The top Toronto concerts of 2010 reaffirm the stage to which Toronto is a prime destination for live music. Although that may be old news, I remember that Toronto's music fans were particularly lucky this year. Our music team attended and reviewed a lot of concerts this year, and out of that bunch we've pulled together a number of apiece of our favourites, though naturally there are a few double-ups.
RYAN BOLTON'S PICKSArcade & Janelle Monae (Toronto Island) This one's easy. Thousands of people singing in unison to "Wake Up." Stars overhead. The Toronto skyline as the backdrop. Decent beer lines. Oh, and Janelle Monae can sing.
Foals (Lee's Palace) You can't fit a tighter band into Lee's Palace to sonically explode. Oh, you don't recognize the Foals. Go hear the Foals right now. You're welcome.
Mumford & Sons (Sound Academy) This was my most anticipated concert of the year. Not yet the Sound Academy could get off this transport of a night from me.
The xx & Warpaint (Massey Hall) Firstly, Warpaint is going places. Mark my words. Secondly, The xx are a joy that shouldn't go overlooked. Please keep making music, The xx. Don't stop. Also, kudos on the idle show.
The Wooden Sky (Lee's Palace) Returning to Toronto to end their turn was nothing short of transcendent for the blessed audience. And if you were there, you love what I think when I say street party."ALDRIN TAROY'S PICKSM.I.A. (The Sound Academy) Making the trek at The Sound Academy on a work night is no fun, but watching M.I.A. perform old hits like "Bamboo Banga" and "Bucky Done Gun" was worth it and memorable.
Arcade Fire (Olympic Island) This was an unforgettable night for me. To be in that vast area in the night with 17,000 people humming the close of "Rebellion (Lies)" gave me shivers. It was epic, dreamlike and I'll never leave the experience.Broken Social Scene (Olympic Island) I don't think BSS will ever top their dream concert at Harbourfront in 2009. But at least I got to see Beach House, Band of Horses and Pavement!Marnie Stern (Wrongbar) I love female singer-songwriters! Marnie Stern is a goddess - her wild, frantic vocals and dizzying fretwork is definitely something to see.Best Coast (Lee's Palace) I love California surf-pop bands because they remind me of the sentence I spent there. Bethany Consentino was evidently sick that night, but she fought through and gave us all some sun-spangled tunes for our Saturday night.
LUCAS SAMUELS' PICKSThe Wooden Sky (Lee's Palace) A sold-out, homecoming show filled with collaborations, an acoustic performance behind Lee's Palace, and a traffic-stopping rendition of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere' on Bloor Street. Simply epic.
Dawes (Horseshoe Tavern) Dawes, and more specifically lead-singer Taylor Goldsmith channel the game and vintage sounds of The Band and Bruce Springsteen.
The Barr Brothers/The Low Anthem (Church of the Redeemer) My very first appearance at what is now my favourite venue in Toronto.Montreal's finest and most intriguing act The Barr Brothers shared the bill with roots-rock revivalists The Low Anthem, both of which played awe-inspiring sets to a gang that remained beautifully silent for the whole show.
Broken Social Scene (Sound Academy) The hale family shows up, including Emily Haines who was lacking the dark before.BSS put on an extensive show for a loving hometown crowd. My first BSS show with the entire lineup and probably not my last.
Marco Benevento Trio (El Mocambo) One of Brooklyn's finest, pianist Marco Benevento plays a wildly spirited show to a shockingly small Toronto crowd (the man played Carnegie Hall in 2009). Marco mixes his excellent own material with covers from Leonard Cohen, My Morning Jacket Pink Floyd and Elton John. He even performs part of "Free Bird" after the ubiquitous call for it from some smart-ass in the audience.
IGOR BONIFAC's PICKSBeach House (Olympic Island) Don't get me wrong, like everyone else, I absolutely loved BSS this year. But my favourite performance from the mini-festival on the island had to be Beach House. It also helps that they had the best t-shirts on sale.
Bonobo (The Phoenix) This point will ever give a particular position in my meat as the first picture I got to compensate for blogTO. That being said, it was likewise a large appearance in that nine super talented musicians took the present to have a flawless set.
No Age (The Great Hall) If one were to beat the character of a present by how many years after your ears are ringing, this point would be number one.
Aeroplane (Wrongbar) Just days prior to this point news came down that the Belgian producing duo of Vito De Luca and Stephen Fasano had decided to go their separate ways. Thankfully, the show wasn't cancelled and Vito delivered a star set.
Mount Kimbie (Drake Hotel) Let's be honest, most of the city's purveyors of dubstep are pretty uninspired. Thankfully, however, some of the truly innovate acts working in the genre also manage to get to the city. Mount Kimbie is one of those innovate acts and they put on a big show at the Drake.
All photos blogTO
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