This list includes my favorite song, video, and 8 favorite live shows in 2010.
Favorite Song:
Brothertiger – Feel
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/thebeatbrothel/feel[/soundcloud]
Favorite Video:
El Guincho – Bombay (NSFW)
Favorite Live Shows
8. Memoryhouse @ IOTA on August 13
Memoryhouse – To The Lighthouse (Millionyoung Remix)
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/scootervonhooter/memoryhouse-to-the-lighthouse-millionyoung-remix[/soundcloud]
7. Small Black @ some basement in DC on October 23
Small Black – Photojournalist
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/ragged-words/small-black-photojournalist[/soundcloud]
6. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros @ 930 Club on July 20
My favorite part about this show was that, at the end, Alex (lead singer) jumped down from the stage and ventured to the middle of the crowd where he told everyone to sit down, sing, and relax – and conform to hippie.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home (RAC Remix)
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/prefixmag/edward-sharpe-home-rac-remix[/soundcloud]
5. Baaba Maal @ Lisner Auditorium on April 29
Throughout the performance, audience members would climb on stage and toss paper money on musician’s heads and on the African rug in the center of the stage. During the last quarter, dozens of people began to go on stage, including myself, and dance together till the end. Great atmosphere, great people.
4. Local Natives @ 9:30 Club on October 28 (with The Ruby Suns)
This band is made of the friendliest and most talented people. During the performance, members would exchange instruments/roles while still presenting a marvelous show. Afterward, each member happily walked around the merch table and invited conversations amongst the eager fans and moms of fans.
Local Natives – Wide Eyes (Teen Daze Remix)
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/keegandotcom/local-natives-wide-eyes-teen-daze-remix[/soundcloud]
3. Phoenix @ DAR Constitution Hall on April 26 (with Two Door Cinema Club)
I’ve been in love with this band for 4 years now and they’ve never let me down. This show filled the audience with excitement the whole way through – even though we often lost track of where the singer was every time he climbed on the balconies. During 1901, he tested the mic cord by walking out into the crowd where he invited everyone to sing, take photos, and pull his hair. Then, their signature finale was bound to happen, hundreds of fans rushed on stage to dance and get heated up under the lights to end the night.
Phoenix – Lasso (Two Door Cinema Club Remix)
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/dgrandino/phoenix-lasso-two-door-cinema-club-remix[/soundcloud]
2. The Very Best @ Rock n’ Roll Hotel on March 14
The Very Best – Kamphopo
1. Die Antwoord @ HARD NYC Festival on July 24
This South African hip-hop group owned this summer night on Governor’s Island in New York. Their live performances are to die for – they get everyone hyped up despite how much they diss the audience. He kept calling the sound operator “mango” (if I’m remembering correctly), telling him to keep turning up the volume throughout the night. Yolandi in golden tights, Ninja in Pink Floyd underpants, and the background projector playing porn was great too.
Die Antwoord – Enter The Ninja
Close but didn’t make the cut:
- 4/3: Vampire Weekend
- 4/24: Hot Chip & The XX
- 8/13: Twin Sister
- 9/11: Miami Horror
- 9/29: Wild Nothing & Stars
- 11/23: Delorean