Another year comes to a close and as I look back on 2015, I wanted to reflect on the live music shows that I was able to see this year. And a huge tip-of-the-hat to Bevin for helping me score some crazy good tickets to many of these shows!
In total I saw 9 live shows this year (national acts), which I feel is down a bit from previous years. While I was able to see a few bands to close out Lou Fest on their Sunday night, I am just counting it as one show. Most of the music would fall into the New Alternative Rock classification this year - also a bit different than years past where there is a healthy sprinkle of '80s alternative in the mix - this year only Billy Idol was seen live from that era...and he was part of the Lou Fest lineup.
As I go back and try to rank them I find myself gravitating to a most unusual pick for my "concert of the year". It's a band that I honestly have no interest in buying their album, and I only knew two of so of their songs going into the show...but the show was so deep, so moving and at the exact right time for me, that I have to say that Beach House was by far the best show I saw in 2015. The concert was definitely a performance. The lights were down low and the stage was backlit (never once saw the face of the band members on stage). The sound was moving, it was almost like a trance and it took me to another place for the nearly two hours they performed.
Had Beach House not been so "moving" there were other shows that would have taken the top spot for me. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats was a rockin' show straight out of the 1950's. Lots of layers to the music and everyone from the band to the audience was 100% into the music. They filled the Ready Room easily (sold out in less than a day, I believe) and the music filled the space as well. I already was a fan, this secured it for me.
Glass Animals played an outdoor show at The Old Rock House on a beautiful summer night and their sound was as great outdoors as it was indoors the year before. The lead singer does not look like he should be fronting a band...and he tries to overcome that by partially acting like a hype-man as well as the lead singer. Their sound is very percussion-based but live the rest of the music arrangement also fills the air. I can't wait to hear what their follow up album will sound like, the inaugural one is amazing from start to finish.
I also could not help but love Zola Jesus - all 4'-whatever of her. Her voice is much bigger than her tiny frame and when she started doing laps at the Ready Room and you could hardly see her because she is smaller than EVERYONE there, you had to love her sense of adventure as well.
Somewhere in the middle of the pack this year were Passion Pit (actually better than I had expected, but not in the top four), Kaiser Chiefs (just paying to see the lead singer's antics is worth the price of admission) and Gaslight Anthem (their sound is much better at Pops than the Ready Room - yes, I said the sound is good at Pops!).
On the other end of the spectrum was Saint Motel. I'll spare some of the criticism because they were playing a free show in the middle of the street in what is called the Grove Fest. However, I had high hopes as I had their EP and thoroughly loved their two popular songs and also enjoyed the other two cuts on the album. Come to find out, beyond those four, they were producing duds. There were times I wanted to leave...and that was before they played their "hits". Their two popular songs did save the show for me, the energy shown and reciprocated during those songs was strong...but not enough so to get me to pay to see them when they returned to St. Louis a few months later.
Here's the full list of shows from 2015:
Zola Jesus, Gaslight Anthem, Kaiser Chiefs, Glass Animals, Lou Fest (Billy Idol, Young the Giant), Saint Motel, Passion Pit, Beach House & Nathaniel Rateliff.
In 2016 I already have my sights set on seeing the Cure in Chicago in June, but beyond that I need to see who is touring. I am hoping for a few tours this year from bands that have been laying low. I'd love to see White Lies and She Wants Revenge if they decide it's time to tour again. Silversun Pickups and Miike Snow both just released (or will soon be releasing) albums, so I hope their tours bring them through StL. I'd like to hear a follow up album from Future Islands and then the concert to support it - another lead singer who's on-stage mannerisms are worth admission, alone. Next, add Temper Trap and Two Door Cinema Club to my wish list for 2016 - I have no idea if they are planning a tour, but I sure hope so. And like every year since 1988 I hope that the Smiths get back together just for one tour...and that the tour lands somewhere close to St. Louis.
Here's to a rockin' 2016! Cheers!
