If you’ve seen this blog at all, you know that I went to a number of concerts this year. Going to shows is one of my favorite things to do, and I love seeing new bands as well as old favorites. While I saw a number of artists in a number of venues, there are some that just stand out. Instead of just giving you another “best-of” list with my favorite songs, I picked my favorite songs that I associate with the best concerts. Have a listen! There’s even a Spotify playlist for it.
1. “All of Me,” Tanlines
Tanlines debuted early in 2012, and from the minute I saw their stark black and white album cover, I knew I had to listen to them. I couldn’t get enough of their catchy songs and, much to my surprise and delight, found out they would be playing at Cleveland’s Grog Shop only weeks after I first heard them. While the show wasn’t sold out, the duo delivered a high-energy set, with faithful renditions of their new songs. I fell even more in love.
2. “Parallax,” Atlas Sound
Bradford Cox, Deerhunter’s frontman, is also Atlas Sound. He released his critically acclaimed third album, Parallax, and then toured in support of it. This was another show at the Grog Shop, and one where traveling through the snow was both dangerous and worth it. Cox is known for his crazy stage banter, and he delivered on that chilly Cleveland night. He told stories while also performing by himself in a mesmerizing set. He also performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago this past summer.
3. “Anna Sun,” Walk the Moon
Walk the Moon actually played on my college campus, and they were the somewhat unlikely openers for 1990s stars Third Eye Blind. However, they brought so much energy to a crowd who barely knew them and won over all of us in attendance. The show’s sound guy cut “Anna Sun” short, and it seems only appropriate to include it here for a full listen.
4. “I Can See Through You,” The Horrors
Seeing the Horrors at the O2 Academy in Brixton was probably the highlight of my year. They are one of my very favorite bands, and they were finishing up touring in support of their wonderful 2011 release, Skying. After traveling throughout Europe, the band put on an excellent show full of their best material as well as incredible lights. Openers TOY were also full of promise, and you should listen to them, too.
5. “Some Nights,” fun.
The boys in fun. have been working away for years in the music industry, and they finally broke through all of the clutter this year. I saw fun. when they performed at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, and it was a tiny affair with a ton of energy. The band encored with “Some Nights,” a song that has proved to be even more successful than “We Are Young.” This show can actually be viewed in full online through a sponsorship with Walmart’s Soundstage series.
6. “Aberdeen,” Cage the Elephant
Cage the Elephant were one of three performers at New York City’s Governors Music Ball who really stood out. I had seem them years before in Cleveland, but this past June, they showed how they had honed their stage presence and their growing set list. “Aberdeen” is one of those songs that stands out, mostly for the sheer emotional force of the song but also because of how thrilled the crowd was about it.
7. “16 Years,” Phantogram
Phantogram is another standout from Governors Ball, and one that resonates the most with me. I was completely converted after their set, and “16 Years” was one of the songs that translated best from album to stage. Plus, Sarah Barthel is a wicked front woman who combines fashion and talent to perfection. She’s captivating, and I can’t wait to see them again.
8. “Girl,” Beck
Beck headlined his first show in seven years at the Governors Ball, and it was the perfect “comeback” set. Even as the rain started falling, Beck kept playing, and his band was as tight as they’ve ever been. They were having a good time in their reunion, and it translated to those of us watching. It’s hard to choose one song from that night, but “Girl” is a personal favorite and one that just about everyone in the audience couldn’t help but dance to – even in the mud.
9. “Demons,” Sleigh Bells
Sleigh Bells have toured almost non-stop in support of their sophomore album Reign of Terror. I saw them on the Chelsea Pier in Manhattan, and it was one of the best shows of the summer. Mixing in new tracks from Reign with their older tracks, the band was a well-oiled machine, and one that got the crowd moshing and dancing wildly. Plus, with a set that was over an hour long, they certainly did not disappoint. “Demons” showcased their dual-guitar threat as well as their powerful lead singer, Alexis Krauss, and her voice.
10. “Little Black Submarines,” The Black Keys
The Black Keys headlined the first night of New York City’s Catalpa Music Festival on Randall Island. While they were obviously hyped up, the boys from Akron, Ohio, did not disappoint. The crowd pushed to the front in an effort to see them, and they played a string of hits that got everyone going. The best moment certainly came with “Little Black Submarines,” as the band played up the drama that is the climax of the song. It was perfect.
11. “Stay Gold,” The Big Pink
The Big Pink also played at Catalpa, but they were one of Sunday’s first acts. However, you would have never known they were playing a mid-afternoon set on a hot July weekend. They played like they were headliners, drawing the crowd in with a massive bass thump and catchy hooks. The Big Pink were by far one of the most pleasant surprises of the whole weekend.
12. “Simple Song,” The Shins
The Shins, somehow, ended up coming to my college campus in late October. They were wrapping up a support tour for Port of Morrow, and it was a truly great show. While they obviously played a number of tracks from Port, James Mercer knew what his audience wanted and included tracks from far back in their career. “Kissing the Lipless” was one standout moment, but “Simple Song” grabbed the audience and never let them go.
Bonus Tracks:
While the above songs showcase the best artists I saw all summer, there are a few that definitely deserve mentioning but that don’t necessarily fit in with my typically indie fare.
13. “H.A.M.” by Kanye West and Jay-Z (Watch the Throne)
I first saw Kanye and Jay-Z together in Pittsburgh in November 2011, but then I had the chance to see them again in May 2012 at the O2 Arena on their first night in town. The two had grown considerably from Pittsburgh to London – if you can believe that these two rap megastars have the ability to grow. The show was tighter, cleaner, and generally more exciting. The London crowd embraced Kanye and Jay-Z in a way that Pittsburgh hadn’t. While Watch the Throne has a number of excellent tracks, “H.A.M.” opened the show in almost overly glorious fashion, a solid reminder as to what show you were attending and what that meant.
14. “All of the Lights,” Kanye West
While Kanye and Jay-Z performed a number of songs together, they also did songs on their own. Kanye’s rendition of “All of the Lights” in London is one of those perfect moments for me. He got the crowd involved, and everyone around us danced and screamed and sang as loud as they could. The light show was ideal, much better than it had been in Pittsburgh, and Kanye just looked like he was having a good time.
15. “Gin and Juice,” Snoop Doggy Dogg
Snoop Dogg was Catalpa’s other headlner, and he performed Doggystyle in full. While it wasn’t in the exact order of the album, Snoop made a show out of it, including a gangster storyline featuring video segments and a variety of his old collaborators. While he also played to the audience, including new hits like “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Young, Wild and Free,” it’s tracks like “Gin and Juice” that stand out and remind you why Snoop Dogg had always been a revered rapper. Of course, he did this just days after announcing that was he was now Snoop Lion, so it remains to be seen if the Dogg will ever perform or record again.
16. “Shut the Club Down,” Girl Talk
Girl Talk served as Snoop Dogg’s opening act, more or less, for Catalpa. I had missed Girl Talk during his stints in Cleveland, and I knew that watching him would be a party. Gregg Gillis, the mastermind behind Girl Talk, is about the show just as much as he is about the music. Confetti flew often, and toilet paper was thrown multiple times. Lights flashed, and fans were brought on stage to dance. While opening for Snoop couldn’t have been easy, Gillis made it look like a breeze.
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