I'm a huge fan of the album - as a private listening experience, artistic object, time capsule - the whole idea appeals to me. But there is no replacement for a good live show and here are my favorites, and also here are the rest.
Top Ten
1. Wilco and The Jayhawks at the Kentucky Theater in Lexington, KY 1995
Wilco opened the show and both bands ripped through their new releases nearly cover to cover with some Uncle Tupelo and a fair amount of Hollywood Town Hall for good measure. Mark Olsen's wife Victoria Williams joined The Jayhawks for several songs including "Miss Williams' Guitar" and their raucous closer "Ten Little Kids," then both bands took the stage for a crazy Golden Smog encore of "Red Headed Stepchild." 1995 was the year alt-country seemed to coalesce and emerge under the larger rock-n-roll umbrella. It was the year No Depression Magazine formed to document the movement and it was the year I saw two of its pioneering and most enduring icons generate the electricity that powered the movement through its heyday and well beyond.
Wilco opened the show and both bands ripped through their new releases nearly cover to cover with some Uncle Tupelo and a fair amount of Hollywood Town Hall for good measure. Mark Olsen's wife Victoria Williams joined The Jayhawks for several songs including "Miss Williams' Guitar" and their raucous closer "Ten Little Kids," then both bands took the stage for a crazy Golden Smog encore of "Red Headed Stepchild." 1995 was the year alt-country seemed to coalesce and emerge under the larger rock-n-roll umbrella. It was the year No Depression Magazine formed to document the movement and it was the year I saw two of its pioneering and most enduring icons generate the electricity that powered the movement through its heyday and well beyond.
2. Jon Langford with Sally Timms and the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, CA 2008
After seeing Langford's Waco Brothers on Saturday afternoon the idea of catching the bright eyed Welshman and some of his friends first thing Sunday morning was supposed to be like warmed up and welcome leftovers. What we got was Christmas dinner in October. The line-up was essentially the Wacos and they played with as much energy and swagger as they had twenty hours earlier. Oh, and did I mention the thirty-or-so full grown Canadian men singing behind them? They played Jon's songs, sea chanteys, mining and labor songs but to be honest they could have been singing Row Row Row Your Boat and I would have marched out and bought a boat to row that very day. Never underestimate the power of the human voice, especially when amplified and backed by a kick-ass band. It's the sort of thing I'll never forget or likely see again.
After seeing Langford's Waco Brothers on Saturday afternoon the idea of catching the bright eyed Welshman and some of his friends first thing Sunday morning was supposed to be like warmed up and welcome leftovers. What we got was Christmas dinner in October. The line-up was essentially the Wacos and they played with as much energy and swagger as they had twenty hours earlier. Oh, and did I mention the thirty-or-so full grown Canadian men singing behind them? They played Jon's songs, sea chanteys, mining and labor songs but to be honest they could have been singing Row Row Row Your Boat and I would have marched out and bought a boat to row that very day. Never underestimate the power of the human voice, especially when amplified and backed by a kick-ass band. It's the sort of thing I'll never forget or likely see again.
3. The Knitters at The Palms Playhouse in Winters, CA 2008
First of all The Palms looks and feels like the kind of place you might go for a wedding reception. You have to walk up a flight of stairs slightly wider than the ones in most apartment buildings, tickets are checked by a guy with a little wicker basket who will absolutely remember your face if you have to go back to your car for something and the bar sells as much coffee as beer. It seats 220 people. My friends and I sat up front and were treated to a rockabilly show that might as well have been in my driveway. There's no such thing as security there so I was able to tell Dave Alvin thanks in person after the set and John Doe's brother sold Amy a t-shirt. The highlight was an extended Obama-dedicated romp through "The New World" with a verse of the Beatles "Revolution" nicely covered in the middle. The Knitters clearly love what they're doing and it's easy to see why. Hearing them play so close to home and with such good friends made the love that much easier to feel.
First of all The Palms looks and feels like the kind of place you might go for a wedding reception. You have to walk up a flight of stairs slightly wider than the ones in most apartment buildings, tickets are checked by a guy with a little wicker basket who will absolutely remember your face if you have to go back to your car for something and the bar sells as much coffee as beer. It seats 220 people. My friends and I sat up front and were treated to a rockabilly show that might as well have been in my driveway. There's no such thing as security there so I was able to tell Dave Alvin thanks in person after the set and John Doe's brother sold Amy a t-shirt. The highlight was an extended Obama-dedicated romp through "The New World" with a verse of the Beatles "Revolution" nicely covered in the middle. The Knitters clearly love what they're doing and it's easy to see why. Hearing them play so close to home and with such good friends made the love that much easier to feel.
4. Wilco w/ Preston School of Industry, Bogarts, Cincy 2002
We caught this show during our last pre-child visit to Kentucky (though Amy was pregnant). Dave Mikkelsen met us there. We missed most of the Preston School of Industry set but we were there for one thing and one thing only... Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The ink was still drying on its reviews which we all remember raving about its groundbreaking experimentation, trashing its departure from traditional roots music or avoiding the issue altogether to focus on the band's label and line-up changes. YHF created a rare sort of excitement and the band captured and amplified it that night. To my delight Tweedy and Co. drew heavily from Being There, leading off the set with "Misunderstood" and its tightrope-taught coda which had Tweedy shouting "nothing" in the closing line for a full minute. This was a bigger, bolder, smarter Wilco - a Wilco that would soon take over the world. They played all the new songs and interpretations of favorites plus a few surprises including the then unreleased "Handshake Drugs" and "Kicking Television." For me and many others YHF was a watershed moment in a genre we already loved and respected. Catching Wilco live in that moment was as rare and special a thing as I could have hoped.
We caught this show during our last pre-child visit to Kentucky (though Amy was pregnant). Dave Mikkelsen met us there. We missed most of the Preston School of Industry set but we were there for one thing and one thing only... Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The ink was still drying on its reviews which we all remember raving about its groundbreaking experimentation, trashing its departure from traditional roots music or avoiding the issue altogether to focus on the band's label and line-up changes. YHF created a rare sort of excitement and the band captured and amplified it that night. To my delight Tweedy and Co. drew heavily from Being There, leading off the set with "Misunderstood" and its tightrope-taught coda which had Tweedy shouting "nothing" in the closing line for a full minute. This was a bigger, bolder, smarter Wilco - a Wilco that would soon take over the world. They played all the new songs and interpretations of favorites plus a few surprises including the then unreleased "Handshake Drugs" and "Kicking Television." For me and many others YHF was a watershed moment in a genre we already loved and respected. Catching Wilco live in that moment was as rare and special a thing as I could have hoped.
5. Vic Chesnutt at Noe Valley Ministry in San Francisco, CA 1998
So the evening started dubiously with scheduled opener David Gray sitting in the front pew with a cold that kept him off stage while Maria McKee writhed on the piano bench and sang opera-bar interpretations of her own songs. In contrast Chesnutt was a pinned butterfly, a beautiful tragedy who forced the salvation of his own music through a badly patched vessel. His hands struggled with his instrument and he forgot the words of songs that were either too new and unrehearsed or too old and infrequently remembered. His stories were frank and sweet and ached with gallows humor so we ached with him. When the pieces came together, notes and phrases that could only be his, it was like discovering cut crystal in a dusty room. Hard, fragile, and perfect - glimmering shards reflecting the mess all around.
So the evening started dubiously with scheduled opener David Gray sitting in the front pew with a cold that kept him off stage while Maria McKee writhed on the piano bench and sang opera-bar interpretations of her own songs. In contrast Chesnutt was a pinned butterfly, a beautiful tragedy who forced the salvation of his own music through a badly patched vessel. His hands struggled with his instrument and he forgot the words of songs that were either too new and unrehearsed or too old and infrequently remembered. His stories were frank and sweet and ached with gallows humor so we ached with him. When the pieces came together, notes and phrases that could only be his, it was like discovering cut crystal in a dusty room. Hard, fragile, and perfect - glimmering shards reflecting the mess all around.
6. Phish at Red Rocks Ampitheater in Colorado 1995
The morning of the show I woke up with the intense memory of a dream in which I knew what it was like to be bald. Before the rest of the house was awake I walked down The Hill to a barber and had her shave my head. That night we bought some huge brownies in the parking lot and ate them like we were actually hungry. Everyone took turns rubbing my stupid bald head while the band played tons of stuff from Rift, an amazing version of "Run Like an Antelope" and stretched "Tweezer" for about fifteen minutes. All was virtuoso jam band bliss then the entire audience was abducted by aliens while walking to their cars. No kidding.
The morning of the show I woke up with the intense memory of a dream in which I knew what it was like to be bald. Before the rest of the house was awake I walked down The Hill to a barber and had her shave my head. That night we bought some huge brownies in the parking lot and ate them like we were actually hungry. Everyone took turns rubbing my stupid bald head while the band played tons of stuff from Rift, an amazing version of "Run Like an Antelope" and stretched "Tweezer" for about fifteen minutes. All was virtuoso jam band bliss then the entire audience was abducted by aliens while walking to their cars. No kidding.
7. Lyle Lovett and his Large Band at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA 1998
Lovett is the Texas definition of classy, and the beautiful Art-deco interior of the Paramount allowed him to woo the crowd with just the right amount of aw-shucks respect to share in a certain sense of wonder. His large band easily expanded and contracted to showcase the best, most nuanced elements of the man's songs while his sideways smile lightly leavened his always achingly honest singing voice. I for one walked away a little more humble and very happy.
Lovett is the Texas definition of classy, and the beautiful Art-deco interior of the Paramount allowed him to woo the crowd with just the right amount of aw-shucks respect to share in a certain sense of wonder. His large band easily expanded and contracted to showcase the best, most nuanced elements of the man's songs while his sideways smile lightly leavened his always achingly honest singing voice. I for one walked away a little more humble and very happy.
8. Okkervil River at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, CA 2009
Will Sheff and mates have developed a tight and exciting stage show with some pat but rewarding routines - enciting the crowd to clap in double-time during "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" from The Stage Names - but it all came off as genuine and enthralling. When the show ended I felt as if I somehow had a hand in the set list and understood the gravitas, humor and irony of songs like "John Allyn Smith Sails" more completely. Sheff announced that this was their last show of a long tour and that they would really miss all of us, then, as if to squeeze every last bit fun from their journey, launched into a barn burning, string breaking "Unless It's Kicks" to close. What gives this mess some grace unless it's fiction? The songs, the stories, even the show is a work of fiction, a messy rock-n-roll act intended to illicit all the right feelings - but for an hour in October I felt its grace and believed every word.
Will Sheff and mates have developed a tight and exciting stage show with some pat but rewarding routines - enciting the crowd to clap in double-time during "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" from The Stage Names - but it all came off as genuine and enthralling. When the show ended I felt as if I somehow had a hand in the set list and understood the gravitas, humor and irony of songs like "John Allyn Smith Sails" more completely. Sheff announced that this was their last show of a long tour and that they would really miss all of us, then, as if to squeeze every last bit fun from their journey, launched into a barn burning, string breaking "Unless It's Kicks" to close. What gives this mess some grace unless it's fiction? The songs, the stories, even the show is a work of fiction, a messy rock-n-roll act intended to illicit all the right feelings - but for an hour in October I felt its grace and believed every word.
9. Modest Mouse at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco, CA 2000 or 01
The Moon and Antarctica had been playing in my house and car and head for the better part of the year so it was great to finally hear all the hopeless cosmic pathos of "Third Planet" and "Paper Thin Walls" explode among lighthearted gems "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" and "Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset." The best part might have been hearing Isaac Brock call some guy an asshole for shouting out "COWBOY DAN!!" in between every song. And yes, they played "Cowboy Dan."
The Moon and Antarctica had been playing in my house and car and head for the better part of the year so it was great to finally hear all the hopeless cosmic pathos of "Third Planet" and "Paper Thin Walls" explode among lighthearted gems "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" and "Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset." The best part might have been hearing Isaac Brock call some guy an asshole for shouting out "COWBOY DAN!!" in between every song. And yes, they played "Cowboy Dan."
10. Peter Gabriel headlining the WOMAD festival in Boston, MA 1994
However you may feel about his post-So output there is no arguing the man's ability to put on an up-to-the-minute high tech show. He made the favorites bigger than life and he highlighted new material from Us with guest performers and dazzling effects, but most of all he used the massive venue and hand-held digital video technology to make the audience feel like it was both on stage and out of our minds, using his formidable show to bring the audience closer to the experience rather than set himself farther apart.
However you may feel about his post-So output there is no arguing the man's ability to put on an up-to-the-minute high tech show. He made the favorites bigger than life and he highlighted new material from Us with guest performers and dazzling effects, but most of all he used the massive venue and hand-held digital video technology to make the audience feel like it was both on stage and out of our minds, using his formidable show to bring the audience closer to the experience rather than set himself farther apart.
The Full List
In the spirit of full disclosure I'm putting it all out there, my autobiography in live shows attended excluding bands I only caught snippets of at festivals and most of what I saw at Bottom of the Hill, The Elbow Room or a bunch of other places in Boston and San Francisco from 1994-1998 because I simply can't remember them all.
764-HERO (w/ Aislers Set, Track Star, Bottom of the Hill, SF 1998)
A Minor Forest (w/ Physics, Storm & Stress, Bottom of the Hill, SF 1998)
Allman Brothers Band (HORDE, Boston 1994)
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women (HSB 2009; Davis 4th of July 2012)
America (free concert, Boston 1994 - the "Horse with No Name" guys)
Arrested Development (WOMAD, Boston 1994)
Col. Bruce Hampton's Aquarium Rescue Unit (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Augie March (Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2007)
Austin Lounge Lizards (Lynaugh's, Lexington, KY 1996)
Avett Brothers (HSB 2010; The Grove, Sacramento 2012)
Bad Company (w/ Damn Yankees Cincy 1990)
Bad Livers (HSB 2008)
The Bad Plus (Mondavi Center, Davis 2012)
Barenaked Ladies (Fox Theater, Boulder 1998; The Warfield, SF 1999)
Juliana Barwick (w/ Titus Andronicus and Okkervil River, The Fox, Oakland 2011)
The Beach Boys (Riverfront Stadium, Cincy 1984 - first concert, thanks Mom!)
Beck (at a taping of Letterman 2003)
Big Head Todd and the Monsters (HORDE, Boston 1994)
Bim Skala Bim (Boston 1994)
Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses (HSB 2011)
Black Crowes (w/ ZZ Top, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY 1990; w/ The Jayhawks, Louisville, KY 1993 - they played "No Speak No Slave" then left to deal with plain clothes narcs backstage; HORDE, Boston 1995)
Blame Sally (HSB 2011)
The Blank Tapes (Davis Music Fest, 2011)
Blitzen Trapper (Harlow's, Sacramento, CA 2009; 2012)
Luka Bloom (Copley Square, Boston 1994)
The Blueberries (Lexington, KY 1991-95)
Blues Traveller (HORDE, Boston 1994; w/ Sheryl Crow, Palace Theater, Louisville, KY 1994; HORDE, Boston 1995; HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Bon Iver (Freeborn Hall, Davis 2012)
Billy Bragg (HSB 2006; HSB 2009)
The Brodies (G Street Pub, Davis, CA 2000)
Richard Buckner (w/ Crooked Jades, Old Joe Clarks, Bottom of the Hill, SF 1997)
Jimmy Buffett (Riverbend, Cincy 1990)
T Bone Burnett (w/ John Melloncamp and Neko Case, HSB 2007)
Califone (Bottom of the Hill, SF 2010)
California Honeydrops (DMF 2012)
Camper Van Beethoven (Harlow's, Sacramento 2/10/2012)
Catawumpus (Lynaugh's, Lexington, KY 1991-95)
Jimmy Cliff (HORDE, Boston 1994)
Vic Chesnutt (w/ Maria McKee, Noe Valley Ministry, SF 1998 - David Gray was on the bill but was too sick to perform so he sat in the front row and nodded along)
Guy Clark (HSB 2006)
George Clinton and his P-funk Allstars (Tufts Spring Fling, Boston 1996)
Holly Cole Trio (NYC 1994)
Elvis Costello (w/ the Sugarcanes, HSB 2010)
Sheryl Crow ( HORDE, Boston 1994; w/ Blues Traveler, Palace Theater, Louisville, KY 1994)
Damn Yankees (w/ Bad Company Cincy 1990)
Dave Matthews Band (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Iris DeMent (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Hazel Dickens (HSB 2006)
Jerry Douglas (HSB 2010)
Drive By Truckers (HSB 2006)
Drivin' 'n' Cryin' (Wrocklage, Lexington, KY 1993)
Dry Branch Fire Squad (HSB 2005)
Lucky Dube (WOMAD, Boston 1994)
Justin Townes Earle (Great American Music Hall, SF 2011; HSB 2011)
Steve Earle (HSB 2004, 05, 07, 08, 11; Crest Theater, Sacramento 2009)
Elephant Revival (w/ Ben Sollee; DLMC 2012)
Exene (HSB 2010)
Expanding Man (Mama Kin, Boston, 1995 or 96 - room mate's band, toured with Alice in Chains)
Fairport Convention (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Dana Falconberry (Davis house concert, 2012)
Felice Brothers (HSB 2010)
Fishbone (Tufts Spring Fling, Boston 1994)
The Flatlanders (HSB 2007)
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (w/ Lilypons - a local Lexington jazz-funk ensemble- Kentucky Theater, Lexington, KY 1994)
Freakwater (HSB 2006)
Freddy Jones Band (HORDE, Boston 1994; w/ The Jono Manson Band, Boston 1995 or 96; HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Fuck (w/ Libba Getty, Virginia Dare, Bottom of the Hill, SF 1997)
G. Love and Special Sauce (HORDE, Boston 1995)
Peter Gabriel (WOMAD, Boston 1994)
Ganglians (w/ A Classic Education, Luigi's Davis, 3/3/2012)
God Street Wine (HORDE, Boston 1995; w/ Fun Lovin' Criminals, Boston 1995 or 96; HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Jackie Greene (HSB 2010)
Patty Griffin (w/ Buddy Miller, HSB 2010)
David Grisman (The Warfield, SF 1997)
Groovesaurus (Boston 1995-96)
Arlo Gurthrie (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Ben Harper (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Emmylou Harris (HSB 2006-08)
Juliana Hatfield (Hatch Shell, Boston 1995)
Richie Havens (HSB 2009)
Kristin Hersh (Noe Valley Ministry, SF 1998)
John Hiatt (w/ Lyle Lovett acoustic storytellers show, Mondavi Center, Davis, CA 2009)
Kelly Hogan (DLMC house concert, 2012)
Jolie Holland (w/ Sea of Bees, Camila Ortiz, DLMC, Odd Fellows Hall, Davis, 2/21/2012)
Rita Hosking (Davis Music Fest, 2011)
Hothouse Flowers (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Indigo Girls (Newport Folk Festival 1994; somewhere in Denver with my sister 1995)
Iron & Wine (HSB 2008)
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit (HSB 2011)
Jackopierce (w/ Gus & From Good Homes, Avalon, Boston 1995)
The Jayhawks (w/ The Black Crowes in Louisville, KY; w/ Wilco, Kentucky theater, Lexington, KY 1995 - Victoria Williams joined in for several songs including "Miss Williams' Guitar" and "Ten Little Kids" then they all joined Wilco for a crazy Golden Smog encore of "Red Headed Stepchild"; Gary Louris and Mark Olsen duo at HSB 2008; Slim's, SF 2011; HSB 2011)
Jenny & Jonnny (HSB 2010)
Jesus Jones (w/ Ned's Atomic Dustbin, UK Student Union, Lexington, KY 1991)
Billy Joel (Riverfront Colosseum, Cincy 1990)
Elton John (Riverbend, Cincy 1993)
Milla Jovovich (Hatch Shell, Boston 1995)
Keb Mo (w/ Alvin Youngblood Hart, Borders Books, Boston 1995)
Robert Earl Keen (HSB 2006; HSB 2009 - he was drunk)
King Crimson (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
The Knitters (HSB 2005; The Palms, Winters, CA 2008; HSB 2009)
Lenny Kravitz (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Ladysmith Black Mambaso (Mondavi Center, Davis, CA 2009)
Dawn Landes (w/ Justin Townes Earle, 2011)
Jon Langford's Skull Orchard feat. Sally Timms & the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus (HSB 2008; w/ Sadies & Sally Timms, HSB 2009; w/ Skull Orchard, HSB 2010; House Concert, Davis, 2010)
Lee Press On and the Nails (Cafe du Norde, SF 1997 or 98; Aces, Sacramento 1999 or 2000)
Letters to Cleo (Tufts, Boston 1995)
Live (WOMAD, Boston 1994)
Lyle Lovett (Paramount Theater, Oakland 1998; HSB 2009; w/ John Hiatt, Mondavi Center 2009)
Machinery Hall (Hatch Shell, Boston 1995)
Mad Cow String Band (Luigi's Davis, 2/15/2012)
Taj Mahal (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Barry Manilow (Riverbend, Cincy 1985 - Mom and Dad took us, I remember my sister sleeping through the whole thing)
Aimee Mann (HSB 2009)
Marchfourth Marching Band (HSB 2010)
Ziggy Marley (HORDE, Boston 1995)
MC Hammer (HSB 2010)
Del McCourey (w/ David Grisman at the Warfield, SF 1996; HSB 2005)
Cass McCombs (HSB 2011)
Sarah McLachlan (Newport Folk Festival, 1994)
The Mekons (HSB 2011)
Natalie Merchant (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Tift Merritt (HSB 2008)
Metropolitan Blues Allstars (Lexington, KY 1991-95)
Midnight Oil (WOMAD, Boston 1994)
The Mighty Clouds of Joy (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Buddy Miller (w/ Julie Miller, HSB 2004; solo, HSB 2005; w/ Emmylou Harris & Robert Plant, HSB 2009, 11)
Milwaukee (Old Ironsides, Sacramento, CA 2001)
Misner & Smith (Davis, 2011)
Miss Lonely Hearts (DMF 2012)
Modest Mouse (Bimbo's 365, SF 2000 or 01)
Thurston Moore (HSB 2011)
Allison Moorer (HSB 2007; w/ Shelby Lynne, HSB 2010)
Morphine (Central Square, Boston 1995)
Bob Mould (HSB 2011)
Me'Shell Ndegeocello (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
New Kids on the Block (w/ Dino and Oaktown 357, Riverfront Colosseum, Cincy 1989 - I was the cool big brother who drove his sister and her friends so that Mom and Dad didn't have to go.)
Randy Newman (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
The Nickel Slots (DMF 2012)
The Nields (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
O Mighty Isis (Club Illusions, Palo Alto, CA 2009)
Conor Oberst (w/ Felice Brothers, HSB 2010)
Odetta (HSB 2008)
Okkervil River (HSB 2009; The Fox, Oakland 2011)
Old 97's (HSB 2009, Harlow's 2011)
Old Crow Medicine Show (HSB 2009)
Will Oldham (as Palace Brothers, Bimbo's 365, SF 1996; as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, HSB 2008; HSB 2010)
Ollabelle (HSB 2011)
Joan Osborne (HORDE, Boston 1995)
Opus Orange (DMF 2012)
Camila Ortiz (DMF 2012)
Elvis Perkins in Dearland (HSB 2009)
Phish (Foxborough, Boston 1994; Red Rocks, CO 1995; Cow Palace, SF 1997)
Poor Man's Whiskey (HSB 2010)
John Prine (HSB 2009)
Queen Latifah (Tufts Spring Fling, Boston 1994)
Rabby Feeber (Lexington, KY 1991-92)
Red Planet (G Street Pub, Davis, CA 2000)
Fionn Regan (HSB 2007)
The Robot Ate Me (Delta of Venus, Davis, CA 2006)
David Lee Roth (w/ Extreme and Cinderella, Riverbend, Cincy 1991)
Rusted Root (HORDE, Boston 1994; HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Sands (w/ Two Sheds, Luigi's Davis, 1/28/2012)
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies (HORDE, Boston 1994)
Martin Sexton (HSB 2010)
Shayna & the Bulldog (Davis Music Fest, 2011)
The Shins (Mondavi Center, Davis 2012)
Michelle Shocked (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (HSB 2007-08)
The Skirts (G St Pub, Davis, CA 2000)
Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers (Cafe du Norde, SF 1997)
Smoke Shovelers (DMF 2012)
Jill Sobule (Hatch Shell, Boston 1995)
Ben Sollee (DLMC 2012)
Son Volt (side stage at HORDE in Nashville 1996; w/ Varnaline and Jude,The Fillmore, SF 1997; w/ Andrew Duplantis, The Fillmore, SF 1998; Jay Farrar solo, The Fillmore 2001; w/ Brian Henneman of the Bottle Rockets, The Fillmore, SF 2002)
Southern Culture on the Skids (HSB 2011)
The Snowmen (w/ Oranger, Fiver, Bottom of the Hill, SF 1998)
Spearhead (Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA 2001 or 02)
Ralph Stanley (HSB 05-08)
Mavis Staples (HSB 2009)
The Story (Newport Folk Festival 1994)
Stranglmartin (Lexington, KY 1991-92)
Swell (w/ That Dog, Bottom of the Hill, SF 1997)
Tarnation (w/ Turpentine, Wandering Stars, Bottom of the Hill, SF 1997)
James Taylor (King's Island, Cincy 1991)
They Might Be Giants (Tufts Spring Fling, Boston 1994)
Thistle (w/ El Gigante, Top Cats, Cincy 2000)
Throwing Muses (Hatch Shell, Boston 1995)
311 (HORDE, Nashville 1996)
Titus Andronicus (The Fox 2011)
Toad the Wet Sprocket (w/ The Grays, Avalon, Boston 1994)
The Tragically Hip (The Fillmore, SF 1998)
Trombone Shorty (HSB 2010)
Trouble Makers (Sacramento, 2002-ish)
Truth & Salvage Co. (Davis Music Fest, 2011)
Kurt Vile & the Violators (HSB 2011)
Violent Femmes (Tufts Spring Fling, Boston 1996)
Waco Brothers (HSB 2008)
Abigail Washburn (w/ Bela Fleck, HSB 2011)
Gillian Welch (w/ Noe Venable, Great American Music Hall, SF 1997 or 98; HSB 2005, 06, 07, 11)
West Nile Ramblers (Davis Music Fest, 2011, 2012; Our House 2012)
Whiskey Avengers (DMF 2012)
Wilco (w/ The Jayhawks at the Kentucky Theater, Lexington, KY 1995; w/ Bettie Serveert, The Fillmore, SF 1997; w/ Preston School of Industry, Bogarts, Cincy 2002; Jeff Tweedy solo, HSB 2007; Mondavi Center, Davis 2/1/2012)
Jonathan Wilson (HSB 2011)
Yonder Mountain String Band (HSB 2010)
The Yonders (Cheapside, Lexington, KY 1994-95)
Dan Zanes (Herbst Theater, SF 2006; Mondavi Center, Davis, CA 2008 - you know, for kids)
ZZ Top (w/ The Black Crowes, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY 1990)
