The Jarvis Lounge

In 2015, I watched over 152 bands live. Compiling a list of my favorite shows is never easy, since I watched so many good live acts. Furthermore, this list includes bands that played small venues (think bars), to large venues (think Golden Gate Park). There are some great acts that didn’t make this list, mainly because of how crowded or far away I was from the stage (Kendrick Lamar, Sturgill Simpson). Still, check out these bands live if you ever get the chance. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Until The Ribbon Breaks (Federal Bar, NOHO) – This group from England, coming off a write-up in the WSJ, did a free set at Federal Bar in North Hollywood. I was impressed by their larger-than-life presence on such a small stage. They also performed at Coachella in 2015.
2. Courtney Barnett (Bottlerock, Napa, CA) – Most critics have Courtney Barnett’s album at the top of their lists for 2015; I’d also add her live performance. Her band was explosive on stage, combining lyrical brilliance, with a Nirvana energy.
3. Cage The Elephant (Bottlerock, Napa, CA) – Hands down, my favorite live set at Bottlerock. Explosive set, from a legit rock band, with an amazing front man.
4. Public Enemy (Bottlerock, Napa, CA) – Watching these hip hop legends was a highlight of the musical festival for me. They performed all the songs we know, complete with a high five from Flavor Flav, a baddass DJ Lord handling Nirvana’s “Teen Spirit,” and a retweet of my pic of the show by Chuck D himself.
5. Kishi Bashi (Make Music Pasadena) – Completely caught me off guard. This was the one band that packed their stage because of their amazing performance. Who says a violin can’t take center stage?
6. De Lux (Fingerprints, Long Beach, CA) – Great record store set from this group, that at times compares to a funkier Talking Heads.
7. Tijuana Panther (Long Beach, CA) – Highly underrated local favorites. This show was on Pine St, for a summer performance.
8. SOAK (The Echo, Silverlake, CA) – Solo set by SOAK. I wrote about this show in an earlier blog.
9. Mansions on the Moon  (Federal Bar, NOHO) – Again, this trio managed to sound big on a small stage. Very similar to Foster The People, but more fun to dance to.
10. Nina Gordon and Louise Post (Veruca Salt) (Federal Bar, NOHO) – Great acoustic set from the two main voices of Veruca Salt. They combined old favorites (“Seether”), with songs off their new record. Lots of good stories and songs.
11. Leon Bridges (Outside Lands, SF) – I was really surprised to see how crowded the stage was for Leon Bridges. The secret is out; this dude’s brand of classic soul is big. And so is he now. Glad I caught him.
12. First Aid Kit (Outside Lands, SF) – Folky duet from Sweden performed their own amazing songs, and even through in a fairly kick ass version of “Black Sabbath.”
13. St. Vincent (Outside Lands, SF) – One of the best shows of the festival. Confident, creative, and challenging, St. Vincent mixes together old songs, and new cuts from her critically acclaimed recent album. Great stage show, and she’s an underrated guitarist.
14. Wilco (Outside Lands, SF) – I’ll confess; I’ve never been a huge Wilco fan. But they gave fans a great show, including playing their new album in its entirety.
    
15. Billy Idol (Outside Lands, SF) – At first glance, Billy Idol seems out of place, performing before Tame Impala and the Black Keys. Yet, he gave the most kick ass show of the festival. Armed with Steve Stevens on lead guitar, he went through all of his hits, including Gen X’s “Ready, Steady, Go.”
16. Tame Impala (Outside Lands, SF) – This was one of the main acts I was looking forward to seeing at OSL, and they were amazing. They are one of those bands that can create the awesomeness of their albums, live. Mixing new cuts off of “Currents,” with older cuts like “Alter Ego,” they brought the psychedelic noise. And hearing “Elephant” live is mindblowing.
    
17. Hot Chip (Outside Lands, SF) – Dance, dance, dance.
18. Elton John (Outside Lands, SF) – How many people were there to see Elton John close out OSL? I’m pretty sure he had more fans there than Paul McCartney a couple years earlier. Great set from this bucket list legend.
19. Deap Vally (Echo Park Rising) – Imagine that The Black Keys are women, and that their music is on steroids. Great set by this two woman attack. And since they started late, they cut into closer Hanni El Khatib’s set (who didn’t look too pleased about it).
20. Rival Sons (Buskerfest, Long Beach, CA) – This brief acoustic set was enough to get me hooked on this band. I’m just disappointed I didn’t catch them earlier. Imagine a little bit of Zeppelin, and a little Paul Rodgers.
    
21. Rodrigo y Gabriela (KAABOO Festival, Del Mar, CA) – One of those bands I should have seen a few years back. Highlight: their acoustic, badass version of Metallica’s “Orion.”
22. The Roots (KAABOO, Del Mar, CA) – No, they are not Jimmy Fallon’s back up band. They are a veteran hip hop group, with a phenomenal set of musicians. Legends, and they showed why.
23. Zac Brown Band (KAABOO, Del Mar, CA) – Another one of those bands that I had the chance to see a couple years ago. I wasn’t going to miss them this time. Great, great live band, regardless of whether or not you like country.
24. Dawes (KAABOO, Del Mar, CA) – I saw them a couple years ago at OSL. One of those groups that deserves more attention than they’ve gotten. Great songs (especially their new album), and great musicians. Think Jackson Browne, but I actually prefer Dawes.
25. Lianne La Havas (The Fonda, LA) – Another performer who deserves more acclaim than she’s earned. Hailing from England, she brought that amazing voice, and songs, for our listening pleasure.
26. Foo Fighters (Honda Center, Anaheim, CA) – They were everything advertised. Cross them off my bucket list. 2 and a half hours of some of their best work. And Dave Grohl kicked ass from his throne. Right out the gates with “Everlong.”
27. Gary Clark Jr (Honda Center, Anaheim, CA) – He opened for Foo Fighters, and was great. One of my favorite blues guitarists, and definitely brings it live.
28. Delta Spirit (Outpost Fest, Santa Ana, CA) – Standing out in a festival that featured other great live acts (Blonde Redhead, Cold War Kids), Delta Spirit was really, really good.
29. Borns (El Rey, Los Angeles) – This dude is a star, and his live show shows why. I feel like I caught the next big thing at this show. He’s got the songs, and the charisma on stage.
30. Beach House (The Fonda, LA) – I was never a huge fan of them, but they put on a great show. Very moody, and literally, dark. But GREAT.