My Live Music Awards

Music is something I can't seem to get enough of. Belle & Sebastian is only about a week away now... :) I got to see Coldplay recently and it got me thinking about all the different groups I've gotten to see live. So here it is (for my own amusement), my very own live music awards! This is based only on who I've seen personally, so don't get mad if I left out your favorite band. If you have any suggestions on bands to check out, please pass them along!

Best Shows Seen:
Phish (7/25/99 & 7/11/00 Deer Creek) - Both of these shows were amazing. The 7/25 show had surprise appearances of "Whipping Post," "Walk Away," and "Purple Rain" (with vacuum solo), plus a one minute silent light solo since it was Chris Kuroda's birthday (that's their lighting director). The 7/11 show was pure entertainment. For a bit of a musical gag, they ended every song in the second set with part of Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick." This also meant we were treated with a rare Jon Fishman drum solo.

Wilco (some parking lot near Vanderbilt) - We didn't know what time this one started so we ended up getting there really early, meaning we got to stand right up at the stage. They are one of my favorite bands so it was sweet to watch them up close (even if Jeff Tweedy is a bit scary looking). It was also cool because they make a lot of weird sound effects, and we could see how they make them.

Chicago (the Palace) - This was another one where the seats made a huge difference. My parents and I had 4th row right in front of the horn section. They were cutting it up with each other the whole night. It was just as entertaining to watch the horn players as it was to listen to the music. Oh yeah, and some guy sitting by us dropped his pants because he told his friends he would if they ever played the entire "Ballad for Girl in Buckhannon." Well, they did...very strange.

Best live acts:
Phish - My favorite live act by far. They have no hit songs and an endless repertoire so you never have any idea what they might play on any given night. They also have the best light show in the biz. Everyone in the crowd dances the entire show, and several of the songs actually have audience participation parts (glow stick wars, Wilson chant, the Stash clap...) invented by the fans. That's not even to mention the audience vs. the band chess match, the secret language, costume contests, the giant flying hot dog, big ball jams, vacuum solos...now that is entertainment even if you are not on drugs.

Wilco - Ok, so Wilco's last couple of albums have been a bit on the weird side. They have been experimenting with some bizarre sound effects which sound really random and computer generated. However, after seeing them live I know neither is the case. They were able to reproduce all of them live flawlessly. I was actually really surprised how much effort it took to play the songs as they were on the album, and it raised my respect for them tremendously. They are solid musicians all the way through (it's a dying breed).

Coldplay - I've seen Coldplay twice now, and both times were impressive. Musically they play solid, and they have great lighting and set effects that really enhance the experience. Chris Martin likes to run around a lot which makes things more exciting. It is always nice to see a band look like they're having a good time out there, and Coldplay does this very well (Weezer should take note of this).

Jimmy Eat World - Speaking of Weezer it was when I went to see them at St. Charles Family arena that I first heard Jimmy Eat World. They were the opening act for both Tenacious D and Weezer. A couple of my friends were running late so we could hear them start their set as we waited outside the arena. It was before "the Middle" came out so we had never heard of them, and we joked sarcastically about how we were missing their set. We got in about halfway through, and I was floored. They were so solid, and played with such great emotion. Of the three bands playing that night, they were the best by far. When I got home that night, I looked up their set list and downloaded all the songs on it. They were that good.

Ben Folds - I saw Ben it was just him and his piano. He only had one solo album then, and between that album and the Ben Folds Five albums, there weren't too many songs that seemed suited for just piano. I mean how do you rock out on just a piano with out a band? Well he did just that. I was amazed by how dynamic he played. He was able to create crescendos and accent parts where the band would have kicked in, while maintaining the beauty of the softer parts. I really respected his musicianship. He also had elements of crowd participation, where we got to sing some of the horn and string parts. If you want to hear what I'm talking about, check out his "Ben Folds Live" album. It was recorded during that tour.

Bands I've Seen and Where (total # of shows) :
Phish (9) - Deer Creek, US Bank Arena
Dave Matthews Band (3) - Deer Creek, Riverbend
Switchfoot (3) - Agape Festival, Indy Shriner Post, KY State Fair
Caedmon's Call (3) - Agape Festival, Savvis Center, Highview Baptist
Coldplay (2) - the Palace, Freedom Hall
Weezer (2) - the Brewery, St. Charles Family Arena
Digby (2) - Chow Wagon, Red Barn
Chicago (2) - Redbirds Game, the Palace
Seven Mary Three (2) -the Brewery, Headliners
Jars of Clay (2) - Broadbent Arena, Kentucky Kingdom
Mercy Me (2) - Focus, King's Island
Ben Folds - Mississippi Nights
Wilco - some parking lot in Nashville
the Wallflowers - Louisville Gardens
Stone Temple Pilots - Louisville Gardens
Cheap Trick - Louisville Gardens
B.B. King - The Palace
Yes - The Palace
Jimmy Eat World - St. Charles Family Arena
Tenacious D - St. Charles Family Arena
Matthew Sweet - Louisville Gardens
Counting Crows - the Palace
Soul Asylum - Louisville Gardens
Roger Daltry - Louisville Gardens
Tony Bennett - Louisville Gardens
Poe - The Brewery
Live - Bellarmine College
Love Spit Love - Bellarmine College
Sponge - Bellarmine College
Hobex - Headliners
Sleeping at Last - Indy Shriner Post
Bleu - Indy Shriner Post
Dead Eye Dick - Red Barn
Starflyer 59 - Asbury College
Ester Drang - Asbury College
Derek Webb - Christ Church
Third Day - King's Island
Toby Mac - King's Island
Casting Crowns - King's Island
Five Iron Frenzy - Champ's Rollerdome
Newsboys - Six Flags St. Louis
Lynard Skynard - Waterfront Park
The Ohio Players - Waterfront Park
Manheim Steamroller - the Palace

Bands I have yet to see, but really want to:
Pearl Jam, the Black Crowes, Fountains of Wayne, Jack Johnson, Chris Rice, Keane, Jamie Cullum