||||Mediocre Music Blog

Here we are folks, already 3 days into 2011, and we’re just now catching our collective breaths from a whirlwind holiday season… time for a bit of reflection on the year that was. 2010 was for us the birth of the Mediocre Music Blog, which is really just a vehicle to convey a true passion we all share. 2010 was a great year for music, particularly live. For us we were lucky enough to attend dozens of shows in addition to the Coachella, Newport Folk, and Electric Zoo festivals. Read on for some of our favorite shots, if for no other reason than to whet your appetite for what’s shaping up to be an even-better 2011.

One of the first live acts I saw in 2010 was actually at the NBA Allstar Game, where Shakira, Alica Keys and Usher handled entertainment duties. 3 acts I would probably not see under ordinary circumstances but I welcomed the opportunity to see Shakira dancing in a cage and Alicia Keys really is a talent to behold.

Bonobo were one of a few bands I got to catch more than once. Both times at the Paradise, once pre and once post renovation.

Atoms for Peace were another one, the first being at the Wang Theater, quite an ornate setting if you ever get the opportunity.

deadmau5 and Major Lazer were the only acts I saw 3 times. This shot was from the debut of his new cube rig, at Coachella. The final show at Earl’s Court was certainly the visual spectacle of the year (figures I didn’t have a camera, let alone photo pass).

Florence and the Machine gave a breakout performance in the Gobi Tent @ coach.

Devo, ha.

James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem game without question the drunkest performance I saw all year.

Big year for Miike Snow, deservedly so.

Little Dragon joins Gorillaz on stage to close out Coachella 2010.

Chromeo delivered one of the performances of the year at the House of Blues Boston. They’re coming back in a few weeks kids so get tickets before they’re gone.

Cellist from the Avett Brother’s band was one of the more animated characters at the Newport Folk Festival.

Felice Brothers were an unexpected treat, watch out for these guys in 2011.

Backstage pre-show huddle from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Much more intimate venue than the Coachella show, so much so that the show was delayed 15 minutes while police and fire figured out a safe way for everyone to fit in the tent.

Performance was worth the wait of course.

“Brothers” by Black Keys was definitely one of the albums of the year. We caught up with them at the Bank of America pavilion for a raucous live show.

This is one of my favorite shots of the year, during Pretty Lights performance at Electric Zoo (one of my fav shows too).

Flying Lotus was having fun.

Major Lazer, biggest party of 2010. Their show on Easter Sunday with Rusko and Sleigh Bells downstairs at the middle east was hands-down my favorite show of the year. Top 5 all time maybe,each act brought the place to the next level, the last level being the roof being blown off.

Rusko!

Local Natives at Governor’s island. Another one to watch out for in 2011.

Phoenix @ Boston University. No Daft Punk encore for us, but a mighty show nonetheless, made up for them not being able to get their lights across the Atlantic in time for coachella due to volcano-related activity.

This is Janelle Monae opening for Of Montreal. We promised you at the time that this would be the last time she opened for anyone, ever. Then she opened for Prince at Madison Square Garden. THAT was the last time, seriously.

Of Montreal deliver what was comfortably the weirdest show in the history of the universe @ the House of Blues.

No idea what deadmau5 can do to one-up his most recent stage rig. Last month’s show at Earl’s Court was the first time an electronic artist has ever sold-out the legendary venue. Stay tuned though because he doesn’t seem ready to quit.