Brad Matthew

Yes, My Morning Jacket is the best live band this year and ranks among the best ever.  Sundays show at The Chicago Theatre only endorsed such accusations as they brought the rock to melt some Midwest faces.  There aren’t many bands that can captivate an audience for over 2 hours without a single let down, but MMJ does this with flawless execution and complete sincerity.  Back in October, frontman Jim James had a little mishap in Iowa City and ended up in the hospital.  Their two shows in Chicago, rescheduled from October, were the bands first since the incident.  I caught them days before the incident in Milwaukee and the beardless James seemed to be a bit more tame on stage this time around.  Either way, they put on one hell of a show and if you haven’t caught one, do so at any expense.  You can check out more pics from the show here.

Setlist: (via Muzzle of Bees)
At Dawn
It Beats For You
Evil Urges
I’m Amazed
Gideon
Wonderful Man
Golden
I Will Sing You Songs
Lowdown
Sooner
Thank You Too
Anytime
Remnants
Lay Low
Highly Suspicious
Off the Record
I Think I’m Going To Hell
Smokin From Shootin
Touch Me Pt 2
Run Thru

Encore:
Look at You (Jim James solo)
Nashville to Kentucky
Steam Engine
Cobra
Wordless Chorus
One Big Holiday

I had the pleasure of catching Wisconsinite Bon Iver’s sold out show at The Vic last Thursday in Chicago. His album For Emma, Forever Ago made my top album list for the year, as well as many others and has garnered Mr. Vernon some well deserved press.  His backing band was more than stellar, adding some deep dynamics and cherry harmonies to his tunes.  As a musician I always hate when people like a cover more than your original music, but in the case of Bon Iver covering The Outfield’s “Your Love”, it only amplified an already amazing show (it ranks with my best of the year).  The clip below is from his Wilbur Theatre show in Boston earlier this month.  A hilarious cover turned beautiful.

Word spreads fast when Andrew Bird is playing Hideout.  “Careful readers” of Mr. Bird’s December 9th newsletter strewed the news of his warm up shows Sunday and Monday evening at the intimate Chicago venue.  Bird and friends will embark on extended US tour in support of the upcoming release of his fifth album, Noble Beast, out January 20 on Fat Possum records; a week earlier than previously announced.

Sunday’s show definitely felt like a rehearsal at times, making the performance that much more charming than your middle of the tour polished show.  After a few early mishaps, Bird seemed a bit uncomfortable, going as far as to joke about the theme of the night being “embarrassment.” It didn’t take long for the band to settle into a groove, led by the groove-master himself, Martin Dosh, aka Dosh, who also served as the opening act of the night.  This guy is quite the multi-instrumentalist, taking on the duty of drummer, keyboardist and sample looper (taking live samples of the music and looping it).  Bird and company gave us a sneak preview of Noble Beast, running through the album in its entirety.  After hearing how amazing these songs sound live, anticipation for the release of the new album is on the rise.  The energy in that room was rather lofty and it came through in Bird’s performance, garnered by the 175+ people in attendance.

For those who missed these shows, you can catch him again April 11 at Chicago’s Civic Opera House.  You can preview “Carrion Suite” and “Oh No” from Noble Beast on AndrewBird.net.

Photo: Eyton Z

Here are my top concerts of 2008.  My Morning Jacket is one of best live bands ever and their show at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee was one of the best shows I have ever been to. Whoa! The energy in that theater was through the roof and frontman Jim James was absolutely on fire. I also have to give props to the Milwaukee crowd.  They are not one to be categorized as a stand and nod audience (too hip to act like you’re into the music *Cough* Chicago crowds). MMJ returns to Chicago December 27 & 28 for their rescheduled shows at the Chicago Theater.  Tickets are sold out, but you can find some on craigslist for a decent price.  Go to one of these shows!

1. My Morning Jacket - Riverside Theater, Milwaukee
2. Radiohead - Lollapalooza, Chicago
3. Kings of Leon/The Whigs - Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee
4. David Byrne - Civic Opera House, Chicago (Review)
5. The Whigs - Volume (SXSW), Austin
6. Man Man/Yeasayer - Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
7. Death Cab for Cutie - The Riviera, Chicago (Review)
8. Wilco - The Riviera, Chicago
9. The Avett Brothers/Ha Ha Tonka - Congress Theater, Chicago (Review)
10. Beck/MGMT - Aragon, Chicago (Review)
11. Nada Surf/Delta Spirit - Metro, Chicago
12. Neil Young - Allstate Arena, Chicago
13. Kings of Leon - The Warfield, San Francisco (Review)

Note that a lot of these bands also released an album that made my “Top Albums of 2008” list.  What were your favorite concerts of the year?

I am not a big fan of New Years.  It is always hyped up to be this amazing night, but never really lives up to it.  A good show is always a surefire way to fill the NYE void and luckily this year Chicago’s Congress Theater will host a DJ set by French electro-duo Justice.  The debut album, † (yes, the title is just a cross), is effing awesome and has been the back beat to many of the parties I have thrown over the last year.  I just want to D.A.N.C.E. and that is why I am going to see Justice for NYE.  Party!

Justice - NYE 12.31.08
@ Congress Theater
2135 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago Illinois
7PM - 3AM > 17+ > Buy Tickets

Justice - A Cross The Universe - Trailer

Here are my top albums of 2008.  Fleet Foxes ran away with the album of year.  Their self-titled debut is a beautiful mix of Beach Boy harmonies and roots folk in the vein of My Morning Jacket.  Give this album a listen, it is truly a spiritual experience.

1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Beck - Modern Guilt
6. The Whigs - Mission Control
7. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
8. Lykke Li - Youth Novels
9. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
10. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
11. Liam Finn - I’ll Be Lightning
12. The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
13. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
    
14. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
15. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

What are your top albums of 2008?