Stoked on Seattle’s…Top 10 Performances of 2010

#1 Wavves – @Neumos – August 25, 2010

Why: Killer energy and pure fun. A “Waiting to Exhale” t-shirt, and awesome pit, and a girl in a bear mask jumping on (and off) the stage. Much of the dopeness of this show could be attributed to the openers Broken Nobles and The Pharmacy.

#2 Best Coast - @Neumos – October 30, 2010

Why: I got lost in their sound. Bob gets under the guitar to bring the funk out in the performance.  And Bethany Cosentino’s voice is fucking awesome, and her personality is unbearably charming.

#3 No Age – @Neumos – November 26, 2010

Why: Because they shocked our face off. I didn’t really like “Everything In Between” until I saw this performance. It gave me a strange appreciation for the tracks which grew and festered in my brain. The only drawback was the show’s all ages condition, which usually kills most shows for me. However, I am now a slave to No Age’s shoegazing sound.

#4 Thee Oh Sees – @Chop Suey – December 9, 2010

Why: Because Thee Oh Sees woke that place the fuck up! Also lead guitarist, Petey Dammit, melts his own face with neck-whipping riffs without a pause – not even between songs. The opener killed too. It was a band from Oakland called the Bare Wires, who primed the pump to make it a kick ass Thursday night. And it was a FREE show.

#5 Tame Impala – @Neumos – December 10, 2010

Why: Sure, I overuse the term “wall of sound,” but sometimes it is simply the best way to describe the sound a band produces. This show could have easily topped our list had they featured better openers and if it wasn’t all ages (plus side: we were able to bring along, and thus musically indoctrinate, our teenage friend). These Aussies clearly have been on tour for hella, because they slowed down the songs quite a bit. In spite of it all, they kicked much ass.

#6 Local Natives - @The Gorge (Sasquatch)

Why: This performance was another one of those where you felt like you just stepped into a cult ritual (see Yacht, below). These LA boys woke the Sasquatch crowd up for a killer set full of stretched-out jams and rockin transitions. Their September 24th appearance at the Showbox at the Market, while great, did not touch this show. This performance made me go buy their album as soon as I got to a solid internet connection. I was not disappointed.

#7 Quasi – @The Gorge (Sasquatch)

Why: We love, love, love Quasi. I had been listening to Quasi on KEXP, and was completely blown away and kicking myself for missing out on them for the last decade. These gals and guy kicked it so hard despite shitty soundmen and a totally clueless gathering of wayward youth. The rest of the crowd slept through this show but I was knocked off my feet. WHILE I AM WRITING POST JANET WEISS JUST WALKED INTO EMPIRE COFFEE!!! Sorry to the rest of the people below but that just ruined any legitimate analysis that I could have provided. JANET FUCKING WEISS!! Sorry but my day just got exponentially better.

#8 Atomic Bride – @ Belltown Underground (Messman’s Halloween Messquarde) – October 30, 2010

Why: Never ending set. Hella power.

#9 Blitzen Trapper – @Showbox at the Market – October 22, 2010

Why: Who would have thought an experimental folk band reminiscent of the Eagles or early Elton John would rock so hard? Their July 24th performance at the Capitol Hill Block Party was amazing, but they effectively outdid themselves at this show. The opener, The Fruit Bats, impressed as well; the sound men just failed miserably for a large chunk of their set.

#10 Yacht – @The Gorge (Sasquatch)

Why: If you don’t already worship triangles, you will after an in-person visit from the Texas/Portland duo called Yacht. I love their sound live, but can’t say it necessarily transfers over to studio recording. These two lit up the Rumpus Room at Sasquatch 2010 with their pulsing bass and brainwashing propaganda visuals. I have never been into that kind of music prior to that experience, which is why I am even more convinced of the mind-warping power of the triangle. Please be aware that these fools are a musical cult. And we like cults. More to come on this, but, for the record, I think I am about to start the I Love Janet Weiss Cult.