Panopticon Blog

I’m starting this year’s Best Of series with a new list: Best Live Performance. As we all know, CDs are going the way of the dodo, and the online purchase model is sketchy at best. Therefore, bands are making their money these days on the road, and bands with striking live shows are often more successful than their album-bound counterparts. Nothing can replace seeing a great band live, and here are the ten best shows that I saw in 2009:

10. The Twilight Sad at Bowery Ballroom, New York City

When The Twilight Sad opened for Mogwai, their sonic squalls were somewhat hampered by a smug-seeming stage manner. But when they headlined at Bowery Ballroom, the band was so thankful for their enthusiastic audience that the joy was infectious. Even though the songs are relentlessly downbeat, the mood couldn’t have been brighter.

9. Bon Iver at Bonnaroo, Manchester, Tennesse

It’s hard to pick one performance from Bonnaroo (in fact a couple of other bands who were great in Tennessee are listed below other venues) but Bon Iver’s set was a standout. Playing a mid-afternoon set to a packed tent, Justin Vernon’s haunting voice cut through the crowd like a knife, and the last few tracks where Vernon was joined by Elvis Perkins and Dearland, were spine-tingling.

8. Mogwai at The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

Mogwai are so good that they were able to overcome an excruciatingly bad crowd (screaming during all the quiet moments, spilling beers, etc) and deliver a searing, ear-destroying performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Highlight: An encore of “My Father, My King,” the 21 minute epic that ends with 5 minutes of deafening feedback that was stuck in my ears for days.

7. The Jesus Lizard at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza, New York City

The year’s least likely rock-and-roll reunion yielded blistering results at a packed Irving Plaza. Singer David Yow may have less hair and a bigger gut than in the band’s heyday, but he threw himself into the show (and the crowd) with so much vigor that it felt like not a day had passed since the band released Goat in 1991.

6. Grizzly Bear at The Town Hall, New York City

A hometown victory lap for the almost universally loved Veckatimest, Brooklyn’s own Grizzly Bear played two nights at the Town Hall in midtown. Their set was heavy on new material – the warm echo of the sit-down venue doing particular justice to mellower tunes such as “Ready, Able” – but also included amped up versions of old favorites, such as the absolutely epic live version of Yellow House closer “Colorado.”

5. Nine Inch Nails at Webster Hall, New York City

An all time classic show, somewhat marred by circumstance. The downside was the Webster Hall, normally the best venue in New York, had severe air conditioning problems on one of the hottest days of the year. The upside, of course, was that Nine Inch Nails – on their last tour, sadly – played the classic Downward Spiral from beginning to end. A genuine thrill for fans, and if you download the Ipod ready torrent video of the show online – look, you’ll find it – you can watch one of Trent Reznor’s most special performances in the climate controlled pleasure of your apartment.

4. Future of the Left at Spike Hill, Brooklyn, New York

Officially billed as a Secret Show after the Fucked Up/Mission of Burma Williamsburg Waterfront show, Future of the Left played to a small, rowdy group of diehards at the relatively tiny Spike Hill. Turns out the confines of a small pub were very flattering to the snotty, booze-soaked punk rock of Future of the Left. Singer Andy Falkous added hilarious stage banter (at one point he called out a hipster for dancing during at a punk show) between a furious selection of barnstormers from the band’s great album, Travels With Myself and Another. (I couldn’t find video of the Spike Hill show, so check this out instead).

3. My Bloody Valentine at All Points West, Liberty State Park, New Jersey

At All Points West, My Bloody Valentine managed to be 10 times more rock and roll than headliner Tool by standing completely still. Unlike the trebly dreaminess of Loveless, My Bloody Valentine’s live sound features much more gut-shaking low-end than you’d think. Closing with the noise epic “You Made Me Realise” was a stroke of genius – many Tool fans extended middle fingers, while MBV lovers blissfully floated away for what seemed like hours on the pulsing waves of feedback.

2. OM at Club Europa, Brooklyn, New York

Ex-Sleep bassist Al Cisneros’ minimalist drone band OM is certainly an acquired taste and the addition of Grails’ drummer, Emil Amos, with his bombastic propensity, seemed an odd fit. Not so. Cisneros seemed energized by Amos’ titanic fills between the stately throb of OM’s mantras, and Robert Lowe from opener Lichens added guitar swells and haunting chants to fill out the ceremonial mood.

1. Wilco at Keyspan Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York

No other band brings together indie-kids, suburban Dads, stoners, preppies and head bangers together quite as fluidly as Wilco. This July, on a perfect summer night at Keyspan Park in Coney Island, for two-plus hours, Wilco blew the minds of all the demographics lucky enough to attend. Nels Cline is possibly the best rock guitarist on the scene today, and he and Jeff Tweedy’s simultaneous solos on “At Least That’s What You Said” and “Impossible Germany” seemed to stretch into eternity in the best way possible. Tweedy was funny and relaxed throughout, and the climax of “Kidsmoke” featuring openers Yo La Tengo was a truly spectacular occasion.