I hit my 100th concert last week, so I figured I’d write a “little” piece on my top 10 favorite shows that I’ve been to so far to celebrate 🙂
Honorable Mentions
3. Taylor Swift: 1989 Tour- MetLife Stadium
- Openers: Shawn Mendes, HAIM and Vance Joy
Not only does Taylor Swift turn her summer tours into mini festivals, with three big name opening acts to keep the crowd occupied before her set, but at a staggering 2 hour and 23 minute runtime (I kept note of it), she does the stadium atmosphere justice in a way that other pop acts just can’t.
1989 is an iconic album. It just is. That’s how she could get away with only four songs, excluding the one(s) performed with special guests, on the tour setlist that are NOT from 1989. I personally didn’t care too much for the big, bright production numbers like “I Wish You Would” or “Welcome To New York”, but it was the darker moments like the haunting, oozing reimagination of “I Knew You Were Trouble” or seeing her perform, for the first time that tour, a stripped-down version of “You Belong With Me” that really made an impact.
Many of the cuts off of “1989” were absolutely stunning live. From the shimmering “This Love”, “Style”, with its simple yet effective choreography and many of Taylor’s famous friends, like Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss, serving as runway models, “I Know Places” which felt bolder and grander than ever and “Clean”, with an extended inspirational speech from Taylor as she stood on a platform that put her just over the heads of the crowd. However, the highlight of the show was her performance of “Out Of The Woods”. The musicality that her entire band, backup singers included, showed during that song, which probably ran for about six minutes, was extraordinary. Taylor held her own during that song too, with soaring vocals and fierce, dominating stage presence.
2. John Mayer: The Search For Everything Tour- Jones Beach Theatre
The rollout of Mayer’s latest record, “The Search For Everything”, consisted of two EP releases over the few months leading up to the full album. By the time it came out, we’d heard almost everything from it. It may not have been my favorite strategy, but when the tour was announced, I knew I was there regardless.
Mayer’s setlist spanned his already lengthy career. From early hits like “No Such Thing” and “Daughters”, “Search For Everything” cuts “In The Blood” and my personal favorite “Moving On and Getting Over” and stellar covers, including his iconic take on Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'”. There was truly something for everyone. The three songs performed alongside Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan as the John Mayer Trio were obvious highlights, but their cover of Jimi Hendrick’s “Wait Until Tomorrow” was absolutely sublime. Just three sickeningly talented world-class musicians essentially jamming for fun while the rest of us look on in awe.
It was an absolute privilege to see him play “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” and “Gravity” live. During “Gravity”, I just closed my eyes and tried to take it all in, hoping he’d just rip for 10-15 minutes. It didn’t last quite that long, but it was still a stellar showing of musicianship.
- Bon Jovi: Live 2011- Madison Square Garden
After seeing Bon Jovi for the first time at MetLife Stadium on his “The Circle Tour” just a little under a year prior, I walked into The Garden a little older and a little more familiar with the music. I know, I know. There are other, better rock bands out there. I’ve seen some of them since. But at 14 years old, seeing a show like that was pretty eye-opening.
I looked around during the opening song, “Raise Your Hands”, and saw the sellout crowd instantly connected to New Jersey’s favorite band, “Bad Medicine”, with an interpolation of the Isley Brothers “Shout” and “Have A Nice Day” had the crowd rocking and “Bed Of Roses”, one of my favorite power ballads, was performed to perfection. As per usual, they concluded their encore set with “Livin’ On A Prayer. Jon simply smiled and held the mic out of the fans for most of it, allowing us to have our moment. The band then exited the stage, but the lights did not come back on. Not yet.
They returned for a second encore of “In These Arms”, a cut from ’92 record “Keep The Faith” and the underrated, sparingly-used monstrous power ballad that is “Always”. 28 songs into the set, Jon’s voice refused to waver as he powered through his ultimate testament of love, with his body practically pulsating from the feeling of it. He stepped back while guitarist Richie Sambora delivered a guitar solo from the heavens that sent the crowd into a frenzy and me into my first out-of-body-experience. For one second I wondered if the rumors were true….that sometimes you can hear the roar of the crowd of the wail of a guitar within MSG down on the streets below. I wondered if anyone on the outside could hear those incredible sounds, but I snapped right back, my little 14-year-old body pounding the air like a set of human drums.
Top 10
10. Hunter Hayes: Cat Country 98.1 Presents….- Bold Point Park, Providence, RI
- Openers: Noah Schnacky and Jillian Cardarelli
Hunter Hayes is easily one of the most visceral performers of our generation. Arguably the best male vocalist of his genre and one of the best musicians, country or not, that you’ll ever see. Five years after seeing him open for Carrie Underwood on her “Blown Away” tour, I got to see him once again at this one-off show in Providence.
He’d perform rousing, extended versions of early hits like “Storm Warning” (a personal favorite) and “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me”, newer songs like the mature, heartfelt ballads “Dear God” and “Tell Me” and new single “One Shot” that showed off his fun-loving, looser side. The unreleased “Tell Me” was a highlight, his vocals soaring to new heights, as was “Invisible”, a song I had dreamed of seeing him perform live for years. I raised my arms and shed many tears as he belted out the uplifting track; “Hear me out, there’s so much more to life than what you’re feeling now. Someday you’ll look back on all these days, and all this pain is gonna be invisible.”
With guitars wailing, he concluded the main set with fan favorite “I Want Crazy”. I looked over at Celine, a family friend from Germany, who was dancing and singing along to every word, and was reminded of just how universal music really is. It was one of the best feel-good moments I’ve had at a concert in a long time.
9. Nightly: Nightly Headline Tour- Mercury Lounge
I was first exposed to Nightly when I saw them open for rapper NF at his show at New York’s PlayStation Theatre in early 2018. The Nashville-based band straight up out-performed the rapper that night, showcasing songs from their debut EP “Honest”. I was a fan almost instantly.
They’d finally announce a headline tour of their own, which included a stop at the intimate Mercury Lounge on legendary Houston Street. I stood front row and watched as they performed a respectable 13-song set that included the rock-leaning “Miss You Like Hell”, the slow, atmospheric “Twenty Something” and “Honest”, a fantastic cut from their EP of the same name. The highlight of the night was their performance of perhaps their most beloved song, “No Vacancy”. The synth-heavy, driving track is a shot in the dark, a rare gem of a song to come out of an upstart band.
I got to talk with lead singer, Jon, for a few minutes after the show. With people waiting behind me, he was as attentive, humble and conversational as any artist I’ve ever met. I will most certainly be at more Nightly shows down the road, and I am excited to watch their career grow before my eyes.
8. Justin Timberlake: 20/20 Experience Tour- Izod Center
Yep, you read that right. The Weeknd actually opened for Justin Timberlake. I just remember looking around, not really getting it, and asking someone who the hell was up there. “Oh man,” said the guy behind me. “That’s the new Michael Jackson right there.” I kind of scoffed at that comment, but little did I know what was coming and what had already been delivered.
As far as Justin Timberlake goes, the dude played for 2 hours and 40 something minutes. I mean, how could you not play a long show when you’re touring a double record where most of the songs are over five minutes? The stamina and vocal endurance he showed that night, especially for a guy whose songs are SUPER rangey, was actually quite remarkable. Also, it was super classy. He wore a suit for the entire show, and his whole band were decked out as well. It felt like a Harry Connick Jr. show but like, less pompous. And, you know, pop music.
“Drink You Away”, “Only When I Walk Away”, a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and “Pusher Love Girl” were highlights, but my favorite moments of the night were the closing songs of both halves. “Cry Me A River”, a song that was already well over a decade old at that point, had the entire crowd doing the one-arm drop thing, whatever you wanna call it, like we were in a club. His vocal on it was pretty sick too. That song closed the first half, while “Mirrors” concluded the second. I wanted nothing more then for “Mirrors” live to be what I saw on TV when he performed it as part of his Video Vanguard medley at the VMA’s….the entire crowd clapping in sync during that bridge, and a whole lot of guitar action. I got what I wanted, because that’s pretty much what happened and it was glorious.
I would also like to point out that halfway through the second act, the giant platform he and some of his band were on started slowly moving across the floor towards the back of the arena. And it kept getting closer and closer until he was just a stones throw away. I know Pink is literally flying into the crowd these days, but I thought that was really cool. It cemented him as a dynamic performer who wanted the entire crowd to feel close to him, no matter where they were sitting.
7. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett: Cheek To Cheek Tour- Radio City Music Hall
Rarely do you get to see two of the most prolific artists from two completely different generations come together. Lady Gaga, at that point, had ruled pop music for about five years and Tony Bennett’s legendary career spanned more than half a century, but it was a match made in heaven.
With a full band behind them, the pair performed songs from their joint record “Cheek To Cheek” such as “Anything Goes” and “Nature Boy” as well as other standards like “The Lady Is A Tramp”. Even with the 60 year age difference, the love and respect they share for each other and for the timeless music they were showcasing was clear as day. However, the highlights of the night came from their individual performances. Gaga, though visibly drunk off her ass, performed a guttural, chilling rendition of “La Vie En Rose” that brought the crowd to its feet. Tony Bennett would not be outdone, delivering a jaw-dropping cover of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon” with no microphone. Accompanied by just an acoustic guitar, his powerful voice bounced off the walls of the legendary New York venue, reaching the last row with ease. With my heart thumping inside me, it took everything I had to stay seated until the end of the performance. It truly does not get better than that.
6. Wallows: Wallows Winter Tour- Bowery Ballroom
The early days of Wallows were really something special if you were around to be a part of it. They played a show at The Mercury Lounge, their first in New York, in August, 2017 and I’ll be honest, I walked in with no expectations but left literally crapping my pants. Dylan, who stars as Clay Jensen in the hit Netflix series “13 Reasons Why”, was an absolutely enigmatic performer even then.
Their next New York gig was at the Bowery about eight months later, but it still felt like an “our little secret” kind of situation as they still really hadn’t blown up yet. They had a bit more material to go off of this time around, performing early favorites like “Pleaser” and “Pulling Leaves Off Trees” as well as newer stuff from their “Spring” EP such as “Pictures Of Girls” and “It’s Only Right”. They’re billed as an alternative band from California, but with the electric energy that exudes from them onstage, they feel more like a hardened rock band. It’s truly a sight to see.
“Uncomfortable”, a fantastic song that’s never found a home on any of their projects, was a highlight for me, as was “1980’s Horror Film”, performed solo by Braeden. There aren’t a lot of small, quiet moments at a Wallows show, but with Dylan and Cole sitting cross-legged on the floor, Braeden delivered a stripped, tender performance that took the crowds breath away. I’m not often a fan of how his voice sounds on recordings, but live, he really holds up.
5. Bleachers: Gone Now Era- Part 2- House of Blues, Boston
- Openers: Amy Shark and Bishop Briggs
It was a combination of a cute guy and live music that took me on an adventure to Boston in November, 2017. I drove up from Purchase for a date and even though I ultimately ended up getting rejected, Bleachers made sure it was the best damn rejection I’ve ever been handed.
I was, at best, a casual Bleachers fan. I’d listened to both of their records and I liked them, but it wasn’t something I was falling head over heels for. I was, however, falling head over heels for the boy from Northeastern University, so I was gonna fake it till I made it. But by the end of the night, I was absolutely obsessed. Bleachers, led by Jack Antonoff, whose track record as a songwriter/producer for artists like Taylor Swift and Lorde is well-documented, are absolutely magnetic live. Even at the tail end of a long, LONG touring cycle, they performed like they were on steroids. They could have filled a stadium with the sound they were producing. Antonoff, for someone so often found behind the scenes, is a spectacular front man, almost performing as an alternate version of himself onstage.
Early favorites like “Wild Heart” and the adrenaline-fueled “Rollercoaster” pumped up the dedicated crowd of die-hards, as did newer cuts like “Foreign Girls” and “Let’s Get Married”. Antonoff, a former member of the popular band fun., led the crowd in a sing-a-long of well-known hit “Carry On” and a sweet cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl”. The highlight of the night was the bands earliest hit, “I Wanna Get Better”. Many fans could be seen showing off tattoos or signs of the lyrics, as they literally poured anything they were feeling out in front of them at that moment, screaming the self-care anthem with no reservations. It was a mind-blowing sight to see, and that song has since become very special to me as well.
4. Mary J. Blige and Maxwell: King and Queen of Hearts Tour- Madison Square Garden
In the days following Trump’s 2016 election victory, I needed something to make me forget about everything. I got it in the form of a direct message on Twitter from Complex Music, saying I’d won tickets to Mary J. and Maxwell at The Garden just two days later. I was thrilled.
My friend Ashley and I walked into the venue, picked up our tickets and went to look at the map to see where we’d be sitting. “Ash,” I said in a mix of fear and excitement. “We’re second row center.” We walked down the aisle to the very front of the building that I have worshipped for years and sat down in our seat, which was close enough to literally touch the world’s most iconic stage. I was on cloud nine.
Honestly, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Not only was I male, but I was the only white person as far as the eye could see. That didn’t stop me from having fun though. I sang and danced along to Mary J’s set, that included “Real Love”, “Good Woman Down” and new hit “Thick Of It”, holding my own with the urban crowd. Her performance of “No More Drama” was as intense and fiery as you’d expect from the reigning queen of R&B.
Maxwell was next, and I was unprepared for what I was about to experience. His suave, silky-smooth voice and bravado was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Truly the king of neo-soul, he and his ethereal backing band were absolute perfection. Every collective full-band hit, vocal run and riff and effortless transition into his iconic falsetto sent shivers down my spine. I audibly gasped and screamed “OH MY GOD” or “ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME” over and over, and Maxwell, standing directly in front of me most of the time, couldn’t help but turn and smile at me. He knew he had me hooked. His cover of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work”, new song “Lake By The Ocean” and classic 90’s hit “….Till The Cops Come Knockin'” were highlights, but the whole set was just magic.
3. Eric Church: Holdin My Own Tour- Barclay’s Center
No disrespect to Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton or any of country music’s biggest stars, no one in the genre puts on a show like Eric Church. I was always a fan of Church’s darker, sinister take on “bro country”, especially with the added touch of the rock music that inspired him growing up i.e, Bruce Springsteen.
Whether it was the full-band, high energy moments of “The Outsiders” and “Give Me Back My Hometown” or the many, MANY smaller, more intimate moments like “Record Year”, “Mr. Misunderstood” and “Kill A Word”, the crowd at the Barclay’s Center was connected and engaged with country music’s resident storyteller, as well as the many beers that he encouraged us to drink. I left during “Three Year Old”, but he was showing no signs of stopping yet. While most pop artists play 90 minute shows and established country artists typically hit around two hours, Church played for well over three hours with a whopping 39 songs on the setlist. The “Rolling Stone” article about the show helped cement it as both an important moment in Church’s career and really, an open to challenge to live performers of all genres to step up their game.
2. U2: Innocence + Experience Tour- Madison Square Garden
What’s better than ending a leg of a tour at Madison Square Garden? Ending a leg of a tour with NINE shows at Madison Square Garden. I may have missed special guests like Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen (that one hurt) at shows throughout the mini-residency, but seeing my favorite band of all time live for the first time was exhilarating. A total dream come true.
U2’s live stage show is absolutely immaculate. Not only is it the biggest band on the planet casually performing some of the most iconic rock songs in history like “With Or Without You” or “When The Streets Have No Name”, but the set design and visual effects are the best you’ll EVER see. Who else decides that they want to walk and play through a double-sided video screen that takes up almost the entire length of the stage? Nobody. Absolutely nobody.
The band performed songs from their “Songs Of Innocence” record (the one we all got on our phones in 2014), like the dark, twisted “Raised By Wolves”, the nostalgia-driven “Cedarwood Road” and a piano version of the emotional “Song For Someone”. Of course, the real highlights came from the most well-known tracks. “Angel Of Harlem”, performed with an international fan in the front row, “Beautiful Day” and “City Of Blinding Lights” were as euphoric as I imagined them, as were the iconic “Joshua Tree” cuts mentioned in the paragraph above. The band seemed to be going back and forth between “One” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” as the closing song throughout the tour, and while I was hoping for the latter, as it’s truly one of my favorite songs of all time, looking around and seeing 15,000+ people sing the lyrics to “One” in unison was truly one of the most awe-inspiring things I’ve ever seen.
- Global Citizen Festival 2015: Beyoncé, Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Tori Kelly, Common, Sting- Central Park
My Global Citizen story is like something out of a movie. I won the tickets the day before on Twitter from H&M, so I texted my best friend Matt and basically told him we were in for a wild ride. Through sheer luck, divine intervention or whatever you want to call it, Matt’s dad got me in touch with one of his connections who promised to get us in a great spot. We were taken through the back entrance via unmarked police car, and as we walked up the steps to the backstage area, were told, “Whatever you do, just don’t attack anyone.” Before I could even process what was meant by that, we walked past Jay-Z, Michelle Obama’s office and Leonardo DiCaprio. It gets better.
As we’re standing backstage listening to Tori Kelly, surrounded by industry people, influencers and Lord knows who else, I look to my right and see Scooter Braun, manager of Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. I then look to my left and see Ed Sheeran. Frozen, panicked and ecstatic are just a few words to describe myself in that moment. “Noah, go up to one of them and say hi!”, said a police officer. Before I could muster the strength to do so, I get a tap on the shoulder. “Hey man,” said one of the college-age kids we were hanging around with. “Eddie Vedder wants to say hi to us.” Eddie Vedder. Of Pearl Jam. One of my favorite bands of all time. I almost had a heart attack.
After meeting with Vedder, we were taken out into the “friends and family” section of the VIP area. Kerry Washington came over to say hello. Bill Gates walked up and asked how we were doing. It was a literal dream.
We missed Coldplay due to the whole “waiting for a car/going backstage” thing, so Ed Sheeran was first up. If you’ve ever seen Sheeran play live, you know what he’s about. Nothing onstage but him, his guitar and a loop pedal. I was mesmerized by his extended performance of “Photograph”, a song that I could normally shrug off, but the live rendition with the added looping, harmonized vocals was absolutely astounding to watch. He followed up with fantastic live renditions of “Bloodstream”, “Don’t” and “The A-Team”. I was floored. I almost start to cry when I talk about it to this day.
Though he wasn’t n the official bill, Common was up next and I freaked the f*ck out. I’m a huge fan. Alongside backup singer Tasha Cobbs, who has gone onto have incredible solo success since, the pair performed a chilling rendition of “Glory” his collaboration with John Legend for the movie “Selma”. The next thing I know, they’re playing “Every Breath You Take” by The Police and I realize that the long-bearded man next to Common is freakin Sting, looking totally unrecognizable but sounding fantastic, as he does. I almost fell on the floor. Only in New York, man.
Beyoncé was next and honestly, it’s not fair. It’s not fair that thousands of other artists have to get up onstage knowing that they don’t and will never have anywhere close to the amount of charisma, magnetic energy and straight up vocal chops that Beyoncé has. She is truly in a class all on her own. Her performance of “1+1” that night literally had me on the ground, pounding the grass. “Diva”, “Crazy In Love”, “Ring The Alarm” and “Flawless” were an instant reminder that her discography is second to none, and not to mention, had me dancing, with all my walls down and cares off the table, with people I’d never met before. It was an incredible moment. Watching her, you feel powerful, you feel strong, you feel independent. You feel everything you need to.
How do you follow that? HOW do you follow that? With Pearl Jam, that’s how. Electrifying, loud, gritty and powerful, their set was impeccable. “Better Man”, “Lightning Bolt” and “Alive” lit a fire in me like nothing I’ve ever felt before, while acoustic versions of John Lennon’s “Imagine”, as Vedder stared out at the New York City skyline and the hotel Lennon wrote the song in, and Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”, with a little help from Beyoncé, brought me back down to myself. It was one of the biggest bands in the world showing their versatility in just an hour, and it was unreal.
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