For me, 2007 was a phenomenal year for live music. I started the year with Neurosis and will end it with Neurosis on New Year's Eve. I saw Isis 3 times this year. Whitehorse came out and blew my eardrums. Word Salad reformed and tore shit up and down. Neko Case played right down the street from me at the gorgeous Paramount theatre. Despise You finally came out to the Bay Area. They finally played a live show, period. It was hard to come up with a list of just 10 shows that stood out from the rest, the creme de la creme so to speak, but I've finally, and somewhat reluctantly, paired it down to the following:
1. San Francisco Symphony with guest conductor Herbert Blomstedt and violin soloist Sarah Chang. Davies Symphony Hall, SF Jan. 13 & 14.
I attended both days just to hear one of my favorite pieces, Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No.1 in G Minor, performed by one of the preeminent violinists of our time and a world class orchestra. Surprisingly, I left somewhat disappointed the first night as I felt the piece was rushed and some of the playing a little sloppy, but the second day it was absolute perfection. I'm so glad I got to see it twice.
2. OM. The Casbah, San Diego Feb. 24 and Amoeba Records in-store, SF Oct. 14.
OK it's 2 performances but who gives a fuck, this is OooooMmmmmm!!! There isn't a finer stoner doom outfit around, except maybe Electric Wizard. An OM show is basically 4 to 5 20+ minute songs of throbbing bass riffs and furious drumming, all of which makes for a ribcage rattling, fist pumping, headbanging yet oddly meditative and entrancing affair. I listen to these guys to relax.
3. Lair of the Minotaur. Hemlock Tavern, SF Mar. 22.
Who would've thought my love for metal and Greek mythology would come together in the form of a wicked 3 piece from Chicago called Lair of the Minotaur. The music is total Slayer, Venom and Celtic Frost worship, the lyrics are exclusively about Greek myths. Awesome. Live, they were as great as I thought they'd be. The singer's vocal delivery is raw & intense, matched only by his guitar playing. I love that there are about 5 to 300 fucked up riffs per song. Thrash!
4. Lightning Bolt. LoBot Gallery, Oakland Apr. 9.
Review here. I hadn't had this much fun in a crowd of sweaty bodies since U2's Zoo Station Tour in 1992.
5. Amiina. Swedish American Hall, SF Apr. 12
The four lovely ladies that make up the string quartet known for backing up fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós hold their own as Amiina, whose bright, pretty music filled the halls and hearts of those in attendance at the historic Swedish American Hall. Gorgeous venue, by the way. I felt like I was in the little throne room of some miniature castle. Seeing Amiina live is interesting as you get to see them play a sort of musical chairs, with each member moving to different parts of the stage to play instruments that include, but are not limited to, strings, guitars, toy Casio keyboard, bells, moog synthesizer, mandolin, harp, dulcimer, laptop, glockenspiel, glassophone, harmonium, and singing saws. Yes, singing saws. It was a wondrous evening.
6. Explosions In The Sky. Slim's, SF May 1.
Review here. Their records are fine but it was an utterly beautiful and transcendent experience seeing them live. They will be playing SF for 2 nights in 2008. I've already got my tickets for both performances. I can't wait.
7. Arcade Fire. Greek Theatre, Berkeley June 2.
These guys are one of the best rock bands to come out within the last 5 years, in my book. This show was lots of fun. Their energy onstage was contagious as it was relentless. I couldn't think of a better way to kick off my birthday weekend.
8. The Polyphonic Spree. Great American Music Hall, SF July 17.
The stage at the GAMH is fairly big for a theatre sized venue, but I counted 24 heads onstage that night. The Spree blew me away by their sheer numbers alone. Then they started playing and it was incredible. They certainly brought the noise, but they also brought 2 drummers, a horn section, a 7 female chorus, a harpist, and 11 other musicians playing I forget what. All that and confetti bazookas. Yay!
9. Grinderman. Great American Music Hall, SF July 26.
It's Nick Cave with 3 of the Bad Seeds. Nuff said. The album was OK, but live it's electrifying. They played most of the Gringerman album and encored with Bad Seeds material. A heavily inebriated Blixa Bargeld even showed up to sing 'The Weeping Song'. Talk about a fabulous disaster. I loved it anyway. Nick Cave is a fucking genius.
10. Goatwhore. The Boardwalk, Sacramento Sept. 16.
I had a ticket to see Melvins in SAC that same night but when I found out these guys were playing, it was a no-brainer: time to worship the goat! I'd only seen them open for other acts, so it was great to finally see them headline their own show. I've been to my fair share of metal shows and thinking on it now, I'm surprised I haven't incurred a permanent neck injury from so much headbanging over the years!
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