Big Apple Music Scene

Best NYC Shows of 2007

by dklein on December 20th, 2007

Okay, I know I just did a list yesterday…but things are slow here around the holidays and lists are all the rage at the end of the year…So, I present my 2007 Top 15 Best Shows in New York (that I saw…which obviously makes this a very biased list:)

Honorable Mention ( It was hard to narrow down!): Rodrigo y Gabriela, Central Park, July 1: A beautiful summer day in a beautiful park, in a beautiful city with two amazing guitarists. What more could a person ask for?

15. Matt & Kim, Bowery Ballroom, March 9: Another duo, but a totally different sound. Matt played keyboard and sang while Kim drummed her little heart out with a huge grin on her face the entire time. Meanwhile, the crowd was dancing so hard, complete with stage diving and crowd surfing.

14. Grizzly Bear/Beach House, Bowery Ballroom, March 7: This show was just two days before Matt & Kim, but it was a whole lot mellower. Beach House sounded great and Grizzly Bear brought it all home. I think I might have even cried a little…

13. !!!, Studio B, May 30: Dance party! Studio B is the ideal venue for the many electro/dance bands and DJs they house and !!! did not disappoint. The crowd was into it and the band could not be contained. I don’t think I have ever been so sweaty…but so was everyone else so it was okay (right?).

12. Yo La Tengo, Maxwell’s, December 11: The last night of their annual “Eight Nights of Hannukah” shows in their hometown, the band really brought it, playing many favorites and rarities. And special guests David Cross and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles didn’t hurt either. To see my full review of this show, click here.

11. Manu Chao, Prospect Park, June 26: Spanish musician superstar Manu Chao played his annual summer shows at Prospect Park in beautiful Brooklyn and things could not have been more perfect. It was Manu Chao’s birthday and he couldn’t seem to stop playing, coming back for at least three encores. The crowd, a diverse group of hipsters, working professionals, families (with kids!), and grandparents grooved to the music for hours. What a beautiful sight!

10. Clipse, Bowery Ballroom, January 24: I’ll admit it: this was my first hip-hop show. And boy, what a show. Brothers Pusha T and Malice gave it their all and the crowd responded with shout outs and dancing. Oh, and they had awesome bling!

9. Beirut, Ethical Center, September 24: Part of the Wordless Music Series, this show was thankfully not wordless because young Zach Condon’s lyrics and voice are wondrous. In an old, non-denominational prayer room complete with wooden pews, Beirut’s music fit right in. The room radiated warmth and joy as Beirut played their Slavic tinged tunes.

8. Of Montreal, Studio B, April 14: Sponsored by New York Magazine, comedian Michael Showalter was MC to an extraordinary event. Of Montreal played an awesome live set, complete with Kevin Barnes’ usual antics, followed by becoming the backing band to karaoke for the crowd. People really brought it, but special guests Paul Rudd and David Wain took it away with their rendition of Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.”

7. Battles/White Williams, Webster Hall, November 13: Openers White Williams played well and had interesting visuals playing behind them, but when Battles took the stage all hell broke loose–in a good way. Their musicianship is unparalleled and the crowd could not stand still, even forming a somewhat of a mosh pit during “Atlas” and “Leyendecker.”

6. The Thermals, Studio B, March 5: Portland’s best pop punk band are always full of energy and things were no different at Studio B. Playing songs mostly from The Body, the Blood, the Machine the trio couldn’t have played any better. As a new fan, this show pushed me into obsession.

5. Justice, Terminal 5, October 22: These French DJs burst onto the dancerock scene this year and their much anticipated post-CMJ show was filled to capacity. Luckily, everyone was in a dancing mood and Justice provided excellent beats and lights.

4. Jens Lekman, Webster Hall, October 27: Swedish crooner Jens Lekman’s new album was definitely one of my most anticipated releases of 2007, as was this show. And, the adorable Lekman did not disappoint. With his bevy of Swedish beauties all dressed in white, he sang his quirky lyrics and charmed the crowd.

3. Arcade Fire, Judson Square Memorial Church, February 16: My friend waited online in the freezing cold for five hours to get tickets to this show, and boy was it worth it (especially for me who only had to wait for two hours :). Seeing one of today’s greatest bands in a tiny church with gorgeous stained glass windows and an amazing organ was definitely one of the best moments of 2007. For their encore, the entire band of eight people came down into the audience to play “Wake Up.” All I can say is WOW.

2. Arcade Fire/LCD Soundsystem/Blonde Redhead/Les Savy Fav, Randall’s Island, October 6: With a line-up like this it’s pretty hard to go wrong. Les Savy Fav opened the show with their high energy, managing to reach out to the thousands of people spread out in the large space. And of course, donning a flesh-colored body suit and a crazy eye mask can’t hurt. Blonde Redhead were my one disappointment of the day, bringing the energy waaaay down. Luckily, James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem remedied that right quick with Murphy’s awesome electropop and amazing lyrics. He had thousands of people dancing–quite a feat in New York. Finally, Arcade Fire took the stage, with a superb video/light show that added to their music quite nicely. Winn, Regine, Will, & Co. were right on target and luckily Will didn’t fall when he climbed up on the stage scaffolding during “Rebellion.”

1. Daft Punk/The Rapture, Keyspan Park, August 9: Already, words fail me. But I will try. The Rapture started off the evening wonderfully, but as soon as Daft Punk came on the stage, or should I say appeared from a space-age pyramid lined in neon, they made me forget everything I had ever heard previously. Let me just say, the French know how to DJ and Daft Punk are the legends who started it all. Even forgetting the absolutely amazing light show and awesome robot costumes, the performance was nonstop fun and dancing, and seeing an entire stadium filled with jaded New Yorkers dancing was a beautiful thing. To get a taste of this show, check out Daft Punk’s new live album Alive from their show in Paris this year. Unfortunately, these two robots don’t tour very much, but if you ever have the chance to see them it is worth every penny.

What do you think? What awesome shows did I miss? Here’s to an awesome 2008!

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POSTED IN: Bands to Check Out, Gigs & Shows, Lists and Stuff, Live Picks