Beyonce: Reigned Supreme In 2009 Concert Scene

I see about 150 shows a year, with the number of memorable gigs balanced out, more or less, by those I wish I could forget. The vast majority of the shows, through, fall somewhere in between.

That said, I certainly saw some top-notch shows during the last 12 months — enough to declare 2009 as a strong year for live music by the Bay. It was particularly rich for R&B, soul and pop offerings — and rock continued to roll as solidly as ever. Here are the 10 best concerts I saw in 2009:

1. Beyonce, July 10, Oracle Arena, Oakland: I’m just flat out “Crazy in Love” with the Queen B’s live show. The R&B/pop star is easily as great on stage as she is in the studio — and that’s saying something. I thought the singer’s “The Beyonce Experience” tour in 2007 was as good as it could get, but last year’s “I Am . . . Tour” proved me wrong. In this case, I was very happy to be incorrect.

2. Leonard Cohen, April 13, Paramount Theatre, Oakland: Having gone some 15 years without taking the stage in the Bay Area, the legendary singer-songwriter made the most of his long-awaited return and performed nearly 30 songs during his three-hour show. Every tune was gorgeous — some, such as “If It Be Your Will” and “Hallelujah,” heartbreakingly so.

3. Phish, Aug. 5, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View: Phish’s five-year breakup didn’t sit well with fans, concert promoters or, apparently, the band itself. Thus, the group’s local stop on its reunion tour felt like a celebration as much as a concert. The layoff certainly didn’t hurt the band musically — and this gig was even more “phun” than Phish’s previous Shoreline show, back in 2003.

4. En Vogue, Oct. 28, Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, Oakland: What a thrill it was to see this multiplatinum R&B/pop girl group, with all four original members, perform at such an intimate venue. The fact that it was a homecoming gig served as the icing on the cake.

5. Pink, Sept. 17, HP Pavilion, San Jose: This was the year’s biggest surprise — at least for this critic. I had no idea that the colorful singer could deliver such a thoroughly entertaining, expertly paced evening of music.

6. Ne-Yo, Feb. 6, Paramount: In just one hour on stage, the Grammy winner showcased everything that makes him so special: lyrical depth, stylish soul sounds, undeniable charisma, killer dance steps and moving vocals.

7. Kristin Hersh, Feb. 19, Yoshi’s San Francisco: I wasn’t thrilled when Yoshi’s started booking non-jazz acts on a regular basis. This show, an intimate evening with one of the most significant voices in alt-rock history, helped me get behind the new practice.

8. Labelle, Jan. 30, Paramount: Think Leonard Cohen made fans wait too long? This R&B band, led by powerhouse vocalist Patti LaBelle, went more than 30 years between Bay Area dates. That’s far too long to go without a proper dose of “Lady Marmalade.”

9. Vampire Weekend, Nov. 7, Town Hall, Lafayette: This scorching hot indie-pop act, capable of headlining 3,000-plus-capacity theaters, thrilled locals by delivering an energetic small-venue show. The music sounded great, but the setting — a 200-seat theater — was the real star.

10. Antony and the Johnsons, Feb. 24, Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco: Many awesome moments occurred at this show, but I’ll just mention one: a stunning, unexpected and, ultimately, heartwarming cover of Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love.”

Others shows worth celebrating, in chronological order, were: Modest Mouse, Feb. 22, Fox Theater in Oakland; Blondie, Feb. 25, Fillmore in San Francisco; Bruce Springsteen, April 1, HP Pavilion; Decemberists, May 20, Fox; Jackson Browne, Aug. 19, Paramount.

By Jim Harrington | Oakland Tribune | mercurynews.com