A Fine Showing

Top ten shows of 2009:

10) Gogol Bordello @ 4th and B (San Diego, CA) - 10/17/09

You can take the kid out of New York, but you can't take New York out of the kid. The first (and only) concert I've ever seen on the West Coast was Gogol Bordello -- a band of immigrants from the the Lower East Side. Go figure. I heard great things about Gogol Bordello's live show, and they totally lived up to the hype. They've branded themselves as "gypsy punks", but this term doesn't even do them justice. You couldn't put a finger on the kind of music they play if you tried -- an nice attribute to the band's collective diversity.

9) Sufjan Stevens @ Music Hall of Willamsburg - 10/7/09

Sujfan Stevens is perhaps the most meticulous man in indie rock. I witnessed this firsthand this fall during his MHOW/Bowery Ballroom stint. Whether it's confessional solo piano / banjo ballads or all-out opuses, Mr. Stevens is one of the few artists who is not afraid to stop mid-song if all is not right. At one point, Sufjan had 16 musicians playing different instruments on the cramped Music Hall of Williamsburg stage -- each playing his or her part in creating the masterful sounds of 2005's masterpiece, Illinois.

8) Sonic Youth @ Music Hall of Willamsburg - 11/2/09

Same venue as #9, much different show. Sonic Youth has always been one of those Bucket List groups -- the kind of band you must witness before you die or they dissolve. I got my wish last month at the Hall, where they played a blistering set of songs from The Eternal (with some other gems tossed in). The band appears to be living up to its name -- the songs have matured; the band remains, well, youthful.

7) Jay-Z @ Madison Square Garden 9/11/09

Dubbed a 9/11 benefit show, this was really a party at the Garden to celebrate Jay-Z's highly anticipated return to form. Although he was listed officially as the only man on the bill, every song he played more or less featured a special guest. Backed by a full band, surprise artists popped in an out throughout the night to contribute. You never knew who was going to come out next -- kind of like the Royal Rumble. We got appearances from Kanye West (2 days before meltdown), Beyonce, Kid Cudi, Rihanna, John Mayer, Santigold, Puff Daddy (I refuse to refer to him by anything else), and Mary J. Blige among others.

6) The Hold Steady @ Bowery Ballroom 6/8/09

Arguably my favorite current band playing at arguably the best venue in New York City. It doesn't get much better than this. The last time I saw The Hold Steady, they shared a billing with Art Brut at Terrminal 5 and the sound simply sucked. The second time around was infinitely better, as the band brought along with it a kind helping of Stay Positive songs. I have never seen a performer seem to enjoy what he does for a living more than Craig Finn. All smiles, all the time.

5) Phoenix/Passion Pit @ Hammerstein Ballroom - 12/2/09

Seeing one breakout band is a special thing. Seeing the two breakout bands of 2009 perform at the same show is epic. Who says you need guitars to rock out? This was a holiday dance fest at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The synthesizers were in full force on an evening that featured all that is exciting about rock music these days. Understandably, this show sold out in like 10 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if either of these bands play a much larger stage the next go around.

4) Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Angel Orensanz Synagogue - 11/6/09

Last year I saw TV On The Radio at a masonic temple in Brooklyn. This year I saw the Yeah Yeah Yeahs play at a synagogue on the Lower East Side. There's something about playing at ironic locations that just adds to the element of seeing a hipster-friendly bands play live. I knew about this show literally the afternoon of the performance. Thanks to one of my favorite co-workers (thank you, Bianca), I was able to get in WITH special access to an open bar throughout the evening. Although the YYY's only played for an hour, I heard the best of the first three albums. Karen O. reigns superior as the sexiest woman in rock.

3) The Pixies @ Hammerstein Ballroom - 11/23/09

Branded the "Doolittle Tour," The Pixies reunited for the first time in five years to play a string of shows to "celebrate" the 20th anniversary of their alt-rock masterpiece. By "celebrate," I mean cash in, of course. After warming up with some b-sides that even Kim Deal was admittedly challenged by, the sold out crowd was treated to the familiar opening chords of "Debaser". The next 14 songs were expected sequencing bliss. I heard "La La Love You" and I la la loved it. The encore included "Where Is My Mind?". My answer: anywhere, just officially blown.

2) U2/Muse @ Giants Stadium - 9/24/09

You know a show is BIG when a band that sells out arenas is OPENING for the headliner. I was admittedly as excited to lose my Muse virginity as I was for U2, and would have been just as happy if the night ended when the "openers" left the stage. The production of this show left me in awe. 50% of the credit goes to the stage designers and 50% goes to the talent itself. U2 played a strategic mix of the old and the new, rendering the 85,000+ in attendance speechless -- suggesting that just maybe Bono can save the world some day after all.

1) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band @ Giants Stadium - 10/8/09

No openers needed for the Boss. U2 might have taken the top spot, had it not been for some Springsteen circumstances:

1) The show was in New Jersey
2) The show was the 2nd to last show at Giants Stadium
3) Born To Run was played in sequence, in its entirety

I don't think anything else needs to be said.

A Sort of Homecoming

I was just one of the 190,000 ants that packed Giants Stadium this week for the U2 pilgrimage. Although admittedly not a fanatic for this band (and certainly not one of those dudes who holds up my country's flag), I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to see what will more than likely go down as my generation's defining band. Given U2's penchant for conveniently titling songs situationally, I am going to breakdown my experience as such:

"Beautiful Day"

When I learned of these shows earlier in the year, I was ambivalent. Would I go if I somehow acquired a ticket? Yes. Would I care if I didn't? Not really. I missed out on ticket frenzy when they went on sale months ago, and really didn't think or care much of it. I read great things about Wednesday night's performance, so I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the slight bit envious of those lucky enough to go. At about 3 PM, I got the call. One of my clients got his hands on an extra ticket and decided that I of all people would be the lucky winner. Floor seats standing room! I couldn't pass this up. I got the go ahead to leave work early, and I was on my way. The sun was shining, the skies were clear, and the temperature was a perfect 72. The iPod has been officially set to shuffle through U2's catalog. Game on!

"Mysterious Ways"

I heard awful things about the transportation options for those city-dwellers who had to make their way to the Meadowlands for the shows. Luckily I was prepared, as the first night's disasters provided invaluable insight to us 2nd nighters. There were numerous horror stories about people having to wait for trains up to 2-3 hours because of of NJ Transit's unpreparedness for the sheer volume of commuters. I decided I was going to bus it from the Port Authority. I've done this for NFL games and Springsteen shows, and this has proved to be a pretty painless option in the past. Just one problem. NJ Transit decided to call an audible here by temporarily suspending service for these shows! I wish I knew this before I got there.

"Running To Stand Still"

I was told by a Port Authority worker that I had to catch the A train to Penn Station, then commute to Secaucus, and THEN transfer to a shuttle train to the Meadlowlands. YIKES. Had I known how cumbersome this would get, I might have turned down the ticket offer. Too many train transfers. I live in New York. I walk a lot. That's it, I am RUNNING to Penn Station.

"I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight"

This is frustrating. People in NYC still haven't learned how to walk correctly. I beeline it 9 blocks to Penn Station, give oblivious passersby usual dirty looks, and finally get to the station. Shit. Lines wrapped around the station to buy tickets to Secaucus. A sea of people in U2 t-shirts. Figures. I decide to avoid this process and jump on the next train ticketless. I figure there's no way they will have enough time to check everyone's ticket by the time the train makes it across the state for the first stop. I guess correctly. Ten minutes later, I am in the Garden State. We're making some progress here.

"One Step Closer"

Apparently I DO need a train ticket for the next transfer, however. I am pleased to learn that my quick thinking worked. The line to buy train tickets for the next transfer is nonexistent. This was the way to do it! My momma didn't raise no fool. I figure my brilliance saved me 30-45 minutes. I buy my ticket, walk through the turnstile, and rush to the platform for the Meadowlands shuttle. I am the smartest man in the world!

"The Sweetest Thing"

The shuttle takes about 15 minutes and drops us throngs of U2'ers right at the Giants Stadium gate. At this point, I don't know if I am more excited about the show, or the fact that I was able to get there in under an hour. Commuting disaster?! Please! My client left me a voice message to meet him in Lot 10B. As an added bonus, this is just a short walk from where I'm dropped off (right by the Izod overpass Giants Stadium-side, FYI). I spot my client, who is tailgating with his other early-50-something friends.

"The Hands That Built America"

Old people are crazy. Especially old people from Long Island. Nevertheless, these guys are the salt of the earth. Couldn't have been more accommodating. They urge me to grab beers from the cooler as they each one-up each other telling sex jokes and reasons why they love/hate their wives. I am half their age, but they have twice as much energy and excitement than me. I am either excited to terrified to one day become like them.

"Walk On"

Three beers in and about an hour later, we decide to make our way into the venue. Two of the four tailgaters have no desire to see the opener Muse, but convince them that they'd be missing out. Looks like I am the deciding vote. We walk our way from the endless parking lot into Giants Stadium.

"Even Better Than The Real Thing"

One of my biggest pet peeves is missing even one second from the set ofa band I REALLY want to see. I've have been dying to see Muse forever, and just because they happen to be the opening band on this evening, doesn't make this an exception. We are late for Muse, and I am a little bummed. By the time we hit the porto-potties, grab a an additional beer, and strategically claim our stake on the floor, the band is midway through "Knights of Cydonia" -- my favorite Muse song. I still get to witness the buildup of this epic tune, and am in awe of Matt Bellamy's guitar-shredding abilities. This band has been huge in Europe for years. I have a feeling they are going to get their just due in the coming months. I predict a headlining MSG show/amphitheater tour. Muse will be to 2010 what Kings of Leon were to this year.

"Electrical Storm"

Muse continues to melt my face! The band blazes through their most popular tunes. They wisely use their allotted hour to showcase the best of what they've got. They split their set between their past three albums (including most recent offering The Resistance). In 30 short minutes, I hear stadium-shaking renditions of "Supermassive Black Hole," "Starlight," "Hysteria," "Uprising," and the Queen-y "United States of Eurasia". If the night ended after Muse, I would walk away a happy camper. But oh wait, we have a little known band by the name of U2 on the way. Shucks.

"Magnificent"

Words cannot begin to even describe this tour's set design. Some people think it looks like a massive spider; others have called it a phallic spaceship. The first description that comes to mind is DECADENT. A view from the floor only accentuates this. Supposedly it takes 120+ semis to transport this bad boy as well as multiple days to set up/take down. I'm very curious as to see how the world's largest band is going to work this set/room. I am just with my client at this point. His other buddies were lucky enough to snag seats in one of the illustrious "RED Zones" -- elite standing room spots where they DON'T pen you in like cattle. No complaints though -- my vantage point is epic. I predict I am standing EXACTLY on the 50 yard line, where just days ago I witnessed the Jets take down the Pats. This is cool.

"Elevation"

You can feel the magic in the air as the hour approaches. The lights dim as David Bowie's "Space Oddity" appropriately blasts across the PA (I guess this means it's a spaceship, after all). The massive retractable 360-degree screen becomes a virtual countdown clock that brings the band out at "zero". The crowd is rabid. Larry Mullen Jr., then Adam Clayton, then The Edge, then finally Bono himself greet the 85,000 musical worshipers who have convened on this swamp. As this is a tour in support of their lackluster newest album, No Line On The Horizon, we know that we are in store for a smattering a songs that will go the wayside once we get some even new material from U2. The guys questionably open the set with a pair of these such tunes: "Breathe" and first single "Get On Your Boots". Although I'd prefer a stronger liftoff, this band could have very well played the worst song from their 30-year catalog and they would still get the reception they did. Nevertheless, they segue into "Mysterious Ways" and all is seemingly well on this planet at this given moment. To add to the momentum, they launch into "Beautiful Day" to the delight of the already euphoric sea of adoring fans.

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"

It's always a hassle to cram yourself into the perfect nook at a packed show. My client is more aggressive than I am, so there's nothing I can do but follow. To my delight, his gain is my gain, as (thanks to his efforts) we've been enjoying the show an indescribable angle. It's moments like this that I wished I owned a digital camera. However, all that beer drinking comes at a greater cost than the $8 you shell out to buy one. If I don't hit the urinals by the end of the next song, I am pretty sure I am going to piss myself. Fortunately, the song is "No Line On The Horizon" so this is perfect timing. I tell my client I will be right back. Famous last words. As I trek to the endzone and out the tunnel to the line of porto-potties, I realize that there going to a fat chance I will find him again. As I come out relieved and feeling like a new man, I get a true perspective of big this show really is. I try to estimate where I was standing pre-bathroom break, as I shimmy my way through the masses. No luck. I search and search and search, but cannot for the life of me find my concert buddy.

"Moment of Surrender"

I spend the next couple of songs - "Magnificent" and "Elevation" trying to find my dude. I was kind enough to be invited -- I will make a stand and leave no man behind! Not really. I resign fairly quickly and decide this just isn't happening. I must go solo the rest of the night. I experience one of those real-life soundtrack moments, as Bono and crew launch into the Joshua Tree oeuvre. I start laughing as I hear the intro to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". Absolute perfect timing.

"Rattle and Hum"

We reach the middle of the set, and I appears that everything is up for grabs song-selection wise. The band already played a handful off their most recent effort, so it was time to get to business. After ripping another new one, "Unknown Caller," the 80k+ was treated to the obscure Achtung Baby! track "Until The End of the World" before rattling off Zooropa's "Stay". Like most people, I forgot about this album's existence. Whatever, I'll take it.

"The Unforgettable Fire"

Now we're rolling! What would come next would prove to be one the more out-of-body concert experiences I've ever had. Given the ambiance, the size of the crowd, my location, and string of hits to follow, I am instantly converted into whatever cult Bono has been pushing for years. Save Africa? Sounds good to me! Bono can do no wrong. Some girl standing aside of me starts freaking out during the intro chords to "The Unforgettable Fire" (ok, me too). Quite possibly U2's least-known greatest hit, this could very well be the best song from the 80's. I'm stoked. It get's better! Old meets the new. Bono appears to be reading my mind, as the next song to follow is a song that should have been bigger than it was -- "City of Blinding Lights". I think of New York City and that episode of Entourage. No Neal Sussman dedication this time around. Bummer! I've learned that things comes in threes. So is the case tonight. We are assaulted with "Vertigo" and all I can think of is those iPod commercials circa 2004. This song still rocks.

"Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of"

Back to new material. For some reason the band decides to deconstruct New Line On The Horizon's only excellent song, "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Crazy Tonight". Or as I call it, "I Will Piss Myself If I Don't Hit The Urinals Again In Five Minutes". I am in no mood for a remix. I take this as a sign, experience a little deja vu, and make a run for it. No bathroom lines thankfully, and I make it back to my spot before the end of this butchered song.

"11 O'Clock Tick Tock"

I notice the hour is getting kind of late, and the band has yet to play a lot of anticipated material. No problem. They get right to it. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" coming right up! They even throw a cute "Rock The Casbah" outro to the end of this one, and proceed to blitz me with yet another Unforgettable Fire track, "MLK". Couldn't ask for anything more. I can sense this is the time Bono decides to get political on us. He dedicates the next song, "Walk On," to Aung San Suu Kyi -- the famed Burmese Nobel-laureate currently under house arrest. A host of people make their way to the stage holding Kyi masks over their faces throughout the duration of the song. Very inspiring/touching. I can't think of a better song to follow-up than "One," and Bono agrees. The lovefest continues and everyone in attendance appears to be having a moment together.

"Rejoice"

It's the moment everyone's been anticipating! The Edge begins his signature trancing guitar intro to "Where The Streets Have No Name". Adam Clayton's thumping bass welcomes in Larry Mullen's thunderous pounding. Bono wants to run. Bono wants to hide. Bono wants to tear down the walls that hold him inside. We all want to go with him.

"Is That All?"

Yes, for the regular set at least. It is just wrong to follow up another song after "Where The Streets Have No Name". This one was written to be the set-ender of all set-enders.

"Pride (In The Name of Love)"

The encore starts strong with another classic off Achtung -- "Ultraviolet". Bono appears to be singing into a bright, shiny steering-wheel mic suspended from the top of the set. Why the hell not? You know this night is not ending without "With or Without You". As expected, they go headlong into their signature love song. All of the 30,000 couples embrace, and halfway through I make my exit. I will have to explain this all to my client the next day.

"I Will Follow"

I wasn't the only one who had the bright idea about splitting just before the last song. People shuffled their way out as I did, but I managed to beat the rush. The police penned us in like farm animals until the first shuttle arrived. I was able to sneak my way onto the first train, and five minutes later I was on my way. As we receded from the swamp, I stared reflectively out the window gazing at the record-breaking crowd making their way out of that massive stadium. Taking in all I had just experienced, I could only think but one thing: "What, no 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me'?"

Just kidding. Concert of a lifetime.

The List (Part 7)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.
For 60-51 (Part 5), click HERE.
For 50-41 (Part 6), click HERE.

40) Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (2006)
There aren't very many modern bands that can carry on the progressive rock torch as well as Muse. And much like forebears Rush, this band is a trio that packs a wall of sound punch in each tune. These guys had been building steady momentum since their first release, Showbiz, in 1999. But they really hit it big with their most recent effort, Black Holes & Revelations, which came out just over two years ago. Spawning a string of hits, which included the expansive "Supermassive Black Hole," the face-melting "Knights of Cydonia," and the radio-friendly Radiohead-sounding "Starlight," this record refused to leave my radar. I'm willing to bet Guitar Hero had a little say in this, but who cares -- this is great stuff. Muse recently released their first live album, called H.A.A.R.P., which is simply epic.


39) Portishead - Third (2008)
Finally! A new Portishead album! Calling this trip-hop group's first release in over a decade "highly-anticipated" is like calling Kanye West "confident". And although diehards themselves doubted this record would ever see the light of day, Third was finally released earlier this year to much fanfare. Was it worth the hype? Absolutely! Third marked the trio's return to the mainstream -- debuting at number 7 on the Billboard charts. This record departed slightly from Portishead's signature trip-hop sound, and instead focused on darker elements often associated with industrial music. The good news is that when it rains, it pours. The band has already completed their promotional touring for Third to begin writing new material for their fourth.


38) Ryan Adams - Gold (2001)
What do Stephen King and I both have in common? Aside from kinda sharing names (my middle name is Stephen), we have an unhealthy obsession with Ryan Adams' music. And sure, when you slice and dice it, Gold is a pop record. But truth be told, it is one of the most well-written albums of the decade. There's a reason "When The Stars Go Blue" has been covered by everyone from The Coors to Tim McGraw. I remember when this album came out, I was a freshman in college and 9/11 just happened. Ryan had filmed the video for the album's first single "New York, New York" on September 7th. The morbid part is that the video featured the singer lip-syncing along the East River with a Twin Towers-adorned skyline behind him. People mistook this irony as a means for exploiting the tragedy for all it was worth. It may have just worked for him. Gold is Adams' best-selling album to date.


37) The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (2005)
The follow-up to their brilliant debut, Separation Sunday is another concept album by The Hold Steady that loosely follows the story arcs of characters "Holly" and "Charlemagne," as introduced on Almost Killed Me. Musically, this one is a little more refined than their first -- exploring complex classic guitar riffs, delving deeper into Franz Nicolay's ivory-tickling abilities, and staying away from the punky verse-chorus-verse formula often implemented on AKM. Separation Sunday is also lyrically more sophisticated -- taking advantage of Craig Finn's witty wordplay while simultaneously squeezing in Springsteen-like storytelling that only gets better on more recent Hold Steady releases.


36) Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
Despite being packaged as an Outkast record, this one is actually comprised of a solo album by each of the group's members. Good thing for Big Boi, because Andre 3000's "Hey Ya" is what really hits this one out of the park. This tune may very well be the number one played song during my college era, but it's one of the rare pop gems that is definitely deserving of its success. As for the rest of the content on the album(s) -- surprise, surprise -- it's Andre 3000 all the way. And although Big Boi's contributions are surely nothing to sneeze at, it's Andre's willingness to step out of the duo's comfort zone that pays off big time. Whereas Speakerboxxx is straight-up Southern hip-hop, The Love Below is unclassifiable -- exploring the depths of hip-hop, funk, rock, and everything in between.


35) M.I.A. - Arular (2005)
Talk about talent! This colorful British-by-way-of-Sri Lanka songstress is also an acclaimed producer, songwriter, and visual artist. And while we are on the subject of unclassifiable music, Ms. Arulpragasam takes it to a whole new level. Mixing in dance and hip-hop elements with punk and dancehall, Arular is perhaps the most original of the decade. The record, which was supposed to be released in 2004, was pushed back nearly six months simply because it was having authorization issues for its heavy sample use. When it finally did come out, M.I.A. turned the music world on its head. She recently played her final concert of the year at Bonnaroo to begin working on a new album, which is schedule for a 2009 release.


34) The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (2002)
I remember when this band burst onto the scene 13 years ago with "She Don't Use Jelly". The Flaming Lips had been around for 12 years before they struck it gold with this hooky song about preserves, tangerines, magazines, and well, masturbation. A song this kooky would surely cast these guys off into the depths one-hit wonder exile, right? Wrong! Turns out they were just getting started. Four years after "Jelly," the Lips released the epic The Soft Bulletin, and then three years after that, they came out with the now classic concept album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. A psychedelic electro-rock masterpiece whose songs follow the trials and tribulations of protagonist Yoshimi, this one's arrangements are on the same level as a Dark Side of The Moon. So much so that it has been confirmed that this album will be made into a Broadway musical! Move over ABBA.


33) Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (2005)
Taking a page out of the Guns 'n Roses handbook, Bright Eyes released two albums on the same day in January of 2005 -- I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn. While the latter is largely dismissible, the former is where Conor Oberst and gang really shine. Featuring collaborations along the likes of Jim James and Emmylou Harris, I'm Wide Awake is a folk album for the ages. And although the content of this one isn't exactly sunshine and butterflies (the album begins with a spoken word prologue about a plane crash), the record contains some of the most confessional and heartfelt songs of Oberst's illustrious catalog.


32) Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said by a million people? If the songs on In Rainbows had been garbage, then maybe Radiohead's "pay what you want" stunt wouldn't still be talk of the town in the music world (just an FYI, I gave the guys $5 of my hard-earned cash for this bad boy). In reality, this album is as good as it has ever gotten for Radiohead. Whether it's the whip-fast electro-beat of album opener "15 Step" or the hypnotically bass-heavy "All I Need," this album contains the perfect blend of what was great about rock-laden "Bends-era" Radiohead and experimental "Kid A-era" Radiohead. It's not too raw, and certainly not too contrived. And here's the best part -- after Radiohead basically offered the album for free, it hit number one on the charts (with over 100,000 units sold in the first week) when it was physically released on CD/Vinyl.


31) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever To Tell (2003)
Make no mistake about it; the physical aspect of a Yeah Yeah Yeahs show is as important as the music. So much so, that singer Karen O is arguably the most engaging frontwoman since Debbie Harry. But it's not all smoke and mirrors here. If you dissect the brash exterior of each one of the tunes on Fever To Tell, you'll discover some pretty crafty songwriting. "Maps" is one of the most sincere love songs of our time. The only downside to this record is that it ends as soon as it begins. Containing a batch of songs that fall under the three minute mark, this one's got all the underpinnings of a classic punk record. The trio got a little soft on us with their follow-up, Show Your Bones, which is a definitely an acquired taste for traditional YYY fans.