Top 3 Albums of 2010:
- LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening
- Yeasayer – Odd Blood
- Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History
Honorable Mentions (since I can’t make a solid decision on anything, and these albums are all amazing):
- Stay Ahead of the Weather – We Better Get Goin’ If We’re Gonna EP
- Broken Bells – Broken Bells
- Skybox – Morning After Cuts
- Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
- Sleigh Bells – Treats
- Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes
Best Show of 2010:
- Native and La Dispute @ Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center, St. Louis, MO
I’ve seen more shows this year than any other. However, the one show that sticks out most in my mind is when I went to St. Louis to see Native and La Dispute at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center
Granted I had seen them before when they played the Salt Walter Taffy House here in KC (which was also an amazing show). But I hadn’t seen them quite like this, especially Native. They started using samples in between songs which added a whole new dynamic to their live show. The Lemp was packed, the first and only time I’ve seen it sold out. La Dispute played with such passion, it was almost impossible to hear Jordan Dreyer over the crowd belting out his lyrics. So great.
Most Anticipated in 2011:
- SXSW – it’ll be my first year attending and I’m super stoked on it.
- The new Bright Eyes album
Most Overrated in 2010:
- Vampire Weekend
- Free Energy
Favorite Musical Memory of the Year:
I had the opportunity to go to Denver with Bad Veins as a sort of interim tour manager for a night over Halloween weekend. Sure, the 8 hour ride kind of sucked because it was so long. But the show at the Bluebird definitely made up for it. It was the last night of the tour for Bad Veins; during their set Two Door Cinema Club came out and tried to pick Ben up, which didn’t work out so well at first.
Seriously, TDCC and Bad Veins are some of the best people I have ever met, and they have given me a night to remember for a lifetime.
