![]() ![]() ![]() How he manages to travel that raw emotional road in song night after night is a wonder. Looking like the guy who hung drywall in your living room, he announced in his gravel-truck voice at his December show, "I don't really trust you unless your life has burned to the ground twice and you started over. His songs of darkness and personal defeat are redeemed by jewel-like moments of hope and love. Putting a twist on Eugene O'Neill, Graham's shows are often long night’s journeys into day. 13 with the Hobart Brothers and Lil' Sis Hobart, Kiki's House of Righteous Music, April 10 and Kiki's House of Righteous Music, Dec. Like the compelling and scary songs of Jon Dee Graham. ![]() Yep, even if we live the most proper lives imaginable, those bad-boy songs resonate with us. Am I telling a secret here? That all guys know deep down that temptation, chaos, despair and ruin are always lurking around the corner. I will ’fess up that I seem to be drawn - how to delicately put this? - to guy music, alt-country division. My original comments (lightly edited) are followed by italicized afterthoughts and music links. ![]() They are in roughly descending order of my liking. So here are my favorite shows and artists in Madison from 2006 to 2015 at the end, I toss in a few more from Milwaukee and Chicago. A critic I'm not: These year-end perambulations are a fan's notes. For 10 years I've written a year-end summary of my favorite shows for Isthmus. Brought to tears by Beethoven's 9th and Gorecki's 3rd. Glimpsing the abyss with the fearless Jon Dee Graham. In jaw-dropping awe of masters like Yo-Yo Ma and Leonard Cohen. Lost in the shared sway of the cosmic boogie. I love being caught up in the moment of live music. About 500 concerts and shows’ worth over 10 years. ![]()
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