10 FAVORITE SHOWS OF 2011
by Benn Ray
Double Dagger, Future Islands, Dan Deacon @ Ottobar
It hurts to say goodbye to one of my all-time favorite bands. And it hurts even more when their final show was a fun as this one. The stage was raining people. The perfect ending.
Sick Weapons, Beyond Say, Witch Hat @ Golden West Cafe
I just said it above, but I'll say it again. "It hurts to say goodbye to one of my all-time favorite bands." Okay, so technically, this was Dec. 30, 2010 - but that's splitting hairs.
Hog Wyld @ Hampdenfest
A 20 year-ish reunion of one of my favorite bands from college. They looked great, sounded better. It was weird seeing them on a stage instead of at audience level (like in someone's living room) where drunks could be sent careening into the drumkit.
Daybreak @ Golden West Cafe
It was short, tight, brutal and raw. This was a one-time only reunion show from one of Baltimore's most beloved grindcore/thrash bands of the late '90s/early '00s. The set clocked in at under 15 minutes, but it was worth the wait.
John Waters @ The Lyric
I'd seen John's spoken word before courtesy of the Jeff Garlin directed DVD This Filthy World, but his Christmas season show is a completely different thing. I can't believe this isn't an HBO holiday special. His insights are always off-kilter and spot-on at the same time. His take on things is always witty. And his perfomance was animated, smart and joyful. An added bonus - not 15 minutes into the show, a couple nearby got offended and got up and left. He's still got it! A must-see next holiday season if you get the chance.
Shonen Knife @ Ottobar
Somehow, I'd never gotten around to seeing Shonen Knife before. I was impressed by their energy, their wardrobe and just the fun that eminates from the stage when they play.
Cults @ MICA
When I saw Cults at MICA, they hadn't yet released their first album. And honestly, I was unsure if they even had enough songs for a whole set, but they did. It was a mesmerizing performance.
Atomic TV @ The Golden West Cafe
Tom Warner and Scott Huffines' beloved Baltimore cable access show of the '90s got an upgrade, a remix and was shown on a big screen for what I hope is the first of a series of casual TV nights at Golden West. It's easy to forget how subversive, aggressive, and downright shocking Atomic TV was/is. But what really was on display was the skills and genius of the shows creators - meticulously editing together clip after clip of absurd pop culture into a way that makes a point.
Ed Schrader, Double Dagger @ Floristree
This night Double Dagger was as good as they always were, but what blew me away was Schrader, who was just coming off a tour and was tight, intense and utterly commanding as a man with a voice and a drum, accompanied by a guy on a guitar.
Keyboard Man @ Hampdenfest
After a several years absence, Keyboard Man brought his brand of karaoke competition back to Hampdenfest. A karaoke carnival/freakshow for our entertainment. Plus, DK performed - who, if you've ever seen him at the Bloody Bucket Karoake, is an outsider artist genius of karaoke. Yes, I even have my own favorite local karoake performer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
J.MO'S GUIDE TO SHOWS THAT HE REALLY LIKED IN 2011
by Jess Morgan
Riot Fest East - Philadelphia
X played "Los Angeles". Naked Raygun slayed. I saw the Descendents. It was a wonderful, humid day capped with fireworks. It's easy to slag these kinds of shows off as cash grabs. But watching punks in their 40s, 50s and 60s get out and destroy a crowd with the energy of bands a third their age shows how great and relevant these bands still are.
Double Dagger, Future Islands, Dan Deacon - Ottobar
Goodbye to Baltimore's greatest band. I stage dove like I was young and fit. I lost a shoe, but that's ok; I have two of them.
BTMI, The Sidekicks, 88mph, Loud - CCAS
Seeing BTMI and the Sidekicks for the first time reminded me of being 17 and that it's ok to listen to something new with fresh ears and see with an unjaded eye.
Lemuria, Night Birds, Pianos Become The Teeth, Dead Mechanical - CCAS
It was like watching a game of HORSE between Jordan, Bird, Kobe and D.Rose. Every set just got stronger and stronger throughout the night.
Universal Order Of Armageddon, ???, Regents - Sonar
I can't remember the second band, but Regents slayed and UOA was just...fantastic
War On Women, South Carey, Radical Discharge, Whiff! - CCAS
The first time I ever played the space. Worth every struggle, every bump in the road, everything bad that ever stood in my way. It sounds lame to talk about playing Charm City being a dream, but it was. And I'm glad I got to do it with three killer local bands.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP SHOWS OF 2011
by John Bachman
Dropdead, Lack of Interest, Noisear, DOC and MAP @ Copycat Bldg
Possibly a perfect show. Two of the best grind bands on the east coast opening for some heavyweights. Noisear was intense and fast as hell. Lack of Interest (one of my all time favorites) played the old hits and new songs. They seemed very appreciative on their first east coast trip. Dropdead was brooding and inspiring at the same time. All bands had really short sets, especially Dropdead that only got to play 4 or 5 songs because the cops showed up.
Daybreak reunion @ Golden West in December
Before I knew any of the members of Daybreak, they were one of my favorite bands. A must-see when they were on the bill, and got me excited about fast music. This one-time reunion did not disappoint, and I finally got to hear “Mini-Ramp Massacre.”
Deceiver, Lotus Fucker, PG, Sete Star Sept @ Barclay
I don’t go to many shows lately, especially punk shows. My old band Deceiver was asked to reunite one last time, as a favor to Dan [lotus fucker] Chaos Destroy, Lotus Fucker, us, Penis Geyser, and Sete Star Sept from Japan. PG killed it, playing under 10 min of improve grind jams. SSS is 2 piece (girl on vocals and bass, guy on drums.) Fast, noisy and fun.
Jumbled, Stillborn Identity, Jack Wilson @ CCAS in July
A show that I set up and played (as Jumbled, my hip hop alter ego.) The problem was the show was the Friday of Artscape and CCAS is right on the edge of roads being shut down. But my friends prevailed and many people came out to see me, Stillborn Identity from Pittsburgh, and Jack Wilson (recently relocated to Baltimore from Pittsburgh.)
Kanye West and Jay Z – Watch the Throne tour @ First Mariner Arena in November
I don’t see many big arena concerts. The only other show I’ve seen at the arena was Jay-Z/Mary J Blige a few years back. Our seats weren’t great, but it was the show of the year. During the first song, Hov was on one end, Kanye on the other, and they were raised about 15 feet in the air on these video boxes(?) that lit up and played video. (google it) An awesome sight. (The only downfall – everyone has a camera on their phone and needed to take pictures from a mile away.)
Annual All-Rap Round Robin @ H&H
This is one of my favorite events every year. You get a one song burst of one of your favorite mc’s or rap groups, or hear some new (to you) talent. This year took it to the next level with 3 stages, decorations and packed Floristree Space.
Comments