Number of states hit: 4

1. Phish 10/30/2010 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City||8/6/2010 Greek Theater

In my youth it seems I always lucked into seeing all the "it" shows, but now it seems just the opposite, seeing great shows but not the transcendent ones. I saw 10 shows this year, ranging from decent to spectacular. These two Saturday night shows, though, blew me away like no other music did in 2010. The band will get their own post, but these two were in another league, finding the band locked into something special. They stand in for all the other PH shows I saw, it's just another category altogether, it wouldn't be fair to the rest of the great music I saw in 2010.

2. 1/23/2010 Anders Osborne|Metzger/Kalb/Johnson/Hall|The Black Hollies @ Sullivan Hall

The Freaks Ball. 10th one, quite possibly the best, musically, at least. God willing, there will be an 11th. Anders Osborne revealed himself to be a force of nature this past year, so we were lucky to get him as he approached his prime. Damn lucky! Not to mention how awesome The Hollies and Metzger & Co. were. As always, the party of the year!

3. 10/22/2010 My Morning Jacket Terminal 5

The album "Z" in its entirety followed by an awe-inspiring encore. The 4th of a 5 night run that shook the west side of Manhattan. Blew me away from start to finish. I saw 4 of the 5 and loved them all, but this was the tops.

4. 1/13/2010 Krantz/Carlock/Lefebvre Rose Live, Brooklyn + 4/24/2010 Highline Ballroom

These guys could probably take a decade off, come back together and melt cerebral matter without trying. More likely they'll never play again as K3, but I'll always have the memories of special nights like these. Amazing they could play such a tiny spot without being overwhelmed. The greatest musical secret this city has ever known.

5. 5/8/2010 Broken Social Scene (Zeus opened) Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn + 9/18/2010 (The Sea and Cake opened) Summerstage

Kevin Drew once proclaimed from the stage that they could never play Madison Square Garden because they could never get their act together. Thank god for that, because while they're talented enough to do it, we're still lucky enough to see them in the warm confines of great rooms like MHOW. Of course, when they need to bring it to the big stage, Live BSS, not much better. Don't sleep on Zeus, either! Summerstage review here.

6. 7/14/2010 Mischief & Mayhem Village Vanguard

Jenny Scheinman leads a group featuring Nels Cline on guitar in the most vaunted jazz room in the city. Intriguing. The music was transcendent, a loose jammy feel by a superlatively talented band. "Jazz" in quotes, this was just amazing music flat out. I hope I get to see these guys again.

7. 1/9/2010 Claudia Quintet, Rudder, Todd Sickafoose, Scheinman/Moran, Global Noize, Benevento Trio, Bitches Brew at Le Poisson Rouge, Bitter End, Sullivan Hall

This early January evening was probably enough for 12-months worth of jazz in NYC. Bouncing around 3 different venues, almost everything was pure gold, from the revelations of Rudder and Claudia Quintet to the power of Sickafoose's Tiny Resistors and the beauty of Jenny Scheinman duet with Jason Moran. All for one ticket price!

8. 9/15/2010 The Bad Plus Bowery Ballroom

Regular readers know how I feel about the Bad Plus. This night they brought their supreme excellence to the best rock club in the city and conquered it like it was a tiny jazz club. My review here.

9. Apollo Sunshine 5/19/2010 Mercury Lounge + 3/25/2010 Southpaw, Brooklyn

Apollo Sunshine made their return to the stage in 2010 and I couldn't have been happier. For a while it seemed like maybe they'd stick around for a while, but as quickly as they reappeared, they were gone again. Thankfully, I was able to see them a couple of times, including this monster show in the Lower East Side. For some it's like riding a bike, I guess. Still one of my favorites, hope they're around in '11. Mercury Lounge review here.

10. 4/7/2010 Midlake Bowery Ballroom

Got to see a lot of the bands I really, truly love last year... some of them more than once. Midlake was in fine form with a fantastic new album and multiple NYC hits. Review here.

11. 8/2010 Newport Folk Festival Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

Great music, great vibes, great festival. Jim James dominated a lineup that was top notch from start to finish.

12. 6/14/2010 RANA Half Moon Cruise Ship

Just play once a year Rana, that's all we ask. Just make sure that one show is as ripping as this one. 2003 form right there in 2010. The boat + Rana were made for each other. Make it happen again in 2011!

13. El Ten Eleven 9/18/2010 Mercury Lounge + 4/9/2010 Pianos

One of the great underrated bands shredding brain right now. One of those "how the F are they doing that?" kind of shows and yet they had packed rooms in the Lower East Side in boogie mode as well. Not many bands can burn both ends of that candle. Two guys worth checking out.

14. 2/16/2010 Trey Anastasio Terminal 5

Trey is back to fine form and it's trickling into his solo act as well. Review here.

15. 3/19/2010 Portugal. The Man Highline Ballroom

Of all my favorite live bands out there, I think I got to see almost all of them in 2010. P.tM is certainly on that list and they did not disappoint at the Highline in March. The kind of show that transports you to someplace else of the band's choosing. Thank the lord these guys are workhorses, so I think we can expect a new album and lots of touring once again in 2011. Don't miss 'em when they come your way, you won't regret it!

The rest of my 50+ favorite shows of 2010:

16. 7/14/2010 Heartless Bastards Music Hall of Williamsburg

17. 7/30/2010 Steve Martin & Steep Canyon Rangers Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, RI

18. 3/23/2010 The Clientele Bowery Ballroom

19. 10/18/2010 My Morning Jacket Terminal 5

20. 4/3/2010 Wilco Wellmont Theater

21. 9/23/2010 Pavement Summerstage

22. 2/5/2010 Galactic (Tea Leaf Green opened) Terminal 5

23. 10/13/2010 My Morning Jacket Ed Sullivan Theater

24. 6/8/2010 Les Claypool Brooklyn Bowl

25. 4/23/2010 Jason Collett/Zeus Mercury Lounge

26. 5/14/2010 Oneida/Silver Apples Abrons Arts Center

27. 7/16-17/2010 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival Walsh Farm

28. 11/23/2010 Mike Gordon Westcott Theater

29. 7/3/2010 Portugal. The Man Water Taxi Beach

30. 9/23/2010 Anders Osborne w/ Stanton Moore Trio Brooklyn Bowl

31. 11/13/2010 The Books Zankel Hall

32. 3/14/2010 Carolina Chocolate Drops Bowery Ballroom

33. 3/31/2010 Todd Sickafoose's Tiny Resistors Jazz Standard

34. 4/8/2010 The Bad Plus The Blue Note

35. 4/17/2010 Surprise Me Mr. Davis Mercury Lounge

36. 6/29/2010 Robert Randolph & the Family Band Bowery Ballroom

37. 9/29/2010 Midlake Webster Hall

38. 10/23/2010 My Morning Jacket Terminal 5

39. 11/20/2010 The New Mastersounds Brookyn Bowl

40. 5/15/2010 Dr. Dog Terminal 5

41. 1/17/2010 Some Cat from Japan Sullivan Hall

42. 12/28/2010 Surprise Me Mr Davis Brooklyn Bowl

43. 11/13/2010 Horse Feathers Bowery Ballroom

44. 8/21/2010 Ben Allison Nublu

45. 3/30/2010 Jenny Scheinman Barbes

46. 1/28/2010 Krantz/Carlock/Lefebvre 55 Bar

47. 10/6/2010 A.A. Bondy Bowery Ballroom

48. 5/6/2010 Local Natives Bowery Ballroom

49. 10/12/2010 Broken Bells Terminal 5

50. 11/22/2010 Aimee Mann Music Hall of Williamsburg

51. 7/10/2010 The Statesmen Brooklyn Bowl

52. 9/12/2010 Stockholm Syndrome Brooklyn Bowl

53. 10/7/2010 Miike Snow Terminal 5

54. 11/6/2010 Dawes Webster Hall

55. 12/28/2010 John Zorn improv The Stone

2010:: Favorite Albums of 2010

Finally getting back on track here. These are my favorite albums from 2010. Not the best and certainly not your favorites. Didn't get to listen to everything and these opinions are all subject to change as early as later today. As usual, I'm putting these in alphabetical groups of 10, because that's the way I like to do it! If your favorite isn't on there, I probably just didn't listen to it, so feel free to drop a rec in the comments.

The Top Ten (alphabetical)

The Bad Plus -- Never Stop

Another year, another album, another spot on Neddy's top 10 list. Impossibly the compositions are getting stronger and stronger with too many highlight tracks to bother mentioning. This album is unique in its lack of any sign of the vintage TBP covers... and is all the better for it.

The Black Keys -- Brothers
Fueled by Danger Mouse's production, the Keys are in a serious groove right now. This album is rock and roll, 2010 in its essence. Somehow it sounds both like the raw guitar-drums-and-voice stripped down Black Keys and a more grandiose, detailed subtle pop masterpiece, that just happens to make your hair stand on end.

Broken Social Scene -- Forgiveness Rock Record
Finally a worthy successor to "You Forgot It In People" that shows a leap in maturity and breadth and yet retains that BSS thing that makes it so much different and awe-inspiring than just about every other music being made out there. Amazing to think that this is the same band that will give you a drunken, raucous, ragged live show night in and out. This one is still growing on me. Also seek out their EP "Lo-Fi for the Dividing Nights" which is a perfect bedtime companion to this one.

The Dreamers -- Ipos Masada Book 2

John Zorn's power ensemble. Frankly, any time Ribot, Dunn, Baron, Saft, & Wolleson are playing together, I want to be a part of it. This album has them playing Masada selections, but it's less about what they play than how they're doing it and once again they are possibly the most talented band in the universe pushing each other to be better. This music has no genre.

El Ten Eleven -- It's Still Like a Secret

If you haven't heard El Ten Eleven yet, this is the time to start. Layered, architectural electropop instrumental music made by two guys on bass and drums. This album captures the balance of move-your-mind/move-your-body well without having to stare at them on stage and say "how they do that??" Check 'em out, you won't regret it.

Jason Collett -- Rat A Tat Tat
This is probably the biggest "how'd this get on here?" of my top 10, but this is the album that probably spent the most time in my car CD player this year. It just didn't want to come out! Great songwriting from Collett backed by the band Zeus for a spongy sound that's perfect for lazy mornings, long commutes or impressing your friends with something they haven't heard yet.

Midlake -- The Courage of Others

The perfect follow-up to one of my favorites from a couple years ago (Van Occupanther), this back country baroque sounds fantastic, transporting you to another world. I don't know how to describe the Midlake sound, and it's probably something you have to "get" but there is a subtle richness in this album that's worth a little patience.

Janelle Monae -- Archandroid
Wow! Just... wow! Epic vision, perfectly executed. Looking over this list, many of these favorites seem to be not just cross-cutting styles and genre, but almost newly invented styles and genres in their own right. Monae is a musical entity unto herself -- yes, you will hear Sun Ra, Outkast, Kanye West, Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix and who knows what else in there, but blown together in some supersonic quasar. Probably my album of the year if forced to pick.

Spoon - Transference

I don't know if I'm even a huge Spoon fan, but good lord they put out some sweet albums. Some bands just shit out great music and Spoon is one of them, if I was a rock musician, I'd be jealous as heck.

Vampire Weekend -- Contra

I feel like I don't want to put this here for some reason, but the early year hype surrounding these guys and their sophomore effort is warranted, this is a fantastic record. I didn't think these guys would amount to more than a flash in a pan, but there is growth in sound and songs here that tells me they might be around for a while. Pick a track, listen to it and most likely you'll have it stuck in your head all day. Not many albums can do that, but Vampire Weekend can.

11-20 (alphabetical)

Clem Snide -- The Meat of Life
Cornershop -- Lucy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast
Dawes -- North Hills
Local Natives -- Gorilla Manor
Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band -- Where the Messengers Meet
Of Montreal -- False Priest
Portugal. The Man -- American Ghetto
Wolf Parade -- Expo86
John Zorn (Burger/Dunn/Emmanuel/Perowsky/Ribot/Wolleson) -- The Godess
Kanye West -- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

21-30 (alphabetical)

Broken Bells -- s/t

Dr Rubberfunk -- Hot Stone
Cochemea Gastelum -- The Electric Sound of Johnny Arrow
Horse Feathers -- Thistled Spring
Jenny & Johnny -- I'm Having Fun Now
Preservation Hall Jazz Band -- An Album to Benefit...
Ratatat -- LP4
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros -- s/t
The Roots -- How I Got Over
Zeus -- Say Us

31-40 (alphabetical)

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals III/IV
Clothesline Revival -- They Came From Somewhere
Dr. Dog -- Shame, Shame
LCD Soundsystem -- This Is Happening
Anders Osborne -- American Patchwork
Phantogram -- Eyelid Movies
Sufjan Stevens -- The Age of Adz
Laura Veirs -- July Flame

The Tallest Man on Earth -- The Wild Hunt

41-50 (alphabetical)

Arcade Fire -- The Suburbs
The Books -- The Way Out
Ben Goldberg Quartet -- Baal Masada Book 2
Javelin -- No Mas
Konono No1 -- Assume Crash Position
The National -- High Violet
Nels Cline Singers -- Initiate
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals -- s/t
Ra Ra Riot -- The Orchard
She & Him -- Vol. 2
John Zorn (Blumenkranz/Burger/Cohen/Perowsky/Wolleson) -- In Search of the Miraculous

51-60 (alphabetical)

Band of Horses -- Infinite Arms
David Byrne -- Here Lies Love
Caribou -- Swim
Delta Spirit -- History From Below
Justin Townes Earle -- Harlem River Blues

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings -- I Learned the Hard Way
Onra -- Long Distance
John Vanderslice -- Green Grow the Rushes
John Zorn -- Filmworks XXIV
Various -- Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows

61-70 (alphabetical)

!!! -- Strange Weather, Isn't It?

Blitzen Trapper -- Destroyer of the Void

The Clientele -- Minotaur
The Gaslight Anthem -- American Slang
The Hold Steady -- Heaven is Whenever
Menomena -- Mines
Mop Mop -- Ritual Of the Savage
Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me
Stars -- The Five Ghosts
Various -- Dear New Orleans

70-75 (alphabetical)

Roky Erickson with Okkervil River -- True Love Cast Out All Evil

Blonde Redhead -- Penny Sparkle
Crystal Castles -- II
Girl Talk -- All Day
Jamie Lidell -- Compass

If you're still reading down here, some fantastic EP's worth seeking out:

Broken Social Scene -- Lo-Fi For the Dividing Nights

White Denim -- last day of summer

Junip -- Rope and Summit

Various -- Twistable, Turnable Man

2010:: Favorite Artist of the Year

(photo stolen from Dino Perrucci)

I’ve enjoyed the last few years picking my “band” or “artist” of the year. 2008 was the year of Apollo Sunshine while last year Portugal. The Man took the honor of digging deepest into my soul. Here was last year's bands of the decade retrospective.

As with last year, this year’s pick could easily have been the Big PH, but that would be boring, and, time permitting, I plan on doing a separate year-end post on those guys. Even crossing them off the list, there are a few great choices in there, bands that impressed me on CD and blew me away live.

When it comes down to it, though, I think I have to go with Jim James. James, of course, is the front man of My Morning Jacket, which didn’t even have an album out this year. Still, during a weeklong stretch in late October, James and his band were the story in NYC and my life, when I got to see them at the Ed Sullivan Theater (my first time in that theater) in a special Letterman online show and then 4 (out of 5) nights at Terminal 5, absolutely destroying each of their studio albums and then heaping amazing cover after amazing cover into encores like forkfuls of pie after a Thanksgiving feast. It was as impressive a week of music as I’ve seen a band put on. Not just “A game” but a different game altogether. My old review-writing self would have expounded on the treat it was to see a band climb through its own history, and then re-envision their past with the knowledge and talent of today. “I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger...” Have you ever seen a band do that before? It was awe inspiring. It was also, loud, rocking fist-pumping fun.

It’s a rare thing to *want* to schlep to Terminal 5 multiple nights in a row, to need to get there at all costs. This year has been a lot of “maybe I won’t go out tonight” kind of nights for me, it would have been easy to fold ‘em for one of those T5 shows, but I didn’t consider it for a minute. I would have hit all 5 if I hadn’t forced The Big Squeeze to go to at least one (the night they played “It Still Moves,” which may have been the best of ‘em all). The night they played “Z” was one of the best shows I saw all year, not only because of the main album set but because they killed a cover of one of my all-time favorite songs, A Quick One While He’s Away by the Who. Wow! Still gives me the sweats thinking about it.

Still, one week in October doesn’t make an “artist of the year” for me and there’s a reason why I say Jim James and not My Morning Jacket. The reason was the Newport Folk Festival this summer. This was my 3rd time hitting the historic festival, and, of course, I’ve been to dozens of other music festivals from New Orleans Jazzfest to Bonnaroo to Austin City Limits to festivals that don’t even exist anymore. I have never, not ever, seen a festival dominated like Newport Folk was dominated by Jim James this past August. The guy was just everywhere, as a headliner, as a guest, as a stealth ensemble artist. Quite frankly, if you were an old-timer who didn’t know James or his music, I feel like you may have missed one of the all time great front-to-back festival appearances happening right under your nose. And to dominate not any old festival but the Newport F’in Folk Festival is impressive. James played an incredible solo set (as Yim Yames) which wasn’t really a solo set, then he magically transformed a set billed as Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore into an intimate, under-the-radar Appalachian Waltz show in the small tent and also had an awesome extended guest sit-in with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, transforming them into his back-up band by sheer talent and will. Here are some videos from the festival:

Gideon from the Yim Yames set:

St. James Infirmary from the Pres. Hall set:

As you can see, not only was he Michael Jordaning the crap out of that weekend, he was looking like one cool customer while doing so. So for that week in October and that weekend in August, Jim James was my personal artist of the year.

Some more links:

Watch the LettermanOnline appearance here

Listen to the Yim Yames set courtesy of NPR

Listen to the Preservation Hall set courtesy of NPR

Listen to the Appalachian Waltz set courtesy of NPR

2010 Rundown

OK, so the end of the year is nigh... gonna try and fit in some of my usual year end bologna in this space for you. Hopefully a post a day more or less through the end of 2010. Enjoy!