Vincent Orange, fighting Kwame Brown for Gray’s seat, went with a smaller Cadillac SUV than his competitor. What, he couldn’t afford an orange paint job?

So now you know who we loved locally this year. Here’s our list of the live shows that came through town and left a lasting impression in ’07.

Dismemberment Plan Reunion Shows @ Black Cat
DCist Ian says:
The Plan’s much anticipated reunion to benefit Cal Robbins, the son of Jawbox/Burning Airlines frontman and recording engineer J. Robbins, sold out in under five minutes. So Travis Morrison & co. added a second show. In all honesty, they probably could have just gone in residence at the Black Cat all week long and sold out in similarly speedy fashion, but could the show live up to the hype? The answer was a resounding and booty-shaking yes.

DCist Valerie Says:
My first shows at the Black Cat were these two spectacular sets that merited the 12 hour drive up from my then-home of Atlanta, GA. Predictably, I got into the band as they were going on their farewell tour so after hearing about what I’d missed for the past four years, I got to witness the intense energy of the band and the unparalleled emotion of the devoted following. Besides, how many shows have you been to when the artist offers you a pornographic cake?

DCist Mehan says:
Do you remember those shows that you used to go to as a teenager where you could jump up and down, sing along and dance around like an idiot without worry–because everyone else was doing it too? Sure, raging hormones, a lack of self-awareness and youthful naiveté probably had something to do with it. But I’m pretty sure the music did too. To wit, the Dismemberment Plan’s two reunion gigs at the Black Cat, which had D.C. scenesters–famous for “Do[ing] the Standing Still” — dancing, shouting and singing like it was 1999. It’s reassuring to know that no matter how old we get, some things will never change. Thank God the Plan is one of them.

Wonder-full Party
DCist Jacarl says:
DJ Spinna and Bobbito Garcia came to town with their traveling tribute to one of the greatest musicians of the past 50 years. It’s hard to think that going to a club could ever be considered a spiritual experience but this show would make you seriously consider it. It didn’t matter if it was an old Motown composition or a house remix put out a few years ago, the crowd’s energy output stayed at ridiculously high levels throughout the night with the help of two of the world’s best deejays.

Joshua Redman @ Blues Alley
DCist Sriram says:
The interaction between the band members was simply amazing and the material from his most recent album is very strong.

Photo by Flickr user Rory

Filed Under: atlanta, Black Cat, blues, blues alley, But I, Cal, concerts, dcist, DCist Ian, dismemberment plan, dj, DJ Spinna, flickr, joshua redman, music, shows, Thank God, the dismemberment plan, The Plan, travis, travis morrison, year in review,