Best Live Shows of 2004

[winterversion]

So, which live shows really stand out this year for you. For me, Fiery Furnaces, without a doubt. In fact, they probably put out the best show I've seen in my life and I hadn't even heard any of their albums.

Next to that, probably Guided by Voices, moreso for the sentimental value and the wild, obsessed fans in the audience.

And an honorable mention to the Unicorns for some mildly amusing stage antics and banter.

[earl grey]

fiery furnaces
deerhoof
magnetic fields
LCD soundsystem
wilco
yo la tengo

[Thor]

gomez
sonic youth
the mc5
sand pebbles
devendra banhart
silver ray
flaming lips

[Maximo]

pixies, pixies, pixies

modest mouse

Flaming lips w/ wilco on new years :)

Walkmen on the 16th should be good.

[tinobeat]

hmm:

Deerhoof
Lilys
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Carlisle Sound
Growing
Hot Snakes
Guided By Voices

off th' top of me heed...

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I've been to tons of shows this year but these jump immediately to mind:

A Fir-Ju Well three times (local band)
Artimus Pyledriver a couple of times (another local band)
Brass Castle bunches of times (my favorite local combo)
Cream Abdul Babar a couple of times (semi-local)
Faun Fables in February
The Incredible String Band in September
Jucifer's two night stand at The Star Bar in October
Light Pupil Dilate several times (yeah, local)
The Malarkies (opening for Roach Motel, oddly enough) back in April
Players Club twice
Pleasure Club in May
The Raveonettes in August
Slipknot in April
Subhumans in November
Subsonics a couple or three times (yes, another killer local band)

[Thor]

shit dude, you saw the incredible string band? how were they? I'm a big fan.

[the Pawnbroker]

Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, and Joe Lavano at the Village Vanguard in September.

[9000]

fiery furnaces at northsixth
yeah yeah yeahs and liars at warsaw
blues explosion at irving plaza and maxwells
weird war at northsixth
pj harvey at first avenue
chavez at irving plaza and bowery ballroom
gbv hudson pier show w/ access to gbv kegs!

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Originally posted by Thor
shit dude, you saw the incredible string band? how were they? I'm a big fan. They were fantastic! I wasn't sure how it would be since Robin Williamson is gone but Clive Palmer (from the debut) is back and they had a third guy on multiple instruments. The first few songs were a bit shakey but after they settled in, they were incredible. I had a smile from ear-to-ear. BTW, there's a new live CD that's pretty much what they played on the tour (but with a few extra musicians) called Nebulous Nearnesses. I'd recommend it!

Also, I forgot another excellent show from this year: Melvins a couple of months ago.

[george]

i saw one of those bright eyes/jim james/m ward shows in october and jim james' set was one of the best things i've ever seen. everyone was good, but jim james was just amazing.

i saw a bunch of shows, but that's all that really stands out. the fiery furnaces were horrific.

[Salman]

Weird War
Sonic Youth
Of Montreal
Animal Collective
The Pixies
Saturday Looks Good to Me
Julie Doiron

[vesper]

blood on the wall and oneida in nyc
parts and labor in nyc
animal collective in dc
mobius band in nyc
weird war in dc
les georges leningrad in nyc
beauty pill in fredericksburg

[Paul Davis]

The Hidden Cameras (not only was it the best show I have been to this year, it was also free)
The Pixies
Wilco
Brian Wilson

[otto midnight]

off the top of my head:

ponys- february, empty bottle, chicago.

pixies- november, aragon ballroom, chicago.

casiotone for the painfully alone- august, empty bottle, chicago

black keys- september, mad planet, milwaukee (great show, horrible crowd)

black keys- september, st. andrews, detroit (great show, great crowd, horrible road construction).


those are the first ones that come to mind, i'm sure i'm forgetting some good shows (like silkworm or califone). there were other shows that were certainly memorable (bobby conn or luna) but i can't really vouch for how good they were.

[tinobeat]

oop...

forgot Of Montreal and Oneida.

[Maximo]

When did the fiery furnaces come around?

[winterversion]

Originally posted by tinobeat
oop...

forgot Of Montreal and Oneida.

How was Of Montreal? Been wanting to see these guys for awhile now. I hear their shows are like a big circus or something.

[yovan]

Best:

Ted Leo/Rx
Modey Lemon

Disappointing:

The Walkmen

[tinobeat]

Originally posted by winterversion
How was Of Montreal? Been wanting to see these guys for awhile now. I hear their shows are like a big circus or something.

Not as much of a circus as one would expect, but there's definitely zaniness (masks, between song skits, etc.)

definitely see 'em if you have a chance...

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Another I completely forgot: Borbetomagus in October

[Squall91]

Constantines
Xiu Xiu

[hstencil]

NNCK, Simon Finn and Virgin Eye Blood Brothers in August - VEEB weren't as good as the other time I saw 'em, but still interesting. NNCK played one of the better sets I've ever seen them play, and Simon Finn was just amazing.
Humectant Interruption and Air Conditioning at No Fun Fest - these were the two stand-outs. Hell, Wolf Eyes were pretty great too.
Keith Rowe and Fennesz at Tonic.
there's probably other stuff I've forgotten, as well.