STEVE VON TILL/HARVESTMAN
Prichard Gallery, Moscow | Feb. 13
Everyone crowded into white-walled Moscow gallery had to have been a fan. The Neurosis singer rarely performs solo — and in Idaho? Never. From what it seemed, folks drove from all over to be there. And they got a treat: 90 straight minutes of Von Till in his “space ship” playing beautiful, tragic folk melodies for the ages. A stunning show. (LEAH SOTTILE)
SHEARWATER, WYE OAK, HOSPITAL SHIPS
The Belltower, Pullman | April 30
After a great show, Shearwater took its bows. And then something crazy happened: they waved us backstage. Crowding in around a grand piano in a dark back room, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the musicians for the last sparse, haunting song. I doubt anyone there will soon forget it. (MARK WHITE)
HIGH ON FIRE
Seaside | May 1
There are great shows, and then there are shows that change your life. And this was one of the latter. When High on Fire took the stage — starting with that amazing opening riff of “Snakes for the Divine” — you’d have thought Led Zeppelin was up there. There wasn’t a person there that didn’t fully expect this to be the best show they’d ever seen. It lives on in my top five shows of all time. (LS)
LOCAL NATIVES, SUCKERS
Empyrean | May 25
Harmonies. Pure, effortless multi-part harmonies. On record, they’re super. In a live show, they’re thrilling. Local Natives brought ‘em in spades, along with a ton of energy and some serious musical chops. The big, excited crowd couldn’t have been happier they stopped by Spokane on their way to Sasquatch. (MW)
WHISKEY DICK MOUNTAIN
Elkfest | June 6
It was pouring down rain and no one was there. The brave few who showed up for a punk show at 1 pm on a Sunday were busy nursing their hangovers or hiding beneath the safety of the covered beer gardens. Whiskey Dick Mountain kicked their asses, and soon everyone was thrashing around in the rain. (JORDY BYRD)
JOHN VANDERSLICE, KEVIN LONG
Empyrean | June 12
The normally deferential Vanderslice wasn’t tolerating any idle chatter on this evening. Twice he reprimanded the social butterflies in the back. But he rewarded concertgoers with an extended unplugged encore, during which he stepped down amid the crowd and performed acoustic versions of back-catalogue tracks like “Nikki Oh Nikki.” (E.J. IANNELLI)
THE MELVINS
Knitting Factory | Sept. 30
The Melvins always bring it. The current four-piece lineup (featuring two drummers!), dressed in strange ceremonial robes, played to the tragically sparse crowd as if they were playing to an arena of thousands. A fell wind blew mightily from the amplifiers as each note was articulated. I peed myself a little. (JON BROWN)
HILLSTOMP
Mootsy’s | Oct. 2
There’s nothing quite like a show where you see a band that you’ve never heard of and they absolutely rule. Hillstomp showed up to Mootsy’s, arranged their buckets and other odd assortment of instruments and proceeded to blow minds with a fractured, raucous brand of bluegrass music. The most pleasant surprise of 2010. (JB)
THE CHARIOT
The Seaside | Oct. 11
I have a confession to make: metalcore bands from Georgia make me cry. Well maybe just the Chariot. You see, after witnessing the passion that Josh Scogin shrieked with, David Kennedy drummed with and guitarist KC Wolf stood (yes, stood) on top of the crowd with, I couldn’t help but get a little emotional. (AZARIA PODPLESKY)
BEST COAST
Stage 54 | Oct. 31
Best Coast’s Halloween show at Stage 54 was easily the most carefree show I’ve ever been to — costumes, looping pedal difficulties and all. Their brand of hazy beach-pop translated exceedingly well into a live show, a nogimmicks evening of lighthearted songs about lost love, weed and cats. (JORDAN SATTERFIELD)
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