My Morning Jacket carries the reputation of being one of the best live bands playing today. I've seen them own a huge crowd at Lollapalooza, but Sunday's show at the Chicago Theatre was my first indoor MMJ experience. They did not disappoint (although I did prefer the 2007 Lolla set, complete with a cover of Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up). Sunday night's crowd was a little weak, which can partly be attributed to the venue's assigned seating. I've never seen so many people seat dance. The crowd on the floor was standing for most of the show, but also seemed a little subdued. The band, on the other hand, brought the heat, which included plenty of their trademark headbanging. I was somewhat surprised by the amount of old material they played. I was expecting a showcase of their most recent album Evil Urges, but the older tunes far outweighed the new ones. Here's a setlist from the Muzzle of Bees review:

Set: At Dawn, It Beats 4 U, Evil Urges, I’m Amazed, Gideon, Wonderful Man, Golden, I Will Sing You Songs, Lowdown, Sooner, Thank You Too, Anytime, Remnants, Lay Low, Highly Suspicious, Off the Record, I Think I’m Going To Hell, Smokin From Shootin, Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt 2, Run Thru

Encore: Look at You (Jim James solo), Nashville to Kentucky, Steam Engine, Cobra, Wordless Chorus, One Big Holiday

Not only did the Foals put on one of the year's best shows at Lollapalooza, they also released one of the best albums of 2008 with their debut record Antidotes.

Well, it’s about that time. 2008 is coming to a close and this is a music blog, so a “best of” post is in order. I only witnessed a small fraction of the concerts that came through this great music city in 2008 and I didn’t come close to taking in all the albums released this year, but I still have my personal favorites. Don’t pay too much attention to the rankings. The lists would probably come out a little different every time I sat down to rank them. But order aside, these selections do represent the music that made my 2008. Chime in with a comment and let us know what shows and albums stood out for you this year.

TOP CHICAGO CONCERTS OF 2008

M83's May 29 show at the Empty Bottle was among the most memorable of 2008.

While I may have only attended a small number of concerts in the grand scheme of things, I still did see a lot of live music this year. I went into a few shows blind and got my socks knocked off (Foals, M83). I went into a few others with high expectations and still had my socks knocked off (Radiohead, Beck). And fortunately I was able to cover a handful of these shows for the Windy Citizen (hence the photos).

1. Radiohead @ Lollapalooza – Aug. 1, 2008
2. Beck/MGMT @ Aragon – Oct. 2, 2008
3. Animal Collective @ Pitchfork – July 19, 2008
4. Foals @ Lollapalooza – Aug. 2, 2008
5. Les Savy Fav @ Pitchfork – July 20, 2008
6. Yeasayer/Man Man @ Lakeshore Theatre – April, 16 2008
7. Cut Copy/Presets @ Metro – Sept. 17, 2008
8. M83 @ Empty Bottle – May 29, 2008
9. Spank Rock @ Lollapalooza – Aug. 2, 2008
10. Sound Tribe Sector 9 @ Congress Theatre – Feb. 1, 2008

TOP ALBUMS OF 2008

Beck's Oct. 2 show at the Aragon and his album Modern Guilt found a place on both top 10 lists.

As you’ll notice there's a lot of crossover between the two lists. It makes sense though, right? Great shows compelled me to buy albums (Foals). Great albums steered me to certain concerts (Cut Copy). Unfortunately, there’s no Chi-town love on the albums list (unless you count Kanye's substantial contribution to Lil’ Wayne’s album). Most of these selections come from Brooklyn bands (MGMT, TVOTR, Vampire Weekend) and foreign acts (Cut Copy, The Presets, Foals). Here’s the albums I revisited most frequently on my iPod this year:

1. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
2. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
3. Foals – Antidotes
4. Beck – Modern Guilt
5. Lil’ Wayne – Carter 3
6. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
7. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
8. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
9. The Presets – Apocalypso
10. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

Honorable mention: T.I.’s Paper Trail, M83’s Saturdays = Youth, No Age’s Nouns, STS9’s Peaceblaster, Nine Inch Nails’ The Slip, Brendan Canning’s Something For All of Us, Man Man’s Rabbit Habits, Death Cab for Cutie's Narrow Stairs, Does It Offend You, Yeah’s You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into and The Sea and Cake’s Car Alarm.

Nothing says holiday cheer like some Lil’Weezy. The celebrated Southern rapper/alien is probably the biggest name hitting Chicago over the next few weeks, but he’s definitely not the only one. My Morning Jacket is heading back to town for their rescheduled two-night stand (before they head to New York for a New Year’s blowout at the MSG). Flosstradamus will be playing the Abbey Pub, while Blues Traveler and Rusted Root are both slotted for post-Christmas shows at the House of Blues.

And then there’s New Year’s Eve. Chicagoans lookin’ to ring in 2009 with their dancing shoes have plenty of options. Local boys Umphrey’s McGee (pictured above) have become New Year’s Eve mainstays in Chicago, but this year they’ll switch it up a little by playing the more intimate Auditorium Theatre instead of the Aragon. Big names like Buddy Guy, Joshua Redman and Koko Taylor will join the band for their annual NYE extravaganza. Indie favorites The Sea and Cake, another hometown band, will be counting down to 2009 with a double dip at Schuba’s on Dec. 30 and 31.

One of the more intriguing NYE options is the Justice DJ set at the Congress Theatre. I’m not exactly sure what a DJ set entails, but hopefully the French duo will be playing some music from their phenomenal 2007 debut album. For the headbanging crowd, the critically-acclaimed punk rocker Jay Reatard will be raging the Empty Bottle. And Canadian electro-rock instrumentalists Holy Fuck provide yet another attractive bill at the Subterranean.

Here’s a rundown of the aforementioned concerts and some other notable shows.

Thursday, Dec. 18
Bon Iver @ The Vic Theatre
Cold War Kids, Scott Weiland @ House of Blues

Saturday, Dec. 27
Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes @ United Center
My Morning Jacket @ The Chicago Theatre
Flosstradamus @ Abbey Pub
Kidz in the Hall @ Beat Kitchen
Rusted Root @ House of Blues

Sunday, Dec. 28
My Morning Jacket @ The Chicago Theatre
Rusted Root @ House of Blues

Monday, Dec. 29
Umphrey’s McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
U-Melt @ Reggie’s

Tuesday, Dec. 30
Umphrey’s McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
The Sea and Cake @ Schuba’s
Blues Traveler @ House of Blues

Wednesday, Dec. 31 (NYE!)
Umphrey’s McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
The Sea and Cake @ Schuba’s
Justice (DJ set) @ Congress Theatre
Jay Reatard @ Empty Bottle
Holy Fuck, Aleks and The Drummer @ Subterranean
The Dandy Warhols @ Metro
Future Rock @ Abbey Pub
Local H @ Bottom Lounge

If you’re down to check out a cool band at a cool venue, hurry up and take advantage of this offer. Click here to get two free tickets to see No Age perform Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Reggie’s. Tickets for the show in New York are already gone. Titus Andronicus will open.

No Age, an up-and-coming punk rock duo, last played Chicago this summer at the Pitchfork Music Festival. Their two albums Weirdo Rippers and Nouns earned rave reviews from P4K, with 8.0 and 9.2 ratings, respectively.

And if the music weren’t reason enough, this freebie also offers a great excuse to check out Reggie’s. It’s a really great music venue in the South Loop. For a peek at the place, here's a link to a video story I did about Reggie's last year (for a video storytelling class).

So going to a concert may not seem like the most festive way to celebrate Halloween. But with bands like Cealed Kasket (at Martyrs') and Rabid Rabbit (at Hideout) playing Chicago this Halloween, some live music just might be the perfect way to get your creep on.

If Cealed Kasket isn’t your thing, there’s also a handful of big name acts cruising through town on Friday.

Lupe Fiasco @ Congress Theater

Apparently, the Chicago rapper played a hometown Halloween show last year as well. Check out this snippet of “Superstar” from the House of Blues show.

Kings of Leon @ Aragon

This show is sold out, but there’s always a chance you can score tickets outside. With the release of a new album in September, these Southern boys continue their ascent to rock stardom. Here’s a clip of them performing the brilliantly titled, new single “Sex on Fire.”

The Decemberists @ Edman Chapel, Wheaton College

These Portland indie rockers have been active Obama backers this year. The clip below is from an Obama rally in Portland this May. Friday’s show is in the burbs, but it should be worth the trip.

Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band @ the Vic Theatre

The Bright Eyes leadman is already a legend among singer/songwriters at the ripe old age of 28. Check out the band a few days ago in Minneapolis.

Some more Halloween concert fun:

Urge Overkill, DJ Druzzi of the Rapture @ Debonair Social Club

The Sleepers play as Aerosmith and Blackbox plays Michael Jackson @ Double Door’s Halloween Bash

Fringe Benefits play as the Cars and the Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra plays as the New York Dolls @ Abbey Pub’s Halloweekend.

Broken Social Scene is a band I didn't fully appreciate until I saw them play live. I had their self-titled album sitting on my iPod for years, but it was getting much play. In early July, I caught them at a free city festival in Detroit. Since then I’ve been a bonafide fan.

Andrew Whiteman, Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew (from left) are a few of the mainstays in Broken Social Scene's ever rotating lineup.

Just a few months after playing Lollapalooza and a Lolla after show at the Metro, BSS returned to Chicago for a sold out show Thursday at the Vic Theater. The Canadian indie rockers put on a crowd pleaser by playing some of their biggest hits from over the years. There was “Cause = Time” and “Anthems For a 17-Year-Old Girl” from their 2003 breakthrough record You Forgot It In People; “7/4 (Shoreline),” “Fire Eye’d Boy,” and “Superconnected,” from 2005’s self-titled follow up; “F-ked Up Kid” and “Safety Bricks” from Kevin Drew’s Spirit If…; and “Hit the Wall,” “Love is New” and “Churches Under the Stairs” from Brendan Canning’s Something for All of Us. With the exception of a few missing songs, these are the tunes that have made Broken Social Scene stars with the indie crowd.

Here's some more snapshots from the show.

Liz Powell (from opening band Land of Talk) provided the female vocals.

Less than a week since cancelling a sold-out two-night run at the Chicago Theatre due to an on-stage injury, My Morning Jacket has announced the make-up dates. The band will return to the venue for a two-banger on Dec. 27-28.

It's smack dab in the middle of the holiday week and just before their NYE gig at Madison Square Garden, so I'm betting these southern indie rockers will make this a visit to remember. If you don't have tickets already, be on watch for those ticketholders who can't make the show. Here's the message posted on MMJ's MySpace page:

The postponed October 9th and 10th shows at the Chicago Theater have been rescheduled for December 27th and 28th of this year. Tickets purchased for the October 9th show will be honored on December 27th, and tickets purchased for the October 10th show will be honored on December 28th. For those unable to make the show, refunds will be given at the point of purchase.

Unfortunately, there’ll be no My Morning Jacket in Chicago this weekend. Band leader Jim James took a nasty spill off the stage last night in Iowa City, forcing them to stop the show and postpone the tour’s two remaining sold-out shows at The Chicago Theatre. James was rushed to the hospital, but has since been released. The singer also had to cancel an Obama benefit show tonight at Schuba’s.

The following message posted on the band’s MySpace page explains what happened.

As some of you may have heard we had to cancel our show last evening in Iowa City. We were finishing up the last few bars of "Off The Record", and just like any other night we were all having a great time. Jim went to get closer to the audience on his side of the stage, and as he moved forward to step onto the sub-woofer the lights darkened, and he inadvertently stepped off the stage. Upon falling, he suffered traumatic injuries to his torso, and was immediately taken to the hospital. Per the doctor's orders, Jim will be off the road and recovering from his injuries for the next two to three weeks. Sadly, we must postpone the two shows in Chicago on Thursday and Friday until further notice.

With Love,
My Morning Jacket

And here’s a YouTube video of drummer Patrick Hallahan and bandmates telling the crowd about last night’s cancellation.

When Beck opened his sold-out, two-night stand at the Aragon with “Loser,” it was clear Thursday’s show was going to be crowd pleaser. This was my first live Beck experience, so I had no idea what to expect. Well, the alt-rock legend exceeded expectations as he plowed through song after song en route to a 90-minute set that played like a greatest hits album (see setlist below).

But first, opening band MGMT set the table with a quick set showcasing their promise as up-and-comers on the indie scene. Their inclusion on the bill was a major selling point for me.

I caught them a few months ago at Lollapalooza, but since I was about a mile from the stage, it didn’t really count. When they went on at 7:40 p.m., the Aragon was probably only half full, proving that most ticket holders shelled out $50 solely for the headliner. Like their show at Lollapalooza, MGMT brought the most heat with their biggest hits – “Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel” and “Kids.”

Though they’ve only been around for a few years, MGMT has shown a knack for creating catchy electro-pop songs. Another album or two and this band could soon be playing the Aragon all on their own (it’s kind of hard to believe they played Schuba’s earlier this year).

But this was Beck’s night. Since the mainstream success of “Loser” in 1994, the 38-year-old has consistently wowed critics and fans alike, cementing himself as one of the most creative and influential musicians of our time.

With the release of the underrated Modern Guilt this summer, he now has eight quality albums to pull from. Throughout the night, Beck went deep into the catalog to play some favorites from almost all of the albums (but nothing from Mutations). From “Girl” and “Mixed Bizness” to “Devil’s Haircut” and “Que Onda Guero,” almost every song was a highlight. And the new tunes - "Orphans,” “Chemtrails,” “Gamma Ray” - also proved to be nice additions to Beck's repertoire.

Beck and his backing band slowed things down briefly to play a few acoustic tracks from Sea Change, but then got right back to raging with set closer “Where It’s At.” The band then came back out for a five-song encore that ended with the crowd chanting along to the chorus of show finale, “E-Pro.” I initially had reservations about dropping $50 on the show, but Beck left me with no regrets and a desire to catch him again next time around. Perhaps the show of the year for me.

Here's a setlist, courtesy of Greg Kot's Turn It Up blog:

1. Loser
2. Nausea
3. Girl
4. Timebomb
5. Minus
6. Mixed Bizness
7. Nicotine and Gravy
8. Que Onda Guero
9. Hell Yes
10. Black Tambourine
11. Devil’s Haircut
12. Soul of a Man
13. Orphans
14. Think I’m In Love
15. Walls
16. Missing
17. Chemtrails
18. The Golden Age
19. Lost Cause
20. I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow (Hank Williams cover)
21. Where It’s At

Encore

22. Gamma Ray
23. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Bob Dylan cover)
24. Novacane
25. Profanity Prayers
26. E-Pro

The members of Chicago’s Umphrey's Mcgee are big sports fans. They often talk sports on stage, don jerseys of their favorite teams and they’ve even sang the national anthem at Cubs and Sox games. The band has an obvious rooting interest in Chicago sports teams, but their biggest allegiance seems to be with the Fighting Irish of South Bend, where the band got their start (a few of the members are Notre Dame grads).

Guitarist Brendan Bayliss, one of the ND grads, sported an Irish jersey and took a jab or two at their opponent San Diego State.

Last Friday, the band made their third consecutive trip to South Bend to play a show the night before the Notre Dame football home opener. Notre Dame ended up pulling out a victory Saturday, but Friday was all about the music.

Each year, the South Bend show has taken place out in the boonies at Robert J. Fischgrund Center for the Performing Arts in St. Patrick’s County Park.

This was my first trip to the venue, and what a great outdoor venue it is. The stage is carved out of the side of a giant barn. And its sloping lawn results in great vantage points for all. It even sounded great.

Prior to the concert, fans were doing a little pre-show partying in the grass parking lot. However, park employees quickly put the kibosh on tailgating as they patrolled the lot telling fans to dispose of their alcohol and put out their smokes. But once inside the gates, beer was for sale and the smoking ban was not actively enforced.

Umphrey's treated the crowd to two sets compromised of some old and new favorites.

The return to South Bend was not just a nostalgic trip for the band. There was also a bit of nostalgia for the fans, as Umphrey’s went deep into their catalog to pull out some of their oldest tunes. These selections included “2x2,” “Much Obliged,” “Hajimemashite,” “FF,” “Kimble” and “All in Time” – all songs they perfected back in their early days (late 1990s) in the Bend. Umphrey’s also treated the crowd to some of their more recent fan favorites including “Triple Wide,” a monstrous dance instrumental, and “Partyin’ Peeps,” a catchy party song with a reggae vibe. And of course, they threw in a few covers - Toto’s “Africa” and a dub version of Pink Floyd’s “Breathe.”

It was around 2000 when they band decided to migrate from South Bend to the Midwest’s biggest market, Chicago. And they haven’t looked back since. They have put out numerous successful albums and live DVDs, they play 100+ shows a year at sold out venues across the country and overseas. They’ve played Bonnaroo, Summercamp and Lollapalooza. They’ve opened for Dave Matthews and Phil Lesh and Friends; Galatic, Tortoise and Taj Mahal have opened for them.

Umphrey's next appearance in Chicago will be their annual New Year's Eve run.

To get an idea of the upward trajectory of Umphrey’s popularity, take a look at the venues they’ve played for their New Year’s Eve runs in Chi-town. They went from the Cubby Bear in 2000 to the Vic (2001-2003) to the Riv (2004) to selling out the Aragon (2005-2007). This year, it’s been rumored that the band will add another Chicago venue to their NYE resume with three shows at the more intimate Auditorium Theatre. If you need an Umphrey’s fix prior to that, your best bets are the Peoria Ribfest on Oct. 4 and Milwaukee’s Eagle Ballroom on Nov. 14.

If you get a chance to see a show at this venue, go - it's awesome!