Girl at the Rock Shows

2023 was a year. It was a year of growth, disappointment, excitement, stress, joyous celebrations, sadness, and everything in between but, most importantly, it was a year of amazing shows. Every year I talk about doing a top ten of the year as far as live shows go but never do it. Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming. This year alone I’ve been to over 400 concerts and have seen well over 1200 bands so trying to sum that all up in just one article is harder than hell but here I am, on yet another cup of coffee that I probably didn’t need and I finally have my list nailed down to my top ten sets of 2023 (plus a few extras because, really, how do you pick just ten sets out of 1200?!). So grab another cup of coffee, tea, or whatever and let’s revisit my favorite sets of the year!

#10 – Finch at The House of Blues in Chicago, Illinois

Honestly, I didn’t write about this one. A couple of friends, my boyfriend and I crammed into a van and did a whirlwind trip down to Chicago to see Finch. Finch is one of my all time favorite early 00s band to the point where I have their logo tattooed on my shoulder. To say that this band means everything to me would be an understatement and being able to hear them play through their iconic ‘What It Is To Burn’ album while screaming (and crying) my way through every song was definitely a highlight of my year. I ended up catching Finch three times this year but this Chicago performance was easily the best one I caught.

#9- Foo Fighters at Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois

I promise this whole list won’t be shows that I went to in Chicago but, come on, seeing Foo Fighters for the first time ever while working as a photographer at Riot Fest– pretty stinking sweet. I didn’t get to photograph Foo Fighters but just seeing such a legendary band in person was amazing and they absolutely killed it.

#8 – Stevie Nicks at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN

I mean, come on, I saw Stevie Nicks. I remember growing up listening to Fleetwood Mac with my mom and I was bombarded by so many memories and so much nostalgia as Stevie played through her set. The icing on the cake was the fact that Billy Joel was the co-headliner of this show and came out for a song with Stevie. No surprise that this one ended up on my top ten.

#7 – Scene Queen at The Fine Line in Minneapolis, MN

Full disclosure, I wanted to hate this show so much and it honestly dabbled that line between love and hate very delicately but, looking back on my year, I had so much fun with Scene Queen. From her hilarious lyrics that sent nods back to the pop-punk days of decades gone by to her attitude that reigned supreme throughout the night, this was one of those shows that was just quirky and snarky enough to make me fall in love.

#6 – Unstable Shapes at The Icehouse in Minneapolis, MN

Ask me who my favorite local band is right now and one of the many names I will throw at you (because, honestly, the Twin Cities has too many amazing acts to name just one) will be Unstable Shapes. I remember this show distinctly because I so badly wanted to bail on the show. I’m honestly not a huge fan of this venue and, on top of that, I just wasn’t in the mood for a show this night but their “noisy-post-whatever” sound hit me so right and I had texted half of my contact list about this band before they were even done with their first song that night.

#5 – Durry at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN

I’m honestly listening to Durry’s 2023 album ‘Suburban Legend’ as I write this right now. This show was just a couple of weeks ago so it’s still super vivid but I think my memory of this night would be just as vivid had the show been at the beginning of the year. I want to congratulate Durry on such a huge 2023. There are huge things to come for this local band in 2024 and I can’t wait to see their name absolutely blow up.

#4 – The Velveteers at The Turf Club in Saint Paul, MN

The Velveteers is one of the few groups that left me lost for words this year. Although I saw them twice this year, the first time I saw them had me absolutely shook. This trio is powerful, dramatic, full of hooky music but, most importantly, full of passion and fire when it comes to their music and performance.

#3 – Kid Kapichi at First Avenue in Minneapolis, MN

Kid Kapichi was another band that left me completely lost for words. Honestly, without looking back, I wouldn’t be able to tell you who they were opening for because they stole the show. Much like when I had to review their set, I find myself lost for words looking for a way to tell you why they are on my top ten list.

#2 – Good Charlotte at When We Were Young in Las Vegas, NV

This is another one that I didn’t write about. If you know me, this being on my list is no surprise. Judge me if you want but Good Charlotte has been (and will continue to be) one of my all time favorite acts. Although I was exhausted from the overwhelming one-day festival that is When We Were Young in sunny (and hot) Las Vegas, their set was one that had my head in the clouds in all of the right ways.

Any guesses as to who my number #1 set of 2023 belongs to? A few of my friends could probably tell you because it’s a show I still talk about to this day but the winner is… drum roll please..

#1 – Atarashii Gakko! at Amsterdam Bar & Hall in Saint Paul, MN

Come on, it was my first J-pop show and to say I was enamored by the dancing would be an understatement. Add catchy choruses and an audience that seemed just as amped up as the performers and I was left in a completely foreign world but also one that I never wanted to leave. Just thinking back to this night makes me smile and I definitely think that I will make it a point to check out more J-pop and K-pop in 2024.

And there you have it! My top ten live sets of 2023!

Like I mentioned, it was next to impossible to pick just ten so, before I let you go, here were my honorary mentions:

Red Hot Chili Peppers at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN

Zeta at The Fine Line in Minneapolis, MN

Macklemore at The Armory in Minneapolis, MN

K. Flay at The Palace Theatre in Saint Paul, MN

What was your favorite show for 2023? What show or tour are you most excited about for 2024? Regardless, cheers to a 2024 full of live music that makes you feel something in a world that, at times, can feel quite dark and numbing.