Best Live Shows of 2004

December 24th, 2004 · No Comments

1. (Tie) The Pixies at Kaplakrika, Hafnarfjorþur, Iceland, May 25, and the Pixies at Avalon, December 9
The Pixies’ reunion tour was the musical story of 2004; I was so desperate to see them that I engineered a mini-break to Iceland when the first leg of their tour was announced. Though the venue was a little strange and the band less than demonstrative, there’s nothing that will compare to the sound of the actual Pixies playing actual Pixies songs live in front of you for the first time. Especially after a twelve-year wait. Their homecoming show in Boston was a different experience altogether, more intimate, comfortable, sloppy, and fun, but while the band sounded better this time around, the crowd seemed a little too reverent to get into the experience as much as the horde of Icelandic teenagers from the May show.

3. Wilco at the Calvin Theater, Northampton, MA
The second of our two-night stint following Wilco across Massachusetts cemented what we’d learned the night before: A Ghost Is Born comes into its own when performed live. I had a bit of a hard time getting into the album when I first listened to it, but hearing the full band, now augmented with new side men Nels Cline and Pat Sansone, rip through some of the more unassuming tracks from the album, was a real pleasure.

4. Magnetic Fields at Berklee Perf. Center, Boston, May 24
Another first time seeing a favorite band, who proved surprisingly adept at bringing their unique and particular style to the stage. It translates well, much like David Sedaris’ writing, to a performance in front of a large, attentive crowd, eager to hear clever phrases, biting one-liners, and interesting re-tellings of common experiences. Plus, they played “Book of Love,” which made everything great.

5. Sondre Lerche at the Paradise, October 25
We saw Sondre Lerche twice this year at the Paradise. The first time was great, as he was in good form and he had his band, the Faces Down, to back him up. The Paradise had inexplicably set up chairs on the floor, a first in my experience there, and the whole mood of the place was a little off. The second time around, we were treated to a mostly solo show, just the pop genius (with a sore throat) and his guitar. He gives one of those deeply satisfying live performances: great music and a charming presence, with an appreciation for the audience, as well.

6. Badly Drawn Boy at the Avalon, November 19
Damon and Co. always put on an interesting show, from his acid-tongued folk to Bacharach-inspired pop to Springsteen-esque power ballads. This show was no different, as he and the band ran through the entire tracklisting from his most recent album, One Plus One Is One. Then they took a break, and returned ten minutes later to play as many old songs as they could before Avalon’s pre-clubbing curfew shut the show down at 9:45. As constrained as it was, it was still a great evening of music from the inscrutable Boy.

7. Washington Social Club at the Middle East, September 29
I saw Marty and the Social Club three or four times this year; they just keep getting better, and their last gig was by far their best. It’s nice to see them build an audience that consists of more than just friends and friends of friends. In the past year, they’ve been on MTV, Carson Daly, and a song of theirs was featured on an episode of ER. Going places, for sure.

8. Snow Patrol at the Paradise, September 13
Every once in awhile, I get out of my rut and buy tickets to see a new band due to play a date at the Paradise, and pick up the cd to get primed for the show. The results are often less than encouraging, but this time, they worked out nicely. I’d listened to the album, and been mostly satisfied, for a few weeks before Snow Patrol came to town, but the show was more than impressive, and gave me hope for their future as purveyors of hook-laden British guitar pop. Mmm.

9. Sam Phillips at the Paradise, October 21
I’ve always wanted to see Sam Phillips in concert, having been a big fan of her Martinis & Bikins album. Sadly, the Sam Phillips who came to the Paradise either wasn’t in the mood to oblige, or just simply doesn’t do any of those songs anymore. Happily enough, though, the songs she did do, backed nicely by the prolific Section string quartet, were surprising and engaging.

10. Múm at the Museum of Fine Arts, June 24
This has to be one of the most unexpected surprises of the year; first, the tickets were an early wedding gift from friends, and came to us two or three days before the show. Then there was the setting of the show, a previously unknown (at least to me) outdoor courtyard inside the MFA, covered from end to end with the most amazing array of instruments I’d ever seen. Soon they were manned by an almost equally impressive array of people, Icelanders to be exact, who delivered an intoxicating blend of wordless melodies with great, swirling rock lines. Great seats, bar service, a warm Boston evening – what more could you ask for?