Live in 2003

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bowery Ballroom, April 3

There's nothing better than seeing a hometown favorite start on a national tour for the release of their first full-length album. This, compounded by the fact that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a dish best served live, made this possibly one of the best nights of their short and explosive career.--Pat Feghali

Field Day Festival, Giants Stadium, June 7

Most of the festival itself was pretty bad, but what makes my memory of Field Day even worse is that I missed seeing Elliott Smith while he was alive. From what I heard, he was a little out of it, but fabulous anyway. After seeing the magical My Morning Jacket play the second stage (located in the parking lot) in the rain, I decided not to stay outside for Smith's set. It was my loss, as the bands I did see during Elliott's playing time--including Blur--were all mediocre. Radiohead, the headliner of this downsized event, were breathtaking. Unfortunately I had little breath to spare as my energy was sucked up by acts, such as Beth Orton, who ended up being subpar during the rainy day.--Jayanthi K. Daniel

Sleater-Kinney, Southpaw, July 8

While stopping in town to open for Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden(!), Sleater-Kinney saw fit to play a real show at Brooklyn's Southpaw. As much as I hate hot and crowded rooms, both were oddly appealing during the band's incredibly energetic performance. I was so excited, in fact, that you may have caught me dancing. Or at least just kinda moving around a little bit. Up close and personal in the best way possible, Sleater-Kinney's show made me swear never to set foot in the Garden (or any other similarly gargantuan venue) again.--Michael Cramer

Guided By Voices, Southgate House, KY, August 23

Guided By Voices have been putting out albums since 1987. That's a damn long time, and this show made sure that they had a chance to play songs from each record. It lasted almost three hours and the (nearly) home-town crowd, which included singer Bob Pollard's parents, loved every minute of it. It's not every band that keeps a tub full of ice and beer on stage to hold the bass drum in place. Pollard and Co. took advantage of its placement, as well as the audience's eagerness to strike a match when he was too drunk to light his own cigarettes but not, thank the gods, too drunk to rock.--Pat Feghali

The Decemberists, Mercury Lounge, October 29

Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy promised the audience this would be an extra-special show to make up for the band's poor showing during the CMJ Music Marathon (Meloy had a cold). And it was. The band, in particular keyboardist/accordionist Rachel Blumberg, recreated the rich instrumental arrangements from their two great albums. Meloy, meanwhile, was in top form, delivering his story-song vocals with eccentric panache, and leaving some linguistically-challenged crowd members wondering if he was really British (he's not). As Meloy sings on a track from this year's Her Majesty The Decemberists, the Decemberists were indeed "meant for the stage."--Michael Cramer