A site dedicated to culture with a focus on popular music; from the fringes to the forefront.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Year In Review 2019 - Favorite Live Show
The live show is a slippery thing. There are lots of variables at play, most having little to do with the performance itself. Does the venue have enough bathrooms? Is it going to rain? What day of the week is it on? Did I have a shitty day at work before hand? Did tickets cost waaay too much? All of this effects one's opinion of a live show before the band even tunes up and with reason, but when the stars align, there is no place RtBE would rather be than in the moment of magic occurring spontaneously from the stage.
Live Music Has No Equal!
Taken By The Fantastic Megan Donohue
While obviously we can't see every show that is out there, we try to get out often to catch live music. Sure there are a few left in the calendar year, but for now, here is a listing of the best concerts we were fortunate enough to have caught in 2019.
There are links to show reviews in the titles, also because who doesn't love arbitrary rankings, one show at the bottom took the top prize as RtBE's 2019 Favorite Live Show. This year was excellent for live music as some killer concerts were left off this list.
For our first over seas review we got to see RtBE favorite The Hold Steady play one of the best shows we have witnessed them do during this phase of their career. The band was on this night and the sold out Electric Ballroom was bumping, clapping and jumping. A great evening, a killer memory and a joy to behold in London, we may have to go back next year....
Jazzfest as a whole is never included in this round up because it is more an experience which is amazing than an individual show. Besides we usually do the Sazerwrap to capture the experience. However, this year special attention needs to be paid to Samantha Fish who (along with her dynamite band) put together a kick ass set of tunes on the main stage. She was an unholy mix of Jack White, Bonnie Raitt, and Christina Aguilera, she kicked major ass.
A fantastic double bill with two personal favorites gracing the Brooklyn Bowl stage. While the Drive-By Truckers may have over estimated the attendance (six shows, and this one was far from a sellout) RtBE got to see them play on this night with Craig Finn on his home turf. Finn's set was stronger than his Joe's Pub show and it was cool standing next to both Patterson Hood as he watched Finn from the crowd and Finn as he watch DBT from the crowd. That was not as cool however as seeing them all on stage covering Bruce Springsteen's "Adam Raised A Cain"; the coup de grace. (No video of this show on youtube, so here are DTB doing "Everybody Needs Love" the following night)
The last week in June was a good week for tunes in Brooklyn as Screaming Females wrapped it up with a powerful set that rocked from the start. Not huge Swearin' fans but they were fine and the Females more than made up for it. The best trio playing today are New Jersey's own Screaming Females, and while there are no videos from that show here is some other live music from 2019 of the band:
C'mon...got to see the Stones this year...how can the legends NOT make the list?!?! Floor tickets, great friends, the Stones playing a super solid set list of all of their mega hits and some deeper cuts and doing a damn good job of it. Definitely a 2019 highlight.
This was a unique night and for that it makes our list as one of RtBE's favorites of 2019. Thanks to John for joining as we had a blast with some A-list neighbors for this one and enjoyed a great night from Morello as he told his story to the crowd and played some killer guitar as well.
So. Much. Fun. While we rank one show higher in this year end review, there wasn't a more fun night of music for RtBE all year. Pure blast of drunken punk rock joy and everyone sounded great. Last year the Misfits topped our list and they just as easily could have this year as well...
Another huge night of metal music at MSG as Slayer said goodbye in masterful fashion of slamming riffs and head banging goodness. RtBE favs Primus were OK, Phil Anselmo gave Pantera lovers something to slam dance with, but surprisingly Ministry stole the show. A great night of aggressive tunes.
Out of left field Thundercat was jaw-dropping on a cold night way back in February. He played a mix of jazz, funk, pop, jam rock...he basically did it all. The trio on that night keyboardist Dennis Hamm and drummer Justin Brown were locked in and grooving, I wish that Thundercat would release a live album or at least downloads from that run at The Blue Note as it was some of the most exiting music RtBE had heard in some time. Thanks to Corinne to pushing us to go as this show was obviously worth it, topping a slew of great ones in 2019.
What was your favorite show of 2019? Feel free to comment below.
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