Last week, half the column was devoted to a year-end list of my personal favorite live shows from the area. These are the concerts that stood out as being the most powerful, exciting shows from both a spring and fall packed with veteran touring acts and rising stars. Beyond just talent, these bands could also craft a stellar set-list, engage the audience and, in one case, provide the absolute ideal transporting effect that multiple genres have been trying to perfect for decades. Basically, these are the concerts I still remember.

This is not to say local folk-meets-everything heroes Megafaun are not on the verge of making something huge, nor is hardcore punk giant Des Ark waning in appeal or raw power.

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3. Atlas Sound -- Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox described his need for Atlas Sound as a place to put his ideas that would not work in his five-piece band.

Imagine my surprise when Cox shows up with three other musicians. What kept Atlas Sound from being Deerhunter Two was that this spacey, shoegazer feel was all about Cox.

His surprisingly mainstream songwriting, affinity for the harmonica, and unparalleled ability to carve monstrously complicated guitar riffs only seconds before he plays them were three elements the relaxed, no-showboating-allowed Deerhunter would never stand for. Contrasted with Deerhunter's low-key approach, every selfish idea Cox dreams of can go into Atlas Sound and get the royal treatment.

Seeing Atlas Sound live highlighted the polarity of Cox's two projects, making me glad both exist. Modern music benefits both from Cox's expansive, atmospheric, where-did-that-lick-come-from prowess in Atlas Sound and from his serene, ego-free rock of Deerhunter. Deerhunter's Cox would never replace his own drummer for a song, but Atlas Sound's Cox could not have produced a more genuine smile when he did just that.

2. The Jesus Lizard -- As vocalist David Yow, shirtless as always, hung from a ceiling fan amidst a sizeable Cradle crowd for the entirety of "Seasick," I could not help but think ... nothing! As drummer Mac McNeilly beat his drums into submission, following David Wm. Sims' bass lines that sounded as vicious as the man's killer glare looked, the whole crowd was too focused on the phenomena at hand to have a single wandering thought.

I definitely didn't think about how these guys are too old to be doing this. Their perfected sound was as crisp as I can only imagine it was when they were touring for albums such as "Liar" and "Goat," and I wasn't even toilet-trained (the jury is still out on whether or not Yow is, either).

Any singer that sounds like Yow is merely trying to yelp and howl like Yow, whereas Yow's inspiration was drawn from his unique, twisted and, frankly, perverted mind, making this band one of a kind. As both a reunion and farewell tour, no more will a singer ever dedicate three distinct songs to anybody who has pulled a groin muscle and be considered sincere for it.

1. Mogwai -- While Yow covered every inch of the stage throughout his set, the defining image I have of Glasgow-based Mogwai is that of stoicism personified. A tall, looming bassist takes center stage, flanked by guitarists moving only to change effects or switch out instruments. The lack of on-stage motion (and vocals) did not induce a lack of energy, though.

The final product was, instead, detailed, intricately crafted and blissful to an unparalleled degree. Beautiful, triumphant keyboard-led progressions on "Auto Rock," when played at such an unfathomable volume with ample guitar feedback, invaded the body, leaving listeners in a trance.

Mogwai used its powers for evil, too. When "Like Herod" hit the three-minute mark (the first time you hear this part recorded, you fall out of your chair) the crowd, which both knew what to expect and was wearing earplugs, stumbled backwards.

Mogwai live is louder than any band except My Bloody Valentine, allowing for even the subtlest manipulations of distortion to speak at volumes you've only dreamt about before now.

J.J. Lang hits the high notes of the local music scene each week for The Chapel Hill Herald. Send e-mail to JJLang@email.unc.edu.