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Year end list!
What were yer fav shows of 2014!?
Didn't get to that much this year, but did get to see Arcade Fire on the final night of the Reflektor tour in Montreal, and that is definetly a show I will never forget!
Also, Blue Rodeo melted my face at Ottawa Folk Fest,
...and then there is my annual shit-show that always kicks my ass - Evolve in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. They had some great performances this year from Hey! Rosetta, BADBADNOTGOOD, and - even though I'm not big on DJs - Skratch Bastid opening for Grandmaster Flash made for an amazing two sets.
How about you guys?
2004-12-03 - Saint John/2005-09-03 - Moncton/2006-06-30 - Charlottetown/2006-11-09/10 - Montreal/2007-09-11 - Fredericton/2007-09-13 - Halifax/2007-09-14 - Sydney/2007-09-15 - Charlottetown/2008-06-30 - Charlottetown/2009-05-01/02 - Montreal/2011-06-28 - Moncton/2011-06-30 - Charlottetown/2012-06-30 - Niagara-on-the-Lake/2013-02-01 - Moncton/2013-02-02 - Halifax/2015-01-10 - Toronto/2015-02-20 - Montreal/2015-07-17 - Ottawa/2016-08-18 - Ottawa/2016-08-20 - Kingston
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I am getting old and really enjoying country music more and more. Two stand out shows for me this year were:
Zac Brown Band - just incredible musicians and harmonies I have not heard since The Alman Brothers or Eagles. Plus throw in a cover of GnR's Patience and Foo Fighters "Times Like These", it was just an amazing show all around.
Brad Paisley - This was my third time seeing him and have never been disappointed. Hands down, he is the best guitar player I have seen live (which includes Clapton, Slash, Steve Vai, etc). Beyond talented.
Quite a few other shows, but those were the two stand outs.
2015 looks like it is shaping up to be an expensive tour year, Foo fighters, ACDC, Rush.....looks like I should be putting some money aside now!
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Interpol - Field Trip Festival, Toronto - one of our favourite original indie bands from NYC, VIP tix done right!
Antemasque - Mod Club, Toronto - Reincarnation of the Mars Volta with Flea on base guitar, got tossed around pretty good front row centre, but it was a phenomenal show.
"we've only got three hundred feet to go ..."
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Band Of Horses @ State Theater , Ithaca NY
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I went to quite a few shows this year. My favorites off the top of my head:
Jack White, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Smalls at X-Fest in Calgary. Jack stole the show, but it was a treat seeing the original Death Cab lineup for one last time (Chris Walla left the band at the end of their summer tour). And what can I say about the Smalls reunion? Faces were melted. Minds were blown. They've still got it.
Headstones- Flames Central, Calgary. Still the most badass rock band on the planet.
The Tea Party- Flames Central, Calgary. Last time I saw this band live was the late 90s, so I was pretty pumped for this one. They didn't disappoint. One of the best live shows I've seen in a while.
Sam Roberts Band- Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary. This band never fails to kick my ass. Another excellent show.
Arkells- Wildhorse Saloon, Calgary. This show was held in an big tent in the middle of July during Stampede week. A loud, rockin', beer-fueled, sweaty good time.
Gord Downie & the Sadies- Wildhorse Saloon (also during Stampede). Much more enjoyable than any recent Hip show I've seen. Gord actually SANG. It was magnificent.
Arcade Fire- Saddledome, Calgary. These guys put on one hell of a show. They absolutely killed it.
Joel Plaskett Emergency- Sled Island Festival, Calgary. He came, he saw, he kicked ass as usual. Awesome show. A Plaskett gig is always a good time.
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The Rural Alberta Advantage with July Talk at The Starlite Room in Edmonton. Wow, what a fantastic show. Incredible energy from both acts.
The Sadies at The Artery was a close second. So small and intimate; another great show.
Jeff
June 21, 2003 Toronto, ON: SkyDome
July 1, 2004 Toronto, ON: Molson Amphitheatre
November 26, 2004 Toronto, ON: Air Canada Centre
June 24, 2006 Toronto, ON: Historic Fort York
May 10, 2007 Indianapolis, IN: The Vogue
July 14, 2011 Edmonton, AB: Northlands Festival Site
June 30, 2012 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: The Commons at Butler's Barracks
January 23, 2013 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
July 28, 2016 Edmonton, AB: Rexall Place
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I saw a lot of great shows -- off the top of mind
Lindi Ortega -- Neat Café. Neat is a smaller venue outside of Ottawa, a place that bands like to play. Only holds about 80-100 people. Have seen Lindi a few times, and she is jaw dropping amazing. Prertty good on record, but live she just belts it out and has a fun time doing it.
Arcade Fire -- Ottawa. Have their albums but have never been a huge fan, took awhile to decide to buy tickets, but they are truly one of those bands that know how to play an arena. Fun show.
Black Sabbath -- Ottawa. Another curveball. My oldest kid got into Sabbath and Ozzy through playing competitive sports, it's still the "pump up" music in warmups and dressing rooms. I have always liked Black Sabbath. Again, despite the oddity that is Ozzy the guy knows how to play to an arena. Lots of fun, loud show.
Neko Case -- Ottawa Bronson Center. Has always missed Neko on most tours, last show I saw was in a small bar about 10 years ago. Again, like her on record, but live she's another beast. Plus, very funny.
Joel Plaskett with the NAC Orchestra, Ottawa -- cool show, Joel with the orchestra. Reworked some songs with the full ensemble, played a few solo, looking forward to his next album in the spring.
July Talk, Ottawa Bluesfest -- go see them in 2015, one of the best live bands on tour right now -- every show in an adventure.
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Ben Caplan followed by Matt Andersen & the mellotones
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Didn't get out as much as I would have liked, but here are my top 5 shows from 2014:
01. Neutral Milk Hotel (2014-01-20)
02. Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer (2014-11-13)
03. Gord Downie & The Sadies (2014-06-14)
04. Pete Murray (2014-07-08)
05. The Tragically Hip (2014-10-08)
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Joel Plaskett - NAC Orchestra, April
Joel Plaskett - Shelter Valley Folk Festival, August
Joel Plaskett Emergency - Horseshoe Tavern, June
Rich Aucoin - Lee's Palace, NYE
Hey Rosetta! - TURF, July
Across The Causeway '04 | Big Music Fest '08 | Kingston '09 | Bobcaygeon '11 | Cobourg '13 | Bluesfest '13 | Danforth Music Hall '15 | Kingston '15 | Bluesfest '15 | Toronto I '16 | Toronto II '16 | Toronto III '16 | Hamilton '16 | Ottawa '16 | Kingston '16
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The Smalls kicked my ass at Halloween @ Flames Central.
Also The Rural Alberta Advantage with July Talk was fantastic as well....
Honorable mentions go to Ozzy and Black Sabbath on Easter Sunday, Ryan Adams @ the Jube. Also the Pack AD kicked my ass one cold night in February...I wish more bands would stop in Calgary...
