Best Concerts of 2008

I've mentioned it a couple of people and it may be evident on my top 25 list, that I have taken a turn in my music taste to a more organic side of music. Natural sounds and songs. I say this becuase it might be in a large part associated to the live concerts I go to and the shows I find enjoyable. The list of shows I have been to over the last year is daunting even for a music man like myself. Categorizing them is even more daunting, so being in the list mood I have decided to make a list of the top 10. And it goes as follows:

Top 10 Concerts 2008

10. Frightened Rabbits (Rhythm Room)
9. Black Keys (Marquee)
8. Tokyo Police Club (The Clubhouse)
7. Born Ruffians / Plants and Animals (Modified Art)
6. Nodzzz (The Manor)
5. Dr. Dog / Delta Spirit - (Club Congress)
4. Fionn Regan - Ireland
3. The Avett Brothers - (Rhythm Room)
2. The Octopus Project (Rhythm Room)
1. Mount Eerie / Stephen Steinbrink (Modified Art)

Honorable Mentions:
Best Fwends (The Trunk Space)
Best Friends Forever (The Trunk Space)
Okkervil River (The Clubhouse)
Ra Ra Riot (Modified Art)
Titus Andronicus (Modified Art)
Alas Alak Alaska (The Trunk Space)


Top Three Acts @ Street Scene
The National
Man Man
Cold War Kids

Three Worst Acts @ Street Scene
Cat Power
Beck
Chester French

My Top 25 of 2008

I tried hard to make my own top 25 list before a lot of the major lists came out... I didn't want to be influenced by them, while at the same time understanding that some credit must be given to outside sources, such as my counter part Jeffrey. So I finished my top 25 with little help from the outside and upon conclusion and further research I discovered that I had some similarities but even more differences from other lists.

The more and more I make these lists, the more I believe much of them are based on opinion and popular view. If one album gets a low review by a popular blog/website, a lot of times it doesn't see the light of day. While on the other hand, if an album begins to be championed by a certain popular blog/website, suddenly it is all the rage. Much of this is connected to the big money machine on the internet and the desire for everyone to get a piece of the action.

Knowing this, we are left basically to opinion... and I have found it comforting that I have been able to find people with similar opinions and have been able to share music with them and them with me.

Preston's Top 25 2008

25. High Places - S/T

24. Jay Reatard - Matador Singles '08

23. Blitzen Trappen - Furr

22. Shearwater - Rook

21. The Mumler - Thickets and Stitches

20. El Guincho - Allegranza!

19. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah pt. One (4th World War)

18. So So Glos - Tourism/Terrorism

17. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

16. Vampire Weekend - S/T

15. Foot Ox - It’s Like Our Little Machine

14. Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!

13. Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP

12. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

11. Dodos - Visiter

10. Horse Feathers - House With No Home

9. Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride

8. Frightened Rabbits - Midnight Organ Fight

7. Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom

6. The Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Graves

5. Delta Spirit - Ode to Sunshine

4. The Dutchess AND The Duke - She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke

3. French Quarter - S/T

2. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

1. Dr Dog - Fate

Aaron Neber / Foot Ox // Bri White // James Fella /// B @ The Manor, December 16th

Aaron Neber / Foot Ox // Bri White // James Fella /// B @ The Manor
December 16th, 8p FREE

If it feels like I am really promoting shows for the local distant colony scene, your right, becuase I love their music and I think they are wonderful people. I'm not sure who Aaron Neber is... but this really should be a fun show at the Manor in Tempe. Sorry, I didn't get this out sooner but these shows are very last minute and so promotion of them is always a few days before... if not day of.

1st Annual Phoenix Winter Folk Festival @ The Modified

Folk Festival in Pheonix, FANTASTIC!
December 20th, 4pm $6

Honestly, it will be fun to see how this event unfolds... I feel like Phoenix has always been a little resitant to the folk scene. So this is a chance to really open our arms and let the FOLK in! There is one group that I am a little dissapointed isn't on the list: Try Me Bicyle is probably one of the more dynamic folk duos on the valley and they aren't on the list... I am sure there is a good reason. Here is a bit of the line up... I would image there will be more announced as the event approaches:

Sam the Boy
Asher Deaver
Courtney Maria Andrews
Owl & Penny
In Symmetry
Saddles
Christopher Kevin
Zachery James Dobbs
Bradley and the Materials
Poem

Alas Alak Alaska @ The Trunk Space (PHX) & The Hangar (TUC)

Phoenix

Alas Alak Alaska / Fancie / Adrian Orange @ The Trunk Space
Thursday, December 18th, 7p

This is one of my favorite band names... it just kind of roles off the tongue like Rocco pastry. This is going to be a brilliant show, there is a whole host of people, local and national, playing at this show. Here is a quick run down:
/ Foot Ox
// James Fella (its been a while since we have seen him)
/// Stephen Steinbrink
//// Khalid Melkchurch

Tucson

Alas Alak Alaska / Fancie // Adrian Orange /// Stephen Steinbrink @ The Trunk Space

You can read the poster...