I am blessed to be able to see a lot of bands each year. Checking out new music is one of my favorite hobbies. This year's "Best Concerts" lists showcases 13 acts (for 2013)- several of which I've seen before, and several of which are bands I've seen for the first time. All of the shows have previously been reviewed on this blog- along with pics and video links. Below is a synopsis of my favorite performances.
All photos compliments of "Gigshots by Stephen Bloch" unless otherwise noted.
13. Fort Frances- Club Garibaldi, 11/2/13
Fort Frances is a band on the rise, and their mixture of indie pop/rock and Americana made for an evening of fun music at Club G's. A trio of proficient musicians, Fort Frances delivered a riveting set of tunes drawing heavily from their 2013 EP's Habour and Breaking Room. Lead vocalist David McMillin's story-telling style of vocals works well with the music of this band. These guys are great-fun live, and are about the nicest folks you'd want to meet in the music biz too. As an aside, introducing this act was a real pleasure as well. I look forward to seeing what Fort Frances comes up with in 2014 as their music seems to be continually progressing forward.
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| photo by Will Piper |
12. Valerie June- Club Garibaldi, 12/14/13
Valerie June might be one of the hottest younger acts of 2013, and her soulfully intimate performance at Club Garibaldi was a special night of music. Aside from physical looks and charm, June can deliver a stand-out performance with great guitar work, and a southern vocal that filled the small room. I was amazed with how tight her back up band was and what a truly personal performance this was.
Justin Vernon's blues-rock trio, "The Shouting Matches" proved to be about as entertaining a blues-rock act as I've ever seen. Great musicians produce great music, and while Vernon's album is solid, yet not exceptional on its own, the live renditions of numbers were exceptional. You can't ask for more energy and enthusiasm for blues-rock than you got from the Shouting Matches. Their performance rivaled seeing the Wallflowers or Big Head Todd in their heyday.
10. Charles Bradley- Turner Hall, 5/3/13
The "Screaming Eagle of Soul" is an entertainer's entertainer if there ever was one. While I have to say that his 2012 performance was a bit better, he put on another top-quality, soulful show at Turner Hall. I credit Bradley's music for my renewed interest in soul music. Bradley's sophomore release A Victim of Love featured brighter tracks that translated well with his audience. His backup band, "The Extrodinaries" have come into their own as a great rhythm and blues unit as well.
9. Grizzly Bear- Pabst Theater, 4/2/13
Grizzly Bear falls into the same category of acts like Portugal, the Man, and The National, who made a big leap forward in terms of their live performance in 2013. Last year's Shields was on the top of many music critic's lists, including mine. Live, the tracks from Shields came across even better than on the album. Grizzly Bear does a fantastic job harmonizing among its vocalists, and a much improved light show aided to the overall entertainment value of this top-tier indie rock act.
8. Pickwick (opening for Black Joe Lewis)- Turner Hall Ballroom, 9/30/13
In what will go down as the best surprise of the year, Seattle's Pickwick performed a knock-out set opening for Black Joe Lewis. Pickwick's soulful, bluesy sound, catchy melodies, tight rhythms and powerful vocals got the crowd rocking at Turner Hall, and frankly, upstaged a very good performance by Black Joe Lewis. Pickwick's debut album, "Can't Talk Medicine" also appears on my best albums list. This is definitely an act to watch in the years to come.
7. The Violent Femmes/The Avett Brothers/Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeroes
- Marcus Amphitheater, 6/26/13
The eclectic conglomeration of a hometown-hero alt-rock pioneer band, the hottest American Americana act on the road today, and a virtual traveling circus proved to be the right combination to make for a memorable summer's evening at the Marcus Amphitheater. Top performances from each act, made this triple-bill one of the best Summerfest shows I've seen. When I was there, I did not think that I would be witnessing what could be the last show featuring all of the original members of the Violent Femmes (until the next time they choose to reunite). However, while solid, the Femmes were upstaged by perhaps the most consistent act out there today, the Avett Brothers, who put on an energetic show once again from start-to-finish. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes opened the show with good vibes and sing-a-long anthems. What more could you wish for from a Summerfest show?
6. Jim James- Pabst Theater, 4/19/13
The events that occurred after the Jim James show (an unfortunate slip on my daughter's "Friday Folder" which sent me down my basement stairs with the granddaddy of all messed-up arm injuries) does not overshadow the fact that Jim James delivered a riveting performance at the Pabst earlier that evening. Jim James' solo material from Regions of Light and Sound of God is both similar and different to the cannon of material we've become used to from the My Morning Jacket front man. James' solo material contains a lot of almost hypnotic jamming when performed live. Some tunes that were only 4 minutes on the album were doubled or sometimes tripled in length when performed live. James is an extraordinary song-smith and was a very engaging performer with his solo backing band.
5. Portugal, The Man- Pabst Theater,
In my humble opinion, no band made a bigger jump up the indie rock radar in 2013 for fans and critics than Portugal. The Man. While these guys have been putting out solid psychedelic-folk-rock-blues with catchy pop hooks for several years, working with Danger Mouse on Evil Friends elevated this band to the next level in terms of accessibility. Moreover, their live performance, which was already stellar, took a step up with an unbelievable set that featured a myriad of lights and a female vocalist who enhanced the band's sound.
4. Tame Impala- Turner Hall Ballroom 3/3/13
For a young Australian band with only two full-length albums out, Tame Impala sure came across as a polished live act, delivering an engaging set of tightly played psychedelic rock. There were solid jams that made this show flow from start to finish, anchored by tracks from two very strong records, Lonerism and InnerSpeaker, along with other numbers from their EPs. Tame Imapala reminds me a bit of a younger My Morning Jacket with more of an edge towards rock. Their sound continues to progress, making them an act to continue to follow into the new year.
The "Screaming Eagle of Soul" is an entertainer's entertainer if there ever was one. While I have to say that his 2012 performance was a bit better, he put on another top-quality, soulful show at Turner Hall. I credit Bradley's music for my renewed interest in soul music. Bradley's sophomore release A Victim of Love featured brighter tracks that translated well with his audience. His backup band, "The Extrodinaries" have come into their own as a great rhythm and blues unit as well.
9. Grizzly Bear- Pabst Theater, 4/2/13
Grizzly Bear falls into the same category of acts like Portugal, the Man, and The National, who made a big leap forward in terms of their live performance in 2013. Last year's Shields was on the top of many music critic's lists, including mine. Live, the tracks from Shields came across even better than on the album. Grizzly Bear does a fantastic job harmonizing among its vocalists, and a much improved light show aided to the overall entertainment value of this top-tier indie rock act.
8. Pickwick (opening for Black Joe Lewis)- Turner Hall Ballroom, 9/30/13
In what will go down as the best surprise of the year, Seattle's Pickwick performed a knock-out set opening for Black Joe Lewis. Pickwick's soulful, bluesy sound, catchy melodies, tight rhythms and powerful vocals got the crowd rocking at Turner Hall, and frankly, upstaged a very good performance by Black Joe Lewis. Pickwick's debut album, "Can't Talk Medicine" also appears on my best albums list. This is definitely an act to watch in the years to come.
7. The Violent Femmes/The Avett Brothers/Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeroes
- Marcus Amphitheater, 6/26/13
The eclectic conglomeration of a hometown-hero alt-rock pioneer band, the hottest American Americana act on the road today, and a virtual traveling circus proved to be the right combination to make for a memorable summer's evening at the Marcus Amphitheater. Top performances from each act, made this triple-bill one of the best Summerfest shows I've seen. When I was there, I did not think that I would be witnessing what could be the last show featuring all of the original members of the Violent Femmes (until the next time they choose to reunite). However, while solid, the Femmes were upstaged by perhaps the most consistent act out there today, the Avett Brothers, who put on an energetic show once again from start-to-finish. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes opened the show with good vibes and sing-a-long anthems. What more could you wish for from a Summerfest show?
6. Jim James- Pabst Theater, 4/19/13
The events that occurred after the Jim James show (an unfortunate slip on my daughter's "Friday Folder" which sent me down my basement stairs with the granddaddy of all messed-up arm injuries) does not overshadow the fact that Jim James delivered a riveting performance at the Pabst earlier that evening. Jim James' solo material from Regions of Light and Sound of God is both similar and different to the cannon of material we've become used to from the My Morning Jacket front man. James' solo material contains a lot of almost hypnotic jamming when performed live. Some tunes that were only 4 minutes on the album were doubled or sometimes tripled in length when performed live. James is an extraordinary song-smith and was a very engaging performer with his solo backing band.
5. Portugal, The Man- Pabst Theater,
In my humble opinion, no band made a bigger jump up the indie rock radar in 2013 for fans and critics than Portugal. The Man. While these guys have been putting out solid psychedelic-folk-rock-blues with catchy pop hooks for several years, working with Danger Mouse on Evil Friends elevated this band to the next level in terms of accessibility. Moreover, their live performance, which was already stellar, took a step up with an unbelievable set that featured a myriad of lights and a female vocalist who enhanced the band's sound.
4. Tame Impala- Turner Hall Ballroom 3/3/13
For a young Australian band with only two full-length albums out, Tame Impala sure came across as a polished live act, delivering an engaging set of tightly played psychedelic rock. There were solid jams that made this show flow from start to finish, anchored by tracks from two very strong records, Lonerism and InnerSpeaker, along with other numbers from their EPs. Tame Imapala reminds me a bit of a younger My Morning Jacket with more of an edge towards rock. Their sound continues to progress, making them an act to continue to follow into the new year.
.JPG) |
| Photo by Will Piper |
3. Father John Misty- Turner Hall Ballroom 5/20/13
While there is no denying Fear Fun was one of 2012's best albums (and in retrospect, the album I have most enjoyed from last year), hearing J. Tillman on record does no justice to seeing the man perform. Father John Misty was perhaps the most over-the-top showman I've seen all year. And despite the theatrics and silly dancing, the man can sing like none-other, making this Turner Hall performance a truly special evening that surpassed my already high expectations.
While there is no denying Fear Fun was one of 2012's best albums (and in retrospect, the album I have most enjoyed from last year), hearing J. Tillman on record does no justice to seeing the man perform. Father John Misty was perhaps the most over-the-top showman I've seen all year. And despite the theatrics and silly dancing, the man can sing like none-other, making this Turner Hall performance a truly special evening that surpassed my already high expectations.
2. The Black Crowes- Riverside Theater 11/8/13
It had been way too long since I had seen The Black Crowes live... almost ten years I would guess had passed since I last watched them perform at Summerfest. A resurgent interest in their catalog (thanks mostly to one of my music partners-in-crime, Stephen Bloch) peaked for this show. Whatever the Crowes are doing these days, they're doing it right, as their performance was more spirited and energetic than when I saw them in 1995 at the height of their commercial stardom headlining H.O.R.D.E. Fest (with a little known band from Illinois named Wilco joining them onstage for a Little Feat cover). This show was about as rock 'n roll as they come!
It had been way too long since I had seen The Black Crowes live... almost ten years I would guess had passed since I last watched them perform at Summerfest. A resurgent interest in their catalog (thanks mostly to one of my music partners-in-crime, Stephen Bloch) peaked for this show. Whatever the Crowes are doing these days, they're doing it right, as their performance was more spirited and energetic than when I saw them in 1995 at the height of their commercial stardom headlining H.O.R.D.E. Fest (with a little known band from Illinois named Wilco joining them onstage for a Little Feat cover). This show was about as rock 'n roll as they come!
This was a "no contest" for show of the year as it was truly an exceptional endeavor, and one of those concerts that allows the Pabst/Riverside/Turner Hall group to use the tag-line "legendary venues: legendary performances" for good reason. I had previously seen the National a few times... at the Pabst Theater on the tour for their acclaimed record, The Boxer, at the Riverside supporting High Violet and opening in Chicago for Arcade Fire, and was very familiar with their material and act. However, while the band has always been good, during this tour their confidence, playing and showmanship got ratcheted up a notch, moving them to the "next level" of indie rock bands. Touring in support of one of the most acclaimed records of the year, Trouble Will Find Me, certainly didn't hurt either.
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