Concerts

Best of 2011: Ricky’s Favorite Concert Moments in Awards Format (pt 2/2)

Posted on by Ricky in Concerts, Year End Reviews | Leave a comment

Everyone likes awards right? Especially when they are random and whimsical..right? Here’s the rest of my favorite concert moments. Since it’s my blog, I’m just going to call these awards The Panickys. I would call it the Rickys, but that oozes of ego boasting.

2011 Panicky for Concert Where I Saw the Most Friends

Sloan, December, 2011 – The Great Hall
Before I joined this cultish indie blogger group I am now apart of, I rarely knew anyone at concerts. Since that fateful day, I seem to run into at least a few people at shows. While I’ve seen a lot of friends at a lot of shows, the Sloan show was by far, the one I went to with the most amount of people I knew there. I didn’t talk to most of the people I knew there, because I had a good spot. It helps that the show was phenomenal, and a nice cap off to a phenomenal concert year.

Sloan – Everything You’ve Done Wrong (live 2011-12-21) by panicmanual

2011 Panicky for Concert with the best backdrop/environment

The National, Llevant Stage, Primavera Sound, June, 2011
Brooding band, sun setting, beautiful weather and the Mediterranean Sea at my back. Even Matt Berninger mentioned how amazing it was for The National to play a set at that particular time at that particular place. Pure magic. Second best sunset show I’ve seen (after Coachella 2004, where Belle and Sebastian played a sunset show).

2011 Panicky for Concert where I formally gave up on a band

Interpol, Llevant Stage, Primavera Sound, June ,2011
I used to love Interpol, their brooding, atmospheric debut was one of the better records from the past decade. Sadly, the band has failed to consistently improve/expand on their sound and seeing the band go through the motions and play their inferior new tracks was a tough pill to swallow. Maybe Carlos D left at the right time, but I’m pretty sure that the sixth time I saw these guys was my last, until of course, the Interpol reunion in 2019.

2011 Panicky for Best Unexpectedly Great Concert

Erasure, Sound Academy, September 2011
The 80s synth-pop band put on one of the best shows I saw in Toronto this year, delivering a hits filled set at their show in September. The track selection for this set was perfect, building momentum slowly and then exploding in an outburst of color, melody and hook filled choruses, instantly transforming yours truly into a big time Erasure fan.

2011 Panicky for Best Unexpectedly Great Local Concert

Allie Hughes, NXNE, Wrongbar, June, 2011
Given the amount of large shows I go to, it’s probably not fair to group them with the smaller, more intimate local shows. So Allie Hughes gets the Panicky for the local version of best unexpectedly great show. Catching her on a whim at NXNE, I wasn’t expecting too much but came away awfully impressed by Allie’s theatre meets indie music mashup. Fun, original and filled with good music. A definite highlight of NXNE.

NOT THE STARS by AllieHughes

2011 Panicky for Best 1 Song Show

The Walkmen, Primavera Sound, June 2011
I only caught the tail end of the Walkmen (who Allison confuses with the Watchman, 9 times out of 10) set at Primavera Sound, but they sang the only song I would ever want to hear – The Rat. Seriously, listen to it. It’s one of the best tracks from the past decade and should have launched the band into the stratosphere. It didn’t, but that doesn’t make it a great moment to hear that song live.

2011 Panicky for Best Show I Do Not Remember

Yeasayer, Microsoft Party, Austin, March 2011
As chronicled in my article here, the PM crew indulged a bit too much at the free booze fest and as a result, I missed/forgot what happened at the Yeasayer show. Still, this was better than my performance at the Woodhands show in 2010. I didn’t have to review the Yeasayer show, I kinda had to review the Woodhands show and instead ended up making references to Fast and Furious in the article.

2011 Panicky for Show with the Highest Dancing Crowd/Collapsed Floor Potential

Sheezer, Sneaky Dees, NXNE, June, 2011
While they didn’t dress up as Spice Girls aka their Halloween show, Sheezer’s Sneaky Dees show was the perfect storm of great music, amazing crowd and really small space. The crowd was more than amped to see the Weezer cover band at 2 am at the height of NXNE and the result was a venue long mosh pit which was literally floor shaking. Great show.

Sheezer – Only in Dreams (Live) by Pop Montreal

2011 Panicky for Best Concert

Pulp, San Miguel Stage, Primavera Sound, June 2011
Was there any doubt? Favorite Concert Ever.

Concert Review: The Dance Party, The Blackbells, The Silver Liners December 23, 9:30 Club

Posted on by halley in Concerts, Everything | Leave a comment

Hail to the digits. The 9:30 Club came through in fine form on December 23rd. Despite the fact that 90% of DC’s residents get the hell outta the nation’s capital come the holidays, the venue put on a great show with four awesome, and mostly local, bands.

The Blackbells were the first of the four – hailing from faraway Brooklyn, New York. I’d seen the band perform once before at DC9, and remembered them as pint-sized energy bombs (for some reason the musicians all look diminutive on stage). They did not betray memory. The musicians put their all into the show, complete with guitar-waving, stage-kneeling, and general rocking-out. They remind me a good deal of the artists of my first-ever CD – Oasis –and I generally enjoy their sound. Try This is Home if you’re looking for a sample.

Next came the Silver Liners, a five-man band from Washington, DC. First thing’s first: kudos to the unassuming, mussy-haired, glasses-wearing keyboardist who was balling in a BRIGHT teal/emerald muscle shirt. As my concert companion, Ursula, remarked: “Dude looks good in gem-tones. NBD.” Hats off to you, Sir. The band was great – my favorite songs included American Girl and Just Like the Rest. The Silver Liners also made an attempt to cover a Vampire Weekend track which didn’t sound quite right, but it was still fun to hear. Another thing to say about the band: they were pretty exceptional in terms of the members’ instrumental flexibility. They not only switched instruments throughout the show but also had an interesting set-up with two drummers. One drummer had the more conventional drum-set, and the other was jamming on a set that included all types of percussive tools, including a tambourine and a cowbell-esque device. Whatever the exact combination was, it sounded good.

Unexpected highlight of the night was definitely The Static. Again, to quote my ever-articulate bestie Urs: “O. M. G.” The band claimed it was their debut performance but the impeccable showmanship they displayed honestly made me doubt their claim. They were sooooooooo good. The lead singer sported a mo-hawk that was literally a foot tall and his dance moves were, for lack of a better, word stunning. It helped that he was dressed in skin tight jeans, a mid-ruff shirt, and…. Wait for it…. Snake-skin boots. Win, win, and win. I also <3’ed the variety of costumes on stage – apparently a few of the band members got different memos re: dress code. The keyboardist came on stage in a suit tie, eventually stripping to a muscle shirt and suspenders. One guitarist was rocking out in a very suave looking brown leather jacket, creating an almost Euro-feel. Loved loved loved. The band performed several great original songs and amazing covers, including songs by Bob Marley and the ever classy LMFAO – they also incorporated a costume change and a Santa guest appearance into the show. In super unfortunate news, I cannot find a single link to either the band’s website or songs – so all I can do is wish them luck in getting their act out of DC and around the country.

The headliners were next. The Dance Party is an awesome band – I’d also seen them perform at DC9, and again, my memory and expectations were not disappointed. The lead singer just defies all physical norms – being probably over 6 and a half feet tall and maybe 50 pounds (10 of those pounds being his beautiful blond hair). He’s always all over the stage, channeling Michael Jackson, singing falsetto, dancing, just generally dominating the space. His guitarists and drummer are also super solid performers and they rocked their way through several of their well-known hits, including my favorite: Pretty Girl. It was also cool to see this local band give some loving to their friends in the crowd: lots of high-fives and thumbs-up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_aif7RFNTY

All in all, a great way to rock out of normal life and enter the super laid back-food coma state of the holidays.

Concert Review: dead prez, December 21, McPherson Square

Posted on by halley in Concerts | Leave a comment

Love it, hate it, or tolerate it, the Occupy Movement has made a lasting mark in 2011. I’m of the ‘tolerate it’ camp most of the time (as long as they don’t block the Metro they can camp out as long as they please), but the Washington, DC’s McPherson Square installation of the Occupy movement actually rose in my esteem December 21st. As I was walking back from lunch to my j-o-b (shh, don’t tell the protestors!) I could not help but stop when I noticed theOccupiers had managed to put together a pretty impressive concert.

Immediately adjacent to the Occupiers’ make-shift medical tent and in front of the outdoor market/library, some entrepreneurial soul had put together a tarp (it was a rainy day) and enough stereo system equipment to enable a hip hop duo to perform. I only stayed for a few songs (or is ‘beats’ the correct terminology for hip hop?) that touched upon several Occupy-esque themes, including Free Love, Raging Against the Machine, Anti-Consumption Ranting and Socialist/Communist Motto Shouting.

After I finished at the office for the day, I took a peek at the impeccably suave occupydc.org website (it’s honestly almost corporate looking in its technical savvy…) and found out that the duo is called dead prez, made of two artists: stic.man and M-1. The duo was founded in New York City (also the birthplace of the Occupy movement – very appropriate). (Apparently another hip hop artist, Head-Roc, was also performing, but the combination of rain, angry looking youth, and disease-infested dreadlocks made me scurry back to the gleaming surfaces of the corporate world before they took the stage.) The occupydc.org website described the performance as intended to build awareness around the four Wal-marts slated for construction in DC. Well done, Occupy – I wouldn’t have been the wiser if not for the performance. Ironically, however, I admit I was sort of excited about the prospect of the stores’ arrival in the District – I’m looking forward to some good ol’ fashioned American-capitalist-competition to make sure the city’s one Target keeps its prices on consumer goodies low.

All in all, although I don’t agree with the stark divide the Occupy movement tries to draw between the 99% and 1% and the frustration I feel at their lack of a coherent message, I must say I enjoyed their music! I guess it’s something all 100% of us can get behind.

Concert Review: Sloan, December 21, Great Hall

Posted on by Ricky in Concerts | Leave a comment

SLOOOOOO-OOOOOAN
SLOOOOOO-OOOOOAN

The chants for Sloan echoed throughout the Great Hall Wednesday night, and what a night it was. Playing their classic album “One Chord To Another” to a sold out and enthusiastic crowd, last nights show ultimately became a celebration of a great Canadian band, nostalgia and Toronto all in one.

Taking the stage shortly before 11 to a rapturous applause, the four piece group quickly launched into the albums first track and one of the album’s biggest hits – The Good in Everyone. Who doesn’t remember that music video? For the older types in the crowd, the thrill of seeing Sloan in a small setting must have brought back memories of high school all over again. Nostalgia, it’s a powerful tool.

Most people associate One Chord to Another with three tracks – The Good in Everyone, The Lines You Amend and Everything You’ve Done Wrong. Claiming to have gone all out for this show, Chris Murphy brought out a horns section for Everything You’ve Done Wrong, introducing the three members by name before admitting he doesn’t know which one in which in the typical smarmy Chris Murphy way. The horns provided a nice energy (also, makes it sound closer to the album version) to the track which was probably the highlight of the One Chord to Another set. One of our favorite blogs, Mechanical Forest Sounds recorded the track, which we have provided below. You should read his take on the show though, it’s probably a lot better than this one. Joe takes notes at shows, I down Stiegls.

As the One Chord to Another set progressed, the realization set in that I had forgot most of the other songs on the album already. Equally, the band seemed timid on some of the lesser popular tracks, channeling their usual rock star energy into making sure the song was properly played. This was expected since the band has probably not played some of those tracks in a long time. Still, the set was full of energy and it’s always great to hear tracks you enjoyed so much growing up in a live, intimate setting.

Sloan’s encore is one of the reasons why living in Toronto is great. In a city where so many bands call home, it’s not a surprise to see other musicians collaborate on stage. Nevertheless, it’s still a thrill when this happens. In-between classic tracks like 500 Up and Snowsuit Sound, Sloan managed to bring up not only Damian from Fucked Up for a song but also the incomparable Feist for the set closer She Says What She Means for their encore (although if they sang The Other Man, the internet might have blown up). It might not sound that impressive when you read it in a post but when you are there, it’s pretty cool.. and it can only happen in a city a bunch of musicians call home.

As I left the Great Hall, still buzzing from the show, Frank from Chromewaves said to me “See what you get when you go to local shows?” If this is what I get from attending local shows, count me down for a lot more in the new year.

Do yourself a huge favor and check out the charities that this show was put on for as well.

Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund

COUNTERfit Harm Reduction Services

Sloan – Everything You’ve Done Wrong (live 2011-12-21) by panicmanual