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In 2008 I managed to haul my ass to just 89 shows - that’s five fewer than in 2007 (94 shows), and eleven short of the 100 I saw in 2005. I suppose that means I’ve slowed down a bit - but have I really? These 89 rockouts spanned multiple provinces, states and continents and include seven (!) festivals, most of which I travelled for. In fact, I did so much music-related travelling in 2008 that I couldn’t possibly limit my favourite shows to Toronto only. I hope you enjoy my list of most memorable live performances that took place over the past twelve months!

10. The Veils @ La Sala Rossa (Pop Montreal, October 5)

In early October I travelled to Montreal for Pop Montreal, where I managed to take in several dozen acts in a span of just four days. Among these acts was a fluke addition to my schedule, The Veils & Dirty On Purpose at La Sala Rossa (which has quickly become my favourite Montreal venue - it was just stunning and had no uptight security to bum me out). The Veils, fronted by 25-year-old Finn Andrews, delivered an outstanding performance that had the entire room stunned and absolutely silent. The band performed songs from albums The Runaway Found and Nux Vomica, plus a few gems from a new album that’s coming sometime in 2009. Finn brought it all - charming in-between-song banter delivered in his shy, New Zealand accent, chill-inducing notes that went on forever and he did it all with so much heart the room was ready to shrivel.

9. Woodhands @ The Drake Underground (Paper Bag Records Showcase @ CMW, Toronto, March 7)

Photo by Zach Slootsky of Take More Photos

I managed to catch Woodhands a total of six times in 2008, but their show at the Drake Undeground was by far the best, proving to me that Woodhands perform best when allowed to hit the stage after midnight (their incredible Pop Montreal set went on till about 3am, whereas their less energetic performance with Cadence Weapon took place at 10pm). Their closing out of that evening’s Paper Bag Records showcase, which included Slim Twig and future PBR family members Winter Gloves was an unforgettable experience. It was mind-bogglingly sweaty, with a frenetic front area dance pit numbering about fifty people at its peak. No one wanted the night to come to a close, so Woodhands maestros Dan Werb & Paul Banwatt performed an extended set of remixes and tangents so that we could continue the dancefest till The Drake personnel brought the night to a close.

8. Cut Copy @ Sound Academy (Toronto, September 19)

This was my second time seeing Aussies Cut Copy in 2008 (the first being in May, headlining for The Black Kids at the Phoenix - a much better venue, but this show was much more timely). Both performances didn’t disappoint when it came to delivering a massively sweaty dance party, and singles Hearts On Fire, Lights And Music and Far Away proved to fans why Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours deserved its high ranking on critics’ Best Of 2008 lists. They sounded absolutely HUGE in a live setting - supported by animal Dan Whitford at the microphone and behind the keys. He showcased boundless energy for over an hour, bouncing up and down, bopping his head and getting people amped for the 75 minute set.

7. Hot Chip @ Carling Academy Brixton (London, UK, November 6)

Photo by Hidden Shine on Flickr

In November I hit up a bunch of shows in London, England, and Hot Chip’s first of two nights at Carling Academy, Brixton was the one that trumped them all - it was just MAJESTIC. It was my third time seeing Hot Chip in 2008 (first at The Phoenix in Toronto and then at Metropolis in Montreal). The Montreal show nearly made this list but really, nothing can compare to seeing a band in their hometown (London), sitting next to the band’s family and friends in VIP. The Carling Academy is split into two sections - general admission floors and general admission seats up on the balcony, where dancing - or even standing - is strictly prohibited. Apparently this wasn’t a joke, and due to the balcony’s ‘lack of structural integrity’, security came around at every opportunity to urge people to sit down. Unlike Toronto folks, Londoners aren’t an obedient bunch, and engaged in ongoing arguments throughout the night, sternly explaining to security why they refused to sit down. By the time the show had reached its apex with popular singles Ready For The Floor and Shake A Fist, everyone on the balcony was upright and dancing, with the floor beneath us absolutely trembling. The band released dozens of massive balls that bounced around the venue for the rest of the night, along with confetti and a newly upgraded laser show, ending with a slow dance-worthy Made In The Dark.

6. Brand New, Kevin Devine & Manchester Orchestra @ House Of Blues (Chicago, August 2)

Photo by Joel Faurote on Flickr

Even though I had the chance to see Brand New at Lollapalooza itself, festival performances never really ‘cut it’ when you compare them to headlining club shows, which many of the bands offered that weekend. And this triad of bands was an absolute treat to witness, not only because of the bands’ collaborations, but because of the incredibly beautiful Chicago venue, House Of Blues. It’s a super old theatre that has ornate fixtures and lots of dark velvet, to give you an idea. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take any photos of my own due to Brand New frontman Jesse Lacey’s infamously ridiculous “no camera” policy, but Flickr member Joel Faurote managed to take a few snaps so you can catch a glimpse of what we enjoyed. Jesse came out to help both Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine with a few songs before tearing a strip off everyone with a wild and rowdy Brand New set that absolutely massacred the tame performance we saw the next day at Lollapalooza.

5. Modeselektor @ Metropolis (MUTEK, Montreal, May 30)

I was beyond thrilled for the chance to see Berlin duo Modeselektor as part of Montreal’s electronic festival MUTEK, because I’d never seen them before and their live shows (in Canada, at least) are a rarity - in fact, this marked their Canadian debut. Pfadfinderei, the duo’s longtime design collaborator, provided a stunning array of visuals that included everything from turntabling fingers and scrolling words to the Hello Mom! album cover monkey that both Gernot and Sebastian wore in tshirt format. Every song had massive breakdowns - sometimes upwards of four or five, and all of Metropolis (about 3000 people) was raging to the beats till nearly 3am.

4. Grizzly Bear @ Grant Park (Lollapalooza, Chicago, August 1)

Photo by Jeremy Farmer on Flickr

When Dan, Justin and I arrived in Chicago the first morning of Lollapalooza, it was about a bajillion degrees without a cloud in sight and 99% humidity. Mercifully Grizzly Bear didn’t hit the partially shaded side stages until 5:45pm, so we were spared some heat. But it was still brutally humid and we were already puddles of our former selves after spending an afternoon roasting in the heat. Grizzly Bear performed a beautiful 45 minute set of layered harmonies and beautiful arrangements that brought a few moments of calm to an otherwise hectic day of running up a sweat (literally) from one end of Grant Park to the other to catch our favourite acts.

3. Booka Shade @ Donington Park (Pemberton Festival, BC, July 27)

Photo by Jesus Presley on Flickr

At the first-ever Pemberton Festival, Wendy and I enjoyed close to sixty live acts over the course of three days, but nevermind the two stages - I couldn’t be torn away from the Bacardi B-Live dance tent, which had a massive turnout and layout the likes of which I haven’t seen since London (UK) and Ibiza - basically any gig you’d see advertised in Mixmag or other worldwide festivals. It was absolutely teeming with people at all times - always at capacity and rammed with people who most certainly spent the entire 72 hours in the tent dancing their asses off. After the main acts put the crowds to bed on either stage, the party continued in the Bacardi tent with massive names like The Crystal Method and DJ Shadow spinning till 1, 2am most nights. But it was DJs Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier (Booka Shade), often described as veterans of the Frankfurt electronic music scene, who really brought it for me. The duo are also co-founders of Germany’s Get Physical label, along with festival-mates M.A.N.D.Y.. They played an incredible mix of usual favourites from their popular DJ sets, including original songs Mandarine Girl, Body Language and Charlotte,but really, no one was keeping tabs on the setlist - they were too busy getting unreal on the dancefloor.

2. Bon Iver @ Lee’s Palace (Toronto, July 22)

Photo by ryanophoto on Flickr

Bon Iver, fronted by a humble and gentle dove named Justin Vernon, offers up such a beautiful performance that any time I’m wearing the band’s tshirt, strangers strike up conversations with me about how wonderful his voice is. The show at Lee’s Palace was no exception - it was a dead-sold-out, hot ticket event that I nearly missed at the last minute. Thankfully, I got into the show and joined 549 other fans in the mind-melding heat of a summer Lee’s Palace show. Bon Iver’s got only one album of material (this year’s For Emma, Forever Ago), but it topped many critics’ lists (including mine!) in 2008. An upcoming EP, Blood Bank, comes out on January 20. Anyhoodle, Bon Iver managed to keep the attention of the entire room with so much intensity that it was as though he were performing a private living room set, complete with an unforgettable roomwide singalong to The Wolves Act I & II - I can remember what the room sounded like reciting the lyrics “What might have been lost” over and over as if it had just happened yesterday!

1. Ratatat @ Club Soda (Montreal, October 3)

Photo by Eva Blue on Flickr

And here it is…the show that topped them all. Ratatat’s third album LP3 didn’t top anyone’s list this year, but in a live setting it was nothing short of thrilling. Johnny & I planted ourselves at the very front of Club Soda among the other revelers and mentally prepared ourselves for an hour (or more?) of guitar shredding. Mike Stroud is an absolute BEAST on guitar, and he remained in a complete backbend or stooped forward, sweaty locks obscuring his face, for the entirety of the show, dominating his guitar like some sort of Guitar World virtuoso. The lot was accompanied by a video playlist that included Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al and other such oddities that ensured complete hypnotism. By the time they busted out fan favourites like Wildcat, Kennedy and the scorching finale, Seventeen Years, I had to be virtually scraped off the floor.

Posted on Monday, December 29th, 2008 at 3:43 pm by Kat and is filed under Concerts & Events.

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