2010 Concert Round-Up Part 1

I'm back again with a round up of some of my favorite moments at concerts this year. I couldn't rank the concerts so instead I am just listing them chronologically. Believe it or not, this is just a best of and not every concert I attended this year. So enjoy the videos and mp3s below and maybe I'll convert a few new fans for these bands.

Jan 22 - Cold War Kids @ The Wiltern in LA
Great local LA band that has been getting pretty big the last few years. They were cool enough to record a bootleg of the entire show and gave the link to everyone who attended. Here's "We Used To Vacation" off their bootleg:



Jan 23, 2010 - Pee Wee Herman @ Club Nokia
I know this is technically not a concert but it was one of the best shows I went to this year and he did sing. I wish they would bring back the tv show.





March 5, 2010 - Bird and the Bee @ El Rey (With Special Guest John Oates)
The Bird and the Bee is another small LA Band that I love. Inara George was about 8 months pregnant at this concert but she still had a ton of energy. Not sure if you saw the last part of the head line: Special Guest John Oates. As in Hall & Oates!!! The concert was to celebrate the release of their new Album which was entirely Hall & Oates covers. Right before Oates came on stage, a whole group of plastic LA cougars pushed their way to the front so I knew something great was about to happen. Below, I am including Inara's duet with John Oates on She's Gone.


March 13, 2010 - The Living Sisters @ The Getty
This newer group comprised of Inara George (Bird & The Bee), Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond), and Eleni Mandell. Described by NPR as a pop-country quartet (although they are a trio), their songs are filled with harmonizing ballads and the occasional solo song. The acoustics at the Getty were perfect for this show allowing the girls to sing mainly a-Capella incorporating their backing band into just a few songs.
The Living Sisters - Blue


March 15, 2010 - She & Him @ Largo
This was Zooey & Matt's first ever show for Volume 2. There were a couple of cute hiccups as expected for the first time playing the songs live. But Zooey was charming as ever and put on a great show. I just wish she and Matt talked more.
She & Him - Thieves

April 10, 2010 - Ben Gibbard @ Largo
Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service performed a one off show at Largo. He played hits from all his bands and a few covers (including one of Zooeys songs). I also noticed that Bones (Emily Deschanel) was in the audience supporting her brother in law which excited me more than it probably should have. One of the new songs he played has gotten stuck in my head and returned randomly throughout the year which upsets me as a die hard Dodger fan (Ethier is MINE, Reed). Maybe some of you are Mariner's fans, so enjoy Ben Gibbard's work in progress ballad to Ichiro Suzuki:
Ben Gibbard - Ichiro (Seattle Mariners Song)


I don't care how overplayed this song is, I still love it:
Ben Gibbard - I Will Follow You Into The Dark


May 21, 2010 - OK Go @ The Music Box at the Fonda
While mainly known for their viral videos, these boys always put on a great show. If you love confetti, you will love OK Go shows. They are known for doing large confetti explosions throughout their show. Below is a clip from this show that shows what Damian and Tim originally bonded over in Middle School: Broadway.
OK Go - Les Miserables Confrontation



Another OK Go showstopper: handbells.


June 8, 2010 - Hot Hot Heat @ Fingerprints
Hot Hot Heat is a band that I thought would be bigger faster. Two or three years ago they were opening for Weezer and had multiple songs on regular rotation at major radio stations. Then they disappeared. This year they came back with a new label and a new album. I caught them at a small independent record store Fingerprints in Long Beach. Afterward, they stuck around and talked to all the fans and signed anything put in front of them. Check out their new album. I put it on my top 5 list this year.




This post took way longer to write than expected so I'm going to split it into two parts. I'll post the second half of the year this weekend or next week.