Brad Matthew

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?

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?

Aside from writing some gnarly music, Beck has always had some pretty rad music videos. His most recent video, “Gamma Ray”, is from his eighth studio album, Modern Guilt. To keep in the taste of the 60’s psych rock flavor of this album, this video is pretty psyched out itself. I just want to do the twist!

Photo by: Ed Oliver

Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom was the host of two sold out Beck shows last Thursday and Friday evening. I was fortunate enough to score tickets to the Thursday night show.  I have seen Beck several times, each show with a completely unique production behind it. This time around, Beck is touring in support of his latest release Modern Guilt, bringing a more stripped down show, highlighting the music rather than gimmicks.

Psych-pop outfit, MGMT opened the show.  Their debut album, Oracular Spectacular, is a gem and I would strongly recommend it to all.  I caught their set at this years Lollapalooza and wasn’t completely sold on their live show.  It started slow and ended strong, with personal favorite “Kids”.  Thursday nights set started pretty slow and never really got off the ground.  Crowd favorites “Electric Feel” and “Time To Pretend” got people boogying, but couldn’t save an overall lackluster set.

Beck opened his set with the classic “Loser”, instantly bringing me back to my middle school days when Mellow Gold was on repeat for months.  One after another Beck busted out all of the hits, covering the full spectrum of his catalogue, while keeping the flow of the set seamless.  Of course, Beck’s backing band was amazing. I have to admit my attention was seized by the lovely Jessica Dobson on guitar for a majority of the show.  Between her style and swagger, her presence was undeniable. To mix it up, Beck and the gang joined at the front of the stage for a Nintendo version of “Hell Yes”, with Beck using an iPhone app to create some wiggity wiggity whack record scratching sounds.  He also busted out few acoustic numbers from Sea Change, one of the most beautiful albums of the last decade. Other highlights include classic’s “Devil’s Haircut” and set closer “Where It’s At”.

After a short break, Beck returned for a ball busting encore, kicking it off with the Modern Guilt soul-shaker “Gamma Ray”.  For some reason this song always makes we want to do the Twist, so I did!  This was followed by a cover of the Dylan relic “Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat”, “Novacane”, “Profanity Prayers” and “E-Pro”, which was a perfect ending to the night. I was a bit surprised he didn’t play more of Modern Guilt, but was pleased with his selection of tunes from the album, especially with “Chemtrails”.

Thursday’s Set List:
Loser
Nausea
Girl
Timebomb
Minus
Mixed Bizness
Nicotine and Gravy
Que Onda Guero
Hell Yes
Black Tambourine
Devil’s Haircut
Soul of a Man
Orphans
Think I’m In Love
Walls
Missing
Chemtrails
The Golden Age
Lost Cause
Where It’s At

Encore:
Gamma Ray
Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat (Dylan cover)
Novacane
Profanity Prayers
E-Pro

Yesterday was the first day of Fall, so I thought it would be appropriate to preview the top concerts coming through Chicago this Fall.  My concert calendar is packed with great shows for the Fall and here are my recommendations.

1. Sigor Ros @ Chicago Theater - September 24
2. Beck/MGMT @ Aragon - October 2 & 3
3. My Morning Jacket @ Chicago Theater - October 9 & 10
4. Fleet Foxes @ Metro - October 11
5. Man Man @ Bottom Lounge - October 18
6. Kings of Leon @ Aragon - October 31 (Halloween!)
7. AC/DC @ Allstate Arena - October 30 & November 1
8. Ha Ha Tonka/The Avett Brothers @ Congress Theater - November 22
9. Nada Surf @ Metro - November 29
10. Neil Young @ Allstate Arena - December 9

See you there?