NYCTaper Top Ten Concerts of 2008

[image by Songbirdnest]

Its getting late, less than 2 weeks left in the year. So we feel like we left our yearly Top Concerts post until as late as we can, with all due respect to the rest of the shows we will see this year — Matisyahu (Dec 22) and Yo La Tengo (Dec 23 and Dec 27 — they won last year) and possibly others.

NYCTaper saw something like 100 concerts this year, and recorded upwards of 150 different sets. This list represents our totally subjective ten favorite show for a variety of reasons.

NYCTaper Top Ten Concerts of 2008:

1. Sigur Ros: June 16, 2008 Grand Ballroom
This two-hour set of majestic brilliance was the clear winner of the best concert of 2008 — and perhaps the greatest show we have ever seen.

2. Of Montreal: October 10, 2008 Roseland
This show is almost legend by now — almost more an artistic theatrical event than simply a concert. The horse, the noose, the stage antics all ultimately paled to the two hours of intense music.

3. Deerhunter: November 7, 2008 Music Hall
A band at its creative peak performed a flawless set primarily consisting of its new CD — perhaps the best album released in all of 2008.

4. Love Is All: June 12, 2008 Cake Shop (NYC Popfest)
A packed sweaty room literally swaying with uncontrollable joy as the Swedish punk-pop masters perform in the most intimate venue they will ever play in NYC.

5. Wilco: August 13, 2008 McCarren Pool
Perhaps the strongest Wilco show we have ever seen, the eleven encores at this show exceed in number and length the entire sets they are performing opening for Neil Young this month.

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7. Sharon Van Etten: October 23, 2008 Cake Shop (NYCTaper CMJ Show)
Admittedly, a personal and sentimental favorite. Sharon delivered a breathtakingly beautiful set as the ultimate finish to an outstanding day of music and musical camaraderie.

8. The Mountain Goats: November 9, 2008 Webster Hall
At the tour-closing night, John Darnielle pulled out all the stops. As he revealed early in the night that he had considered retiring from touring and that the current tour rejuvenated his love for live performance, this show took on a celebratory air.

9. Ponytail: June 21, 2008 After the Jump Fest (Music Hall)
This thoroughly original set literally took my breath away with its unrestrained energy and musicianship. It was the final performance of the day session of the outstanding After The Jump Fest — an amazing day of music.

10. Natalie Merchant: January 8, 2008 Hiro Ballroom
A triumphant return to performance. Natalie sang and performed beautifully for nearly two and half hours. This is ironically the only recording ever removed from the site at an artist’s request.