2014: My Favorite Live Shows

I was blessed to attend a myriad of great live music this year in Milwaukee.  The following are my favorites.  Granted, there was a lot of exceptional music that occurred in the city this year that I did not see-- the Pearl Jam and Outkast shows were ones that have gotten universally rave reviews that  missed out on.  But, overall, I'd say this was one of the stronger years in recent memory for great live shows in diverse venues all across town.

Opening Act of the Year:
Sylvan Esso surprise opener for Volcano Choir 
-Volcano Choir was good, Sylvan Esso was great, and put on an equally engaging performance as Justin Vernon and the Volcano Choir boys  with nothing short of a flawless support set which featured the band at its energetic best.

Best Local Show of the Year:
Buffalo Gospel- Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company 12/20/14
-If Buffalo Gospel didn't tell you that their first trip to Madison was the night before, you would be hard pressed to believe that this superb Americana act is still at the local level.  Their musicianship is up there with top national acts.

Will's Favorite Concerts of 2014:

11.  Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Shank Hall, 6/17/14

-Nicki Bluhm is the real deal in terms of being a charismatic front woman with an outstanding voice. Her band, the Gramblers, produce great country-inspired rock.  I knew hardly any songs going into this show and left thoroughly "wowed."

10.  Spoon, Riverside Theater, 9/17/14
-Consistency is hard to maintain in the music business, but Spoon has become one of the most predictably good acts out there.  Their live show had a set list spanning their robust catalog and their energy was fantastic.  

09.  First Aid Kit- Bradley Theater at Lakeland College, 11/21/14
-The harmonies from the Soderberg sisters were breathtaking, as was catching a white hot band in a tiny venue.  Kudos to Lakeland College for booking this one.

08. Field Report, Pabst Theater, 10/1/14

-Marigolden comes across live as good if not better than it does on disc.  A remarkably polite and courteous crowd gave local singer-songwriter, Christopher Porterfield, a hero's welcome.  After all, it was "Field Report Day" in Milwaukee.

07.  Jack White, The Eagles Ballroom, 7/21/14 

-One could argue that Jack White personifies modern rock 'n roll, and personally I'd have a hard time refuting that statement.  White is a true rock showman, and had his fans engaged from start to finish on a sweaty night in the venue that smells most like arm pits in Milwaukee-- The Eagles Ballroom

06.    St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Cedarburg Summer Sounds, 8/1/14
-You couldn't ask for more energy in a soul band for over an hour and a half than you got from St. Paul and the Broken Bones, who played the Cedarburg Summer Sounds series.  The ambiance of a scenic outdoor setting on a beautiful summer's night added to the ambiance of this stellar performance.

05. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Pabst Theater 3/6/14
-I don't think a smile left my face for the two hour performance by Sharon Jones and her all-star backing band, the Dap Kings.  This is the most energetic performer out there in terms of raw energy and emotion- bar none.  The fact that she is returning to the road after a battle with cancer makes this show even more of a "wow."

04.   The War on Drugs, Pabst Theater, 9/20/14
-I had the pleasure of seeing the War on Drugs both at the Pabst as well as at the Metro in Chicago when their tour kicked off in March.  The September outing showcased a more polished live show of a band who reached a critical high this year.

03.  Tweedy, Pabst Theater 6/16/14 

-I have never seen a more engaging performance of a band who sold out the Pabst without the audience knowing any tunes from the band's first set, as Sukierae, didn't come out until September.  That said, Jeff Tweedy, son Spencer, and their band delivered a superb performance which one could argue even over shadowed some of Jeff's solo material from the same evening.

02. Trey Anastasio Band- Pabst Theater, Pabst Theater, 2/5/14 

-There are nights when musicians are really on, and I'd argue that I have never seen Trey Anastasio in finer form than I did at the Pabst on 2/5/14.  Listening to the live recording of this show, you can really tell how "into it" Trey was.

01.  Wilco, Riverside Theater, 12/3/14   

-Favorite band.  Front row.  Wonderful and robust thirty-song set list that spanned the band's career.  What more can one ask for?  This was the best I've seen Wilco perform in Milwaukee since their 2009 two-night run at the Pabst Theater.