the Shows

The last half of 2009 gave me an incredible six months full of music. In a rough chronological order, I saw and heard the following bands last year:

Jonny Lang at Tulalip Casino (Second time seeing him live, even more amazing--this white man has soul)

Lantern Productions & Lower Lights Burning at the Loft--Le Wrens, Paper Astronomer, The Flight of Phanuel, Shane Simonsen, Justin Klump, etc. (Olympians: you MUST visit the Loft--amazing music going on here once a month!)

JBM and Sondre Lerche at the Triple Door (Both played solo--no band accompaniment--and played AMAZING shows, 'specially Sondre. I would be best friends with him if I could.)

David Crowder Band & Seabird at Christian Faith Center (DCB & Seabird played a great show, but I'm a little embittered because David Crowder would not record a message into my iPhone for my students. Boo, David, boo.)

Katie Herzig & Brandi Carlile at the Paramount (Really liked Katie, and Brandi has got some pipes. And some really cool guitars. Jealous.)

the Future of Forestry at Shoreline Community Church (My second favorite concert of the year. Smallest venue, greatest musicianship. Check them out NOW.)

The Swell Season at the Paramount (Favorite, favorite, favorite. I've seen U2 and I've seen Coldplay, but Glen Hansard shot them both out of the water. I felt full after this concert... like I'd just eaten the best meal of my life. And it was the best meal of my life.)

Amy Seeley at Aladdin Theatre (Amy is an amazing performer--she comes to life when she plays; she's part of the songs.)

Noah Gundersen & the Courage and Karli Fairbanks at Triple Door (Support the locals! I liked a lot of the melodies at this show, but I especially liked Abby Gundersen's harmonies and crazy violin skills. She stole the show--not really, because it rightfully belonged to her.)

Music takes us to an untarnished place. It takes us somewhere where rust has no color and moths have no teeth. Music inspires us to believe we can be better than we've been at our best, and reminds us we can even be worse than we've been at our worst. Music tells the story of the human race and our pursuit of God. Even if music thinks it's not about God, it's always about God.

He who has ears, let him hear. Don't waste any opportunity to experience good music. Here's to 2010, and not a ticket or a hand stamp wasted.