Posts tagged ‘Trombone Shorty’
Top Live Shows of 2011
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.
10. Ziggy Marley (The Keswick Theatre) – crowd was great, dancing and singing. Praise to the Most be High. JAH! Rastafari.
9. Doc Watson (The Keswick Theatre) – epic. Legendary. He’s blind, he’s nearly 90. Amazing.
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.
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!
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.
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!!”
4. Carolina Chocolate Drops (TLA)– Wow. One of the best live folk experiences.
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)
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.
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.
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)