Show: Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour at Jobing.com Arena on June 8
The year was only half over, but I knew this was the best show I'd see back in June. Of course, I never knew how many shows I'd be seeing, employed as feature writer at The East Valley Tribune at the time. Still, Kanye, Lupe, Rihanna and N.E.R.D. kept the lead long after I started seeing three plus shows a week. The bill was great from top to bottom - N.E.R.D. was a disappointment, but not bad, per say - and Kanye's space opera-like set was one of the most ambitious tours ever mounted, and probably the greatest rap tour ever.
My mother, by way of mocking him, once asked if I considered Kanye West "The Voice of My Generation" and, you know what, I kinda do. The ambition, sophistication and imagination of this show demonstrated why. 'Ye also turned in a hell of a performance, carrying his entire set solo, save a cameo by Lupe Fiasco on "Touch The Sky." Not too many performers have done that or could do that. Mr. West showed, live on stage, that he can live up to his hype. --Martin Cizmar
This countdown was complied by Niki D'Andrea and Martin Cizmar and is running here over the last 10 days of the year. To read other entries click "Concert of the Year Countdown" in the tags below.
