I am bad at keeping tabs on myself. I don't set exact goals that can be measured in pounds, body fat index, dollars, hours, kilometers, or anything else that uses a form of the mathematical sciences. I realize that some people need to have concrete laws written in stone but that isn't for me. Too much structure creates limitations which inhibits true realization of the experience. If I wasn't willing to go with the flow I would never have seen sooooo many of my top live music events, ones which I have usually decided to attend at the last moment, on a whim. Those kinds of decisions have rewarded me in past years with such epic events as seeing Radiohead in Vancouver, witnessing the beauty of a world class electronic festival set in the clouds of the tree tops in the mountains for Shambhala, watching the sun set behind NIN in the picturesque gorge of the Sasquatch Festival. This year this resulted in my seeing Blackalicious play for a few hundred hippies nestled in the mountains of BC at Starbelly as well as to see the beautiful city of Seattle host sooooo many good acts at Bumbershoot. So it should come as no surprise that I am not entirely sure how many different acts I have seen this year, but a good guesstimate would have it upwards of a hundred shows. And from these comes this list :
My Best/Worst Live Shows of 2010
First with the Best (in no particular order each still brings as equal a smile to my face)
Jamie Lidell - Republik, Calgary, AB
The Bumbershoot music festival held a litany of amazing acts. It is a prime example of why my sagittarius mind takes such pleasure at a music festival. With 15 different stages and umpteen different bands to choose from within a short walking distance from each other I can literally run from stage to stage to see soooo many great acts! I was introduced to some great ones at that, one of whom and that I had never previously heard of was Jamie Lidell. His soulful, rootsy blend of electro, synth, beat boxing, jazzy, gospel and funk tunes is right up my alley. So when I got the chance to see him play a show in Calgary I jumped at it. And none who showed that night were to be disappointed. He had the audience enthralled, involving them in singing, joining them in the crowd, singing and dancing the whole time. Throw in an extremely talented band who were equally as friendly as he was and it definitely made for one of the best shows I was witness to in 2010.
Jamie Lidell beatboxing at the Crocodile after his Bumbershoot Show (unfortunately, we didn't make this set) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_C_Yfe2iWU
with Feist, Gonzalez, and Mocky performing his song Multiply :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ60XbwhESg&feature=&p=8C04165F9D6AB59D&index=0&playnext=1
Weezer - Bumbershoot, Seattle, WA
Sometimes the most enjoyable shows are the ones you least expect. I have never been much of a My Chemical Romance fan but after seeing them live a number of years ago I have a new found respect for them. Weezer falls into this category. I have never followed them nor cared much for them but after seeing the best stadium show I have EVER seen I am now starting to listen to them a lot more! I don't know what their shows were like before the bus crash in December of 2009, but now that lead singer Rivers Cuomo's hand is injured and he can't play nearly as much guitar he is an excitable little monkey on that stage. He bounded all over it, climbed on virtually everything even ending up in the side stadium seating after climbing a portapotty, in order to climb a flatbed, and up the side of the stadium, singing the whole time. At one point the lightmen lost track of him. He could be heard singing but no one in the stadium had any idea where he was. The lights were streaming the audience frantically searching for him until he finally turned up on the opposite side, in amongst the fans. The electricity in the stadium was contagious and it was all a side affect of the ball of energy of Cuomo. The band was solid, the audience interaction was superb (the band kicked giant beach balls to the audience which went around the floor and the sides of the stadium), and the experience was 1st rate.
Cuomo singing Beverly Hills from atop the portapotties:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQjZegLBVoc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg25KlE24bo&feature=related
Weezer covers Kids and Pokerface (Cuomo was bouncing on that trampoline a lot during this show)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsJBNMzRO40&feature=related
Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers - Rose and Crown, Banff, AB
Speaking of unexpected! One summer night I went to see my friends in the Black Phoenix Orchestra play a show at the Palamino. I knew it would be a good show. These boys always put on a fun live performance. But I was to fall in love this night with an act I had previously never heard of. Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers are an extremely talented cabaret like act that hail from my hometown of Winnipeg. So talented are they that they performed their rock opera Where the Wild Things Are to rave reviews at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, even winning the prestigious Best of Fringe. Their live show does not disappoint. The band plays as one harmonious instrument, led by the haunting vocals of towering lead singer Jesse Krause (who on such tunes as "Nurse" can use his loud baritone voice to command a room). There was not time at this show for the band to play anything from their rock opera so when they mentioned they would be playing a couple of days later at the Rose and Crown in Banff, I immediately set about making plans to attend. Again, I would be enthralled! In their second act the boys would don their monster costume heads in order to play the entirety of the children's tale to the delight of anyone who was fortunate enough to be present that night. They are currently working on their new album slated to be released in the spring of 2011 and from what I hear a supporting tour will follow. I can not wait to see what musical genius these boys have dreamt up!
like daiko drummers the monsters perform in unison for "drumpus":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtvRYaCGZhA&feature=related
their facebook and myspace pages :
http://www.facebook.com/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers
http://www.myspace.com/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers
Arcade Fire - Stampede Corral, Calgary, AB
I have long heard that Arcade Fire are one of THE best bands to see live. So when I got my chance this past fall I jumped at the chance to see for myself. With various members of the band rotating the instruments they would play and the absolute electric energy of the arena these artists had the ENTIRE audience jumping and singing and dancing to their heart's content. It was a chilly night but covered in sweat every one of us who left that Stampede Corral that evening would be warm with the bliss of having just witnessed a truly joyful event.
With so many members playing at once it would be so easy to fall out of rhythm with each other. Arcade Fire show how its done on No Cars Go, Rebellion (Lies), We Used to Wait, and the Suburbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS6Te9mHa3M&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOzHG63qCEE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9JhkMYH2o8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Q7rYXL3is&feature=related
Calgary Folk Fest Collaboration Stages - Calgary, AB
The source of sooooo many one in a lifetime experiences. Where else will you get Cat Empire from Australia, Coolooloosh (Israel), and Etran Finatwa (Niger) all on one stage? Other amazing collections at this year's fest included : Honeybear, Library Voices, Stars, with the special guest appearance of Michael Franti; Jordan Klassen, Po Girl, Timbre Timbre, and Ohbijo; Baskery, Cat Empire, and Haydamaky; Natacha Atlas, Coolooloosh, and DJ Logic; DJ Logic, Etran Finatawa, Man Man, and St Vincent to name my faves.
Forgot to mention him but Dan Mangan was also great :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ1a__t8wEM
St Vincent w/ Sun Parlour Players and Timbre Timbre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsh7_1qCEeY&feature=related
Library Voices perform "Step Off the Map & Float" during the "A Simple Clan" workshop with a little help from Honeybear and Stars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ulhYz3rR4&feature=related
and the rest
Nix Dicksons, Electric Monk, and Black Phoenix Orchestra - (Lethbridge and Calgary, AB) - each band in their own right is a blast to see live but when these acts play together it is a smorgasbord of like-minded musicians jamming and having a great time that is as infectious to themselves as those in attendance
The Whigs - (Bumbershoot) - huge sound, great guitars. their sound thoroughly impressed such that i bought their album, which was a little disappointing with the overproduction. lost some of that rawness
Meat Puppets - (Bumbershoot) - holy track marks batman! these guys rocked it, after Curt Kirkwood said it was good to be in Seattle his brother scratched out "it's good to be anywhere, man" fitting
Solomone Burke - (Bumbershoot) - After he was a last minute cancellation at the Winnipeg Folk Fest a few years back I had been anxious to see one of the founding fathers of soul/funk live. I am glad I had my chance before he died a few weeks later.
Atlas Sound - (Bumbershoot) - the leadsinger/guitarist of deerhoof's solo project, lots of looping and fun...a sleeper pick that paid off
The Raveonnettes - (Bumbershoot) - damn can Sune Rose Wagner shred it on guitar, great seeing them perform kitschy Boys Who Rape Should All Be Destroyed live.
Japandroids - (Bumbershoot) - Canadian duo who also create a whole wall of sound with layers of guitar and drums
Blackalicious - (Starbelly) - Though they were visibly pissed at the ineptitude of the sound guy and played to a smaller host than I am sure many of their events have garnered it was awesome to be sooooo close to the Gift of Gab
Baronness - (Bumbershoot) - Can you say heavy metal gods?!
Stars - (Calgary FF) - Could easily have headlined but had everyone on their feet
Anvil - (Bumbershoot) - Canadian heavy metal gods
Bocephus King - (Starbelly) - Can play one hell of a great slide guitar
Chad VanGaalen - (Starbelly) - Calgary based awesome guitarist/songwriter
Michael Franti and Spearhead - (Calgary FF) - Great grooves, insightful lyrics, too bad more people don't pay heed to these words of wisdom
Cat Empire - (Calgary FF) - Always a great, danceable show
Man Man - (Calgary FF) - A cherry popping experience for me, these guys pulled out a LOT from their tickle trunk of tricks, literally including a dancing monkey playing cymbals
JD Edwards Band - (Palamino, Calgary) - boys from Winnipeg who have added even more to their sound and headed by the Finley Quaye-like crooning of frontman JD.
The Worst
Edward Sharpe and the Magnificent Zeroes - Bumbershoot - sometimes so many ppl on a stage can just lead to disjointed noise
Natacha Atlas - Calgary Folk Fest - her band was awesome but they could not hide the spoiled princess attitude of this self believed diva
Hole - Bumbershoot - Hole Sucks. Courtney has no talent. She also no longer has the talents of Melissa Auf De Maur and Eric Erlandson to perform other people's songs with. If only there was a hole she could fall into...
Helladope - Bumbershoot - Hella boring. Contrived. Systematic. "i'm so cooool cuz i am in a helladope hip hop outfit"
Lisa Dank - Bumbershoot - they call it grassroots, diy electronica. I saw it as a painful experience to both my auditory and visual sensations
AC Slater - Nelson, BC - after seeing him with an amazing sound system at Shambhalla the year before and being completely blown away I expected more of the same. But for some reason there was NO BASS! That is like a football team playing without a football. WTF?
Myths - Sled Island Festival - opened for a great lineup of Woodhands, CEX, WhoMadeWho, and, !!! but looked like they should practice in their basement for a LOT longer!
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