the acffh morST cyber-blog is here now.

I didn't go to the same shows you did this year, so here's my perspective on the ones I liked! Your mileage should vary, especially in California!

Top 11 shows of 2009

Cracker Feb 6th - Palatine IL - Durty Nellie's - first time played for Time Machine
http://www.archive.org/details/Cracker2009-02-06.matrix

UMRKWU March 9 - Chicago IL - Martyr's Joe's Garage LIVE on stage, featuring Mary AND a Central Scrutinizer!
[[bit torrent download at bt.etree.org]]

Cracker with Ike Reilly April 19 - Chicago IL - Metro
http://www.archive.org/details/Cracker2009-04-19.matrix

Bottle Rockets May 2nd - Champaign IL - High Dive - they shot a professional DVD that night. They played really well. DVD should come out in the spring maybe?

Cracker May 16 - Troy IL - Erinstock Cracker in your friend's living room for her 50th birthday party. Video webcast. Can't beat that!
http://www.archive.org/details/Cracker2009-05-16.KM140

Pitown V - Sept 11-12
[[list of all shows on archive.org from pitown 2009]]

Daytrotter Barnstorm October 9 - near Lodi WI - Treinen farm barn - Dawes was the highlight for me.

Steely Dan Saturday November 14- Milwaukee WI - Riverside Theatre complete Royal Scam to start it off

Mother Hips with Backyard Tire Fire November 20-21 - Chicago IL - Schuba's
http://www.archive.org/details/MotherHips2009-11-20.matrix (links at bottom of this page for the other three sets)

Ike Reilly November 26th - Minneapolis MN - First Ave

Backyard Tire Fire December 19th - Bloomington IL - Daddio's with Tommy O'Donnell, Miles Nielsen, Joe Kennedy, Andy Fraser, Tony SanFilippo etc http://www.archive.org/details/BTF2009-12-19.matrix

Honorable Mention:
Bellrays - they Rock
Rock Plaza Central - they have a great sound and don't remind me of anyone else
Dawes - favorite new band I heard this year
Ed Anderson solo - didn't know he played solo shows but he's just fine on the acoustic!
Reason For Leaving reunion show in Madison - they should play more often as RFL.
Harmony Riley reunion show in Rockford - they should play more often


Top 1 best sounding that is not on my "favorites" list but it was pretty cool:
Alexi Murdoch April 12 at Majestic Theatre in Madison, mixed by Radioheads's sound engineer

Top 1 least fun? Steely Dan in Milwaukee November 13th performing Aja with the guy next to me singing along the entire way. And the people in front of me talking during the instrumental portions. Aargh. Royal Scam the next night was great though.

Top 1 guest appearance not listed in my top 10 shows - the saxophonist joining Dawes on October 24 at the High Noon Saloon. Very cool jam.


Top 9 albums of 2009 (no particular order)
Cracker - Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey (SItLoMaH)
The Mother Hips - Pacific Dust
Dawes - North Hills
McCabe & Mrs. Miller - Time For Leaving
The Dangers - self titled
Magnolia Electric Co - Josephine
Bottle Rockets - Lean Forward
The Felice Brothers - Yonder Is The Clock
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit - self titled

Honorable Mention may go to Ike Reilly but his album is MP3 only until next spring, so I don't have it. The songs are good though. Heard all but one live in MN, and some again in Chicago