Top Live Shows of 2008
[graphic by Ian Zuppan]
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[list by Jon Behm]
#1) Balkan Beat Box @ Cedar Cultural Center (live performance review)
This was one of the most irresistibly energetic shows that I have ever witnessed. After getting home I still wanted more so I kept listening to BBB on the stereo for hours.
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#2) Girl Talk @ First Avenue (live performance review)
Ain’t no party like a Girl talk party ’cause a Girl Talk party don’t quit! (Until the drugs wear off.)
Purchase | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#3) Atmosphere & Brother Ali @ The Fitzgerald Theater
Two of Minnesota’s best rappers just having a great time on stage together, all under the supervision of none other than Chuck D. It doesn’t get much better.
Atmosphere: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
Brother Ali: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#4) Fleet Foxes @ Cedar Cultural Center (live performance review)
Became too popular too fast and suffered the requisite “hipster backlash.” Doesn’t matter though because these guys still rule, and this show was even better than their last in Minneapolis.
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#5) Jolie Holland @ Cedar Cultural Center (live performance review)
I have never seen her play healthy before, and this year was no different. Even sick, Jolie still beats just about anyone. Yeah, I might be in love…
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
Honorable mention: Rosebuds, Megafaun & Justin Vernon @ Turf Club
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[list by Josh Keller]
#1) The Magnetic Fields @ State Theatre (live performance review)
A band that I have loved for a long time but have always seemed to miss in concert finally worked out for me, and what a night it was. The band was stripped down for an acoustic set that highlighted the amazing body of work Stephan Merritt has amassed and proved to be well worth the wait during this mesmerizing show.
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#2) Wolf Parade @ First Avenue
Wolf Parade is a band that I missed on their jaunts here behind their groundbreaking debut LP and I made the vow to myself to not miss them when they came touring behind At Mount Zoomer. Whenever you miss a band on their initial tours you always run the risk of missing out on the initial fire, but Wolf Parade played one of the most spirited shows I saw the entire year and proved Dan Boeckner as one of indie rocks biggest stars.
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#3) The Ruby Suns & Le Loup @ 7th St. Entry
Le Loup play chronically underappreciated Arcade Fire-esqe dramatic indie pop. Their show, with the great world influenced Ruby Suns, showed their powerful stage performance is only getting better with time.
The Ruby Suns: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
Le Loup: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#4) Fleet Foxes & Blitzen Trapper @ 7th St. Entry
This show was headlined by Blitzen Trapper, but most of us were also there to see Fleet Foxes, who had not released their amazing self titled debut yet (only their Sun Giant EP was out at this point). Blitzen Trapper were underwhelming, but Fleet Foxes were simply amazing and left the packed 7th St. Entry stunned with their great set that foreshadowed their quick rise to prominence.
Fleet Foxes: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
Blitzen Trapper: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#5) The Rosebuds & Megafaun @ Turf Club (live performance review)
Going into the Rosebuds show, which was the night after the Hold Steady/Drive-By Truckers and the night before Deerhunter, I thought the show would be a stopgap between the two bigger shows, but it ended up being my favorite of the three. The Rosebuds are a band I have always liked, but I did not foresee the loose, fun show that happened on a cold Sunday night at the Turf Club that brought huge smiles to every face in the crowd.
The Rosebuds: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
Megafaun: Purchase | MySpace
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[list by Erik Thompson]
#1) Elbow @ Fine Line Music Cafe
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#2) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ Overture Hall
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#3) The Kills @ Triple Rock Social Club
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#4)Spiritualized @ First Avenue
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#5) R.E.M., Modest Mouse & the National @ Xcel Energy Center
R.E.M.: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
Modest Mouse: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
The National: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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[list by guest contributor Brody McCoy]
#1) The Envy Corps, the Silent Years & White Light Riot @ Fine Line Music Cafe
Your jaw will drop when you see the Envy Corps live, and they keep getting better.
The Envy Corps: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
The Silent Years: Purchase | Official | MySpace
White Light Riot: Purchase | Official | MySpace
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#2) The Little Ones & Ra Ra Riot @ 7th St. Entry
Danced to every song from the Little Ones.
The Little Ones: Purchase | MySpace | Wikipedia
Ra Ra Riot: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#3) Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn & Mumford and Sons @ 400 Bar
The best young folk artists in the world, along with Charlie Fink and Noah and The Whale.
Laura Marling: Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
Johnny Flynn: Purchase | MySpace | Wikipedia
Mumford and Sons: Purchase | MySpace
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#4) Adele @ Theatre De La Jeune Lune
The best voice in the world, it is real and echoes through the entire show.
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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#5) Lightspeed Champion @ 7th St. Entry
Purchase | Official | MySpace | Wikipedia
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For what it’s worth: take #5 – Yeasayer @ The Entry, Black Lips @ The Entry, Cat Power @ First Ave, Black Mountain @ The Entry & Best New Bands Showcase @ First Avenue
KRS-ONE at Trocaderos was the craziest thing i’ve ever seen in my life.
Also, Ripple Effect during the RNC w/ Michael Franti, Anti-Flag, dead prez, Rage Against the Machine, I Self Divine and a bunch of other acts (including me, but still).
Damn, Erik can’t catch a break with list order. Maybe we need to do like they did with lunch order in elementary school and have do a “reverse” day and have Mr.T go first.
Jon – why no RATM?
Chris, I assume you mean the RATM show at Capitol Hill? It was a really cool experience but as far as best concerts go – Rage wasn´t really meant to be played unplugged
Yeah – that’s what I was goin on about… I guess I’m just a “moment” guy… and that seemed like a helluva moment! really wish I could have been there.
it was neat indeed, and actually probably way more memorable than if they’d actually played 2-3 songs like planned.
but that said, i wouldn’t consider it among my favorite shows of the year either. now the Target Center show on the other hand…
nice picks guys, i’m with Josh on most of his… that first Fleet Foxes Entry show was the best of the 4x i saw them this year. Cedar was fine, but the talking got a bit old after a while.