The Bottle Rockets

Beat Kitchen
Chicago, IL

The God Damns / Full Vinyl Treatment

The God Damns











Full Vinyl Treatment



High Noon Saloon
Madison, WI

My favorite 2008 shows in chronological order

(1/4) The Figgs / Beach Patrol – Linneman’s – Milwaukee, WI

(2/12) Mark Olson – Cafe Montmartre – Madison, WI

(3/5) Bob Mould Band – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN

(3/7) Bob Mould Band – Metro – Chicago, IL

(3/14) The Runners-Up / The Shabelles – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * The Runners-Up CD release show. Finally.

(4/19) The Successful Failures / The August Teens – Kiki’s House of Righteous Music - Madison, WI * The perfect night of power pop.

(4/25) Chris Mills / Anders Parker – Kiki’s House of Righteous Music – Madison, WI * I still can’t believe that Anders took the time to relearn a song that he’s never played live just because I requested it pre-show.

(5/2) The Dirtbombs – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * Dirty rock ‘n roll. So dirty.

(5/17) The United Sons of Toil / El Valiente – Mickey’s Tavern – Madison, WI * I probably should have put my earplugs in.

(5/24) The United Sons of Toil / Dick The Bruiser – The Project Lodge – Madison, WI * Dick The Bruiser’s first show. I haven’t missed one since.

(6/8) Screamin’ Cyn Cyn & The Pons / The Arge / The German Art Students - High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * All three bands were on fire this night. Too bad there weren’t more people there.

(6/16) Burning Brides / Year Long Disaster – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * Year Long Disaster had canceled two previously scheduled Madison shows. I’d been wanting to see them for 2 years. They were worth the wait.

(7/25) Dub Trio / Czarbles / Dick The Bruiser – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI

(9/23) KatJonBand / Dollar Store – The Frequency – Madison, WI * Langford was as charming as ever. And Dollar Store plays the best covers.

(9/30) The Wedding Present / Dirty On Purpose – The Annex – Madison, WI * I had no idea how great The Wedding Present would be live. Wow.

(10/15) Bon Squad / The Hussy – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI

(10/19) Melissa Ferrick – Shank Hall – Milwaukee, WI

(10/25) Matthew Sweet – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH

(10/26) Amy Ray – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * Kaia!

(10/31) The Low Czars as The Kinks / The Buddy Hollies as Weezer – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * I love The Low Czars more each time I see them.

(11/14) The Hold Steady / Drive-By Truckers – The Riviera – Chicago, IL * Encore of the year!

(11/19) Ladyhawk – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * Another band I love more each time I see them.

(12/6) The United Sons of Toil – Cactus Club – Milwaukee, WI * First show with new drummer, Jason, and a new song! Definitely my favorite local band.

(12/12) Shakey – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * Like A Hurricane!

(12/13) The United Sons of Toil – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI * They are amazing. So freaking amazing. New song, State-Sponsored Terrorism, was fantastic again. And there was blood.

My favorite CDs of 2008

- Juliana Hatfield – How To Walk Away
- The United Sons of Toil – Until Lions Have Their Historians,
Tales Of The Hunt Shall Always Glorify The Hunter
- Dick The Bruiser – Severe Songs
- The Runners-Up – The Runners-Up
- Beach Patrol – Riding Dinosaurs
- The Arge – Hotness For The People
- Ladyhawk – Shots
- The Whigs – Mission Control
- Sloan – Parallel Play
- Melissa Ferrick – Goodbye Youth
- Nada Surf – Lucky
- Amy Ray – Didn’t It Feel Kinder
- The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
- KatJonBand – KatJonBand
- Eef Barzelay – Lose Big
- Sons & Daughters – This Gift
- The Dirtbombs – We Have You Surrounded
- Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
- The Little Ones – Morning Tide
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazurus Dig!!!

The United Sons of Toil

The Inferno
Madison, WI

Dick The Bruiser

The Frequency
Madison, WI

The United Sons of Toil

High Noon Saloon
Madison, WI

ALEX'S YEAR END LISTS

TOP 10 SHOWS AT THE HIGH NOON SALOON

1. the avett brothers

2. split lip rayfield

3. the dirtbombs

4. the great lake swimmers

5. carolina chocolate drops

6. robbie fulks & band 4th of july extravaganza

7. alejandro escovedo

8. retribution gospel choir

9. black eyed snakes

10. the melvins

11. the hanson brothers!!

TOP 10 SHOWS NOT AT THE HIGH NOON

1. katjon band - frequency (my favorite show of the year)

2. reverend peyton's big damn band - bluebird in bloomington, IN

3. steve poltz/truckee brothers - momo

4. mark pickerel - kiki's

5. eef barzelay - momo

6. united sons of toil/dick the bruiser - project lodge

7. mekons/gary louris - the barrymore

8. dead confederate - the annex

9. matt the electrician - kiki's

10. nick lowe - the barrymore

MY FAVORITE/MOST PLAYED RECORDS OF 2008

1. katjon band - katjon band

2. reverend peyton's big damn band - the whole fam damily

3. dick the bruiser - severe songs ep

4. split lip rayfield - i'll be around

5. drakkar sauna - war and tornadoes (songs of the louvin borthers)

6. eef barzelay - lose big

7. frightened rabbit - midnight organ fight

8. the baseball project - vol. 1 frozen ropes and dying quails

9. the united sons of toil - until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter

10. the whipsaws - 60 watt avenue

Shakey

High Noon Saloon
Madison, WI