My top three go ...

1. The three times seeing The National
2. Wilco @ The Aronof Center (just the second show on their Sky Blue Sky tour)
3. Wolfmother

- M

I don't really know if The National won my best concert this year, it was amazing seeing them, but concert wise it wasn't the best. (mostly because of the crowd)

1. Arcade Fire
2. The National
3. Lord of the rings symphony

Those three were at least amazing.

1. The National in The Ambassador
2. (A close second) Final Fantasy aka Owen Pallett in Vicar Street

Two amazing nights right there.

1. The National in Northampton, MA. This may have been the smallest crowd they've played to this year. Small venue and the weather was horrible leading up to the show. Looked like 250-300 people. Best exchange of the night...

Matt: "Any requests?"
Fan: "LUCKY YOU!!!"
Matt: "Well, since this is our last song, it's actually unlucky you."

2. Springsteen in Hartford. First time seeing him.

3. State Radio in New Haven. Wasn't a huge fan going but I was a believer when it was over. HUGE sound for a three-man band.

What did they play instead?

Green Gloves.

ummm too harrddd

in no order (all in london)

LCD Soundsystem at the Astoria
Arcade Fire at Porchester Hall (re: this version of Wake Up)
The National at Shepherds Bush Empire (although Fopp deserves a mention)

although i should also mention the Friday at Glastonbury - Good Shoes, Bright Eyes, Super Furry Animals, Annuals, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Arcade Fire and Spiritualized on the same day!!!

I saw the National 3 times as well and they're obviously up there. Besides them, Foals, Patrick Wolf and Smashing Pumpkins were highlights.

I was at that AF show as well. That performance in the hallway was amazing. They were disappointing at Brixton though.


Saw The National 3 times, and they were as great as ever, but the two best gigs I've seen this year were both by The Hold Steady. Having that much fun in public is surely illegal.

oo shame about Brixton... the hallway performance was really, really somethign special. I saw AF two years ago at Reading Festival and we didnt really think they could have topped Wake Up that night - but this was just unreal! You're stood next to the band and 400 people are singing at the top of their lungs!

I was lucky enough to see them at Glasto and Reading this year aswell but nothing topped that Wake Up ...

these were all uniquely the best i caught:

Animal Collective
Arcade Fire
Explosions in the Sky
Interpol
The National

1. The National, Magic Stick, Detroit
2. M Ward, Town Hall, NYC
3. Patti Smith, State Theatre, Ann Arbor

You Am I - Magic Stick Detroit
The National - Opera House Toronto
Rock Plaza Central and Tafflemusic - Trinity St Paul's Toronto
Romi Mayes - Cameron House Toronto
Ox/Two Minute Miracles - London Music Club
Fiest/Great Lake Swimmers - Centennial Hall, London
The Rizdales - Richmond Tavern - London

The National - Olympia in Dublin
Arcade Fire - the olympia in Dublin
Elvis Perkins/Cold War Kids/Clap your Hands Say Yeah - Tripod in Dublin
Im from Barcelona - Oxegen in Ireland
Modest Mouse - Primavera in Barcelona

my list of '07 included:

Jay Tweedy (solo) - Memphis, TN
The Decemberists - Memphis, TN
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Memphis, TN & Atlanta, GA
The National - Atlanta, GA
The White Stripes - Southaven, MS
Magnolia Electric Co. - Memphis, TN
Neko Case - Memphis, TN
Bishop Allen - Memphis, TN
Tegan & Sara - Atlanta, GA
Matt Pond PA - Atlanta, GA
Bright Eyes - New Orleans, LA
Ben Kweller - Atlanta, GA
Laura Veirs - Atlanta, GA

I'd say the best was probably between Jeff Tweedy, The Decemberists and Ryan Adams in Memphis. The White Stripes and The National were both very good, too.