Working in the music industry, well, the music safety industry, affords me the opportunity to work some of the biggest shows of the year. Beyond working, I also love going to see shows and acts regardless of genre.

My summer tour in 2018 was without a doubt one of the best road trips I’ve ever taken. I took off a whole year’s worth of vacation days to go on a 12-day adventure across the Midwest in search of the best concerts and baseball games available.

But 2018 was also the year of the small show, as by virtue of a lot of hard work and 60-70 hour weeks, I could go to just about everything I wanted to in and and around Grand Rapids.

So, here’s my list of the best shows I saw in 2018 (including work).

Honorable Mention

All the comedy. I laughed my ass off at all of these but a comedy show is still quite a lot different than a rock show. Kathleen Madigan and Ron White were phenomenal and each provided a good coupling with each of my parents. Nick Swardson was hysterical and gave me the most people-watching fun. Adam Devine was also a big surprise. I can’t stand Workaholics and their Netflix movie but his stand-up was not at all what you see on screen. You know, funny.

Now for the music.

The Brothers Osborne, Helmet, Dirty Heads, Vance Joy, Daughtry, Melissa Etheridge, Seether, Marilyn Manson, Manchester Orchestra, An Horse

I know what you’re thinking, how could Manson and Seether be in Honorable Mention? Well, metal isn’t really my cup of tea. I don’t work out to guitar thrashing and headbanging. I hear that’s more fun with hair.

Metal doesn’t amp up my heart rate or make me want to jump around. I like music I can follow along without it trying to give me a heart attack at the same time.

Bronze

Collective Soul, Gin Blossoms, Young the Giant, Eve 6, Candlebox, Gary Clark Jr.

Otherwise, acts I’ve seen before or 90’s alternative. And all sounded better than the first, or last, time I saw them. The Gin Blossoms and Young the Giant especially.

Silver

Borns, Matt & Kim, Still Corners, Andrew WK, Phantogram, Pixies

Borns started the year out strong, and Matt & Kim provided a great energy to end the summer. I was surprised to see only 50 other people at the Still Corners show, a London synth duo who actually brought out drums and a guitar to really amplify their sound. Andrew WK was wild and the Pixies sounded album quality. I wanted Phantogram to be better, or play longer, after missing their show in 2014. BUT, Big Boi joined them for a Big Grams song and I was in the front row.

Gold

Incubus, Elvis Costello, New Politics, Interpol, Sylvan Esso, The Front Bottoms

What can I say about these bands? I was listening to Incubus’ 8 for a solid month before the show, New Politics was one of my favorites in college, Costello was a mainstay at my dad’s (as was Etheridge). I did learn that I have no favorite Interpol or Sylvan Esso song but instead I just generally like all of them. The Front Bottoms were the biggest surprise of 2018. I think I ended up buying two of their albums before their first song ended.

Platinum

6. Weezer

Non-Stop Hits. Between the open-air amphitheater in a clean-air Ohio summer to the warm-up by the Pixies, seeing Weezer was the perfect way to end the solo leg of the summer road trip. Yes, they performed Africa by Toto. No, I still did not enjoy it. All of the other songs were 10/10.

5. Arctic Monkeys

My first concert at the Masonic Temple is Detroit was a success, but I won’t ever go back. It’s a fantastic building meant for a lot less people than they fit into it. Being smushed aside, AM brought it every step of the way. The new album was a change of pace but you wouldn’t have guessed it from the fast and loud show, plus they played a White Stripes cover, a real thrill after seeing …

4. Jack White

I mean, enough said, right? Not only did he absolutely bring it, but there were no phones allowed. Also, hearing the beat of Icky Thump while dressed in full security gear and lights flashing is a helluva way to feel more important than anyone else in a building full of 3,000 people. It was my John Wick-through-the-nightclub moment and it was incredible.

3. Janelle Monae

Dirty Computer was hands down the best album of 2018. And Monae played the whole thing from front to back. With set changes. With greatest hits mixed in between during the encore.

2. Arcade Fire

There’s no substitute for premier indie rock other than Arcade Fire, and no better way to end Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. AND, I got to sit down and watch most of the show because nobody was in front of me after I shamed a guy for smoking a blunt two seats away from two kids.

1. The War on Drugs

Little did I know the start of my summer road trip would include the best concert I saw in 2018. The War on Drugs is the Philly version of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street band. It doesn’t hurt that they play 2-hour rock show on such little airplay. They join the ranks of U2 in 2017 and Paul McCartney in 2016.

2019

Here’s a preview of what’s on tap for the new year.

Telekinesis

King Tuff

Metric

Muse

Queen