Best live rock music venues

M.I.A. at First Avenue last fall. Photo by Jerry Holt. 1. First Avenue

"What's special about First Ave is the culture, the closeness, the location in the city and the history." --ecg129
Last year: 1.

2. Triple Rock

"The perfect venue for a one-on-one confrontation with your favorite band." --westfaliarock
Last year: 4.

3. Fine Line

"The prices may be on the high end, but you're never losing any quality." --arisenprodigy
Last year: 2.

4. Varsity Theater "The whole look and feel going in brings you into a world of elegance." --arisenprodigy
Last year: 3.

5. 7th Street Entry

First Avenue's side room offers the same great experience on a smaller scale.
Last year: 5.

6. Turf Club

"Good beer selection, good acoustics, and that St. Paul history and charm are all there in spades." --brainiac
Last year: 10.

7. 400 Bar

"A low-key place that always has great music." --CityGal
Last year: 6.

8. Uptown Bar

"Worst sound in town; cheap drinks and a fun atmosphere partly make up for it." --MattMartigan
Last year: 9.

9. Cabooze

"A haven for the Minneapolis hippie scene, and I love it!" --che676
Last year: 7.

10. Myth

"They can fit a lot of people in there without losing the intimacy." --aaangie
Last year: 8.

Best concert you've ever seen

  1. Prince
  2. Bob Dylan
  3. Heiruspecs
  4. The Hold Steady
  5. Queens of the Stone Age
  6. Radiohead
  7. R.E.M.
  8. Tool
  9. U2
  10. White Stripes

Comeback tours we really didn't need

  1. New Kids on the Block
  2. Backstreet Boys
  3. Poison
  4. George Michael
  5. Cher
  6. Motley Crue
  7. Rush
  8. Van Halen
  9. Barbra Streisand
  10. Smashing Pumpkins


Atmosphere. Photo by Dan Monick. Must-see local bands

  1. Atmosphere
  2. Tapes 'N Tapes
  3. Mason Jennings
  4. The Alarmists
  5. Brother Ali
  6. Mark Mallman
  7. Doomtree
  8. Heiruspecs
  9. Cloud Cult
  10. Romantica

Songs we never need to hear again

  1. "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
    "My Heart Will Go On"
  2. "Macarena"
    "MMMBop"
    "Your Body is a Wonderland"
    "You're Beautiful"
    "Cotton Eye Joe"
    "Follow Me"
    "Sweet Child O' Mine"

Favorite musical artists of childhood

  1. Michael Jackson
  2. Prince
  3. Janet Jackson
  4. New Kids on the Block
  5. Madonna
  6. "Weird Al" Yankovic
  7. Paula Abdul
  8. Debbie Gibson
  9. Tiffany
  10. Bon Jovi

Treehouse Records. Photo by Ali Haupt. Favorite record stores

  1. Electric Fetus
  2. Cheapo
  3. Treehouse
  4. Amazon.com
  5. Fifth Element
  6. Roadrunner
  7. Hymie's
  8. iTunes
  9. Half.com
  10. The library

Best places to buy concert tickets

  1. NOT Ticketmaster
  2. Electric Fetus
  3. Craigslist
  4. At the door
  5. First Avenue
  6. Treehouse Records
  7. Shinders (when it was open)
  8. StubHub
  9. Ticketmaster
  10. Back in 1984


Scott Stapp, formerly of Creed. Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images. I can't effing stand this band

  1. Creed
  2. Nickelback
  3. Anyone from "American Idol"
  4. Limp Bizkit
  5. Rush
  6. Insane Clown Posse
  7. Linkin Park
  8. Smash Mouth
  9. Blink 182
  10. Lifehouse

Song of the summer

  1. "Shut Up and Let Me Go," the Ting Tings
  2. "I Kissed a Girl," Katy Perry
  3. "American Boy," Estelle
  4. "Psychotic Girl," Black Keys
  5. "You Cheated Me," Martha Wainright
  6. "I'm Yours," Jason Mraz
  7. "Constructive Summer," the Hold Steady
  8. "Lollipop," Lil Wayne
  9. "Lost," Coldplay
  10. "Chasing Pavements," Adele

The List of Lists '08...