My concert tally for the year comes to 138 shows (I counted each day of a festival as one show), with 427 performances including all the various opening acts and festival performers. Maybe 50 of those are partial performances.
These were my favorites:
1. Neil Young, Nov. 12 at the Chicago Theatre. Review.
2. The Mekons, Oct. 12 at the Hideout and the Mutiny. Review. Photos.
3. Grinderman, July 25 at Metro. Review. Photos.
4. Iggy Pop & the Stooges, Aug. 5 at Lollapalooza, Grant Park. Review. Photos.
5. The Wrens, June 24 at the Belmont Arts and Music Festival. Review. Photos.
6. Björk, May 12 at the Auditorium Theatre. Review.
7. The Arcade Fire, May 18 at the Chicago Theatre. Review.
8. Mavis Staples, Aug. 12 at Millennium Park. Review. Photos.
9. M. Ward, Jan. 29 at Park West. Review.
10. Neko Case, March 29 at Park West. Review. Photos.
Runners-up:
The Decemberists with the Grant Park Orchestra, July 19 at Millennium Park
Bettye LaVette, Dec. 7 at FitzGerald’s
Marissa Nadler, Sept. 5 at Ronny’s
Sonic Youth, July 13 at the Pitchfork Music Festival, Union Park
Cat Power, July 14 at the Pitchfork Music Festival, Union Park
Mothercoat, March 15 at SXSW
Okkervil River and Damien Jurado, Sept. 19 at Logan Square Auditorium
Great Lake Swimmers, Oct. 28 at Schubas
Andrew Bird, April 20 at the Riviera
Dappled Cities and Figurines, Oct. 24 at Schubas
Oakley Hall, Oct. 2 at Schubas
…and many, many other good shows.