Best of 2008: Jumbo Slice Edition - Continued

White Denim

My Top 10 Shows of 2008:

1. White Denim (Mohawk - outdoor) - I've never been so caught off guard by a band. This show totally blew me away.

2. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (Mohawk - outdoor) - Our first show in Austin and one of the best nights I've had out in years. The music was great, the venue was unlike anything in DC, and the people were very welcoming. It was also the night I discovered Lone Star Beer.

3. White Denim (Mohawk - indoor) - Another killer show. Might be the last chance I get to see them play such small quarters.

4. Frightened Rabbit (Mohawk - outdoor) - It's no wonder these guys started their tour with Oxford Collapse as openers but finished as the headliners. They play with a fierce intensity each night.

5. Dead Milkmen (Fun Fun Fun Fest) - I hope this wasn't a one time reunion. They should really do a big tour. It's time.

6. Holy Fuck (Rock & Roll Hotel) - Their last album was made for sports highlights. It's the new Jock Jams. Jock Jams will be relegated to introductions at New York weddings (cough, cough, Jimbromski's wedding, cough).

7. Vampire Weekend (Rock & Roll Hotel) - Say what you will but I still like their album. I hate World Music but somehow they include aspects of it in their songs and it works.

8. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (Emo's - indoor) - This was on their first headlining tour and judging from the reaction of the crowd, it won't be their last. I expect they'll be playing bigger and bigger venues in the years to come.

9. Fleet Foxes (Black Cat Backstage) - I wanted to hate these guys but just couldn't. Not all hippies are bad.

10. Danielson (Mohawk - outdoor) - Weird Christian rock. What's not to like? Oh, right. Well, somehow they pull it off.

Honorable Mentions:

Rosewood Thieves (Mohawk - indoor)
Fleet Foxes (Mohawk - outdoors)

Shows I Regret Skipping:

Radiohead- considering my first born child was due at any moment, it wasn't really feasible for me to make their show in Houston. I'll be there the next time they play in Texas.

Parts and Labor - they played the first day at the Fun Fun Fun Fest and I arrived too late. Receivers is a great album. No doubt it would've made my Top 10 (had I seen them in concert, the only list prerequisite).

Monotonix - Fortunately, they're coming back to Austin. They seem to tour non-stop.

Throw Me The Statue - Thanks to Side One Track One for letting me know about this band (well, it's actually just one dude).

Jason Anderson - a singer/songwriter from New Hampshire.

Worst Show of 2008:

Telograph! Ah, how soon we forgot. We saw them on January 4th, 2008. Thankfully, they did not set the tone for the rest of the year.