2016: EOTY Tour Forum Best Shows List Tour

My list…

Show of the year:

Get Out The Vote Concert | Jay Z / Big Sean / Chance The Rapper / J. Cole / Beyoncé / Hillary Clinton / DJ Steph Floss | 11.4 | Wolstein Center | Cleveland, OH

Best sets:
1. Sia | 9.10 | Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH
2. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The River Tour 2016 | 9.11 | Consol Energy Center | Pittsburgh, PA
3. Brand New | 11.12 | Bryce Jordan Center | State College, PA
4. Kanye West e West | The Saint Pablo Tour | 10.01 | The Q | Cleveland, OH
5. At The Drive-In | Rock On The Range 2016 – Day 3 | 5.22 | Mapfre Stadium | Columbus, OH
6. Guns N' Roses | Not In This Lifetime… Tour | 7.12 | Heinz Field | Pittsburgh, PA
7. Dave Matthews Band | DMB25 | 7.9 | First Niagara Pavilion | Pittsburgh, PA
8. Thursday | Riot Fest After Show | 9.17 | Double Door | Chicago, IL
9. Coldplay | A Head Full Of Dreams Tour | 7.28 | Nationwide Arena | Columbus, OH
10. Chris Stapleton | 8.19 | Blossom Music Center | Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Last night I went to what will probably be my last show of 2016, I was able to get to 76 show this year. Not that crazy but not that shabby. I'm going to make a top 10 list of the "best" shows / sets and figured some others would want to share there's as well.

Show list:
1. Brian Fallon & The Crowes | 1.12 | Altar Bar | Pittsburgh, PA
2. Teyana Taylor | 1.13 | The Agora Ballroom | Cleveland, OH
3. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The River Tour 2016 | 1.16 | Consol Energy Center | Pittsburgh, PA
4. Future / Kid Ink / Ezzy | 1.23 | Mac Center | Kent, OH
5. Jack's Mannequin | 10 Years In Transit Tour | 1.26 | The LC — Lifestyle Community's Pavilion, Indoor | Columbus, OH
6. Kid Cudi | Especial Tour | 2.3 | House Of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
7. Lupe Fiasco | Tour For The Fans | 2.12 | House Of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
8. Rick Springfield | Acoustic In-Store / Stripped Down Tour | 2.14 | The Exchange | Parma Heights, OH
9. Casey Veggies | Sonic Sessions | 2.19 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum | Cleveland, OH
10. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The River Tour 2016 | 2.23 | The Q – Quicken Loans Arena | Cleveland, OH
11. Citizen | 3.10 | The Beachland Ballroom | Cleveland, OH
12. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The River Tour 2016 | 4.12 | Value City Arena at The Schottenstein Center | Columbus, OH
13. Underøath | Rebirth Tour | 4.13 | The Agora Theater | Cleveland, OH
14. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The River Tour 2016 | 4.18 | Bryce Jordan Center | State College, PA
15. Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band / Murder By Death | 4.24 | Grog Shop | Cleveland Heights, OH
16. (Bone Thugs-N-Harmony / Migos / A$AP Ferg / Cody Simpson / mgk | NBA Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, Game 1 / 2 | 5.2 / 4 | The Q – Quicken Loans Arena | Cleveland, OH)
17. Say Anything / mewithoutYou l 5.10 l House Of Blues Cleveland l Cleveland, OH
18. Dave Matthews Band | DMB25 | 5.21 | Blossom Music Center | Cuyahoga Falls, OH
19. Rock On The Range 2016 – Day 3 | Red Hot Chili Peppers, Deftones, At The Drive-In, Bring Me The Horizon, BTBAM, Wolfmother, Anti-Flag, The Sword, Death From Above 1979 | 5.22 | Mapfre Stadium | Columbus, OH
20. Catch Meaning Music Fest 2016 | A$AP Ferg x Tory Lanez / Joey Bada$$ | 5.28 | Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica | Cleveland, OH
21. Florence + The Machine / Of Monsters & Men | 6.4 | Blossom Music Center | Cuyahoga Falls, OH
22. Death Cab for Cutie / Chvrchs | 6.7 | Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica | Cleveland, OH
23. Taste of Chaos 2016 | Dashboard Confessional / Taking Back Sunday / Saosin | 6.12 | Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica | Cleveland, OH
24. Motion City Soundtrack | So Long, Farewell Tour l 6.20 l House of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
25. We Were Promised Jetpacks | 6.25 | Grog Shop | Cleveland Heights, OH
26. Lifehouse | Crocker Rocks | 6.26 | Crocker Park | Westlake, OH
27. Brian Fallon & The Crows | 6.26 | The Beachland Ballroom | Cleveland, OH
28. Against Me! | 6.27 | Grog Shop | Cleveland Heights, OH
29. Ray LaMontage | The Ouroboros Tour 2016 | 6.30 | Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica | Cleveland, OH
30. AWOLNation | Run Tour | 7.1 | House Of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
31. Brand New / Modest Mouse | 7.3 | DTE Energy Music Theater | Clarkston, MI
32. Brand New | 7.5 | Stage AE – Outdoors | Pittsburgh, PA
33. Dave Matthews Band | DMB25 | 7.8 | Nationwide Arena | Columbus, OH
34. Dave Matthews Band | DMB25 | 7.9 | First Niagara Pavilion | Pittsburgh, PA
35. Guns N' Roses / Wolfmother | Not In This Lifetime… Tour | 7.12 | Heinz Field | Pittsburgh, PA
36. Promowest Fest 2016 – Day 3 | The Black Lips, Brand New, J. Rowdy, Modest Mouse | 7.17 | Arena District | Columbus, OH
37. Prophets of Rage | Make America Rage Again Tour | 7.19 | The Agora Theater | Cleveland, OH
38. (Jersey | 7.22 | Riverfront Concert Series | Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
39. Bloc Party | 7.24 | House Of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
40. Frightened Rabbit | Summit Member Appreciation Concert | 7.25 | Jilly's Music Room | Akron, OH
41. G-Eazy / Logic | Summer Never Ends Tour | 7.27 | Blossom Music Center | Cuyahoga Falls, OH
42. Coldplay / Alissa Cara | A Head Full Of Dreams Tour | 7.28 | Nationwide Arena | Columbus, OH
43. Halsey | Badlands Tour | 8.2 | Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica | Cleveland, OH
44. Blink-182 / A Day To Remember / The All-American Rejects | California Summer Tour | 8.9 | Blossom Music Center | Cuyahoga Falls, OH
45. The Goo Goo Dolls / Sole Collective | 8.10 | Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica | Cleveland, OH
46. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa / Kevin Gates / Jhene Aiko | The High Road Tour | 8.14 | Blossom Music Center | Cuyahoga Falls, OH
47. Drake & Future | Summer Sixteen Tour | 8.17 | Consol Energy Center | Pittsburgh, PA
48. Chris Stapleton / Hank Williams, Jr. | 8.19 | Blossom Music Center | Cuyahoga Falls, OH
49. The Menzingers / Bayside | 8.24 | The Agora Ballroom | Cleveland, OH
50. (The Prince Experience | 8.27 | Lock 3 | Akron, OH)
51. Jerreau | 8.31 | Grog Shop | Cleveland Heights, OH
52. All Access 2016: Cleveland | Sia / Teyana Taylor / Lesile Jones | 9.10 | Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH
53. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | The River Tour 2016 | 9.11 | Consol Energy Center | Pittsburgh, PA
54. The Used | 15 Year Anniversary Tour, Night 1: Self-Titled | 9.13.2016 | House Of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
55. Riot Fest 2016, Day 1 | Citizen, Touché Amoré, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Gwar, Neck Deep, Citizen, Set Your Goals, Glassjaw, Jimmy Eat World, Refused, Pierce the Veil, The Flaming Lips | 9.16 | Douglas Park | Chicago, IL
56. Taking Back Sunday | Riot Fest Aftershow / Tidal Wave Release Show | 9.16 | Metro | Chicago, IL
57. Riot Fest 2016, Day 2 | Denzel Curry, Motion City Soundtrack, The Hold Steady, The Hives, Balance & Composure, GZA, Fitz & The Tantrum, Brand New, Death Cab for Cutie, Morrisey, Nas | 9.17 | Douglas Park | Chicago, IL
58. Thursday | Riot Fest After Show | 9.17 | Double Door | Chicago, IL
59. Riot Fest 2016, Day 3 | Andrew W.K., Tiger Army, Thursday, Bad Religion, Underøath, Jake Bugg, Deftones, Sleater-Kinney, Death Grips, Rob Zombie, The Misfits | 9.18 | Douglas Park | Chicago, IL
60. Brian Fallon & The Crowes | 9.20 | Park West | Chicago, IL
61. Kanye West | The Saint Pablo Tour | 9.25 | Value City Arena | Columbus, OH
62. Taking Back Sunday | Tidal Wave Tour | 9.27 | The Agora Ballroom | Cleveland, OH
63. Thrice / La Dispute | 9.28 | Newport Music Hall | Columbus, OH
64. Kanye West | The Saint Pablo Tour | 10.01 | The Q | Cleveland, OH
65. Mat Kerekes / Vinnie Caurna | 10.7 | Jolly Scholar | Cleveland, OH
66. Jimmy Eat World | 10.13 | Newport Music Hall | Columbus, OH
67. Touché Amoré | 10.16 | Grog Shop | Cleveland Heights, OH
68. Brand New / The Front Bottoms | 10.20 | Wolstein Center | Cleveland, OH
69. Brand New | 10.21 | The DeltaPlex Arena | Grand Rapids, MI
70. Wiz Khalifa | NBA On TNT Roadshow 2016 Tip-Off | 10.25 | E. 4th Street Parking Lot | Cleveland, OH
71. Get Out The Vote Concert | Jay Z / Big Sean / Chance The Rapper / J. Cole / Beyoncé / Hillary Clinton / DJ Steph Floss | 11.4 | Wolstein Center | Cleveland, OH
72. The Fray | 11.6 | House Of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
73. Brand New | 11.11 | PPL Center | Allentown, PA
74. Brand New | 11.12 | Bryce Jordan Center | State College, PA
75. Deafheaven / Carcass | 11.23 | The Agora Ballroom | Cleveland, OH
76. Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band | 12.6 | Ace Of Cups | Columbus, OH

 

Nick E. saw 36 concerts in 2016. | Concert Archives

Top 10 Sets

1. Guns N' Roses - Not In This Lifetime Tour - Lincoln Financial Field
2. A Day To Remember - California Tour - BB&T Pavilion
3. Blink 182 - California Tour - BB&T Pavilion
4. Every Time I Die - Aggressive Tour - The TLA
5. Enter Shikari - The Mindsweep Tour - The TLA
6. Bullet For My Valentine - British Invasion Tour - The Fillmore
7. Underoath - Rebirth Tour - Electric Factory
8. Black Sabbath - The End Tour - BB&T Pavilion
9. Disturbed - Immortalized Tour - The TLA
10. We Came As Romans - Unbreakable Tour - Starland Ballroom

Honorable Mention in no order

Dropkick Murphys - 20th Anniversary Tour - Electric Factory
Korn - Return of the Dreads Tour - BB&T Pavilion
Rob Zombie - Return of the Dreads - BB&T Pavilion
Prophets of Rage - BB&T Pavilion
Avenged Sevenfold - Rock Allegiance - Talen Energy Stadium
Deftones - Gore Tour - Festival Pier
Refused - Gore Tour - Festival Pier

 

1. Brand New/The Front Bottoms/Modern Baseball on October 13th at the Armory in Rochester, NY
2. Caspian/Defeater/O'brother on February 10th at Montage Music Hall in Rochester, NY
3. Motion City Soundtrack (So Long Farewell Tour) on August 6th at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ
4. Tegan and Sara on October 28th at Massey Hall in Toronto, ON
5. Weezer/Panic at the Disco!/Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness on June 25th at CMAC in Rochester, NY
6. Say Anything/mewithoutyou/Museum Mouth on May 12th at TLA in Philadelphia, PA
7. Touche Amore/Tiny Moving Parts on October 17th at The Waiting Room in Buffalo,NY
8. Blink 182/A Day to Remember/All Time Low on August 24th at Darien Lake in Buffalo, NY
9. Taste of Chaos 2016 (Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, Saosin, The Early November) on June 8th at Artpark in Buffalo, NY
10. Pinegrove on November 30th at Bug Jar in Rochester, NY
11. Tiny Moving Parts/ Microwave/A Will Away on December 4th at Harmony House in Rochester, NY
12. The Wonder Years/Real Friends/Knuckle Puck/Moose Blood/Seaway on October 16th at Anthology in Rochester, NY
13. Laura Jane Grace acoustic on February 20th at Waiting Room in Buffalo, NY
14. The Wonder Years/letlive./Tiny Moving Parts/Microwave on March 5th at Town Ballroom in Buffalo, NY
15. Have Mercy/Light Years/nothing,nowhere on June 18th at Waiting Room in Buffalo, NY
16. Ellie Goulding on June 14th at CMAC in Rochester, NY
17. Andrew Mcmahon in the Wilderness/Joywave/New Politics on January 29th at Armory in Rochester, NY
18. The Hotelier on December 13th at Bug Jar in Rochester, NY
19. Every Time I Die (Annual Holiday Show) on December 22nd at Waiting Room in Buffalo, NY

I only have the ETID and The Hotelier listed last bc they haven't happened yet.

 

http://www.concertarchives.org/rodkimble/years/2016

Still have 3 more good shows this year, but I'd say my top 10 so far are:
(in no particualr order)

Fest
Green Day @ 9:30 Club
Descendents/Fucked Up/Night Birds
GWAR BQ
Iron Reagan/The Dopamines/Mikey Erg on a Boat!
Punk Rock Bowling- Asbury park
Lamb of God/Anthrax/Deafheaven/Power Trip
Tim Barry/Two Cow Garage/Roger harvey @ First Unitarian Church
Warped Tour
Jeff Rosenstock/Hard Girls/Katie Ellen

 

Estacey99 saw 38 concerts in 2016. | Concert Archives

still got Pup to see next week but for me my top 10 would be:

Muse @ ACC
Underoath They're Chasing the Great Line @ The Phoenix
Blaqk Audio @ Mod Club
The 1975 round 1 @ Echo Beach
Motion City Farewell @ Opera House
Thrice @ Sound Academy
Warped @ Darien Lake
Blink/ADTR @ Molson Amp
Ghost @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Balance/Foxing @ Opera House

 

Landon Defever saw 32 concerts in 2016. | Concert Archives

1. Brand New @ The Deltaplex
2. Insane Clown Posse @ The Loft
3. The Maine @ Warped Tour
4. Motion City Soundtrack @ Riot Fest
5. Death Cab for Cutie @ Riot Fest
6. Atreyu @ Warped Tour
7. Chase Huglin @ Bled Fest
8. Sorority Noise @ Mac's Bar
9. Knuckle Puck @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
10. Creed Bratton @ The Crofoot

 

Tumbleweedterror saw 12 concerts in 2016. | Concert Archives

It was a slow year for me, unfortunately, so I'll do a top 5.

1. Real Friends/Chase Huglin/rationale./City Mouth/As We Once Were @ Centennial Lanes in Tinely Park
2. Real Friends/Movements @ Vera Project in Seattle
3. TWY/Real Friends/Knuckle Puck/Moose Blood/Seaway @ Showbox in Seattle
4. TWY/Real Friends/Knuckle Puck/Moose Blood/Seaway @ Crystal Ballroom in Portland
5. Real Friends/Movements @ Analog in Portland

RF are my favorite band, obviously, but even so this list is embarrassing haha. I need to go to more shows in 2017.

 

I mean, if they are your favorite band and you got to see them that many times I personally think it's awesome!

 

Couldn't really come with an order yet, but
Yellowcard (Last time seeing them/last show of US leg/Ocean Avenue)
Fall Out Boy (Completely packed Universal)
Mayday Parade (Small venue/Tales Told By Dead Friends)
Pierce the Veil (Really fun + Neck Deep)
blink-182 (First time/first time playing San Diego/ADTR+AAR)
Flight of the Conchords (First time/With friends who love them)
Motion City Soundtrack (Last time)
Carly Rae Jepsen (bae #2/E Mo Tion is god tier)
Warped Tour (More fun than last year)

 

1) Patton Oswalt 1.22.16 Majestic Theater, Dallas TX

2) Lamb of God/Anthrax/Deafheaven/Power Trip 2.5.16 The Bomb Factory, Dallas TX

3) George Winston 2.11.16 The Kessler Theatre, Dallas TX

4) Kyle Kinane/Dave Ross 2.23.16 Amphibian Stage, Ft. Worth TX

5) Prayers/Plague Vendor/Teen Slut 3.16.16 RBC, Dallas TX

6) Abbath/High On Fire/Skeletonwitch/Tribulation 3.22.16 Gas Monkey Live, Dallas TX

7) David Cross 4.23.16 Majestic Theater, Dallas TX

8) Randy & Mr. Lahey (Trailer Park Boys)/ NR-CD (Tenacious D tribute) 4.29.16 Rail Club, Ft. Worth TX

9) Freddie Gibbs/Jay IDK 5.12.16 The Loft, Dallas TX

10) JMBLYA Fest 2016 ft. Future/Rae Srummurd/Post Malone/Carnage/Kevin Gates/Kehlani/Keith Ape/Jazz Cartier 5.13.16 Fair Park Coliseum Parking Lot, Dallas TX

11) Comedy Bang Bang ft. Scott Auckerman, Paul F. Tompkins, Lauren Lapkus, Mike Hanford 5.17.16 Texas Theatre, Dallas TX

12) Hatebreed/Devildriver/The Devil You Know 5.27.16 Gas Monkey Bar N Grill, Dallas TX

13) Brand New/Modest Mouse 7.22.16 Verizon Field, Dallas TX

14) Kurt Braunohler/Aaron Aryanpur 9.15.16 Sons of Hermann Hall, Dallas TX

15) Kanye West 9.22.16 American Airlines Center, Dallas TX

16) Thrice/La Dispute/Nothing, Nowhere 10/2/16 Gas Monkey Live, Dallas TX

17) Hatebreed/Devildriver/The Devil You Know/Ringworm/Cruel Hand/Eternal Sleep/Exalt/Seeker/Will To Die/Survival Method (Part of So What Music Fest) 10.21.16, The Door, Dallas TX

18) Flight of the Conchords/Demetri Martin 10.26.16 Verizon Theatre, Dallas TX

19) Louis CK/?/Todd Barry/Joe Machi 11.9.16 Fair Park Coliseum, Dallas TX

20) Young Thug/21 Savage 12.14.16 The Bomb Factory


Didn't make it to a ton of stuff this year, but Kanye, Thrice and Modest Mouse were probably the highlights. The Young Thug show is still a week and a half away.

 

LCD Soundsystem @ Webster Hall, NYC
Jeff Rosenstock/Hard Girls/Katie Ellen @ Brooklyn
Pinegrove @ Broken World Fest, Pittsburgh

Definitely my top 3, no idea about the rest.

 

sufjan at pitchfork
emperor x at wmuc
like five sets from broken world

 

When all is said and done, I will have gone to 47 shows/festivals this year.

Warped Tour 2016 in Milwaukee might have been my favorite all year. I went alone and got to see all the bands I wanted to see.

Obviously, seeing Yellowcard twice at House of Blues was special.

Other shows that stick out are Story of the Year's hometown show at The Pageant, Neck Deep/State Champs/Knuckle Puck on my birthday, The Summer Set (I love their new album), Rock On The Range (my first hard rock festival), blink-182 (three times), Chicago Open Air (my second hard rock festival), and Sum 41 and Good Charlotte (finally got to see them both headlining).

 

With Planes Mistaken for Stars still on the list, I've seen about 40 shows this year. The highlights...

1.) Tool - Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA: So lucky I was able to get resale tickets at the last minute! Completely worth the two hour drive, an incredible first time!

2.) Set Your Goals - Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA: 2nd night. Saw these guys later in the year opening for Good Charlotte and was shocked at how lame their set was. Chain is the perfect venue for them. Small, sweaty, and full of dudebros! Can't wait to see them do Mutiny! here next month.

3.) Vanna @ Warped Tour - Pomona Fairplex, Pomona, CA: Honstely, the whole festival was a ton of fun, and it was my first time going. But I was shocked at how Vanna completely stole the show, especially following up the legendary Every Time I Die. I'll never forget Davey and their guitarist jumping into the crowd and instigating a 'tornado' around them.

4.) Weatherbox - Che Café, San Diego, CA: Cut a Vegas vacation short to drag my friend to see this in what is essentially a college commune with a giant living room, and again totally worth it! A wonderful send off to a criminally underrated band, and perhaps the happiest, most positive mosh pit I've ever been in!

5.) Showbread - Analog Theater, Portland, OR: Yet another sendoff show. Always had complicated feelings about these guys, but their music has always been close to my heart, and I'm glad this also fit into my vacation. Of course, it had to be in a non-AC club on the one day it was over 100 degrees in Portland, but that sort of played into the vibe. The crowd stormed the stage at the end. Beautiful.

6.) Ninja Sex Party - The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA: You could tell this was a nerd show! Almost nobody was in the lobby while they were playing. Still, not only did I get some good tunes and laughs out of it, but also a bit of resonant advice at the end.

7.) blink-182 - The Forum, Inglewood, CA: Maybe my concert of the year. Was excited to see All Time Low and A Day to Remember, who were fun, but seeing blink for the first time, opening with my two favorite of their songs... I'm not sure I've ever screamed louder or harder for a band before in my life. I genuinely felt like a kid again.

8.) Simple Plan - The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA: Really surprisingly fun set! I bought tickets to this basically on a whim since they were a favorite band of mine as a teenager, but I was surprised at the energy they brought and how fun the show actually was! Threw out my knee during "Jump," guess I'm getting old...

9.) Cute is What We Aim For - The Glass House, Pomona, CA: Everybody has an album from a B-level band that they listened to all of one summer and then never again, this one was mine. In all seriousness, the band sounded great, and I got to shout into the mic a couple of times. What more can a man ask for?

10.) Skindred/(hed) p.e. - Whiskey-a-Go-Go, West Hollywood, CA: I went to with a co-worker: I was into Skindred, he was into (hed). Skindred definitely put a great show, singer had a great stage presence. But (hed)'s set fucking destroyed! I haven't seen a crowd that out of control since The Chariot.

11.) Yellowcard - The Novo, Los Angeles, CA/The Majestic Ventura Theater, Ventura, CA: Can't really pick between the two. Ventura had several drunk people getting into fights. Novo had douchebag security. But I lost my mind to Gifts and Curses both night. Seeing all of Ocean Avenue performed was incredible. And in Ventura, I like I finally felt the beautiful chaos of getting lost in a song with strangers as they ended the show. There's a reason this is on most everyone's lists.

12.) Sum 41 - The Mayan, Los Angeles, CA: Again, another show I kind of went to based on nostalgia. I did catch them at Warped and thought they were fun, but didn't expect much more. But Ho-Lee Shit, left to their own devices they put on a hell of a show! My only disappointment was that the giant inflatable skeleton during "No Reason" wasn't a Trump effigy.

Whew! Rambled more than I thought I would! But I thought it might be nice to explain why the shows were special...

 

I haven't seen Hed Pe live in nearly a decade but I was super into them back in high school and even after. Not really into their new stuff all that much, now I'm kinda wishing I had gone to see them when they were here last week.

 

Holy shit, man! That's a TON of shows. Question, and I know it may sound dumb, but are you a fan of everything you go to? Or do you just go to live shows just because it's a live show? Some people I know just like going to live shows no matter who/what it is? You have a lot of range here from rap, to indie, to alternative, to R&B, to country and older alternative.

I was at that Lupe show in February at HOB. I remember my wife and I drove through a literal whiteout to get downtown - to the point where my wife was begging to just turn around and go back home. I actually picked up his ear piece for him when he dropped it after going into the crowd. He walked back into the crowd to look for it and i walked over to him to hand it back to him, haha. I was at a few of these other ones too, most notably Brand New/Modest Mouse in PITT, Brand New at CSU, Bayside at Agora, Kanye in Cle and I saw the performances at The Q during Cavs games as well.

I only went to six shows this year (married, kids, worked a ton, blah, blah, blah). Only one I went to that apparently you didn't this year was Astronautalis at The Grog Shop, which was great.

Only shows that I really wanted to go to, but missed, was Panic and Weezer in Pittsburgh on July 3 (but couldn't justify because I went to PITT on July 5 and didn't want to drive to and from 2 times in 3 days - especially with the holiday) and TBS at Agora in September (work meeting). I also would have liked to have gone to Blink but I'm never going to Blossom again.

 

Lollapalooza was my favorite concert memory from this year. Traveling with my friend to the festival and staying in Chicago for a min-vacation was fun.

 

Don't think I went to 10 shows this year. Still saw some bangers tho.


1. Russian Circles
2. Explosions in the Sky
3. Every Time I Die (I got a concussion lol)
4. Deafheaven
5. Nothing/Culture Abuse
6. Balance and Composure

 

My daughter was born back in February so I only went to three shows this year. Each show I went to was memorable and awesome though.

1. Warped Tour- Expo Center Portland, OR I've been going to Warped on and off for 10 years and this may have been my favorite year yet. My date had an wesome schedule and seeing Yellowcard's last Warped performance ever. I got to see Emarosa, Like Pacific, Knucklepuck, New Found Glory, Real Friends, With Confidence, Four Year Strong, The Maine, Less Than Jake, State Champs, Yellowcard and The Story So Far. Absolutely amazing.

2. Red City Radio- Analog Theater Portland, OR I had been waiting to see this band for five years and finally got to see them headline. The last time they toured out west the band had van issues and cancelled Portland. Amazing live band and super fun older punk crowd.

3. Real Friends/Movements- Analog Theater Portland, OR- I really loved the 5 dollar tour idea and Real Friends put on a really fun set filled with old songs. The crowd was a little tame, but the band always puts on a great performance. Movements was a solid find as well. Very tight and intense live band.

Hoping I can make it to a few more shows in 2017. Would like to do Riot Fest in Denver if possible.

 

I'd have to say I like most of the shoes I go too. Some I am interested in seeing just to see them / how they are / really cheap or free (Teyana Taylor; Casey Veggies; Ferg / Lanez / Joey Bada$$; G-Eazy / Logic; Snoopy Dogg & Wiz / Kevin Gates / Jhenle; Wiz), some I took my girlfriend or Mom to (Bieber; Halsey; Rick a Springfield; Lifehouse; The Goo Goo Dolls) but usually ended up enjoying them myself - especially Halsey, some I went with friends (MCS; AWOLNation) and stuff like Lupe, I went because I use to love his work and instantly regretted it when he started calling out the white people in the crowd and I just thought it was dumb. And I went to cudi because I loved his earlier stuff and had seen every seen hometown show. And some of the others I want to see an opener and stay for a headliner (F+TM;Hank willimas - kill me, lol; Carcass) or I saw the openers when I was there for the headliner (Chrvhs; Modest Mouse). Lol.

 

I like your list dude. Most of the COlumbus shows you were at, i was as well. ANd I was at riot fest all 3 days and the THursday after party show too.

 

My wife was very bothered by that too, haha. I've followed Lupe his whole career, I honestly didn't think he was being serious in making the race comments. I even think he made a comment before Show Goes On how he was joking. Also, in following him on Twitter, he says a lot of stuff to rile people up, even though he may not mean it.

I forgot to mention in shows I really wanted to go but missed was JEW in CBUS but I was in a wedding and had a rehearsal dinner that night.

 

1. Thursday, 9/17 Double Door, Chicago, IL

Riot Fest aftershow and my first time seeing Thursday. They're one of my favorite bands and they did a "special set," playing a lot of deep cuts. Opened with my favorite song of their's ("A Hole In The World") and the rest of the set was perfect. It was a really late show and I was super tired but it was so with it.

2. Thrice 6/11, Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD

first one seeing Thrice and they were super impressive to watch. Nailed every song and the stuff from the new albums sounded fantastic live. They also played over 20 songs and didn't miss a beat on any of them.

3. Riot Fest 9/16-18, Chicago, IL

Girlfriend and I spent the weekend in Chicago and it couldn't have been better. Favorite sets were Sleater-Kinney, Jimmy Eat World, The Wonder Years, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Brand New and Tiger Army.

4. The Wonder Years/letlive 3/30, The National, Richmond, VA

Took a train down to see this show because they're my two favorite bands going right now. Didn't disappoint at all. Getting to see Jason play Staines Glass Celings with them was one of my favorite concert moments.

5. Stick To Your Guns/Stray From The Path/Expire 9/15, Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL

Girlfriend and I's first "date" was this show so it'll always be kind of special. Every band on the bill was pretty sick too.

6. Tiger Army 3/15, Soundstage, Baltimore, MD

Tiger Army was one of my favorite bands when I was younger and I got one of my friend's into them earlier this year. It was his first time seeing them and he had the time of his life. Reminded me of how stoked I was to see them nine years ago. Nick 13 still puts on a great show too.

7. Norma Jean 4/1, Metro Gallery, Baltimore, MD

Norm Jean is my favorite band to see live and this might have been the best set I've seen them play. Love how much energy the new lineup has and they played a good mix of songs from every album.

8. Warped Tour 7/16, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD

Impulse bought a ticket to this and I didn't regret it. Favorite set was definitely ETID but revert and I saw there was pretty sick, especially Vanna, who I never listened to before this show.

9. Basement/Defeater/Turnstile 4/27, Soundstage, Baltimore, MD

Turnstile stole this show and I don't even listen to them. They played such a fun set and I've never seen Soundstage Gotham crazy before. They got rid of the barricade for this show so proplr could stage dive and it seemed like everyone in the venue participated in it. I originally went for Defeater & Basement but I had the most fun during Turnstile's set.

10. Silverstein/Being As An Ocean/Emarosa 3/25, Howard Theatre, Washington, DC

I always love seeing Silverstein live and this time was no different. Venue was kind of interesting though. It was an upscale ballroom/theatre with no barricade so the vibe was pretty cool. BAAO's singer was in the pit for all of their set was Silverstein was really interactive with the crowd since it was a pretty small turnout. Really fun show either way.

 

As of now, i've been to 115 shows this year. I have at least 5 left, maybe more. anyways here are my top 10 of the year.

1. At The Drive In- Rock on the range-5/22/16, Columbus, OH
2. Thursday-Double Door-9/17/16, Chicago, IL
3. Refused-Riot Fest-9/16/16, Chicago, IL
4. New Found Glory-Warped Tour-7/21/16, Cincy
5. Jimmy Eat World-Newport Music Hall-10/13/16, Columbus, OH
6. Fenix Tx/Unwritten Law-A&R Bar-4/06/16, Columbus, OH
7.Settle Your Scores/My Sweet Fall/Crunkasarus Rex-Hoosier Dome, 1/24/16, Indianapolis,IN
8. Hawthorne Heights/The Ataris/Mest-Southgate House, 3/16/16, Newport,KY
9. Morrissey-Riot Fest, 9/17/16, Chicago, IL
10. Heroes Like Villains/Action Adventure/Southpaw/Knockout Kid-Donatos Basement,8/1/16, Columbus, OH

 

How was TWY at Riot Fest? I skipped them to see Thursday. That was my only lap over all weekend. but it was a big one for me as Thursday is my All-time favorite and TWY are my current favorite.