Best Live Show Of 2009?

[Jim McGriddles]

If I say the Ted Leo / Titus Andronicus Kearney show that might seem like I'm pandering, but it was my first time seeing both bands and it was f-word awesome. And in between sets I approached someone I thought was Mike, whose name was ALSO Mike, but it was a different Mike (who ended up being a nice guy).

Sonic Youth at The Wilbur (Boston venue) in November is a close second (Night Two, when The Meat Puppets opened). It was the first time I saw SY, and they were bonkers.

What are your favorite shows of the year?

[Pat K]

Great thread idea.

The 2 best shows I saw in 2009 that come to my mind right now happened within weeks of each other, in April.

I saw Titus Andronicus opening for Lucero at the Mohawk in Buffalo. I had never heard of Lucero before that night, and they didn't impress me, although they brought out a huuuge turnout. But Titus Andronicus, predictably, burned the fucking house down and blew Lucero off the stage. Classic case of a headliner getting demolished by their opener. Highlight of the night was talking to Titus frontman Patrick about his disastrous/fortuitous call to the Best Show back in '07 or whenever about getting TA on 'smash of trash'. He was pretty embarassed and sheepish about it, but I was able to make him feel better about it by assuring him TA definitely got some fans out it, myself being one of them, so it was a net-positive. I think he was glad to hear that.

The best show of '09 though, for me, was easily seeing Mr. Quintron and Miss Pussycat in Buffalo at Soundlab. Psychedelic Horseshit opened, and they were OK, but man oh man. There were only about 10 people in the audience (this being Buffalo and all), but we all had the psychedelic experience of the year.  The set included costume changes, one of their legendary puppet shows, a sexy backup dancer, a psychedelic lightshow with copious strobes and crowd-blinders, fog machines, Quintron's kooky homemade instruments, and wave after wave of punishingly funky swamp-disco organ jams.  For the grand finale Q and P jumped up on the bar and danced like maniacs. My best friend and I got drunk as skunks and danced our asses off. Perfect combination of great band, great crowd, and the right venue on the right night. One of my all-time favorite shows. I will definitely cross state lines to see them again if they ever come close to here again.

[thom]

Frog Eyes.

[Chris L]

Seeing Bob Mould and Jon Wurster tear through some Husker Du and Sugar classics was pretty sweet. 

[mike a]

I don't get to see much in STL, but here are three that stand out:

1)  Sonic Youth.  Gateway Arch, July 2009.  Brought my two daughters, the older of which raved about Thurston Moore's onstage presence.

2)  Titus Andronicus.  The Gargoyle, February 2009.  Came in with no expectations, left blown away.  Los Campesinos! didn't have a shot after that (though they were good in their own right).

3)  Camera Obscura.  Vintage Vinyl*, a few weeks ago.  Wonderfully intimate in-store performance (and a nice balm to the fact that their "real" club show that night was beyond sold out).

*  The one in St. Louis.  NOT the Woodbridge one.  Completely different.

[Steeley Chris]

I didn't see many shows this year but I saw Ted Leo and The Pharmacists/Titus Andronicus in New Haven, Providence, and Boston. I'd say each show had it's plus and minuses (nothing related to either bands' performance because they killed all three times).

New Haven's plus - the first opening band in New Haven didn't show = all killer, no filler. Minus - 1hr 45min drive to and then from (the drive down is not bad, because Toad's Place is easy to get to from 95S. Getting back to 95N usually proves to be a little more taxing because there's always some road construction going on - I've been down there three times and have had to go a different way each time, getting semi-lost two of the times.)

Providence's plus - 10 minute ride to the venue, PRIDE parade going by before TA's set, seeing some friends I hadn't seen in a while. Minus - stumbling drunk girls, aggressively pushy teenagers, no Cock Sparrer covers (AS220 has a policy of original/public domain songs only - a boycott of all music licensed by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC), and it was hot as balls in there, with no air circulation.

Boston's plus - meeting Tom, DJ Terre T, and a whole gaggle of FOT, hearing more new songs live, plus the band version of "The Mighty Sparrow", "Under The Hedge" (the first TL/Rx I ever heard) which I'm not sure I've every seen performed live. Minus - driving in the snowy mess, wasn't feeling Wallcreeper, $3.75 for a Narragansett tallboy (I've never seen them more than $2.50 at any bar in RI, and I can buy a case of 24 for $17.99, so I don't know what Boston's trying to pull here).

I think the Boston show has eeked out the win here.

Chain and The Gang/The What Cheer?Brigade at AS220 is the runner up. I met Ian Svenonious and he was even friendlier than I could imagine.

[buffcoat]

No shows. I think it's safe to say that my relationship with live music is... strained.


Maybe in 2010 after the smoking ban goes into effect.




EDIT: Who am I kidding?

[Pat K]

ing semi-lost two of the times.)
 no Cock Sparrer covers (AS220 has a policy of original/public domain songs only - a boycott of all music licensed by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC).

That's interesting - I know there are kinda-sorta rules about that kind of stuff, but I've never known a club that was actually uptight about it.

[betheboy]

Seeing The Dirtbombs and Ted Leo on back to back nights over the summer was the live music highlight of my year. I chased that with an afternoon Ted Leo show 2 days later featuring a fun opening set by Davila 666.

[dave from knoxville]

X was tremendous

[masterofsparks]

Sadly, live music is becoming a less and less frequent thing for me. Touring bands don't stop through Columbus too often, especially on weekends (because of my work hours, weekday shows are pretty much out). Every time I do head out for a local show, I'm reminded why I don't go out more often. Case in point: Last weekend, a friend's band was playing on a three-band bill and it was announced as an early show (starting around 10 pm). I show up to find out that the lineup is now five bands and the first band doesn't go on until around 11, which means the headliner (the band I was there to see) ends up hitting the stage at 1:35 am (closing time is 2 am). Plus the folks in the audience are the exact same people who used to be at the bar every night when I used to go out more frequently (we're talking 6 or 7 years ago), so with the requisite wear that comes from getting drunk in the bar until closing time several nights a week over that 6 - 7 year period, they look old and worn-out and aren't especially fun to be around. My friend's band was good, and I did get to see some folks that are doing well, but on the whole it was a fairly depressing night out.

Sorry to bring this topic down. Someone post about a fun show!

[Keith Whitener]

Future of the Left in Williamsburg
Neil Hamburger at Asbury Lanes
Electric Six at Maxwell's
Andy Kindler at Comix

[jbissell]

The best thing I saw all year was one of PFT's recordings for Freak Wharf back in March.  Seeing Patton two times was also a real treat.

As for music:
Jay Reatard (last show before he fired the band)/Nobunny/Hunx & His Punx/Box Elders
John Darnielle & John Vanderslice (solo sets + together)
Antony & The Johnsons
Future of the Left
Phoenix
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Yo La Tengo/Cheap Time

Reunion shows that didn't suck: The Vaselines, Jesus Lizard, Sunny Day Real Estate

[Martin]

I didn't see a single live (music) concert in 2009. It's kind of frustrating living in my area - we get plenty of high-profile acts playing here, but often it's stuff I don't like. If you're into pop/rock/garage/punk stuff, it's great. That said, for various reasons I've skipped/missed concerts by Maxwell, Raphael Saadiq, Tortoise, The Very Best, Omar S, some others this year. That's on me. Resolution for 2010: seizing the opportunity to see more live acts.

[Steeley Chris]

ing semi-lost two of the times.)
 no Cock Sparrer covers (AS220 has a policy of original/public domain songs only - a boycott of all music licensed by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC).

That's interesting - I know there are kinda-sorta rules about that kind of stuff, but I've never known a club that was actually uptight about it.

AS220 is a non-profit community arts center, so that factors into their policy. I'd say that's the only drawback about that place (well that and the fact that the burrito place that was opposite the bar is no longer there). It's pretty great.