Concerts of 2009!

I'm rather pleased with this list! Hoping 2010 holds as many or more!

1/29 - Kings of Leon at MSG - I only knew Only by the Night at the time, my seat was essentially behind the stage so all I could see was their backs and I was by myself, but I still had a great time. I think seeing them at this point is what really got me loving them so much.

3/19 - Fleetwood Mac at MSG - Pretty much twelve years in the making, as it was my first time seeing Fleetwood Mac, even though I had seen Stevie and Lindsey solo. Very cool to finally do that!

4/20 - Tinted Windows at Mercury Lounge - Things went from "What, Taylor's in another band?" to being in the fourth row for said band's CD release very quickly! Lots of fun, loved seeing James Iha and watching Bun E. Carlos drum is a total joy. Good times.

4/26 - Matt Nathanson and Jack's Mannequin at Marist - Maybe the last Marist concert? I say that every year. Always fun to going up there for a show, always fun seeing Matt, enjoyed Jack's as well.

5/15 - Sister Hazel at Tulsa Mayfest - They played eight kickass and amazing songs and then an Oklahoma thunderstorm came and showed us all who's boss.

5/16 - Hanson at Tulsa Little Theatre - Member's only event, debuting eight songs from the upcoming new album and recording them live to become what we now know as the Stand Up Stand Up EP. Really awesome and intimate show, with four bonus songs from fan club membership kits.

5/24 - David Cook at Toad's Place in New Haven - David played close to home so I had to go! Loved Ryan Star's opening set, lots of fun seeing David again. He played "A Daily AntheM" too!

5/31 - Matt Caplan at a bar - Matt had a gig! He played "Sideways" and "Tempted" and laughed at us when we were excited. Such is.

6/11 - Fleetwood Mac at MSG - I bought a ticket in the front section and managed to snag a spot right at the stage, directly in front of Lindsey. Basically, my life was made and he sweat on me.

6/16 - Matt Nathanson at Summer Stage - My friends and I went and sat in the wood chips outside of the venue and listened to Matt's set, then went and ate barbecue.

6/17 - Locksley/Tinted Windows at Highline Ballroom - Locksley was awesome and it was fun seeing Tinted Windows again so soon. Taylor the front man and that Bun E., man.

7/19 - Jonas Brothers at Nassau Coliseum - And Honor Society and Jordin Sparks. I still love that this happened. They put on such a fun show!

8/15 - Matt Nathanson and O.A.R. at MSG - Matt in an arena! And my love of O.A.R. returns ten times stronger than ever.

8/20 - Marc Broussard at The Gap - Short acoustic set but still great to see him, especially since he played "Home"!

9/12 - Kings of Leon at Izod Center - This time, I knew every single song they played and it was that much more awesome. Love these guys.

9/21 - Green River Ordinance/Serena Ryder/NeedToBreathe at Highline Ballroom - Finally saw GRO, whom I love, and my love of NeedToBreathe was completely solidified by an absolutely awesome show.

10/15 - Steel Train/Hellogoodbye/Hanson at Nokia Theatre - First experience with Steel Train, realizing I might like them. Realized I really do love Hellogoodbye even though they can be a little obnox. Hanson put on a pretty great set, there was an Isaac solo and Taylor was kickass despite having the flu.

10/16 - Sherwood/Steel Train/Hellogoodbye/Hanson at Northern Lights in Clifton Park - Love of Steel Train and Hellogoodbye was officially confirmed. Hanson shows in general make me very happy and the amount of upbeat songs made me even more so.

10/18 - Hanson at Madison Hotel in DC - Member's only event. Some fun and random songs made an appearance. Most of all, Zac played "Devil's Nachos".

10/24 - Pat McGee/Sister Hazel at Irving Plaza - Yay, a full Sister Hazel show! Played all my faves, love seeing these guys. Still a little weirded out that Drew was missing though.

11/10 - Joe Perry at Irving Plaza - Won tickets, definitely cool to see him. We won't talk about what happened after I left a little bit before it was over.

12/30 - Steel Train at Maxwell's in Hoboken - These guys are so fun. Awesome mix of originals and covers, super energetic. Enough so that they will be my first show of 2010!

tell me, tell me lies

So David Cook's CD release thingy was tonight. He sang a whole bunch of songs from the album. "Bar-ba-sol" rocked despite having the most ridiculous title ever and I love it. It is my favorite song on the album. There were maybe 300 people there and that was kind of awesome in itself, especially since Lori and I didn't really have to put all that much effort to getting wristbands this morning. After the set, they came back out for an encore and David said "So, we're going to do a cover. It's an 80's song by a band called Fleetwood Mac." I proceeded to flip a fucking shit. Like, I think I actually screamed "OH. MY. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!" as loud as possible. I'm curious if it will be audible in other people's YouTube videos. Until then, here is MINE (post-scream, thank you) of this awesome amazingness.





Dude puts on a good show. He still has that ease about him that I first came to love and he really does have a great voice. It is crazy to think that at this time last year, he was just a bartender playing in a band.

The event was a CD signing also and it took a long time to get that all going because of the setup of the place and David being a sweet boy and chatting a little with each person. Lori mentioned something about how awesome the show was and he told us it was "the 50th? I think?" press/event he'd done TODAY. I'm sure he was exaggerating slightly, but probably not much. I made sure to tell him that Fleetwood Mac is my favorite band and that I thought the cover was awesome, to which he grinned excitedly and put his hand over his heart like "yay, you love Fleetwood Mac, I feel ya!" and I really felt like he was happy I said that and that made me happy! He is a good boy.

I admit, I've been like "Eh, DC" lately, for a number of reasons, most of all my decline of interest. But I am super glad we went today! He is worth it and a lot of fun live. I am excited to see him again someday!

I am obsessed with my iTunes play counts. Ever since I re-set them when I got Mikey Jack (my iPod), I have been watching my play counts rise and keeping track of what songs are in the lead. They are usually not surprising. My favorite bands get the most play a lot of the time, and then at least a handful of random songs that I am enjoying fleeting obsessions with.

I want to make a habit of posting these and perhaps elaborating on why certain songs are suddenly in the top. Except this week, in preparation for a bunch of Hanson concerts I am attending (or the simple fact that I listen to a lot of Hanson), my Top 5 is... only Hanson.

SO.

Top 5 of a few top bands? Why not!

HANSON aka Yes, there is so much more to them than "Mmmbop"
5. "Get Up & Go" from Underneath
4. "Lost Without Each Other from Underneath
3. "Penny & Me" from... Underneath
2. "Fire on the Mountain" from The Walk
1. "Georgia" from The Walk

FLEETWOOD MAC
5. "Bleed to Love Her" from Say You Will
4. "Everybody Finds Out" from Say You Will
3. "Think About Me" from Tusk, but the bonus disc and this version of the song has Lindsey Buckingham singing the choruses, not Christine McVie.
2. "Never Going Back Again" from some live bootleg of the Rumours tour, Oklahoma City I believe.
1. "Bleed to Love Her" from The Dance (I clearly love this song mad amounts)

REM
5. "I'm Gonna DJ" from Accelerate
4. "Living Well is the Best Revenge" from Accelerate
3. "Horse to Water" from Accelerate
2. "Man-Sized Wreath" from Accelerate
1. "Hollow Man" from Accelerate

I swear I listen to more albums than Accelerate!

THE BEE GEES
5. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" from Size Isn't Everything
4. "Jive Talkin'" from Main Course
3. "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)" from Main Course
2. "I've Gotta Get a Message To You" from an album I am assure of because it is a greatest hits compilation
1. "Come On Over" from Main Course

For now, that is all. I will attempt to do this again soon to see if there is much variation. And to see if John Mayer's "Dreaming with a Broken Heart", Blake Lewis' "Break Anotha" or any of those David Cook songs I've been listening to since American Idol ended make their way in. Exciting stuff, indeed.