That's a wrap!
My Favourite Shows Of The Year
1) Matthew Good - Fri Aug.25 @ Matthew Good's Apartment Living Room
This is by far the most important show to me I've ever been a part of. Nothing can beat being invited by my favourite artist to attend a private show in his home, on his last night staying there. Just him, his voice, and his guitar....no mics, no amps....and more importantly, having the support of close friends and fans in the room as we laughed and shared stories about life....past, present, and future.
2) Matthew Good - Fri Apr.21 @ VECC
Matt's second night of a three night stand performing solo acoustic at the VECC. All three nights were fantastic, though the music and atmosphere on this night seemed extra special. From starting with House Of Smoke And Mirrors, to playing Born To Kill for the first time in nearly five years, to the standing ovation, to the jokes. One joke MG mentioned in particular involved Matt and 10 other guys touring in a converted ambulance....Ian Browne freaks out and gets them to pull over....then runs out screaming into the woods....and returns 30 minutes later. Classic stuff!
3) The Dears - Wed Nov.29 @ Richard's
The show was originally scheduled to be two days earlier, but was delayed due to the snow...which meant I had to forgo Cat Power in order to still catch this one. I've never seen The Dears sound tighter live than on this night. Their sound was huge, the venue was intimate, and everyone in the audience appreciated it.
4) Metric - Sat Apr.1 @ Commodore
Emily Haines and company took it to another level on this night, despite it being their third show within 24 hrs....having played the Commodore the previous night and in the afternoon on this day. The energy and music was incredible, leaving the Commodore floor literally bouncing the entire time. The 20 minute version of Dead Disco featured Emily Haines stage diving into the crowd while Josh Winstead's bassline pummeled through our bodies.
5) Pearl Jam - Sat July 22 @ Gorge Amphitheatre
It's always a treat watching one of the best live bands play at perhaps the best outdoor venue in North America on a fantastic summer night. Their set lasted close to 3hrs as they busted out a bunch of rare tracks. The sky even turned red at one point in the backdrop....as it overlooked the surrounding mountains and the Columbia River. It was absolutely gorgeous.
6) City And Colour - Sun Mar.26 @ Mesa Luna
I was superexcited for Dallas Green's first solo performance in Vancouver. The show sold out really fast, with a bunch of people scrambling hard to look for tickets. The venue was really small and intimate, insomuch that I ended up watching his performance while sitting on a guitar amp beside the stage. The songs were incredibly moving and very personal....yet everyone in the room felt it too.
7) Sufjan Stevens - Sat Oct.14 @ St. Andrews Wesley Church
My first time attending a rock show at a church. The acoustics in the venue were excellent. Sufjan and his 14 piece orchestra played a riveting set, with the music being very haunting at times. His storytelling was fantastic, in both his songs and when he worked the crowd with his banter.
8) Sarah Harmer - Sun Aug.20 @ Malkin Bowl
It amazes me how natural and perfect Sarah's voice is when you see her live. Her ability to make you feel the words in every song is incredible. Being front and centre to witness this was great. The fact that she plays with her best friends onstage really shows, as they sound so tight together.
9) Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows - Thurs June 22 @ White River Amphitheatre / Goo Goo Dolls Sun Nov.5 @ Orpheum
It's always a blast for me watching the Goos perform. Their energy when you see them live is insane....running all over the stage with guitars and basses in hand. The June show would have been better had they played when the sun was down....as the atmosphere...lighting...and emotion of their songs would have come across better. Still, they put on a fun set and the Counting Crows were awesome on that night as well. The November Goo show was their first time back in Vancouver in over four years. Meeting them before the show was great, and their lighting and performance on this night was fantastic and felt right.
10) The Decemberists - Wed Dec.13 @ Commodore
This show was originally scheduled for November, but was moved a month back due to Colin's illness. They certainly made up for it on this night....taking photos with someone's camera onstage, crowdsurfing the guitar, singing into someone's cell phone, dividing the crowd in half and having a singoff, getting the entire audience to sit down on the Commodore floor, then having guitarist Chris Funk sit down in the audience and play out the final song amongst the crowd. What a night!
Also:
11) Jeff Tweedy solo acoustic - Tues Jan.31 @ Commodore
12) Coldplay - Thurs Jan.26 @ GM Place
13) Foo Fighters acoustic - Mon July 10 @ Orpheum
14) The National - Thurs Oct.5 @ Richard's
15) The Magic Numbers - Mon Apr.24 @ Richard's
Top Live Opening Acts I Discovered
1) The Grates - opening for We Are Scientists, Wed Mar.29 @ Red Room
2) Islands - opening for Metric, Sat Apr.1 @ Commodore
3) Psapp - opening for Jose Gonzalez, Tues June 20 @ Richard's
4) In-Flight Safety - opening for Raising The Fawn, Thurs Nov.23 @ Lamplighter
5) Wintersleep - opening for Pilate, Wed June 7 @ Commodore
6) Augustana - opening for Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows, Thurs June 22 @ White River Amphitheatre
7) Windows 78 - opening for The Album Leaf, Fri Nov.17 @ Plaza Club
8) Glenn Kotche - opening for Jeff Tweedy, Tues Jan.31 @ Commodore
9) Melissa McClelland - opening for Matthew Good, Thurs Apr.20 - Sat Apr.22 @ VECC
10) Talkdemonic - opening for The Decemberists, Wed Dec.13 @ Commodore
My Favourite Song Performances Of The Year
1) Day Old Hate by City and Colour - Sun Mar.26 @ Mesa Luna
2) House Of Smoke And Mirrors by Matthew Good - Fri Apr.21 @ VECC
3) The Fine Art Of Falling Apart by Matthew Good - Fri Apr.21 @ VECC
4) Dead Disco (20 min version) by Metric - Sat Apr.1 @ Commodore
5) The Geese Of Beverly Road by The National - Thurs Oct.5 @ Richard's
1) Matthew Good - Fri Aug.25 @ Matthew Good's Apartment Living Room
This is by far the most important show to me I've ever been a part of. Nothing can beat being invited by my favourite artist to attend a private show in his home, on his last night staying there. Just him, his voice, and his guitar....no mics, no amps....and more importantly, having the support of close friends and fans in the room as we laughed and shared stories about life....past, present, and future.
2) Matthew Good - Fri Apr.21 @ VECC
Matt's second night of a three night stand performing solo acoustic at the VECC. All three nights were fantastic, though the music and atmosphere on this night seemed extra special. From starting with House Of Smoke And Mirrors, to playing Born To Kill for the first time in nearly five years, to the standing ovation, to the jokes. One joke MG mentioned in particular involved Matt and 10 other guys touring in a converted ambulance....Ian Browne freaks out and gets them to pull over....then runs out screaming into the woods....and returns 30 minutes later. Classic stuff!
3) The Dears - Wed Nov.29 @ Richard's
The show was originally scheduled to be two days earlier, but was delayed due to the snow...which meant I had to forgo Cat Power in order to still catch this one. I've never seen The Dears sound tighter live than on this night. Their sound was huge, the venue was intimate, and everyone in the audience appreciated it.
4) Metric - Sat Apr.1 @ Commodore
Emily Haines and company took it to another level on this night, despite it being their third show within 24 hrs....having played the Commodore the previous night and in the afternoon on this day. The energy and music was incredible, leaving the Commodore floor literally bouncing the entire time. The 20 minute version of Dead Disco featured Emily Haines stage diving into the crowd while Josh Winstead's bassline pummeled through our bodies.
5) Pearl Jam - Sat July 22 @ Gorge Amphitheatre
It's always a treat watching one of the best live bands play at perhaps the best outdoor venue in North America on a fantastic summer night. Their set lasted close to 3hrs as they busted out a bunch of rare tracks. The sky even turned red at one point in the backdrop....as it overlooked the surrounding mountains and the Columbia River. It was absolutely gorgeous.
6) City And Colour - Sun Mar.26 @ Mesa Luna
I was superexcited for Dallas Green's first solo performance in Vancouver. The show sold out really fast, with a bunch of people scrambling hard to look for tickets. The venue was really small and intimate, insomuch that I ended up watching his performance while sitting on a guitar amp beside the stage. The songs were incredibly moving and very personal....yet everyone in the room felt it too.
7) Sufjan Stevens - Sat Oct.14 @ St. Andrews Wesley Church
My first time attending a rock show at a church. The acoustics in the venue were excellent. Sufjan and his 14 piece orchestra played a riveting set, with the music being very haunting at times. His storytelling was fantastic, in both his songs and when he worked the crowd with his banter.
8) Sarah Harmer - Sun Aug.20 @ Malkin Bowl
It amazes me how natural and perfect Sarah's voice is when you see her live. Her ability to make you feel the words in every song is incredible. Being front and centre to witness this was great. The fact that she plays with her best friends onstage really shows, as they sound so tight together.
9) Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows - Thurs June 22 @ White River Amphitheatre / Goo Goo Dolls Sun Nov.5 @ Orpheum
It's always a blast for me watching the Goos perform. Their energy when you see them live is insane....running all over the stage with guitars and basses in hand. The June show would have been better had they played when the sun was down....as the atmosphere...lighting...and emotion of their songs would have come across better. Still, they put on a fun set and the Counting Crows were awesome on that night as well. The November Goo show was their first time back in Vancouver in over four years. Meeting them before the show was great, and their lighting and performance on this night was fantastic and felt right.
10) The Decemberists - Wed Dec.13 @ Commodore
This show was originally scheduled for November, but was moved a month back due to Colin's illness. They certainly made up for it on this night....taking photos with someone's camera onstage, crowdsurfing the guitar, singing into someone's cell phone, dividing the crowd in half and having a singoff, getting the entire audience to sit down on the Commodore floor, then having guitarist Chris Funk sit down in the audience and play out the final song amongst the crowd. What a night!
Also:
11) Jeff Tweedy solo acoustic - Tues Jan.31 @ Commodore
12) Coldplay - Thurs Jan.26 @ GM Place
13) Foo Fighters acoustic - Mon July 10 @ Orpheum
14) The National - Thurs Oct.5 @ Richard's
15) The Magic Numbers - Mon Apr.24 @ Richard's
Top Live Opening Acts I Discovered
1) The Grates - opening for We Are Scientists, Wed Mar.29 @ Red Room
2) Islands - opening for Metric, Sat Apr.1 @ Commodore
3) Psapp - opening for Jose Gonzalez, Tues June 20 @ Richard's
4) In-Flight Safety - opening for Raising The Fawn, Thurs Nov.23 @ Lamplighter
5) Wintersleep - opening for Pilate, Wed June 7 @ Commodore
6) Augustana - opening for Goo Goo Dolls and Counting Crows, Thurs June 22 @ White River Amphitheatre
7) Windows 78 - opening for The Album Leaf, Fri Nov.17 @ Plaza Club
8) Glenn Kotche - opening for Jeff Tweedy, Tues Jan.31 @ Commodore
9) Melissa McClelland - opening for Matthew Good, Thurs Apr.20 - Sat Apr.22 @ VECC
10) Talkdemonic - opening for The Decemberists, Wed Dec.13 @ Commodore
My Favourite Song Performances Of The Year
1) Day Old Hate by City and Colour - Sun Mar.26 @ Mesa Luna
2) House Of Smoke And Mirrors by Matthew Good - Fri Apr.21 @ VECC
3) The Fine Art Of Falling Apart by Matthew Good - Fri Apr.21 @ VECC
4) Dead Disco (20 min version) by Metric - Sat Apr.1 @ Commodore
5) The Geese Of Beverly Road by The National - Thurs Oct.5 @ Richard's
posted by acoustic at
5:17 PM
2 Comments:
my number one is the same as yours. my number two was Roger Waters at the Key Arena in Seattle.
after those two nobody else was worth mentioning
By
sinner, at Sat Jan 06, 09:58:00 PM
RW, now there's one I'd like to see.
By
Deb, at Sun Jan 28, 05:15:00 PM
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