Shows / Tours of the Year: 2017 Tour

I made this thread last year and thought I’d do it again this year. Post your top 5, 10, 100 shows, tours, sets, whatever of the year. I liked seeing people’s lists last year. I did 82 shows this year and my favorites where…

Show:
Farm Aid 2017 - Willie Nelson & Family / Neil Young + The Promise Of Real / John Mellencamp / Dave Matthews + Tim Reynolds / Sheryl Crow / Jack Johnson / The Avett Brothers / Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats / Margo Price - 9/16 @ KeyBank Pavilion (Pittsburgh, PA)

Sets:
20. Kings of Leon - 8/16 @ Blossom Music Center (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
19. Tool - 6/5 @ Peterson Events Center (Pittsburgh, PA)
18. Stevie Nicks - 9/15 @ Coveli Center (Youngstown, OH)
17. A Pefrect Circle - 11/18 @ Wolstein Center (Cleveland, OH)
16. Dead And Company - 11/25 @ Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH)
15. The National - 10/7 @ Stage AE Outdoors (Pittsburgh, PA)
14. Explosions in the Sky - 4/26 @
House of Blues Cleveland (Cleveland, OH)
13. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - 6/10 @ The Q Quicken Loans (Cleveland, OH)
12. Chris Stapleton - 8/18 @ Blossom Music Center (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
11. Kendrick Lamar - 8/22 @ Value City Arena (Columbus, OH)
10. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - 7/2 @ The Rose Music Center At The Heights (Huber Heights, OH)
9. Manchester Orchestra - 10/3 @ The Filmore Silver Spring (Silver Spring, MD)
8. Jay-Z - 11/19 @ The Q Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland, OH)
7. U2 [The Joshua Tree] - 7/2 @ First Energy Stadium (Cleveland, OH)
6. Dave Matthews + Tim Reynolds - 6/14 @
Blossom Music Center (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
5. Father John Misty - 9/23 @ Ohio Theater (Columbus, OH)
4. John Mayer [wsg Dave Chapelle] - 4/12 @ Value City Arena (Columbus, OH)
3. Muse - 8/1 @ KeyBank Pavilion (Pittsburgh, PA)
2. LCD Soundsystem - 11/3 @ Detroit Masonic Temple (Detroit)
1. Brand New - 10/15 @ Fox Theater (Detroit, MI)

 

1. Los Campesinos @ 9:30 Club (3/9)
2. Jeff Rosenstock @ Ottobar (8/8)
3. Alex G @ Rock and Roll Hotel (6/2)
4. Emperor X @ The Lab (5/3)
5. John K Samson (Solo) @ Rock and Roll Hotel (10/29)
6. The XX @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (5/6)
7. The National @ Verizon Hall (12/4)
8. Paramore @ Tower Theater (10/6)
9. HIRS @ Skramden Yards (3/3)
10. Cloud Nothings @ Ottobar (2/3)

 

1. Circa Survive/Thrice – REBEL (Sound Academy) (11/29)
2. Muse – Budweiser Stage (7/18)
3. Jimmy Eat World – The Phoenix (12/5)
4. The Maine – The Phoenix (4/26)
5. Julien Baker – Opera House (10/24)
6. Biffy Clyro – The Phoenix (4/8)
7. Enter Shikari – Hard Luck Bar (10/3)
8. The War On Drugs – Massey Hall (10/22)
9. Bring Me the Horizon – Ricoh Coliseum (3/15)
10. Chris Stapleton – Budweiser Stage (8/17)

Honourable mention: Enter Shikari (Take to the Skies), Queens of the Stone Age/Royal Blood, Alexisonfire, Japandroids, Arkells (NHL Centennial Classic), Grizzly Bear, Citizen, The National, LCD Soundsystem

 

I went 5 shows this year and Warped Tour

My favorite sets
10. All Time Low @ Palace Theatre 7/16

9. Charli XCX @ Xcel Energy Center 11/18

8. ROAM @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall 5/4

7. Waterparks @ Palace Theatre 7/16

6. Issues @ Cabooze 10/15

5. As It Is @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall 5/4

4. Dance Gavin Dance @ Warped Tour 7/23

3. Halsey @ Xcel Energy Center 11/18

2. Silverstein @ Triple Rock 11/19

1. Silvertooth (Silverstein+Beartooth collab set) @ Warped Tour 7/23/17

 

1. Matchbox 20 @ Soaring Eagle Casino 9/14
2. Ben Folds @ Riverside Theatre 2/16
3. Mayday Parade @ Crofoot Ballroom 4/30
4. The Menzingers @ Riot Fest 9/17
5. Paramore @ Riot Fest 9/17
6. Underoath @ Self Help Fest 10/7
7. The Maine @ Beachland Ballroom 11/3
8. Smash Mouth @ Stars & Stripes Fest 7/1
9. Trash Talk @ Mac's Bar 11/11
10. Every Time I Die @ The Loft 5/20

 

Sets

1. The Menzingers @ Hawthorne Theater 10/8
2. Taking Back Sunday @ Crystal Ballroom 8/3
3. Four Year Strong @ Hawthorne Theater 9/26
4. Creeper @ Warped Tour 6/16
5. Senses Fail @ Hawthorne Theater 4/4
6. Have Mercy @ Analog Theater 10/28
7. Silverstein @ Hawthorne Theater 11/14
8. Seaway @ Hawthorne Theater 9/26
9. Bayside @ Revolution Hall
10. Can't Swim @ Analog Theater 10/28

 

Third Eye Blind's summer tour with Silversun Pickups was the best one I saw this year. A close second was The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' Let's Face It 20-year show.

 

1. Menzingers/Jeff Rosenstock/Rozwell Kid (3/24)
2. New Found Glory (ST/NWAF) (5/8)
3. Green Day (9/3)
4. Citizen/Sorority Noise (11/2)
5. Matchbox 20/Counting Crows (8/19)
6. Descendents (10/20)

 

My top 13 shows in no order
1 lady antebellum
2 nfg
3 Krewella
4 two door cinema club
5 oh wonder
6 ajr
7 Hayley kiyoko
8 foster the people
9 gorillaz (rough trade)
10 Betty who
11 young the giant
12 matchbox 20 counting crows
13 mayday parade

 

My Top 12 Sets From 2017

12. Senses Fail @ Cat's Cradle (3/12)
11. After The Burial @ Arizona Pete's (3/21)
10. Tech N9ne @ The Ritz (5/8)
9. Soundgarden @ Carolina Rebellion (5/5)
8. Gojira @ Carolina Rebellion (5/5)
7. The Black Dahlia Murder @ Hooligan's (8/1)
6. Four Year Strong @ The Blind Tiger (10/18)
5. Affiance @ Local 506 (4/26)
4. CHON @ Cat's Cradle (6/22)
3. Underoath @ Self Help Orlando (9/30)
2. Between The Buried & Me @ The Neighborhood Theatre (10/21)
1. Deftones @ The Red Hat Ampitheater (6/18)

 

I went to 47 shows in 2017. Top five were:

1. Secret Julien Baker set in support of Amnesty International - Best show I’ve ever seen and probably ever will. Still surreal.
2. Creeper @ O2 Empre in London - My first international show and my first solo trip so it meant a lot.
3. AFI @ North Park Observatory in San Diego - Seeing my favorite band of all time in their home state was insane.
4. Paramore @ Riot Fest - I’d waited many years to see them and it finally happened.
5. Mayday Parade performing A Lesson in Romantics - I loved this album growing up and it was great to sing-a-long to it all.

 

1. Knuckle Puck/Movements/With Confidence/Homesafe @ Irving Plaza in NYC - 4 sick bands, my first time crowdsurfing, great crowd and energy.
2. All Time Low So Wrong It's Right 10 Year Anniversary @ Starland in Sayreville, NJ - Classic record, great setlist, great show.
3. State Champs/Against the Current/With Confidence/Don Broco @ Irving Plaza in NYC - State Champs played 20 songs and every single one was a banger. What more could you want?
4. All Time Low/SWMRS/Waterparks/The Wrecks @ Central Park Summerstage in NYC - Cool venue, I got on stage for Time-Bomb. Weak support, though.
5. Four Year Strong/Can't Swim/Light Years/Sleep On It on the Rise or Die Trying 10 year tour @ Gamechangerworld in Howell, NJ - I love this record and this show got me into Sleep On It. Venue sucked, though.
6. Descendents @ Starland in Sayreville, NJ - This show was polarizing for me. Went with family who likes them more but it was a fun show, regardless.

I don't rank Warped Tour or any instore stuff, but it was a great year for shows. Here's to 2018!

 

I'm gonna have to go back through my list of shows but Metallica comes to mind as one of my favorites.

 

I'm blanking on the shows I saw last year which is kinda worrisome

um Mountain Goats/Jason Isbell was probably the best
and I got to take Feist, Mariah Carey and Grizzly Bear off my concert bucket list

 

In some order, off the top of my head

1. Coheed & Cambria/The Dear Hunter - 5/19 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
This was always gonna be my favorite show of the year, given that the opening band is one of my top 15 or so favorite bands, the headliner was my favorite band, and they played my favorite album of all time.

2. Circa Survive/Tiny Moving Parts - 8/11 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme
Being front row and center for Circa is one of the more magical live experiences one can have, I assume

3. Balance & Composure/From Indian Lakes/Queen of Jeans - 5/1 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
Really glad I was able to catch this show, given that the band is breaking up now. Nearly perfect setlist in one of my favorite venues. FIL are always nice too.

4. Converge/Amenra - 7/28 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
I feel kinda bad for not sticking around for Neurosis.... but I only really went for Converge, and they absolutely blew my mind, as expected

5. Every Time I Die/Knocked Loose/Hollow Earth - 10/20 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
This show was a fuckin party. Got to watch some dumb dudes wreck eachother during Knocked Loose from the balcony, then saw Julien Baker in the pit for ETID, the best band in the world. Will never miss an ETID show within 150 miles of me again.

6. The Dear Hunter/The Family Crest/Vavá - 12/8 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
Easily the best set I've seen The Dear Hunter play in the 5 times that I've seen them over the past 18 months or so. I don't think they've ever sounded tighter, either. Even if you're not a huge fan of the band I can't recommend seeing them live enough, they put on an absolute clinic

7. Thrice/Circa Survive/CHON/Balance and Composure - 12/7 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
I've paid money to see all four of these bands headline so this was pretty much a dream tour for me. Got a nice spot up against the barrier and had a wonderful time. Thrice are the tightest live band in the world.

8. Banks/The Japanese House - 8/4 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
I've wanted to see Banks headline for almost three years now so there was no way I was gonna miss this show, even when my car broke down on the way to it. She was magical.

9. Architects/Stray From The Path/Make Them Suffer - 3/8 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
Architects are an incredibly tight live band and the light show was bonkers. Felt very fortunate to be up front for this one.

10. Rise Against/Direct Hit - 4/21 - Chicago, IL - House of Vans
I finally got to see my first ever favorite band, for free! The set was great, considering when I saw them a couple months later with Deftones they played a bogus set of only singles

 

1. Regina Spektor - Chicago Theater - 3/24
2. John K. Samson - City Winery - 10/23
3. Paramore - Riot Fest - 9/17
4. The Wonder Years / Laura Stevenson / Jetty Bones - Bottom Lounge - 9/25
5. The 1975 / Jimmy Eat World / Bleachers - 5/20

 

Smaller year than usual for me, mainly because not many shows came through the area.

1. Pinegrove - Bloomington, IN 9/25
2. Gates/Vasudeva/Head North - Indianapolis, IN 6/22
3. Green Day - Noblesville, IN 8/16
4. Jimmy Eat World/Beach Slang - Bloomington, IN 5/16
5. Balance and Composure/From Indian Lakes - Bloomington, IN 5/18

 

I was at that! It was a good time - I actually ducked out halfway through Circa and ran down the street to watch Taking Back Sunday.

 

1. Foo Fighters/The Struts (12/5 @ Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, OR)
2. Metallica/Avenged Sevenfold/Gojira (8/9 @ CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA)
3. Silent Planet/Hail The Sun/Dayseeker/Ghost Key (2/10 @ Analog Theater in Portland, OR)
4. Vans Warped Tour 2017, Too Close To Touch/Emmure/Being As An Ocean/After The Burial/Fit For A King/Silent Planet/Carnifex/The Acacia Strain/Movements/Dance Gavin Dance/Knocked Loose (6/17 @ Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, OR)
5. In Hearts Wake/Fit For A King/Like Moths To Flames/Phinehas (12/9 @ Hawthorne Theater in Portland, OR)

 

Set of the year: Tame Impala at Panorama, no question

 

The Chainsmokers 6/3 @ The Liacouras Center
The 1975 5/12 @ Sands Casino
Illenium 12/7 @ The Electric Factory
Both of the 104.5 Birthday Shows @ BB&T
Senses Fail 3/22 @ The Electric Factory
Dillon Francis at Firefly 2017 was life changing
Flume @ Firefly
Eden @ Firefly
Sir Sly @ Firefly

 

2017 was my busiest year for shows ever, beating out 2016 by 4. I went to 34 (including festivals as 1). I feel a little burnt out though, might take it easier in 2018.

Top 10:

1. Montebello Rockfest - Montebello Marina
2. Julien Baker - Theatre Fairmont
3. Architects/Stray From The Path - Le National
4. Warped Tour 2017 - Xfinity Theater
5. Paramore - Theatre St. Denis
6. Biffy Clyro/O'Brother - Cafe Campus
7. Every Time I Die/Knocked Loose - Sala Rosa
8. Phoenix - MTELUS
9. City and Colour (Solo) - Eglise Ste-Therese d'Avila
10. Silversun Pickups/Minus the Bear - MTELUS

 

Metallica (mainly because I was 2nd row) would probably be my number 1 of the year.

Not too much stands out otherwise, unfortunately.

Deftones with Thrice was cool.

Ween on Halloween was pretty awesome.

Seeing the Doughboys podcast live was a treat.

Zao/Living Sacrifice, Sacred Reich and Twista were some bucketlist artists I finally got to see...

 

1. i prevail/we came as romans/the word alive/escape the fate

 

I went to more shows in a year than I ever have before, so it'd be really hard to rank them, but I did eight dates of the Real Friends/Tiny Moving Parts/Have Mercy/Broadside/nothing,nowhere tour and that was kind of the best week of my life so I think that gets top spot. I'd never properly followed a tour before that and it was awesome.

Also shoutout to 8123 Fest and the Knuckle Puck fall headliner, those were incredible too.