Some of the best live shows that I saw in 2010 were not necessarily by artists that I have been faithfully listening to for years. As a hip-hop head, of course it was great seeing De La Soul again who are still in top form twenty-plus years into their careers. But this past year the sets that resonated with me most came from artists/groups that I saw on stage for the first time—those who have only recently begun to gain proper recognition for their individual innovations in music. Yes, the list could have been longer, but this handful of performances were the ones that reminded me why I still cover concerts. These were the shows that made 2010—both sonically and visually—a year to remember.

Daedelus at Lincoln Hall, 2/16/10

Performing behind just a cheap, plastic fold-up table, L.A.’s beat innovator Daedelus proved to be a class act, breaking a sweat in his blazer and tie for the eager crowd at the modest-sized Lincoln Hall. Enthusiastically utilizing his signature monome box as a controller, the producer rapidly recreated songs from albums like Love To Make Music To without missing a step.

The Very Best at Mad Decent/IHeartComix Carniville SXSW, 3/20/10

Why it was so cold and windy on this March Saturday in Austin is still mystifying, but the third day of the outdoor Carnivile at SXSW remained most memorable for the music, namely The Very Best. This South African/UK group featuring Mo-Laudi as the crowd-commander/MC, likely got even the most cynical in a good mood. TVB’s global grooves paired with an upbeat hip-hop presence was immediately embraced.

Janelle Monáe at Schubas Tavern, 3/29/10

With the dramatic entrance, cloaked band members, and massive amounts of fog this show was undeniably strange—perfectly fitting for visionary vocalist Janelle Monáe. On the first of two shows at this shoebox venue, Monáe brought the artsy soul of songs like “Dance or Die” full force with a plethora of facial expressions and dance moves. Why she will be around a long time is because she doesn’t just let the music speak for itself on stage—she gives her tracks a whole new life.

The Slew at Sónar Festival Chicago, 9/9/10

To have Barcelona’s esteemed Sónar Festival come to Chicago was a big deal in 2010 and there no shortage of progressive music/visuals featured in the first stateside edition. Yet one of the most memorable sets came from one of the least avant-garde groups of the weekend: The Slew. This turntablism-meets-psych funk/rock experience featuring Kid Koala brought heavy guitar riffs and equally heavy percussion (from drums and turntables) to a happy, head nodding audience at Millennium Park.

Black Milk at Reggie’s Rock Club, 11/16/10

Detroit’s Black Milk threw most hip-hop show clichés out the window at the Red Bull Big Tune pre show held on the near South Side of Chicago. There was no long list of iffy opening acts/DJs or gigantic entourage crowding the stage—it was just Black and his band re-imagining the best of his four-album catalog of music. The raw, battle rap of “The Matrix” and the reflective relationship rhymes of “Without You” alike were taken to another level with the dirty Detroit blend of soul, funk, and jazz lighting up the stage.

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