Tag: live
Gomez / Ben Kweller
posted: 02.17.2007 6:40 pm tags: live, music, reviews
Where: The Showbox, Seattle, WA
When: February 15, 2007
Who: Gomez and Ben Kweller
Two of my favorite artists in recent years, Gomez and Ben Kweller played the Showbox Thursday night, and I was there.
Top 13 Live Shows of 2006
posted: 12.27.2006 2:36 pm tags: best of 2006, comedy, concerts, lists, live, music
I saw more than 30 live performances this year, and nearly all of them were excellent. Here’s the best of the best in both music and comedy. First, as usual, the ten runners-up:
Ben Harper at Sasquatch, Ben Folds at The Paramount, Gomez at Easy Street, Guster at Easy Street, Spoon at Bumbershoot
Top 13 Concerts of 2005
posted: 12.17.2005 3:52 pm tags: best of 2005, concerts, lists, live, music
In a year which I saw nearly 3 times as many live music performances (31) as movies in the theater (11), this was a tough list to put together. Much like my movie list though (which will probably show up sometime mid-2006), this list features a swell of repeat viewings. I managed to see many of my favorite acts multiple times this year, and my list will reflect that. My list also reflects not only the performers and performance, but the extraneous details of the show. When you get down to it, going to a live show you always want to see something spontaneous, original and unique. The list reflects that as well. So with the exposition out of the way, here we go with another list of the Top 13/Best of 2005.
Death Cab for Cutie
posted: 11.20.2005 10:35 am tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Where: The Paramount, Seattle, WA
When: November 19, 2005
Who: Death Cab for Cutie with Stars
Seth Cohen’s favorite band has finally made it. Even in its hometown, it took Death Cab four years to make the natural progression from small club (the Crocodile) to big theater (the Paramount). But with the groundbreaking Transatlanticism, and this year’s major-label debut, Plans, DCFC has gained star status, and deservedly so.
Ben Lee
posted: 11.13.2005 11:24 am tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Who: Ben Lee with New Buffalo
When: November 12, 2005
Where: Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
This was my third time seeing Ben Lee this year, and while it may not have been the best performance I’ve ever seen from Ben, it may have been the most memorable. Featuring two excellent covers, a bar-top acoustic encore performance of “Naked,” and a fan’s onstage proposal to his girlfriend, this was one show I won’t soon forget.
Mike Doughty's Band
posted: 10.04.2005 11:50 am tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Who: Mike Doughty’s Band
When: October 3, 2005
Where: The Showbox, Seattle, WA
After seeing Mike & Handsome Dan perform May, followed by a short solo set by Mike at Bumbershoot, I had high hopes for a full-band show. With a diverse set that included covers, solo work and old Soul Coughing tunes, Doughty & the boys did not disappoint.
The Arcade Fire
posted: 09.22.2005 11:53 am tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Who: The Arcade Fire with The Belle Orchestra
When: September 21, 2005
Where: The Paramount, Seattle, WA
Sasquatch Festival
posted: 05.31.2005 11:57 am tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Who: The Pixies, Modest Mouse, Wilco, Kanye West, The Arcade Fire, Ray LaMontagne, Jem, Matisyahu, Smoosh, Bloc Party, U.S.E., Aqueduct, AC Newman & more
When: May 28, 2005
Where: The Gorge Ampitheatre, George, WA
I have been meaning to get to this mini-festival since its first year of existence, but never before could I scrounge enough motivation (or accompanying friends) to make it to the Gorge on Memorial Day weekend. Even the stellar lineups of past years weren’t enough to get me there. This year, however, I had no excuse. With a bill as strong (and as eclectic) as this was, I had to get to lovely George, Washington for what has quickly become a nice little younger brother to the bigger, better Northwest summer festival, Bumbershoot.
Mike Doughty
posted: 05.18.2005 3:39 pm tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Who: Mike Doughty with Kelly Buchanan
When: May 17, 2005
Where: Neumo’s, Seattle, WA
My friend insisted that we get there when the doors opened at 8. I was not very interested in doing so, but obliged all the same, expecting to sit in total boredom for 2+ hours until Doughty came onstage around 10:30. We actually go there before eight, which made me all the more frustrated. Then, while standing in line (waiting for the doors to open!!), there was a bit of commotion, and out walked the man himself, Mike Doughty, guitar in hand.
Josh Rouse
posted: 04.18.2005 10:22 pm tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Where: The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
When: April 18, 2005
Who: Josh Rouse with Tim Seely
Always one of my favorite artists, the pop-country Nebraskan Josh Rouse writes songs that are perfect for those lazy summer days where you can just enjoy the day slowly creeping into twilight. I finally saw him perform live tonight in support of his excellent new album, Nashville. He’s finishing up his tour right now, but lucky for us in Seattle and Portland, he came by himself. The crowd at the luxurious Triple Door, a sort of cabaret room that hearkens back to old-time dinner entertainment, was treated to a top-notch performance by one of today’s most underrated singer-songwriters.
Ben Lee
posted: 04.12.2005 8:56 pm tags: concerts, live, music, reviews
Where: The Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA
When: March 30, 2005
Who: Ben Lee with Har Mar Superstar and Zykos
Wednesday night’s show at the Crocodile was a bit surreal for this lifelong Ben Lee fan. The last time I had seen Ben headline a show at the Croc he played to maybe 100 devotees, introducing a batch of new songs that would become his 5th album, Awake Is the New Sleep.
Sure, it was a tour between albums, but the crowd then was like most of the Ben Lee shows I have attended over the years: knowledgeable fans who knew Ben as something more than “Claire Danes’ rocker boyfriend.” That’s about all people seemed to know of Ben. He got little mainstream press or radio airplay, and his constantly evolving musical style (befitting an artist who recorded his first (solo) album at age 15.