Sunset Rubdown

Logan Square Auditorium - Chicago, IL

Epic show. At times they had 3 drummers, two keyboards, and one guitar. Other times, two guitars, one drummer, two keyboards. At one point, six or seven artists were on stage for Nightingale/December Song and the roof almost ripped apart. Needless to say, the songs off Dragonslayer were even better live than I could have imagined. Full setlist to come, but here's what I remembered fondly (not in order):

the empty threats of little lord
Black Swan
idiot heart
Silver Moons
Apollo And The Buffalo And Anna Anna Anaa Oh!
Us Ones in Between
Nightengale/December Song
Up on Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days
The Mending of the Gown
Paper Lace
The Taming of the Hands That Came Back to Life
You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)
Dragons Lair
Winged/Wicked Things:

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks

Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
They never disappoint. The crowd was a little obnoxious, but fortunately they didn't really effect the rock. Man they sounded good.

Highlights:
4 or 5 great new songs
Hopscotch Willie
It Kills
Cold Son
Elmo Delmo
Baby C'mon
Dragonfly Pie
Real Emotional Trash
(Not the best sound on my recording, but you get the idea):

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Pritzker Pavilion - Chicago, IL

Dirty projectors + the Sea and Cake

Pritzker Pavilion - Chicago, IL

Viva Voce & Handsome Furs

Do Division Festival - Chicago, IL

While both sets were short (Viva's at 45 minutes and Furs at about 35 minutes) they both gave their all. VV played a good mix of new and old and impressed the crowd with some tight tunes and sweet solos. The Handsome Furs seemed to draw an even bigger crowd and played some solid tunes as well from the first and second records. The duo are very into each other, so much that it seemed they might just do it right there on stage...

Doves

The Vic - Chicago, IL

This show has been a long time coming. Surprisingly I wasn't the only one waiting, as the Vic was sold out and completely packed (mostly with dudes). Even more surprising was the crowd was really into it and it seemed I wasn't the only one who was impressed with the sound. It was ok on the floor (we were in the back), but once we went to the balcony we got to experience the full sound of the entire band. Unfortunately there were a few moments when I couldn't actually see where the vocals/instruments were coming from (making me think they were using some background tracks off and on). But no matter, the overall sound was awesome as I was afraid they wouldn't be able to reproduce that studio album sound live. They succeeded, I just hope they don't wait another 4 years before their next tour and album. The tracks off the new album sounded even better live, especially "10:03" and "the Outsiders". Even "Winter Hill" (which is slowly growing on me) sounded much improved in the live setting.

Setlist:
Jetstream
Snowden
Winter Hill
Rise
Pounding
Almost Forgot Myself
10:03
Words
Denier
Kingdom of Rust
Ambition
Black & White Town
The Outsiders
Caught By the River

Encore:
Firesuite
Here it Comes
The Last Broadcast
There Goes the Fear

The Silent Years

Subterranean - Chicago,IL

I really like this band, especially for never hearing their music before until last week. They mix a bunch of different styles, so it's hard to describe their sound. The lead singer (Josh) has a great voice which he made clear on several songs, extremely impressive. I highly recommend taking a listen to their songs on myspace or itunes and checking them out should they be in your town...

French Kicks

Schuba's Tavern - Chicago, IL

VERY mellow show. I liked Schuba's a lot, but the venue couldn't save the French Kicks from being flat out boring. I really like them on album, but I just can't go to any more of their shows if they insist on leaving all the high energy songs for the encore. If you guys need some help with your setlist, please let me know...

Viva Voce

The Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA

Last show in SF :/
The new 4 piece setup was different, but a welcome change. Their sound is fuller and definitely louder. Looking forward to the new album this summer...

Night sweat

Stephen Malkmus

Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA


"Historical" - B. Jarmon

Setlist:

Harness Your Hopes
Us
Blue Arrangements (Silver Jews)
Starlings Of The Slipstream
Pink India
Spit On A Stranger
Fin
Range Life
Real Emotional Trash
Loretta's Scars
We Have Laid Here Before
You Won't Forget Our Colors
Freeze The Saints
Shoot The Singer
Zurich Is Stained
Heaven Is A Truck
Vanessa From Queens
Here
Encore:
Love Train (O'Jays)
Emotional Rescue (Rolling Stones)
Summer Babe

Modest Mouse

The Fox Theater - Oakland, CA

I heard many mixed reviews after this show, however I'm going to stick to what I know to be true, Modest Mouse rocks. There were hardly any missteps throughout the almost 90 minute set, except for the sound. Sure the Fox Theater is suddenly one of the nicest places to see live music in the bay area, however the sound has a way to go before it can become the premiere venue they are hoping for. Highlights of the night for me were Spitting Venom and Parting of the Sensory...

Setlist:
3rd Planet
Black Cadillacs
Doin' The Cockroach
Dashboard
Wild Packs Of Family Dogs
King Rat
The View
Rains On Me [Tom Waits]
Baby Blue Sedan
Satellite Skin
Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
Spitting Venom
Paper Thin Walls
The Good Times Are Killing Me
Education
Parting Of The Sensory
Encore:
Interstate 8
All Night Diner
Alone Down There

Slipstream Sparrows + Bruises of Unknown Origin + The Southern Oracle

Hotel Utah - San Francisco, CA

Solid lineup of great music. Good times

NMAS

The Independent - San Francisco, CA

The North Mississippi Allstars never disappoint. Luther Dickinson is easily one of the best guitar players around. At times they are very reminiscent of the Allman Brothers (especially during the jams and solos), but that's definitely not a bad thing...

Top Shows of 2008*

1) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - The Fillmore
2) My Morning Jacket - The Greek
3) The Black Crowes - The Fillmore
4) Radiohead - Outside Lands Festival
5) Beck - The Independent
6) Wolf Parade - The Fillmore
7) Deerhunter - Great American Music Hall
8) Mudcrutch - The Fillmore
9) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Zellerbach Auditorium
10) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Marin Veterans Auditorium
11) Broken Social Scene/Wilco - Outside Lands
12) The Dandy Warhols - The Warfield
13) Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - The Fillmore
14) Workingman's Ed - Ursa Minor
15) Sigur Ros - The Greek
16) Ice Cube - The Fillmore
17) Kings of Leon - The Warfield
18) Mercury Rev - The Independent
19) Modest Mouse - The Greek
20) Frank Black & Der Golem - Castro Theater

(* SF Bay Area)

Top Albums of 2008

1) Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

2) Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.

3) My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

4) The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

5) Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash

6) Beck - Modern Guilt

7) TV on the Radio - Dear Science

8) Bun B - II Trill

9) Ice Cube - Raw Footage

10) Kings of Leon - Only By The Night


Honorable Mention:

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology

The Black Keys - Attack & Release

Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch

The Black Crowes - Warpaint

Three 6 Mafia - Last 2 Walk

Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins

The Dandy Warhols - ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols

Last Show of 2008

Welcome Luther Dickinson, to the Black Crowes. The north mississippi all star adds another dimension to their already soulful sound. At times I felt like I was at an Allman Bros show, just hit after hit of southern syrup. I was floored by the most rockin version of Girl from North Country I've ever heard (and the only). Easily in the top 5 best shows of 2008...

The Black Crowes

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA

Cursed Diamond
Horsehead
Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution
Hotel Illness
Comin' Home
Under A Mountain
Jam -> Bring On, Bring On
Girl From A Pawnshop
Girl From The North Country (dylan)
Good Friday
Title Song
Bewildered
Soul Singin
Hard To Handle -> Jam
Wounded Bird

encore:
God's Got It (w/ Bush drum)
Can't You Hear Me Knocking (stones)

Mercury Rev

The Independent - San Francisco, CA

The only people I know who would've appreciated this show as much as me are Brian, Shawn and Jeff. An epic night of oldies and a few new ones...

CSS

Bimbos 365 Club - San Francisco, CA

Cardinals

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

Oracle Arena - Oakland, CA

Cobwebs
Crossed Out Name
Everybody Knows
Fix It
When the Stars Go Blue
Let It Ride
Go Easy
Come Pick Me Up
Two
Sink Ships
I Taught Myself How to Grow Old
Magick


Oh yeah, Oasis played too. A decent version of Wonderwall but couldn't really compare to Ryan's version. The 30 minute encore included Champagne Supernova and finished with I am the Walrus

M83

The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
No posters once again
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Deerhunter

Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA

Oh man that was good. Light years better than the 12 Galaxies show. The sound was loud and dense and the new songs from Microcastle were even better live than I imagined. Lots of zoning out took place and I couldn't stop smiling from the sounds that were coming out of their instruments. So many sounds. Times New Viking (hailing from my hometown Columbus) were surprisingly great as well. Finally an opener that makes sense. That little tease of a second encore was a mean trick though...

Setlist went something like this (but not exactly):
Intro
Cryptograms
White Ink
Lake Somerset
Little Kids
Like New
Nothing Ever Happened
Vox Celeste
Cover me
Agoraphobia
Hazel St
Dr Glass
Octet
Saved By Old Times
Never Stops
Calvary Scars II
Microcastle

It's times like these

TV on the Radio

The Warfield - San Francisco, CA

Short but sweet:

Young Liars
The Wrong Way
Golden Age
Wolf Like Me
Dirtywhirl
Stork and Owl
Shout Me Out
Red Dress
DLZ
Satellite
Crying
A Method
Let the Devil In
Staring at the Sun

Method Man & Redman

The Grand Ballroom - San Francisco, CA

Besides the first half lip sync act, not a bad show overall. Thankfully the actual rapping came once Streetlife came on stage. Meth and Red picked it up and really started working the crowd (including several stage dives).

Slipstream Sparrows

Gravity - San Francisco, CA

Farewell Greg

KOL

The Warfield, San Francisco, CA

I guess some things get better with age. Although I missed the older tunes, they still brought some rock to the Warfield. Some of the new tunes are a lot more mainstream than Trani, etc, however they still sounded pretty tight. It's hard to compare back to back sold out nights at the Exit-In, to back to back sold out nights at the Warfield, so I won't...

Sex on Fire
My Party
Razz
Molly’s Chambers
Taper Jean Girl
King of the Rodeo
Fans
Revelry
Milk
Four Kicks
The Bucket
Use Somebody
On Call
Closer
Cold Desert
Charmer
Slow Night, So Long
Knocked Up
Manhattan
Crawl

Slipstream Sparrows

Hotel Utah - San Francisco, CA
Date Nite was a fun and catchy opener. Even though their set was short and sweet, the crowd seemed to be into it. The highlight for me was their cover of "I want a new drug" by Huey Lewis. It sounded completely different and really good. The Sparrows followed with a completely different set of full on rock. The jams were tighter and the songs a little longer than the last show that I caught. The future is looking good for this promising band...

Setlist:
LA Alright
Reverb
Massachusetts
Wounded Knee
Even Cowboys
London
Uptown
Restless Melodies
New Romances


Wounded Knee - Slipstream Sparrows from Briian Jarmon on Vimeo.

Amantes

Prawn tacos

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"?