A time of travel and transitions, a year when I flew to Cabo San Lucas more than most people ever will in their lifetimes, a period where I started my second decade at North Central MI College. And there was music music music:
Editors [Majestic Theater, Detroit 1.26] -- Sure, they sound like the incestuous child of Interpol and Coldplay, but they brought the arena-ready rawk like the Euro troopers they are.
Justice / Diplo [Royal Oak Music Theater 3.19] -- Showed up late and missed Diplo (who starts a show on time?), but Justice wielded the thunder...even though they didn't show me anything I didn't see at Coachella the year before.
Coachella Music & Arts Festival [Empire Polo Field, Indio, CA 4.25/4.26/4.27] -- Kinda sad that I had to look up the artists before I commented, but it's less about the acts as it is the whole immersion into another hotter & dustier world, albeit one with a great soundtrack. Hard to beat seeing Kraftwerk into Portishead in the dark expanse of the main stage, and the little stages had some delightful diversions (Holy Fuck, St. Vincent, SebastiAn, Metric, Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, The National, etc.) that were memorable, even if I didn't immediately remember them.
M83 [Empty Bottle, Chicago 5.29] -- A great trip to Chicago to see my friend Brian peaked with a great set by M83 in a small club, and although I wanted theater power, it was nice to be able to hear afterwards.
George Michael [Air Canada Centre, Toronto 7.17] -- The first part of a crazy-ass trip that saw me travel from Michigan to Canada to Michigan to Chicago, via plane and car and whirlwind. I mean, who flies to Toronto and stays for less than 24 hours, just to see that guy who made the "I Want Your Sex" video in the '80s? This guy, I guess. And he was pretty damn good, too, especially for an older pop star with some stingy neck fat.
Pitchfork Music Festival [Union Park, Chicago 7.18/7.19/7.20] -- I managed to get to Chicago for the Friday night highlight (Public Enemy playing It Takes A Nation... start to finish) and stayed for the weekend jams from !!!, Jarvis Cocker, Spoon, Animal Collective, Jay Reatard, Fleet Foxes, Spiritualized, and other P4K-approved bands. Fun, if a bit tiring.
My Bloody Valentine [Aragon Ballroom, Chicago 9.27] -- Loud as shit and twice as awesome.
Of Montreal / Love Is All [Roseland Ballroom, NYC 10.10] -- Not too often you get to see Kevin Barnes come on stage on the back of a real live white horse. This was the point in Of Montreal's career where skills met challenges, a sweet spot that has drifted out of focus in their most recent work. But that night in NYC, it was a sweet spot indeed.
Against Me! / Ted Leo [Webster Hall, NYC 10.11] -- Ted Leo rocked, and Against Me! (the real reason I went) played a compact balls-out set. Still wonder why AM! hasn't gotten huge because of that tour and that album.
Electric Six / Local H [Small Planet, East Lansing 10.17] -- A so-so show from both artists, played in a venue that looked to be half bowling alley, half bar, and half date rape prelude. Memorable for the crazy young couple who took me under their wing and made me sit at their table, where I spent more time talking to odd dudes than watching the band.
The Decemberists [Wharton Center, East Lansing 11.12] -- Every now and again, a band that absolutely kicks ass live is allowed a turd in their history. This was that steaming pile of poo, the outlier in my live Decemberists experiences, the gig that was a punch of the clock and a walk through the motions. Some good moments, but largely weary and wan.
The Sisters Of Mercy [Royal Oak Music Theater 11.15] -- Ugh. You know a show is going to suck when tickets that I paid for months in advance were sitting in piles for free on the counter of the late lamented Record Time. And the show? Bad sound, poor staging, and songs that were either unreleased or reworked beyond recognition. Seeing the sweaty overweight goth couple making out in front of me didn't help, either.
Editors [Majestic Theater, Detroit 1.26] -- Sure, they sound like the incestuous child of Interpol and Coldplay, but they brought the arena-ready rawk like the Euro troopers they are.
Justice / Diplo [Royal Oak Music Theater 3.19] -- Showed up late and missed Diplo (who starts a show on time?), but Justice wielded the thunder...even though they didn't show me anything I didn't see at Coachella the year before.
Coachella Music & Arts Festival [Empire Polo Field, Indio, CA 4.25/4.26/4.27] -- Kinda sad that I had to look up the artists before I commented, but it's less about the acts as it is the whole immersion into another hotter & dustier world, albeit one with a great soundtrack. Hard to beat seeing Kraftwerk into Portishead in the dark expanse of the main stage, and the little stages had some delightful diversions (Holy Fuck, St. Vincent, SebastiAn, Metric, Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, The National, etc.) that were memorable, even if I didn't immediately remember them.
M83 [Empty Bottle, Chicago 5.29] -- A great trip to Chicago to see my friend Brian peaked with a great set by M83 in a small club, and although I wanted theater power, it was nice to be able to hear afterwards.
George Michael [Air Canada Centre, Toronto 7.17] -- The first part of a crazy-ass trip that saw me travel from Michigan to Canada to Michigan to Chicago, via plane and car and whirlwind. I mean, who flies to Toronto and stays for less than 24 hours, just to see that guy who made the "I Want Your Sex" video in the '80s? This guy, I guess. And he was pretty damn good, too, especially for an older pop star with some stingy neck fat.
Pitchfork Music Festival [Union Park, Chicago 7.18/7.19/7.20] -- I managed to get to Chicago for the Friday night highlight (Public Enemy playing It Takes A Nation... start to finish) and stayed for the weekend jams from !!!, Jarvis Cocker, Spoon, Animal Collective, Jay Reatard, Fleet Foxes, Spiritualized, and other P4K-approved bands. Fun, if a bit tiring.
My Bloody Valentine [Aragon Ballroom, Chicago 9.27] -- Loud as shit and twice as awesome.
Of Montreal / Love Is All [Roseland Ballroom, NYC 10.10] -- Not too often you get to see Kevin Barnes come on stage on the back of a real live white horse. This was the point in Of Montreal's career where skills met challenges, a sweet spot that has drifted out of focus in their most recent work. But that night in NYC, it was a sweet spot indeed.
Against Me! / Ted Leo [Webster Hall, NYC 10.11] -- Ted Leo rocked, and Against Me! (the real reason I went) played a compact balls-out set. Still wonder why AM! hasn't gotten huge because of that tour and that album.
Electric Six / Local H [Small Planet, East Lansing 10.17] -- A so-so show from both artists, played in a venue that looked to be half bowling alley, half bar, and half date rape prelude. Memorable for the crazy young couple who took me under their wing and made me sit at their table, where I spent more time talking to odd dudes than watching the band.
The Decemberists [Wharton Center, East Lansing 11.12] -- Every now and again, a band that absolutely kicks ass live is allowed a turd in their history. This was that steaming pile of poo, the outlier in my live Decemberists experiences, the gig that was a punch of the clock and a walk through the motions. Some good moments, but largely weary and wan.
The Sisters Of Mercy [Royal Oak Music Theater 11.15] -- Ugh. You know a show is going to suck when tickets that I paid for months in advance were sitting in piles for free on the counter of the late lamented Record Time. And the show? Bad sound, poor staging, and songs that were either unreleased or reworked beyond recognition. Seeing the sweaty overweight goth couple making out in front of me didn't help, either.
So at this point, it was high time for 2009, which was quite the year for concerts, in quantity as well as quality. Couldn't turn the page soon enough. :-)
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