With the return of U2, Madonna and AC/DC to the stage, 2009 was another successful year for performance venues nationwide. The Cakewalk staff had a busy year as well, attending all sorts of concerts and festivals. Continuing on our quest to name our favorites of 2009, here are our choices for the ‘Top 5 Live Performances’. You can see our picks for the Top 5 Singles of 2009 in a previous post.
Anthony Conte: Ben Folds with the Boston Pops, Aimee Mann, Pete Yorn, Matthew Sweet, Cake
Carl Jacobson: Oneal Armstrong @ The Middle East (Boston, MA), DJ Z-Trip & Chuck D at the Shepherd Fairy Exhibit Party @ ICA (Boston, MA), The Pat Martino Trio feat. Tony Monaco @ Scullers (Boston, MA), Kokayi @ CMJ Showcase (NY, NY), Some traditional Appalachian band from West Virginia on the streets in the Mission District of San Francisco in September 2009
Keith Albright: Third Day, Casting Crowns, and Natalie Grant @ SoulFest (Gunstock Mountain, NH), Michael W. Smith, Todd Agnew
Tara Zanett: Journey (and Heart!), No Doubt, AC/DC
Steve Cox: Stevie Wonder at the 25th Anniversary Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame Concert @ Madison Square Garden (NY, NY)
Josh Langberg: DJ Hell @ Resolute Warehouse (Brooklyn, NY), Skinny Puppy @ the Palladium (Worcester, MA), Raster-Noton, Alva Noto & Byetone @ Make It New (Middlesex Lounge – Cambridge, MA), Nitzer Ebb @ the Paradise (Boston, MA), Xanopticon @ The Armory (Somerville, MA)
Zac Kenney: Every Time I Die @ House of Blues (Boston, MA) Green Day @ XL Center (Hartford, CT), New Found Glory @ Bamboozle (E. Rutherford, NJ), NIN & Jane’s Addiction @ Comcast Center (Mansfield, MA), Lemonheads @ Beach Comber (Wellfleet, MA)
David Luiz: Jeff Beck @ House of Blues (Boston, MA), Joe Bonamassa @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom (Hampton Beach, NH)
Matt Koelsch: Bruce Springsteen @ Bonnaroo, Jimmy Buffet @ Bonnaroo, MGMT @ Bonnaroo, Adele @ Orpheum Theater (Boston, MA), Kings of Leon @ Orpheum Theater (Boston, MA)
Lars Wicklund: Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio @ Heaven and Hell, Aerosmith, Shinedown, Staind, Halestorm
Stephanie Livermore: Mika @ Orpheum Theater (Boston, MA)
Marcus Dandurand: John Legend @ Bank of America Pavilion (Boston, MA), Phoenix (Miracle on Tremont St.) @ Orpheum Theater (Boston, MA), Monsters of Folk @ Orpheum Theater (Boston, MA), Flight of the Concords @ Boston University’s Agganis Arena (Boston, MA), Ryan Adam & The Cardinals @ Orpheum Theater (Boston, MA)
Kate Watt: Brad Paisley @ Comcast Center (Mansfield, MA),
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