Well, it's year-end time here at TSRE, and we're recapping our favorite dozen shows from the 2009. Check out our six favorite from the first half of the year in yesterday's post, and then check out the best of July through December below.
Micachu and the Shapes with Anni Rossi @ Great Scott, July 16th
TSRE Review
Heavy dissonance frequently resolved to precise harmony, while Micachu kept the songs moving with quick lyrics and an endearing sneer. Already knowing and loving Micachu, I readily succumbed to their pulsating rhythms and got into their groove. With such intricate rhythms and a horde of homemade percussive instruments, like wine bottles, bells and cans, Micachu & the Shapes were far more funky than I expected. It was a great live touch, along with their ability to alter tempos and even the key of some of their songs. During the roughly 45 minutes of jamming out, Micachu and her band mates always kept eye contact, playing off of each other's cues and really creating an organic, free flowing concert experience. I came in with pretty high expectations to experience something new and exciting. I defintely received just that (dare I say avant garde?) from both Anni Rossi and Micachu.
Micachu and the Shapes - Lips (Astronomer Remix) (YSI)
Paul McCartney @ Fenway Park, August 6th
TSRE Review
As the concert moved into its second half, McCartney began to string Beatles tunes together. While it was fun to hear Paul rock out on songs like "Paperback Writer" and "Back in the U.S.S.R," for me the highlights were the songs more conducive to singing along, like "Let it Be" and "Hey Jude." Every single person, regardless of age, knew every word to each of these songs, and belted out the lyrics with a surprisingly accurate sense of pitch. A chorus of 40,000 voices was lifted during the final "Na na na" section of "Hey Jude" resulting in a remarkable collective experience.
Ramona Falls @ Great Scott, September 15th
Melophobe Review
Smack in the middle of Ramona Falls’ set lay a three-song run that struck all the chords that made the concert memorable. It started innocuously enough, with three band members silencing their instruments to focus on Knopf’s piano. He obliged them, playing “Boy Ant,” a brief but beautiful interlude that resembles some long lost Christmas carol. That tune segued into a full-band version of “Going Once, Going Twice,” with a throbbing beat to match the pulse of the transfixed audience. The sonic triptych ended with “Salt Sack,” which was given an extra jolt with the addition of a trumpet player. Throughout this run, not a single note landed poorly. The band sounded natural and cohesive, songs flowing into one another as the musicians concentrated on bringing the songs to life. The more I think about this run, this show, this band, the more I am impressed.
Laura Marling with Danny Schmidt @ Club Passim, October 22nd
TSRE Danny Schmidt Review
Schmidt, a folky singer-songwriter from Austin, TX is a storyteller. With a voice straight out of a faded black and white photograph, Schmidt spun dusty tales of loss, revelation and time mesmerizing the crowd along with his deft guitar work. While his albums feature strings and other instrumentation, Schmidt performed with just an acoustic guitar that he jokingly mentioned made the show sound like it was on vinyl because of a bad connection.
TSRE Laura Marling Review
Weakness, thy name is man. I was wooed on Thursday night by a songstress named Laura Marling. You may know her as a former member of the illustrious Noah and the Whale, or as the charming woman who recorded a folk duet cover of Eminem's "Brain Damage." I now know her as my ultimate indie crush, a tiny English woman with the voice of a siren. I would never have guessed, when Marling took the stage at Club Passim, that such a small frame could produce such a voice. And perhaps that's the beauty of it.
The Very Best @ Great Scott, November 1st
TSRE Review
Wow, tough to find words to describe how baller last night's The Very Best show at Great Scott was. Fresh off of a 36 hour plane trip (he landed an hour before the show) Esau Mwamwaya completely dominated the night, turning Great Scott's usually chill scene into a frenetic dance party. Two phenomenal dancers from the UK joined him on stage to up the energy level, and Johan Karlberg of Radioclit dropped some massive beats from the back of the stage.
Minds blown. Tangible evidence that music transcends language. Faith in Boston dancing restored.
The Very Best - Julia (Javelin Re-Do) (YSI)
Dirty Projectors with Tune-Yards @ the Paradise, November 17th
TSRE Tune-Yards Review
More than just fascinating to watch, though, Tune-Yards made blisteringly hot music. As Ben noted after the first song, each song would have easily lent itself to a half hour long jam. The crowd hooted and hollered throughout the set, vocalizing the primal joy that the music evoked. Tune-Yards wove yelps and coos together, overlaid them with strange lyrics, and somehow made them danceable. Opening for a band with one of the most impressive albums of this year, Tune-Yards managed to completely steal the show.
TSRE Dirty Projectors Review
Following up the visceral jamming of Tune Yards the Dirty Projectors came out firing. Having seen them back in May when they last visited Boston, I nonetheless continue to be awed by the vocal power of Angel, Amber and Haley. The layering and interplay they achieve with their voices live blows my mind. The drumming was raw and feverish, the vocals angelic and reminded me of a hipster church choir. What I like best about the Dirty Projectors is that they are all so skilled and smart that they are able to apply pop and hipster sensibilities to such a variety of styles and influences.
Tune-Yard - Jumping Jack (YSI)
Here's hoping that 2010 is as good a year for shows as 2009 was! Tune in tomorrow for our breakdown of the year's best albums. And check in on Thursday for bands to watch in 2010!
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