I Did It With A Wiffle Ball Bat

Are you a listmaker? Do you do top tens like Dave Letterman? Do you do top fives like John Cusak in High Fidelity? I am a list maker and my friends (for the most part) are listmakers too. We will actively engage in conversations like “Top Five American Bands” or “Top Five Movies From Your Childhood” or “Top Five Kate From Lost Moments” ( I liked when she was golfing in that one episode when they were stuck on an island).

A popular topic that surfaces from time to time is “Top Five Bands You’d Like to See Live, But Haven’t Yet.” This list, of course, assumes that the bands or artists you choose are still making music, or at least touring. While this particular topic hasn’t surface in recent memory, I have been forced to reevaluate my list because, while in Austin, I knocked off my #1; The Beastie Boys at Stubb’s BBQ on March 16, 2006. It was incredible.

After seeing MCA, AdRock, and Mike D earlier in the day at a question and answer session at the Austin Convention Center, word began to spread that the Beasties were going to perform at a secret, unannounced show later that night. I decided to head over to Stubb’s at about 6 to see if there was any truth to the rumors, and sure enough anxious fans were already queuing up for the unannounced show that had somehow managed to become quite, well, announced.

After listening to the entire sound check, hearing the characteristic turntable scratches of Mixmaster Mike, I eventually was let in with the masses, grabbed 2 Lone Stars, and made my way to the front of the crowd. As soon as the crowd settled in, Mixmaster Mike burst onto the stage with the affable greeting “What Up Mother Fuckerrrrrsss?” After spinning and scratching on the ones and twos for a solid ten minutes (and yelling “Move! Mother Fuckers” repeatedly), the 3 MC’s came out to join their 1 DJ, and they started getting’ down with no delay.

The Beasties did not disappoint and ran through a 60 minute set spanning from Licensed to Ill’s “Paul Revere” to To The Five Boroughs’ “Triple Trouble.” While they certainly have their share of gray hairs these days, the lyrical skills have not aged at all, the show was dope, and everything I had imagined it would be.

So, having the #1 knocked off my “Bands to See” list, I am forced to reevaluate and re-rank my choices. Here they are. In this order:

1) The Arcade Fire
2) Beck
3) The Shins
4) Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5) My Morning Jacket

What are your 5?