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Favorite Concerts of 2011
Well, this year was once again good to the Pacific Northwest on the concert front… 365 days, 67 shows, 132 artists, many long nights driving home, and a lot of photos…
My favorite concerts of 2011:
- Puscifer :: Paramount Theater :: Seattle, WA {7 Nov} [review with photos] – brilliant new album, fantastic stripped down/meets over the top tour!
- U2 & Lenny Kravitz :: Qwest Field :: Seattle, WA {4 Jun} [review with photos] – one of the biggest tours ever doesn’t disappoint
- My Brightest Diamond :: Mississippi Studios :: Portland, OR {6 Nov} [review with photos] – Shara’s gorgeous voice works well even in a solo setting
- Peter Mulvey :: three shows :: Eugene/Creswell/Corvallis, OR {10-12 Nov} [3-show review with photos] – yes, I’m an addict, but I can’t pass up any chance to see Peter in my neck of the woods…
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor :: Crystal Ballroom :: Portland, OR {18 Feb} [review, no photos] – surreal and amazing!
- The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Sean Lennon & Charlotte Kemp Muhl):: The Woods :: Portland, OR {28 Jan} [review with photos] – pure pop brilliance, Sean takes after his father…
- Nels Cline Singers :: Doug Fir Lounge :: Portland, OR {30 Jan} [review with photos] – avant garde guitar experimentation…
- Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam) & Glen Hansard (of The Swell Season) :: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall :: Portland, OR {14 Jul} [review with photos] – Glen is a great singer-songwriter, and Eddie is an amazing performer (this time, mainly on ukelele)…
- Explosions in the Sky / MusicFest NW :: Pioneer Courthouse Square :: Portland, OR {10 Sep} [no review] – I had to scuttle from this show to a follow-up MFNW show, but this was definitely a highlight…
- Pomplamoose :: Doug Fir Lounge :: Portland, OR {27 Oct} [review with photos] – the youtube stars make good with a real tour… A+!
- Over the Rhine :: Aladdin Theater :: Portland, OR {17 Nov} [review with photos] – OTR will always be a favorite
- Opeth :: Roseland Theater :: Portland, OR {16 Oct} [review with photos] – no cookie monster screams, I missed them, but Opeth still doesn’t disappoint.
- Erik Friedlander plays John Zorn’s Masada Book Two (Book of Angels, Volume 8: Volac) :: The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts :: Eugene, OR {8 Jan} [review with photos] – an amazing cellist playing a amazing book of melodies
- Toad the Wet Sprocket :: Downtown Bend Celebration :: Bend, OR {8 Jul} [review with photos] – anytime Toad or lead singer GLen Phillips are playing in my radar, I’m going!
- Jeffrey Foucault :: Cozmic Pizza :: Eugene, OR {20 Oct} [review with photos] – Jeffrey is quickly becoming a favorite songwriter of mine, full of grit and charm…
Runners-Up: Reptet at Luckey’s (Jan), Elton John at Matthew Knight Arena (Feb), A Perfect Circle at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (June), The Dead Kenny G’s at Sam Bond’s Garage (July), and Jason Webley & Mood Area 52 at WOW Hall (Oct). Even after honorable mentions, I cut some GREAT ones… 2011 was a great year.
My favorite concert photos of 2011: (in chronological order)
(all images are free to use under a creative commons designation,
simply identify Daniel Temmesfeld with a
photo credit and link to pacificlectic.com.
Past Favorite Concerts Lists:
Favorite music of 2011 will be coming soon… EPs/DVDs/etc, vocal albums, instrumental albums…
~Dan – np: Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra – MTO Plays Sly
Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 2 #4
One a month, from March to December 2011…
Derek Webb’s Democracy Vol 2… This month, it is “One” by U2 (posted on 7/1). Derek has a long affinity for these Irish gents. My guess is that when this one came up in the vote winners pile, he paired it with this past weekend’s Nashville U2 covers show and then seeing U2 at VU/Nashville (#U2360NAS).
For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 2 is a continuation of the covers project Derek started last year. The fans get to nominate songs and then vote once the nominations are tallied. Here’s what he’s done in 2010 and 2011 to date (you can still go back and buy this volume):
- January 2010: The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- February: Coldplay – Fix You
- March: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
- April: Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
- May: Sufjan Stevens – Chicago *a personal fave*
- June: U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name
- July: Huey Lewis & the News – Power of Love
- August: The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby *a personal fave*
- September: Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence
- October: Radiohead – Karma Police *a personal fave*
- November: Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah
- December: Robert Robinson – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- January 2011: off
- February: off
- March: Cee-Lo Green – F**k You *a personal fave*
- April: Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
- May: The Beach Boys – God Only Knows
- June: U2 – One
~Dan – np: Secret Chiefs 3 – Eyes of Flesh :: Eyes of Flame
Democracy Vol. 2 is a series of subscription based albums of cover songs that Derek will be recording annually, starting January 2010. Those who participate will not only receive the exclusive album, but will democratically decide what songs Derek will record.
Ever wished you could hear Derek cover your favorite Beatles song? Or Backstreet Boys song? Or even re-record your favorite old Caedmon’s Call song? Here’s your chance. Songs will be nominated and voted down to 10. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 10 months (March to December). Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!
Iron Mike Savoia’s U2/Kravitz pics (Seattle 6/4)
“Iron Mike” Savoia of Savoia Photography Live just posted his beaufitul Lenny Kravitz & U2 shots from Saturday’s show at Qwest Field in Seattle, WA… click the photo of each artist to hit Mike’s Facebook album for each. If you want to check out my review of the show, GO HERE (setlist/review/photos). #U2360SEA
Mike’s Webpage
Mike’s Facebook
~Dan – np: dredg – Chuckles & Mr Squeezy 
REVIEW: U2 & Lenny Kravitz @ Qwest Field (Seattle, WA – 6/4/11)
photo by Soren McCarty (Denver show)
U2 is one of the biggest rock bands in the world. They’ve been a band for almost 35 years – all the same four guys. Sit back and think about that for a minute. Sure, they haven’t been without struggles, but they’ve been a solid force in rock music for a long, long time. Saturday night was my third time to see them (PopMart 1996, Elevation 2001), and based on the reviews and photos I had seen, I knew I was going to be blown away…
Qwest Field started being configured for U2’s 360º Tour earlier that week. The 360º Tour features the largest concert stage structure ever and a 360-degree staging/audience configuration that allows fans to surround the stage from all sides. The large parking lot full of semi-trucks wasn’t just for Bono’s sunglasses supply. Check out the GeneStout.com media recap of the stage build out (with Mike Savoia’s photos – more from Mike below, too). See a time-lapse build-out of the Denver show (FB video link).
We positioned ourselves at near the north side of the outside of the loop for the show – as we hadn’t gotten there early enough for the inner loop. After running into a bad batch in the crowd (i.e.- drunk as hell d-bags), we backed off and watched from a nice safe distance. Opener Lenny Kravitz hit the stage around 7:30 and played a solid 50 minutes set. One new song, and a cadre of his hits. Cindy Blackwell was not on drums – that was the only noticeable absence. Lenny had some ear-monitor issues near the end, which was frustrating him, but he put on a great show regardless.
Lenny’s Setlist: 50 minutes
- Come On Get It [new song]
- Mamma Said
- It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
- Let Love Rule
- American Woman [The Guess Who]
- Fly Away
- Are You Gonna Go My Way
After a short break, the David Bowie tape intro started, and U2 walked out onto the stage…
U2’s Setlist: 2+ hours
- Space Oddity [tape intro, David Bowie]
- Even Better Than The Real Thing
- I Will Follow
- Get On Your Boots
- Magnificent
- Mysterious Ways
- Elevation
- Until The End Of The World
- All I Want Is You
- Stay (Faraway, So Close!) [acoustic]
- Beautiful Day with NASA video* & Space Oddity snippet (*video below)
- Pride (In The Name Of Love)
- Miss Sarajevo
- Zooropa
- City Of Blinding Lights
- Vertigo
- I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight with Discothèque and other snippets
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- Scarlet
- Walk On
- Encore 1: Aung San Suu Kyi Message [tape]
- One
- Where The Streets Have No Name
- Encore 2: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
- With Or Without You
- Moment of Surrender
They rocked out, and from our vantage point it was like watching alien TV. Some of the best moments for me… The kick-off “Even Better Than the Real Thing” followed by the throwback “I Will Follow” (this show was going to be all over their catalog). The NASA Commander Mark Kelly video intro to “Beautiful Day” (from space – video below). The snippet of “Discotheque” was excellent (POP is a great, under-appreciated album). Bono swinging out on his lit-up microphone during “Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me.”
Oh, and Zoo-fucking-ropa. The expanding televisions caught me off guard… it was a circus of sights and sounds.
A massive spectacle from a massive band. A truly entertaining experience. U2 blows about any other live show out of the water as far as sheer force, light, power, and energy.
My Photos from the show:
(really, just shots of the TV… sigh…)
Mike Savoia’s Pro-shot Photos:
(used with permission)
check out the links to Mike Savoia’s work below
The Appropriate Linkage:
- U2’s Site
- Amnesty International
- One Campaign
- U2.com splash page for Seattle show (with photos & video)
- U2’s Social Media Links (see below)
- Lenny Kravitz’s Site
- Lenny Kravitz’s Facebook / MySpace / Twitter
- Mike Savoia’s Digital Photography from the Seattle Show (6/4/2011)
Check out more tour dates below. #U2360SEA
~Dan – np: Rage Against the Machine – Evil Empire
U2’s rescheduled 2011 North American dates:
- May 21 Denver, CO Invesco Field (formerly June 12/10)
- May 24 Salt Lake City, UT Rice Eccles Stadium (formerly June 3/10)
- June 01 Edmonton, AB Commonwealth Stadium (formerly June 23/10)
- June 04 Seattle, WA Qwest Field (formerly June 20/10)
- June 07 Oakland, CA McAfee Coliseum (formerly June 20/10)
- June 17 Anaheim, CA Angels Stadium (formerly June 6/10)
- June 18 Anaheim, CA Angels Stadium (formerly June 7/10)
- June 26 East Lansing, MI Spartan Stadium at MSU (formerly June 30/10)
- June 29 Miami, FL Sun Life Stadium (formerly July 9/10)
- July 05 Chicago, IL Soldier Field (formerly July 6/10)
- July 08 Montreal, QC Hippodrome (formerly July 16/10)
- July 09 Montreal, QC Hippodrome (formerly July 17/10)
- July 11 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre (formerly July 3/10)
- July 14 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field (formerly July 12/10)
- July 20 East Rutherford, NJ New Meadowlands Stadium (formerly July 19/10)
- July 23 Minneapolis, MN TCF Bank Stadium (formerly June 27/10)
U2 & Lenny Kravitz tonight in Seattle!
I’m heading out soon to catch two indie artists – Lenny Kravitz & U2 – tonight at the Qwest Field in Seattle, WA. Wish them luck… it’s so hard for these up & coming indie bands…
Check back on Sunday night for my review & setlist (and hopefully with photos).
Update 6/5: GO HERE for my review.
If I don’t get any good shots, I’ll post/link to Mike Savoia’s awesome shots… I know he’s pro shooting it.
~Dan – np: Puya – Union
#U2360SEA
Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1 #6
One a month in 2010…
Derek Webb‘s Democracy Vol 1 is rolling along… This month, it’s “Where the Streets Have No Name” by some Irish band. Derek has a long history of covering U2 in concert… love this acoustic take on a classic. Thanks, Derek!!
For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 1 was part of the Stockholm Syndrome pre-order package, but you can still join in over at the DW store and get the following (plus future releases):
- January: The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- February: Coldplay – Fix You
- March: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
- April: Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
- May: Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
- June: U2 – Where the Streets Have No Name
If you missed the Derek & Jennifer Knapp tour, check out my review and photos from the Portland Oregon show at the Aladdin Theater on April 27th.
~Dan – np: Damien Jurado – Saint Bartlett
Democracy Vol. 1 is the first in a series of subscription based albums of cover songs that Derek will be recording annually, starting January 2010. Those who participate will not only receive the exclusive album, but will democratically decide what songs Derek will record.
Ever wished you could hear Derek cover your favorite Beatles song? Or Backstreet Boys song? Or even re-record your favorite old Caedmon’s Call song? Here’s your chance. Songs will be nominated and voted down to 12. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 12 months. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!
U2 360° Tour – North American Dates to be Rescheduled in 2011
From U2.com…
Tour promoters Live Nation have confirmed that the sixteen U2 360° shows from Salt Lake City on June 3rd, through to New Jersey’s Meadowlands Stadium on July 19th, will be rescheduled for 2011.
U2 tour producer/promoter Arthur Fogel, CEO of Live Nation Global Touring, said, ‘Although we understand the disappointment to U2 fans, first and foremost comes the recovery of Bono.’
Additional details on rescheduled dates will follow shortly and fans are encouraged to hold on to their tickets. We’ll have all the information on U2.com as soon as it’s confirmed.
::sad face::
~Dan – np: Isis – Wavering Radiant
U2 360° Tour 2010
Not that I need to add anything to the U2 internet coverage rockpile… but the fact that they’re playing a PacNW date (in 2010) is happiness for me…
- 6 June, 2010 – Anaheim, CA – Angel Stadium
- 12 June, 2010 – Denver, CO – Invesco Field
- 16 June, 2010 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Coliseum
- 20 June, 2010 – Seattle, WA – Qwest Field
- 23 June, 2010 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Commonwealth Stadium
- 30 June, 2010 – East Lansing, MI – Spartan Stadium
- 3 July, 2010 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Rogers Centre
- 6 July, 2010 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
- 9 July, 2010 – Miami, FL – Land Shark Stadium
- 12 July, 2010 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
- 16 July, 2010 – Montreal, QC – Venue TBA
- 19 July, 2010 – New York, NY – New Meadowlands Stadium
~Dan – np: Kneebody – Kneebody
U2 for $3.99!?
Um… wow… crazy cheap price on U2‘s new album No Line on the Horizon from Amazon… $3.99 for the download version… limited time only, I’m sure.
(click picture for details)
~Dan
Dave Brubeck Quartet & Radiohead (plus more)
Dave Brubeck Quartet & Radiohead
“Take Five” meets “15 Step”
I don’t think it works as well as whoever intended it to work… but I suppose it’s OK as far as mashups go.
And in other music…
- Live electronic artists Holy Fuck have done a cover of Röyksopp‘s “Happy Up Here.” Check it out (streaming) over HERE.
- U2‘s new album, No Line on the Horizon, comes out… Tuesday. I totally forgot about it. Geez.
- Sufjan Stevens and Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) joined the Clogs and Bell Orchestre in joining the Brooklyn Philharmonic at the Brooklyn Academy of Music the other day. Check out Pitchfork for a review and pictures of the event, and the Brooklyn Vegan blog posted some pics and a review as well.
~Dan – np: Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin – Stoa
a quad-shot of espresso [in music news format]
Four shots of espresso…
- Dream Theater will have a new album out in the Summer. My guess is that it’ll have long songs, some rockin’, some ballads, and it’ll mostly be enjoyable when there is no singing involved. No title for the album yet. My guess would be that it’ll be named after some obscure latin verb conjugated in a clever way, or some multi-syllabic extinct bird and/or fish. They’ll be kicking off the Progressive Nation 2009 Tour. Dates are not out yet, but I hope they swing through Portland, OR (or at a minimum, Seattle). And… and… and…
- Zappa Plays Zappa will be on the bill for that tour. So will Pain of Salvation and Beard Fish, but that’s totally not as cool as Zappa Plays Zappa and Dream Theater in one night. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater drummer) is a huge Frank Zappa fan; so I bet it’s a dream come true for him as well… I’m more stoked for ZPZ than DT. Eh, sue me.
- Iron & Wine is releasing a b-sides / rarities double-disc set called Around the Well (May 19, Sub Pop), and he’s also heading out on an all-request tour. Check out the tracklist for the double-disc as well as the tour dates over at Pitchfork (link).
- U2 will essentially take over as house band on the David Letterman Show with five days in a row performances the week of March 2nd in support of their upcoming album, No Line on the Horizon.
Half and half…
(image by burntwoodstudio.com)
- Maynard James Keenan and his Puscifer project’s three nights of shows at the Palms in Las Vegas is underway now. Feb 13, 14, 15… anyone go? Got a good review? I’m totally jealous.
The “don’t burn your hands” sleeve that goes around the cup…
- Björk is re-issuing the underwhelming Volta in a special 4-disc edition that I may actually spring for (i.e.- I never bought Volta, but this version looks great). It’s called Voltaic, and it’s the Volta CD (billed as “Songs From The Volta Tour Performed Live At Olympic Studios”), a CD of the official remixes, a live DVD from Paris & Reykjavik, and a DVD of the Volta videos. Quite frankly, the DVD of the videos is what piqued my interest (see gif to the right).
Hmmm… now I’m craving a venti americano with room for cream.
~Dan – np: Wynton Marsalis – From Plantation to the Penitentiary
U2 and Radiohead
Not that these bands are lacking of free advertising… but here’s some good news that came out this past week. U2‘s upcoming No Line on the Horizon (due out in March) now has a cover and tracklist…
1. No Line on the Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots (streaming at u2.com or on YouTube)
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez – Being Born
9. White as Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars of Lebanon
The Amazons also has No Line on the Horizon for pre-order now.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
meets 
Radiohead‘s guitarist anti-rockstar Jonny Greenwood is recently collaborated with Israeli singer Dudu Tasa on the new single, “What a Day“. The song is streaming over HERE (browser warning: IE only). It’s good, but not like Jonny’s usual fare (i.e. – it’s not like the more experimental Bodysong or There Will Be Blood).
Also in recent directly Radiohead news… EMI/Capitol is re-issuing triple-disc versions (2CD+DVD) of the band’s first three albums (Pablo Honey, The Bends, and OK Computer). There are no previously unreleased tracks on any of these issues, but it will be a more cohesive place for all of the b-sides rather than the glut of import singles and EPs that the band released as “tweeners.” They’re due out in late March.
The original singles up through those on Amnesiac are also being repressed in 180 gram 12″ vinyl. The one for the Drill EP was the one I sprung for… I’d only heard it before in crappy mp3. It’ll be nice in the analog, backwards technology re-issuance. They’re due out in late April.
~Dan – np: Antibalas – Who is this America?
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
Amazon.com mp3 downloads
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