Part One:
Honorable Mention: "One" U2 3D 1/19/2008:Yes, I realize this doesn't exactly count, but seeing the US Premiere at Sundance with the band in attendance and saying hello to Larry Mullen at the accompanying cocktail party was as live as I've ever witnessed U2. In other words, better seats never existed and afterwards I felt complete sensory overload. This was as close to a visceral music experience as you can get without actually being there. I'm not even a real U2 fan but this version of "One" was chilling. If you want to read more about PASTE's review of being at the premiere click here:
10) Mark Kozelek "Rock and Roll Singer" SXSW March 13th 2008 Central Presbyterian Church, Austin Texas:
If you have never experienced the march musical madness known as South by Southwest, let me give it to you in one word, exhausting. After catching Eli Paper Boy Reed, My Morning Jacket, Wax Fang, American Babies, M. Ward, Kaki King, Ben Harper and Tom Freund and at least ten other bands all within in 8 hours and setting a personal record for Belgian Beer consumption in the same amount of time, I began strolling/ crawling up the hill to my room at the Omni. I almost made it until I looked at my hand where I had drunkenly scrawled "Glen Tipton!" as a early reminder to myself to not miss Mr. Sun Kil Moon himself, Mark Kozelek. Kozelek found the perfect time and place to do a set of his new material, midnight upon a church alter with nothing but a guitar and two small spots for illumination. I curled up in an empty pew toward the back and stared at the fine arches and masonry until I slowly dozed off into a dreamlike state of musical bliss. One of my favorite writers singing me to sleep after a very very long day. I awoke to the strains of "Rock and Roll Singer" a perfect ending.
Although the sound quality is only fair start the video at 3:30 to visualize:
9) Black Crowes " " Opera House 10/17/08 Boston, MA
The first time I saw a rock and roll show in the exquisitely renovated Opera House was a few years back when the White Stripes blew into town and Jack White exorcised the Puritanical spirits swirling around the joint with swagger and virility. The Black Crowes did the same but with a shit load more weed. We were fortunately to spend time with the boys during soundcheck and it was clear that this was going to be a fairly surreal and spacey show. After a slaying "Wiser Time" and a solid "Bring On, Bring On", we slipped backstage for a few Stella A.'s and some Hershey's Dark Chocolate while the band got people swinging with a wink and nudge cover of "Mighty Quinn". After the merry sing along the lights dimmed, red shadows draped the stage, and the human powered "dry ice" machine jumped into overdrive with the opening strains of the fairly rare "How Much For Your Wings". The oozing two-ton lyrical pleading over unhinged guitar psychedelia bleeding into the drapes made my eyes water from the sheer physical force of the sound. Sometimes you just want your face blown off by a stack of Marshalls and their is no better band to oblige than the Crowes. We spent the after show with the band listening to road tales and reminiscing about our other run ins over the summer (see # 6 & #3). My ears stopped ringing a full four days after this show.
The best thing about the Crowes is you can buy most of their live shows. If you like what you hear CLICK HERE and buy the rest of this show; well worth it: In the meantime enjoy this track below
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