BEST OF 2006: A Year In The Life of Live Music

The Year In Review
It was a very good year. At least in live music. I got an eye-full, an ear-full, and a drawer-full of ticket stubs. Traveling back in time, here's who rocked my world in 2006.


Brazilian Girls New Years:
Irving Plaza, 12/31
Review | Video | Photos



Sean Lennon:
Bowery Ballroom, 12/19
Review | Photos


  
Matisyahu's Festival of Lights:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 12/17
w/ Ben Kweller
Review | Video | Photos: Matis | Photos: Ben



Wainwright Family Christmas:
Carnegie Hall, 12/13
Martha & Rufus Wainwright & family w/ Jimmy Fallon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Teddy Thompson & Antony
Review | Video | Photos



NYC Gay Men's Chorus:
Carnegie Hall, 12/11
w/ Charles Busch
Review



Andrea Bocelli:
Madison Square Garden, 11/30
Review | Video | Photos



Sweet Honey in the Rock:
Carnegie Hall, 11/10



Death Cab for Cutie:
Theater at Madison Square Garden, 11/8 & 9
Video | Photos



The Decemberists:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 11/3
w/ Alasdair Roberts
Review | Video | Photos



Scissor Sisters:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 10/21
Video | Photos



Goldfrapp:
Roseland Ballroom, 10/18
Video | Photos



Massive Attack:
Roseland Ballroom, 10/5
w/ DJ Prince Language
Video | Photos



Regina Spektor:
Town Hall, 9/27
Video | Photos | More



The Raconteurs:
Roseland Ballroom, 9/25
Review | Video | Photos



Nouvelle Vague:
Webster Hall, 9/19
Review | Video | Photos



M. Ward:
Webster Hall, 9/14
Video


   
Martha Wainwright:
McCarren Park Pool, 8/24
w/ Neko Case
Review | Video | Photos



The Shins:
McCarren Park Pool, 8/23
Video | Photos



Iron & Wine:
McCarren Park Pool, 8/17
Video | Photos



Bloc Party:
McCarren Park Pool, 7/29
Review



-Editors:
Irving Plaza, 7/28



Madonna:
Madison Square Garden,
7/19 & 6/29
Review



Brazilian Girls:
Fort Greene Park, 7/11
Review



Rufus Wainwright:
Carnegie Hall, 6/15
w/ Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle & Lorna Luft



Radiohead:
Theater at Madison Square Garden, 6/14
w/ The Black Keys
Review



Nine Inch Nails:
Nissan Pavilion, 6/13
w/ Bauhaus



The Roots:
Radio City, 5/19
w/ Mos Def & Erykah Badu
Review



Bloc Party:
Coachella Festival, 4/30
Review



Death Cab for Cutie:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 4/14
w/ Franz Ferdinand



-Gorillaz:
The Apollo, 4/6
w/ De La Soul, Dennis Hopper, Ike Turner, Shaun Ryder, Neneh Cherry, Bootie Brown, Roots Manuva, Martina Topley Bird, the Juilliard Strings & many more
Review



Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins:
Irving Plaza, 3/18
Review



Matisyahu:
Hammerstein Ballroom, 3/7
w/ Balkan Beat Box
Review

Best of 2007: Crystal Ball Predictions
Reigning Kings:
Will 2006 rulers The Decemberists, The Scissor Sisters, The Roots, M. Ward, Bloc Party and The Shins hold their titles in 2007?

The Challengers:
Will challengers The Hold Steady, The Apples in Stero, Of Montreal, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera stage an overthrow?

Power in Numbers:
Will wonder twin powers activate with double-headers like VietNam/Lemonheads and OK Go/Snow Patrol? Will fests like Coachella, featuring historic reunions of Rage Against the Machine and Crowded House, and the return of belles of the ball like Bjork trump everyone?

The Upstarts:
Will newcomers like Explosions in the Sky, Libby Johnson, Chris Glover or Paul Michel rule the day?

The Verdict?
Stay tuned! Only time will tell...

>>More: Top 11 of 2005

Tags: best of 2006, concerts, tixigirl, live music, brazilian girls, sean lennon, matisyahu, wainwright, andrea bocelli, death cab for cutie, decemberists, scissor sisters, goldfrapp, massive attack, regina spektor, raconteurs, nouvelle vague, m. ward, the shins, iron and wine, bloc party, editors, madonna, radiohead, nine inch nails, the roots, gorillaz, jenny lewis, jenny lewis and the watson twins, concert reviews, video, photos