I went to less shows in 2011 but it was still another good year of live music.
Multiple Viewings
I managed to see a few bands more than once in 2011:
- Disappears x 2
- Dismemberment Plan x 2
- The Lonely Forest x 3
- Sundowner x 2
- Ted Leo x 3
- Wild Flag x 2
Chronology
The year started off with a few good shows in the winter. Nostalgia was a strong theme for 2011 so it was appropriate that my first show of the year was Weezer performing Pinkerton @ the Aragon. Then I hit up a few TNK shows at Lincoln Hall and Schubas. Marketa Irglova was definitely my favorite of those. There was more nostalgia in February with the Dismemberment Plan reunion show at Metro. That D-Plan show was one of the best shows of the year.
In March I went a little overboard. I started off the month with Rival Schools at Lincoln Hall, Iron & Wine at the Hideout, and Menomena at Empty Bottle. Then, of course, there was the yearly trek to Austin for SXSW. The standout show for me was the Lonely Forest at Klub Krucial. Then it was back to Chicago for Disappears @ the MCA followed by Rocky Votolato and Matt Pond at Subterranean.
Things calmed down in April. We saw the Lonely Forest when they played Lincoln Hall. They were opening for some other bands but we pretty much went to support those guys. Then I saw Arcade Fire at the UIC Pavilion. I don’t really go to arena shows but I managed to get a good spot and they played a great show. In May there were some great shows at Schubas. First there was John Vanderslice on the 2nd and then Ted Leo on the 5th. On the 20th, we went to go see Death Cab at Metro. That one was really pricey but it was well worth it. That band rarely plays smaller shows so I felt compelled to go.
June was a great month. We flew to San Francisco for the Asian Man Records anniversary party. I still can’t believe that I saw Slapstick and the Broadways. Sundowner and Brendan Kelly also put on good shows. That was definitely one of the highlights of the year. On the 26th was Green Music Fest. The Thermals put on a good show but Les Savy Fav put on the most memorable show of the year. Tim Harrington pretty much lost it and everyone loved it.
I’m a huge Sundowner fan so I saw him again in July for the vinyl release of Four One Five Two. I can’t mention July without mentioning Pitchfork. It wasn’t as great as last year but Dismemberment Plan and Fleet Foxes were great. I also became obsessed with Wild Flag and saw them at Subterranean and Wicker Park Fest. I also saw Ted Leo & the Pharmacists at Millennium Park.
August featured two good shows at Metro courtesy of the Hold Steady and Braid. The highlight of September was Andrew Bird at the Hideout Block Party. Then I took a month off of shows in October. In November, we saw We Were Promised Jetpacks at Metro. They got a lot more popular since they played Empty Bottle last year but it was still a great show. November also featured a nostalgia show, Hot Rod Circuit at Bottom Lounge. In December I rested. The end.
NOBLEEX 