Top Albums of 2014:

I always have to put a disclaimer here about top lists of the year. There have been many times when I have discovered an album that was released this year after the fact ( as in a year or more later) and that easily fits within this list. We're living in a very interesting time in which there are seemingly millions of bands worldwide who are putting out interesting albums and may be on extremely small labels with very scarce distributions. Sometimes, these albums gain an audience and are re-pressed and I hear about them. Other times, I just don't live in the country where the album is released and therefore miss that particular musical adventure. This is one reason why I enjoy sharing thoughts and ideas about music with people on Flickr, because it's really an international community where I enjoy learning things.

Not surprisingly, most of my top albums of 2014 are psychedelic albums because, well, I love psychedelic music more than any other type of music. It's one of the only things that seems to take all the pain of living away. Here are some of my top albums of 2014:

1. Temples: Sun Structures
The above portrait was actually taken by me at Lolla. I was too nervous initially to ask after Austin Psych Fest because, well, they are really talented and their lead singer, James Edward Bagshaw, looks a little too much like a reincarnated Marc Bolan for me to ever get the words that come out of my mouth even right in my head. I took this photo after telling him how much I love their band and, I must admit, all of the band members were very nice and actually seemed to genuinely appreciate how much I enjoyed their live sets and their music both.

This album is a perfect psychedelic love affair. It has a structural component that keeps the listener engaged as if listening to light hearted pop but it's so much more heavy hitting and earnest than that. The effect is one glorious and flawless creation.
templestheband.com/music

2. Morgan Delt: Obstacle Eyes
Another psychedelic love affair but a little more out there and weird. The strange qualities of this linger with haunted memories. In contrast, the urgency of some of the tracks isn't completely lost and the final effect is an adventure not unlike listening to the best songs by the band The Residents for example. Morgan Delt's record is on one of my favorite record labels, local Trouble in Mind Records, and I hope they create many more records to come.
morgandelt.bandcamp.com/album/morgan-delt-2

3. White Fence: For the Recently Found Innocent
On more of a garage-psychedelic side than the first two albums, White Fence's take on psychedelic music also harkens more clearly back to have even more of a 60s reminiscence. There are tinges of sadness on this one too, including the album's opening track and the lyrics of "Like That" which make me long for everything to be right with the world. I hope this band keeps working with the lovely Welsh Cate Le Bon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag6Tzsv2RM4
www.facebook.com/pages/White-Fence/109125289153214

4. Thee Silver Mt. Zion: FUGF We Pour Light on Everything
The album starts with a little girl who proudly exclaims the following words: "We live on an island called Montréal and we make a lot of noise because we love eachother!" When Efrim Menuck and Jessica Moss decided to become parents, I was of course happy for them but also worried that we wouldn't see another Thee Silver Mt. Zion album again (or Godspeed You! Black Emperor album as Efrim is the most essential component). It seems they are creating music with a newfound vigor instead in attempts to put more creative music in the world. Those who are used to GY!BE but not TSMZ may be unused to Menuck's voice, which is always a spiraling anguished animal that could either destroy or save the world (perhaps both in the same day). Menuck is talented beyond words and the symphony behind him gives the songs much more than a mere guitar could. Frantic violins are the highlight and each note is sung and played with an intense passion. I would highly recommend all of this band's albums and Constellation as a record label. This album is not for the faint or weak of heart.
www.tra-la-la-band.com/

5. Richard Skelton: Nimrod-The Inward Circles
This album is fragile and beautiful with gorgeous art work and words. It's dark ambient nature may creep up on you slowly but after it has enveloped you, it is really quite effective. This is a very deep feeling orchestration and one that is wholly remarkable and unforgettable. It seems almost brave to make this sort of music as you really have to share something deep from yourself.
richardskelton.wordpress.com/2014/09/27/nimrod-the-inward...

6. Liars: Mess
There is the weird Angus Andrew that we've all come to know and love who rambles about witches and has some bizarre stage antics and then there's the Angus who has recently discovered yarn. Yes, you got that right, yarn. That being said, Mess isn't exactly what the title suggests. It's actually just dance music for people who normally hate dance music. It's pop music for people who think pop music is a sad lie. If you want to train for a marathon and you happen to think Taylor Swift is an abomination, Mess is probably the album for you. Angus always seems to be teetering on the brink of an edge but in this case, it sure is a catchy edge that cuts all the same.
liarsliarsliars.com/

7. Ty Segall: Manipulator
I've always enjoyed Ty's music but I like the more psychedelic direction his songs are headed in lately. Still fun and catchy but with an element of depth, these songs are ones you can rock out to and think introspectively about as well. There's a nice overall sense to the album in terms of the progression of the songs and the journey the listener takes without ever feeling like you're listening to remotely the same song and an unpredictable sense to the album too. Segall's voice seems also better than ever in my opinion.
ty-segall.com/

8. Tiny Ruins: Brightly Painted One
If you like folk music tinged with desolation, you should look into Tiny Ruins as soon as humanly possible. Lead singer Hollie Fullbrook's voice is also very reminiscent of Sibylle Baier's, which alone was enough to make me rush out to see and buy this NZ band's album when they played at Thalia Hall opening up for Sharon Van Etten earlier this year. Sharon Van Etten also put out an album this year but I didn't like it as much overall as I did Tramp, Epic, and Because I was in Love (although it does have a couple of the best singles of the year with "Taking Chances" and "Every Time the Sun Comes Up." The music of Tiny Ruins reminds me of the minimalistic simplicity of SVE's first album, Because I was in Love. There's an innocence and a disarming bare bones sense to it that charms you easily.
tinyruins.bandcamp.com/

9. Fantasmes: Thralls to Strange Witchcraft
This is the kind of album that lingers and lulls both with such lovely melodies in place that it would be the perfect thing to listen to while watching rain slide down a window pane and thinking about the world. I don't often get the chance to hear what is coming out of Puerto Rico but if all the bands sounded like this, I'd consider moving there. There's such a haunted quality with these vocals that sucks you in with enough of a psychedelic sense to it to keep you definitely wanting more. These aren't necessarily pop or rock songs but there's a wonder in them that is very evocative of an introspective mood. Incidentally, my friend and fellow photographer Randy Cremean drove super fast to get us to see their opening set at Austin Psych Fest last year and I'll thank him for this forever. What a guy!
soundcloud.com/looselooseloose/fantasmes-bare-bones?in=lo...

10. Death Blues: Ensemble
Here's another album that sneaks up on you but this one is vastly different to the others on this list in many ways. The twists and turns the songs take and the way they evolve is nothing short of unexpected. There's a very wholesome yet unique and enthralling feeling to the album that often can take you off guard in terms of the instrumentation, which is a times a glorious cacophony. It takes some getting used to (probably more than the others on this list) but, at the same time, has it's definite rewards. In all, it's quite a thrilling adventure.
rhythmplex.bandcamp.com/album/ensemble

Tags:   favorite Death Blues Fantasmes Tiny Ruins Ty Segall Brightly Painted One Manipulator Ensemble vinyl records Temples Sun Structures James Edward Bagshaw multiple exposure portrait British Aussie Puerto Rican Canadian Kiwi TSMZ Thee Silver Mt Zion psychedelic Top albums albums indie independent experimental Liars Richard Skelton White Fence Morgan Delt bands music

© All Rights Reserved

I've taken some time off of Flicker for a bit for a variety of reasons. I've had a really difficult Autumn, first with a bike accident and with three bikes being stolen despite being locked up securely with at least one if not two expensive locks in broad daylight. My job has also become incredibly intense and pretty much unmanageable in terms of stress and what is possible in a day. I've also been thinking a great deal (as usual probably too much) in terms of my own photography and my own sense of self as an artist. I really still feel very drawn to street photography but, at the same time, have always felt some need to capture the expressions of humans I admire who happen to be creative artists themselves. Finding this balance has always been difficult and sometimes impossible.

I've been working on some of my street photography and hope to share more of this in 2015. My goal is to post a couple of photos a week on average, which seems more reasonable than 5 a week considering my work schedule. At the same time, I know many of you enjoy music and like to experience live music as well from time to time. So, the next two posts will be about my favorite live shows and albums of last year complete with links and such in case you'd like to check out my recommendations. Let me know if you decide to or if you experienced a great show yourself, whether it is on my list or not. Sharing is caring ;)

Happy New Year.

Best Live Shows of 2014

1. Slowdive October 30th, 2014 Vic Theater, Chicago Illinois

Seeing Slowdive at Pitchfork Music Festival was a phenomenal sort of experience for me and one that made the whole weekend worthwhile but seeing them play their own headlining show was even better. The band had by then even more so perfected their live sound and there were also a few more songs they played, most notably "Dagger." There is also something to be said for seeing a band with all of their die hard fans who are there just for them (or for them and Low, who were also fantastic as usual!) As a long time Slowdive fan, I've been listening to their albums for over a decade without the hope of ever seeing them live. I am so glad I had the chance to!
www.wonderingsound.com/pictures/slowdive-low-chicago-live/
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157648057573740
bigtakeover.com/interviews/just-for-a-day-an-interview-wi...

2. Temples May 3rd 2914, Austin Psych Fest Austin, Texas

I saw Temples three times last year and I treasured every set but I will probably never forget the first time I saw them at Austin Psych Fest (which is the best festival I have ever gone to and this year is called Levitation Fest.) These Brits play the sort of mesmerizing psychedelic rock music that fills my heart with sheer joy. It makes me feel connected with the entire world somehow. If home is really just a state of mind, I think I found it with Temples.
templestheband.com/

3. Low, June 16th, 2014, Subterranean, Chicago, Illinois

I have been seeing Low for the past 15 years or so and none of their shows have ever disappointed me. They are one of the bands I feel very connected to emotionally and would see even in the middle of a blizzard on a Monday night. Few bands have as many fantastic albums and such a genuine sense to everything they do.

This particular Low show was special because they played two long sets and pretty much every favorite song of mine that I had hoped to hear. It really moved me to tears!
chairkickers.com/
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157622149796303

4. Thee Silver Mt. Zion, May 8th, 2014, Lincoln Hall, Chicago, Illinois

TSMZ or pretty much anything connected with Efrim Menuck is also a band I am quite dedicated to. Their albums are always so filled with anguish and intelligent politics. Many people have a difficult time with Efrim's passionate vocals but the music is supposed to challenge you.
TSMZ live is a little different than their albums though because of the unpredictable and somewhat awkward experience of the Question and Answer periods...if you want to read more about that, here's a link to this show review with more photos aa well.
gapersblock.com/transmission/2014/05/08/photosreview_thee...

5. Loop, May 5th, 2014, Austin Psych Fest, Austin, Texas

I really hope that Loop play another US tour because their headlining set at Austin Psych Fest was phenomenal and way better than I was expecting. I really wasn't familiar with the band's albums before then and I regretted that I hadn't seen them when they played Chicago earlier on as it was on a Sunday night and didn't want to start another intense with week totally exhausted. In any case, I was glad I had a chance to catch most of their set at Austin Psych Fest. I know there were a ton of people let down when Primal Scream cancelled (they are playing this year, though) but I've seen Primal Scream and Loop's set was very special.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_%28band%29

6. White Fence, October 18th, 2014, Subterranean, Chicago

It's really no surprise that I would enjoy this set as the band has put out their best album to date and one of my favorites of this year, For the Recently Found Innocent. They also seem to be ready to take the songs to a higher level on a live front and really managed to put on an amazing show.
www.facebook.com/pages/White-Fence/109125289153214

7. Superchunk, January 18t, 2014, Cabaret Metro, Chicago

Superchunk isn't quite the same live without Laura Ballance playing on stage but this was still a really fantastic live set with some great vigorous jumping too! More photos and details within the live review here:
gapersblock.com/transmission/2014/01/19/day_four_tomorrow...

8. Bo Ningen, May 4th, 2014, Austin Psych Fest, Austin

Japan and now London based Bo Ningen come out like sort of underground and dizzying superheros. They have these incredible robes and long black hair and they are in almost motion twirling around like psychedelic dervishes. Unfortunately, both this set and their set at Cabaret Metro were extremely dark and difficult to capture the essence of what makes their live performances a bit spooky, extremely heavy hitting, and very powerful. These guys come with a high recommendation!
boningen.info/

9. Liars May 3rd, 2014 Austin Psych Fest, Austin,

Aussie Angus Andrew has always been unpredictable and strange but this tour saw some of his most unpredictable behavior yet with a mask made of yarn on his head for the beginning of the performance and Angus back to flipping his hair, dancing, and pacing like he used to before he started having some back problems. Touring on their most recent album, Mess, brought about one of the most intense sets the band has played in a long time or ever.
liarsliarsliars.com/

10. Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals), November 12th, 2014, Schubas Tavern, Chicago,

It's probably more telling to read the show review and see the photos to really understand what this tour was about but suffice it to say some of the bizarre ideas behind the American Interior album and tour that relate to fictional early Welsh explorers making way for Lewis and Clark is at the very least unique and memorable.
gapersblock.com/transmission/2014/11/12/photosreview_gruf...
www.gruffrhys.com/


Honorable Mentions:
Each year, I shoot a music festival or two and end up catching some of a set that is exceptional but, as there are often overlapping bands I am assigned, I rarely catch all of one band but do catch a significant enough part of a set to have a sense of how good it is. The following are some of the sets I saw that I was wowed by as well as some other sets that I felt worthy of a mention.

Austin Psych Fest 2014:
As I already mentioned, Austin Psych Fest was my favorite music festival and was the best music festival I have ever been to, which includes numerous Lollas, Pitchfork Music Festivals, Hideout Block Parties, Riot Fests, Tomorrow Never Knows fests, and Coachellas as well as the dozens of street festivals which often have stellar lineups throughout the Chicago summer. I've always been more fond of psychedelic music than any other genre of music but this fest was also great because they really sought out diversity both within the genre and in terms of international bands I wouldn't have been able to see otherwise. It was an incredibly memorable experience for me and I also had a wonderful time with my friend Randy Cremean, who is an amazing photographer. I also wanted to say that the overall crowd for Austin Psych Fest was very invested and showed some astute active listening skills. They weren't talking or texting or being generally obnoxious at any point in time and that made the overall mood quite pleasant and enjoyable.
If you are interested in Levitation Fest tickets, here is the website:
www.austinpsychfest.com/
My coverage for this festival was through The Big Takeover:
Friday (Day One):
bigtakeover.com/concerts/austin-psych-festival-2014-frida...
Saturday (Day Two):
bigtakeover.com/concerts/austin-psych-festival-2014-satur...
Sunday (Day Three):
bigtakeover.com/concerts/austin-psych-festival-2014-sunda...

Boogarins at Austin Psych Fest
Boogarins also played a great opening spot gig for The Clean (who unfortunately didn't live up to my expectations, though it was an odd night in comparison to the previous time I saw them in Chicago). This Brazilian psychedelic band is fantastic live and on album! Highly recommended!
boogarins.com/

Fantasmes at Austin Psych Fest
This Puerto Rican band also played some lovely and interesting psychedelic music!
fantasmes.bandcamp.com/

La Femme at Austin Psych Fest

La Femme from France did the art work for the festival and performed. Their set was quite engaging as they each had their own costume. One of the male singers also danced around in a blue cape for pretty much the entire weekend as he watched all of the other bands play, which was quite nice.
lafemme.bandcamp.com/releases

Quilt at Austin Psych Fest as well as SubTerranean in Chicago 2014

Quilt really are coming into their own as a band and both of these sets were fantastic! Don't miss them on their next tour!
www.facebook.com/quiltmusic

Mikal Cronin at Austin Psych Fest

It's fantastic to watch Cronin's career progress and his ability to perform in front of an audience strengthen as time goes on. He presents himself as more accomplished and confident on stage even when he's singing his more personal songs and it's a great experience to witness all of this.
mikalcronin.bandcamp.com/
Lollapalooza 2014:
Coverage for the festival on Wondering Sound: www.wonderingsound.com/pictures/lollapalooza-2014-outkast...

Kate Nash at Lollapalooza, Chicago in August 2014
Kate Nash was in top form dancing, jumping, and joining the crowd at Lolla. She had an amazing energy and sense of light heartedness that made her fans even more devoted.
www.katenash.com/

Outkast at Lollapalooza, Chicago in August 2014
Outkast has put out some of the catchiest songs the world has ever heard. They get stuck in your head and you don't ever want them to leave like the welcome visitors they are. It was nice to finally see and photograph Outkast this past summer and, though I couldn't stay for their entire set as I needed to get home and photoedit for a deadline, what I did hear was fantastic!

Benjamin Booker at Lollapalooza, Chicago in August 2014

I wasn't familiar with Benjamin Booker's music but was very impressed by both his energy and his sound at Lolla. He played early on at a side stage but I could already tell that if he kept up with the stamina and stellar songs, he would really go somewhere quickly.
www.benjaminbookermusic.com/
Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago July 2014:
Coverage for the Festival on Big Takeover:
Day One (Friday):
bigtakeover.com/concerts/pitchfork-music-festival-2014-fr...
Day Two (Saturday):
bigtakeover.com/concerts/pitchfork-music-festival-2014-sa...
Day Three (Sunday)-Slowdive:
bigtakeover.com/concerts/pitchfork-music-festival-2014-sl...

FKA Twigs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago
From the time that Tahliah Debrett Barnett emerged on stage, I was a little transfixed. Her style in every way seemed intriguing from her dress to her stage presence overall and her music. She's a great performer and one that I hope to see perform again someday.
www.facebook.com/fkatwigs

St. Vincent at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago

I had seen Annie Clark at the Riviera Theater back in the spring but, even though her actual performance of the songs is always good, I was really bogged down by her sort of inane stage banter. Annie Clark is a super intelligent woman but she sort of ruined it with this faux flaky meanderings that mainly just encouraged bro dudes to cheer and gained her more middle of the road fans. Her music, in my opinion, has been slowly heading down this direction as well and, though she is a guitar goddess live, her recorded tracks in recent albums haven't measured up to her album Actor. She was in great form at Pitchfork, though, whilst bringing her stage setup with her as well as her performance artist moves. She's very visually engaging to watch and listen to while she's playing.
ilovestvincent.com/

Grimes at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago

Claire Boucher or Grimes isn't really my thing so to speak. It comes off as very light hearted pop music live to me (or at least it did in this set). Though, then again, I spend quite a bit of time listening to drone music so that might explain a bit more. Boucher was very entertaining and seemed to be having the time of her life at Pitchfork but I don't think I'd really have the same feeling about the music whilst listening to the albums at home.
www.grimesmusic.com/

Riot Fest in Chicago:
Coverage through Wondering Sound here:
www.wonderingsound.com/pictures/riot-fest-chicago-humbold...

The Buzzcocks at Riot Fest in Chicago September 2014

The Buzzcocks were definitely my favorite performance of what I caught. I have previously caught whole sets by these Brits but not in several years and I was happy to see that they still had the kind of energy and dynamic playing that makes their songs some of the most memorable singles of one's lifetime.
www.buzzcocks.com/site/index.html

Gogol Bordello at Riot Fest in Chicago:

Riot Fest this year was really cold, rainy, then extremely muddy. I had just had a bunch of dental work done that same day and I probably would have been more miserable had my friend Lindsey Best not been up visiting to shoot the fest with me. Gogol Bordello played in the pouring rain but Eugene Hutz and friends definitely made the best of it. I spent most of the time with my heart in my throat worrying someone was going to slip and fall right off the stage but they put in a daring and stellar set and managed to salvage
much of the dismal soaked evening.
www.gogolbordello.com/

Death Cab for Cutie at Hideout Block Party in Chicago September 2014
I looked forward to shooting Hideout Block Party for quite some time but, while coming home before the fest, got into a really unfortunate bicycling accident. After spending some time in the Emergency Room, I was able to make it via taxi in time to see Death Cab for Cutie headline the evening. I started listening to Death Cab for Cutie back in 2001 when college radio (of which I was graduating from) started playing some tracks from We Have the Fact and We're Voting Yes. Over the years, my fondness for the band sort of waxed and waned a bit but I felt like this performance in particular really showed off some of their better material. I'm glad I headed out instead of staying at home and crying my eyes out.

Coverage here: gapersblock.com/transmission/2014/09/06/your_guide_to_hid...
www.deathcabforcutie.com/

Other shows and reviews:

OOIOO at Schubas Tavern July 15th, 2014 in Chicago
gapersblock.com/transmission/2014/07/16/ooiooschubas_tave...

Tim Hecker at Lincoln Hall in Chicago January 16th,2014
gapersblock.com/transmission/2014/01/17/day_two_tomorrow_...

Disappears at Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago November 22cnd, 2014

Disappears covered David Bowie's Low and it was really spectacular to hear those songs performed live so well to commemorate the artist who the museum is featuring an extensive exhibition of.
www.disappearsmusic.com/
www2.mcachicago.org/exhibition/david-bowie-is/

Tom Petty August 24th, 2014 at the United Center in Chicago, IL

I've been a long time Tom Petty fan and grew up listening to his albums and watching his videos so being able to see and photograph him was quite heavenly. He really does put on an amazing show and is, as I reassured my mom, still very sexy!
www.wonderingsound.com/pictures/tom-petty-chicago-live/

Swans June 22cnd Lincoln Hall in Chicago

Michael Gira is a strange and wonderous sort of beast and when he's performing, you'd best not be texting one of your friends. This was the show where Gira literally grabbed a cell phone out of the hands of the guy next to me up front and set it on his amp for about 15 minutes. He then promptly told the man not to do this again or to go to the back. It was a mesmerizing sort of set as most Swans sets are...so intense emotionally and physically that one became conscious of one's heart beat and breathing. Read more about it and see photos of this here: www.wonderingsound.com/pictures/swans-chicago-live/

Nick Cave June 20th, 2014 at the Milwaukee Theater in Wisconsin

My friend Robert Loerzel incidentally mentioned that he was considering driving up to Milwaukee for this show and, though not having a car this was not something I had even considered, I was grateful and very happy to join him. Robert, Cinchel, and I had some pizza after the drive and then settled in for the show soon after. Nick Cave never had a dull show nor moment when he's performing and it was great to enjoy the adventure that was the day and the artist as well as good friendship. Milwaukee hadn't seen Cave perform in quite some time and fans seemed very thankful. I wouldn't have had the chance to see him this time around (as he didn't have any proper Chicago dates) had Robert not been willing to indulge our collective whims.

Last but not least, I have the exceptional experience of being married to a musician myself who also has a day job but creates art just about every chance he gets. He goes by the name of Cinchel and he puts out ambient and drone music. His best show of the year was at Subterranean on December 10th on the same day that I had my 3rd bicycle stolen in a period of a month and a half (it's been a rough Autumn). Suffice it to say that I wasn't exactly in the mood to socialize or see anyone play but, as usual, he made it worthwhile. It's really something to live with an artist and he's a great deal easier to live with than I am (all of our friends would agree) but it's also very interesting to see the progression that he makes throughout his years as a human being and an artist both in a much more intimate way. Most of the time, I am lucky enough to hear his music live while I am photo-editing but I never take this for granted...he's a musician that should be appreciated and I never forget how glad I am that I married him.
His music as well as some of the paintings he's created can be found here:
cinchel.com/

**All photos are copyrighted. Please don't use without permission**

Tags:   Lolla Lollapalooza Pitchfork Music Festival Riot Festival Austin Psych Festival Levitation psychedelic music bands live concert festivals Liars Bo Ningen White Fence Loop Gruff Rhys Super Furry Animals Thee Silver Mt. Zion shoegaze Temples Low Alan Sparhawk portrait Angus Andrew Superchunk Tra la la American Interior montage list favorites collection Jessica Moss FKA Twigs St. Vincent Annie Clark Nick Cave Buzzcocls Schubas Metro Lincoln Hall Chicago Austin Tom Petty Grimes Kate Nash Benjamin Booker La Femme

© All Rights Reserved

(pt. 2)

I'm working my way backwards through a top twenty and will probably do #1-10 between Christmas and New Years (mainly to build suspense or something...) I saw a great deal of incredibly amazing shows this year and there are many that will inevitably be left out because there were so many. I should also say, there were many shows I was impressed with for some of their set-Saul Williams, Bloc Pary, and Foals being good examples but had to run off somewhere else to shoot a different band. What that means is that these bands may have made it into my top ten or twenty under different circumstances. A couple of others I wanted to mention-Boris at Pfork would have most definitely made this list if they hadn't had technical difficulties which greatly shortened their set. I really loved seeing The Dears again but relative to previous live shows, I just don't think they've come together as fully with this new line up...still very worth seeing, though.


Last, seeing Magnetic Fields again was fantastic but the first performance was ruined a bit for me when they repeated the same exact setlist and banter for a performance two nights later. They have a huge catalog to draw from and I expected them to be more inventive. It certainly was a downer to spend $50 on tickets again just to hear the same exact songs in that order. There's something about such predictability...even when it's a song you like, you know what's coming and you almost dread it. So, if Magnetic Fields are playing consecutive nights in your town, seeing one of the shows is probably enough.


All of these shows were seen in Chicago.


Also, top ten albums were previously posted here:


www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3098067542/


#11 Thee Silver Mt. Zion at Logan Square Auditorium May 31st, 2008


The sound was phenomenal....emotional, intense, and just as powerful as on their record. Their album 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons made my album of the year and their live set delivered in a way that didn't feel manufactured or predictable. They've really held their sound together over the last couple of years and their live show seems even more effective.


So why didn't this show make my top ten? I think it's important to explain because it's really not the band's fault. Unfortunately, a great deal of this show was ruined for me on a personal level because the really spotty and downright poor lighting. Even more importantly, the show was ruined for most of the crowd by the obnoxious actions of a few audience members who did everything from slithering on the floor, interrupting Efrim, and trying to tell jokes inbetween songs. It was so bad, in fact, that after the set I apologized for my city and begged Efrim to consider coming back instead of avoiding Chicago altogether on their next tour. I don't know why these people thought they were funny but they really succeeded in ruining the whole mood and flow of the set.


Complete set of photoset:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157605378844441/


myspace page:

profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile...




#12 Monotonix at The Hideout Block Party 9/20/08


What a crazy show this was...between setting their drum kit on fire, crowd surfing while keeping a steady beat, and riding a large life size elephant, this was probably the most insane and random show I've ever seen or shot. I worried about my camera getting crushed or ruined by various liquids throughout the entire set. And yet, the pictures really tell you how exciting it was to see...you felt like you were really a part of something so insane and intense that you had no idea what might happen next. It was impossible not to be swept up in the moment.


Complete photoset:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157607414075775/


website:

monotonix.com/




#13 Caribou: Empty Bottle in Chicago 4/11/2008


I'm a really huge Caribou fan and everyone knows it so as soon as this double show was announced, I had about ten emails in my inbox about it from various friends (cue the cheesy "That's what friends are for" music). They played an early and a late show and I enjoyed the late show best. Though Ahmed Gallab was filling in as drummer for both sets, it was incredibly intense and not without their very psychedelic visuals. Considering Andorra was my #2 album of 2007, it should come to no one as a surprise how happy I was to spend an evening hearing so many songs from it, though they still played favorites from other albums too.

Complete photoset:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157604525352871/


I should also say that I really enjoyed their performance at Pitchfork Music Festival on July 19th. It has been such a miserable morning with rain falling almost constantly until Dan Snaith and Caribou crew came out and played "Melody Day" and the skies cleared in almost unreal fashion.


View the complete photoset for Pfork Day Two here:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157606267741734/


myspace page:

www.myspace.com/cariboumanitoba





#14 DeVotchKa at The Vic Theater 5/9/2008


I've seen DeVotchKa too many times to count and this was the second or third time I've gone on a road trip to see them in Wisconsin the night before so that I could see them for two consecutive nights. They can certainly fill a larger space and sound great but having known them in a more intimate setting I will admit it's difficult for me to have the same emotional connection I did when I saw them at Subterranean a few years back for instance. That said, I still love Nick Urata's crooning almost angelic voice and the way Jeanie Schroder plays that stand up bass and sousaphone. They are a truly unique partly gypsy band that I've grown to love.


The main difference and definite advantage to seeing them in a larger space is that, at least for this tour, they brought along with them acrobats which were very impressive. While they only came out for the encore, it really heightened the energy overall. In the beginning of the set, they also served as intriguing shadow dancers.


View the complete photoset here:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157604986318888/


myspace page here:

www.myspace.com/devotchkamusic




#15 The Veils at Lakeshore Theater 10/2/08


Ok...I love Liam Finn and enjoyed his set immensely but even more so, I have a really strong emotional connection with The Veils, who opened up this night. There's such desperation and passion in Finn Andrew's voice...such a sense of urgency that just tears me apart inside in a way..it's impossible to be a passive listener. I think as far as energy level, Liam Finn took the cake with his talented and energetic drumming but The Veils have a way of just reaching my heart in general...


View the complete photoset here:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157607737076026/


myspace page:

www.myspace.com/theveils




#16 Nina Nastasia at The Hideout 2/11/08


This show was filled with such emotion for me because I had just found out the day before that my grandmother on my father's side had passed away. Nina always evokes a visceral reaction deep inside me but I think I needed her even more that day. From the show, I went straight to O'Hare. The airport was closed for the night and scattered people without homes wandered around the vast space looking for direction, as if it were it's own city. I was there around 2am. The first plane wouldn't take off until 6am. I kept thinking back to Nina singing "All Your Life" and the seemingly endless refrain "She's never coming back..."


Objectively, this show was the best I've seen her play in the ten or so times I've seen her in the last few years. It seemed even more intimate than usual, perhaps because of the nature of her banter inbetween songs and the small intimacy of the Hideout. There was just something right about the whole thing, though, in addition to this. She played a much longer set than usual by about twice the amount and she seemed more comfortable but still very honest and real. I felt like it was an evening with her more than seeing a performance. She also played all of my favorite songs.


Complete photoset:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157602321563548/

Myspace page:

www.myspace.com/ninanastasia



#17 Xiu Xiu at Reggie's 3/15/2008


It's definitely true that Xiu Xiu put on an amazing live show, especially if you are emotionally inclined because you can really sense that, in particular, Jamie Stewart is teetering on some edge and his flightly vocals tend to make you feel like the song might even be created at the time while you're listening. It definitely doesn't feel at all produced or manufactured. It's a human emotion sung out as a cry for help even at times instead of a product...they couldn't be further from a product.


I've seen Xiu Xiu several times over the past few years but this time everything really just clicked so much more than others. They always put on a great live show but I couldn't help feeling that this time, I was left feeling more satisfied somehow. It could have been the mix of songs but it seems more likely it was the strength of the presence of the band overall.


Two impromptu portrait shots I took of them after the show:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/2340972646/

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/2655152231/


Myspace page:

www.myspace.com/xiuxiuforlife




#18 Explosions in the Sky at the Congress Theater 4/1/08

There's something about this band in their ability to almost capture all the brightness inherent in human beings and actually play it in a song. This was the first time I'd seen the band and I had heard how amazing their live set could be but I was still astounded given my high expectations. The experience was completely ethereal and made me even a bit light headed at times. They are one of the only live bands I actually really can connect with and maybe that's because they are so adept at the instrumentation part of it that I can actually hear lyrics in my head of all the things I want to tell people and everything they've told me. They were also fantastic at Lollapalooza and I did get to stay their whole set but this Congress show was much longer.


Complete photoset:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157604356578779/


myspace page:


www.myspace.com/explosionsinthesky




#19 The Dresden Dolls at the Vic Theater 1/5/08

I didn't think Amanda Palmer's solo performance more recently was too far from the complete Dresden Dolls and it became clear to me that she's the main force behind the vocals and lyrics but there's something about the intensity of Brian Viglione's drumming and that does add something to the dynamics of the show. Both shows had a sense of the personal even in a large space because of Amanda's lyrics and both shows had performance pieces beforehand and inbetween sets. It becomes sort of an all night event because of that, which is unlike most bands now. The cabaret theater style can be interesting and lively.


complete photoset:


www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157603650688136/


myspace page:

www.myspace.com/dresdendolls




#20 Keren Ann at Lakeshore Theater 2/10/08


This show was amazing but, like the Nina Nastasia show, was really difficult because I had just found out that my paternal grandmother had died. I cried all day and then went to see Keren Ann, French chanteuse with Dean and Britta at Lakeshore. I know that sounds very strange, right? I'm in the middle of the grieving process and still going to shows? I agree and I almost didn't go but I honestly felt it was better than staying at home and crying all night.


I've seen both Dean and Britta and Keren Ann many times and love them so much. I think they worked together well but it wasn't my favorite Dean and Britta set, mainly because they were technically the openers for this show and I would have loved for it to be just a little longer. Keren Ann was headlining the show and for me it was amazing to listen as I've been following her career closely and her albums continue to get more and more impressive. Suffice it to say, we don't get a ton of French musicians coming here (I'm looking at you Benjamin Biolay and Françoise Breut) so just to see her again was really something for me.


Complete photoset:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157603889696937/


myspace page:

www.myspace.com/kerenann

Tags:   Best live concerts band live indie concerts music montage Thee SIlver Mt. Zion Monotonix Caribou DeVotchKa The Veils Nina Nastasia Xiu Xiu Explosions in the Sky Dresden Dolls Keren Ann

© All Rights Reserved

Happy New Year! I've really enjoyed being part of this community, seeing all of your photos for the end of the year and throughout the year. I hope 2009 brings much joy to each of you. Thanks for looking and being so supportive. It means alot to me.


I suppose my way of gaining closure over the last year is doing all these lists so that when I have complete amnesia someday, i can look back and remember what kind of person I was and see all the things I loved.

Anyways...

#1 Low

September 17th, 2008
Epiphany Church

There were many amazing shows this year but the best for me by far was Low...I can't put into words very well how amazing it was for me to be able to see one of my favorite bands of all time in such a heavenly place, Epiphany Church. It seemed so right to me and the experience was everything I hoped it would be. That's really all you can ask from a live set at the end of the day, especially on some days. Moons aligned, planets rotated correctly, and Low sang a couple of feet away and I'll never forget how amazing that was to me.

For more pictures, the first couple or so here:

www.flickr.com/search/?q=low&w=47508116@N00

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/low

#2 Radiohead

August 1st, 2008
Grant Park, Lollapalooza

I haven't seen Radiohead since I drove to Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens for the OK Computer Tour. I think this show meant so unbelievably much to me as a photographer...I never thought I would be able to shoot Radiohead and I've been a fan of their music for so long that the experience overall surpasses unbelievable and goes straight into mind blowing. I know sometimes people that have shot Radiohead or are in that category of photographer, for them it is just a job or something they don't really count as one of the top ten most phenomenal experiences of their lifetime. But for me...well, could this really be happening?


I should probably actually talk about their live show too...Thom Yorke's amazing vocals, Jonny's stunning guitar playing and the setlist was all the best songs from current and past albums.

I think when death comes to me, I won't be ready and I'll go without peace in my heart no matter what..it's just the type of person I am. But, this experience will make it a little easier no matter how old I am and no matter what the cause of death is. Perhaps, I'll go with a little bit of peace in my heart afterall.

More photos:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157609827711425/

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/radiohead

#3 Jarvis Cocker

July 19th, 2008
Union Square Park, Pitchfork Music Festival

I know some of you probably expected this to be my number one and objectively it would have been had Jarvis sang some of my favorite Pulp songs. That said, I still more than respect the man for being able to play his own solo material and get all the crowd wrapped up in it. The real downfall of his set was simply that it had to be limited by length, which meant I couldn't spend the entire night with Jarvis...what a travesty!

Oh Jarvis...I was so excited. The girls that tore their hear in black and white over John Lennon and Paul McCartney so long ago have nothing on me!

More photos:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157606298436001/

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/jarvspace

(please don't hesitate to leave a comment about how he should return to Chicago immediately! ;) )

#4 The High Dials

October 24th, 2008
some random loft space

You didn't misread that location...Montréal's The High Dials indeed played a loft space in the middle of nowhere in a street that looked like any other on a rainy night where I got drenched after seeing fellow city mates The Dears across town and bicycling at my best speed.

Let me put it like this: The High Dials are the most underrated band in existence. Their talent is astounding and, in addition, they are incredibly nice people, too. If you love psychedelic music, you would love this band. And...it's not as if the songs aren't accessible. They are downright catchy! Any enormous radio should love to have them. Instead, they are playing to ten people. Trust me when I say they deserve to play to millions.

High Dials polaroidoid:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/2982587316/

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/thehighdials

#5 David Byrne

October 26th, 2008
Chicago Opera House

This show was so nervewracking to me. I worked so hard to get this photopass to go through and then I was the only one of the photographers present that actually stayed the rest of the show. Why don't I have this job? Well, anyhow, I remember growing up every summer at The Renaissance Fair in Sterling, NY. One summer, my family was invited to a staff party where all the actors took off their costumes and blasted "Burning Down the House." It was the first time I had heard The Talking Heads and I would never forget it.

Since then, The Talking Heads have played a part in my life and my musings on heaven especially. David Byrne's live show was truly phenomenal...choreographed completely surreally and full of all of his old songs.

Full review here with more photos:

www.popmatters.com/pm/review/65884-david-byrne/

myspace page:

profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile...

#6 My Bloody Valentine

September 27th, 2008
The Aragon Ballroom

I don't want to get too much into this show because I already, like David Byrne's set wrote a length review. Still, what I will say is that, for me, to see My Bloody Valentine in the flesh after so many years of listening to those albums and writing off the possibility completely was phenomenal.

Full review with photos here:

www.popmatters.com/pm/post/my-bloody-valentine-27-septemb...

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/mybloodyvalentine

#7 Nick Cave

September 29th, 2008
The Riviera Theater

Though I saw Nick Cave for two consecutive nights , the second night was by far better by miles! Nick Cave is one of those musicians whose past work is unbelievable and who can command a live show like none other. The man is a master and I'm in awe of him, pure and simple.

My full review with photos:

www.popmatters.com/pm/review/nick-cave-and-the-bad-seeds

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/nickcaveandthebadseeds

#8 The Super Furry Animals

February 16th, 2008
Cabaret Metro

Simply put, I love Gruff Rhys. A couple of years back, when Caribou opened at Cabaret Metro, it would have been my top show of that year easily. This time around, The Super Furry Animals put less energy into their live set but only relative to previous performances. Their live show by any standards is still remarkable, memorable, and amazing. I was lucky-I got a whole day of the Super Furries, starting with a small performance for Stop Smiling in which he was mainly being silly. My friend Leigh made cupcakes and we all tried not to be too obviously adoring. I was a little worried that Gruff Rhys wasn't going to deliver the psychedelic goods in his live set but I was definitely wrong. This band is just amazing...

Full review of the show here:

radiofreechicago.typepad.com/reredesign/2008/02/the-super...

Photoset of Cabaret metro show:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157603932053676/

Photoset of Stop Smiling set:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157603959332214/

How Gruff Rhys eats a cupcake:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/2272102988/

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/superfurry

#9 Spiritualized

September 8th, 2008
Cabaret Metro

I had just about written Jason Pierce off when he created one of the best albums of this year to completely change my mind. Songs in A&E is brilliant and his live show, unlike in previous years does not dissolve but truly brings those songs to fruition, aided so much by the lovely gospel singers who bring those songs closer to heaven.

More Spiritualized photos:

www.flickr.com/search/?q=Spiritualized&w=47508116@N00

profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile...

#10 CSS

December 14th, 2008
Cabaret Metro

CSS's live show is phenomenal. mainly because Lovefoxxx is an unpredictable tour de force sort of animal on stage! One never knows just what she will do! It's like the best party you'll ever go to, save from perhaps seeing The Flaming Lips. Lovefoxxx never misses a beat as she takes over the stage like her own rooftop looking over the world of admiring indie rock fans. Between this most recent show and Lollapalooza, I have hundreds, perhaps thousands of shots so as long as I'm still alive, ever so often, you'll see Lovefoxxx popping up on my photostream in all her unabashed glory.

CSS set (in progress):

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157612013244018/

myspace page:

www.myspace.com/canseidesersexy


Live shows #11-20 previously posted here:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3127693361/

Best albums of 2008 here:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3098067542/

honorable mentions that were amazing shows and didn't make my top 20:

-Andrew Bird at The Hideout
-Bill Callahan at Pritzker Pavilion:
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157606422726252/
-Love is All with Crystal Stilts at The Empty Bottle
-Mercury Rev at Martyrs
-Film School at Wicker Park Street Festival
-The Ex at Pritzker Pavilion
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157606834619199/
-The Dears at Cabaret Metro
-Cursive at the Belmont Arts and Music Festival
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157605894318469/
-El Perro Del Mar at Schubas
-Hayden at Schubas
-Langhorne Slim at The Hideout
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157605402098157/
-Black Mountain at the Hideout Block Party
-Frida Hyvonen at Lakeshore theater
-Stars at the Vic Theater
-James at the Vic Theater
-Efterklang at the Empty Bottle:
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157605580951892/
-Longwave at the Double Door:
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157611812641659/
-Public Enemy at Pitchfork Music Festival:
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157606248181886/
-Sons and Daughters at the Double Door:
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157607168719585/
-The Liars at Reggies
-My Brightest Diamond with Clare and the Reasons at Schubas:
www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157608790908657/

My favorite concert photos from throughout the year:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157606091998987/


Well, this is alot of shows already...many wishes to you all for a Happy New Year again. Thanks for reading.

Your friend,

Kirstie

Tags:   Low Radiohead Jarvis Cocker Pulp The High Dials David Byrne My Bloody Valentine Nick Cave Super Furry Animals Gruff Rhys Spiritualized Jason Pierce CSS Cansei de Ser Sexy Lovefoxxx band live performance concert Pitchfork music Festival lollapalooza music music festival Cabaret Metro Epiphany The Riviera The Aragon All shows took place in Chicago

© All Rights Reserved

First, a caveat...I know what all of you must be thinking...you're probably completely shocked that I don't have a photo of Leonard Cohen first and PJ Harvey second on this list. Well, I have a pretty good reason for that. Basically, when I saw both musicians, I was thrilled to death to be so very close to them. I almost couldn't prevent my hands from shaking I was so excited. Both are completely brilliant. However, in terms of Leonard Cohen, for both performances, he ruined about 99% of his material with dreadful synthesizers and wind instrumentation. While lyrically the man is still top of his game, his idea of fitting musical accompaniment is frankly offensive to every part of my anatomy that registers auditory input. I'm serious. That's why if there's anyone out there reading that is actually in a great indie band, please cover all of his most recent songs done in a more acoustic vain. Though I don't want to dwell on this, Cohen went one step further and for his live show, although he possessed all the wonderful boyishness that one could hope for, he decided to ruin all of his old songs originally done acoustically now rendered as sickening soft rock sort of numbers. I paid $100 to see him the second time and gladly would have paid twice as much to see an acoustic set of just him and not all the other garbage. With regards to PJ Harvey, I thought she performed A Woman a Man Walked By with John Parish very adeptly and if she had done even one song from White Chalk as an encore, she would have made it to this list. I respect her for being a strong willed woman and making independent choices. However, as a fan I felt the $45 ticket price (plus service charges) for less than an hour show that didn't feature any of her old songs as an encore was a little unreasonable.

Also, the meaning of ten is very specific...in other words, ten is not eleven or twelve and if you try to make ten into another number, it usually revolts in unsatisfying ways. However, I changed my mind back and forth about what shows exactly should be on here until I reached a final verdict. Some very close shows included seeing The Pretenders in August and then The Pixies just recently in November. A few more that were fantastic this year: Raveonettes with Black Angels at the Metro, Fanfarlo at Schubas Tavern, I was a King at The Empty Bottle, Entrance Band at The Hideout, Dutchess and the Duke at the Hideout, Explosions in the Sky at the Congress Theater, Sonic Youth at the Vic Theater (both nights!), Ebony Bones at Wicker Park Street Festival, The Love Language at the Hideout, Os Mutantes at Subterranean, The Liars at Coachella, The Vaselines at The Metro, Art Brut at Schubas Tavern, The Doves at the Vic Theater, Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Riviera Theater, Speck Mountain at The Hideout, Broadcast at the Bottom Lounge, The Cure at Coachella, The Vivian Girls at the Empty Bottle, St. Vincent at the Metro, The Dø at the Empty Bottle, and pretty much every Sharon Van Etten show (Sharon Van Etten would definitely make it on this list if she would only play a little bit longer for her sets.)

Now, let's begin.

#1 The Feelies: Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (Chicago)

I never really felt that it was possible that I'd be seeing one of my favorite bands live. I was way too young to see The Feelies when they were initially touring so long ago and, though I felt hopeful, I was a little cautious of getting my hopes up that they would come to my city.

I've seen quite a few bands that are playing live again after a period of years-Wire, for example, and Gang of Four. I've even seen The Undertones with a different lead singer (on my birthday!) and The Vaselines, who were exceptional this year but I admit the passive aggressive banter between Frances and Eugene just threw me right off.

The performance of The Feelies surpassed all of these bands. It was clear the band was actually in prime form and while I don't have any previous much earlier performances to compare this one to, I was incredibly impressed. The timing was perfect, the sense of the band as a whole spot on. I enjoyed myself immensely, dancing to many of my favorite old songs. It was the kind of magical show where younger people who may not have even heard the band's music who were just stopping in (because it was a free show downtown) seemed to love it immediately. There was Crazy Rhythms sort of dancing and it was wonderful. Maybe it's Only Life, but life is truly what you make of it.

Here's a photoset including a setlist: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157620629433313/

myspace page: www.myspace.com/thefeelies

#2 Antony and the Johnsons: February17th at the Vic Theater in Chicago.

Oh I was so very angry at Antony Hegarty. What nerve he had! I arrived at The Vic incredibly early for the best seat in the house (I pretty much knew there wouldn't be a photopit for someone who hates his photo being taken). Then, my camera literally wouldn't focus for the first three songs because it was so dark. In other words, despite my fast lens, my camera sensor wouldn't register any point of light to focus on. Then, immediately after the first three songs were up (and that venue is very strict about enforcing the three song rule) Antony played with the most brilliant white light one could ever imagine. It was torture and the five usable shots I did take were actually when the security guard was busy texting his girlfriend and didn't realize I had my camera up. You can get thrown out of this venue if you are caught taking photos after song 3 and this is the ONLY TIME I have ever violated this rule.

But enough moaning...the show itself was amazing. Antony's voice is nothing short of divine. It's like he's been touched by the gods when he sings. I couldn't help but sit there gaping with my mouth open, my heart lodged in my throat watching him up there. Well, in truth most of the time my eyes were closed because I was so tortured by what I was missing but the listening experience was immense. The depth of human emotion that Antony has would not be measured on any kind of mathematical scale. It's really out of this world. Antony also came off as rather funny and sweet to his fans between songs, which made me forgive him for being the cruelest sadist to photographers on this side of the galaxy.

Photoset including photos from Coachella:

www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157622149874803/

Myspace:
www.myspace.com/antonyandthejohnsons

#3 Mount Eerie: November 8th, 2009 at The Lakeshore Theater in Chicago

I consider myself to be a Phil Elverum fan but suffice it to say that I prefer his albums like Lost Wisdom a little more than his most recent, Wind's Poem. Now, I've never been a real fan of metal music unless it's a sung by Mark Kozelek. I'm much more a fan of the psyhedelic and shoegaze genres. Punk and folk are also preferred over metal within the context of my grey matter.

Another thing about Wind's Poem...it has it's moments of turbulence but it probably wouldn't really be considered metal by die hard fans of the genre. For instance, people that listen to Black Sabbath for all hours of the day might consider Wind's Poem a weak metal album I imagine.

That said, Phil Elverum really brought the energy and strength live in a way that was sort of like an indie metal epiphany. It was like witnessing the album amped up with all the force that it needed to convince me that, hey, that genre called metal might not be so bad. Listen, if I'm the one thinking that, the performance was nothing short of amazing.

Full Review with Photos of Mount Eerie: www.popmatters.com/pm/post/116076-mount-eerie-8-november-...

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/elverumandsun

#4 My Bloody Valentine: April 2009 at Coachella in Indio, California

I wish I could say that witnessing My Bloody Valentine for the second time was powerful enough to even clear up the massive sinus infection I had at the time of this music festival but unfortunately I did need legitimate medicine for that. Anyhow, I'm quite sure the band gave me the strength I needed to get myself back to the airport after the festival and safely home.

I'd seen My Bloody Valentine one other time at The Aragon Ballroom and that easily made my top ten live shows of 2008. Like The Feelies, I was incredibly impressed with their live performance even though I didn't see them in their early days. The reeling of MBV's guitars seemed so well balanced by all the shimmer shoegaze etherea. One really can't see this band without experiencing a certain sense of awe.

And, while I was feeling like I was on the verge of collapse in the middle of the desert, thinking I would surely end up dying several states from home, I gained a second wind. All of a sudden, I wanted to photograph all of the audience members while they were experiencing the music too (this was well after the first three songs.) I decided to do this during the quite long "You Made Me Realise" and felt more creative at this time than I have in awhile. It was a really great feeling.

You Made Me Realise photoset of audience shots: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157617609197407/

Coachella 2009 complete photoset including live photos of My Bloody Valentine: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157617435259499/

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/mybloodyvalentine

#5: Ida Maria: August 2009 Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago

This was actually the second time I was seeing and photographing Ida Maria but the first time that I could stay the whole set instead of running to some other band to photograph them on a different stage (which had happened at Coachella). I really enjoy Ida Maria's punk sensibilities. In case you didn't know, she's from Norway so seeing her live in the states is rare enough. Unfortunately, history has proven that it's difficult to see her with Visa issues and most recently with a sort of a nervous breakdown, which makes this performance even more special.

Ida Maria was on a side stage early on in the day and she seemed to possess all sorts of crazy amounts of energy. She was completely wild, playing all of the songs off of her album to perfection then going even further, unleashed into a phenomenal cover of The Stooges classic "I Wanna Be Your Dog." To call the show fun would probably be the understatement of the century...you really felt like you were the woman and the music were phenomenally of the moment.

Live photos of Ida Maria at Lolla: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157622410528024/

Full set of Lollapalooza photos: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157621885210945/

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/idamaria

#6 Rural Alberta Advantage: August 24th, 2009 Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park, Chicago

I want to emphasize how great this band is live and on album. I really enjoyed seeing them both times this year and it was quite special to see them in the intimate venue of Schubas Tavern. However, the key difference between those shows was that lead male singer Nils Edenloff talked more between songs at Pritzker Pavilion. He shared stories about the songs and his life and past and that made it seem all the more engaging and interesting. RAA are such an exceptional live band out of Canada and you really can't go wrong seeing them live but what was really apparent from this earlier show is how loveable they are as human beings.

Photos and a review of The Rural Alberta Advantage with The Love Language at Schubas Tavern: www.soundcheckmagazine.com/featured-content/1774-reviewph...

Myspace: www.myspace.com/theraa

#7 Dead Man's Bones: October 21, 2009 at Schubas Tavern in Chicago

Yes, I know, it *is* weird that Ryan Gosling is in a band. I'm going to continue to stand by how much I love this record and how greatly I enjoyed the live performance, though. In fact, in many ways, the live performance even surpassed that of the album. What was most impressive was how Gosling used a local choir of kids to sing with him. It was even more fun that they were dressed up as day of the dead zombies.

For a full review with a photoset: www.soundcheckmagazine.com/featured-content/1809-reviewph...

Myspace: www.myspace.com/deadmansbones

#8 Viva Voce: May 29th, 2009 at The Empty Bottle in Chicago

Viva Voce was so catchy and so tight at this show despite long drives and touring schedules that I ended up being mesmerized by how fantastic they were. Creating a vivid psychedelic wonderland is what they do best and, even though the Do Division show the next day was great it couldn't come close to their show the previous evening. Touring on Rose City, an album that also made my top ten albums of 2009, the band really has evolved to the level where their setlist is so chocked full of great songs that you definitely won't be disappointed seeing them live. In addition, they put in such energy while at the same time making it seem effortless. You have to see/hear it to believe it, truly.

Live photos of Viva Voce at Do Division: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157618985524901/

myspace page: www.myspace.com/vivavoce

#9 The Veils: July 23rd, 2009 at the Empty Bottle in Chicago

I've never been let down by The Veils. This was the third time
I had seen them and they were alive as humans can possibly be. I'm stunned by the lengths Finn Andrews goes to live especially. He seems to be able to channel every experience he's ever had and bare it all. It's quite frankly a little unnerving but at the same time, it challenges you to go beyond passive listening. It doesn't hurt that The Veils have some truly amazing songs and records, the kind you don't just learn by heart but feel by heart.

Portrait photo of Finn Andrews: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/3751570369/in/photostream/

A full live review of this show with photos can be found here: www.popmatters.com/pm/post/109329-the-veils-23-july-2009-...

Live shots of The Veils in 2008: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157607737076026/

Myspace: www.myspace.com/theveils

#10 Tindersticks: March 12th, 2009 at Epiphany Church in Chicago

I have a confession to make...I didn't really "get" Tindersticks until I saw them live at this show. I never really understood why they had such a rabidly devoted fan base, for instance, until I was sitting at Epiphany Church witnessing Stuart Staples in all his glory in the flesh. That's when it clicked. His voice is a little like Tom Waits...a little like Leonard Cohen...and a little like Jarvis Cocker (if Jarvis was a bit older.) He has a sense to him that is both clever and sly and wraps around you subtly. Before you realize it, you're in love with the music and you think it's just about the best thing between Earth and heaven. Well, that's how I felt, anyhow. Highly recommended...I really couldn't do a top ten live shows list without them included.

Live photos of Tindersticks: www.flickr.com/photos/kirstiecat/sets/72157622128971897/

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/tindersticksofficial

Tags:   top best Top Ten Live Shows of 2009 review music bands The Feelies Antony and the Johnsons Antony Hegarty Mount Eerie Phil Elverum My Bloody Valentine Bilinda Butcher MBV Ida Maria Lollapalooza Lolla music festival RAA Rural Alberta Advantage Dead Man's Bones Ryan Gosling Viva Voce Anita Robinson The Veils Sophia Burn Tindersticks Stuart Staples

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