2010 Arts Highlights

Ah, December, every critic’s favorite time of year. In addition to the scores of killer West Coast tours and smattering of sceney holiday parties, it’s our annual chance to stop and take stock of the good, the bad, and the jaw-droppingly amazing moments that we’ve witnessed along the way. For 2010’s list-a-palooza, we’ve enlisted a veritable who’s who of Indy contributors, from writers and editors to photogs and staff spawn, and gotten their takes on the year in review. Below you’ll find our personal collections of memorable happenings, from dance performances and lectures to store openings and new rock ’n’ roll arrivals, so feel free to dig in, disagree, and maybe, just maybe, remember back on your own year of entertainment. We promise you’ll recall a few gems of your own.

Aly Comingore, Pop Culture Editor

Best Dance Party: Delorean at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club

Best Album: Beach House’s Teen Dream

Best Show-Stealing Opening Act: Toro Y Moi at Jensen’s Mainstage

Favorite S.B. Newcomers: Warbler Records & Goods

Best Block Party: Presidio Motel’s Deck the Halls Holiday Pop-Up Shop

Charles Donelan, Fine Arts Editor

Best Orchestral Performance: Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France with Anne Sofie von Otter at the Granada Theatre

Best Museum Exhibit: Delacroix to Monet: Masterpieces of 19th-Century Painting from the Walters Art Museum at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Best Jazz Concert: Ornette Coleman at UCSB’s Campbell Hall

Best Club Show: Peter Wolf and the Midnight Souvenirs Band at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club

Best Unexpected Event: Glee at the Marjorie Luke Theatre

Michelle Drown, Managing Editor

Best Live Concert: Ray LaMontagne at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Most Entertaining One-Man Act: John Lithgow at the Granada Theatre

Most Compassionate Speaker: Dr. Drew Pinsky at the Arlington Theatre

Coolest Film-Fest Flick: Chris Malloy’s 180º South

Most Dynamic Solo Album Debut: Ed Kowalczyk’s Alive

Matt Kettmann, Senior Editor

Best Something-Cool-Is-Happening-in-S.B. Scene: Presidio Motel’s Deck the Halls Holiday Pop-Up Shop

Best Tap-Dancer-as-Instrument: New Noise Presents He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club

Best Actor-as-Grammy-Winning Bluegrasser: Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers at the Granada Theatre

Best Ears-Still-Ringing Performance: Smashing Pumpkins at the Lobero Theatre

Best Live-Show-That-Sounds-Like-an-Awesome Album: Delta Spirit’s History from Below at Velvet Jones

Mason Kettmann, Senior Editor-in-Training

Best Introduction to VIP Life: Watching Jack Johnson side-stage at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Best Concert for Babies: Ziggy Marley Family Show at UCSB’s Campbell Hall

Best Soundtrack for Mother Nature: Spencer the Gardener’s Organic Gangster

Best Song to Sleep To: Intuition’s “Homegirl” off Girls Like Me

Best First Favorite Album Ever: ALO’s Man of the World

Dave Mount, Contributing Photographer

Best Well-Attended Performance: Sleigh Bells at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club

Most Criminally Unattended Performance: Japandroids at Muddy Waters Café

Best Local Act: Gardens & Villa

Best Art Opening: Young Folks, featuring Will Adler, Morgan Maassen, Trevor Gordon, Eddie Luparello, and Brandon Smith

Best New Addition to Santa Barbara Music Scene: Warbler Records & Goods

Elizabeth Schwyzer, Dance Editor

Best Youth Performance: S.B. Dance Institute’s Miguel and His Cell at the Marjorie Luke Theatre

Best Experimental Theater Production: Lit Moon’s The Wonderful Adventures of Nils at Center Stage Theater

Most Duende: The 11th Annual Flamenco Arts Festival’s Piano Abierto at the Lobero Theatre

Coolest New Dance Studio: La Petite Chouette Aerial Arts

Most Memorable Community Dance Event: Larry Keigwin’s Bolero Santa Barbara at the Lobero Theatre n

Roger Durling, Staff Writer

Best Concert: Omara Portuondo at the Lobero Theatre

Best Exhibit: Contemporary Korean Photography at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

Best Event: epicure.sb

Best Film: The Social Network

Best Album: Elton John and Leon Russell’s The Union

D.J. Palladino, Staff Writer

Best Show: Joanna Newsom at the Lobero Theatre

Best Community Gathering: Real Estate and Kurt Vile at Jensen’s Mainstage

Best Five Minute Rush: The first two songs by Built to Spill at SOhO

Best Revelation: Hold Steady proving why they are such a great band live (even though they kind of suck on CD) at Velvet Jones

Best Alternative Revelation: Wavves proving in two minutes that they are jerks (even though their CD is great) at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club

Josef Woodard, Staff Writer

Finest New Bootgazer: A.A. Bondy at Muddy Waters Café and SOhO Restaurant & Music Club

Best Jazz Show: Brad Mehldau at the Lobero Theatre

Best Personal and Poignant Comeback: Laurie Anderson’s Delusion at UCSB’s Campbell Hall

Best Classical Concert: Dresden Staatskapelle at the Granada Theatre

Best Vibey Folk Show: Bonnie “Prince” Billy at the Maverick Saloon