The 2023 Concert Recap
Well, what a year. My buying embargo lasted up until Nov. 15, 2022. Oddly enough the day of the first major snowfall of that winter. The band that did me in? Inhaler. AKA, Bono’s son’s band.
And I am a sucker for anything U2.
Except when I got presale for The Sphere shows but got laid off the same week and couldn't afford to go.
Bummer.
I managed to keep a promise to myself, however, and did not spend $5,000 on concerts this year. Of these record-setting 103 shows, I worked or was comp’d on 68 of them.
Oooh, so close.
There's a quick breakdown under select acts. I've also included a Spotify playlist (another borrowed idea from 2022’s recap) featuring the song that I enjoyed most during that whole day/night. And if they were EDM, the track that best describes their “vibe.” I’ve also got a Top 5/Bottom 5 collection at the end.
C = Comedy
123 = Indicates ranking at the time of the show, not overall standing. Click to see the full running list.
January
143. The Menzingers [Oso Oso]
218. Umphrey’s McGee
297. Buku [G-Rex]
February
297. Hardy [Jameson Rodgers, Blame My Youth]
328. Blame the Youth, Jameson Rodgers
Both of these shows were sold out, and I was mercifully cut once Hardy came on for Night 2. You can tell they partied just as hard as their songs said they did. So, kudos to them for staying on brand, but everyone’s voices were shot.
March
72. Flogging Molly [Anti-Flag, Skinny Lister]
I bought the signed Anti-Flag poster because it featured a great design, eye-popping red ink autos, and unique colors from what I already displayed. Welp…can’t put that one up anymore. If I can’t put it on eBay it’s going into the trash can. Silver linings were — another great show/poster from FM and a newfound punk favorite in Skinny Lister. Also, the pits that night were some of the best I’ve ever witnessed.
179. Blue October [Beatnik Bandits]
156. Dropkick Murphys [The Rumjacks, Jesse Ahern]
143. Underoath [Periphery, Loathe]
As an employee of both GLC Live and The Intersection, this show should’ve been in Elevation. That would’ve made this a middle hundreds show to a Top 75. But like many undersold shows, that empty space really does make a difference.
192. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
I got yelled at by yet another elderly man because he thought the time on his ticket was when KWS takes the stage and not the door time, like it’s been for the last 100 years of show business. Two hours later a woman vomited in the middle of the floor and nobody around her said anything for 30 minutes. They just sat in their seats and dealt with the smell.
52. Inhaler [Sun Room]
Man, this whole day was as smooth as room temp butter. The drive was quick, parking was easy, the floor was full of 5-foot-3 women so my view from the back was clear as could be. And it was one of the best indoor shows of the year.
298. Ben Rector [Stephen Day, Jordy Searcy]
188. Flatland Cavalry [Meghan Patrick]
April
C. Tim Dillon [Eric Bernal]
219. Lorna Shore [Shadow of Intent, Brand of Sacrifice, Bodysnatcher, Boundaries]
My first show working at The Intersection.
C. Gianmarco Soresi [Dave Columbo]
294. Granger Smith [Prior Noon]
74. GZA with Phunky Nomads [Wuzee, Zero, Swapped Up $peedy]
AKA Wu-Tang with a Full Band. I’m still stuck at 2/9 on WTC members, but can’t pass up Liquid Swords with that live organ background sound.
251. Tesla [Fastest Land Animal, Kurt Deimer]
332. Riley Green [Tyler Braden]
C. Tom Papa [Adam Burke]
Tom Papa might be the most genuine and nicest entertainer I’ve ever met. OK, maybe a three-way tie with Jane Lynch and Bruce Boxleitner.
85. Stoopfest Day 2 [JER, Grey Matter, Devon Kay & The Solutions, Chris Farren, J. Navarro & The Traitors, Mega Ran, Camp Trash, Rent Strike, Dollar Signs, Parkway & Columbia, The Quirk]
Going back for more in May.
183. Chelsea Grin [Carnifex, Ov Sulfur, Left to Suffer]
C. Chad Daniels [Bill Squire]
Drive Safe. Don’t Rape.
May
94. Father John Misty [Butch Bastard]
The GLC poster is cool (and I have one sitting in a tube) but the poster for the Madison show he did the The Head and The Heart that my aunt gifted me is way cooler and will be my 2023 20 Monroe memorial framing. Posters aside, FTM is a far better entertainer than I think many give him credit for.
258. City and Colour [Courtney Marie Andrews]
Speaking of posters, this show had a funky Sid and Marty Krofft motif that I would love in my home if it wasn’t for the fact this show almost put me to sleep. As some of you know, that does happen from time to time, but it really shouldn’t happen when I’m on the clock.
227. The Cadillac Three [Elvie Shane]
15. Kilby Block Party Day 1 [Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Japanese Breakfast, Remi Wolf (wsg Dominic Fike), Lucius, Westerman, Jean Dawson, Sunhills]
9. Kilby Block Party Day 2 [The Strokes, Hippo Campus, Caroline Polachek, Goth Babe, Gus Dapperton, The Moss, Sunsleeper]
4. Kilby Block Party Day 3: [Pavement, Pixies, Surf Curse, The Backseat Lovers, The Walkmen, Tolchock Trio, Mannequin Pussy, Deeper, Worlds Worst, Backhand]
If you'd like a breakdown of the Kilby Block Party festival dates, click here. This was the best 3-day string of music I’ve ever seen.
195. Senses Fail [The Home Team, Action/Adventure]
95. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness [The Unlikely Candidates, Griffin William Sherry]
Talk about showmanship. AM took three straight shots of Tequila — I saw the bartenders pour them — while riding a giant inflatable Unicorn surfing the crowd.
197. Bad Omens [Erra, Invent Animate]
June
C. Zane Lamprey [Nick Jarry]
The host of Three Sheets had a drinking game during the set and didn’t mind the constant flow of traffic to the bars during the set. That’s a champ right there.
171. Damien Jurado [Chris Pureka]
Some people get sad with emo. Real players get sad with Damien Jurado.
149. Fleet Foxes [Uwade]
220. Tegan and Sara [Dragonette]
Dragonette out there making me live my best 2011 life. Also, insane abs for a 45-year old. T&S were as good as I thought they would be, so this show is basically my middle of the road divining rod.
167. Modest Mouse [Mattress]
Mattress …. how to describe Mattress. Imagine Nick Cave, but his only source material was rejected Bill Hader and John Mulaney SNL bits.
115. The Struts [Mac Saturn]
If either one of these bands are in a city within two hours of you, see them.
113. Pierce the Veil [The Used, Don Broco, girlfriend]
313. Candlebox [The Dead Deads]
289. Charley Crockett [Myron Elkins]
Quite the showman, but for an indoor, Opry-type venue. Outdoors in the heat? Not so much.
328. Mitchell Tenpenny [Brenden Monroe, Matt Shuster]
July
173. Future Islands [Lonnie Walker]
Not their best night. And I LOVE Future Islands, but something was off.
228. Jenny Lewis
Jenny Lewis through The Pretty Reckless were all Summerfest performances.
269. Cautious Clay
254. The Gufs
20. The War on Drugs
The best band out there right now. Period.
HM. Here Come the Mummies
180. Newski
198. Piqued Jacks
59. The Pretty Reckless
Another band I’ll see for the music. Only the music. That sweet, hot music.
155. GWAR [Heartsick]
I got camed on by a decapitated Joe Biden.
39. Upheaval Festival Day 2: [Halestorm, Suicide Silence, Ice Nine Kills, We Came As Romans, Deadlight Holiday, Fame on Fire]
Working the Suicide Silence crowdsurfing set on top of a hill in broad daylight is a Top 5 music-industry working moment. Also, Halestorm — for the music.
151. Wage War [Thousand Below]
Right after working Upheaval my buddy Dale and I somehow managed to be the only two security staff to catch the 40-odd surfers at Thousand Below, then got a little help during Wage War. That was a “did I just get hit by a train” kinda night.
67. First Aid Kit [The Weather Station]
Of all the songs I heard this year, Hem of Her Dress in Meijer Gardens with full crowd participation was hands down the best.
203. Mest [Makeout, Keep Flying, Don’t Panic, Death by Lions]
83. Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dogg [Ying Yang Twins]
Big shout out to Connor for my brother’s Wiz TMNT Tee.
156. The Regrettes [Snarls]
The only show my dad wanted to see this year. And then they broke up. I’m not saying it’s the reason, but it’s not not the reason.
August
102. Phantogram [Lipstick Jodi]
Hey, it was a BIG year in MUSIC.
177. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats [Thee Sacred Souls]
167. Breakaway Day 1: [Tiësto, RL Grime, Tchami]
289. Breakaway Day 2: [Porter Robinson (DJ Set), Deadmau5, Knock2, Jessie Murph, Christian French, Telykast, Will Sass, Lowke]
284. Alter Bridge [Sevendust, MJT]
175. Messer Chups [Ichi-Bons]
Zombierella ordered a triple Jack and Red Bull, watched the opener, came back for a double Jack and Red Bull at the start of intermission, then finished the night off with a single Jack and Red Bull. Russians, man.
September
261. Hatebreed [Terror, Vein, Jesus Piece]
290. of Montreal [Locate S,1]
165. PUP [Snotty Nose Rez Kids]
317. The Mars Volta [Teri Gender Bender]
219. The Gaslight Anthem [Donovan Wood]
90. Bastille [Cal in Red]
61. Motionless in White [Knocked Loose, After the Burial, Alpha Wolf]
Two different people in the last few weeks have noticed me as the person who caught them during this night. One was a nurse in the doctor’s office while I was being consulted for my labrum tear and the other was a bartender at Scholar. After the Burial made a sick ass poster of a serpent in black and white, with the band signing it in silver ink. Alpha Wolf also signed it in silver. Great guys all around.
264. Dethlok [BabyMetal, Jason Richardson]
212. AWOLNATION [IRONTOM]
C. Jordan Jensen [Ryan Kahl]
292. Ray Lamontagne [Tomberlin]
345. Black Veil Brides [Ville Valo, Death Divine]
398. The Brian Jonestown Massacre [Magic Castles]
The absolute worst show. Ever. Nothing will ever be worse unless I’m forced to work a TBJM/Fastball co-headliner tour. My friend Mitch worked the merch stand for the duration. That’s some intestinal fortitude right there.
October
80. Grace Potter [The Cactus Blossoms]
How can anyone not like Grace Potter? Another act I’ll see whenever she’s remotely close.
C. Jimmy Carr
From a classic joke standpoint, pound-for-pound the quickest wit alive.
162. The Wonder Years
I had a choice right after Carr’s set. Eat Mom’s Spaghetti or race across to Royal Oak for The Wonder Years’ album anniversary tour. As you can see by the ranking, I chose the show. But I also got in one song into the setlist when the Royal Oak Music Theatre’s computers turned off so I got in for free!
58. The Chats [Cosmic Psychos, The Schizophonics, *Archetypes Collide]
Archetypes Collide was the first opener for We Came As Romans, the show I was originally going to work. Glad I made the change. Top to Bottom the craziest motherfuckers all year. Only thing I wish this show had was that chicken wire the Blues Brothers had at Bob’s Country Bunker.
127. Kevin Gates [BigXThaPlug]
264. Ernest [John Morgan]
324. TesseracT [Interval, Alluvial]
360. Bass Country Halloween [Ray Volpe, Wooli]
97. Bad Religion [Speed of Light, School Drugs]
Speed of Light, mark my words, next big thing in Punk/Rock. Perhaps they fill the vacuum The Regrettes left?
249. Switchfoot [The Trews]
Here’s why I thought this would be better.
99. Skinny Lister [Pet Needs, Bandaid Brigade]
Flogging Molly introduced me to Skinny Lister. Now Skinny Lister introduced me to Pet Needs.
201. Chelsea Grin [Suicide Silence, I Am, Peeling Flesh, He Who Dwells]
Two great acts during the year fumbled the bag at a joint headline tour.
C. Eric Andre Explosion [Frankie LaPenna]
You ever just want a cold shower, then a hot shower, then to be left alone for four days? Eric Andre Explosion.
November
C. Kelsey Cook [Alec Parent]
272. Hollywood Undead [Tech N9ne, King Iso]
237. The Head and the Heart [Drew Holcomb]
331. Dylan Scott [Tayler Holder]
53. Apashe ft. Brass Orchestra [wsg. Wasiu & Ymir]
See them live if it’s the last show you ever see. *But see them indoors. I’ve watched a few outdoor sets on YT where it loses a lot of the magic.
174. Young the Giant [Brother Elsey]
392. Carly Pearce [Adam Doleac]
40. The 1975 [Dora Jar]
375. Bone Thugs & Harmony [Michigan Misfits, Dem Big Boizz]
110. Action/Adventure [Cliffdiver, Keep Flying, Midwest Skies]
December
312. Meshuggah [In Flames, Whitechapel]
133. Oso Oso [Carly Cosgrove, Kicksie]
Oddly, we end where we begin, The first band of the year is also the last — and they improved upon their first headliner pairing, too.
Top 5 Non-Festival Indoor Shows
The 1975 with Dora Jar at Van Andel Arena
Apashe with special guests Wasiu & Ymir at The Intersection
Inhaler with Sun Room at Saint Andrew’s Hall
The Chats with Cosmic Psychos and The Schizophonics at Elevation
Motionless in White with Knocked Loose, After the Burial, and Alpha Wolf at GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Top 5 Sets
Surf Curse - Kilby Block Party Day 3
The War on Drugs - Summerfest
Snoop Dogg - Van Andel Arena
Pavement - Kilby Block Party Day 3
Jean Dawson - Kilby Block Party Day 1
Top 5 Songs
*Not my videos
Hem of Her Dress - First Aid Kit
Disco - Surf Curse
Good Time - Grace Potter
Top 5 Moments
The Suicide Silence moshpits/surfers at Upheaval
Fans climbing buildings during Surf Curse
Finally seeing The Strokes (and being rewarded a free tee after)
Catching surfers during MIL/KL (you can even see my shiny head in this vid and this one, too)
Honorable Mention
Eating part of the baguette The Walkmen threw from the stage
Remi Wolf wearing Bucks shorts
Getting signed call sheets from Tom Papa and Riley Christensen (Speed of Light)