I saw lots of stuff during the year. Since I love live music, I just don't go out to see my favorites, I see anything remotely interesting. Most bands deliver in live performances since that is their bread and butter. I did see some lame shows (Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, Joy Oladokun) but for the most part, bands realize the need to entertain and go beyond just playing their songs. Here were my highlights ( along with corroborating video proof) ,
1. Maggie Rogers- Miami's Bayfront Park- She's talented, pretty, energetic...and sincere. She danced, whirled and writhed, placed her emotions on her sleeve and absolutely knocked it out of the park. The highlight was when she found out, while on stage, that her tour was so successful that it will start to be booked into larger arenas...her appreciative yet well deserved euphoria was beautiful.
2. Jason Isbell & 400 Unit- Solid Sound Festival, North Adams, MA- supporting WILCO for WILCO's unique festival at an Art Museum, Isbell put on a "deep cut" set focusing on wonderful, endless guitar solos. Between his 6 string dexterity and his ace-in-the-whole, slide-guitarist extraordinaire, "Sadler Vader", it was a feast for the guitar aficionado culminating with a killer, jammy cover of REM's " The One I Love"
3. Nathaniel Ratliff & the Night Sweats- Farm Aid, Saratoga Springs, NY- This band took the stage completely on fire starting with their normally encore hit, "S.O.B." and then continuously taking it up a touch from there. The whole band seemed to act like a unified "front man" and they delivered the highest energy, smile-inducing show I saw all year.
4. My Morning Jacket- One Big Holiday, Riviera Maya, Mexico. These guys took a bit of a hiatus but then came back to show that they are still one of the kings of live music. Night 2 ( of their 3 night run) closed with a killer tribute to Nirvana's Kurt Cobain by making "All Apologies" their very own. Seeing this band can be a religious experience.
5. Kasey Musgraves/Lord Huron/Nickel Creek- Hardrock Hollywood, Fl - I enjoy Musgraves' gutsy and introspective pop songs yet is she a good live act? HELL YEA ! She is a terrific live act that has one foot in top 40 with the other entrenched in indie music. Her professionalism was top notch with every nuance of her vocals made acoustically perfect. Her addition of progressive bluegrass icons "Nickel Creek" and high energy Americana group "Lord Huron" stifled any appearance that this was a routine, mainstream, pop show. Musgraves has the songs, talent, looks, attitude and x factor to be a top notch live act for a long time.
6. Charlie Crockett- Farm Aid, Saratoga Springs, NY. Charlie is a traditional country artist yet backed by an unusually bluesy, jammy and soulful band. Crockett first resembles a wooden, statuesque performer who then, out of nowhere, starts dancing and screaming out his vocals. His performance was unpredictable and surprising and making him a wonderfully difficult to categorize artist. He also has a damn fine catalog of catchy songs.
7. Crazy Fingers- Tarpon River Brewery/Lauderale/Crazy Uncle Mikes/Funky Biscuit. This is, by far, the best value in live music . Crazy Fingers is a veteran Grateful Dead Tribute band. In a way, since the real Dead are no spring chickens, Crazy Fingers sings their classic songs better than the aging Dead & Company. The joy of this band is seeing the company they keep; the tie-dye, the dancing hippies, the cloud of smoke. For merely the price of a beer, you can sit back, sip on that glass and enjoy authentic Grateful Dead covers ...in a dynamic that is better than most over-priced shows where you are confined to a seat.
8. Remain in Light- Talking Heads tribute show at Hollywood Arts in the Park. With original member Jerry Harrison and virtuostic guitarists Adrian Belew, this was no pedestrian tribute...they combined with some high energy band-mates to produce a killer show. The same show touring the country to regular 3000-6000 venues played for free under the stars
Fellow live music fans, what were your faves for 2024 ?
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