11/11/07 ASSSSCAT @ Irving Plaza, New York, NY

I tend to prefer my improvisation in music rather than comedy, but ASSSSCAT are certainly the best at what they do. Their Sunday night show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre has been one of the best values in comedy for several years.

For this New York Comedy Festival event, the original UCB ASSSSCAT group of Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh and Ian Roberts was augmented by Saturday Night Live alum Horatio Sanz.

My favorite sketch featured the gang riffing on a hippie-cum-hipster with Amy Poehler's brilliant take on Modest Mouse: "Most mice are modest. They're beautiful creatures."

10/31/07 Phil Lesh & Friends @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

10/31/07 • Nokia Theatre • New York , NY
Set 1: Shakedown Street > Loose Lucy, Don't Let The Devil Take Your Mind1, Candyman, I Put A Spell on You1 > Story of the Ghost > Casey Jones
Set 2: The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allen Poe, Cryptical Envelopment > Boris The Spider1 > Caution (Do Not Step On Tracks) > Voodoo Chile1 > The Other One > Cryptical Envelopment > New Speedway Boogie > Fire On The Mountain, Sympathy For The Devil1 > I Know You Rider
Encore: Donor Rap/Intros, Werewolves Of London
1 first time played

For all the emphasis placed on Halloween in the live music scene, this remains one of the only shows I've seen on that particular day. This kicked off an extended run by Phil Lesh's latest group of Friends in the heart of Times Square.

The setlist included numerous tunes referencing the appropriate spooky epherma of ghosts and devils and such. The second set opened with a spine-tingling jam while Phil read Poe.

I also caught one other show on this 9 night run, but I can't remember which one. However, I do remember seeing Mike Gordon in the balcony.

10/27/07 Comedians of Comedy @ Irving Plaza, New York, NY

The Comedians of Comedy tour was put together to bring comedy to venues more accustomed to rock and roll. The tour spawned a live DVD and a documentary series on Comedy Central. At this stage of the tour, my favorite of the group, Zach Galifianakis, had moved on to bigger things. In his steadm, the night featured up-and-comers like Aziz Anisari and Eugene Mirman, in addition to stalwarts Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehan and special guest David Cross.

10/19/07 Umphrey's McGee @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

10/19/07 • Nokia Theatre • New York , NY
Set 1: Higgins, Der Bluten Kat, Intentions Clear, Bright Lights, Big City, Great American1 > That's the Way1 > Great American1
Set 2: Nemo > Meeting In The Aisle > Nemo, Pay the Snucka > Jimmy Stewart2 > 40's Theme, The Stranger, Eat, Out of Order > Mood For A Day3 > Pay the Snucka
Encore: Hangover
1Brendan and Jake on Acoustics
2Tim Lefebvre replaces Ryan on bass
3Jake Solo

This might have been the last time I saw Umphrey's at Nokia. The highlights were the appropriate "Bright Lights, Big City" and the "Hangover" encore.

10/07/07 Common/Q-Tip @ Nokia Theatre, New York, NY

Even though Q-Tip stuck mainly to his new material featuring more singign than rapping. The man can sing, but I really just wanted to hear his classic Tribe material.

Common put on one of the best live hip hop performances I've ever seen backed by a live band, which was the style at the time. He is a showman through and through working the audience and rocking the mic right.

The highlight of the night was when he brought Q-Tip and surprise guest KRS-ONE on stage for an impromptu freestyle.

09/??/07 Soulive @ Temptress ROCC, New York, NY

This Concert Cruise was my first time witnessing the unimpressive pairing of the trio with the vocalist Toussaint, who would later briefly join the group.

On the bright side, the underrated underground emcee Breez Evahflowin joined in for some freestyling. Also, there was a Zeppelin cover.

09/??/07 DJ Rekha (Basement Bhangra) @ SOB's, New York, NY

This hip hop Bollywood dance party included a free dance lesson. I still bust out the moves when the situation calls for it.