It is almost New Years
and I thought it would be fitting
to reminisce on the most memorable
shows of 2010.
(For me of course. You don't have to agree.)
They are listed in no particular order
but just as they come to mind.
And here's to looking forward to
all the amazing show to experience in 2011!
I don't think The Head And The Heart can top their show at The Comet on that extremely hot day in July.
Stuffed to the brim in that little room but it didn't matter. We were all singing at the top of our lungs, clapping, stomping and dancing together. Strangers and friends;
it didn't matter. We were just happy to share in this intimate show. When I look back on that night I can't help but just smile.
This was the first time I saw Drew Grow And The Pastors' Wives live. I had been listening to their
music but had yet to experience them
raw. My jaw literally fell open when Drew Grow started to sing. It was like I was getting musical healing. At some point during the night, everyone had started putting their hands up as if to saw:
Yes. Heal me. Till now I am speechless at the presence this band has.
I've seen Glen Hansard perform with Swell Season multiple times. But seeing him with The Frames was a whole another thing. And the one thing that stood out more than his performance is just how big of a
heart he has. That alone made me enjoy the show ten times more. And not to mention he came back for not only 2 encores - But three...
I can not explain how different Doe Bay Festival is from any other festival you would ever attend. It was like camping with your favorite local musicians. Just
one big family together on a beautiful resort. I remember falling asleep in my tent to sound of people singing... Doe Bay has gotten lots of media attention since and I have a feeling it will never be the same as it was in 2010.
I rang in the New Year with Minus The Bear. I stood up front,
in front of Dave Knudson in complete awe of the stunning talent he has - Along with all the rest of his band members. They performed 'Lemurs, Man Lemurs' right as it hit 12:00 am. We raised our glasses as we all sang out 'Let's drink all night!'. It didn't matter that I didn't have anyone to kiss at midnight. I had Minus The Bear...
I had seen Hey Marseilles prior to seeing them at The Tractor. But there was something different about this show. I smiled so hard my face was hurting by the time I left. In closing they sang 'Rio' and passed out different percussion's to some of the audience. By the end of the song it had become a sold out Tractor clapping like
mad crazy. I included... Simply just a most happiest feeling ever.
I do find it odd that I count Bumbershoot as my most favorite Fences performance. He had a shorter set then any other venue I have seen him at. But he appeared to give it his
all. And I was swept by his music
entirely. I almost forgot I was at Bumbershoot and I had other people to see. All I wanted to see and hear was:
Fences.
To me Minus The Bear is too big of a band to perform at the semi smaller venue The Crocodile. But for the Pablove Foundation that is exactly what they did. As usual I made it to the front and for the rest of the night was
absorbed by Minus The Bear. Kind of an intimate show for me compared to the other times I had seen them. It made the night special.
I felt special.
I knew a few of the musicians performing at BARE but most of them I was not aware of. I was drawn to attend after hearing that the musicians would be performing without anything other than their own voices. The crowd was so quiet you
could hear a needle drop. And the performances were unbelievable stunning and almost spiritual. I felt as though I was taken to somewhere
new. And I discovered (Head And The Heart among many others.) new musicians in the process.
I didn't know what to expect from Hootenanny For Haiti show. All I knew was I would be seeing Mike McCready from Pearl Jam. But I definitely got more than I bargained for. I felt as though I was peaking into a window of the muscians' living room. A place where they were themselves. And when they performed 'River Of Deciet' I knew I was witnessing something extremely
rare.
I fell in love with Cataldo this year. And when I went to see him for the first time at The Tractor I honestly fell in love again. I kind of wanted to take Eric Anderson home with me by the end of the evening : To sing me to sleep. I felt every bone and muscle in my body just
let go while standing there in the crowd listening to him belt out songs. It was clear to me that Cataldo is the cure to
anyone's restless night... And I honestly felt honored to have discovered him and to witness this intimate night. I left The Tractor and could still feel the goosebumps from hearing his closing song (And my most favorite.) 'Signal Flare'...
I will admit I was a bit late on getting on the Damien Jurado bus. When I heard he was doing an acoustic set at Capitol Hill Block Party at Caffe Vita I took the opportunity to check him out. It was literally only a couple of songs but it was as if he was singing straight into my soul. He was
memorizing. Voice, lyrics, presence.
Everything. It was as though I had gone through a door only to discover a new world. I went out the next day and bought a couple of his many Cd's. But nothing compares to the raw and surprising set I heard at Capitol Hill Block Party.
I did not go to No Depression to see The Head And The Heart. So I was completely speechless to discover them busking - Yes - Busking in between sets. Charity, Jon, and Josiah singing till they were literally out of breath... Many songs I did not even recognize at the time. I already find them a refreshing band but seeing them busk and busk new songs was a whole new level of
'refreshing'. I am 100% sure this will never happen again. I felt like I was a part of
music history. Local music history maybe but nonetheless - It felt very special. A unique moment to witness.
