Ray Benson and the band: Note the cymbal in the shape of Texas: Fiddle player and singer Jason Roberts:
Everybody Was in the French Resistance...Now! / The Secret Dangers 18 May 2010 Bottletree Birmingham, AL The side project of Eddie Argos of Art Brut. Entertaining at times, but it's a bit too gimmicky for my tastes. I went having no idea what I'd hear. I wasn't expecting Art Brut II or anything, but it still just didn't work for me, though Argos' trademark delivery is still there in abundance.
Public Image Limited Terminal 5, NYC 5/18/10 Amazingly good show. No clowning or pandering. Band was tight and Lydon's voice was perfect. LCD Soundsystem/Holy Ghost Terminal 5, NYC 5/20/10 So much fun. Murphy's such a great front man.
I'm sort of amused by posts related to bands like the Specials, PIL, and Echo that I saw or were really into nearly 30 years ago. I'm so out of touch with the music scene that I had no idea some of these groups and re-formed and started touring again. I've reached the point in my life where I make a pretty serious effort to see the Allman Brothers, Dwight Yoakam and Chris Isaak when they roll through town but very rarely go to other concerts.
Three Days Grace with Breaking Benjamin Feb. 19, 2010 Prudential Center, NJ before that was: Nickelback dark horse tour with Saving Abel, Seether, and Papa Roach July 2009 Jones Beach Theater Long Island, NY
Peter Wolf (lead singer of the J. Geils Band for those under 45). I'm not much of J. Geils fan, but my husband really liked them in their salad days. Peter Wolf was very good.
Glen Hansard 27 May 2010 Marty's Birmingham, Alabama Accidentally saw this show. The Swell Season has played a sold out $40+ ticket show down at the local performing arts center earlier in the evening. I'd been out celebrating a friend's birthday when we decided to to to Marty's for some late night food. This place has live music seven days a week and is typically highly competent local bands though they do draw in some regional acts. Anyway, Hansard apparently strolled in and asked if he could play a set. It was around 1am or so. Kind of cool.
Wednesdays in the Square, this past Wednesday (6/9/2010) with the Soul Rebels followed by Galactic. Galactic's special guest was Cyril Neville on percussion. Fantastic show. The night before that I saw the Rebirth Brass Band at The Maple Leaf Bar. I had a pretty damned awesome music experience for my first ever visit to New Orleans.
The rather monotonous South African 50,000 - strong vevuzela world cup symphony has been playing in my living room for the last 3 days.
Picked up tickets to Arcade Fire and Spoon at Madison Square Garden, Spiritualized performing Ladies in Gentlemen we are Floating in Space in it's entirety (for the last time ever, I hear) at Radio City Music Hall and Autolux at Maxwell's in Hoboken. That was a great time.
Medeski Martin and Wood 14 June 2010 The Norva Norfolk, VA Phish 15 June 2010 Ntelos Pavilion Portsmouth, VA
Not sure if this counts as attending a concert, but I saw Method Man & Redman put on a 40-minute set at E3 yesterday in LA to promote a rap karaoke game. Best part (besides the Wu-Tang songs and stuff off Blackout) was Meth calling out everyone who plays CoD, his handle is "99SoldierBoy".
Pavement Broken Social Scene Band of Horses June 19, 2010 Olympic Island, Toronto Commitments earlier in the day meant I only caught the tail end of Band of Horses as we were coming over on the ferry (and missed the acts prior to them ), what I heard was great. Broken Social Scene pulls out all the stops for this semi-annual show, Fiest was there and so was Emily Haines (unfortunately no Amy Milan), along with a horn section. Great set - lots of stuff from their early albums. Pavement (along with Dinosaur Jr.) is Kevin Drew's favourite band - he came out to sing Kennel District (which he covers in his BSS presents shows of late ) and Two States with Spiral Stairs. Interesting to see a well rehearsed and tight Pavement, and Stephen Malkmus hardly altering a lyric (mostly due to 20k fans singing along) - definitely my fave show this year by a long shot - all those months of anticipation was totally rewarded. And yeah, they played Debris Slide. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGW_bSWJa8g"]YouTube- "Elevate Me Later" - Pavement on Toronto Olympic Island (June 19th, 2010)[/ame]
On Sunday saw an in-store performance from Janelle Monae. She's a great singer. Did a rendition of "Smile" (the song from City Lights) with just her and her guitar player, who looked not unlike Snoop Doggy Dogg.
I saw Jeff Beck on Wed. It was the day before his birthday, which might account for the high spirit of the gig. He even dealt with the nasty heat and humidity. Really, really good show. Check him out if he comes through your city. Different band though-Tal Wilkenfeld, the young lady who has played bass for him recently is not in the band. There's another female bassist, and he's playing with Narada Michael Walden on the drums.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings The Wiltern, Los Angeles Hours after USA - Ghana It was bittersweet hearing "This Land Is Your Land", just imagine if only... anyway this is the first time I've seen them with backing singers and a string quartet. "The Game Gets Old" off the new album is simply incredible live.
Phish 24, 25 June 2010 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden, NJ 26, 27 June 2010 Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, MD 1 July 2010 Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek Raleigh, NC