The 12 Best Concerts I Saw in 2009

Page 1 of 2

Paste has weighed in with its Best Albums of 2009, but over the holiday break, each of our editorial staffers is giving us a glimpse of his or her personal favorites from the year. Here’s editor-in-chief Josh Jackson on his 12 favorite concerts of 2009.

We talk a lot about albums and songs at Paste, but nothing compares to hearing music performed live. I went to a lot of shows this past year in Atlanta plus at festivals in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and even on a boat in the Caribbean. I was at club shows with 25 people, watching bands I’d never heard of, and in a crowd of 70,000 seeing a legend—and sometimes the former can be just as much fun as the latter. Amazingly, there is video of varying qualities from every one of these shows somewhere on the Internet (thanks again, Internet, for being you). I know your list looks different from mine. You probably weren’t at most of these shows, and I probably wasn’t at most of your favorites. But if you get a chance to catch any of these acts in 2010, you just might enjoy them as much as I did. Unless, of course, you just hate old people, rock bands with orchestras and funky dancing.

12. Andrew Bird with opener Loney Dear
Feb. 4, Variety Playhouse (Atlanta, Ga.)

I was as excited to hear Swedish band Loney Dear as much as finally catching Andrew Bird live. I was smitten by the band’s first U.S. release, Loney Noir, and was impressed by the few songs I’d caught at SXSW a couple of years ago. Emil Svanängen and his bandmates didn’t disappoint on the bigger stage out alternating Noir’s joyful, sweeping songs with the more frenetic, claustrophobic ones from their latest, Dear John. Andrew Bird was also superb, whether whistling or playing violin.

11. Passion Pit
June 6, The Drunken Unicorn (Atlanta, GA)

I hate concerts where everyone is standing still. I’d rather be sitting or dancing. The tiny hole-in-the-wall club was jam packed, but nearly everyone bounced and smiled throughout Passion Pit’s set. The music is too infectious to keep from dancing, even if you’re precariously perched on a riser, like I was. Here’s Paste’s Pop Goes the Culture segment on the band, recorded before and during this show:

10. Over the Rhine
Feb. 8 – March 7, Cayamo Cruise (Somewhere in the Caribbean Sea)

My voyage on the Cayamo cruise was filled with lovely music from Patty Griffin, John Hiatt, Brandi Carlile, Lyle Lovett and Kathleen Edwards, but my favorite shows were a pair of performances from Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine—in a theater and by the pool. Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist keep growing into better songwriters, and Berquist’s voice was only matched by Griffin on the boat. In the middle of the sea, sitting in a hot tub with a drink in my hand, listening to Over the Rhine, I’m not sure life gets much better.

9. Al Green
June 12, Bonnaroo (Manchester, Tenn.)

In a day full of musical highlights from The Low Anthem, Animal Collective, Santigold, Grizzly Bear, Lucinda Williams, Beastie Boys and David Byrne, the most memorable came during Al Green’s set on the big What Stage, when he broke into “Let’s Stay Together.” Hitting impossible high notes and sliding onto his knees, Rev. Al showed that his time in the pulpit has been just fine for the soul. He looked mighty dapper in his dark suit and tossed roses to pretty girls in the front the front rows. I’m in the crowd up in the rafters on this video:

8. The Decemberists with co-headliner Gomez
March 17, IFC Film Party at SXSW (Austin, Texas)

As much as I enjoyed seeing The Decemberists debut the entirety of their new record, Hazards of Love, at Stubbs the following night, seeing them in a tiny lounge the night before was one of the highlights of the SXSW festival. Both Gomez and The Decemberists seemed energized by the small space, mixing old favorites and covers with newer material.

7. Bon Iver with opener Elvis Perkins in Dearland
June 7, Variety Playhouse (Atlanta, Ga.)

I adored Bon Iver’s first record, For Emma, Forever Ago, but I was still surprised at how good a live performer Justin Vernon and his band have become. He takes his quiet songs and plays with the dynamics until they build into these enormous moments that call to mind Sigur Rós. Not bad for a soft-spoken singer/songwriter. He had us all singing along to “Wolves” for a perfect ending. And this show gets bonus points for opener Elvis Perkins in Dearland, who could’ve made this list on their own.