2. Frightened Rabbit at Neumo's - Seattle (May 16): I know the lyrics to most of their songs, so there were several moments of all out screaming along with moments that bystanders would have thought I was having a seizure. The band put everything they had into each song. There was power behind the meloncholy in each lyric. It also helped greatly that Ashley was there with me to see one of my favorite bands of the past five years.
3. Arcade Fire at Key Arena - Seattle (September 29th): MIND BLOWING!!!!! Everytime I hear "Wake Up" or "Sprawl II" now, I become one giant goosebump. Would be Number 1, but it was in a basketball arena, so the sound wasn't always there.
4. Avett Brothers at the Bing Crosby Theater - Spokane (July 20th) Raucous is the only word I can use that best describes a ABs show. Harmonies and stomping of feet fill your ears while camaraderie and beards fill your vision. Highlight for me was "Murder in the City".
5. Josh Ritter at the Wonder Ballroom - Portland (June 18th): First concert in my new favorite city. The Wonder Ballroom is a great place to see a show, and JR and his Royal City Band were really happy to be there. Show was heavy in newer tunes from the exquisite So Runs the World Away, but he did play many classics as well. Highlights of the night for me was "Last Temptation of Adam" as well as Josh and Zack Hickman taking the time to talk to the stragglers after the show for 15 minutes about life, love, and beer.
6. Main Stage of Sasquatch Music Festival - George, WA (Monday, June 1st) - She & Him, Band of Horses, Drive by Truckers, Passion Pit, MGMT, Temper Trap, Mayer Hawthorne, & the Heavy: I spent the last day of the festival directly in front of the stage. I can't explain what it is like to be surrounded by 20,000 people, but it was surreal and rather amazing. Throw in a group of musicians that produce some of the music that has soundtracked the past 3 or 4 years, and you have an unbelievable day. Highlights for me would be all of it, but Passion Pit really jumped out to me. I had never really listened to them, and didn't get it when I did. Seeing them live changed everything. It was also quite a pleasure to see Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward together. She is a real musical talent.
7. Tallest Man on Earth at Sasquatch Music Festival - George, WA (Sunday, May 30th) - Yeti Stage: Never heard this guys music until this day, and I was blown away and floored by the rawness of the lyrics and guitar picking. Amazing.
8. LCD Soundsystem at Sasquatch Music Festival - George, WA (Sunday, May 30th) - Main Stage: Have you ever seen 20,000 people move like an ocean. That is what LCD Soundsystem does. James Murphy and his backing band and doo-wop singers were the highlight of Sunday for me. Even more than the band I really came to see, Pavement.
9. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists at the Blvd - Spokane (March ?): I had only heard one record of Leo's and I knew I liked it, but wasn't blown away at first. To have such a talent play a dive bar especially in Spokane was a real treat, and it was definitely the right venue for the great punk tunes that Leo produces. His set was only an hour long, and I bet we still heard 20 songs. He was very chatty with the crowd and the crowd was very receptive to his musings. Highlights of the night was his solo cover of Big Star's "Ballad of El Goodo", and "One Polaroid a Day".
10. tie: Shout Out Louds at Neumo's - Seattle (May 15th) & Local Natives at Empyrean Coffee House - Spokane (May 26th): SOL were right on for the night. They grooved through their poppy Swedish rock with precision, but the reason it makes the top 10 is because Ashley was with me. She loves SOL, and we were able to set her up for a visit so that she may see them. It was a great night.
Just missing the cut:
the Swell Season at the Knitting Factory - Spokane (July 22nd)
Caribou at Sasquatch Music Festival - George, WA (Sunday, May 30th)
Hockey at Empyrean Coffee House - Spokane (August ?)
