Best of 2011: Concerts
As usual, I attended quite a few live shows this year. Picking the best was difficult, and in all likelihood it’s a mood-based decision: no doubt if I make this list again a week from now, it will be different. But here goes.
The Church – Despite what I wrote above, this one would remain on any revised list. A semi-acoustic and toned-down musical travelogue backwards through the group’s vast catalog, this was a show that was both intimate and exciting. That I interviewed Steve Kilbey in advance of the show no doubt helped enhance my enjoyment.
Paul Revere and the Raiders – Technically, this was 2010, but I didn’t pen an essay covering it – as well as a number of related pieces – until 2011. Say what you will about the kitsch and whatnot; well into his 70s Revere still knows how to put on a show.
Two of a Perfect Trio (Stick Men and The Adrian Belew Power Trio) – I saw this show at the start of their tour, and interviewed Adrian, Pat Mastelotto and Tony Levin for a big feature designed to run in advance of the tour-ending Moogfest date. The trios’ original material was great, and their double-trio “covering” of King Crimson was a thing to behold.
The Fleshtones – Dubbed “America’s Garage Band,” the Fleshtones carry on the spirit of rock’n’roll with their own brand of “super rock.” I interviewed Peter Zaremba and then got to see them perform in a tiny (I mean tiny) venue that held no more than fifty-sixty people. They dedicated a cover of The Guess Who‘s “It’s My Pride” to me(!) and let me play Peter’s Farfisa on one song. In that light, how could this not make the list?
Moogfest 2011 – I attended no less than twenty shows over the Asheville festival’s three-day run. Prog, ambient, rock, soul, electronica…you name it. In general I avoid crowds, but this was worth the trouble. It certainly helped that the venues are all within two miles of my home.
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About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.