Best concerts of 2008
Jane Stevenson, Toronto Sun, 5 January 2009 [Link]

K.D. LANG

Feb. 21, The Courthouse

It doesn't get much better than a powerhouse singer in a small venue. The big-voiced belter kicked off her tour in a near-perfect setting and while the 46-year-old Alberta native played her new disc, Watershed, almost in its entirely, it was emotional interpretations of songs by fellow Canadians such as The Valley (Jane Siberry) and Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) that wowed.

Erykah Badu

May 5, Massey Hall

This regal, graceful, quirky and dramatic neo-soul singer resembled an endearing cross between Billie Holiday and Bjork. Her playful side eventually emerged as she danced with two red balls, like a demented gymnast, and jumped off stage into the lap of a female fan before scrambling up another seat where she wrapped one of her legs around the shoulder of a male fan.

Leonard Cohen

June 6, Sony Centre

At the first of four sold-out shows, the 73-year-old Montreal singer-songwriter-poet easily seduced the audience during his first tour in 15 years. "I was a 60-year-old kid with crazy dreams," he quipped about his last outing. Cohen performed all of his classic songs in a rumbling, low voice. But it was one of his poems, A Thousand Kisses Deep, that almost had women weeping openly.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Aug. 25, Molson Amphitheatre

It was hard not to get a big kick out the southern rock veterans opening for the genre-defying Detroit rapper-rocker Kid Rock. Skynyrd set the bar high for The Kid with a ferocious set big on confederate flags and singalongs, including the band's classic Sweet Home Alabama. "Canada, I do believe the sound of the South will rise again," said Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zandt.

Maxwell

Oct. 12, Massey Hall

This reclusive yet charismatic neo-soul singer-songwriter returned to the concert stage for his first tour in six years minus his famous dreadlocks and funkier clothes. The sophisticated makeover suited him as the 36-year-old Brooklyn native's graceful dance moves and crowd-pleasing falsetto hinted of a modern-day Marvin Gaye.

Madonna

Oct. 18, Air Canada Centre

During the first of two sold-out shows, Madge made turning 50 in the middle of a nasty divorce look good as she put her much younger dancers to shame for two hours. Gypsy folk musicians re-engergized her older hits but it was material from her new album, Hard Candy, that shone brightest, particularly Devil Wouldn't Recognize You, a spectacular mid-concert piece featuring The Material Girl on top of a piano enveloped by watery images.

David Byrne

Oct 29, Massey Hall

The only concert this year to get a perfect rating saw the 56-year-old former frontman for beloved New Wave act Talking Heads perform a theatrically bent set of songs all produced by Brian Eno. Turning a live performance into a bona fide art form, Byrne exuded thoughtful energy and passion, as he and his musicians-dancers dressed in white attire and often performed choreographed dance moves. Three encores later, you still wanted more.

Neil Young

Dec. 4, Air Canada Centre

Just the sight of the 63-year-old Canadian folk-rock legend walking on stage -- during the first of two back-to-back shows at the ACC -- made you smile. And when he later rocked out passionately like a kid a third his age during such set highlights as Hey, Hey, My, My, Powderfinger, Cortez The Killer and Cinnamon Girl, it was shiver-inducing. But the quiet moments counted too, like just Young on his acoustic guitar for The Needle And The Damage Done.

AC/DC

Nov. 7, Rogers Centre

These veteran Aussie rockers delivered a loud, fun and raunchy show that inspired many of the 45,000 people in attendance to put on blinking red devil horns and raise their fists in the air. The combo of 61-year-old lead singer Brian Johnson's shredded vocals and fiftysomething lead guitarist Angus Young's lightning-fast solos was powerful while standouts Back In Black, Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap) and TNT made you feel young and giddy all over again.

Tina Turner

Nov. 13, Air Canada Centre

At 68, soul legend Tina Turner is a jaw-droping, inspirational force of nature. Coming out of retirement for her first tour in eight years, she sang, danced and expertly moved around her stage -- even manoeuvering on a swinging crane that swooped high over the audience during the encore song Nutbush City Limits -- in high heels for over two hours. Turner proved she's still at the top of her game.