These are the 10 best 2010 live performances, and they are in chronological order, not in order of preference, because it would be too difficult to do this. I liked them all for really different reasons, as they brought different aspects of what could be a show.
Bad Brains at the Sunset Junction Fair on August 21st: A burst of adrenaline as I had never experienced one, the band was playing at the speed of light, while staying placid in front of the chaos that was happening around them. People were pushing, screaming, crashing each other, jumping from 10 feet high poles, it was an apocalyptic riot, the security guards were overwhelmed and I was enjoying the whole thing.
The Black Keys at the Palladium on September 27th: The powerful and talented duo produced such a gigantic sound it was difficult to believe it at first. OK, they were joined later by other musicians, but this does not explain everything! It’s power-mighty blues at its best.
Conor Oberst at the Echo on September 29th: I was so close and it was so intimate, that was probably the best part of the show, which was happening in a very small club. Conor sang some of his best songs and I was just under the mic. It sure will not happen again when he is gonna tour with Bright Eyes!
Arcade Fire at the Shrine on October 8th: The poetry of the visuals of the show was like a hallucinogenic trip into another dimension where music could truly make you cry. I don’t care that Win has got a big ego in the process (well, that’s not totally true), they can put a great damned fantastically beautiful show.
Eels at the Music Box on October 12th: Mark Oliver Everett has this magic ability to mix the most depressive idea with bright humor and derision, and he was in great shape that night. There is always hope, even when hidden behind the darkest sunglasses, the scruffiest beard, and the most forehead wrapping bandana.
Gogol Bordello at the Nokia on October 13th: The euphoric energy and the wit of the traveling menagerie that is Gogol Bordello would certainly wake up the dead and cure anybody’s depression with a single song. It’s always a crazy experience you want to go on and on like a Russian novel.
Sleigh Bells at the El Rey on October 20th: A total aggression of the five senses, but I’m saying this in a good way. A over-compulsive cheerleading exercise that did not let me go undamaged, especially in the eardrum area, but a valuable 30 minutes to experience songs I had not really appreciated when listening to the album.
Built to Spill at the El Rey on October 28th: A wall of guitars and some addictive melodies executed with ease and talent, but without an ounce of pretentiousness. The great Idaho rockers were back and the audience knew that.
Massive Attack at the Gibson on November 7th: A shocking fascinating experience as it was my first Massive Attack concert. The great beauty of the spectacle, added to the hypnotic power of the music, made the whole evening a memorable time, even more impressive as I was in the pit!
Junip at the Music Box on November 14th: A collection of beautiful grooves which distillated a true beauty and something really difficult to describe, as if they were coming from the past and the future at the same time.
Hopefully I will have another list like this one next year.