My Year in Lists: Top 10 Albums of 2009

#10 - Girls
Album
Listen here


#9 - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
Up From Below
Listen here


#8
Miike Snow
Miike Snow
Listen to their track 'Animal'

#7
Heartless Bastards
Mountain
Listen to their track 'Be So Happy'

#6 - The xx
xx
Listen here


#5 - Raveonettes
In and Out of Control
Listen here


#4
Passion Pit
Manners
Listen to the track 'The Reeling'

#3 Portugal. The Man -
Satanic Satanist
Listen here


#2
Metric
Fantasies
Listen to their track 'Gold Guns Girls'

#1
Phoenix
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Listen to their track '1901'

Back to Home Page: Top Stories

My Year in Lists - Top 10 Concerts 2009

I am officially declaring the end of the 2009 concert season. I'm done for this year. Now, although I've been documenting most of my concerts for the last 2 1/2 years now, it's only been this year that I started to actually keep a count of all the concerts i go to... you know, for tax reasons. And so here it is. The final count is 80. Here are some some numbers:

22 shows @ The Independent
10 shows @ The Fillmore
7 @ Bottom of The Hill
6 @ Rickshaw Stop
6 @ Mezzanine
5 guys in a band crashed in my 1BR apartment.
3 shows in London, UK
2 in Los Angeles
1 game of pop-a-shot with Nate Mendel of the Foo Fighters.

Choosing the top 10 shows was much easier than I thought it would. I've also added links to videos or my reviews of the concerts where available. If you were at any of these shows I want to hear from you! Reply with comments.

So here are my top shows of the year:

#10 - Starfucker @ Bottom of the Hill (10/07)
#9 - Portugal. The Man @ Independent (09/23)
#8 - Passion Pit @ Bimbo's (05/26)
#7 - Eagles of Death Metal @ Fillmore (02/05)
#6 - Wolfmother + Heartless Bastards @ Fox Theatre (11/23)
#5 - Los Campesinos! @ Slims (04/15)
#4 - Metric + Silversun Pickups @ Bimbo's 365 Club (11/06)
#3 - Phoenix @ The Warfied (09/17)
#2 - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros @ The Great American Music Hall (12/12)
#1 - Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ Heaven nightclub in London UK (10/29)



Back to Home Page: Top Stories

2009 Concert Archive

MY 2009 CONCERTS

01/23 - Raveonettes (Bimbo's)
01/25 - Jay Reatard (Independent)
01/30 - Devotchka (Fillmore)
01/31 - Social Studies (Hemlock)
02/05 - Eagles of Death Metal (Fillmore)
02/21 - Murder by Death + The Builders And the Butchers (Bottom Of The Hill)
02/24 - Deerhunter (Mezzanine)
02/25 - French Kicks (Independent)
02/27 - RA RA Riot (Independent)
02/28 - Portugal The Man..
03/01 - Les Savy Fav (Mezzanine)
03/05 - Fujiya & Miyagi + Pop Levi + Project Jenny, Project Jan (Independent)
03/13 - Asobi Seksu (Independent)
03/21 - Karl Denson's Tiny Universe + Robert Walter's 20th Congress (Independent)
03/24 - Bishop Allen (Rickshaw Stop)
03/27 - Marnie Stern (Bottom of the Hill)
04/01 - RATATAT (Fillmore)
04/15 - Los Campesinos! (Slims)
04/21 - Black Kids + Mates of State (Independent)
04/24 - Vivian Girls (Independent)
04/30 - Ladytron + The Faint (Fillmore
05/12 - Cloud Cult + Ice Palace (Independent)
05/15 - Kraak & Smaak (mezzanine)
05/16 - Michael Franti & Spearhead, Greyboy Allstars (Oyster Fest)
05/19 - The Kills (Fillmore)
05/21 - Pelle Carlberg, Oh No! Oh My!
05/22 - Ghostland Observatory (Mezzanine)
05/25 - Flight of the Conchords (Paramount)
05/26 - Passion Pit (Bimbo's)
05/28 - Black Moth Super Rainbow + School of Seven Bells(BOTH)
05/29 - Jenny Lewis (Fillmore)
05/30 - Pretty Lights (Independent)
06/04 - CLUES (former Arcade Fire + Unicorns) @ Rickshaw
06/05 - Submarines (Independent)
06/06 - Airborne Toxic Event, Designer Drugs (Popscene)
06/06 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Crystal Castles, Airborne Toxic Event, DJ AM, Mike Relm (Live 105 BFD, Shoreline)
06/08 - Camera Obscura (Fillmore)
06/10 - Rodrigo y Gabriela (Mountain Winery)
06/12 - DataRock (Independent)
06/13 - Bat For Lashes (Great American Music Hall)
06/15 - Art Brut (Independent)
06/18 - Miike Snow (Popscene)
06/20 - White Rabbits (Independent)
07/03 - Lovemakers + Amazing Baby (popscene)
07/09 - Rural Alberta Advantage (Bottom of the Hill)
07/14 - Blonde Redhead (Indepenedent)
07/15 - The Builders and The Butchers (Bottom of the Hill)
07/21 - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Rickshaw Stop)
08/03 - Bowerbirds, Megafaun (Cafe du Nord)
08/18 - Scrabbel (Hemlock)
08/19 - Crocodiles (Rickshaw Stop)
08/28 - Outside Lands // Los Campesinos!, Silversun Pickups, Thievery Corporation, West Indian Girl, Pearl Jam
09/10 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Fox)
09/11 - The Lovemakers (Independent)
09/17 - Phoenix (Warfield)
09/18 - Frightened Rabbit + We Were Promised JetPacks
09/23 - Portugal. The Man (Independent)
09/25 - Portugal. The Man (Troubadour)
09/30 - LadyHawke + Ida Maria
10/02 - Asobi Seksu (Slims)
10/03 - Miike Snow (Bottom of the Hill)
10/04 - Jolie Holland (Independent)
10/06 - School of Seven Bells (Slims)
10/07 - Starfucker (Bottom of the Hill)
10/13 - Sunny Day Real Estate (Fillmore)
10/15 - Pretty Lights (Independent)
10/16 - MGMT (Independent)
10/24 - The Sounds + Foxy Shazam (Warfield)
10/28 - Los Campesinos (Garage, London)
10/29 - Does It Offend You, Yeah? (Heaven, London)
10/30 - Amanda Blank, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, We Have Band (Proud, London)
11/06 - Metric + Silversun Pickups (Bimbos)
11/09 - Raveonettes (Bimbo's)
11/13 - They Might Be Giants (Fillmore)
11/20 - The Juan Maclean (Mezzanine)
11/22 - The XX + Friendly Fires (Independent)
11/23 - Wolfmother + Heartless Bastards (Fox)
12/10 - Gossip, Passion Pit, Hey Champ (Mezzanine)
12/12 - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (GAMH)
12/14 - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Mayan Theatre, LA))

Back to Home Page: Top Stories

Silversun Pickups & Metric rock Droid Launch Party @ Bimbos

The Motorola Droid Launch event came with special launch party events in several cities last Friday. Completely taken by surprise, I found out on Friday morning that two of my favorite bands, Metric and Silversun Pickups would be playing the event. I scrambled to get tickets but I discovered that the only way to get in was to be invited. And you could only be invited if you bought a the new phone or won a lottery from street teams handing out invites. It turned out that not everybody buying a Motorola Droid was interested in seeing Metric or Silversun Pickups, and I able to acquire a pair of tickets for the show.. The event drummed up a lot of hype in a very short amount of time, but, as events go, the venue was sparsely attended. This was fine by me, as it made the performances by both bands very intimate. Click on the images for video.

Silversun Pickups:


Metric:




Back to Home Page: Top Stories

October 2009 archive

10/01 - Datarock (Slims)
10/01 - Ian Fays + Hot Toddies (Bottom of the Hill)
10/02 - Asobi Seksu (Slims)
10/02 - Geographer (Rickshaw Stop)
10/03 - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (Golden Gate Park)
10/03 - Miike Snow (Bottom of the Hill)
10/04 - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (Golden Gate Park)
10/04 - Jolie Holland (Independent)
10/06 - School of Seven Bells (Slims)
10/09 - MUTEMATH (Fillmore)
10/10 - Bob Dylan (Greek)
10/11 - Bob Dylan (Greek)
10/13 - Devotchka (Warfield)
10/13 - Junior Boys (Mezzanine)
10/14 - Devotchka + Pogues (Regency Ballroom)
10/14 - Great Lake Swimmers (Great American Music Hall)
10/15 - Gogol Bordello (Fox)
10/15 - Moby (Warfield)
10/15 - Pretty Lights (Independent)
10/16 - Snow Patrol (Fox)
10/17 - Treasure Island Music Festival // MGMT, Mstrkrft, Girl Talk, Brazilian Girls, Passion Pit
10/17 - Why? (GAMH)
10/18 - Treasure Island Music Festival // Flaming Lips, Decemberists, Beirut, Grizzly Bear, Yo la Tengo, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
10/19 - Jay Reatard (GAMH)
10/20 - Stone Temple Pilots (Fox)
10/21 - Blind Pilot (GAMH)
10/22 - Noah and the Whale (Swedish American Hall)
10/23 - Islands (Bottom of the Hill)
10/24 - The Sounds + Foxy Shazam (Warfield)
10/29 - The Dodos (Bimbos)
10/30 - Amanda Blank, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, We Have Band (Proud, London)
10/30 - Art Brut (Cafe du Nord)
10/30 - Paul Oakenfold (Regency)
10/30 - Regina Spektor (Fox)
10/31 - Built to Spill (Fillmore)
10/31 - LMFAO (Regency)

Back to Home Page: Top Stories

The Sounds + Foxy Shazam @ Warfield

Foxy Shazam - "Introducing Foxy" -= There's a lot of shit happening here. Pay particular attention to the keyboardist.



The Sounds - "Queen of Apology"



Back to Home Page: One More Time, From the Top!

Share on Facebook

Sunny Day Real Estate @ The Fillmore

Perhaps it was the opportunity to sit in the headliner's dressing room among the ghosts of the musicians that have graced the Fillmore Auditorium? Perhaps it was the great company?


Perhaps it was playing 'pop-a-shot' with Nate Mendel (Bassist for SDRE and Foo Fighters") at my favorite local dive bar?



Or perhaps it was just a rocking show? I don't know... but evening will go down as one I will never forget.

MGMT @ The Independent

In anticipation of the Treasure Island Music Festival this weekend, MGMT announced a surprise show at the Independent which sold out in minutes. I was fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to get one of these tickets.

I'm not sure if I was just tired and cranky, but after seeing the combination of BLK JKS and MGMT, I was seriously questioning why on Earth these bands get the hype that they do. Specifically MGMT. It may not have been the worst concert I have ever seen... but it was certainly close.

Boo. MGMT. Boo.

Share on Facebook

Starfucker @ Bottom of the Hill

Strength and Deejay Ceejay opened for Starfucker. Here's a clip from Strength.

School of Seven Bells @ Slims

SVIIB - 'Iamundernodisguise'


SVIIB - new song from their upcoming album


SVIIB - 'Connjur'


SVIIB - 'My Cabal'

Anna Ternheim shines @ Slim's

Asobi Seksu and Loney Dear co-headlined Slim's last night. Unlike the last time Asobi Seksu came to town (march 13, 2009), I was quite indifferent about their return to SF. It's partly because I wasn't really dazzled by their newest studio album, and their last live show was just meh. Well, i had nothing better to do, so I went to Slims early, got myself a cheeseburger, a PBR, and some great conversation with the bartender.

The first opener was Anna Ternheim. She is a Swedish singer-songwriter who's apparently huge... in Sweden. Well, if she keeps doing what she's doing, she's going to turn some heads in the U.S. too. Every one of her songs was unique and original yet accessible and very catchy; she's cute, and she has a terrific voice. If it weren't for her dark-ish lyrics, she could follow The Submarines, Feist, and The Ting Tings in the long line of cute voices selling iPods.



Loney Dear, also a singer-songwriter from Sweden, didn't blow anybody's mind, but wasn't terrible either. Kinda sounds like Conor Oberst.



I was lucky to be able to get a glimpse of the setlist as Asobi Seksu took the stage. This way, i knew how to time the beer runs and cigarette breaks without missing the songs I was there to hear.



check out more videos from this show on my YouTube channel


Back to Home Page: Top Stories

Share on Facebook

Music Graph - June through September 2009

Back to Home Page: One More Time, From the Top!

Share on Facebook

September 2009 Archive

09/09 - Vivian Girls (Rickshaw Stop)
09/09 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Fox)
09/10 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Fox) ** THS Show**
09/11 - The Lovemakers (Independent)
09/17 - Phoenix (Warfield) **THS Show**
09/18 - Citizen Cope (Fillmore)
09/18 - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart (Great American Music Hall)
09/18: Frightened Rabbit + We Were Promised Jetpacks (Independent) **THS Show**
09/19 - Citizen Cope (Fillmore)
09/23 - Portugal. The Man (Independent) **THS Show**
09/25 - Portugal. The Man (Troubadour) **THS Show**
09/23 - Rodrigo y Gabriela (Fox)
09/30 - LadyHawke + Ida Maria **THS Show8*

Portugal. The Man + Drug Rug rock my face in two venues

It's been a busy and exciting week for me. The concert schedule is heating up and my new job at blip.tv is keeping me incredibly busy. I always make time for music, though, especially when it is Portugal. The Man. This band has been melting my face for two years, and I'm really excited that they are drawing such amazing crowds. Last year, they made it to the top of the 'Best Concert of 2008' list with the help of opener Foxy Shazam.

Though it is hard to keep raising the bar, they may be able to defend that title again this year, this time with the help their tour support, Drug Rug. Drug Rug is pretty straightforward rock'n'roll with exceptional stage presence and great chemistry. I had the good fortune of being able to see them in San Francisco @ the Independent on Wednesday and in Los Angeles at the Troubadour on Friday night. Here are some videos:

Drug Rug @ Troubadour




Portugal. The Man @ Troubadour

They opened with Colours


People Say


Church Mouth


encore


Back to Home Page: Top Stories

Share on Facebook

Phoenix @ Warfield

Yesterday I got a brand new Flip Video minoHD camera just in time for the Phoenix concert. Enjoy the following clips!














Back to Home Page: One More Time, From the Top!

Share on Facebook

August 2009 Archive

08/02 - Japandroids (Hemlock Tavern)
08/02 - Sonic Youth (Fox)
08/15 - N.A.S.A. (Independent)
08/18 - Scrabbel (Hemlock) ** THS Show
08/19 - Crocodiles (Rickshaw Stop) ** THS Show
08/26 - The Dodos (Rickshaw Stop)
08/28 - Outside Lands // Los Campesinos!, Silversun Pickups, Thievery Corporation, West Indian Girl, Pearl Jam ** THS Show
08/29 - Dirtbombs (Rickshaw Stop)
08/29 - Outside Lands // Portugal. The Man, The Dirtbombs, Bat For Lashes, Deerhunter
08/30 - Outside Lands // Matt & Kim, Lenka, Cage The Elephant, Heartless Bastards, The Dead Weather, Band of Horses, Modest Mouse, Ween, MIA, Beastie Boys.

Back to Home Page: One More Time, From the Top!

Share on Facebook

Music Graph - May through July 2009

Share on Facebook

Tenacious D to replace Beastie Boys at Outside Lands

As previously reported on this blog, the Beastie Boys cancelled several tour dates due to Adam Yauch's cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, this included Another Planet's Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park. Another Planet Entertainment announced today, "The “Greatest Band In the World,” Tenacious D featuring Jack Black and Kyle Gass is joining the world’s greatest line-up of artists for the 2nd annual Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival. Slotted as the closing act on Sunday evening, this will mark the legendary band’s first appearance in the Bay Area in three years and their United States Festival debut. Tenacious D’s unforgettable performances, groundbreaking videos and sheer charisma, energy and inspired songwriting will make this one of Outside Lands’ most memorable performances."


Back to Home Page: One More Time, From the Top!

Share on Facebook

SF Concert Schedule heating up!

08/18 - Scrabbel (Hemlock)
08/19 - Crocodiles (Rickshaw Stop)
08/26 - The Dodos (Rickshaw Stop)
08/28 - Outside Lands // Los Campesinos!, Silversun Pickups, Thievery Corporation, West Indian Girl, Pearl Jam
08/29 - Dirtbombs (Rickshaw Stop)
08/29 - Outside Lands // Portugal. The Man, The Dirtbombs, Bat For Lashes, Deerhunter
08/30 - Outside Lands // Matt & Kim, Lenka, Cage The Elephant, Heartless Bastards, The Dead Weather, Band of Horses, Modest Mouse, Ween, MIA, Beastie Boys.
09/09 - Vivian Girls (Rickshaw Stop)
09/09 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Fox)
09/10 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Fox)
09/11 - The Lovemakers (Independent)
09/17 - Phoenix (Warfield)
09/18 - Citizen Cope (Fillmore)
09/18 - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart (Great American Music Hall)
09/19 - Citizen Cope (Fillmore)
09/23 - Portugal. The Man (Independent)
09/23 - Rodrigo y Gabriela (Fox)
10/01 - Datarock (Slims)
10/02 - Asobi Seksu (Slims)
10/03 - Miike Snow (Bottom of the Hill)
10/04 - Jolie Holland (Independent)
10/06 - School of Seven Bells (Slims)
10/14 - DeVotchKa (Regency Ballroom)
10/17 - Treasure Island Music Festival
10/18 - Treasure Island Music Festival
11/09 - Pixies (Fox)
11/09 - Raveonettes (Bimbos)

Back to Home Page: One More Time, From the Top!

Share on Facebook

July 2009 Archive

*** indicate shows THS went to.

07/03 - Lovemakers + Amazing Baby (Rickshaw Stop) ***
07/07 - Dirty Projectors (Independent)
07/07 - Miniature Tigers (Cafe du Nord) ***
07/09 - Rural Alberta Advantage (Bottom of the Hill) ***
07/10 - Mighty Mighty Bosstones (Fillmore)
07/11 - Death Cab for Cutie, Ra Ra Riot, Andrew Bird (Greek Theatre)
07/14 - Blonde Redhead (Independent) ***
07/15 - Blonde Redhead (Independent)
07/15 - The Builders and The Butchers (Bottom of the Hill) ***
07/17 - Tussle (Bottom of the Hill)
07/21 - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Rickshaw Stop) ***
07/24 - Of Montreal (Fox)
07/26 - The Mighty Underdogs (Stern Grove)

Share on Facebook