The B List: 10 Favorite Concerts of ’08…So Far

9. Clapton and Winwood – Madison Square Garden – February 26

[Photo by Todd Plitt of the USA Today]

I wasn’t exactly sure how this pseudo-Blind Faith reunion would turn out after being underwhelmed by listening to Clapton and Winwood’s set from Highclere in 2007. Hell, I didn’t even buy any tickets to these shows when they went on sale. But on the night of the first show at MSG I got a call from a friend who told me “I had to go.” Well, I’d like to thank Steve Kwartin for setting me straight.

Clapton and Winwood each sounded fan-fucking-tastic from the moment they took the stage, and treated the crowd to a set filled with solo favorites, Cream tunes, Traffic jams and the Blind Faith songs we never thought we’d get to see them sing together. Words can’t describe the euphoric feeling that I experienced watching Eric and Steve nail Can’t Find My Way Home together 40 years after they wrote that tune.

8. The Jammys – WaMu Theater at MSG – May 7

[Photo by Jason DeCrow/AP]

I went into my first Jammys experience expecting nothing but some unique sit-ins. What I got was a well-paced concert featuring some tear-jerking and facemelting moments. Nearly two months later I’m still wishing Russo/Potter/Haynes/Will Lee and Booker T. would tour after being blown away by their performance at the beginning of the show. Other highlights included seeing Trey return to the stage to rip up Everybody’s Got Something To Hide, Except For Me and My Monkey and Doug E. Fresh add some flow to Galactic’s set.

7. Paul Simon: American Tune – Brooklyn Academy of Music – April 26

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After seeing god at the Under African Skies segment of Paul Simon’s BAM residency I sold my soul for tickets to the American Tune installment. While seeing The Roches didn’t quite compare to seeing David Byrne, there were still some amazing moments at this show. Amos Lee dazzled with a version of Homeward Bound that was so good that the organizers of the event gave him extra time to work the song into his brief set. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings showed off their immense talents and Josh Groban made me appreciate what my mom sees in his music.

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Paul himself stole the show on this night delivering tight versions of all the songs I grew up with. Plus, I finally got to see Steve Gadd play my favorite drum lick in the world.

6. The Lee Boys w/ Marco Benevento – Sullivan Hall – June 10

[Photo by Dino Perrucci]

There are some shows you go to where you just never know what’s gonna happen next, and that’s the exact feeling I got when I saw the Lee Boys earlier this month. First off, the Lee Boys bring the sacred steel sound to the next level. These guys just absolutely tore the place to shreds propelled by Marco’s exuberant organ playing. I would’ve loved this show without any special guests, but the addition of Warren Haynes and Eric Krasno in the second set made this a magical evening for everyone lucky enough to attend.

5. My Morning Jacket – Radio City Music Hall – June 20

[Photo by CSchwa17]

On Friday night at Radio City Music Hall the Louisville-based band showed that they could still rock the fuck out of an audience without relying on any gimmicks. My Morning Jacket pulled off a nicely-paced 160 minute set chock full of the finest songs in their catalog, and I loved nearly every minute of it.

4. Umphrey’s McGee – Langerado – March 7

[Photo by JBau]

The fact that Umphrey’s McGee got to play at all on the night of March 7 was a miracle. The boys were told an hour before they went on that a huge storm was headed directly at Big Cypress. Instead of packing it up, Umphrey’s took the stage for an impromptu soundcheck so that their fans could at least hear some music before the rain started. Just before midnight the festival organizers told the band that the storm had stalled and they had until 1am to perform. These circumstances created a weird vibe that UM capitalized on. The band played every song as if it would be their last, leaving them visibly exhausted when they walked off the stage at 4am. It turns out the storm missed the area, allowing Umphrey’s to deliver an incredibly potent set of new songs and heavy hitters.

3. The Raconteurs – Terminal 5 – May 31

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Even though Terminal 5 must’ve been built by the most sadistic motherfucker in the world, I just can’t deny that The Raconteurs tore the roof off the place back in May. During a set that combined the best songs from both of their albums Jack White, Brendan Benson and the boys made it seem like they had been playing with each other for 20 years. They were that tight and focused. Now I’d like to see them at a real venue.

2. Jimmy Vivino’s Birthday Party – B.B. Kings – January 10

[Photo by Adam Kaufman]

Some of the concerts on this list are from powerhouse performances from one artists, while others are more of a gang bang. Jimmy Vivino’s birthday party at B.B. King’s was the gang bang of the year. Pretty much everyone that ever played with Jimmy Vivino came out to help celebrate his birthday, as well as promoter Bill Graham’s birthday. The list of performers still blows my mind: Levon Helm, John Sebastian, the Fab Faux, Warren Haynes, Paul Shaffer, Little Sammy Davis Jr., Willie Nile and Buster Fucking Poindexter. Check out my original review for much more on that once-in-a-lifetime evening.

1. Paul Simon: Under African Skies – BAM – April 11

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While I do my best not to go into a show with any expectations, how can you not get excited about seeing Paul Simon perform songs from Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints with an all star cast led by David Byrne and Ladysmith Black Mambazo? Yet the show completely lived up to the hype. Watching Paul and LBM sing Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes and David Byrne fucking own I Know What I Know were among the most blissful moments of music I’ve ever experienced. It made me feel bad that I only paid $50 to see this show. I felt so bad I gave the venue more money. You’re looking at a paid supporter of the Brooklyn Academy of Music!

Here’s numbers 11 – 20:

11. Pearl Jam – Madison Square Garden – June 25
12. Vampire Weekend – SummerStage – June 14
13. The Felice Brothers – Mercury Lounge – February 1
14. Tom Petty / Steve Winwood – Madison Square Garden – June 17
15. Ben Folds – Langerado – March 8
16. Crowded House – Irving Plaza – April 29
17. Umphrey’s McGee – Brown University – April 12
18. Steely Dan – Beacon Theater – June 14
19. The Heavy Pets – Tap Bar – February 23
20. Ryan Montbleau Band / Zach Deputy – Sullivan Hall – February 14

Now that you’ve all laughed at my list, what’s on yours?

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20 Responses

  1. My favorite show so far this year was definitely Sigur Ros last week. Absolutely unreal show. One of the best I’ve ever seen.

    I also took in that STELLAR show by My Morning Jacket at Radio City, and any week when that wasn’t even the best show I saw all week is a DAMN good week.

  2. Not in any order:
    Wilco – 3/2/08 – The Ryman
    Drive-By Truckers & Glossary 3/15/08 – Cannery Row
    Umphrey’s McGee – 4/3/08 – Orange Peel
    Widespread Panic w/Galactic – 4/16/08
    Umphrey’s McGee – 5/3/08 – HOB Nawlins
    Felice Brothers – Bonnaroo
    MMJ – Bonnaroo

    Jason Isbell – tonight!

  3. Chronologically:

    Dumpstaphunk @ Sullivan Hall (NYC) – 2/21
    St. Vincent with Foreign Born @ Middle East (Boston) – 3/1
    Murder By Death and O’Death @ Middle East (Boston) – 4/5
    Feist @ Hammerstein (NYC) – 4/29 (f-you — she killed)
    The Bellrays with Architects @ Delancey Lounge (NYC) – 5/24
    Phil Lesh & Friends/Levon Helm Band @ Bank of America Pavilion (Boston) – 6/21
    Muck and the Mires @ Abbey Lounge (Boston) – late night 6/21
    (anticipated) The Black Angels @ Southpaw (NYC) – 6/28

  4. 1) Stevie Wonder at Great Woods
    2) The Raconteurs at Harborlights
    3) Umphrey’s McGee in Stroudsburg, PA
    4) tDB at The Webster
    5) The Mountain Goats at The Middle East

    Honorable mention to: Reid Genauer/Gary Backstrom at Harper’s Ferry and Destroyer at The Middle East

  5. noice list – top of my list is Stevie Wonder at Jazzfest – if you were there, it is like at the top of yours, too!

  6. Great stuff Scotty. Here’s a quick Top Five…

    1. Wilco – 2/23 – Tower Theater
    2. The Felice Brothers – 4/12 – Bowery Ballroom
    3. Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood – 2/26 – MSG
    4. Blitzen Trapper/Fleet Foxes – 3/29 – Bowery Ballroom
    5. Vampire Weekend – 1/29 – Bowery Ballroom

  7. Geoff Farina – 02.22, Knitting Factory
    Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood – 02.25, Madison Square Garden
    John Zorn (The Dreamers) – 02.29, St. Ann’s Warehouse
    Paul Simon (Under African Skies) – 04.12, BAM
    Paul Simon (American Song) – 04.26, BAM
    The New Deal – 05.24, Bowery Ballroom
    Iron & Wine (among others) – 06.14, Bonnaroo

    Trying to be choosy.

  8. Highlights from the year in chronological order.

    Marco Benevento & Firends (Joe Russo, Brad Barr) @ Sullivan
    Freaks Ball VII (Bustle, Babies, MoWo) @ Southpaw
    Dr. Dog @ Langerado
    Scotty Hard Trust (MSMW, Bustle/Soulive, Antibalas) @ Highline
    Paul Simon & David Byrne @ BAM
    Tea Leaf Green night 1 @ Highline
    The Jammys @ Theatre at MSG
    The Wood Brothers (w/ Medeski) @ Bowery
    Mountain Jam (Levon, MSMW, Dr Dog, Felice, RatDog) @ Hunter
    Lee Boys w/ Marco Kras & Warren @ Sullivan
    Sigur Ros @ MoMa
    My Morning Jacket @ Radio City
    Pearl Jam @ MSG
    Thievery Seu Jorge tonight (?)

  9. I have been to 10 shows this year, here they are in order!

    1. Dark Star in englewood NJ
    2. Dark Star in new brunswick NJ
    3. Petty MSG
    4. Jammys MSG
    5. Eagles MSG
    6. Bill Graham Benefit Irving Plaza
    7. MMJ Radio City
    8. Bacon Brothers Central Park Earth Day
    9. The Naked Cowboy in time square
    10. Plant and Krauss MSGtheatre

  10. Jamcruise (pretty much all of it)
    Phil and Friends at Harborlights
    Umphreys at the Calvin Theater
    Pgroove at Bill’s Bar

    (looking forward to): Umphreys/STS9 at Harborlights

  11. Holy crap, do I have to look back all ready? Rac’s at Terminal 5 would top things, but their Jazzfest set was dope too. (and JR no way Stevie tops my list) Wow too many, Petty, PJ, Jerry Lee Lewis…Gotta think about this more.

  12. 1. Radiohead Tampa
    2. Radiohead Charlotte
    3. Radiohead Atlanta
    4. Radiohead w.Palm Beach
    5. STS9, Wakarusa
    6. Cake, Wakarusa
    7. The New Deal, The Boulder Theater
    8. Dance Party in the Jam Cruise tent, post REM (aka my wedding reception, but not really) Langerado
    9. Beastie Boys Langerado (and no disrespect to Beastie Boys, but yes the dance party at Langerado in the Jam Cruise tent was that good)
    10. Bisco Colorado Run- Boulder was my favorite

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