Who cracked the top 25 of my live shows I saw this year? Read on!
#25 – Temples – Valley Bar – Phoenix, AZ March 11th.
Temples were the last band to play on the Desert Daze lineup at the VIVA PHX music festival. It was my first time seeing them in a small venue, and they nailed it. They sounded perfect and delivered a solid set that earned them many new fans.
#24 – The Damned – House of Blues – Chicago, IL April 23rd.
I’d wanted to see punk rock legends the Damned for a long while, and this show was pretty much what I’d hoped it would be. The crowd was a fun mix of punks, goths, and horror film fans, and moshing to “Neat Neat Neat” with the Damned only a few feet away was a delight.
#23 – Thundercat – Mamby on the Beach – Chicago, IL June 25th.
I’d heard a lot of good things about Thundercat prior to seeing him live at this music festival, and he didn’t disappoint. He and his two-man backing band played a great jazz fusion set in the middle of a festival mostly devoted to electronic dance music. He’s an amazing bass player, and seeing him shred live makes you appreciate his skill even more.
#22 – Marian Hill – Mamby on the Beach – Chicago, IL June 24th.
Speaking of Mamby on the Beach, Marian Hill were one of the best bands we saw there. They played a great set of sexy dance rock that might be the best new makeout music you need to hear.
#21 – Goblin – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL October 25th.
This performance from Italian prog / horror rock masters Goblin had a criminally light attendance, but they didn’t care. As usual, being at a Goblin show is like being in a giallo film. The whole atmosphere is creeping and fascinating. They also played a nice tribute to the late George Romero. Shame on you if you missed this one.
Who cracks the top 20? Tune in tomorrow to find out!
Keep your mind open.
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