My top shows of 2009
My Summer started off with Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It was the second time I’d seen them perform, and I was really pleased to see Karen O coming out of her shell. The venue was horrible, even with all that remodeling. But the show was fun and just what most of us needed at the start of the Summer.
There were all these great bands around when I was younger. But because I spent my younger years split between the Middle East and a small Midwestern town with a population of less than 2,000 people, these bands were out of reach. I was lucky enough to see them on t.v., and where I lived, you could forget about hearing them on the radio. So I was pleased as punch when one of these bands, The Breeders, came to Larryville this Summer for a fun and intimate show. It was sort of like making up for my lack of accessibility to good music when I was younger.
This was also a pleasant surprise. I went into the show never having heard Andrew Bird before, and walked away a fan. That’s only happened to me a handful of times before. I love discovering new music (or rather, music that’s new to me) this way. By the way, it wasn’t long after this show before Andrew Bird busted his fiddle. Oops!
This was probably one of the best ways to end the year. A stellar show that grabs you by the neck and slams you into a world you’ve never seen before. The theatrics were stellar, and I really enjoyed every single song they played. Way to shake things up, Ad Astra.
Not very many people think of the Lawrence Post Office Tax Day party as a “show,” but you really should. You’re surrounded in one of the funnest atmospheres the city has to offer. The locals come out and have a hoedown, if you will, complete with stew and homemade goods. I’ll go ahead and say it: if you don’t (at least) tap your toes at this show, you have no hope of enjoying live music.
What a treat! All these local bands in one night. For the Turnpike Music Showcase, we were treated to Muscle Worship, Cowboy Indian Bear and the Appleseed Cast. This was the show where I discovered my favorite new local band (Cowboy Indian Bear) and I instantly became a fan. I was impressed with some new tricks they were bringing into the Lawrence scene, and I highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance.
I’ve seen Moby a few times, but never as a DJ. And this show came just at the right time. I was pondering whether or not I was attending age appropriate shows, and then this one landed in my lap. I was surrounded by my peers, and most of us had the same attitude about local shows. The small crowd made it even more memorable at this show, and us former ravers finally got a chance to reminisce about the days of yesteryear.
This was the second time I’d seen Gogol Bordello in 2009. OF COURSE I’m going to pick the Liberty Hall show over the KC show. The crowd was 100% fantastic, and it was at this show that the band made a genuine effort to reconnect with their fans.
This was an early patio show at the Replay. I really felt at home with this show. The grill was going, everyone brought their kids (and parents) out to the show, and the Fall season was just beginning. We all gathered round the darling duo known as Drakkar Sauna for a toe-tapping good time, and didn’t feel so bad about the Summer fading away anymore.
This was my top pick for a number of reasons. All my friends were there, packed like sardines into the basement of the taproom, the Summer was in full swing, everyone was in a great mood….and of course this was my favorite local artist. The atmosphere was just right, and reinforced why I love living in Lawrence. This show reminded me that there really is no place like home.
Honorable mentions:
Junior Boys
This was a great band that had the unfortunate task of playing in front of a strange crowd. They put on a great show, while the crowd just plain put me off.
edIT
Fun all around at the Granada. I didn’t even mind when one of the Hula/raver girls lost control of her hula hoop, and it went flying across the Granada and landed in my face. This was just a fun place for techno/glitch geeks to hang out.
Worst shows of 2009
This show made me feel old and out of place. It’s a shame, because the group that put it on did a really good job. But that crowd was just crummy.
This was the only out-of-state show I went to this year, and I was harshly reminded of why I’ll never leave Lawrence for a show again. Lawrence concert-goers are, for the most part, classy. This show was an all-around mess. From the abusive security to the technical failures, but worst of all, I discovered the horrific difference between Midwestern ravers and “club kids.” Ew.