January 15, 2009

2008 has been a standout year for me catching live shows across the country. I made it to 77 concerts this year and most of them were terrific. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten more selective in what I see and I can’t think of one show I saw that was terrible. Actually, Widespread Panic at Irving was a terrible experience but the music was actually awesome. So, without further ado here’s my list of the 50 best shows I saw in 2008…

10. Elvis Costello / The Police – Jones Beach – 8/5: Both acts put on their best show in years on the final date of their joint tour. The Police threw in the first cover of their reunion tour – Purple Haze – and crashed Costello’s opening set.

9. The Raconteurs – Terminal 5 – 5/31: Even though I could barely see them thanks to the lack of sightlines at Terminal 5, The Raconteurs crushed every song they played at Terminal 5 on May 31. The group played a nice mix of songs from their first and second albums with Nick Zinner of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs joining the fun for the first song of a quadruple encore.

8. The Fab Faux – Terminal 5 – 12/26: Despite my disgust for this venue I sure saw some killer shows there. A few weeks back the Fab Faux showed off just how incredible The Beatles’ Abbey Road and Let It Be sound live. Both albums were performed perfectly with a few jams thrown in for good measure. READ ON for more of Scotty’s list…

Buried deep within Bill Husted’s Thursday column in the Denver Post is word that Athens, GA’s Widespread Panic won’t be bringing their New Year’s Run back to Georgia anytime soon…

The surviving members of the Grateful Dead reunited last year to help Barack Obama get elected. Now that our new President’s ready to take office, The Dead will be there

Earlier today, MSGE announced that legendary singer/songwriter Paul Simon will open the newly renovated Beacon Theatre on February 13 and 14. Simon, who grew up in New York City, first

NYCTaper.com, a fantastic website that helped start the genre of Taper Blogs, continues to find innovative ways to share music. Up next is an internet radio show. NYCTaper Live will

Just yesterday I was having a conversation with someone about how long into January it’s acceptable to continue saying “Happy New Year.” Well, inasmuch as it is time to bed the phrase conversationally, in the musical landscape, the New Years shows are still ruling the digital turf.

It’s taken a little time to weed though the myriad of shows and select the true gems amidst the widespread bomb dropping that occurred just a couple short weeks ago, but it’s time to finally highlight the most spectacular celebrations to ring in 2009 — a year that will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most historically significant in all of our lives.

Umphrey’s McGee, Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL, 12/31/2008 – Amazing Grace -> Glory -> Amazing Grace -> Glory

The hyperbole surrounding Umphrey’s McGee on New Years Eve is grand indeed; “best show ever by any band ever.” While you hear people throw these terms around lightly these days, there is no argument that this show is at least one of the best shows in the band’s long career and certainly a New Year’s show that can be measured with the best of them.

READ ON for more spectacular New Year’s Eve Bust Outs from the likes of Gov’t Mule, Lotus, the Disco Biscuits and My Morning Jacket…

As Conan O’Brien goes, so must guitarist Jimmy Vivino, who despite appearing in any number of contexts over the years in his New York City base, definitely considers his role