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Critic:
Shawn Stone
Best
of 2004
1.
Sounding the Gasholder Building
Gasholder
Building, May 22
The coolest unheated former industrial performance space in
the area hosted this evening of avant-ambient sounds with
Pauline Oliveros (accordion), Sarah Warren and Stephan Moore
(steel cello) and Scott Smallwood (steel pan). The echoes
. . . the echoes.
2.
Juliana Hatfield
Iron
Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Mass., July 11
Touring in support of her underappreciated album In Exile
Deo, Hatfield (backed by the old Gravel Pit rhythm section)
was as loud and snarky as she wanted to be. And, even fighting
a cold, that was quite a lot of snark.
3.
The Musical Box
Palace
Theatre, Dec. 9
The Québéçois quintet re-created Genesis’ The Lamb Lies
Down on Broadway, creating a vision of prog-rock heaven
here on earth.
4.
Henry Rollins
The
Egg, Feb. 8
A rollicking three-hour-long spoken word extravaganza. Rollins
proved, again, that he’s the coolest dork in punk.
5.
DJ Toast’s 15th Anniversary Celebration
Hudson
Duster, March 20
C-Rayz Walz and Craig-G were the excellent out-of-town stars
celebrating the longtime RPI DJ’s show, but Sev Statik and
some fine Pitch Control artists represented for the 518.
6.
Gay Tastee, Brent Gorton
The
Larkin Lounge, Jan. 3
Accompanied by the boys from Lincoln Money Shot, Gay Tastee
conjured up our collective demons. Accompanied by Troy Pohl
and Gaven Richard, Brent Gorton exorcised his own.
7.
Melanie
New
York State Museum, June 25
The original hippie chick proved she still packs plenty of
flower power.
8.
Olivia Newton-John
Palace
Theatre, Nov. 12
Pure pop nostalgia from the original Shania Twain. The fact
that I knew so many of her songs took the piss out of any
residual rockist (popist?) snobbery from when I thought her
uncool.
9.
Dolly Parton
Pepsi
Arena, Nov. 17
She’s still got ’em. Her voice and her talent, that is.
10.
Wayne Hancock
The
Ale House, Jan. 25
Pleasing rockabilly and honky tonk from a modern master, in
a very, very crowded room.
Critic:
Kirsten Ferguson
Best
of 2004
1.
Hank III
Saratoga
Winners, June 4
Hank III is a ghost of his legendary grandfather Hank Williams,
resembling the country music icon so much in looks and voice
that it’s eerie. His name alone may have drawn the folding-chair
legions of older folks, but I can’t imagine what they thought
about the tattooed, foul-mouthed grandson as he unleashed
a whirlwind of drug-and-drink-loving “hellbilly” country.
I could have lived without the set by Hank III’s metal band
Assjack at the very end of the night, but the outlaw-country
portion of his show was one of the most jaw-dropping performances
I’ve ever seen.
2.
Pernice Brothers
Valentine’s,
April 12
Joe Pernice writes some of the prettiest, lushest pop songs
around, without a trace of the twee preciousness that infects
many an indie-pop band. The Pernice Brothers were in fine
form on this night, and nearly every one of their songs sounded
like a hit.
3.
Guided By Voices
Pearl
Street, Northampton, Mass., April 23
On the verge of breaking up, GBV drowned their sorrows in
tequila and Miller Lite. By the end of the flawed but brilliant
set, broken glass littered the stage and guitarist Nate Farley
could barely stand. Unmoved, Pearl Street staff put an end
to the band’s emotional farewell by cutting their electricity
midsong.
4.
C-Rayz Walz
Hudson
Duster, March 20
At a festive anniversary party for DJ Toast of WRPI, skilled
underground rapper C-Rayz Walz performed quick-witted tracks
from his superb album Ravipops, while bopping across
the stage in a limber-limbed manner that lightened the occasional
grittiness of his lyrics.
5.
Midnight Evils
Valentine’s,
Feb. 28
Minnesota garage-punk band the Midnight Evils, on revered
independent label Estrus Records, made a last-minute and little-known
stop at Valentine’s, wherein they blew the roof off the place
with thrash-metal intensity and howling vocals, equal parts
punk rock and dirty-white-trash boogie.
6.
The Briefs
Saratoga
Winners, Oct. 23
“Poor
and Weird” may be one of the best sing-along punk tunes ever.
Live, the Briefs’ crazed energy, cheeky new-wave style and
snotty refrains did not disappoint any fans of their immensely
catchy albums.
7.
The Figgs, the Rudds
Valentine’s,
Dec. 4
On the second date of a two-night stand, the Figgs pulled
out all the stops during a show that ranks up there among
their local best, while John Powhida, in his stellar Beantown
band, the Rudds, paid homage in song to the “depressing magic”
of his former home city of Albany.
8.
Beenie Man, T.O.K., Super Cat
Northern
Lights, Aug. 7
Dancehall reggae is a participatory sport, and this virtually
nonstop succession of Jamaican acts—sponsored by local reggae
DJ Sir Walford—had the crowd jumping, waving their arms and
singing along to the rapid toasting of dancehall superstars
like Beenie Man and Super Cat.
9.
Nebula
Saratoga
Winners, Feb. 11
Under a fog-machine-induced haze, the heavy power trio riffed
out their California desert version of 1970s space rock. The
crowd was mainly there to see Clutch and Mastodon, but the
nuanced psychedelics of Nebula were more my thing.
10.
Air
Pearl
Street, Northampton, Mass., April 14
The French duo, along with a drummer and a black-beret-wearing
organist, transfixed Pearl Street with monochromatic stage
lights, delicate vocals and moog-enhanced instrumentals from
their cinematic Talkie Walkie album.
Critic:
Bill Ketzer
Best
of 2004
1.
Slipknot, Slayer, Hatebreed, God Forbid (Aggressive Music
Fest 2004)
Glen
Falls Civic Center, July 17
Call it what you want. I called it The Four Bands You Meet
in Hell.
2.
Shadows Fall, Candiria, All That Remains
Saratoga
Winners, Oct. 2
Pounding the world. Like battering ram.
3.
Deep Purple, Joe Satriani, Thin Lizzy
Saratoga
Performing Arts Center, Aug. 18
Two classic acts. The bread for a guitar weenie.
4.Anthrax,
Last Call, Brick by Brick
Northern
Lights, Sept. 28
Still the tightest metal band in the world, hands down.
5.
The Victor Wooten Band
The
Egg, Jan. 11
Like an absurdly talented Jackson 5. On Ketamine.
6.
King’s X
Northern
Lights, May 7
Always a religious experience, like finding a 20-spot in the
laundry.
7.
Hank Williams III, Porter Hall
Saratoga
Winners, June 4
The loudest hillbilly playing for the weirdest people.
Critic:
John Brodeur
Best
of 2004
1.
Pixies
UMASS,
Amherst, Mass., Nov. 30
So what if they’re in it for the money—they put bands half
their age to shame, piledriving through about 30 of their
classic songs in the time it takes most bands to set up their
gear. A welcome return and a fond farewell.
2.
Pernice Brothers, the Long Winters
Valentine’s,
April 12
An evening of perfect pop. Bonus points: the Pernice Brothers
brought along Ric Menck on drums; the Long Winters played
impromptu Neil Diamond covers.
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Hey
now: the Decemberists at Pearl Street.
Photo: Joe Putrock
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3.
The Decemberists
Pearl
Street, Northampton, Mass., Sept. 28
Smart, theatrical, and intoxicating. Keep an eye on this band
in 2005.
4.
Sondre Lerche
Iron
Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Mass., Oct. 23
As warm and inviting as a winter blanket, and the best “on
cold medicine” performance of the year.
5.
Wilco
Skidmore
College, Oct. 8
Jeff Tweedy looked like he was actually having fun by the
last few tunes, and that has to be worth something.
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Grin
and bear it: Life of Agony rocks Northern Lights.
Photo: Chris Shields
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6.
Life of Agony
Northern
Lights, Jan. 20
Practically the same set they played at the QE2 a decade prior;
just as much of a kick in the ass.
7.
The Figgs, Candy Butchers
Valentine’s,
May 7
There were many Figgs shows ’round the area this year, but
only this one induced mild amnesia, and carried a hefty towing
bill.
8.
Evan Dando
Iron
Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Mass., Feb. 7
After trying to duplicate Gram Parsons’ chemical intake for
the better part of a decade, the ex-Lemonhead settled on playing
some of Parsons’ tunes—and a haul of his own—on this wonderfully
wintry evening.
9.
Two Cow Garage
Valentine’s,
Nov. 4
Three hard-working boys from Ohio put on a hard-rocking show
in front of three hard-drinking patrons. Glad I could be one
of the three.
10.
Kid Rock
Pepsi
Arena, Sept. 5
Kid Rock kicked ass for the working class. Seriously. This
show was 100-percent entertainment.
Critic:
Erik Hage
Best
of 2004
1.
Los Straitjackets, Eddy “the Chief” Clearwater
Empire
State Plaza, Aug. 11
The masked instrumentalists delivered a burning set of rock
& roll rumble and tailspinning surf, hooking up with legendary
rock & roll-blues animal Clearwater, with whom they had
recently collaborated on a Grammy-nominated album.
2.
The Paladins
The
Ale House, July 18
Blasters aside, the Paladins have long delivered some of the
best West Coast roots & roll. And they love coming to
Troy. The Ale House rolled out a remarkable lineup of music
this year.
3.
Pernice Brothers, the Long Winters
Valentines,
April 12
A Monday-night show featuring some of the most melodically
striking left-of-the-dial rock of the year. Ric Menck (Velvet
Crush, Matthew Sweet) guested on drums for the Pernices.
4.
The Tragically Hip
Northern
Lights, Oct. 21
They’re heroes in Canada and an underground phenomenon stateside—but
still, nearly 20 years in, they roll out a powerful show.
5.
Eddie Angel’s Guitar Party
The
Ale House, Nov. 13
The Los Straitjackets guitar hero, unmasked, cut loose for
the hometown crowd with a bunch of old friends pitching, delivering
a guitarfest of garage-punk, rockabilly and surf.
6.
Elvis Tribute
Savannah’s,
Jan. 9
The whole local rock & roll team got together with the
Lustre Kings for this one. Johnny Rabb is still, decades in,
the most commanding, exciting frontman in our region.
7.
The Kamikaze Hearts
WAMC
Performing Arts Studio, Sept. 25
This radio show was a great milestone for the longtime local
greats—a strong, warm performance with guest spots by other
local musicians.
8.
Deke Dickerson
The
Ale House, May 2
Dickerson is a charismatic, golden-throated, double-neck-guitar-playing
wizard. The Californian delivered a fun, dizzying night of
pre-Beatles rock & roll.
9.
Graham Tichy’s Hillbilly Fun Park
Savannah’s,
Oct. 9
This was an all-star local Americana lineup (including Kevin
Maul, Dale Haskell, John Tichy and Mark Gamsjager) that burrowed
into some deep, soulful, hardcore honky-tonk.
10.
Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen
The
Egg, June 13
Hillman, formerly of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers,
has a secure place in rock & roll history. Alongside longtime
collaborator Pedersen, he particularly shone on striking versions
of “Wheels” (Flying Burritos) and “Eight Miles High” (the
Byrds).
Critic:
David Greenberger
Best
of 2004
1.
NRBQ 35th Anniversary Reunion Concert
Calvin
Theatre, Northampton, Mass., May 1
The second night of two, the sold-out show seemed like the
world as I always imagined it could be. And seeing the original
lineup of the band from the late ’60s had me amazed by the
idiosyncratic power of Frankie Gadler.
2.
Matisyahu
Savannah’s,
Dec. 8
Hadn’t had my head this spun around by a live show since Sweetnighter-era
Weather Report or King Crimson touring Starless and Bible
Black. Explaining it any further can’t do it justice.
3.
Los Lobos
Washington
Park, Aug. 2
Most likely the finest outdoor show I’ve ever been to.
4.
Nick Lowe & Geraint Watkins
Iron
Horse, Northampton, Mass., Sept. 24
The very definition of a gentleman troubadour, playing a set
of songs that are destined to be standards in this century
and beyond.
5.
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men
Revolution
Hall, July 14
Alvin’s Ashgrove album came to life with chest-thumping
vigor and a poetic heart.
6.
The Figgs
Valentine’s,
May 8
Flying high on the wings of their double album Palais,
the Figgs go expectations one better by embracing surprise
at every turn.
7.
Erin McKeown
Club
Helsinki, Great Barrington, Mass., May 30
With just a drummer in tow for the past half-year, she’s found
a new edge for herself, moving away from singer-songwriter
settings into the language of purely musical circumstances.
8.
Richard Thompson
The
Egg, March 22
One man, one guitar, 35 years of great songs, and a secret
weapon in form of his longtime soundman, Simon.
9.
NRBQ
Valentine’s,
Albany, Jan. 2
The couple dozen in attendance were treated to one of those
remarkable nights when magic happens, from the very first
note.
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Columns
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