Friday December 15, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 50 |
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Sunday, Sep 07, 2008
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Best of Music 2006: Live Performances |
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| Best of Music 2006: Live Performances | ||
| Selected by Albert Rodriguez, Lorelei Quenzer, Richard Kennedy, and Jessica Browning
SGN A&E Writers ALBERT'S PICK'S (In Order) What a great year in live shows! The trip to The Gorge for Sasquatch was an interesting adventure. Following Death Cab for Cutie and Franz Ferdinand from Portland to Vancouver was cool, as was the Snow Patrol trek from Seattle to Portland, and back again to Seattle (I got trashed with one of the band members at their hotel!). Mostly, just being able to experience so many great concerts is a privilege I don't take for granted. Thanks to all SGN readers for letting me bring the music to you. Have a rockin' holiday season! 1. Sasquatch Music Festival (Beck, Nine Inch Nails, Arctic Monkeys, Neko Case, Death Cab for Cutie, We Are Scientists, and others) @ The Gorge, May 26-28 The Sasquatch Music Festival was already sounding like the best in show when the three-day lineup was announced, featuring a who's who of alternative music darlings over a three-day weekend at The Gorge, and it didn't disappoint. Despite a freak hailstorm, daily sold out crowds from as far away as South America enjoyed a buffet of top-notch music. 2. Wolfmother @ Moore Theatre, December 3 Concertgoers were hollering as they exited the Moore Theatre following Wolfmother's highly explosive and very impressive performance. Tickets for this show sold out way in advance, and those lucky enough to have them became some of the luckiest people in the world as a result of it. 3. Bettye LaVette @ Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival, September 4 Soul diva Bettye LaVette isn't a household name outside the traditional blues scene, but those who packed the Mural Amphitheatre on Bumbershoot's final day got two doses of heat, one from the 90-plus degree temperature and one from a woman with a scorching set of pipes. 4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers @ White River Amphitheatre, July 30 Veteran rockers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers celebrated their 30-year anniversary with an awesome greatest hits concert at WRA that included "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" with the always mystic Stevie Nicks and "The Waiting" with local biggie Eddie Vedder. 5. Elton John @ Key Arena, September 22 Going with a simple piano bar-format, Gay pop legend Elton John thrilled back-to-back sold out crowds at Key Arena with a hits-loaded show that included "Bennie and the Jets", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Tiny Dancer", "Your Song", and "Daniel". 6. The Strokes @ The Crocodile Café, January 5 It's not every day a major rock band plays a small club. But early in the year The Strokes chose The Crocodile Café as one of five intimate venues in the entire country to introduce fans to new material and delight them with old favorites. 7. Scissor Sisters @ Warfield Theater (San Francisco), September 29 Gay boys, hags, cocktails, boas, and non-stop dancing. Sound like a party? It was! At San Francisco's famed Warfield Theater, Scissor Sisters sizzled in a show fit for a roomful of queens. 8. Kinky @ Chop Suey, November 4 Mexican quintet Kinky mixed electronica, punk, traditional cumbias, and lots of energy into a sweaty, bouncy show at Chop Suey. It's quite possible these guys coined the term "hot tamale". 9. Coldplay @ Key Arena, January 25 Coldplay exceeded all my expectations when they kicked off their North American tour at Key Arena in January. Among the highlights was a glorious rendition of "Yellow" and a charismatic Chris Martin hopping onstage like a Ritalin-induced kid. 10. Muse @ Paramount Theatre, November 4 Metal-electro trio Muse gave concertgoers at the Paramount Theatre one of the most visually appealing, ear-splittingly great performances of the year. Pounding away on "Hysteria", "Apocalypse Please", and "Map of the Problematique", Muse was nothing short of riveting. LORELEI'S PICKS (In Order) I know it's weird coming from a music reviewer, but it still kinda surprises me, when I arrive at a concert, that other people like the same stuff I do. I'm often taken aback. "Really?" I ask myself. "This many people like banjo music? Who knew?" That's why our music scene is so great: my eccentric tastes (more kindly deemed "original" or "eclectic") aren't out of place in a city where it's as easy to hear a great local band as it is to breathe the aroma of seriously great coffee. A personal highlight of 2006: my brother and his family moved back to Seattle. I can hardly wait to take my niece to a music festival or two this summer! It will be a while before I unleash her on the more formal venues, since she's barely 18 months old, but if I have any say she'll have a solid grounding in acoustic jazz and world music before her first teeth fall out. Meanwhile: you can count on me to keep up with the Seattle jazz scene, and you know I'm always your gal when you need the low-down on visiting Hawaiian artists. I'm sincerely grateful for your continued readership! I wish you nothing but good music in the coming year. Mahalo! 1. Elton John @ Key Arena, September 23 It was a tough call, but - as a child of the 70s - Sir Elton rocking the Key with "The Bitch is Back" has to top my list of 2006. He may not be able to hit the high notes any more but he can still hit them out of the park. For me, the best part was crying as I choked out the words to "Daniel." I have never been to a better sing along, but next time I'll bring the waterproof mascara. 2. Jamie Cullum @ Moore Theatre, March 1 Both of his Seattle concerts were fab, but Cullum stopped this show, his tour opener, with an a cappella rendition of "Nature Boy" - sans mic - from atop a chair in the fourth row. The absolute kicker: Sebastiaan de Krom's 10-minute tour de force drum solo. 3. Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint @ Chateau Ste Michelle, June 25 Costello and Toussaint's collaboration on an album, The River in Reverse - also Grammy nominated - resulted in a tour. Together, their fabulous funk made for an evening to remember. 4. Dixie Chicks @ The Tacoma Dome, November 11 Lead singer Natalie Maines was on fire just four days after the November elections, delivering a number of well-timed political zingers. Not only did the Chicks play a bundle of songs from their latest Grammy-nominated album, but it also was worth the price of admission to hear sizzling versions of "Sin Wagon," "White Trash Wedding" and "Goodbye, Earl." 5. Nickel Creek @ Marymoor Park, August 11 I'm a diehard fan of the acoustic sound, and a recent convert to "newgrass," but what made this bluegrass concert one of the year's best was NC's full-tilt cover of a Britney Spears tune. Hearing Chris Thile moan, "And I love what you do, but you know that you're toxic" made me laugh so hard I nearly wet myself. 6. Dave Brubeck & Ramsey Lewis @ Paramount Theatre, March 12 These legendary pioneers of piano jazz swung hard. It was beyond my wildest dreams to hear both "Take Five" and "The In Crowd" from their originators, much less on the same evening. 7. Slack Key Festival @ Seattle Town Hall, March 31 Last year's Grammy Award-winning album in the newly-minted Hawaiian music category featured these same slack key guitar masters: George Kahumoku, Cyril Pahinui and Dennis Kamakahi. When Cyril busted out with "Hi'ilawe" he sounded just like his father - chicken skin! 8. Manhattan Transfer @ Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, September 28 It's difficult to concentrate a night of brilliant vocalese into one rambling sentence, but the sad truth is: after hearing it in person, and from the Transfer themselves, I will never again be able to sing "Birdland" in the shower. 9. Van Morrison @ WaMu Theater, November 4 It was a remarkably tight show - at a compact 90 minutes - and Van the Man did not disappoint. He covered his classics like "Moondance" and "Gloria" but the highlight was a foot stomping version of "St. James Infirmary", an instrumental favorite of mine. 10. Chris Botti @ Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, April 5 Like Jamie Cullum, Chris Botti came to town twice this year; and while his show at the Moore was packed with, well, just plain more, the intimacy of Jazz Alley made it feel like Botti was blowing his horn just for me! RICHARD'S PICKS (In Order) One of the best things about Seattle is its enormous love of music. We go just as crazy for local singer-songwriters performing at the bar at the end of the street as we do for the huge arena-filling artists flying through the Pacific Northwest. I have to thank all the readers out there who share this love with me. It's your energy that makes live performances and club acts so great here. More shout-outs to all the venues that bring classic artists our way, and especially to the smaller venues that bring us the independent performers that don't normally get huge media recognition. 2006 was another year of great acts and that is hugely because of you. 1. Madonna @ HP Pavilion (San Jose), May 30 In her most arena-friendly performance to date, our beloved pop and Gay icon proved that no one comes close to topping a Madonna production. As always, the presentation was more performance art than a typical "singing the hits" kind of thing. It was thematic, challenging and most of all fun. By the end, during the energetic disco set, the entire stadium was jumping up and down, covered in sweat. Madge, who barely stopped to take a breath, makes 47 look hot and sexy. This spectacle showed she won't be retiring any time soon. 2. Dionne Warwick @ Emerald Queen Casino, January 21 This was by far the classiest production this year. Warwick played a tight set of hits held together by her musical conductor who knew every move and note Warwick would belt as she glided across the stage singing her classic Bacharach hits. Every bit as masterfully commanding as ever, Warwick is a legendary performer that brought simplicity and elegance to the Pacific Northwest. 3. Goldfrapp @ The Showbox, May 11 The show began with lead singer, Allison Goldfrapp, standing center stage. The spotlight illuminated her, a fan blew her blond curls in the air and she let out an operatic wail. The sound is inventive, a modern electronic Giorgio Moroder feel that transferred brilliantly to the live stage. 4. Pet Shop Boys @ Paramount Theatre, November 5 Twenty-one years was a long time for Seattle to wait for the most famous synth-pop group of all-time to get here. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe thanked us for waiting, and the mostly Gay audience screamed, danced and sang along through the entire show. I have to say that Tennant has a beautiful singing voice underneath all of those synthesizers! 5. Scissor Sisters @ The Showbox, October 3 To prove they are not going to become a flash in the pan, Jake Shears and the gang came out with a great second album and another hit worldwide tour. The energy is through the roof, the clothes are glittery and sexy and the music just makes you want to dance your ass off. To top it off, this was Shears' birthday and everyone had a chance to sing "Happy Birthday" to the hot lead singer. 6. Ruth Brown @ The Triple Door, July 31 What was already a fantastic night with "Miss Rhythm" turned out to be even more special with her passing late this year. Seattle was very fortunate to see one of the last performances of this legendary soul singer. She had to sit through her set, but her energy and love for singing transcended even the music. A truly incredible evening! 7. Debbie Reynolds @ Skagit Valley Casino Resort, October 15 They just don't make them like Debbie Reynolds anymore. We miss the famous dance moves, but Reynolds is still a classy performer and hilarious entertainer. Movie montages, songs from her movies and, of course, jokes about Elizabeth Taylor reminded us of a time when it took a whole lot of talent to become a superstar. 8. Etta James @ Woodland Park Zoo, August 16 Etta James proved that she is STILL the coolest woman on the face of this earth when she played the Zoo this summer. Decked out in black denim and a rhinestone t-shirt that read "Cowgirl," James belted out all of her signature tunes. To show that she hasn't tamed she cussed, made vulgar gestures, writhed all over her band mates and declared, "Seattle is so hip&.so cool&.so GAY!" Rock on Etta! 9. Wanda Sykes @ Moore Theatre, April 14 Sykes chose to film her live concert DVD here in Seattle, and it made for an even greater night with the Emmy Award-winning comedienne. The performance was chock-full of political humor, biting snaps at sexism and, of course, smart commentary on racism. Sykes even called bullshit on the war against Gay marriage. The night ended with an audience Q&A, which was unique to this city's show. 10. Dina Martina @ Re-bar, December 3 Every year Dina gets better and better. It's no wonder she has become a seasoned performer with her summer gig in P-town, and now her new found fame in New York. Always unpredictable, hilarious, creative; Dina Martina performances are unforgettable! JESSICA'S PICKS (In Order) SGN welcomed me as a music writer with open arms in 2006, and it's been a great year for checking some artists off my list that I've always wanted to see. It's been really enjoyable seeing shows at a wide array of venues around Seattle. Events held in venues from The Triple Door to Re-bar to outdoor summertime festival spots have kept things interesting and it's a shot in the arm to those of us who like a little variety in our nightlife. 1. Madonna @ Glendale Arena (Phoenix), June 10 Anyone lucky enough to score a ticket for any date on Madonna's globetrotting Confessions Tour can tell you it was a dream come true. She's had a fantastic year complete with a brilliant record, hot videos, and once again, an absolutely inspired live show. After seeing the spectacle in San Jose, I was so sad it was over. So I hurried and flew to Phoenix to experience it one more time. 2. The Rolling Stones w/ Dave Matthews Band @ Qwest Field, October 17 The Stones thrilled me in a way I didn't think possible. Incredible showmanship, charisma, and 40+ years of hits mixed with a mind-blowing stage show left me on could nine for days. 3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ The Triple Door, March 19 An intimate acoustic set at the beautiful Triple Door, sponsored by locals KEXP as a thank you to listeners. The Triple Door's lush sound set BRMC's gorgeous new material on fire. 4. Richard Hawley @ Tractor Tavern, March 20 Still virtually unknown in the US while at the same time being a Mercury Prize nominee in the UK, this former Pulp and Longpigs guitarist turned crooner played to a medium sized crowd in late spring. Hawley's voice literally gave the audience chills during "Run To You." 5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Paramount Theatre, April 25 Karen O is a force of nature. She's truly one of the most magnetic frontwomen to rock the Paramount, or any stage, in a long time. Goldfrapp @ The Showbox, May 11 Although you may be getting a little tired of the holiday commercials assaulting you with Goldfrapp each and every day, Alison's voice soared and the entire band is a feast for the eyes. 7. Ladytron w/ CSS @ The Showbox, October 13 This show was the biggest surprise of the year in my book. Ladytron played their hearts out for nearly two hours and they were so much more electrifying than their recordings suggest. 8. Wolfmother w/ Silversun Pickups @ Moore Theater, December 3 Seeing Wolfmother felt like seeing musical history in the making. I've never seen so many straight guys screaming "you're my hero" in my life. 9. New York Dolls w/ Supersuckers, Chesterfield Kings @ El Corazon, November 11 Speaking of musical history, NY Dolls fans got a real treat seeing the band in a club setting at El Corazon. It felt like NYC in the 70s, just for one night. 10. Dita Von Teese w/ The Atomic Bombshells @ The Triple Door, July 22 Not a musical performance per se, but a performance it was. International burlesque queen Dita Von Teese shook a tail feather, literally, at The Triple Door last summer. Her power compact routine was brilliant and so much fun. Locals The Atomic Bombshells were incredibly charming, and lovely as well. |
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