Archive for December, 2009
2009: A Great Year for Music
December 31st, 2009
Posted in Best of 2009
Another year has come and gone. Soon enough we will be underway with the second decade of the 21st century. I still find it hard to believe and often wonder where the past has gone. The last year of my twenty’s will be coming up this year, but that’s another story for other people in another place and time. As for the music scene in 2009, it was an amazing year for bands, albums and festivals. Let me take you on a quick ride through the past year and how the music scene appeared through my eyes.
There were shows and festivals, and then some more shows and festivals, and then even more shows and festivals. Oddly enough, the climax (or greatest musical experience) of the year fell right at the halfway point of the year. I made my third trip to Manchester, Tennessee for the Bonnaroo Music Festival in the middle of June. I witnessed over forty mind-blowing sets covering all types of music, many of them being the first time I’d seen most of these bands. Bruce Springsteen, two Phish shows, David Byrne of the Talking Heads, Ben Harper and Relentless7, MGMT, Band of Horses, Wilco, Andrew Bird, Bon Iver and Passion Pit (who all rank in my top ten performances from the weekend). But I can’t say enough amazing things about Bonnaroo; I really believe that every music fan should have this festival on their bucket list.
There were other smaller festivals too; Louisville’s Forecastle Festival in July featuring Widespread Panic, Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphrey’s McGee and the Avett Brothers, among many, many others playing over three days in a small park alongside the Ohio River. There was also Spring Hookahville, held just outside of Columbus. Created by one of the best jambands in the midwest, Ekoostik Hookah (who played two sets), the festival also featured bands like the Wailers and Steve Kimock’s Crazy Engine, featuring the legendary George Porter Jr. on bass and Bernie Worrell on keys.
Then there were the Cincinnati festivals; MidPoint and CincyPunk. It was by far the best MidPoint ever, with the addition of the Lite Brite Test Film Festival at the Contemporary Arts Center, the big tent outside Grammar’s Bar and a lot more music on Fountain Square. Raving shows included sets from national touring acts like the Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, Chairlift, Micachu and the Shapes and The Do, and local favorites like the Heartless Bastards (not so local anymore but we still love them), the Lions Rampant, Buffalo Killers, The Sundresses, mallory and The Minor Leagues, among (literally) hundreds of others who, while I cannot mention them all, they are not forgotten by any means. And then the return of CincyPunk at the Southgate House. I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging because my brother created this festival, but it really has become a fun, important staple in the local music scene, bringing together the best from the area and some from beyond, for what really is without a doubt the best weekend locally of music aside from MidPoint. Mad props to him on that, and to the return this coming April for their ninth festival! Maybe one day you’ll see a festival put together by yours truly…
Then there were all the shows I caught around town, mostly at the Southgate House, but also at places like the Mad Hatter and Northside Tavern. I tried to make a list last week, but I still think I’m forgetting some shows. Some that really stick out in my head are Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with Deer Tick, Pomegranates CD Release Party, Peter, Bjorn and John with Chairlift, Sara Watkins, The Felice Brothers, Fran and Andy of Travis’ storyteller-like show, Backyard Tire Fire, mallory’s CD Release Party, and of course the late Vic Chesnutt.
But for more on the year in the local music scene, you’ll have to stay tuned. I’m putting something together featuring over 130 of the area’s bands and how the year was for them. Keep looking for that.
As for music on a national and even international level, there was just so much going on that I really don’t know where to start. Let’s start with albums released. So many great albums, so little time. Among the best of the year, you’ll have to check out the releases from bands like (and get ready for this), Fever Ray, White Lies, Antony and the Johnsons, Bon Iver, Umphrey’s McGee, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Bruce Springsteen, Muse, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Flaming Lips, M. Ward, Booker T. Jones, Morrissey, Neko Case, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Handsome Furs, Dan Deacon, The Decemberists, Girls, Peter, Bjorn and John, Doves, Bat for Lashes, Fruit Bats, Sara Watkins, Wilco, Camera Obscura, Asher Roth, Japandroids, Brendan Benson, Dan Auerbach, Conor Oberst, Akron/Family, White Rabbits, Portugal. the Man, Passion Pit, Dave Matthews Band, The Mars Volta, and Grizzly Bear, The Dirty Projectors and Phoenix, three who rank among the hottest bands of the year.
There were also all types of events, including the kind of stuff you don’t want to hear about; deaths of music legends and breakups of bands. Perhaps the biggest story you’ll hear when you look back on 2009 is the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. But so many others in the music industry left this world this year, too many to name, but I’ll just throw a few more names out there: Ron Asheton of The Stooges, Billy Powell or Lynyrd Skynyrd, John Martyn, Estelle Bennett of The Ronettes, Kelly Groucutt of ELO, Ron Stallings of Huey Lewis and the News, Jay Bennett of Wilco, Koko Taylor, DJ AM, Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, Steve Ferguson of NRBQ, Jerry Fuchs of !!!, Maserati and the Juan Maclean, Vic Chesnutt and James Sullivan of Avenged Sevenfold.
Then there were the bands who either broke up or went on a hiatus: Conor Oberst’s Mystic Valley Band disbanded, although you don’t have to worry about Conor never playing music again. The former creator behind Bright Eyes, is currently working with friends Jim James of My Morning Jacket and M. Ward in the supergroup Monsters of Folk. Actress and singer, Juliette Lewis, disbanded her band The Licks, while Live, Oxford Collapse, The Verve and the Violent Femmes all broke up in 2009. Bands who are currently taking a break include Bloc Party, Nine Inch Nails, The Fratellis, The Knife and TV on the Radio, although I’m not too bothered by the Dixie Chicks, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters and P.O.D. taking a break. 2009 also saw a return for some bands: the Beastie Boys released their first album with vocals in five years, Alice in Chains released their first studio album in fourteen years, while the Black Eyed Peas, Blink 182, Depeche Mode, Green Day, Eminem, Rancid and U2 all released their followup albums since the mid-00’s. 2009 also saw the return to the road for jamband warriors like Phish, The Dead and the String Cheese Incident.
I really don’t know what else to put in this, so I’ll just end it. I hope you enjoyed reading about the year in music from my perspective, and I hope your 2009 was as awesome as mine. Here’s to an even better 2010! Cheers!
Homecoming 2009: Heartless Bastards
December 27th, 2009
Posted in Concerts, Local Music
One of Cincinnati’s greatest music products ever, at least in my generation, the Heartless Bastards, marked their return home with a sold-out show at the Southgate House last night. Although they’ve played a few shows in town this year, the last being at the end of September at the MidPoint Music Festival, based on the crowd’s energy alone you probably would’ve assumed it was their first show in town since front woman Erika Wennerstrom made the move out West to Austin, Texas a couple years ago. It was easily one of the best shows both musically and attendance-wise that I’ve seen at the Southgate House all year long, this alongside shows like Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Peter, Bjorn and John and Sara Watkins, formerly of Nickel Creek. It was also nice for Erika and the revamped Bastards lineup to come back home for one last show of the year.
It certainly has been an amazing year for the band; music critics, blogs and magazines are eating up their latest release, The Mountain, by the spoonful. They played a show last March with The Decemberists at the South by Southwest Festival in their new hometown, did The Late Show with David Letterman, did a stint over the summer as Wilco’s opening act on their tour, and they’ve played just about every one of the country’s biggest and best outdoor music festivals; I saw them open for the legendary Booker T. Jones at this past summer’s Bonnaroo Music Festival.
I lost track of time last night, but if I had to guess, I’d say the Bastards probably played for nearly two hours. While the night seemed to belong to the songs off of The Mountain, and the focus was certainly on a new sound and new guitar player, they did give the fans songs spanning their career, from albums like All This Time and Stairs and Elevators.
But it wasn’t just a great show because of the Heartless Bastards or the crowd’s energy; thanks to the J. Dorsey Blues Revival (recent CEA winners of the Blues category) for starting the night off very strong with Dorsey’s work on the slide guitar and the band’s bluesy, garage rock sound reminiscent of the 70’s. New favorite band in town.
Celebrate Xmas at the Mad Hatter
December 23rd, 2009
Posted in Uncategorized
I’m not much of a holiday type of person, so I get super psyched when I hear about concerts happening on holiday nights, especially Christmas. This Christmas, if you feel you need to get out of the house (like I know I will), head down to the Mad Hatter in Covington for a concert with The Seedy Seeds, Lions Rampant and The Guitars. If you feel guilty about leaving your family and relatives for the night, let ‘em know that this show benefits the Women’s Crisis Center of Northern Kentucky. Not only will you feel good listening to these bands, but you’ll feel good by doing something great to help those in need. Isn’t that what Christmas is really about anyways? Earn some points from the man upstairs on his birthday as well.
Best Bands and Albums of the Decade
December 22nd, 2009
Posted in Best of the 2000's
The first decade of the 21st century has just about come to a close. While the political industry has seen things like the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Iraq War and the first election of an African-American President, the music industry has seen things like the rebirth of the outdoor music festival (thanks to a crashing fall brought on by the failed Woodstock ‘99), as well as all of the issues pertaining to illegal internet downloading and pirating of music. I like to think that’s it’s been an amazing decade of music, and was probably one of the best times for bands to be coming along. While the 60’s are remebered with The Beatles, Stones and hippies, the 70’s funk, disco and punk, the 80’s Michael Jackson and MTV, the 90’s alternative and mainstream rock, the 00’s will be remembered for Jack White, the rise of indie bands, and how the definition of “indie” changed from “independent/unsigned band” to “a certain type of sound.” Like I said, I think it’s been an amazing decade of music, and although I’m still quite young at twenty-eight, I believe this has been by far the best decade of music I have experienced. I like what a lot of blogs and magazines are doing right now with putting together their “best albums of the decade” lists, but I just don’t think I have the patience or could take the stress in trying to rate my favorites from the past ten years. So I’ve made a list below of some of my favorite bands, some of the biggest bands, and some of my favorite and most-listened to albums of the past ten years. Hope you enjoy!
Ryan Adams
Favorite Album: Demolition
Honorable Mentions: Heartbreaker; Gold; Easy Tiger; Cardinology
From what I know, no other artist has released more albums this decade than Ryan Adams. Maybe Jack White or Conor Oberst, if you were to combine all of their records from their various projects, but my “Artist of the Decade” award clearly has Adams winning in a landslide. I’ve enjoyed every Adams release, and consider many of his albums among my most cherished of all-time. Whether he’s playing loud and electric rock and roll and blues (“To Be Young”, “New York, New York”. “This Is It”) or soft and acoustic, country-folk ballads (“Oh My Sweet Carolina”, “Desire”, “I Taught Myself How to Grow Old”), I’ve enjoyed both the Jeykll and Hyde in Adams.
My Morning Jacket
Favorite Album: Evil Urges
Honorable Mentions: At Dawn; It Still Moves; Z
No other band is more loved in the history of Bonnaroo than the Jacket. Thankfully, this is where I discovered this band (after hearing about their 2004 thunderstorm performance, I knew I needed to attend the next year). I’ve been around to see their sound evolve, and much like Ryan Adams, I enjoy both the soft, acoustic stuff (“Golden”, “Sec Walkin”) and the loud rock and roll (“Mahgeetah”, “One Big Holiday”) of MMJ. I think that with every release they put out, their music just keeps getting a lot better, and that all has to do with bringing more musical styles, sounds and instruments to the table. If you haven’t yet heard of the omnichord, you’ve got to check out Jim James’ work on this weird instrument (“Smokin’ from Shootin’”, “Touch Me, I’m Going to Scream”).
Wilco
Favorite Album: Sky Blue Sky
Honorable Mentions: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot; A Ghost is Born; Kicking Television: Live in Chicago
Again, another band whose every release this decade has held a special place in my heart. I don’t want to say that I like the story of Jeff Tweedy going from drug addict to clean and sober, but the music he’s written during this phase (especially noticeable on Sky Blue Sky) are by far some of the most honest, emotionally-relatable songs I’ve ever heard, and for him to put his heart out on his sleeve like that is highly respectable and courageous.
The White Stripes/The Raconteurs/The Dead Weather
Favorite Album (all projects): Icky Thump
Honorable Mentions: White Blood Cells; Get Behind Me Satan; Broken Boy Soldiers; Horehound
Radiohead/Thom Yorke
Favorite Album: Kid A
Honorable Mention: In Rainbows
Bon Iver
Favorite Album: For Emma, Forever Ago
Honorable Mention: Blood Bank EP
Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst
Favorite Album: Cassadaga
Honorable Mentions: Lifted or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground; I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning; Digital Ash in a Digital Urn; Conor Oberst
Andrew Bird
Favorite Album: Noble Beast
Honorable Mention: Armchair Apocrypha
Band of Horses
Favorite Album: Cease to Begin
Honorable Mention: Everything All the Time
Ben Harper
Favorite Album: Live from Mars
Honorable Mention: Both Sides of the Gun
Arcade Fire
Favorite Album: Neon Bible
Honorable Mention: Funeral
The National
Favorite Album: Boxer
Honorable Mention: Alligator
Kings of Leon
Favorite Album: Only By the Night
Honorable Mention: Because of the Times
Coldplay
Favorite Album: A Rush of Blood to the Head
Honorable Mention: Parachutes
The Flaming Lips
Favorite Album: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Honorable Mention: At War with the Mystics
Dr. Dog
Favorite Album: We All Belong
Honorable Mentions: Easy Beat; Fate
The Black Keys/Dan Auerbach
Favorite Album: Keep It Hid (Dan Auerbach)
Honorable Mentions: Magic Potion (Black Keys); Attack & Release (Black Keys)
Explosions in the Sky
Favorite Album: All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Honorable Mentions: How Strange, Innocence; Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
Tom Waits
Favorite Album: Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
Honorable Mention: Alice
Daft Punk
Favorite Album: Alive 2007
Honorable Mention: Discovery
The Decemberists
Favorite Album: The Crane Wife
Honorable Mention: The Hazards of Love
The Hold Steady
Favorite Album: Boys and Girls in America
Honorable Mention: Stay Positive
Passion Pit
Favorite Album: Manners
Honorable Mention: Chunk of Change EP
Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Album: Busted Stuff
Honorable Mention: Stand Up
The Killers
Favorite Album: Hot Fuss
Modest Mouse
Favorite Album: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
The Swell Season
“Once” Soundtrack
Spoon
Favorite Album: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Honorable Mention: Gimme Fiction
Damien Rice
Favorite Album: O
Honorable Mention: 9
Okkervil River
Favorite Album: The Stage Names
Honorable Mention: The Stand Ins
Josh Ritter
Favorite Album: The Animal Years
Honorable Mention: The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Phoenix
Favorite Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
The Slip
Favorite Album: Eisenhower
Heartless Bastards
Favorite Album: The Mountain
Honorable Mention: All This Time
Over the Rhine
Favorite Album: Ohio
Honorable Mentions: Films For Radio; The Trumpet Child
Kim Taylor
Favorite Album: I Feel Like A Fading Light
Honorable Mention: So Black, So Bright
Ryan Adcock
Favorite Album: From Silence and Joy
Honorable Mention: Unfinished
Bad Veins
Favorite Album: Bad Veins
Cameron Martin Cochran
Favorite Album: The Cycle of Life and Death
Honorable Mention: Diary, A Days
N’awlins Jazz Fest Unveils Massive Lineup
December 15th, 2009
Posted in music festivals
Just like the Big Easy itself, the city’s annual Jazz Festival is smothered in history, tradition and diversity. As one of the longest running festivals around, Jazz Fest happens two weekends each Spring, bringing visitors from all around the world to experience first hand all that the city has to offer. This year’s festival has been tapped for the weekends of April 23-25 and April 29-May 2. And just like the uniqueness of the city and its people, this year’s music lineup is just as unique. While the lineup features many of the finest local musicians, like the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, not to mention hundreds of others, the festival has always brought in acts of many genres, catering to people of all ages and backgrounds. Other names topping this year’s lineup include Pearl Jam, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin, the Allman Brothers Band, Van Morrison, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, The Levon Helm Band, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, Blues Traveler, Gov’t Mule, My Morning Jacket, The Dead Weather, Band of Horses, and even actor/comedian/musician Steve Martin playing with the Steep Canyon Rangers. For the complete lineup and schedule, or tickets and travel information, head over to the festival’s website.
2009 in Cincy Music Scene
December 12th, 2009
Posted in Local Music
Attention all Cincinnati/NKY bands:
I’m currently putting together a year end review of the year in the local music scene. I know a lot of the bands in town, but I’m trying to include as many bands in this as possible in this. Basically, if you would like to be included on this list, just maybe send me some info on how the year was for you – big shows, CD releases, nationwide tours, breakups/new members, etc… And that goes for any band in the area. There are some bands who I’ve followed very closely all year (or for several years), so I do know somewhat of how the year went for you, but again, any band out there wanting to include some info that I could use here would be greatly appreciated. You’ve probably noticed that I don’t have as much time as I used to for the blog, and it sucks but I’ve got some other things going on taking up a ton of my time.
Email me at nate@brokenmic.com
Top 20 Albums and EP’s of 2009
December 10th, 2009
Posted in Best of 2009
1. Andrew Bird, Noble Beast
Why It’s My Number One:
Plain and simply, you’ve got to look at how well crafted the songs are, as well as how well they flow together through the album from beginning to end. I’ve been listening to this album all year long (and have not listened to any other 2009 release more than this) and every time I put it on I’m always hearing new sounds I have not heard before. To say that Bird is a master of instrumentation, or his ability to whistle or loop (as well as mastering this in the live setting), to say that he is a master, doesn’t even do him justice. He’s just so much more than that. I don’t quite understand what he’s trying to communicate in these songs in the lyrics, but with so many sounds going on, you just seem to lose focus on what exactly he’s singing about. By far my favorite Andrew Bird release yet…should be very hard to top, but I’ve got faith in him to do just that.
Standout Favorite Track: “Masterswarm”
2. Passion Pit, Manners
Why It’s My Number Two and Not Number One:
I could honestly say nearly all of these albums on this list deserve to be number one, but I guess I based this list on how much I listened to these albums over the course of the year. Like Bird’s Noble Beast, here’s an album that I can simply lose myself in with all of the sounds I’m hearing. I just get lost, lose focus and get taken away to another place and time. This album (and band) are one of the best at the whole “feel-good” thing. One of the very first things any Passion Pit fan will tell you is how their music maybe makes you happy, excited, dance or pumps you up. It’s impossible for me to put on this album and not feel just really amazing and have the biggest smile on my face. I don’t know…I just love how this band and their songs make me feel and it makes me want to dance and jump around all night long (although because I’m much too shy I don’t dance or jump in the way that I’m feeling inside).
Standout Favorite Track: “Moth’s Wings”
3. The Decemberists, The Hazards of Love
Favorite Track: “The Hazards of Love 2″
4. Monsters of Folk, Monsters of Folk
Favorite Track: “Magic Marker”
5. Dan Auerbach, Keep It Hid
Favorite Track: “Trouble Weighs a Ton”
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz!
Favorite Track: “Heads Will Roll”
7. Wilco, Wilco (the Album)
Favorite Track: “Bull Black Nova”
8. Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest
Favorite Track: “Two Weeks”
9. Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Favorite Track: “Lisztomania”
10. Sara Watkins, Sara Watkins
Favorite Track: “All This Time”
11. Heartless Bastards, The Mountain
Favorite Track: “Witchypoo”
12. Booker T, Potato Hole
Favorite Track: “Pound It Out”
13. The Avett Brothers, I and Love and You
Favorite Track: “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise”
14. Ben Harper & the Relentless7, White Lies for Dark Times
Favorite Track: “Fly One Time”
15. Elvis Costello, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Favorite Track: “I Felt the Chill Before the Winter Came”
16. Bon Iver, Blood Bank EP
Favorite Track: “Blood Bank”
17. Umphrey’s McGee, Mantis
Favorite Track: “1348″
18. Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion
Favorite Track: “My Girls”
19. The Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca
Favorite Track: “Stillness Is the Move”
20. Antony and the Johnsons, The Crying Light
Favorite Track: “Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground”
The Rest of My List of the Year’s Best Albums
December 10th, 2009
Posted in Best of 2009
The Felice Brothers
Yonder Is the Clock
The Fiery Furnaces
I’m Going Away
Take Me Round Again
The Flaming Lips
Embryonic
Florence and the Machine
Lungs
Franz Ferdinand
Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Fruit Bats
The Ruminant Band
Girls
Album
Gomez
A New Tide
Grizzly Bear
Veckatimest
Handsome Furs
Face Control
Harlem Shakes
Technicolor Health
Heartless Bastards
The Mountain
Hockey
Mind Chaos
The Horrors
Primary Colours
Hoots and Hellmoutha
The Holy Open Secret
Iggy Pop
Preliminaires
Imogen Heap
Ellipse
Ingrid Michaelson
Everybody
Iron and Wine
Around the Well
Islands
Vapours
Japandroids
Post-Nothing
Jarvis Cocker
Further Complications
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Jay Reatard
Watch Me Fall
Jet
Shaka Rock
The Juan MacLean
The Future Will Come
Kasabian
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
K’NAAN
Troubadour
Langhorne Slim
Be Set Free
Liam Finn
Champagne In Seashells
Loney, Dear
Dear John
M. Ward
Hold Time
Mastodon
Crack the Skye
The Mars Volta
Octahedron
Manchester Orchestra
Mean Everything to Nothing
Mat Kearney
City of Black & White
Matisyahu
Light
Matt and Kim
Grand
Metric
Fantasies
Micachu and the Shapes
Jewellery
Modest Mouse
No One’s First and You’re Next
Morrissey
Years of Refusal
The Mountain Goats
The Life Of The World To Come
Monsters of Folk
Monsters of Folk
MSTRKRFT
Fist of God
Muse
The Resistance
Mute Math
Armistice
Neil Young
Fork in the Road
Neko Case
Middle Cyclone
Noah and the Whale
The First Days of Spring
Noisettes
Wild Young Hearts
Os Mutantes
Haih Or Amortecedor
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Passion Pit
Manners
Pearl Jam
Backspacer
Pete Yorn
Back and Fourth
Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson
Break Up
Peter, Bjorn and John
Living Thing
Phish
Joy
Phoenix
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
PJ Harvey and John Parish
A Woman a Man Walked By
Portugal. the Man
The Satanic Satanist
Polvo
In Prism
The Prodigy
Invaders Must Die
The Raveonettes
In and Out of Control
Regina Spektor
Far
Riceboy Sleeps
Riceboy Sleeps
Robert Pollard
The Crawling Distance
Röyksopp
Junior
Ryan Bingham
Roadhouse Sun
Sara Watkins
Sara Watkins
Sonic Youth
The Eternal
The Sounds
Crossing the Rubicon
St. Vincent
Actor
Stars of Track and Field
A Time For Lions
Street Sweeper Social Club
Street Sweeper Social Club
Superdrag
Industry Giants
The Swell Season
Strict Joy
Tegan and Sara
Sainthood
Todd Snider
The Excitement Plan
The Tragically Hip
We Are the Same
Umphrey’s McGee
Mantis
Van Morrison
Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl
The Von Bondies
Love, Hate and Then There’s You
White Lies
To Lose My Life
White Rabbits
It’s Frightening
Why?
Eskimo Snow
Wilco
Wilco (the Album)
Will Hoge
The Wreckage
William Elliott Whitmore
Animals in the Dark
Wolfmother
Cosmic Egg
Wye Oak
The Knot
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
It’s Blitz
Yim Yames
Tribute To
Yo La Tengo
Popular Songs
Yusuf
Roadsinger (To Warm You Through The Night)
30 Greatest Bands I Saw This Decade
December 6th, 2009
Posted in Best of 2009
Before you check out my list, I’ll have you know that I still have not yet seen bands like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Morrissey, U2, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, The Flaming Lips, Daft Punk or Kraftwerk, just to name a few…well actually, several…but I’ll throw those into my New Year’s Resolution. Please feel free to share your list or other lists by emailing to nate@brokenmic.com
Top Five
1. Roger Waters
2. Phish
3. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
4. David Byrne
5. Dave Matthews Band
Twenty-Five Unranked Others
The Allman Brothers Band
Arcade Fire
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
The Black Crowes
Bob Weir and RatDog
Buddy Guy
Coldplay
David Gray
The Decemberists
Dr. John
Gov’t Mule
Kings of Leon
My Morning Jacket
Nickel Creek
Oasis
Phil Lesh and Friends
Ray LaMontagne
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
The Shins
String Cheese Incident
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Van Morrison
The White Stripes
Widespread Panic
Wilco
50 Best Bands I Saw in 2009
December 5th, 2009
Posted in Best of 2009
A.A. Bondy, Bonnaroo
Al Green, Bonnaroo
Andrew Bird, Bonnaroo
Animal Collective, Bonnaroo
Backyard Tire Fire, Sawyer Point/Southgate House/WNKU Studios
Band of Horses, Bonnaroo
Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate, Bonnaroo
Ben Harper & Relentless7, Bonnaroo
The Black Angels, Southgate House
Bon Iver, Bonnaroo
Booker T & the Drive-By Truckers, Bonnaroo
Brett Dennen, Bonnaroo
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Bonnaroo
Chairlift, Southgate House/Bonnaroo/MidPoint Music Festival
The Daredevil Christopher Wright, MidPoint Music Festival
David Byrne, Bonnaroo
Deer Tick, Southgate House
Delta Spirit, Bonnaroo
Dr. Dog, Mad Hatter
The Do, MidPoint Music Festival
The Duke & the King, Southgate House
The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, MidPoint Music Festival
ekoostik hookah, Hookahville
Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Bonnaroo
The Felice Brothers, Southgate House
Fiction Family, Bonnaroo
Fran Healy and Andy Dunlop of Travis, Southgate House
Gomez, Bonnaroo
Gov’t Mule, Bonnaroo
Handsome Furs, Southgate House
Heartless Bastards, Bonnaroo
Hockey, Bonnaroo
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Southgate House
Jonah Smith, Southgate House
Kings of Leon, PNC Pavilion
MGMT, Bonnaroo
Micachu & the Shapes, MidPoint Music Festival
Mike Farris & the Roseland Rhythm Revue, Bonnaroo
Passion Pit, Bonnaroo
Peter, Bjorn & John, Southgate House
Phish, Bonnaroo/US Bank Arena
The Raveonettes, Southgate House
Sara Watkins, Southgate House
TV on the Radio, Bonnaroo
Umphrey’s McGee, Forecastle Festival
The Wailers, Hookahville
The Walkmen, PNC Pavilion
Wilco, Bonnaroo
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bonnaroo
The Young Republic, MidPoint Music Festival
