10. Clean Air Clear Stars Festival (Pioneertown, CA)
Talk about the perfect locale for a lineup like this. The night I went included Restaurant, Swoon 23, The Black Angels, and an acoustic set from BRMC that was announced only 3 days prior. Imagine Thunder Mountain at Disneyland, but with biker gangs and psychedelics. Needless to say, the music and vibe were fantastic. This is the scene that Anton Newcombe built, congregated in the desert to raise money and awareness about global warming and prove that American rock and roll is far from dead.
9. The Dandy Warhols @ The Wiltern
(photo by bronwynlewis @ flickr)
This was an exciting show for me, because it was my first time ever seeing The Dandy Warhols! So while I didn’t have anything to compare it to, I was damn impressed. Courtney Taylor-Taylor-Taylor-Taylor’s onstage banter was hilarious, the setlist was near perfect and the openers (The Upsidedown and A Place to Bury Strangers) set the stage early on for a great night.
8. The Hives @ The Wiltern
Is it even possible not to like The Hives? Howlin’ Pelle can whip even the fuddiest of fuddy-duddies into a dancing, screaming, hair-shaking mess with a flick of his wrist. Dare I say he is the best frontman of our time? I dare.
7. Mando Diao @ The Troubadour
Sticking with the Swedish theme, Mando Diao played their yearly show at the Troubadour on the night before the election–perfect timing, I’d say. I was feeling more than a little nervous about a possible John McCain presidency, but for an hour and a half Mando Diao took my mind off it all with their feverish garage pop and unsettlingly good looks (sorry, had to say it.) I’ve loved watching Mando Diao evolve over the last four years, and although I at first wasn’t convinced by their newest album, it all changed when I saw the songs live. I definitely never expected to see them with a horn section and singing about cowboys, but it worked.
6. MGMT @ Henry Fonda
I know, I know. Another blogger singing the praises of MGMT. But in my opinion, it’s completely deserved and I’m not usually one to jump on bandwagons of over-hyped bands. MGMT create a little world of their own and take you along for the ride, but at the same time Andrew VanWyngarden seems to take the whole thing in stride with a cheeky little smirk. It’s trippy, psychedelic, colorful and 100% danceable. And one can not overlook the sheer musical skill of Andrew, Ben, and their band; this is talent that will shine even after the hype has died down.
5. Dead Meadow @ The Troubadour
I throw the term “mind-blowing” around quite often, but Dead Meadow are the very definition of. No matter how stoned or not-stoned you are while listening to and watching them, everything seems hazy and other-worldly. It’s like your brain turns off, but not in the way it does when you’re watching The Hills. The music is just so powerful and loud that it takes you over. But this is no hippy dippy Deadhead stoner music. This is HEAVY. It all takes place in front of a fortress of Orange amps designed to destroy your eardrums, in a good way.
4. Supergrass @ The Avalon
Supergrass. Another band impossible not to love. If I had to sum up this show in one word, it’d be a really simple, 1st-grade one: FUN! Yes, just pure giddy jump up and down and dance badly FUN. I always enjoy watching a band that seems really happy to be onstage, and Supergrass fits that bill. They played a nice assortment of old favorites, and new ones from Diamond Hoo Ha and kept the crowd engaged from start to finish. After all, it’d been awhile since their last show in Los Angeles and they were welcomed back with open arms and huge grins by fans both young and old.
3. Cut Copy & The Presets @ LA Weekly Detour Festival
(photo by ivankay @ flickr)
Ironically, my number 3 concert of 2008 was almost not attended. Why? Because I didn’t have a ticket and I just didn’t feel like it. MISTAKE! Luckily, I was able to attend for free due to some very very kind people with Modular Records and I ended up having one of the best nights ever! I was never sold on big festivals, but I saw the light. Sometimes you NEED a ton of people to experience a band at their very best. Cut Copy played first and filled the crowd with a bouncy sort of euphoria, then The Presets came on and continued to work the crowd into a frenetic mass of dancers.
2. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Club Dada (Dallas TX)
Have you ever been to Dallas in the dead of summer? DON’T. EVER. It’s horrible. Unless, of course, BRMC are playing a special acoustic show in a venue smaller than some Starbuckses. What made this night incredibly special was that there ended up being TWO shows–due to the incompetence of Club Dada and the generosity of BRMC, we ended up getting about three hours of their brilliant music. I saw this band a LOT this year. Everywhere from San Diego to San Francisco to Long Beach to Pioneertown to Texas. So what made me choose this night over all the others? It was a coming together of sorts of fans from all corners of the country, some from overseas. You could feel the comradery between fans and band that is rare these days. After awhile, even the 110 degree heat and 110% humidity didn’t even bother you. They completely rise above the bullshit and keep rock and roll pure. I know, a lofty statement. But I speak the truth.
1. Oasis @ Staples Center
Yep, no surprises here. Oasis take another number one spot. I’ll start by saying that this was not the best I’ve ever seen them, but the fact that it’s Oasis makes it better than everything else. What an incredible setlist. Rock n’ Roll Star. The Masterplan. Slide Away! To Be Where There’s Life (my favorite off the new album). As much as some may want them to, Oasis aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Dig Out Your Soul sounds incredible live. Nothing compares…
