Posts tagged ‘Just The Tip’

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Top Live Shows of 2011

Jerry New Year

Welcome 2012! For the last of Shady Groove’s Year in Review, I bring to you the top live shows of the past year.

Top 11 Live Shows 0f 2011 

11. Joe Pug (Johnny Brenda’s) – Johnny Brenda’s is prob my favorite small venue to see a show in philly. Joe Pug sounds like an early Dylan, honing his craft.

Joe Pug

10. Ziggy Marley (The Keswick Theatre) – crowd was great, dancing and singing. Praise to the Most be High. JAH! Rastafari.

Ziggy Marley

9. Doc Watson (The Keswick Theatre) – epic. Legendary. He’s blind, he’s nearly 90. Amazing.

Doc Watson

8. Hoots and Hellmouth (Yards) – Barn Stomping, hell raising folkies from Philly put on a rollickin show at Yards. All were dancing and singing. The band also brings wooden boards to stomp on. For real.

Hoots and Hellmouth

7. Hayes Carll (WCL) – Rockin band, great lyrics. They didn’t put the tables on the floor downstairs. That means the floor was open for dancing!

Hayes Carll

6. Mason Porter (WCL upstairs) – Mason Porter is prob my favorite local Philly band. Their old school folk and rock influences blend to create a magnificent union. Must see.

Mason Porter

5. Cake (The Keswick Theatre)– Epic. Crowd. Involvement. Totally awesome. John McCrea can control a crowd, at one point screaming “I’ll Stand here all Fucking Night!!”

John McCrea of Cake

4. Carolina Chocolate Drops (TLA)– Wow. One of the best live folk experiences.

Carolina Chocolate Drops

3. My Morning Jacket (The Mann Center) – Great new album. Heard big things about their live show. Did not disappoint. Jim James is a bona fide rock star. Endless hooks, ambient jams. Transcendental light show (see below)

My Morning Jacket

2. The Gourds (The Saint, Asbury Park NJ)– High energy. Rejuvenated with some new material. Fresh off of their brand new album, Old Mad Joy, recorded up in Woodstock, NY at ‘The Barn’ at Levon Helm’s Studios.

The Gourds

1. David Wax Museum (Johnny Brenda’s)– Well put together group of musicians. Something totally different from your run of the mill folk/indie group. They also play significantly under-known instruments, Donkey Jaw bone being one of them.

David Wax Museum

 

Honorable Mention:

Taj Mahal (The Keswick Theatre), Levon Helm Band (Philly Folk Fest), Trombone Shorty (Philly Folk Fest), The Wood Brothers (Philly Folk Fest), The Ebony Hillbillies (Chestnut Hill), Just The Tip (Half Moon Booze Cruise), The Low Anthem (WCL)