Here’s the full list of shows I saw in 2011:
01/18 Broken Social Scene, Terminal 5 (link)
01/29 Iron & Wine, Radio City Music Hall (link)
01/31 The Hold Steady, Music Hall of Williamsburg (link)
02/02 Best Coast / Wavves, Webster Hall (link)
02/04 Tapes ‘n Tapes, Music Hall of Williamsburg (link)
02/05 Railroad Earth, Brooklyn Bowl
02/15 Drive-By Truckers, Bowery Ballroom (link)
02/27 Louis C.K., Caroline’s (link)
03/05 Akron / Family, Bowery Ballroom (link)
03/08 Bright Eyes / Superchunk / Wild Flag, Radio City Music Hall (link)
03/29 LCD Soundsystem, Terminal 5 (link)
04/02 LCD Soundsystem, Madison Square Garden (link)
04/06 Explosions in the Sky / Low, Radio City Music Hall (link)
05/09 Interpol / Blonde Redhead, Terminal 5 (link)
05/19 Fleet Foxes, United Palace (link)
05/31 Ray LaMontagne, Central Park Summerstage (link)
06/07 Okkervil River, Terminal 5 (link)
06/19 Drive-By Truckers, Brooklyn Bowl (link)
08/10 Bon Iver, Prospect Park Bandshell (link)
09/08 Broken Social Scene / TV on the Radio, Williamsburg Waterfront (link)
09/17 The Hold Steady, Beekman Beer Garden (link)
09/22 Wilco, Central Park Summerstage (link)
09/23 Wilco, Central Park Summerstage (link)
09/25 The Shins, Bowery Ballroom (link)
09/30 Tapes ‘n Tapes, Bowery Ballroom
10/03 Explosions in the Sky / The Antlers, Wellmont Theatre (link)
10/13 Iron & Wine / The Low Anthem, Terminal 5 (link)
11/10 Louis C.K., Beacon Theatre (link)
11/22 M83 / Active Child, Webster Hall (link)
11/25 Donna the Buffalo, City Winery
12/01 Dum Dum Girls, Brooklyn Bowl (link)
12/11 The War on Drugs, Bowery Ballroom (link)
12/13 The National, Beacon Theatre (link)
12/14 My Morning Jacket / Band of Horses, Madison Square Garden (link)
If I had to rank the top 5:
#1 My Morning Jacket / Band of Horses, Madison Square Garden
This show was amazing. Anytime one is in the same room as Band of Horses playing “The Funeral,” it is a good day. MMJ were on fire.There are still no shows that have topped their 2006 midnight show at Bonnaroo – the one where they played for 4 hours and covered The Who’s “A Quick One (While He’s Away).” MMJ being able to fill Madison Square Garden really caps off their decade of being nothing but road warriors. “Steam Engine” was unreal… as was most everything else… here’s the setlist:
Read More: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/12/my_morning_jack_33.html
#2 & #3 The Hold Steady, Music Hall of Williamsburg + The Hold Steady, Beekman Beer Garden
It’s always great to see professionals show up to work and blow the roof off of the place every time. The show at MHOW was their 8th Anniversary show, they played their first show as a band 8 years (to the day) ago at Northsix (now known as the Music Hall of Williamsburg). The first encore was perfect, the first song on their first record: Positive Jam. The show at Beekman Beer Garden was perfect. Balls-to-the-Wall from start to finish. South Street Seaport, Brooklyn / Manhattan Bridges and East River as a backdrop. Tunes were hot: opened with Ask Her for Her Adderall > Massive Nights – they played them all, including an AC/DC cover.
Read More Here: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/02/the_hold_steady_32.html
And here: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/09/the_hold_steady_35.html
#4 Bon Iver, Prospect Park Bandshell
The best record of the year, performed on an amazing summer night in an amazing location. We also has sick seats – Ralphie got us in the VIP section. I dare you to name a better a 3-song stretch than Holocene > re: stacks > Flume.
Read More: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/08/bon_iver_the_ro_1.html
#5 The War on Drugs, Bowery Ballroom
Another of the year’s best records performed pretty much to perfection. It’s rare that an NYC show with this much hype actually lives up to it. “Come to the City” was possibly my favorite concert moment of 2011.
Read More: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/12/the_war_on_drug_9.html
WORST SHOW OF 2011
DUM DUM GIRLS @ BROOKLYN BOWL – SUCKED SO SO HARD!