So it's no secret that I go to a bunch of live music shows and 2018 was no exception (see full list in comment below). By my count I will have seen well over 50 live acts this year, although a lot of that was due to my Memphis and Nashville trips where I saw over a dozen acts on Beale Street and Broadway. I have only one regret, I missed the David Byrne show at Northrop, which I heard was excellent. I had a chance to go, but the $140 price tag turned me off. Now I'm kicking myself.
Some Highlights:
Most fun show -- The Posies
Artist having most fun -- Liz Phair
Most visually stunning -- Thom Yorke
Most anticipated -- Guided by Voices Dec 30 (duh).
2019 promises to be fun too as I already have tickets for Neil Young solo acoustic, Teenage Fanclub, two different Billy Bragg shows, and the Flesheaters. Also the Blue Ox festival in Eau Claire looks really good too.
What shows did you see this year? What was your favorite?
Hope to see you at a show sometime in 2019!
Freealonzo's 2018 Concert Line up
Feb 3 – Bob Mould, Soul Asylum, Suburbs, Jayhawks -- Super Bowl Live Nicollet Mall
Feb 9 – Jeff Schuller -- Driftwood
Feb 11 – Black Rebel Motorcycle Gang -- First Avenue
Mar 3 – Low, Dave Simonett, Gaelynn Lea -- NorShor Theater, Duluth
Mar 17 – Titus Andronicus -- Turf Club
Mar 27 – Wedding Present -- Turf Club
Apr 2 – Courtney Marie Andrews -- 7th Street Entry
Apr 8 – Built to Spill -- First Avenue
May 9 – Sarah Shook -- Turf Club
Jun 9 – Jeff Schuller -- Mortimers
Jun 26 – The Posies -- Turf Club
Jun 29 – Matthew Sweet -- Turf Club
Jul 14 – Jayhawks, The Handsome Family -- Square Roots Fest, Chicago
Aug 3 – All Tomorrow’s Pettys -- Lake Harriet Bandshell
Sep 9 – Neko Case -- Palace Theater
Sep 8 – Hamilton -- Orpheum Theater
Sep 10 – Roe Family Singers -- 331 Club
Sep 15 – Liz Phair -- First Avenue
Sep 22 – Rank Strangers, Otto’s Chemical Lounge -- Mortimers
Sep 26/27 – Various Bands -- Beale Street, Memphis
Sep 28 – Tim Carrol’s Rock and Roll Review -- Five Spot, Nashville
Sep 29 – Various Bands -- Broadway, Nashville
Sept 30 – Unnamed Country Jazz Band -- American Legion #82, Nashville
Oct 7 – Sarah Shook -- Turf Club
Oct 10 – Beautiful (Carol King Musical) -- Orpheum
Oct 31 – Ton Loc -- Timberwolves Halftime Show
Nov 3 – Rock School Concert -- Uptown Famous Dave’s
Nov 3 – In Circles, Smashing Blumpkins -- Mortimer’s
Nov 17 – Boy Genius -- First Avenue
Nov 21 – Ike Reilly -- First Avenue
Dec 1 – Belfast Cowboys -- Hook and Ladder
Dec 6 – Thom York -- Northrop
Dec 7 – New Standards -- State Theater
Dec 22 – Gin Sombreros -- Driftwood Bar
Dec 27 – All Tomorrow’s Pettys -- Turf Club
Dec 30 – Guided By Voices -- First Avenue
No shows this year.
I wish I was as diligent as you at keeping track of shows, haha. I'm having to dig through email to fill in my spotty memory. Here was my lineup for the year:
March 16: Hot Snakes/Duchess Says/Meat Wave @ Turf Club, St. Paul
March 17: Titus Andronicus/Rick Maguire @ Turf Club, St. Paul
April 4: Lucy Dacus/Adult Mom/And the Kids @ 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis
April 21: Phoebe Bridgers/Lomelda @ The Aquarium, Fargo
May 21: Power Trip/Sheer Mag/Fury/Red Death @ Park Theatre, Winnipeg
August 21: Long Neck/Fern Mayo @ The Red Raven, Fargo
October 26: Mitski/Overcoats @ First Avenue, Minneapolis
There are less shows coming through Fargo these days, and I find it harder and harder to get down to the Cities for stuff, so this is probably the lightest year I've had in close to a decade. Only 2019 show I have lined up so far is Corrosion of Conformity in Winnipeg in February. I've wanted to see those guys for like two decades so I'm amped for that.
Best Headliner: Hot Snakes, and I'd been waiting 15 years to see them so there wasn't really another option here.
Favorite Set: Probably Fern Mayo. It was just her with an electric guitar, and she absolutely killed it.
Favorite Show Moment: Phoebe Bridgers doing "You Missed My Heart" during her encore. I was a sobbing mess.
Favorite Overall Show: Lucy Dacus/Adult Mom. I went with J, and we both love shows in the Entry. It was a great night.
Show I'm Most Bummed About Missing: Anthrax in Fargo. It was on our wedding anniversary and I wasn't going to spend it apart from J, but I am still a little sad I didn't get to see them in a tiny venue.
Biggest Disappointment: Mitski. J and I were both hugely let down by her current show. She didn't play an instrument almost the entire set? She instead sang and did movements to the songs? Everything was... different? And I'm usually up for change, but this just... wasn't the kind I like. It's especially a bummer since I really love her new record and was looking forward to hearing those songs.
Obama dropping lists too:
And finally, my favorite songs of 2018:
Apes••t by The Carters
Bad Bad News by Leon Bridges
Could’ve Been by H.E.R. (feat. Bryson Tiller)
Disco Yes by Tom Misch (feat. Poppy Ajudha)
Ekombe by Jupiter & Okwess
Every Time I Hear That Song by Brandi Carlile
Girl Goin’ Nowhere by Ashley McBryde
Historia De Un Amor by Tonina (feat. Javier Limón and Tali Rubinstein)
I Like It by Cardi B (feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin)
Kevin’s Heart by J. Cole
King For A Day by Anderson East
Love Lies by Khalid & Normani
Make Me Feel by Janelle Monáe
Mary Don’t You Weep (Piano & A Microphone 1983 Version) by Prince
My Own Thing by Chance the Rapper (feat. Joey Purp)
Need a Little Time by Courtney Barnett
Nina Cried Power by Hozier (feat. Mavis Staples)
Nterini by Fatoumata Diawara
One Trick Ponies by Kurt Vile
Turnin’ Me Up by BJ the Chicago Kid
Wait by the River by Lord Huron
Wow Freestyle by Jay Rock (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
And in honor of one of the great jazz singers of all time, who died this year, a classic album: The Great American Songbook by Nancy Wilson
I don't believe I attended a single concert this year.
1. Elite Gymnastics “Mix For Opening Ceremony”*
2. The Breeders “S.O.S.”* Last Splash
3. Eric Copeland “Gutterhouse” Flushing Meats
4. YUI “Again”* Again
5. Cat Stevens “Wild World” Tea for the Tillerman
6. Hole “Softer, Softest” Live Through This
7. Mix Master Mike “Sloh Beat” Anti-Theft Device
8. Fila Brazillia “Subtle Body”* Maim That Tune
9. The Cinematic Orchestra “Flite” Every Day
T. Vampire Weekend “I Stand Corrected” Vampire Weekend
E. Stan Getz & João Gilberto “Desafinado (Off Key)” Getz/Gilberto
*Notes:
1. 37-minute digital "mixtape" of mostly K-Pop.
2. The reason Kim Deal gets $$$ every time the Prodigy's "Firestarter" is licensed.
4. Opening Theme for Season 1 of "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood".
This song is a big hit among my kids, even if all any of them have seen is the opening credits.
It's got that great fusion of slick pop and metallic guitars that I've found in the credits of Anime from the 00s.
I dig the lyrics as translated:
"Stop making that sad face as though you were a victim.
Sins don't end with tears, you have to carry the pain forever."
Fitting for a show where the heroes' main drive is atonement for one huge transgression of their youth.
8. An absolute classic of the downtempo sound of the mid 90s. Check it here:
I personallly noted that you didn't mention going to the Ha Ha Tonka show.
Alas, it fell on the night of the non-negotiable family event with my in-laws, Glenwood's Waterama.
1. Wheel in the Sky--Journey
2. Someone Saved My Life Tonight--Elton John
3. Against the Wind--Bob Seger
4. When You Say Nothing At All--Alison Krauss
5. Here Comes the Sun--The Beatles
6. With a Little Luck--Paul McCartney and Wings
7. Guitar Man--Bread
8. Ready to Take a Chance Again--Barry Manilow
9. Lonely Boy--Andrew Gold
10. Miracles--Jefferson Starship
I went to see Ike Reiley and some band at the Turf Club, but only because my boy was working both of those shows.
01. "Bitters End" – Roxy Music – Roxy Music
02. "Daddy Rollin' Stone" – Johnny Thunders – So Alone
03. "Felix Partz" – Peaches – The Teaches Of Peaches
04. "Put Me Thru" – Anderson .Paak – Malibu
05. "Soria Maria" – Mount Eerie – A Crow Looked At Me
06. "L'Inconnue" – Beach House – 7
07. "Endless, Nameless" – Nirvana – Nevermind
08 "Strawberry Blonde" – Mitski – Retired From Sad, New Career In Business
09. "Screen Door" – Uncle Tupelo – No Depression
10. "Kettering" – The Antlers – Hospice
Two shows this year.
MBV - a wall of noise
The Beths - They're as good as you've heard
Screaming Females are in town on Sunday. I'm considering it.
I went to The Hold Steady at Surlyfest. That was it, but it was great fun.