Anyway, here are my top ten concerts from 2011:
Honorable mention: Dropkick Murphys and Naked Raygun, Congress Theatre, February 26; Sybris, Schuba's, April 1; Paul Simon, Chicago Theatre, May 17; Daysleeper, Schuba's, June 22; Eminem, Grant Park (Lollapalooza), August 4; The Hold Steady and The Donkeys, The Metro, August 25; Robert Randolph & The Family Band and Steepwater Band, Park West, October 29
10. JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Schuba's, December 30
I had never heard anything by these guys before the show, but they turned out to be awesome. They are what I would call neoclassical soul – great, '60s-inspired soul music, taking influences from James Brown, as well as Stax/Volt catalog of musicians. The rhythm section was tight (as they have to be), the keyboardist was great, and the guitarist looked like Gene Vincent and played a fantastic-looking red Gibson hollow-body. But of course, it was lead singer JC Brooks who stole the show. As my buddy Bonham said during the show, it's as if JC Brooks was the reincarnation of Jackie Wilson. It was an appropriate comparison. Brooks has a great voice, and, like Wilson, is a showman. What's the point of being on stage if you're not going to put on a show for the audience?
9. J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Grant Park (Lollapalooza), August 4
They played the first show on Saturday at Lollapalooza, which meant that I was able to get right next to the stage. These guys played straight up rock and roll with no nonsense. As I previously described them, they are like Led Zeppelin meets Jerry Lee Lewis. Walston is a hirsute piano-playing madman, and the rest of the band follows suit. Among the highlights was a rollicking cover of Little Richard's "Lucille.
8. Stiff Little Fingers and Flatfoot 56, Double Door, August 18
If you don't know, Stiff Little Fingers is an old Northern Irish punk band. I think their song "Alternative Ulster" is probably my favorite punk song. The guys are all in their 50s now, but that hasn't slowed them down. They put on an energetic show, two minutes at a time. The opener, Flat Foot 56, was pretty good too. They played Celtic punk in the vain of Dropkick Murphys.
7. Buckcherry, Taddy Porter, and Stars of Boulevard, House of Blues, July 10
Every now and then, everyone needs some cock rock, and this show had a lot of it. Stars of Boulevard looked like they were from the Sunset Strip. Taddy Porter is a ball-busting, '70s-inspired hard rock band that I highly recommend seeing. And Buckcherry makes no apologies for rocking out with their cocks out. Adding to the goodness was the crowd, which included: (1) a woman in her 40s from The Region with teased-up mall bangs who gave Daniel her number and invited him to go to a strip club with him after the show; and (2) a woman in her late 20s or early 30s who was dancing like a whore against the bar and trying to get backstage while her husband watched in helpless disappointment. They exchanged words later.
6. Ace Frehley, House of Blues, November 9
I wasn't sure what to expect from the Spaceman, but he put on a hell of a show. It was a nice mix of Kiss and his solo stuff, leaning more heavily towards the former. I was pleasantly surprised that he and his backing band played several Kiss songs that Gene, Paul, or Peter sang (which were sung by others in his band). One thing is for sure: his guitar playing has not lost a step in the last 35 years. And smoking guitars are always a plus. My only complaint is that my ears were ringing for the next day. I guess I'm too old.
5. Thin Lizzy and Lovehammers, The Vic, April 1
Yes, I realize Phil Lynott has been dead since 1986. However, Thin Lizzy is one of my favorite bands, and they were a legendary live band back in the day, so I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to see them when they came to town in April. Joining longtime Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham, drummer Brian Downey, and keyboardist Darren Wharton were Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, Irish guitarist and lead singer Ricky Warwick, and metal/hard rock journeyman bassist Marco Mendoza. The band was very tight, and you could tell they were having a great time. Campbell played the whole show with a smile on his face (Lizzy was a huge influence on '80s hard rock and metal). Warwick sounded close enough to Lynott that if you closed your eyes, you would think you were listening to the Live and Dangerous album.
4. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and Those Darlins, Double Door, April 2
The first weekend in April was a good one musically. The night after Thin Lizzy (and Sybris at Schuba's after Thin Lizzy), I went to the Double Door to see Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and Those Darlins. I had never heard of Those Darlins before that night, but I enjoyed them. They are three ladies and a dude drummer, and I would describe their sound as Detroit Cobras meets Johnny and June Carter Cash meets The Ramones. As for Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, they put on a phenomenal show. Like the aforementioned JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound (see #10 above), Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are a neoclassical soul band, and they are my favorite of the bunch because they add a little garage rock tinge to the music. Plus they have a full horn section, which is always awesome. If the Stax/Volt label was still around today, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears would be the label's flagship act. They are opening for Floggin Molly in late February, and I can't wait for that show. Assume you will see them on my Top Ten Concerts I Attended in 2012 list in about 365 days.
2 (tie). Weezer, Aragon, January 7; Weezer, Aragon, January 8
I previously recounted my "Weekend of Weezer," so I will let you read that if you really want to know about it in detail. Long story short: the first night they played the Blue Album in its entirety and the second night they played Pinkerton in its entirety (with a "greatest hits" set preceding the album both nights). Awesome.
1. Paul McCartney, Wrigley Field, July 31
He's a Beatle. Game over.
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