2009 Best Performances...so far

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by Natrlhi

P.S. - Now, Baroness...well they are going to rock your nuts clean off.

I saw them with High on Fire and Opeth, they were amazing but there were only 2 other people who didn't have their arms folded or their hands in their pockets. Fucking Opeth fans.

By the way, what is there to know about Russian Circles?

[Natrlhi]

Originally Posted by DethMaiden

Nat, we were at the same Clutch and Carcass shows. If I would have counted the Clutch show in '09, I certainly would have given full marks to Clutch (first time I'd seen them do Spacegrass!) and Russian Circles wouldn't have been far behind. I just wish I could have seen the stage through the fog.

Russian Circles kills live. They are soooooo good. People really need to check them out (live or CD, whatever).

..and re: Spacegrass -->

Dodge Swinger, 1973, Galaxy 5-0-0
All the way, stars green, gotta go
Dodge Swinger, 1973, top down, chassis low
Panel dim, light drive, Jesus on the dashboard
T-minus whenever it feels right…

Nat

[Natrlhi]

Originally Posted by TonyD

By the way, what is there to know about Russian Circles?

LOL - I had just posted about this to DethMaiden and then I read your quote above. To answer your question, they are probably one of the best post-metal instrumental acts out there. They are a trio from Chicago (buds with Pelican and the like), and they are awesome. They really bring the house down live. When I saw them with Clutch last January, I was not sure how the "pure" Clutch fans would react, but I was very pleased to overhear not one or two, but several folks saying how good they thought Russian Circles was (I even convinced one of them to buy a CD! ). They really know how to write a good, compelling song, and the energy and momentum they build is just unbeatable. The drummer is phenomenal. I highly recommend either Station or Enter (their two LP's) - they are basically interchangeable.

Nat

[ADD]

Originally Posted by TonyD

By the way, what is there to know about Russian Circles?

Natrlhi nailed it, I've seen them twice and they were really excellent both times. They write memorable songs with no vocals. And the drummer is indeed the standout.

[Natrlhi]

Let's keep this one going - I'm interested to see what everybody else is seeing live, and what they like and don't like. I'll give this thread a bump by posting an updated list up to and including the last show I saw:

Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH - 1/30/08
Viking Skull - 6/10
Russian Circles - 9/10
Clutch - 8/10

House of Blues - Chicago, IL - 2/15/09
The Faceless - 6/10
Cynic - 7/10
Meshuggah - 9/10

Peabody's - Cleveland, OH - 3/14/09
Psycroptic - 7/10
Suicide Silence - 5/10
Samael - 7/10
Carcass - 10/10

Dark Lord Day - Three Floyds Brewery - Munster, IN - 4/25/09
Pelican - 9/10

Beachland Ballrom - Cleveland, OH - 5/2/09
Mastodon - 10/10
Kylesa - 9/10
IntrOnaut - 9/10

Maryland Death Fest - Sonar - Baltimore, MD - 5/23/09
Hail of Bullets - 7/10
Brutal Truth - 8/10
Birdflesh - 7/10
Pig Destroyer - 8/10
Napalm Death - 8/10
Bolt Thrower - 9/10
General Surgery - 6/10

Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH - 6/9/09
Keelhaul - 7/10
Pelican - 9/10
Isis - 10/10

Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH - 6/10/09
Chimaira (FREE MySpace Secret Show) - 7/10

Summer Slaughter Tour - The Phantasy Theatre - Lakewood, OH - 7/12/09
Origin - 8/10
Born of Osiris - 5/10
Dying Fetus - 7/10
Winds of Plague - 6/10
Darkest Hour - 7/10
Ensiferum - 7/10
Necrophagist - 8/10

The Robin Hood - Kent, OH - 8/5/09
Gifts from Enola - 7/10
If These Trees Could Talk - 8/10

Lollapalooza - Grant Park - Chicago, IL - 8/7/09
Depeche Mode - 9/10
Crystal Castles - 8/10
Sound Tribe Sector 9 - 7/10

White Star - Chicago, IL - 8/8/09
Bloody Panda - 6/10
Grayceon - 9/10
Giant Squid - 10/10


So then the forced ranking (for performances, not bands) for the year thus far would probably be something like this:
Carcass
Isis
Giant Squid
Mastodon
Bolt Thrower
Russian Circles
Pelican
Kylesa
Meshuggah
Grayceon
IntrOnaut
Depeche Mode
Clutch
Necrophagist
Pig Destroyer
Origin
If These Trees Could Talk
Napalm Death
Crystal Castles
Cynic
Dying Fetus
Darkest Hour
Ensiferum
[all the rest]

[DethMaiden]

The most notable performances so far this year have been CARCASS, Cynic, Baroness, Matisyahu, Grayceon, and the Gates of Slumber, with "as usual" props for Opeth and Clutch who are among the best shows period and I will continue to regularly see them as long as they tour.

[ADD]

Most intense performance was YOB, funnest was probably Pentagram or Clutch. Most disappointing was Priest, most unmemorable was everything else Death Angel were great at the Haight Street Fair too though.

[Butcher of Birth]

Iron Maiden
Amon Amarth
Skindred

Those are the only 3 bands I've seen this year that stand out a lot thus far.

But come this fall I know Mastodon, Ensiferum, Eluviete, KISS, Motorhead, Alestorm will break that.

[Natrlhi]

Originally Posted by DethMaiden

The most notable performances so far this year have been CARCASS, Cynic, Baroness, Matisyahu, Grayceon, and the Gates of Slumber, with "as usual" props for Opeth and Clutch who are among the best shows period and I will continue to regularly see them as long as they tour.

The only reason they aren't on my list is that I saw them last year and not this year. If they tour for the Blue Record in time for the 2009 list, they will be up there for sure!

EDIT: You didn't see Isis or Mastodon?

[DethMaiden]

Originally Posted by Natrlhi

The only reason they aren't on my list is that I saw them last year and not this year. If they tour for the Blue Record in time for the 2009 list, they will be up there for sure!

EDIT: You didn't see Isis or Mastodon?

I saw Isis, they didn't earn quite the props to join that company. I haven't seen Mastodon this year, sadly. Saw them twice on the Blood Mountain touring cycle but not since.