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I was lucky enough to attend nearly two dozen concerts in 2010. Most of the shows were at small, intimate clubs; a couple were in large halls or arenas. I primarily went to local shows in Asheville NC, but occasionally traveled out of town, and for a couple, nearly halfway across the country.<\/p>\n
With few exceptions, I enjoyed them all. But five shows from 2010 stood out as especially memorable.<\/p>\n
The spring \u201cFrequent Flyer Tour\u201d performance by Henry Rollins<\/strong><\/a> at Asheville\u2019s Orange Peel marked my third time seeing Rollins. He\u2019s simply riveting: he stands alone onstage with no props, no notes, no nothing. He talks about whatever comes to mind, rarely pausing more than a second or two. What he talks about is in turns funny, sentimental, harrowing, thought-provoking, but never boring. The slogan for the tour sums up his worldview: \u201cKnowledge without mileage equals bullshit.\u201d<\/p>\n I can\u2019t say enough good things about Mayer Hawthorne<\/strong><\/a>. Straight outta nowhere, this guy created a fully-formed stage persona and sonic approach that draws on the best of the past, while somehow remaining modern. I\u2019ve rarely been to a show where people (a) were mostly unfamiliar with the material being performed and (b) absolutely loved it. This was definitely one of those times.<\/p>\n A sentimental favorite is (and always has been) Paul McCartney<\/strong><\/a>. During the Wings Over America tour, I was a young teenager. I called the ticket agent and all that remained were seats behind the stage. I figured I\u2019d save the $7 and see Macca \u201cnext time.\u201d Well, I did, but it was in the late 80s. I saw him again in 1993, but this 2010 show in Charlotte was especially great because I was able to share it with my son.<\/p>\n Vancouver BC\u2019s Black Mountain<\/strong><\/a> are a band worth hearing. I\u2019d seen them before, but attended their fall show at Asheville\u2019s Grey Eagle in connection with a feature I wrote about them for the local altweekly.\u00a0 They were predictably great, but the big surprise of the night for me was the act that went on before them: The Black Angels<\/strong>. Their brand of drone-psych was amazing, a bit like Velvet Underground<\/strong> with stronger melodies.<\/p>\n I never miss Swedish folkrockpsych (and increasingly jazz-influenced) quartet Dungen <\/strong><\/a>when they play Asheville, one of their favorite places. Their music continues to evolve, and leader Gustav Estjes<\/strong> is now — for me \u2013 one of a short list of artist whom I\u2019ll follow anywhere musically.<\/p>\n Honorable mention goes to — of all things \u2013 the double-bill of Bill Haley\u2019s Original Comets<\/strong><\/a> and Paul Revere and the Raiders<\/strong> in Branson MO<\/strong><\/a>. Nostalgia? Certainly. But great, authentic, heartfelt rock and roll as well.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll wrap up this Best of 2010 series with a look at my five favorite new CD releases of the year.<\/p>\n
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