2010 Concert Round-Up Part 2

Here's part two (July - December 2010) of my best concert moments of 2010. I'm just going to jump right in.

July 18, 2010 - Swell Season, She & Him, and Bird & the Bee @ the Hollywood Bowl
Cool story about this show: I almost got run over by a golf cart carrying Jenny & Johnny. Opening up the night was a band already mentioned in Part 1: The Bird and the Bee. Inara looks to have already lost all the baby weight in like 2 months. Jealous!



She & Him was the next band up. I'll save the She & Him video for later in the post.

Closing out the show was the Oscar winning duo from Once: The Swell Season. Glen Hansard puts his heart and soul into every song. I have been known to shed tears at Swell Season shows before and this show was no exception. Here is a video of Glen and Markéta performing Lies.





August 3, 2010 - Cold War Kids @ US Open of Surf
Another band repeat from part 1 but CWK is awesome and they played about 100 yards from the ocean. So you really can't get better than that. (You can see the ocean at the end of the song.)



August 6, 2010 - We Are Scientists @ Troubadour
We Are Scientists is in my top 5 bands. I really enjoy their music but I think I might like them even more for their on stage banter. I would buy a ticket just to see them talk to each other for an hour. So seeing them play the tiny Troubadour was definitely a highlight of my year.



August 29, 2010 - Jenny & Johnny @ 3 of Clubs
I like Jenny & Johnny's new album but Rilo Kiley and the solo Jenny Lewis albums definitely rank higher among my favorite music. I believe this was their first time performing with the new band in front of a live audience but you really couldn't tell. Giving fans only 48 hours notice via twitter/facebook prior to the show, they still managed to fill the bar to capacity. It was fun and you could tell the place was packed with actual fans.



Jenny & Johnny Part 1


September 5, 2010 - She & Him @ LA Times Celebration of Food and Wine
I think I've watched all the Top Chef shows but other than that, I'm really wouldn't consider myself a foodie. However, when I heard She & Him would be playing the LA Times Celebration of Food & Wine at the Paramount Studio Lot, I was sold. Lots of liquor tastings, food tastings (including Top Chef Alex's pea puree - gross), and great music on fake New York back lots? Yes please.
She & Him didn't disappoint . Zooey & M. Ward were cute as ever and the played the day to a close as the sun set.



September 18, 2010 - Phoenix @ Hollywood Bowl
These French Indie rockers always put on a good show.



September 26, 2010 - Vampire Weekend, Beach House @ Hollywood Bowl
Everyone says Beach House is a great band. I never got around to listening to their music but here's a video I shot of them so you can make up your own mind.



I was amazed that VW was playing the Hollywood Bowl. I know they have gotten bigger lately, but it was only a year ago I saw them playing a few blocks from my house at a local VFW hall for a couple hundred people. Going from a 300 capacity venue to one that seats 17,000+ in under a year is an impressive jump. But they handled the massive crowd like pros and delivered a solid set.



October 23, 2010 - Sufjan Stevens @ The Wiltern
Sufjan is another person whose music can occasionally bring me to tears. Luckily, that wasn't the case at this concert as his new CD is much livelier and upbeat than his previous ones. He played for nearly two hours which is impressive as most bands are off the stage after about 45 minutes and then come back for a 10 minute encore. The first 3/4 of the show was mainly his new material and then he came back out and performed all his hits. Check out some of his new songs in the first clip below.
Sufjan Stevens - First 20 minutes of the concert.

And for those of you who are nostalgic for older Sufjan:
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago


Novemeber 26, 2010 - Weezer @ Gibson Ampitheater
This concert was the Blue Album Memories stop in LA. The Blue Album has always been my favorite Weezer album (Buddy Holly, Sweater song, etc.) I fist saw them perform this album opening up for No Doubt in like 1997-98. So when they announced the memories tour, it was a No-Brainer that I was getting tickets for the Blue Album night. It was a really great show. First Weezer came out and played about 40 minutes of hits working their way from their latest album all the way back to just before the Blue Album. Then they took a 20 minute intermission (I always find intermissions at concerts weird especially when it involves no set or costume changes). They Weezer came out and played the entire Blue Album. It was great.


Novemeber 27, 2010 - OK Go @ Club Nokia
Another great confetti filled OK Go show. (Sorry running out of the will to write tonight.)


December 13, 2010 - KROQ ACX
This show had an amazing lineup (with the exception of Neon Trees). However, I've already written all about it on MOBFD so if you want to know more about this show, just go here.

Well that's it for my 2010 concert round-up. I hope you enjoyed it. Next year I'm hoping I'll get to see a few of my favorite band that haven't toured in a while (The Sounds, Maximo Park, Datarock, and I hear we may be getting a Beatles reunion at the Hollywood Bowl with CGI John & George). So much to look forward to before 2012 brings about the end of the world.

Happy New Year! Hope you achieve all your resolutions, if you made any.