FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2016
1) Big Thief - Masterpiece
I listened to Big Thief's Masterpiece more than any other album this year. It's one of those albums where you get to the end and immediately start it over because you want to experience that same feeling all over again. It tugs your emotions all over the spectrum to the point where certain lyrics inexplicably make you smile then tear up like you're the subject of some Pavlovian conditioning. By the time you get to the heartwrencher that is "Paul," you're a mess and questioning all those what-if's in your life.
2) Margaret Glaspy - Emotions and Math
3) Seasaw - Too Much of a Good Thing
4) Pup - The Dream is Over
5) Angel Olsen - My Woman
6) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
7) Mitski - Puberty
8) Tele Novella - House of Souls
9) Black Mountain - IV
10) Astronautalis - Cut the Body Loose
11) Christopher Gold & The New Old Things - Whichever Way Home
12) A Giant Dog - Pile
13) King Dude - Sex
14) Pkew Pkew Pkew - Pkew Pkew Pkew
15) Various - Sky Girl
FAVORITE CONCERTS OF 2016
1) The Hold Steady | 12/1-12/3 @ Brooklyn Bowl, New York City NY
Photo by Stephen McGill
Sometimes half the excitement of seeing one of your favorite bands is the setting of the show. When The Hold Steady announced they were getting the band back together to play a run of shows celebrating the 10th anniversary of Boys And Girls In America, I knew had to start making plans to be there. Five months later I was in line with fans from all over the world waiting for the doors of Brooklyn Bowl to open. After three nights my voice was horse, I was bruised and sore, covered in confetti and had the time of my life. I'm pretty sure we partied...
2) Sonntag w/ We Are The Willows, Seasaw | 4/16 @ High Noon Saloon, Madison WI
3) Dolores w/ Seasaw, Neens, Trophy Dad | 9/3 @ High Noon Saloon, Madison WI
4a) Jenny Lewis w/ EZTV, Frankie Lee | 8/14 @ Codfish Hollow, Maquoketa IA
4b) Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins w/ Conor Oberst | 9/7 @ Pabst Theater, Milwaukee WI
5) At The Drive-In w/ Le Butcherettes | 5/19 @ The Riviera, Chicago IL
6) Savages w/ Head Wound City | 5/20 @ High Noon Saloon, Madison WI
7) GARP Music Fest | 9/9-9/10 @ Codfish Hollow, Maquoketa IA
8) Poliça | 4/14 @ High Noon Saloon, Madison WI
9) Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires w/ Tenement | 4/30 @ Majestic Theatre, Madison WI
10) Murder By Death w/ Laura Stevenson | 11/13 at High Noon Saloon, Madison WI
11) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club + Death From Above 1979 | 10/15 @ Myth, St. Paul MN
12) The Kills w/ LA Witch, GGOOLLDD | 9/16 @ Live On King Street, Madison WI
13) Screaming Females w/ Midwest Beat, Heavy Looks | 6/23 @ The Frequency, Madison, WI
14) Margaret Glaspy w/ Bad Bad Hats | 9/18 @ The Frequency, Madison WI
15) Black Lips w/ Savoy Motel | 2/28 @ Empty Bottle, Chicago IL
What were your favorite albums and concerts of 2016? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook Page.