Below is a summary of the shows I have attended so far this summer.  Most have been amazing. But I did see a few stinkers...

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s at Arragon (05/26/09)--Karen O and the band put on a spectacular show.  Her stage presence cannot be beat.  I was sweating my ass off because I was rocking so hard.  They managed to have great sound even in the Arragon (whose sound I tend not to like).

311 and Ziggy Marley at Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island (06/14/09)--Both put on great shows.  Ziggy’s set was disappointingly short but did really well with the time he had.  I guess he had to make time for the headliners.  311 put on an energetic and really fun show, as always.  Everyone in the band had sweat through their shirts by the fourth song.  Northerly Island is a beautiful venue and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t been yet.

Phish at Alpine Valley (06/20/09)--I want to preface this review with saying that I am not a “Phish Head”.  Before this show, I liked their music, but didn’t have more than three songs of theirs on my Ipod.  But this show was so absolutely amazing that I now understand why “Phish Heads” exist.  Their energy

was unbelievable and their musical harmony was perfect.   I Just when I thought they couldn’t jam any harder or longer, sure enough, they did.  I was dancing so much at this show and met a lot of really nice people.  After watching them play, I wanted to stay and see them again the next night but couldn’t because of work.  Instead, I bought tickets to their Toyota Park show and can’t wait!

Trey on stage

Counting Crows at Taste of Chicago (06/27/09)--Going to this show was a very last-minute decision.  I had seen the Crows once before and was very disappointed.  I went this time because it was free and I was sure they couldn’t be much worse than last time.  They were NOT worse at all.  In fact, they were actually good.  They played all of their old favorites in the right tempo (playing classics in a different tempo was a lot of why I disliked my first experience with them).  Their interaction with the crowd gave the audience a great energy.  This show ended up being, unexpectedly, a lot of fun.

Rothbury Music Festival (07/02/09-07/05/09)

Featured Artists (that I saw): The Dead, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Black Crowes, Gov’t Mule, Yonder Mountain String Band, Les Claypool, Matisyahu, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Toots and the Maytals, Four Finger Five, Umphrey’s Mcgee, STS9

I was a little disappointed that I could only attend this year’s festival on Saturday and Sunday.  Regardless, I saw more than enough amazing music.

Highlights:

The Dead were fabulous.  I wouldn’t compare their energy to any younger performers, but hearing the original members play the classics, and jam like they used to, was awesome.  After hearing them play “Shakedown Street” I can die a happy woman.

Yonder Mountain String Band’s Sunday show was amazing.  They always give 110% with their performances and the people that come out to see them are always an “interesting” bunch.

The Black Crowes were solid musically and performed well on stage.  I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the music that they played, but I had a lot of fun nonetheless.

Willie Nelson sounded great.  The songs he played were perfect for his late afternoon set and I’m really glad I made it over to see him.

Matisyahu had a very original sound.  I had seen him once before but didn’t remember much of the show.  This one stuck with me a little more.  He had great lyrics and a lot of dedicated fans came out to support him.

Toots and the Maytals had an early show but they rocked!  I’m really glad I got to see such a classic band.  Their sound wasn’t the greatest, but it was solid.  There wasn’t a big crowd there to see them, but everyone that was there had an awesome time!

Gov’t Mule rocked so unbelievably hard!  I’m really glad they were scheduled at a time when there was no one else I wanted to see, so I got to see their WHOLE show!  Watching Warren Haynes do what he does best was priceless.  Their music and vocals sounded spot-on.  I highly recommend seeing them if you get the chance!

Les Claypool was entertaining, to say the least.  It was a bizarre show.  But what do you really expect from him?  Some of his songs were outright nutty, but I enjoyed every second of it!

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were totally great!  I wasn’t familiar with much of their music but a friend really wanted to go see them so I tagged along.  I’m so glad I did!  I had an awesome time!  They sounded absolutely fabulous and the crowd loved every second of the show!  I love discovering new bands, and this was the one I discovered at Rothbury 2009!

Disappointments:

Four Finger Five were good, but not as good as I know they can be.  They absolutely rocked Rothbury in 2008, and this year they were mediocre.  They didn’t sound that great and I wish they had played a longer set.

Umphrey’s Mcgee was a huge disappointment for me.  I was really excited to see them because I’m a fan and this was going to be my first time seeing them live.  They started out okay enough.  But by the end of their set, they were trying too hard.  They sounded completely disjointed and noisy.  They had a few solid jams where the band came together and it worked.  But most of their set sounded like crap to me.

Bob Dylan was horrendous.  I couldn’t understand one word he was saying.  The band and his playing weren’t much better.  I could barely even recognize his most famous songs and couldn’t sing along because I couldn’t tell where we were in the song.  He stopped his set about an hour early of what was scheduled also.  He was one of the reasons I was so excited about Rothbury 2009.  I will never pay to see him again.  He was such a disappointment.

After Rothbury:

Gavin Degraw at Old St. Pat’s Block Party (07/10/09)--The only reason I saw this show was because I just so happen to be at Old St. Pat’s Block Party.   Regardless of why I was there, Gavin Degraw was so much fun!  I don’t usually like his style of music, but I have to admit that his cheesy songs, and stage performance drew me in.  I sang, danced, drank, and had a really good time!  He was really funny on stage and I would probably see him again.

Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (07/12/09)--Going to this show, I knew Skynyrd (or what’s left of them) was going to be amazing!  But what I didn’t know was that Kid Rock would nearly top them!  His energy was out of this world!  He is a real showman and this concert was fun as hell!

Steve Miller Band at Rivinia (07/17/09)--Seeing Steve Miller Band at Ravinia has become somewhat of a summer tradition for me.  They always sound great and play all of their hits!  If you like them, check them out at Ravinia (where I’m sure they’ll play again next summer).

Still To Come: Phish at Toyota Park (08/11/09), Tracy Chapman at Park West (08/12/09), G Love and Special Sauce Ft. Michael Franti and Spearhead at Ravinia (08/27/09), Aerosmith at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park (08/28/09), Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic at Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island (09/02/09), Regina Spektor at Chicago Theatre (09/12/09), Pearl Jam at United Center (09/23/09)

If I have the Funds: Pete Yorn (08/03/09 at Park West), Lollapalooza (08/07/09 day pass to see TV on the Radio, Ben Harper, and Kings of Leon), Band of Horses (08/07/09 Lollapalooza after show at House of Blues), Dream Theater with Zappa Plays Zappa (08/23/09 at Chicago Theatre), Steely Dan (08/31/09 at Chicago Theatre), Badfish (09/18/09 at House of Blues)

Pissed I Missed: Pitchfork Music Festival (07/17/09-07/19/09 at Union Park).  I was too broke to go but heard it was fabulous, as always!