The Nine Best Shows of 2007

As the year draws to a close, it means one of two things...dumb New Year's Eve parties and my year-end list of great music that you all should listen to.

Starting things off this year are the Top 9 Shows of 2007. You may be saying to yourself, "Dim, nine is a strange number. Most people do a top 10 list. Why not you?"

Well, gentle reader, I am not most people. I like to exert my individuality my defying norms, doing the unexpected, throwing a curveball like a "Top 9 List" out there just to see who's with me in this crazy world, you know? Well, that, and I didn't see 10 shows this year.

Sooo...here we go:

9. Rush at the Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA 06/27/07

A revamped setlist which thankfully included Alex Lifeson's new guitar solo piece, "Hope", made this a great show. Why's it #9? Because it was, with no exaggeration, four fucking thousand degrees out that day. Outdoor show, no breeze, and yours truly wearing a black t-shirt and dark jeans. "My own fault" you say? Go frig. No mulleted jackass with a knockoff, misprinted RUSK shirt be bought in the parking lot for 10 bucks is going to get to look at my lucious gams.

8. Kristin Hersh with Dolorean at the Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA 04/21/07

Great venue. Show was pretty good too. Not my favorite Kristin show of all time, but I did like the fact that it introduced me to a great little band, Dolorean, who opened up.

7. The New Pornographers at the Roxy, Boston, MA 10/23/07

Probably would have placed higher if not for this.

6. Kristin Hersh with the McCarricks at the Hi-N-Dry Studio, Cambridge, MA 05/27/07

Cool concert given by Kristin Hersh and her 50 Foot Wave bandmates at the Hi-N-Dry studios in Cambridge, MA. For those unfamiliar, Hi-N-Dri is where the late Morphine frontman Mark Sandman lived. It's been turned into a musical loft, stacked with instruments, vinyl, and memorabilia. The show itself was incredible, but so was the atmosphere. No more than 50 tickets or so were made available, so it was very intimate. Got to chat at length with Dana Colley and Billy Conway (both of Morphine, now with Twinemen), Bernard Georges (bass player for Throwing Muses and the Wave) and also enjoy a tremendous show. Here's a pic of Sandman's signature 2-string bass:

5. The White Stripes at Agganis Arena, Boston, MA 07/23/07

Jack and Meg just warp sped through a blistering set thankfully featuring many songs from their excellent '07 release Icky Thump. Truly a sonic wonder to behold.

4. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals at the Calvin Theatre, Northampton, MA 09/17/07

The hit or miss kid crushed one out of the ballpark on this night. Again, best live band Adams has had around him in a long time (though I did miss the beauty of Catherine Popper on bass this time around). Only drag was waiting around forever after the show to say hi only to have him blow right by us. Yeah, I'm a fanboy. A 36 year-old formerly handlebar mustacioed fanboy.

3. Peeping Tom with Pigeon John and Miho Hatori at the Paradise, Boston, MA, 04/10/07

Patton is God. And this band live just completely slayed the studio version of the disc. And for a special treat, do yourself a favor and check out Butterscotch's solo from this show. It's mindblowing.

2. Wilco with Low at the Pines Theatre, Florence, MA 06/24/07

What more can be said about Tweedy and the boys? Not only is this the best live incarnation of the band BY FAR, but it just might be the best touring band out there altogether. No matter how long their show, you leave wishing they played for 2 hours more.

1. Grant-Lee Phillips with Kim Taylor at the Paradise, Boston, MA 05/08/07

Here's a pic of me and Grant. Check out my completely absurd handlebar mustache. Yeah, baby. This was my third time chatting it up with Grant and the dude is cool as a cuke. Very down to earth, generous with his time, and grateful for the support. This show, with a backing band, was outstanding. Breathtaking and I probably couldn't have hand-picked a better setlist. Bought Kim's disc there too; she was great.

Coming soon...the top releases of 2007.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

- Dim.