music to my ears

I set out to see at least 100 live bands in 2006. Got the idea from a scenester at work. I finally hit my goal last night!

The rules are: catch them play at least 3 songs (so opening bands can count), have to be paying attention (not chatting), and has to be in public space. Official rules also say DJs don't count, but I counted A-Trak, because he's a turntablist, and that takes more skill than just spinning records.

Most were in Toronto, a few were in Ottawa and a bunch were in Chicago. There are some that I saw more than once. I only saw one band that was truly terrible, I won't name names, but Tara knows what I'm talkin' about!

But the music isn't ending, tonight I'll see Hot Chip. Here's the list, chronologically:

1 - Justin Rutledge
2 - Great Lake Swimmers
3 - Akron Family
4 - Final Fantasy
5 - Golden Bulldozer
6 - Magneta Lane
7 - The Old Soul
8 - Cuff the Duke
9 - Whispertown 2000
10 - Jonathan Rice
11 - Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
12 - The Basement Arms
13 - Shotgun and Jaybird
14 - Julie Doiron
16 - New Buffalo
17 - The Concretes
18 - A-Trak w. The Rub + Cosmos
19 - Barmitzvah Bros
20 - Barzin
21 - 2-Minute Miracles
22 - Great Lake Swimmers
23 - Fembots
24 - Amy Millan
25 - Hostage Life
26 - Stiff Little Fingers
27 - Run with the Kittens
28 - Bitch and the Exciting Conclusion
29 - Transcendence Gospel Choir
30 - Crackpuppy
31 - Erase Errata
32 - Seckou Keita Quartet
33 - Jamaica to Toronto
34 - The Two Bobs
35 - The Waking Eyes
36 - The Weakerthans
37 - Stars
38 - Ryan Adams
39 - Mates of State
40 - Iron + Wine
41 - Sleater-Kinney
42 - Death Cab for Cutie
43 - Rainer Maria
44 - Nada Surf
45 - Feist
46 - Oh No! Oh My!
47 - Built to Spill
48 - Calexico
49 - Wolfmother
50 - Sonic Youth
51 - Gnarls Barkley
52 - Disco Biscuits
53 - The Flaming Lips
54 - Thievery Corporation
55 - The New Pornographers
56 - Kanye West
57 - Manu Chao
58 - Peter DiStefano
59 - Perry Farrell
60 - Patti Smith
61 - Hot Chip
62 - Ben Kweller
63 - The New Amsterdams
64 - Matisyahu
65 - The Shins
66 - Of Montreal
67 - Wilco
68 - Broken Social Scene
69 - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
70 - April Verch
71 - Colleen Hodgson
72 - Kensington Hillbillies
73 - Prairie Oyster
74 - Great Lake Swimmers
75 - Amy Millan
76 - Telefauna
77 - Fritz Helder and the Phantoms
78 - The Hidden Cameras
79 - The Hylozoists
80 - Bell Orchestre
81 - Terror Lake
82 - Lipstick Machine
83 - Ken Whiteley
84 - Methuselah
85 - Soft Copy
86 - Sour Keys
87 - Starlight Mints
88 - Mates of State
89 - Corb Lund
90 - Kensington Hillbillies
91 - Les Breastfeeders
92 - Emily Haines & Soft Skeleton
93 - Les Trois Accords
94 - Joel Plaskett Emergency
95 - The Tragically Hip
96 - Prairie Oyster
97 - Dyniss
98 - Collette Savard
99 - The Swingin' Blackjacks
100 - Radius and Helena
101 - The Rural Alberta Advantage