The Dandy Warhols

The Warfield - San Francisco, CA

Much much improved since the last show at Mezzanine. The new songs sounded amazing and tight live and the hits sounded even better...

Something like this:
Mohammed
We Used To Be Friends
Holding Me Up
Welcome to the Third World
I Love You
Lou Weed
The Last High
All the Money or the Simple Life
Boho
Love Song (I coulda sworn they played this early on)
Get Off
The World The People Together (come on)
Talk Radio
The New Country
And then I Dreamt of Yes
(You Come In) Burned
Now You Love Me
Minnesoter
Not If You Were the Last Junky On Earth
Godless
Wasp In the Lotus
The Legend of The Last of the Outlaw Truckers AKA the Ballad of Sherriff Shorty
Pete International Airport
Boys Better
Country Leaver

I think there were some others I'm missing like "Mission Control"?

Sigur Ros

The Greek - Berkeley, CA

Wow...It's even better when you close your eyes

Johnny Flynn / Laura Marling

Cafe Du Nord - San Francisco, CA
The brits invaded cafe du nord and it was quite a show. I didn't think Johnny Flynn could top the opening performance of Laura Marling, but he might have pulled it off. Some great folk/rock was produced by both in what ended up being a great night of music.

Josh Rouse

Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA

Interesting setlist complete with "Feeling No Pain" and several new songs (Easy Street, 1-2-3, etc). I knew it'd be another acoustic show at the Swedish where he tries out some of his new material, but a part of me was foolishly hoping for a full band experience. His voice still sounds great, and the new songs prove that he hasn't lost his songwriting touch. However, I had to walk out after hearing the opening notes of the closing song, Love Vibration.

Partial Setlist (not in order):
Quiet Town
Easy Street
1972
Hollywood Bass Player
streetlights
1-2-3
His Majesty Rides
Sweetie
Come Back
It's the Nighttime
Michigan
Sad Eyes
Love Vibration

Spoon

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

Despite the sound problems in the beginning, Spoon managed to pull off a decent show (5 out of 10). Although, Brendan put it best when he said that all of their songs sound like they can be in a commercial. The songs are good, but just leave you wanting a little more at a live rock show at the Fillmore. John Vanderslice's appearance seemed unneeded as did the two encores, however Japanese Cigarette Case was for me the highlight of the night.

My Mathematical Mind
Don’t You Evah
Rhythm and Soul
Stay Don’t Go
Anything You Want
Sister Jack
The Ghost of You Lingers
The Two Sides of M. Valentine
I Turn My Camera On
Who Backs Your Money
Small Stakes
I Summon You
Trouble
Don’t Make Me a Target
Eddie’s Ragga
You Got Yr Cherry Bomb
The Underdog
Black Like Me
Jackie Wilson Said
My Japanese Cigarette Case
The Way We Get By
New Song
Car Radio
Rocks Off

Menomena

The Independent - San Francisco, CA

Sweet sweet saxomophone
I was a little disappointed to find out the proper pronunciation of the band. Meh Nah Meh Nah, Oh well, still a good show...

My Morning Jacket

The Greek - Berkeley, CA
Amazing + Epic + Weirdos

Before


During




After


Setlist:
Evil Urges
Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt.1
Off The Record
Aluminum Park
The Way That He Sings
I'm Amazed
What A Wonderful Man
Sec Walkin
War Begun
Dancefloors
Thank You Too!
Mahgeetah
Golden
Librarian
Phone Went West
Gideon
Dondante
Smoking From Shootin
Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt.2
Run Thru

Encore:
Wordless Chorus
Highly Suspicious
Cobra
Rollin Back
Lay Low
Anytime
One Big Holiday

Digable Planets

DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA

Egyptian Lover & Ryan P

The Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA

Beck

The Independent - San Francisco, CA

Dan the Automator opened up with some classic rap to get the crowd ready for the best set of music I've ever seen Beck perform. Full on rock show with an amazing band:

Devil's Haircut
Nausea
Profanity Prayers
Girl
Minus
Nicotine and Gravy
Mixed Bizness
Gamma Ray
Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat
Soul of a Man
Think I'm in Love
Replica
Modern Guilt
Youthless
Hell Yes
Black Tambourine
Walls
Orphans
Volcano
Chem Trails
Loser
Where Its At
E-Pro

Ice Cube

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

No Posters! But, Ice Cube is back and meaner than ever.
Raw Footage is easily one of the best rap albums of the year and his performance at the Fillmore only made that case even stronger...OH MY GOD HERE HE COMES...

Outside Lands Day 3

Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, CA
Mother Hips
Bon Iver
Andrew Bird
Broken Social Scene

Pacific Theme
Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl
KC Accidental
Pressure Kids
Churches Under The Stairs
Love Is New
Fire Eyed Boy
7/4 Shoreline
Ibi Dreams Of Pavement

Wilco

Remember The Mountain Bed
Company In My Back
You Are My Face
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
Hummingbird
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
Handshake Drugs
Jesus, Etc.
Impossible Germany
Via Chicago
California Stars
Hate It Here
Walken
I'm The Man Who Loves You

Ryan Adams

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

Epic
(easily the best concert I've ever seen at the Fillmore and in the top 5 of all time. Once the recording surfaces I'll be sure to post a link)

Running Time - 2 hours 57 Minutes

Set 1 (1:33)
------------
Magnolia Mountain->
Bartering Lines->
Goodnite Rose
Let It Ride
New Song "Fix It"
Everybody Knows
Wonderwall
Why Do They Leave
Peaceful Valley-->
Beautiful Sorta
New Song "Go Easy"
Off Broadway
Cold Roses
Shakedown On 9th Street
I See Monsters

Set 2 (1:08)
------------
Rescue Blues
Dear John
Mockingbird
New Song "Like Yesterday"
Elizabeth
Pearls On A String
A Kiss Before I Go
Games
When The Stars Go Blue
Please Do Not Let Me Go
New Song "Ever-green"
Two
Easy Plateau

Encore (16 min)
---------------
Sweet Lil Gal
(Improv Song, because people wouldn't shut up)
Nightbirds
New Song "Cobwebs"

Outside Lands Day 2

Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, CA

Devendra Banhart (excellent)
Steve Winwood (amazing)
Ben Harper (boring)
Primus (meh)
(sorry Tom, Ryan is calling)

Radiohead & Beck

Outside Lands Festival - San Francisco, CA

Not really sure where to begin, but I do know that I'd never hire Meyer Sound to outfit my gig

1. 15 Step
2. Reckoner
3. Airbag
4. There There
5. All I Need
6. Nude
7. Talk Show Host
8. National Anthem
9. The Gloaming
10. Videotape
11. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
12. Idioteque
13. Karma Police
14. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
15. Just
16. Exit Music (for a film)
17. Bodysnatchers

Encore:
18. Pyramid Song
19. You And Whose Army?
20. Paranoid Android
21. Fake Plastic Trees
22. Everything In Its Right Place

Melvin Seals & JGB

Jerry Garcia Amphitheater - San Francisco, CA

Unfortunately we got there too late for what was I'm sure another amazing set by Workingman's Ed. However, we did manage to just catch Stu Allen and Sandy Rothman playing a nice batch of acoustic tunes starting with Deep Ellum Blues. Stu was back yet again for the headlining act: himself, Melvin Seals and JGB which was quite the spectacle...

Jarmon (solo)

Cafe International - San Francisco, CA

Bloc Party

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

Pretty sweet show even with superfan geeking out in front of me


The Prayer
Hunting For Witches
Waiting For The 7.18
Banquet
Song For Clay
This Modern Love
Uniform
The Once And Future King
Mercury
So Here We Are
Like Eating Glass

Encore 1:
Blue Light
Positive Tension
Flux
Helicopter

Encore 2:
She's Hearing Voices

Encore 3:
Price Of Gasoline

Innaway / 30 Watt Kid / Chief Nowhere

12 Galaxies - San Francisco, CA

Quite an interesting and intimate Sunday night complete with fog machine!

Wolf Parade

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

wow

dear sons and daughters of hungry ghosts
soldier's grin
call it a ritual
the grey estates
you are a runner and i am my father's son
language city
animal in a cage
shine a light
bang a drum
grounds for divorce
fine young cannibals
california dreamer
this heart's on fire
kissing the beehive

it's a curse
i'll believe in anything
fancy claps

Workingman's Ed

Ursa Minor - San Rafael, CA

Bertha
Greatest Story Ever Told
They Love Each Other
Masterpiece
Sugaree
All New Minglewood Blues
Row Jimmy
Dancin' In The Streets
Shining Star
Fire On The Mountain
My Sisters And Brothers
Deal
Good Lovin'
Brokedown Palace
Johnny B. Goode
Ramble On Rose
We Bid You Goodnight

Islands

Bimbo's 365 Club - San Francisco, CA

"Art Rock", heh heh

The National/Modest Mouse/REM

The Greek Theater - Berkeley, CA
The National started out the night with a decent yet short set (just about 30 minutes). They were followed by Modest Mouse who definitely were the highlight of the night (despite what the rest of the boring crowd thought). They definitely toned down their set for the older crowd, but still managed a rocking Spitting Venom to close out their 60 minute portion of the night. After seeing REM in the 90s and a few years ago, I really can say that I don't need to see them again. I appreciate that they are still trying to rock with their new album, but the songs were boring live. They of course threw in a few classics, but the abundance of new songs was just too much too handle so we bowed out early...

Charlie Murphy

Cobb's Comedy Club - San Francisco, CA

AKA Homicide
"My son even called me Eddie Murphy's brother. Once"

French Kicks

The Independent - San Francisco, CA

Good times...

The Kills

Slim's - San Francisco, CA

Guest review pending approval...

Cloud Cult

Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA

What Happened to Dan Greenwood!?

Tapes n Tapes / White Denim

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA


ROCK!

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

I couldn't have said it any better:
"Epic" - Brian J.

Goldfrapp

The Warfield, San Francisco, CA

Maybe it was a coincidence, but 9pm - 10:10 is a pretty weak showing. Especially for only playing 3 shows in the U.S...

Black Francis & Der Golem

Castro Theater - San Francisco, CA



Despite the will-call ticket fiasco and almost being shut out of the show, seeing Frank Black / Black Francis perform his original soundtrack to a "classic" movie was definitely a treat. Who knew that us Jews used to practice black magic and wear silly pointy wizard hats!?