a return
Let’s start out with a recap of every show I saw in 2013. It’s a short list — just eight shows, the lowest total in several years. Turns out that interviewing for a new job, starting a new job, buying one’s first home, moving, renovating the home, and adopting a kitten each consume somewhere between two and 18 concerts’ worth of time, energy, and money. (Same reason this blog hadn’t been updated since January 2013.)
Many tried and true favorites here:
March
Old 97’s [co-headlining with the Drive-By Truckers], Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, N.Y. Try as I might, I couldn’t get into the Drive-By Truckers and wound up leaving halfway through their set at this double-headliner show. The Old 97’s portion was strong enough to place this near the top of the list, though. As energetic and witty and stompingly catchy as ever.
May
Josh Ritter, Town Hall, NYC. First foray back out into the world of concerts after settling into a new and different life in April. There was nothing wrong with this show, but the one in November in Tarrytown proved to be much more memorable.
James Taylor, a church I don’t remember the name of, Bethel, Conn. Highlight of the concert year: a once-in-a-lifetime, incredibly intimate, beautiful, heartbreaking show that I was lucky to attend. James Taylor, in a church. Filled with Newtown teachers because, five months later, he wanted to do something to help heal. Not a dry eye in the house. (Will never hear “Never Die Young” the same way again.) Plus, he told stories of hanging out with George Harrison and all kinds of other adventures like we were friends sitting around his living room. And there were strings and those incredible background singers he often brings.
June
The Wallflowers, downtown Stamford, Conn. Odd (who is the strange man at the organ?), too cover-heavy, and honestly a little halfhearted on their part (and the crowd was drunk and annoying). But ultimately, I can’t be too critical of any experience that involves my favorite band, viewed from the front row, outside on a warm summer evening.
July
Dawes, Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, N.Y. A thoroughly enjoyable classic rock show by a not-classic-rock artist. They’re getting so popular, and it’s great to see the energy and crowd excitement grow. Plus, their latest album is inextricably linked to spring and summer 2013 (for some reason, their somewhat-new-at-the-time album was the only music I listened to during the first month or so of the new work commute and cross-country both ways on a work trip a couple weeks in). So seeing those songs live was perfectly timed and sealed the memories.
October
The Wallflowers, Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, Conn. I almost didn’t go to this. After the disappointment of seeing “them” in Stamford in June, I had no interest in spending way too much money to see the band in its sorry half-dismantled condition, minus yet another core member. Sure, the visual confirmation was sad and the unfamiliar background vocals were jarring. Yet something something about this show, despite poor Jakob’s flu that night, had a sense of defiance, strength, and renaissance. No matter what happens to the band, he’s going to be just fine, he’s going to continue make (and sing) great music, and I’m going to support him. (Even if he’s now making music with Dave Matthews as some kind of diabolical test.)
Jillette Johnson, Fairfield Theatre, Fairfield, Conn. She was opening for someone I can’t remember. Had no knowledge of her music, but a friend was tour-managing and invited me to come. Tori Amos is the obvious comparison. Maybe a little Regina Spektor, too. Super friendly in person, too.
November
Josh Ritter, Tarrytown Theatre, Tarrytown, N.Y.. Does Josh Ritter ever do a bad show? No, friends. The answer is no. Though his latest album has yet to become a personal favorite for some reason, the slightly restyled live arrangements added an interesting new kick and the between-songs anecdotes were instant classics. That combination of venue and artist will always bring back memories of the glowstick night in 2010.
So that’s that.
The 2014 concert log has just one entry so far, but it’s a heavyweight: Neil Young, Carnegie Hall, January 9. Any other shows this year can just give up on being at the top of that list come year-end. Review forthcoming.
Newport Folk Festival is also on the horizon (sort of — the distant warm, summery horizon). The full lineup has yet to be announced, but a rare East Coast appearance of forever-girlcrush Jenny Lewis on Friday’s schedule was enough incentive to buy a one-day ticket, and I wouldn’t mind seeing Band of Horses for the first time, either.
