The Best Live Shows of 2006

So who came out lock stock and rocked my socks off? ...I'm still not sure. There was an abundance of ace performances this year, and I had a hard time singling out THE best, whereas previous years there wouldn't have been any hesitation. The difference between number 10 and number 1 on this list is big, but not enormous. The only show that did manage to stand out, far and away, did not take place in Vancouver.

10. CSS @ Celebrities, August 4, 2006
I was curious as to how Celebrities performs as a live band venue, and it turned out to be not unlike any other time I've partied there. Divas dancing on speakers in outrageous outfits and a shoulder-to-shoulder sweat-soaked crowd intent on partying their faces off. Brazil's answer to Karen O even graced the crowd with some impromptu crowd-surfing (she used a beverage ad cut-out as her surf board). Theirs was a tough act to follow, and Diplo did not answer the call.





9. The Philip Glass Ensemble, Koyaanisquatsi LIVE @ The Queen Elizabeth Theatre, February 23, 2006
It's an odd one to include, what with no guitars or stage-diving, but a memorable live performance nonetheless. Glass' 12-piece ensemble recreates the score to the 1983 film, about the imbalance between nature and modern society, with a sonic intensity that can only be experienced live. The repetitive motifs are haunting and provoking, the perfect accompaniment to the film projected on the big-screen behind them, which are some of the most magnificent images ever documented on film.

Clip from the film




8. Junior Boys @ The Plaza Club, Sept 30, 2006
After overcoming some technical issues and the "shittiest" replacement bass $300 can buy, Junior Boys treated a gracious Vancouver crowd to a sexy dance party, and with live drums this time around. Frontman Jeremy Greenspan certainly doesn't look like a star but he sure sings like one.



Clip from their Torino show




7. Of Montreal @ The Plaza Club, September 1, 2006
Fun and flamboyance sprung from Of Montreal's set (who are actually from Athens, Georgia) and immediately infected show-goers. Their psychedelic pop sensibility is best embodied in the glam vocalist/songwriter, Kevin Barnes, who throughout the night went through several costume changes.





6. The Walkmen @ Richards on Richards, June 10, 2006
I flip between whether it's the organ or the vocals that stand out most for me when thinking of the Walkmen. But when I see them live, I realize it's definitely the vocals. Hamilton Leithauser's wail can blow down brick buildings, yet he has incredible control over it. I'll admit, I have a moderate man crush, though I'm not alone as a friend (a dude, in fact) noted mid-set that "He's really good looking."

Clip from their San Francisco show




5. Sunset Rubdown @ Richards on Richards, May 7, 2006
Their debut album hadn't been out long and I was still undecided about some tracks but this stunner of a performance put all doubts to rest--this was not a half-hearted side project. I was surprised at how good the chemistry was among them and could sense that each member played a unique part of what made up a well-rounded band. They played with confidence and radiance.

Clip from their Chicago show




4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ The Orpheum Theatre, April 24, 2006
Yes, it's a less than intimate venue, but I can't complain being in the 3rd row. I have to give Karen and company big credit: their sound was polished but no less exciting; they were just as wild and energetic as their last show at the Commodore (during the midst of their initial hype); and it takes a lot to rock a big crowd in a seated venue like the Orpheum--something I've only seen accomplished by Prince, The Strokes, and... Yeah Yeah Yeahs.





3. Wilderness @ The Media Club, April 23, 2006
Picture a dark room with twenty-five people facing the stage but with generous amounts of buffer space between them, all drowning in dense sound. On stage is a singer who doesn't actually sing but hollers and moves with the tribal drum beat much like a shaman summoning spirits. The shaman moves into the audience, crossing an invisible barrier, but maintains his obliviousness to the outside world, the physical world, the watchers. This was one of the strangest and most fascinating performances I've been a part of. And I mean "be a part of" literally. It felt like I was an active participant in an ancient ritual.

Clip from their Asheville show




2. Cat Power @ Richards on Richards, August 27, 2006
After seeing a happy and hammy Cat Power backed by the Memphis Rhythm Band in Coachella I was eager to see her solo show and perhaps a bit curious to see traces of her former vulnerability. She was obsessive with the sound levels and she stopped short during a song or two, but there were no tears or outbursts. The only time I cringed was when she noted how hot it was and some corny dingus in the balcony broke out into Nelly's "Hot in Herre". Thanks, buddy--Chan will always remember Vancouver for it's comical genius. Anyway, she put out a generous set, even after doing an all-ages show just a few hours prior, and delighted a packed room with casual banter during her smoke breaks, some spontaneous a capella, and an incandescent performance. Her voice, her talent, her beauty, her high-top Adidas shell toes: how can you not fall in love with this woman?



Clip from her Toronto show




1. The Dirtbombs @ Richard's On Richards, April 2, 2006
The Dirtbombs are just a rock band. No pretense, no hype, no drama. Just down and dirty rock and roll. And although they work like blue-collar lifers, they are hailed within the pantheon of live rock performers. A testament to their vigour and experience is lead singer/guitarist Mick Collins' battered guitar--it looks like a piece of armour salvaged from a tank that's fought through apocalyptic wars. Which is fitting considering the cannons these guys loose onstage with their dueling drummers and double-barrel bassists. If you're compiling imagery for "The Power of Live Rock: Volume I", whether it's a stream of sweat whipping off a banging head, a rock kick, a bassist show down and switcheroo, a drum-off, or bombastic breakdown, look no further than the Dirtbombs.

Trailer from "It Came From Detroit"


Clip from their Montreal show




Honorable mentions

The BellRays @ The Red Room, May 20, 2006
Celebration @ The Croatian Cultural Centre, December 10, 2006
The performances were brilliant, both bands spotlighting fiery frontwomen. Unfortunately, the venues did not do them justice.



Out of Town

Daft Punk @ Coachella Music & Arts Festival, Indio CA, April 29, 2006
By showing me and a dancing throng of ecstatic fans something we had never seen before, Daft Punk would undoubtedly claim number one if this were an international best-of list. In fact, it was one of the best music experiences ever. I get chills every time I watch this video.
Clip from their set

The Murder City Devils @ Capitol Hill Block Party, Seattle WA, July 29, 2006
I love Seattle.
Clip from their set



Wished I was There

TVOTR and Celebration @ The Plaza Club
The Rapture and The Presets @ Richard's on Richards
Love is All @ Pat's Pub
Band of Horses @ Capitol Hill Block Party
Radiohead @ any venue



Notable moments

Cat Power covering Crazy
Of Montreal covering Crazy
The Flaming Lips covering Crazy
Butch Walker(?) covering Crazy



As 2006 wraps up, no single Vancouver performance jumps immediately to mind when asked, "What was the best show you saw this year?" It's not so much that there was a slump--everyone on this list goes down in history as far as my musical experiences are concerned. It was that there were no singular moments of spectacle or virtuosity that propelled a show from "remarkable" to "otherworldy", where I could say "I will never witness anything like that again". Needless to say, I'll keep chasing the dragon in 2007.