I saw over 30 bands last year, despite many shows being cancelled or postponed, and here are the ones that made the top ten.
#10: Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Ft. Wayne’s Brass Rail – October 08th
This was the third time I’d seen Frankie and the Witch Fingers in as many months (and the last time I’d see them in 2021), and they played a wild set in a small club that included some new, unreleased material.
#9: Danzig – Psycho Music Festival – August 21st
I’m not sure how I hadn’t seen Danzig in concert until now, but he and his crew put on a good show. They played Lucifuge in its entirety and plenty of other tracks – including a long encore missed by at least half the crowd.
#8: Claude Fontaine – Psycho Music Festival – August 20th
In the middle of the Psycho Music Festival, which is heavy on metal of all sorts, Claude Fontaine came onstage at the Mandalay Bay House of Blues and put on the most beautiful set of the entire festival. Backed by two percussionists and a guy on acoustic guitar, she performed gorgeous bossa nova and dub tracks for her first show ever in the Sin City. Shame on you if you missed it.\
#7: Death Valley Girls – Psycho Music Festival – August 19th
Playing as the sun set and the moon rose, Death Valley Girls were a highlight of the “Psycho Swim” opening night of the 2021 Psycho Music Festival in Las Vegas. Like pretty much everyone there, it was their first gig in nearly two years and their excitement was palpable.
#6: The Flaming Lips – Psycho Music Festival – August 21st
It’s always a joy to see The Flaming Lips, and hearing their uplifting songs and soaking up the energy from the loving crowd was just what we needed as we returned to live music and hope. This show will always have a special place in my heart, as it was the last time my late wife was able to see them. Their shows always boosted her spirit.
Who’s in the top five? You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to learn!
Keep your mind open.
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