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| Mikey Erg at Anchor's Bend, 9/19/16. |
Tried to Keep It Manageable
So yeah. I go to a lot of shows. Fewer since Asbury Lanes closed, but still quite a few. I had some of my favorite live show experiences ever in 2016, so I thought I'd try to mention a few of them here. If you've ever had a look at any of the CoolDad Music picture galleries, then you know I'm kind of a hoarder and really need some work on my editing skills. Therefore, this list ballooned a little more than I intended. I just didn't see a way to keep any of these out.
Yesterday, my friend Joe said:
"I go to a LOT of shows. It's as much about the people, the socialization, and the camaraderie -- the mutual trust and friendship of people who spend a lot of time together -- as it is about the music itself. Everyone i've met through music--the musicians, the fans, the bands... rocking out at shows, hanging outside during set breaks and shooting the shit, keeping the good times going at after-parties 'til 6:00 am -- i mean literally everyone i've met -- has helped make my world a little (or sometimes even a lot) brighter, more interesting, more fun."
That is the truth. For me, live music and the people with whom you share that experience make those moments that you don't think you'll ever be able to get through in life just melt away -- even if it's just for an hour or two. With that in mind, here are some of the live shows in 2016 that did that for me. Let's go chronologically.
Indie Pop Winter Formal at The Saint ft. Dentist, dollys, YJY, Paper Streets. 1/8/16.
After this show, CoolMom said to me, "I can't remember the last time I was at a show where I loved every single band on the bill."
This was too much fun. Everyone got dressed up. The bands turned in great sets. Emily busted out her wig. dollys blew away the room with "Cornerstones."
Dictators NYC, The Battery Electric at House of Independents. 2/19/16.
Maybe my second time ever at House of Independents. The first real "rock show" there since they opened with Fishbone. There were lots of people there just to check the space out, and it wasn't quite the same feel as a Dictators NYC show at, say, Brighton Bar. But The Battery Electric brought it. Jake got thrown out for crowd-surfing. Ronnie threw a coat at me from the stage.
Titus Andronicus / Craig Finn at Webster Hall. 2/29/16.
I go to so many shows because they're "newsworthy" that, sometimes, I forget what it feels like to go to a concert just because I love the bands. This one kicked off the "No Faith, No Future, No Problem" tour for Titus Andronicus and Craig Finn. Great sets from each followed by Finn's joining +@ onstage for covers of "Stuck Between Stations" (with Hold Steady guitarist Tad Kubler) and "Bastards of Young."
Downtown Boys at Cheer Up Charlie's, Austin, TX. 3/16/16.
This was a looong day at SXSW. There were so many bands and great performances all day, followed by the Little Dickman showcase at Carousel Lounge. The one set that stands out above all the others for me, though, is the one turned in by Downtown Boys. They are the punkest punk band in America right now. I had trouble focusing my camera or holding back tears.
Little Dickman Records / Sugar Mama BK Present Rock or Die III at Dozen Street, Austin, TX. 3/19/16.
This was a day party with a ton of bands. It went long. The room was dark. But I think the set from A Deer A Horse epitomized the whole day. They were a last-minute addition and had been bumped and bumped and bumped until the last 15 or 20 minutes of the day. They then proceeded to light it up with four songs that had everyone in the room dancing. I think A Deer A Horse made some lasting friendships out of that show, which is a beautiful thing.
Fuzz Fest ft. Ringo Deathstarr, Dentist, Dinowalrus, Dan Waszay and The Blackouts, Lunch Ladies at The Saint. 4/8/16.
I pulled up to The Saint early and ended up having to park across the street on Monroe. As I sat in the van with my windows down, I could feel some sort of pulsing sensation that seemed to be rattling the whole street. When I got out of the van, I realized that it was Ringo Deathstarr soundchecking inside The Saint. This was a devastatingly loud and amazing show.
Bob Mould, Ted Leo at Webster Hall. 4/29/16.
I love Bob Mould. But you know who really loves Bob Mould? CoolMom. "I almost cried," she said as we walked back to the car. That made my night.
GayGuy / StraightGuy (Record Release), The Battery Electric, Dentist, The Black Clouds, Yawn Mower at House of Independents. 5/5/16.
This was less of a show and more of a party. It was friends celebrating friends' accomplishments and then having a giant singalong. At one point, I think all of the other bands joined GayGuy / StraightGuy onstage for covers of Nirvana and Weezer.
Mrs. Magician, Dentist, Writer at Shea Stadium. 6/4/16. // Mrs. Magician, Dentist at Anchor's Bend. 6/6/16.
This was Mrs. Magician weekend. The San Diego band played two fantastic area shows with super-fans Dentist. The one in Asbury was hosted by Little Dickman Records, and it was just so right to have the waves crashing behind the guys as the sun went down.
The Final Sundown at The Carousel ft. Looms, Lowlight, Roy Orbitron. 6/17/16.
All of these shows were great. It was an honor to present them with Little Dickman Records, and it was sad that we were only able to hold one inside the iconic structure this summer. It was a wonderful night with friends. Lowlight played the official sundown set, and things looked kind of magical as the band donned sunglasses donated from audience members.
Lyons, The Rock n Roll Hi-Fives at Asbury Park Yacht Club. 6/18/16.
Every set from The Rock n Roll Hi-Fives is a magical, smile-inducing experience. This one was particularly special as the folks who had packed the bar to see the great Lyons got their first experience with America's rockingest family band. I looked around the room and saw people smiling and shaking their heads in amazement.
Dentist (Record Release), GayGuy / StraightGuy, Darkwing, Yawn Mower. 6/24/16.
Ceilings was a long time coming, and this was a packed out and triumphant celebration. I loved seeing my friends just soak up all the well-deserved adoration. They put out one of the best albums of 2016 and held one of the best shows of the year to mark it.
War On Women, Hot Blood at Asbury Park Yacht Club. 6/30/16.
This one blew me away. A crazy Thursday night at APYC. Like Downtown Boys, the passion of War On Women is right out there. They're political. They pull no punches. And they absolutely rock. Hot Blood delivered an early set that, once again, shook APYC to its core.
Belly at Bowery Ballroom. 8/10/16.
Another show made all that much better by the presence of CoolMom. We bonded extremely hard over Belly's 1993 masterpiece, Star. If you have never listened to this record, please go do it now. At this show, Tanya Donnelly and band were clearly having a blast. So were the rest of us.
Titus Andronicus, Bueno at Monty Hall. 9/8/16.
Monty Hall is not large. The place was packed. I ended up buried beneath a scrum of bodies more than once. It was amazing. Plus, I got to see Bueno for the first time.
Lost Boy ? (Record Release), Yucky Duster, Warcries, The Prits at Shea Stadium. 9/10/16.
Lost Boy ? played their record release show at their home base of Shea Stadium. It was a stiflingly hot, sweaty, joyous experience during which Lost Boy ? played through Goose Wazoo, reached back into the archives, and brought out some covers. Also, every band had a singing drummer; and the PA blasted songs by The Band and The Carpenters all night.
P.S. Eliot at Convention Hall. 9/16/16.
Don Giovanni Records' New Alternative Music Festival featured some amazing sets: Screaming Females, Tenement, Downtown Boys, Sex Stains (kind of a revelation actually); but the one that stood out to me was the one turned in by the reunited P.S. Eliot. The beloved, early pop punk project of sisters Katie and Allison Crutchfield owned the cavernous space. Katie even played diplomat during a front-row dispute over personal space between two overzealous fans.
The Roaside Graves, Mikey Erg Band, Lowlight at Anchor's Bend. 9/18/16.
If I had to pick the music-related thing of which I was proudest in 2016, it would be this show. Don Giovanni records had to cancel Day 3 of the NAMF. When Renee from Lowlight / Roadside Graves told me they were now looking for a show, I approached Joe Chyb at Anchor's Bend; and he stepped up to give us a date. Once Mikey Erg agreed to play, I knew it would be a good show. I just had no idea how emotional and beautiful it would be. Mikey's friends screamed lyrics at him throughout his set, and The Graves played a rare set that included every one of their members. Bonus: CoolMom was at this one, too.
Diarrhea Planet, Western Medication, High Waisted at MHOW. 10/4/16.
This one was insane, and I took some punishment in the front row. Diarrhea Planet, as far as I could tell, encouraged the stage-diving and craziness. Western Medication were a nice surprise, and High Waisted went from playing to an empty room to having an entire crowd dancing through sheer force of charisma. I also got some of my favorite shots of 2016. Someone told me last week that she bought a pair of sparkly ankle boots because of that picture up there.
Screaming Females, Moor Mother, Little Waist at Villain. 11/5/16.
I almost didn't go to this one. I'd bought the tickets so long ago, that I forgot I had them. It was in Brooklyn. The venue had changed. I just wasn't sure I was feeling it. Not going would have been a terrible decision. Screaming Females keep getting better and better as a live band if you can believe it, and this was one of the best shows I've ever seen from them. I had a nice semi-comfortable perch along the wall above the fray and was able to take in everything. Moor Mother is a force of anger and truth.
Standing Rock Benefit at The Saint. 11/28/16.
I have never in my life seen The Saint that packed. People turned out in droves to support Alan from the Porchistas and Matt from Homeless Apians as they prepared to take their solar-powered generator out to the protesters in frigid North Dakota. As corny as it sounds, that night made me believe that people can come together and effect positive change.
The Hold Steady, Titus Andronicus at Brooklyn Bowl. 11/30/16
The Hold Steady? Playing one of my favorite albums of all-time? Titus Andronicus opening? Yes, please. This show was just about all I could have hoped for, even with the little hiccup when the sound guy tried kicking Titus off the stage too early. Jess Dye of High Waisted joined The Hold Steady and Patrick Stickles for "Chillout Tent," and I loved it.
Parquet Courts, Beth Israel at Wonder Bar. 12/9/16.
This was one of those types of shows that have been less frequent in Asbury Park since Asbury Lanes closed -- a current, active, not tremendously huge but great, indie punk band at a local venue. This show was fun and funny, and Parquet Courts showed us just what we've been missing by not having a mid-sized, independently-run venue in town anymore.
People Appreciation Party ft. The Blind Shake, gods, Psychiatric Metaphors at The Saint. 12/11/16.
I just wrote about this one yesterday. It was the inspiration for this list. This one made me think about all the beauty that can happen at a live show and how it's the little moments shared among friends and strangers that make life, well, life.
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