List-omania: The year in music, in words and photos

 
All photos by Todd Zimmer. They constitute some of his favorite live shows of 2009. Above: Cody Wyoming in the re-creation of "This Is Spinal Tap."

The end-of-year /best-music lists used to be an exercise in consensus-building: from a vast list of lists, certain albums emerged as the unofficial best records of any given year. Not any more. Not only are more records being made than ever, but more listeners have access to them, which means (a) no one has time to listen to everything and (b) even the most devout music fan can overlook some of the better music.

The four-dozen or so lists below were solicited from just a fraction of the music movers, shakers and devotees in Kansas City. From the nearly 500 or so albums or singles or “music moments” mentioned, a few appear more than just once or twice. Among them: Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca,” The XX, “XX”; Grizzly Bear, “Veckatimest” and Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.”

My favorite album of 2009 goes to the Low Anthem for “Oh My God Charlie Darwin,” a blend of rough-and-rowdy and warm-and-rustic folk and blues songs. “Darwin” isn’t a classic album; it’s just one of dozens of eminent albums that deserve recognition during what turned out to be a very good year for good music. (Next week: We look at our local scene, which is fast becoming major-league.)

Timothy Finn, pop music writer, The Star

Favorite albums of 2009 (in random order after Nos. 1-5)

The Low Anthem, “Oh My God Charlie Darwin”; Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone”; Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”; Them Crooked Vultures, “Them Crooked Vultures”; White Denim, “Fits”; Japandroids, “Post-Nothing”; Jay Reatard, “Watch Me Fall”; Blakroc, “Blakroc”; Girls, “Album”; The Felice Brothers, “Yonder Is the Clock”; P.O.S., “Never Better”; Wilco, “Wilco (the Album)”; The Avett Brothers, “I and Love and You”; The XX, “XX”; Lissie, “Why You Runnin’ ”; The Ravonettes, “In and Out of Control”; Maxwell, “Blacksummer’s Night.”; Miranda Lambert, “Revolution”; M. Ward, “Hold Time”; Karen O and the Kids, “Where the Wild Things Are”

 

AC/DC at Sprint Center

 

25 favorite live shows of 2009

AC/DC at the Sprint Center; Leonard Cohen at the Midland; Green Day at the Sprint Center; Devo at South by Southwest Music Conference; Neko Case at the Uptown Theater; The Swell Season at the Uptown Theater; Phoenix at the RecordBar; The Pogues at the Midland; “Quixotic: Lux Esalare” at UMKC; The Pretenders at Ameristar Casino; Wilco at Crossroads KC; Solange at the VooDoo Lounge; Rob Zombie at the Uptown Theater; Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction and Street Sweeper Social Club at Starlight Theatre; Neil Young at the Sprint Center; “This Is It” at the Screenland; Morrissey at the Midland; The Killers at Sandstone; Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women at the Folly Theater; Todd Snider at the VooDoo Lounge; Social Distortion at the Beaumont; The Dandy Warhols at the Beaumont; John Prine at the Midland; Sonic Youth at the Uptown; Britney Spears at the Sprint Center

 

Jenee Osterheldt, columnist, The Star

Karen O and the Kids, “Where the Wild Things Are”; Melanie Fiona, “The Bridge”; Drake, “So Far Gone”; Clipse, “Till the Casket Drops”; Chester French, “Love the Future”; Wale, “Attention Deficit”; Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca”; Jay Dee, “Dillanthology: Dilla’s Production for Various Artists”; Stik Figa & D/Will, “Hellogoodbye”; Jay-Z, “The Blueprint 3.”

 

Bill Brownlee, contributing Star reviewer /Plastic Sax

Maxwell, “BLACKsummer’s Night”; P.O.S., “Never Better”; Ron Ron, “Skitzofrinik”; Green Day, “21st Century Breakdown”; Joe Lovano, “Folk Art”; Cecelia Bartoli, “Sacrificium”; Steddy P., “Style Like Mind”; Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone”; Gracelia Beltran, “La Reina de la Banda”; the Life and Times, “Tragic Boogie.”

 

Les Claypool at the Beaumont

 

Joel Francis, contributing Star reviewer / The Daily Record

Metric, “Fantasies”; Speech Debelle, “Speech Therapy”; Bela Fleck, “Throw Down Your Heart: Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3”; Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone”; Allen Toussaint, “The Bright Mississippi”; Me’Shell Ndegeocello, “Devil’s Halo”; Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar, “One Fast Move Or I’m Gone”; Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, “Tell ‘Em Your Name Is!”; Mountain Goats, “The Life of the World to Come”; Mos Def, “The Estatic.”

Ben Grimes, the Soft Reeds

St. Vincent, “Actor Out Of Work”; Grizzly Bear, “Veckatimest”; Animal Collective, “Merriweather Post Pavilion”; Flaming Lips, “Embryonic”; Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”; The XX, “XX”; Bat For Lashes, “Two Suns”: Antony and the Johnsons, “The Crying Light”; Girls, “Album”: Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca.”

 

Dee Snider at Bikers for Babies
 

Jim Kilroy, Club Wars : Ten favorite bands to go through the Club Wars battles: Changing Faith, Injected Element, Signum AD, Black Ribbon Sky, Freshcuts, Robe, Kick Kick, Sicadis, Xavier Sun, Seeking Surreal.

 

Tanna Guthrie, KUDL (98.1 FM)

Jet, “Shaka Rock”; Gavin DeGraw, “Free”; Eric Church, “Carolina”: Wolfmother, “Cosmic Egg”; Them Crooked Vultures, “Them Crooked Vultures”; Muse, “The Resistance”; Michael Buble, “Crazy Love”; Incredibad, “The Lonely Island”; Diane Burch, “Bible Belt”; Collective Soul, “Collective Soul.”

 

Jon Hart, KTBG (90.9 FM)

The Avett Brothers, “I and Love and You”; Fanfarlo, “Reservoir”; Chuck Prophet, “Let Freedom Ring”; Todd Snider, “The Excitement Plan”; Andrew Bird, “Noble Beast”; Buddy and Julie Miller, “ Written in Chalk”; Walkenhorst & Porter, “No Abandon”; Michael Franti & Spearhead, “All Rebel Rockers”; Swell Season, “Joy”; Lisa Hannigan, “Sea Sew.”

 

Richard Gintowt and Michele Gaume Sanders, Hidden Pictures

Throw Me the Statue, “Creaturesque”; Telekinesis, “Telekinesis!”; The Whitest Boy Alive, “Rules”; Wilco, “Wilco (The Album)”; Fruit Bats, “The Ruminant Band”; Generationals, “Con Law”; Thao, “Better Learn Faster”; Tigercity, “Ancient Lover”; The Dodos, “Time to Die”; Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.”

 

Mark Davis, sound engineer

The Life and Times, “Tragic Boogie”; Animal Collective, “Meriweather Post Pavilion”: White Rabbits, “It’s Frightening”; Flaming Lips, “Embryonic”; Doves, “Kingdom of Rust”; Mew, “No More Stories”; Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”; Muse, “The Resistance”; Porcupine Tree, “The Incident”; Asobi Seksu, “Hush.”

 

Jucifer at the Jackpot in Lawrence

 

Danny Alexander, writer, contributor to “Rock and Rap Confidential”

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit”; K’Naan, “Troubadour”; Maria Isa, “Street Politics”; Bruce Springsteen, “Working on a Dream”; Rihanna, “Rated R”; the Bottle Rockets, “Lean Forward”; Knox Family, “EP”; Street Sweeper Social Club, “Street Sweeper Social Club”; Sin Frenos, “La Quinta Estacion”; the Flatlanders, “Hills and Valleys.”

 

Merle Zuel, Knuckleheads

“My pick for best album, best song and best live show: John Nemeth opening for Leon Russell at Knuckleheads. The album and title track, “Love Me Tonight,” got the full attention of a sold-out crowd. … Leon was very good, but John’s performance was spectacular. He’s one of the finest performers in the world of blues music. No. 2: Howard & the White Boys opening for Indigenous at Merlejam.”

 

Robert, Moore, “Sonic Spectrum,” KRBZ (96.5 FM):

The Dø, “A Mouthful”; The XX, “XX”; Malcom Middleton, “Waxing Gibbous”; The Black Heart Procession, “Six”; Jay Reatard, “Watch Me”; Bat for Lashes, “Two Suns”; Blitzen Trapper, “Black River Killer”; The Black Lips, “200 Million Thousand”; Pissed Jeans, “King of Jeans”; the Horrors, “Primary Colours”; Future of the Left, “Travels With Myself and Another.”

 

Steve Tulipana, RecordBar/Roman Numerals

The Flaming Lips, “Embryonic”; Sun O))), “Monoliths & Dimensions”; Antony & the Johnsons, “The Crying Light”; Blakroc, “Blakroc”; Miike Snow, “Miike Snow”; Jack Penate, “Everything Is New”; Arrington De Dionyso, “Malaikat dan Singa”; A Place to Bury Strangers, “Exploding Head”; Grant Hart, “Hot Wax.”

Keenan Nichols, the Architects

Songs: Bouncing Souls, “Gasoline”; the Millionaires, “Alcohol”; the Ravonettes, “D-R-U-G-S” and “Breaking Into Cars”; Albums: P.O.S., “Never Better”; Westbound Train, “Come and Get It”; the Ravonettes, “In and Out of Control.”

 

Jeff Holmes, DJ and owner of Holmes Music World    Brendan Benson, "My Old, Familiar Friend"; the Answer, "Everyday Demons"; the 88, "Not Only ... But Also"; Mayer Hawthorne, "A Strange Arrangement"; Krizz Kaliko, "Genius"; George Strait, "Twang"; Derek Trucks, "Already Free"; Cheap Trick, "The Latest"; Tinted Windows, "Tinted Windows"; Mika, "The Boy Who Knew Too Much."

Season to Risk at the Riot Room

 

Julee Jonez, KRPS (103.3 FM)

Top 10 songs: Mary Mary, “God In Me”; Melanie Fiona, “It Kills Me”; Ledisi, “Goin’ Through Changes”; Maxwell, “Fistful of Tears”; Jay-Z, “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)”; Jay-Z and Alicai Keys, “Empire State of Mind”; Jaheim, “Ain’t Leavin’ Without You”; Letoya Luckett and Ludacris, “Regret.”

Corky Carrel, VillageRecords.com

Sam Baker, “Cotton”; John Doe & the Sadies, “Couintry Club”; Bob Dylan, Together Through Life”; Joe Henry, “Blood from Stars”; Ian Hunter, “Man Overboard”; Eilen Jewel, “Sea of Tears”; Paul McCartney (aka the Fireman), “Electric Arguments”; Van Morrison, “Astral Weeks Live”; Allen Toussaint, “The Bright Mississippi”; Sarah Watkins, “Sarah Watkins.”

 

James Ramirez, MK12

Kid Cudi, “Man on the Moon: The End of the Day”; Scratch Perverts, “Beatdown”; Sparklehorse, “Dark Night of the Soul”; Akron Family, “Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free”; Animal Collective, “Merriweather Post Pavilion”; Modest Mouse, “No One’s On First and You’re Next”; Mulatu Astake and the Heliocentrics, “Inspiration Information, Vo1. 3”; Rootbeer, “Pink Limousine”; Sol.illaquists of Sound, “No More Heroes”; the Dodos, “Time to Die.”

 

Concert Chris, live-music evangelist

The Low Anthem, “Oh My God Charlie Darwin”; Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”; JJ, “jj n 2”; Passion Pit, “Manners”; Manchester Orchestra, “Mean Everything to Nothing”; An Horse, “Rerrange Beds”; Jonsi & Alex, “Riceboy Sleeps”; The XX, “XX”; Metric, “Fantasies”; Polly Scattergood, “Polly Scattergood.”

   Favorite live shows: Leonard Cohen at the Midland; Phoenix, Record Bar; Manchester Orchestra, Record Bar; Bela Fleck Africa Project, Uptown Theater; Passion Pit, Lied Center; Brandi Carlile, Beaumont; The Swell Season,  Uptown; Over the Rhine,  Crosstown Station; Flyleaf, Beaumont;  Green Day, Sprint Center.

 

Steve Wilson, contributing reviewer / Kief’s Downtown Music

Girls, “The Album”; Felice Brothers, “Yonder is the Clock”; God Help the Girl, “God Help the Girl”; Manic Street Preachers, “Journal for Plague Lovers”; Patterson Hood, “Murdering Oscar”; Julian Casablancas, “Phrazes for the Young”; Glasvegas, “Glasvegas”; Mason Jennings, “The Blood of Man”; New York Dolls, “’Cause I Sez So”; Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca.”

 

 

The Republic Tigers at the Wiltern in Los Angeles

 

Nathan Reusch, owner of the Record Machine record label

“Favorite records that I didn’t release”: Fruit Bats, “The Ruminant Band”; Grizzly Bear, “Veckamist”; Here We Go Magic, “Here We Go Magic”; Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca”; Bear in Heaven, “Beast Rest Forth Mouth”; Deastro, Moondagger”; St. Vincent, “Actor”; Neon Indian, “Psychic Chasms”; Washed Out, “Life of Leisure / High Times”; Slaraffenland, “We Are On Your Side.”

 

Mike Myers, musician

Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone”; Anamanaguchi, “Dawn Metropolis”; the Field, “Yesterday and Today”; the Whitest Boy Alive, “Rules”; Mos Def, “The Ecstatic”; Tortoise, “Beacons of Ancestorship”; Polvo, “In Prism”; the Life and Times, “Tragic Boogie”; “Doom Presents: Unexpected Guests”; Bear in Heaven, “Beast Rest Forth Mouth.”

 

Shannon Schlappi, Locker Partner

P.O.S. “Never Better”; Manchester Orchestra, “Mean Everything to Nothing”; Phoenix, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”; Jay-Z, “The Blueprint 3”; Passion Pit, “Manners”; Silversun Pickups, “Swoon”; The XX, “XX”; Mew, “No More Stories Are Told Today”; Blakroc, “Blakroc”; Miike Snow, “Miike Snow.”

 

Michael Byers, “The Mailbox” (presentmagzine.com) / KCUR (89.3 FM)

The Bad Plus with Wendy Lewis, “For All I Care”; Betse Ellis, “Don’t You Want to Go”; Bill Frisell, “Disfarmer”; Fink, “Sort of Revolution”; Flaming Lips, “Embryonic”; John Doe and the Sadies, “Country Club”; Muse, “The Resistance”; the Ravonettes, “In and Out of Control”; The Soundtrack of Our Lives, “Communion”; Vienna Teng, “Inland Territory.”

 

 
Pierced Arrows at the RecordBar

 

Ray Velasquez, New York DJ and Lawrence expatriate

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “It’s Blitz”; Animal Collective, “Merriweather Post Pavilion”; Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca”; Sonic Youth, “The Eternal” Fever Ray, “Fever Ray”; the Cribs, “Ignore the Ignorant”; Etienne Jaumet, “Night Music”; Klimek, “Mivies is the Magic”; Broadcast and the Focus Group, “… Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age”; The Field, “Yesterday and Today.”

 

David Cantwell, music critic, author and blogger (“Living in Stereo”)

Favorite covers of 2009: The Hold Steady, “Atlantic City” (Springsteen); Boyz II Men, “Open Arms” (Journey); Justin Townes Earle, “Can’t Hardly Wait” (the Replacements); Rhonda Vincent, “Crazy Love” (Poco); Raheem DeVaughn, “I Would Die 4U” (Prince); Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens, “A Change is Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke); Joe Perince, “That’s How I Got to Memphis” (Tom T. Hall); Patty Griffin, “The Best is Yet to Come” (Cy Coleman); John Fogerty, “When Will I Be Loved” (the Everly Brothers).

 

Barry Lee, “Signal to Noise,” KKFI (90.1 FM)

The Low Anthem, “Oh My God Charlie Darwin”; Ryan Bingham, “Roadhouse Sun”; the Decemberists, “Hazards of Love”; Willie Nile, “House of 1,000 Guitars”; John Doe and the Sadies, “Country Club”; Blk Jks, “After the Robot”; Tom Waits, “Glitter and Doom Live”; Kronos Quartet, “Floodplain”; Geoff Muldaur, “Texas Shieks”; Hank Williams, “Revealed.”

 

Jason Beers, the Brannock Device:

op 10 music moments of 2009: Mike Watt at the Waiting Room in Omaha (with Greg Norton of Husker Du); Russ Weaver’s band at Antoinette’s on North Brighton; Pong at Davey’s Uptown, North vs. South fest; the Diamond Smugglers at Davey’s, North vs. South; Honey Clouds, “Fall on the Honey Clouds” (album); the Tonight Show Band with Kansas City native Mark Pender during a taping of the Conan O’Brien show; Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Super Bowl; Elaine McMillian singing “The Messenger” at the Czar Bar; Cher UK’s 20th anniversary show at the Replay Lounge; Grand Champeen at Davey’s, North vs. South.

 

Troy Van Horn, Federation of Horsepower

Mike Keneally, “Scambot 1”; Polvo, “In Prism”; Flaming Lips, “Embryonic”; Mastodon, “Crack the Skye”; Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone”; the Dead Weather, “Horehound”; Dirty Projectors, “Bitte Orca”; Girls, “Album”; Kreator, “Hordes of Chaos”; Mute Math, “Armistice.”

 

Les Izmore, Hearts of Darkness and Soul Providers

Wrong Crowd, “Wrong Crowd”; Stik Figa and D/Will, “Hellogoodbye”; DR+, “Doandroidsdreamofelectriclovers”; Mos Def, “Estatic”; Ces Cru, “The Playground”; Siji, “Ade Siji”; Knaan, “Troubadour”; “The Silver Recovery, Vol. 2”; Major Lazer, “Pon de Floor” (single).

 

Bob McWilliams, Kansas Public Radio host

Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow, Antonio Sanchez, “Quartet Live”; Kurt Elling, “Dedicated to You”; Benny Golson, “New Time New Tet”; Sam Bush, “Circles Around Me”; Antje Duvekot, “The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer”; Johnsmithfolo , “Gravity of Grace”; Sarah Jarosz, “Song Up in Her Head”; Cara Dillon, “Hill of Thieves”; Ellis Paul with Adam Ezra, live show, Unity Church (Lawrence); Dave Holland Quintet and Lionel Loueke Trio, live show, Iowa City Jazz Festival

 

Jason Ulanet, KBRZ (96.5 FM), the Belated

Future of the Left, “Travels With Myself and Another”; Grizzly Bear, “Veckatimest”; Bat for Lashes, “Two Suns”; St. Vincent, “Actor”; Girl In A Coma, “Trio B.C.”; Doves, “Kingdom of Rust”; The Big Pink, “A Brief History of Love”; Florence & the Machine, “Lungs”; Jemina Pearl, “The Break Up”; Manchester Orchestra, “Mean Everything to Nothing.”

 

Penny Rush-Valladeres, music blogger ("Rock and Roll Stories")

Be/Non, “A Mountain of Yeses”; the Pretenders at Ameristar casino; Ben Taylor at the RecordBar; Carolyn Wonderland and David Lindley at Knuckleheads; Nine Inch Nails, Street Sweeper Social Club at Starlight Theatre; Winwood and Clapton in Omaha; Ozark Mountain Daredevils at Crossroads KC; Tori Amos: show at Starlight and “Midwinter Graces” album; Mark Knopfler, “Get Lucky”; Sting, “If On A Winter’s Night.”

 

Greg Todt, Federation of Horsepower and KQRC (98.9 FM)

The Binges, “The Binges”; Them Crooked Vultures, “Thenm Crooked Vultures”; Muse, “The Resistance”; Clutch, “Strange Cousins From the West”; Mastodon, “Crack the Skye”; Buddy and Julie Miller, “Written in Chalk”; Blakroc, “Blakroc”; Shrinebuilder, “Shrinebuilder”; the Architects, “The Hard Way”; the Heroine, “Playing for Keeps”

 

Patrick Hopewell, musician, music-trivia host

The Gaslamp Killer, “All Killer: Finders Keepers Records 1-20 Mixed By The Gaslamp Killer”; Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, “White Lunar”; Pissed Jeans, “King of Jeans”; Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra, “Take Off!”; the Black Heart Procession, “Six”; Humcrush, “At Worlds End”; African Scream Contest: “Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds from Benin and Togo 70’s”; Flight of The Conchords, “I Told You I Was Freaky”; Duchess Says, “Anthologie Des 3 Perchiors”; Al Tourettes, “Dodgem/Sunken” (12-inch)

 

Bill O’Connor, “Your Morning Buzz,” KKFI (90.9 FM)

Sam Bush, “Circles Around Me”; Steve Martin, “The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo”; Ricky Skaggs, “Solo: Songs My Dad Loved”; Sarah Jarosz, “Song Up In Her Head”; Bob Dylan, “Together Through Life”; Allen Toussaint, “Bright Mississippi”; Jorma Kaukonen, “River of Time”; Red Stick Rambler, “My Suitcase is Always Packed”; Billie Holiday, “The Complete Commodore and Decca Masters”; the Beatles, “Stereo Box Set.”

 

Nixie, teen blogger (Wonderrwall.wordpress.com)

Paramore, “Brand New Eyes”; Manchester Orchestra, “Mean Everything to Nothing”; Brand New, “Daisy”; Paper Route, “Absence”; Taking Back Sunday, “New Again”; Karen O and the Kids, “Where the Wild Things Are”; the Dead Weather, “Horehound”; All Time Low, “Nothing Personal.”

 

Pete Dulin and Pam Taylor, Presentmagazine.com

Top 10 observations and headlines about local music: Mark Southerland continually pushes avant-garde boundaries as musician/artist; Jardine’s diverse jazz lineup and depth of talented artists impresses weekly; Crossroads Music Fest showcases fine acts like Sara Swenson, the Grisly Hand, Adam Lee & Dead Horse Sound Company; When the economy sucks, tribute bands rule: Familiar songs, surprisingly great covers; Alacartoona melds music and theater with impressive film “Night is the Mirror”; Midwest Musicians Foundation and “Apocalypse Meow 2” roar with purpose and results; Local indie jazz label Artist Recording Collective builds impressive roster of artists and releases; Hip-hop community thrives, steps up game; Local music clubs endure despite Power & Light District; Barclay Martin completes ambitious “Zamboanga” soundtrack to film about Filipino music concert.

 

Krystle Warren, singer/songwriter

Grizzly Bear, “Vekatimest”; St. Vincent, “Actor.”

 

Bill Shapiro, “Cyprus Avenue,” KCUR (89.3 FM)

Eilen Jewel, “Sea of Tears”; Bob Dylan, “Together Through Life”; M. Ward, “Hold Time”; Elvis Costello, “Secret, Profane & Sugarcane”; Sam Baker, “Cotton”; “Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women”; Calexico, “Carried to Dust”; War Child, “Heroes”; Allen Toussaint, “The Bright Mississippi”; Rosanne Cash, “The List”

D/Will, rapper/producer

Jay-Z, “Blueprint 3”; Stik Figa, and D/Will, “Hellogoodbye”; Evidence, :The Layover”; Clipse, “Till the Casket Drops”; J Dilla, “Jay Stay Paid”; Ryan Leslie, “Transition”; Eminem, “Relapse”; Alchemist, “Chemical Warfare”; 50 Cent, “Before I Self Destruct”; Fashawn, “Boy Meets World”

Jacki Becker, Up to Eleven Productions (music promoter)

Baroness, “Blue Record”; Between the Buried and Me, “The Great Misdirect”; Crocodiles, “Summer of Hate”; the Bronx (el Bronx), “Mariachi el Bronx”; Everytime I Die, “New Junk Aesthetic”; Girls, “Album”; Suckers, “Beach Queen”; Wavves, “Wavves”; Why? “Eskimo”; William Elliot Whitmore, “Animals in the Dark.”

Miles Bonny, DJ, musician, producer

Shafiq "Shafiq En' A-Free-Ka"; Mos Def "The Ecstatic"; Chrissy Murderbot, "Chrissy Murderbot"; DJ Day & Miles Bonny, "INstant Saadiq"; Ab & Daru "A.W.I.P"; Sa-Ra Creative Partners "Nuclear Evolution"; Roy Hargrove Big Band "Emergence"; Reggie B, "Get Down With Me"; Leonard DStroy, "Game Over"; Major Lazer "Guns Don't Kill People ... Lazers Do"

Chuck Haddix

“The Fish Fry” on KCUR (89.3 FM)

 Derek Trucks, “Already Free”; Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, “What Have You Done My Brother”; Allen Touissant, “Bright Mississippi”; Hot Club of Cowtown, “ Wishful Thinking”; Various artists, “Daptone Gold”; David Maxwell and Louisiana Red, “You Got to Move”; Lee Fields, “My World”; “Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women”; Johnny Bassett, “The Gentleman Is Back”; Shay Estes and Trio ALL, “Despite Your Destination.”

Comments

[Keith In KC]

Here's my Top Ten (as it's interesting to see what other readers of BACK TO ROCKVILLE enjoyed):

SUPERDRAG--Industry Giants
MISSION OF BURMA--The Sound, The Speed, The Light
WOLFMOTHER--Cosmic Egg
BRENDAN BENSON--My Old Familiar Friend
GRANT LEE PHILLIPS--Little Moon
RHETT MILLER--Rhett Miller
ELVIS COSTELLO--Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
THE CHURCH--Untitled # 23
HORRORS--Primary Colours
YO LA TENGO--Popular Songs

[Kilby]

This year's PRETENDERS show at the Ameristar was a pleasant surprise. I saw the original band at The Uptown back in 1981, I believe it was (Pretenders II tour), and thought this show was equally as good. In the Old Timers Division, KISS & ALICE COOPER gave us a couple of really good shows. Better than expected, or at least I thought.

Green Day were awesome live at the Sprint Center, as was The cool Dandy Warhols show at The Beaumont. Also, Knuckleheads has surpassed all other venues as my favorite place to see live music in KC. If you live here and love live music and haven't made the trek down to the East Bottoms for a show, well, do make it a point in 2010.

[Ronnie]

What a great year for albums. This is one of the best years I can remember. Here we go w/ my top 10 in no particular order:

Tortoise-"Beacons of Ancestorship"
The Life and Times-"Tragic Boogie"
Muse-"The Resistance"
The Appleseed Cast-"Sagramartha"
The Mars Volta-"Octahedron"
Pelican-"What We All Come to Need"
Russian Circles-"Geneva"
Porcupine Tree-"The Incident"
Mastodon-"Crack the Sky"
Isis-"Wavering Radiant"

Pick it apart please. What do ya guys think?

[Chubby]

Have to agree with Merle, both John Nemeth shows at Knuck's this year were superb, but when he opened for Leon Russell it had to be show of the year.

[bewlay]

Faves
Big Star - Keep An Eye on the Sky (boxed set)
Girls - Album
Grizzly Bear - Veckamist
Tegan & Sara - Sainthoood
Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs
Flaming Lips - Embryonic
St. Vincent - Actor
The Unthanks - Here's the Tender Coming
The Mars Volta - Octahedron
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, the Commuter

Best Shows (didn't go to that many but...)
Jonathon Richman at Recordbar
Rathel Unthank and the Winterset opening for Ben Folds at Crossroads

Overrated
The Horrors
Them Crooked Vultures
Wilco

[concert chris]

great lists. nice pics todd.

you can read more about my Top Tens listed above here: http://concertchris.blogspot.com/

enjoy | concert chris

[Keith in KC]

Man, do I want that BIG STAR boxed set! Good pick, bewlay. I gotta disagree with The Horrors being "overrated," though. To each his own, I guess.......

[Bob Luder]

Top five albums:
1. Choo Choo
2. Bell X1 - Blue Lights on the Runway.
3. Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 - Goodnight Oslo.
4. Wilco (The Album)
5. Chuck Prophet - Let Freedom Ring.
Second five in no particular order:
Soundtrack of Our Lives - Communion
Willie Nile - House of 1,000 Guitars
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Dead Man's Bones
Raveonettes - In and Out of Control

Top five shows:
1. Cowboy Mouth - Crossroads
2. Swell Season - Uptown
3. Bell X1 - Chicago Double Door
4. Choo Choo - SXSW Austin
5. Art Brut - Bottleneck

[Mike A]

Best Albums

Black Crowes- Before the Frost, After The Freeze
Booker T- Potato Hole
Avett Bros. I and Love and You
Blitzen Trapper- Black River Killer
Derek Trucks Band- Already Free
Son Volt- American Central Dust
Dinosaur Jr. Farm
Rosanne Cash- The List
Wilco- Wilco (overrated)
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Bottle Rockets- Lean Forward

[Scott]

Holy hell there is a lot of music in this blog, its gonna take me a year to go through it, let the downloading begin, crap, I better hide the credit card now.

[bewlay]

to Keith in KC, Johnson County Library has the Big Star boxed set - I give subtle advice on their acquisition picks;)

[Derek Donovan]

With you 100% on the Horrors being terribly overrated. I found that album difficult to listen to and terribly dated. My list didn't make this, but it was in print today:

Them Crooked Vultures, "Them Crooked Vultures"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "It’s Blitz!"

Japandroids, "Post-Nothing"

Grizzly Bear, "Veckatimest"

Spinnerette, "Spinnerette"

Eagles of Death Metal,

"Heart On"

No Age, "Losing Feeling"

Lissy Trullie, "Self Taught Learner"

The Bravery, "Stir the Blood"

Sparks, "The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman"

I could have switched a few others in here, like the XX or Tegan & Sara. I admire Neko Case and know she made many lists, but she's like the Coen Brothers: She's a great artist, and I just don't care much for her work aesthetically.

Best show of the year: Gail Ann Dorsey with Toshi Reagon and Allison Miller at 92Y in NYC Dec. 4. I'd never even heard of Toshi before, and she and Allison absolutely blew me away -- easily the most impressive surprise I've had at a concert this year.

[oh well]

Photos | Tim Finn's top live shows of '09

my god, you list Britteny Spears as one of the top shows of 2009? dude, she lip syncs, and she does not even hide that fact, and you call that one of best shows??...wtf??

...and you skipped Alice Cooper at the casino? .... my god : (

PATHETIC....the fkn fact you put that lip sync cnt on the same list as Niel Young is a travesty, a disgrace, pathetic.

[mankvill]

1. Anaal Nathrakh - In The Constellation Of The Black Widow
2. Absu - Absu
3. Drudkh - Microcosmos
4. Dying Fetus - Descent Into Depravity
5. Revocation - Existence Is Futile
6. Gorgoroth - Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt
7. Cattle Decapitation - The Harvest Floor
8. Slayer - World Painted Blood
9. Skeletonwitch - Breathing The Fire
10. Mastodon - Crack The Skye

Concerts:

5. Peelander-Z
4. Testament
3. Dragonforce
2. Ben Folds
1. Megadeth

Top 5 "Surprise" bands:

5. The Black Dahlia Murder (in Nebraska, not KC)
4. Styx
3. Trap Them
2. Revocation (in Maryland, not KC)
1. Art Brut

Looking forward to 2010! I'll be posting a review for all 41 albums I heard on my site as the days go on!

[Stormin' Norman/KKFI]

Astra-"The Weirding" Ozric Tentacles "The Yumyum Tree" Rick Wakeman "Live At Hampton Court Palace" Drivin N Cryin-"The Great American Bubble Factory" Epitaph-"Dancing With Ghosts" Nektar-"Fortyfied" Govt Mule-"By A Thread" Jack Bruce & Robin Trower-"Seven Moons Live"

[GB]

Glad to see Them Crooked Vultures included. Here is a high quality video of an amazing set.

http://www.wdr.de/tv/rockpalast/extra/videos/2009/1208/them_crooked_vultures.jsp

[pellboy]

My list is amazingly similar to Mike A's...

Black Crowes
Jason Isbell
Derek Trucks
Avetts
Booker T.

Will also add...

Justin Townes Earle - Midnight At The Movies
Bob Dylan - Together Through Life
Mark Knopfler - Get Lucky
Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
Gomez - A New Tide
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

My best shows were...

Govt Mule - Crossroads
Springsteen - BOK Center, Tulsa
Jason Isbell/Justin Townes Earle - Knuckleheads
Motorhead/Rev.Horton Heat - Midland
Sam Bush - Frontier Park, Olathe

[Stevo]

Top 10 Albums:

1: Dredg – The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
2: Mastodon – Crack the Skye
3: Lamb of God – Wrath
4: Isis – Wavering Radiant
5: The Horrors – Primary Colours
6: The Mars Volta – Octahedron
7: Sonic Youth – The Eternal
8: Tori Amos – Midwinter Graces
9: Pearl Jam – Backspacer
10: Morrissey – Years of Refusal

I attended three concerts:

1: NIN|JA (Nine Inch Nails, Jane's Addiction, Street Sweeper Social Club), May 27th, Starlight Theater

--I got to meet Trent Reznor and the rest of NIN, and Boots Riley and Tom Morello of SSSC, as part of a $1000 meet and greet package, and it was worth every penny. One of the highlights of my life was making Trent laugh - out loud - during the M&G. Everyone was super nice and courteous as well. The cost was a donation to a young man who needed a heart transplant, who sadly died about a month later. Trent has said that NIN is "finished", at least when it comes to touring, so if you missed it, you're out of luck. Personally, I'm not too bummed, because I can't imagine any future NIN show topping the experience I had.

2: Tori Amos, July 28th, Starlight Theater

--My 2nd time seeing her, after the Lied Center show in November of 2007. I have to say that I liked that one better, mainly because I'm not a fan of "Abnormally Attracted to Sin", he latest album. Her holiday release is quite good, however, and made my top 10 for the year. Interestingly, there are lots of NIN and Tori crossover fans, as there were tons of NIN shirts at this show.

3: Les Claypool/Devotchka/Saul Williams, The Beaumont Club, Forgot the date

--I mainly went to see Saul, who put on a great show. I've never been a big Primus fan, but Les is quite surprising, and made for a fun evening. It was my first time in the remodeled Beaumont, and it definitely felt odd.

[Professor Tight Pants]

DDonovan, I have to disagree, I find Neko case very aesthetically pleasing...

Norman, nice rec on the Drivin' n Cryin'. Did not even realize that they had a new one. Great southern rock band lost in the shuffle of Black Crowes/Widespread fever.

Oh Well, I agree, but Britney Spears sells more advertising than Neil Young's crusty ol' mug. Style over substance is the new mantra. Get w/ the program. BTW: Neil at Sprint one of the best of year.

Stevo, sad I missed Saul Williams, caught him at a festival a few years back and have meant to see him solo since, but denied the couple of time he's been here.

Justine Townes Earle's cover of the Replacements has made some lists for best cover song. I'd say the whole album deserves a look too. Really enjoyed his set at Knuckleheads and it made me get out the Replacements and revisit them. That Minneapolis sound was monumental and gets forgotten all too often.

Definite indie pop, ambient folk, synth-pop bias on the published lists. Glad to see some readers bringing it for the more organic rock and roll/country stuff. Booker T's work w/ the DBT's and the Patterson Hood/DBT stuff continues to astound. However, if you never leave the Record Bar, et al, then you likely are missing out on a broad swath of good music.

Good music never follows trends.

BTW: Mankilvil, no offense bro', but I think the metal band names are blatantly hideous. Glad to see you at least got some Ben Folds in your diet. AT least I know you're not sacrificing goats every night of the week.

Pellboy, was that Sam Bush this year or last year? It was a good show nonetheless.

[pellboy]

Prof, I think Sam has actually played there the last 2 summers and from what I heard, the shows were pretty similar but I had never seen him live before this year and I must say, his talent was astounding. Gave the more traditional bluegrass fans their due early on but completely rocked it out during the last half of his set. Amazing.

[Prof]

I'm sorry I missed this year then. I've heard his album stuff here and there, but had never seen him live. I have to say he takes the mandolin and makes it more than a bluegrass instrument. I really like his voice too. He's no master vocalist or anything, but his rough around the edge vocals work for me.

[JO]

My show of the year had to be Derek Trucks at the Voodoo lounge. First time for me seeing this virtuoso play. What an amazing talent and a true artist. No flash, no glitz... Amazing...

[onthemark]

Best concert: Fleetwood Mac. Nothing but hits and the sound quality at Sprint was great

Best club show: Hillbilly Casino at Knuckleheads. Wildest front man for a band, no doubt

Best musical performance, individual: Eric Tessmer at the Trouser Mouse. Out of this world guitar playing.

Best musical performance, band: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, Folly Theater

Best crowd: Tie, the hipsters at the Jason Mraz concert at Starlight, The Dream Concert at Sandstone

Best road trip: Tie, Bruce Springsteen in Tulsa, Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood in Omaha

Best meal at a show: BBQ beef sammich at Wabash BBQ while watching TUF

Best surprise: Just how entertaining Todd Snider was at the Voodoo Lounge

Best newcomer: Justin Townes Earle at Knuckleheads

Best wow factor: Derek Trucks performance, The Voodoo Lounge

Best first impression: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, just blew us away at Knuckleheads

Best theatrical performance: Alice Cooper at Ameristar

Highest energy show, start to finish: Green Day, Sprint Center

Highest energy, performer: Nic Roulette, front man for Hillbilly Casino, at Knuckleheads

Most disappointing concert: cancellation of Bruce Springsteen and the ESB, last minute

Best solo performance: Tom Russell, Knuckleheads

Best duet performance: Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, Liberty Hall

Best outdoor show: Wilco at the Crossroads

Best hard rock show by an artist previously thought to be mellow: Chuck Prophet at Daveys

And finally...

The all around best show of the year, hands down: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, at the Folly Theater

[Tim Finn]

neil young was great but he didn't have any acrobats.

and i didn't see alice cooper, someone else did.

[Eric]

favorite albums in no order

fever ray - S/T
Japandroids - post nothing
Animal Collective - MPP
Raekwon -Only Built for Cuban Linx Pt. II
Mos Def The Ecstatic
Sunset Rubdown Dragonslayer
Dan Deacon Bromst
a place to bury strangers exploding head
Fuck Buttons Tarot Sport
White Denim Fits

[Tim S]

Only one mention of Andrew Bird? He put on a great live show in Lawrence this past spring(?) and I thought "Noble Beast" was a very good album.

[P. T.]

based on your logic, The Barnum and Baily circus also had acrobats, then they should also make the list. They perfom the music live.

[P.T.]

.... and Mr Young not appearing on most of the "other" "local experts" lists is very telling. Anyone who missed him made a BIG mistake. But I suppose he is not trendy, and is not all packaged up and marketed like most of the acts mentioned. He is only a living legend who performed a stunningly wide range of music from VERY mellow (mother Earth) to the very hardest of grunge rock (Day in Life; )-(very funny, very rocking, very cool).

If Mr Young's show is not on your list ....... then that is your opionion. God Bless America ...... whatever that means anymore.

[Dexter Morgan]

Chuck Prophet at Davey's was flat out the balls.

Wilco at the Crossroads was a snoozer by a group who has lost a little mojo.

Fave Albums of 2009:

Dan Auerbach - Keep It Hid
The Parlor Mob - And You Were a Crow
M. Ward - Hold Time
Chuck Prophet - Let Freedom Ring
The Mother Hips - Pacific Dust
Elvis Perkins - In Dearland
The Black Crowes - Before the Frost...Until the Freeze
Ryan Bingham - Roadhouse Sun
Eels - Hombre Lobo (12 Songs of Desire)

[Prof.]

+1 on the Dan Auerbach Dexter. That man's got the blues guitar down and his white flesh never leaves me feeling ironic. What many people on here pushing the Blackroc forget is that this guy is capable of putting out more music in one year than these hipsters could in a career.

Sorry that I missed Chuck Prophet. I really liked one of the cuts on his 2002 album and never took the time to get in to his music. Sounds like I need to revisit his catalog.

BTW: +1 on the Eagles of Death Metal. Their valentines day show in Columbia was one of the finest of the year.

[metalmomma]

Tim - Regarding the best local bands - you should contact Mankville or read his blog. He has seen and supports several local metal bands.

[CH]

Favorite concert performances:
Opeth in Omaha
Satyricon in Denver
Amon Amarth in Denver
Marduk in Cleveland
Slipknot at the Sprint Center
Behemoth at Mayhem Festival at Sandstone

(had to travel a lot to see good shows this year. KC just doesn't get enough metal)

[bath mateus]

it is just nice...

Bathmate

[Rick]

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-self titled; Nels Cline-Coward: From the twee to the extreme. And "Let It Die" by The Shaky Hands was the overlooked record of the year.

All the others on my list have been mentioned.

[Vintage Jewelry]

Amazing post! I saw here all me loved musicians and my favorite groups!! I like the pictures you published here. Later this year I'm planning to have a tour in London and to come to some life concerts:) That's my dream, thanks for the post!

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