2009: The Live Album

RXP asked its listeners to report their top 9 concerts of 2009, and I thought I would share them here as well.

1) Snow Patrol @ Beacon Theatre- This was without a doubt my favorite live experience with a band this year. The funny thing about this is that it was the only one on this list that I didn't go with anyone else. Normally it is the whole experience of going to see your favorite band perform live with a friend singing by your side that makes a concert special, but that just goes to show how great a performance they gave. I hardly noticed I couldn't find anyone who loved them enough to say "money is no object" and trek out to see them on a Tuesday night. I also really loved the venue they were at. It was a really nice place with a good atmosphere. I would definitely go back there if the right band was playing. One of my favorite moments from that night was this:



2) Green Day @ MSG- This was another great experience for me. "21st Century Breakdown" was the soundtrack of my summer, and it came to a climax getting to see these guys live (finally) at Madison Square Garden. What made it extra special was getting to see it with one of my best friends. Words still can't describe the utter joy this night brought to my life, but this video shares my favorite moment of that night:



3) Mates of State @ Webster Hall - The word "experience" pretty much sums up every story I have to share here. I had a mild obsession with Mates of State, and was extremely agitated that I was unable to see them live. That was until my favorite concert partner surprised me by announcing that he had been guest listed for the show and had a +1 if I wanted to come with. Of course I said yes, and thus memories were born, including this one:



4) Switchfoot @ Irving Plaza - I have been meaning to see these guys perform for about two years now, but it was only recently that I was able to make this happen. I happened to mention the show offhand to one of my friends and he became so incredibly excited that I knew we had to go together. It was a great night, and they are fantastic live. It's hard to say what was my favorite song that night, but this definitely is on the list:



5) Amanda Palmer @ Highline Ballroom - It is ironic that one of my favorite moments came during one of the hardest times of my life (and the low point of my year). Despite that, I still had one of the best nights of my life. It was such an uplifting experience that it was hard to stay down for long. The night was an emotional rollercoaster. The most fun was had when the opening act got back on stage to help sing a cover of Yakity Yak:



6) Kevin Devine @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg - Kevin played for two hours in this epically good night. If there was a song he didn't play, I don't think anyone noticed. Not only is Kevin a great singer, he is overall a great performer. Even the banter during his shows becomes part of the performance, as seen here:



7) Amanda Palmer @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - I know, I already mentioned how great AFP is, but she is so epically AMAZING that she deserves a separate entry for both times I saw her this year. This one was a surprise birthday present from one of my best friends. That alone made it special. It was also great getting to experience Amanda on a night where I was in a much better place emotionally. Highlight of the night? Right here:



8) Handsome Furs @ Bowery Ballroom - Love this band, and it's always great to see them live. The first time was just me tagging along with a friend who needed someone to go with. Now I love them just as much as she does. Here's one reason why:



9) Jukebox the Ghost @ Bowery Ballroom (CMJ) - This was one of the only bands I actually saw during CMJ this year, but they were all I really needed. Every band that night was good, but I was really here to see these guys work their magic. The stage was decorated in a holiday motif, the fans were packed in and beaming with excitement. I met two really cool people at this show who I still talk to online and plan to (hopefully) see again at some point. Unfortunately the only video I can find is from CMJ last year, but it's still pretty good.



*all videos found on YouTube and were not taken by yours truly. have to give credit where credit is due*

This year in music - 2009

There is no denying it, 2009 has been a great year for music. A semi-complete list can be found on WIkipedia (linked above; if you love them as much as I do then please donate to them today. Knowledge is priceless). Here is a sample of their list plus a few of my own additions from bands most people don't know exist.

Green Day
AC/DC
Switchfoot
Sunset Rubdown
Bon Jovi
Dredg
The Killers
John Mayer
Alice in Chains
Phoenix
Snow Patrol – greatest hits
Dave Matthews
Pearl Jam
Reliant K
311
Fooling April
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Bell X1
The Fray
Muse
Pete Yorn
Franz Ferdinand
Bruce Springsteen
Lily Allen
Ben Folds
Thursday
U2
Handsome Furs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Death Cab for Cutie
Manchester Orchestra
Depeche Mode
Taking Back Sunday
The Airborme Toxic Event
Black-Eyed Peas
Wilco
Nightmare of You
Modest Mouse
Third Eye Blind
Artic Monkeys
Smile Empty Soul
Paramore
Tegan & Sara

All had albums come out this year. Some I have heard and fallen in love with. Others are just artists I have liked in the past but unfortunately didn't get a chance to listen to their complete new albums yet. The really noteworthy ones for me have been reviewed on this blog at one point or another (most likely close to when the album first came out, since these would be the ones I anticipated the most). I especially want to highlight Green Day, Muse, and Switchfoot, which have been the top three albums on my playlist for most of this year. Also a special shout out to that band you probably only heard about here: Fooling April. Since this is the obscure album on my list I will put special focus on it and the band now. This band has been slowly gaining popularity over in their home area (Philadelphia) for a few years now. Their new album "Three" was released over the summer and became part of my soundtrack during that time (right alongside Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown"). They have been one of my favorite bands since I discovered their existence 2 years ago. Here is a small sample from their latest album plus an interview done before the album came out:

I highly recommend checking them out if you haven't already. They definitely have potential to be something special.

In music news there were a few surprises this year too. We saw a reemergence of Blink 182 and No Doubt, both of which had huge tours over the summer. We also saw Nine Inch Nails, Fall Out Boy, and Foo Fighters go on hiatus. We saw Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga take hold of the year, and bid a sad farewell to the King of Pop: Michael Jackson. It certainly was an eventful year in the music world. Here are some video highlights to leave with:

January:
Franz Ferdinand - Can't Stop Feeling (from Tonight:Franz Ferdinand)


February:
The Fray - You Found Me (from The Fray)


March:
U2 - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (from No Line On The Horizon)


Handsome Furs - I'm Confused (from Face Control)


April:
Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch (from Swoon)


Depeche Mode - Wrong (from Sounds of the Universe)


May:
Green Day - 21 Guns (from 21st Century Breakdown)


Phoenix - 1901 (from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix)


June:
Dave Matthews Band - Funny the Way It Is (from Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King)


Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling (from The E.N.D.)


Dredg - Information (from The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion)


July:
Our Lady of Peace- All You Did Was Save My Life (from Burn Burn)

Our Lady Peace - New Music - More Music Videos

August:
Artic Monkeys - Crying Lightning (from Humbug)


Artic Monkeys - Cornerstone (also from Humbug)

(I loved both these videos so much I just couldn't choose between the two)

September:
Muse - Uprising (from The Resistance)


Pearl Jam - The Fixer (from Backspacer)

Pearl Jam the fixer official video hd
Uploaded by giorgiolucchese. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

October:
Reliant K - Forget and Not Slow Down (from Forget and Not Slow Down)

(Sorry, best I could find)

November:
Snow Patrol - Just Say Yes (from Up To Now)


Bon Jovi - We Weren't Born To Follow (from The Circle)


Switchfoot - Mess of Me (from Hello Hurricane)


December:
30 Seconds to Mars - Kings and Queens (from This Is War)


Keeping rocking on well into the new year. And have a happy one.

Sherlock Holmes is Elementary Entertaining

"Magically good"

That is what I would call the Sherlock Holmes film that has just been delivered to the big screen this Christmas. The story is full of the twists and turns you would expect from a Holmes mystery, but it never leaves the viewer feeling lost. It was intriguing watching Holmes and Watson work their magic. It was equally amusing getting to see the characters I had known for some time already, come to life in a whole new way. Growing up with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in my living room, there was always a certain picture that came to mind when I thought of these characters. I knew this movie would be different, but it was done in a way that gave the characters a new charge of energy without overdoing it. Overall I was impressed with the finished product and left the theater quite pleased with the whole experience. (Then again, I knew going in that it would be good). When asked how I deduced this, our blogger simply answered, "Why, elementary my dear Watson. Did you see the trailer?"

RIP Rev

As many may have heard already, Jimmy "the Rev" Sullivan passed away yesterday. He was 28-years-old. Sullivan was drummer and back-up vocalist for the band Avenged Sevenfold. This was the message the band posted on their MySpace to all their fans:

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan. Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy's family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time.

Jimmy you are forever in our hearts.
We love you.

M Shadows, Synyster Gates, Zacky Vengeance and Johnny Christ


I listened to them a lot when I was a freshman in college, and my favorite album was City of Evil. As a memorial I thought I would post the video for the single of that album, "Bat Country".

Movie Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I thought I would celebrate with a list of my favorite Christmas movies and maybe share a memory or two attached to each one. Here it goes:

1) White Christmas - Ironically enough, I used to hate this movie as a kid. Now it is one of my favorites. I remember sitting in my grandparents house and being bored out of my mind as everyone payed more attention to me than the movie. Now I love everything about it and understand why they loved it so much. The music is great as is the story. A holiday classic that everyone should see at least once (and I defy you to only want to watch it once).

2) Next for me would probably be A Christmas Carol, specifically the 1951 version with Alastair Sim. To me this man was Scrooge. There was anther version with Patrick Stewart that I recently saw which is also good, but nothing beats my first experience with the character.

3) I'm going to lump all my favorite childhood ones together, simply because I always watched these as a group when I was younger. This includes A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Frosty the Snowman. I remember watching these with my Mom while eating Christmas cookies and drinking cocoa. I'm actually watching Rudolph now (minus the cookies and milk).

4) It's A Wonderful Life is another one of those movies I hated as a kid but absolutely love as I make may way towards adulthood. Some of my favorite lines come from this movie, including the classic "Isn't it wonderful, I'm going to jail." This is one of those movies that can make you laugh one minute then cry the next. It really tests your emotions and pushes them to the limit. A classic that everyone should experience at least once (and once may be all you can handle until next year).

Some may think that Miracle on 34th Street should come next but, since I have only ever seen it once many moons ago, I can't actually add it to my list. I have been meaning to visit this classic again (since I know it really is a classic) but have yet to get the chance. Maybe next year...

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season and are ready to welcome the new year in style. And as Tiny Tim would say, "God bless us, everyone."

Christmas Releases

For those who celebrate, Merry Christmas Eve. For those who don't, Happy Holidays. And for those who don't celebrate anything remotely connected to religion, you'll get a Happy New Year from me in a week. I think that about covers it. Now on to the good stuff.

Movie releases. There are a couple good ones coming out tomorrow, including one I've been waiting for since I found out about it this summer. That would be Sherlock Holmes. I know this isn't going to be your typically Holmes tale, but I still look forward to what it potentially has to offer me.

Another movie I am excited about is The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. This was the movie Heath Ledger was working on before he died. The entire cast for this one looks great and the story seems intriguing so I look forward to seeing the finished product here. So far it is only supposed to have a limited release (festivals and LA/NYC), but if it does well to start and enough people show interest then we might be able to get it in more cities across the country.

The only other releases tomorrow are "It's Complicated", which hasn't reached the hole I have been living in quite yet and "Nine". The cast for "Complicated" looks good but I couldn't tell you whether or not it is worth checking out just yet. "Nine" also has potential but I am on the fence as to whether or not I actually am going to see it. Might just wait for the DVD and Netflix that one.

Overall, Christmas looks like it's going to be good to the movie industry this year. Holmes should do fairly well, seeing as how the character already has a decent fanbase. Hopefully Parnassus gets a Christmas miracle and sees great success as well.

Bands Just Wanna Have Fun

I follow a very select few bands on Twitter, but when I do it usually is because they have that extra special something that makes them worth following. I like to call it The Fun Factor. This brings us to the reason we are here tonight. We're here to have fun. It's why we follow you all over the state (or country) and it's why we buy more of your merch than anyone elses and it's why we give you more of ourselves than other bands. All of this because you are a band that knows how to have fun.

One band that I fell in love with from the first song because of this "Fun Factor" is Jukebox the Ghost. They recently released a cover of the song 'Temptation" and this video I found of them performing it live reminded me of how fun their music is and how much fun it is watching them perform.

Lilith Fair Returns

Spin Magazine reports that Lilith Fair tour will return in 2010. This is the biggest girl fest the music industry has to offer us, and already there is quite a group of talented ladies lined up for the tour, which is set for summer 2010. Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow and Tegan & Sara are just some of the lovely ladies to get excited about thus far. I know one lady by the name of Alyson Greenfield (who I have mentioned on this blog before) is excited about this announcement and would love the opportunity to play with these talented female artists. She is so excited about this that she even wrote Lilith fair a song to share her enthusiasm. As I listen to my Lilly Allen station on Pandora (which is the ultimate in girl power playlists) I get excited too.

Hello Hurricane is a Perfect Storm

Hello Hurricane is Switchfoot's seventh studio album and their most recent to date. The album is louder and more energized than previous albums by the band, but still remains true to their Christian Rock roots. There is simply more emphasis on the "rock" aspect here. The title track is a perfect example of this. The music is upbeat and perfect to dance to, but the words provide the typical positive and hopeful message that the band is known for. The words "Hello hurricane, you're not enough. Hello hurricane, you can't silence my love," share the message that the speaker is not going to let the storms of life get them down or silence their belief. Switchfoot is one of the few bands I can think of that always seem to have positive and uplifting music that doesn't fall into the trap of being dull. With the new album they have been able to amplify this ability to captivate their audience to the next degree. The band has been around for 13 years now with no signs of slowing down any time soon. It gives me hope for the music world to see this band flourish. In a time when everything else seems to be about negativity and what can go wrong, Switchfoot gives the listener something to feel good about.

Switchfoot Hello Hurricane Tour

I just got back from seeing Switchfoot play Irving Plaza in NYC, and boy do I have some positive feedback to share. The show was part of their Hello Hurricane tour, which coincides with the release of their new album by the same name. I have to admit I have not listened to the album in its entirety before tonight (although this will change ASAP). Having said that, it was still an enjoyable performance to say the least. They played the new album in order from first song to last as the first half of their set. The second half consisted of fan favorites from the past three albums. The set list for the second half was as follows:

Meant To Live

Stars

Shadow Proves The Sunshine

Oh Gravity

Lucky Man (Verve cover)

24

Dare you To Move

Encore:

This Is Your Life

Awakening

Pictures should go up before New Years. I apologize to those who think I am a liar when I said I would post Amanda Palmer photos, but life happened that day and continued happening for the next few weeks. Once this poor college student wraps up the semester things should go back to their regularly scheduled happenings.

Muse Tours America

Muse has announced 6 shows of what will be their 2010 tour. For those who have been reading this blog since it's conception, you may recall I have mentioned this band before. When they released their latest album (The Resistance), toured with U2, and had a special performance at the VMAs, I predicted they would slowly gain more exposure from this that would hopefully create enough buzz to bring them to the U.S. and it would seem I was right. The date for New York City is March 5th at Madison Square Garden. I hoped they would get big enough to play this venue, but I never imagined it would happen this quickly. Silversun Pickups is set to open for them. The show is brought to us by RXP and Bowery Presents. Thank you both for making the dreams of American Muse fans come true.

2010 World Cup

For anyone who is interested, here is a quick post announcing the draw for the 2010 World Cup. My predictions/hopefuls are as follows:

Group A: South Africa
Group B: Argentina (Second choice, Greece)
Group C: If not the U.S. then England
Group D: Germany
Group E: Denmark (or maybe the Netherlands, not sure about this one)
Group F: Italy
Group G: Brazil
Group H: Spain (although Switzerland would make me happy if they proved me wrong here)

Who do you think is going to come out on top? Or maybe the better question is who you WANT to end up the winner.