Best of 2005--Favorite Philly Shows This Year

Over the next couple of weeks, Brian and I will share with the world, or at least the folks that read our flowery prose, our picks for the best of you-name-it for 2005. I'll get the party started with the 5 best shows I went to in 2005.

Honorable Mention--Death Cab For Cutie October 25 | Tower Theater

I like Death Cab. They're not my favorite band, but I dig Transatlanticism and the much-maligned major label debut, Plans. I expected them to kind of bore me in concert, but they were the opposite: fun, engaging, energetic, and musically pitch perfect.
From my review:
"Death Cab returned for an encore, and ultimately concluded with the title track from Transatlanticism, a beautiful lament on long distance love. As Gibbard implored, “I need you so much closer”, emo girls grabbed their boyfriends and obliged as the crowd showed Death Cab what Brotherly Love was all about."

5. Kaiser Chiefs July 20 | The TLA
Here is another band with its fair share of haters. Fuck 'em. Music can be fun, provided it still sounds great. And the Kaiser Chiefs sound great. Lead singer Ricky Wilson was all over the stage, and his energy was contagious, as well as being a welcomed change from all too serious acts who barely emote on stage.
From my review:
Sure, The Kaisers won’t knock you over with self-serious lyrics about politics or global warming, but there are plenty of bands for that. And there’s also tons of room for bands capable of delivering pop hooks by the dozens and letting their hair down for some good old Rock N Roll debauchery.

4. Franz Ferdinand October 14 | Tower Theater
Franz Ferdinand has become so big that their shows will never be mistaken hipster get-togethers. A cross section of every imaginable demographic shows up at their gigs. There is little question as to why these guys are so popular. They've got the songs, for sure, and their live show is great. Brian and I were probably 10-15 rows back, and we came away really impressed with Alex Kapranos' showmanship.
From my review:
A one-two punch of the second album’s “Walk Away” (my favorite track) and the ubiquitous “Take Me Out” from the debut album proved that Franz doesn’t feel married to the idea that they need to save their most popular song for the end. As far as they’re concerned, they should be able to play whatever song they want at whatever time during the show, and the audience will react in a singular voice of approval.

They did. 3,000 fans caught up in a maelstrom of guitar riffs so angular they are more like knives than licks.

3. CYHSY September 11 | The Khyber
Brian and I almost missed CYHSY's trek through Philly on the weekend of September 10. We already had tickets to Bloc Party's Electric Factory show on the same night. Luckily, the CYHSY/National show on Sept. 10 was more about the opening act than it was The National, forcing CYHSY to play their own headlining gig the following night. Conflict resolved. All that was left was begging the wife to let me see 2 shows in 2 nights. She agreed. Clutch. Of the 3 CYHSY shows I saw this year, this was the bee's knees. Fuck the haters who are leading the CYHSY backlash after hyping them all summer. Especially the folks who say their live show sucks.
From my review:
The slightly deeper stage at The Khyber allowed lead singer and chief creative force Alec Ounsworth to stretch out a bit and immerse himself in the songs. The rest of the band seemed to feed off of Ounsworth’s energy.

2. Interpol March 27 | The Electric Factory-I'd have liked to have been closer to the stage for this one. I'd also like to have had a camera. Alas, neither came to fruition, but it hardly mattered. Interpol has been touring relentlessly in support of their sophomore album, Antics, and their experience shows. Lead singer Paul Banks distant persona and bassist Carlos D's cool confidence on stage ensured that fans left more blown away by the band than when they came in to the show.
From my review:
Drummer Sam Fogarino drills the bass pedal, while setting the pace for the band with his heavy work on the drum kit. It’s as though the collective energy of the members of the band is funneled through Banks’ vocals. He seems ready to swallow the microphone at any time while he gashes down on his guitar like he’s dying to get new strings.

1. Bloc Party September 10 | The Electric Factory-No band got me riled up this year more than Bloc Party. Their debut album, Silent Alarm, is a top pick this year, and their live show is an energetic orgasm of post punk guitars and drums. But it all begins and ends with Kele Okereke. He's a confident, but wide-eyed, 23 year old who manages the crowd like a puppeteer.
From my review:
As the first encore ended, the folks at the front of the stage must have been smoking too much hash to realize that the guitar techs were re-tuning the guitars. The place started to empty at the front, and I took advantage, walking against the crowd toward the stage. Before you can say “Second Encore” I was 3 people deep at the stage, ready for 2 more songs.

Lamenting 5 Shows We Missed

1. The Arcade Fire at The TLA 01/31
2. Antony And The Johnsons at World Cafe Live Feb 25
3. Sufjan Stevens at the TLA 09/28
4. My Morning Jacket at the TLA October 14 and 15
5. The National/CYHSY at The Khyber 9/10