There is a thread on the noise board related to top things from 2010 that are NOT albums... mainly focused on live shows... so I just added this rambling list. I am still thinking through the whole top albums of the year thing...
Another jam-packed year for live experiences... both playing and being a fan... so, in no particular order, here are some highlights:
HEAVY FOCUS III in Minneapolis (a fucking GREAT festival!), plus the night before at The Mopery, both shows with Sightings and Envenomist. HF3 was also like an amazing BloodLust! family showcase, with top-notch sets from Locrian, Wilt, Climax Denial, and Envenomist
And speaking of The Mopery, NOT TOP of 2010 was them closing, but shit, did they go out with a bang
BLOODYMINDED playing/collaborating live with Miss Margaret Chardiet (Pharmakon) was a treat, indeed
Also NOT TOP was the Einsturzende Neubauten tour getting canceled
3 x Swans shows (Chicago, Brooklyn, NYC), plus the great Wierd/BloodLust! brunch at Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg, which brought together so many friends
2 x Killing Joke shows
2 x Eyehategod shows, in the audience both nights, on stage with Plague Bringer on Saturday, and at Reckless Records on Sunday as a part of Ten Suicides
Grinderman at The Riviera with lots of friends
Indian - as a fan at Reggie's (with Buzzov-en), on stage with them on Halloween -- along with singing with Rabid Rabbit and witnessing Monarch! live. What a heavy fucking night!
Recording...ugh..."jamming"... Isidro and I hosted Adam and Mike from Winters in Osaka, Mack from Koufar, Omar from Socially Retarded/Constrictions, and Rich Hoak from Brutal Truth at the PB/AoH/T40D space. Results still TBA/TBD...
Triptykon at The Gramercy in NYC
Singing with Frontier at their first show in a decade and watching them own The Empty Bottle for an entire night
Drunkdriver at Halfway House
Considering how big their album became, The Body along with Dead Times and Sun Splitter gets my vote for the Chicago show of 2010 that people should be most ashamed of missing. You weren't there. Well, a few of you were, so thanks.
Defeatist at Speed Trials (Locked Out Space)
Indian Jewelry at The Empty Bottle. Awesome!
Harvey Milk at Subterranean
Liars, John Wiese, and Follows at the Bottom Lounge. Possibly my favorite Wiese set, ever.
Zoroaster at The Empty Bottle (again)... arrived too late for Dark Castle that time. Fuck.
Cowards and Perispirit at Enemy
Serena-Maneesh at Bottom Lounge
Sleeping with the Earth at Elastic was another cool show that nobody showed up for
Hair Police's May show at The Empty Bottle was fantastic
Speaking of which, Three Legged Race and Tärr at Beauty Bar
Sleep was fun to see at Logan Square Auditorium, but Lichens was rather revelatory that night.
Between Anatomy of Habit and BLOODYMINDED (and Plague Bringer, too), I got to play on bills with so many excellent and varied bands and artists this year. Along with those mentioned above, this includes A Frames, Maledicere, Da!, Helen Money, Yakuza, Wolf Eyes, Locrian, Sun Splitter, Neil Jendon, Lechuguillas, The Atlas Moth, Nachtmystium...