The live music universe is a world filled with ebbs and flows of energy; when things get busy, they really get busy and then there will be a down period. Suffice to say that in Chicago, right when that 90 day limit Lollapalooza puts on its performers finishes, October is busy. Everyone is touring. In addition, there have been a number of announcements of late pertaining to New Years Eve. So gathered here is a pretty solid compendium of who’s playing where on December 31st. The venue link will get you to ticket information for the mentioned shows.
- San Francisco may be the queen of NYE this year with eight shows slated for 12/31/08. Tea Leaf Green is setting up at Mezzanine while ALO will be at The Independent. The two heavy hitting shows are Les Claypool and Zappa Plays Zappa at the War Memorial Opera House while George Clinton and his crew will finish what The Greyboy Allstars start at The Warfield. That’s a tough decision.
- In CO, Widespread Panic and Yonder Mountain String Band are holding down the Pepsi Center, while Lotus will fill the Fox Theater up in Boulder.
- If San Fran’s got quantity then Atlanta has got the quality. STS9 sets up at The Tabernacle for another four night run; this has become the gold standard in NYE shows. Band of Horses has got two nights at the Variety Playhouse. Just up the road in Athens, Perpetual Groove plays the Georgia Theater.
- Chicago’s got two nice shows: Umphrey’s McGee moves their annual romp to the Auditorium Theater and at the Congress Theater, Justice will be making sure the hipsters get down — note: this is a DJ set.
- Some great jazz acts are heading home for the New Year’s. Soulive will be at the Paradise in Boston, Galactic will “laissez les bon temps rouler” at Tipitina’s Uptown and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey heads home to the Blank Slate in Tulsa, OK.
- In New York, the home of New Year’s Eve, the big show is My Morning Jacket at Madison Square Garden. Yet, the Disco Biscuits will drop the heat on Nokia Time Square Theater for five nights and Gov’t Mule is playing the Hammerstein. Late night, the Duo and Surprise Me Mr. Davis will keep you up until the wee hours at B.B. Kings.
- The show of the evening may be Brothers Past making their return at The Note in West Chester, PA. Word is that this will be their last show. It is sold out, so have fun those of you attending; I caught a late night NYE show back in ’05 – ’06 and it was fire. Still the best cover of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” I’ve ever heard.
You guys thinking about New Years Eve yet? Drop a comment about the shows that are making you giddy with anticipation. Keep each other informed and we’ll pick up the slack. Hope everyone had a great weekend.
Sunday at Monolith was not really a full day. After watching my beloved Redskins — they won — and picking my buddy up at the airport it was nearly 6pm and our arrival to Red Rocks was marked by the setting sun. It was a sunny but chilly day for early September, but you can experience all four seasons in Colorado on any given day so I wasn’t complaining. The night was full of energy, there was nearly a full moon and the wind was moving a light fog down the venue from early evening until the festival closed. Read on for some more takes on the evening and a lot of photos.
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About a month ago I realized that I had the opportunity to see over 20 bands in about the same number of nights; I figured it could be a cool little “feat of strength” while on vacation. But I ran into something much bigger and more powerful than myself: mother nature. The adventure came up five bands short but that’s the only thing that didn’t measure up. I spent a work-week in some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and just couldn’t pull myself away from the majesty of America’s Southwest in time to fulfill my endeavor.
I did see fifteen bands in eighteen days including an incredible festival day at Red Rocks and an amazing My Morning Jacket show at the Greek Theater in LA that wrapped up the whole trip. My companions and I missed a festival day at San Diego’s Street Scene but other than that the entire trip was a success. Read on for a little synopsis of the last half of 20 Bands, 20 Nights.
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Though my end of summer extravaganza started last week, I must digress that I haven’t really gone anywhere yet. There have been a a number of shows here in Chicago and there will be more on that later. This weekend is when things really get started when I travel to Denver for the second year of the Monolith Festival.
Monolith really upgraded the lineup this year with at least three bands who are on the verge of elevating to pervasive name recognition. For me, this is the first time I will get to experience a Red Rocks concert and I have been fascinated with the venue since the Dave Matthews live album. I really cannot wait for Sunday night when Justice hits the stage and lights up the beautiful natural amphitheater. It’s gonna be a special weekend with some really good friends. Read on for some can (and can’t) miss shows.
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Announced late last week, the Treasure Island Music Festival lineup looks pretty exciting, especially for someone like me who just moved to the Bay Area. I don’t remember hearing much about this last year but this year looks like a doozy. Check out the lineup…
Treasure Island Music Festival
http://treasureislandfestival.com/
9/20-9/21/08
San Francisco, CA
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20
Justice
TV on the Radio
Goldfrapp
Hot Chip
CSS
Antibalas
Aesop Rock
Amon Tobin
Foals
Mike Relm
Nortec: Bostich + Fussible
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21
The Raconteurs
Tegan & Sara
Vampire Weekend
Spiritualized
Okkervil River
Tokyo Police Club
The Kills
Dr. Dog
John Vanderslice
The Dodos
Fleet Foxes
More TBA
Info (via JamBase): Treasure Island Music Festival runs from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each day. Single day tickets cost $65.00. Two-day tickets cost $115.00. There will also be a limited quantity of VIP tickets sold as a four-pack, which includes four VIP tickets to one day of the festival, one VIP parking spot on the island, preferred viewing area, VIP Lounge with full bar and other amenities for $445.00. Treasure Island Music Festival mailing list members will have access to the presale for Two-Day Tickets beginning Thursday, May 29 at 10 a.m. You will receive the presale password and link in an email on Wednesday, May 28. There will be a limited number of early bird Two-Day Tickets for $99 during the presale. Sign up for the mailing list treasureislandfestival.com to get the presale password.
I’ll definitely be there for this. Day one features one of my iPod favorites for the past year or so: TV on the Radio. These guys have a haunting sound that just becomes so infectious to me, and I end up getting struck on a few of their tracks before moving on days later. It just really grabs me. Plus, I’m excited about getting to see new stuff for me like Justice, Hot Chip and CSS.
Day two is an obviously strong one with The Raconteurs slotted as the headliners, and add Fleet Foxes, Spiritualized and Tokyo Police Club and I’m set. I’ll wonder if Vampire Weekend is worth skipping, then I’ll let go off my nonconformist side and just enjoy the light, airy pop music (with African rhythms! it’s world music!). I really can’t wait for this festival, though. We’ll be planning on covering this day in and day out.
