tonys-music - Tumblr blog

tonys-music · 5 years

Text

Top 10 Shows of 2019

Another year folks! Sorry for the delay, 2020 came on way too strong! 2019 is now history and it's 2020! 2019 had some amazing new artists hit the stage (King Princess, Wild Reeds, Arkells to name a few...) cannot wait see where they go and how they develop.

A few things of note from the 2018 list: Lovely the Band had a great 2019 with playing many sold or near sold out shows! Joseph's newest album finally dropped with additional depth. It was great to see them open for the Lumineers too bad it was not with a full band. Jungle's live performance didn't even make the top 10, they were good to see but they played far similar to a studio band in concert. Not sure who to expect will break out in 2020, there seems to be a slight lacking of new artists but a few previous favorites Grouplove, Oh Wonder and Fitz and the Tantrums seem to be coming on strong.

Here is my top 10 list of 2019! You know the rules! To make my list I must have seen them in person. It doesn’t matter how good the album may sound, stage presence, live sound quality and last but by no means least engaging and entertaining.

Another year great musically and amazing personally, we did good but didn't smash our 2018 record, still 115 bands over 45 shows and countless music festivals, these are the best Enjoy!

For a full list of reviews check out my Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonysmusic

Go out and listen!

Honorable mention and great way for a band to retire:

Hollerado @ Schubas October 14th

#10

Broods @ Metro April 10th

#9

Empire of the Sun @ Metro May 30th

#8

Half Alive @ Schubas January 30th

#7

Darlingside @ Old Town School of Folk Music April 18th

#6

Oh Pep! March @ Schubas March 21st

#5

Cub Sport @ Schubas May 20th

#4

Joan @ Bottom Lounge October 1st

#3

The Aces @ Lincoln Hall March 11th

#2

Maggie Rogers @ Aragon Ballroom September 27th

#1

Wild @ Schubas April 13th

#topten

0 notes

tonys-music · 6 years

Text

Top 10 Shows of 2018

Another year folks! 2018 is now history and the excitement of 2019 is here! 2018 had some amazing new artists hit the stage, cannot wait see where they go and how they develop. We did loose a few big artists... to name a few Scott Hutchison (Frightened Rabbit), Aretha Franklin and Avicii...Rock in Peace.

A few things of note from the 2017 list: (1) Joseph seems to have chilled in 18 from their wild 2017 with less touring. AJR blew up so fast I didn't have time to catch them at a small enough venue to give them a solid review, still quiet good at Mamby on the Beach. Lovely the band is also growing very fast, excited to hear additional tracks this year. For 2019, very excited to see Jungle in March, they are growing very fast, hope they make the list in 19′.

Here is my top 10 list of 2018, as a rule to make my list I must have seen them in person. It doesn’t matter how good the album may sound, stage presence, live sound quality and last but by no means least engaging and entertaining.

Another year great musically and amazing personally, somehow we bettered our 2017 number with over 124 acts at some 50+ shows, these are the best Enjoy!

For a full list of reviews check out my Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonysmusic

Go out and listen!

#10

Paper Kites @ Lincoln Hall March 30th

#9

Knox Hamilton @ SubT July 26th

#8

SaintSeneca @ Lincoln Hall October 13th

#7

Middle Kids @ Lincoln Hall June 9th

#6

National Parks @ SubT March 19th

#5

Givers @ Schubas September 10th

#4

Lovely the Band @ Aragon Ballroom December 2nd

#3

Joseph @ Old Town School of Folk June 28th

#2

Tennis @ Metro January 13th

#1

Dead Sara @ Beat Kitchen September 29th

#topten

0 notes

tonys-music · 7 years

Text

Top 10 Shows of 2017

Boy does time fly! 2017 is now yesterday and the excitment of 2018 is here! 2017 saw some great new artists enter the scene. Another year of some amazing shows! We cannot forget a few amazing muscians we lost this year Charles Bradley, Tom Petty and Malcom Young to name a few...Rock in Peace.

A few things I've noticed from the 2016 list: (#4) band Oh Wonder has been very busy Lolla, October show plus released a new album (in a great single song drop method)! VHS Collection which did great at Lollapalloza got crushed in 2017 by very bad audio setup at the ChopShop (bummer).

Here is my top 10 list of 2017, as a rule to make my list I must have seen them in person. It doesn’t matter how good the album may sound, stage presence, live sound quality and last but by no means least engaging and entertaining.

Another year great musically and amazing personally, somehow we did better than 2016, I was able to catch over 111 acts at some 50+ shows, these are the best Enjoy!

For a full list of reviews check out my Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonysmusic

Go out and listen!

#10

Agnes Obel @ Old Town School of Folk March 30th

#9

Bombadil @ Schubas April 8th

#8

SaintSeneca @ Metro June 15th

#7

Misterwives @ Mamby on the Beach June 24th

#6

Lowland Hum @ Lincoln Hall September 21st

#5

Mondo Cozmo @ Schubas August 2nd

#4

Penny and Sparrow @ Lincoln Hall September 21st

#3

LIVE @ Park West August 4th

#2

Oh Wonder @ The Vic September 15th

#1

Joseph @ Lollapalooza August 6th

0 notes

tonys-music · 8 years

Text

Top 10 Shows of 2016

Another year of some amazing shows! 2016 was a good year for music, but I feel that new artists were a little low or perhaps slow to break out. Maybe it was Chicago with Cubs fever or the Presidential election something clearly put a damper on new music. I’m looking forward to a great 2017 many of the new bands that have caught my ear haven't come to the states yet!

A few things I've noticed, 2015 (#2) band Saint Motel has been very busy Lolla, NYE and released a new album! Death Cab for Cutie can still put on a great show and four guys sharing a single microphone might look a little weird but once you hear the sounds from Darlingside you forget any preconceived notions.

Here is my top 10 list of 2016, as a rule to make my list I must have seen them in person. It doesn’t matter how good the album may sound, stage presence, live sound quality and last but by no means least engaging and entertaining.

Another year great musically and amazing personally, somehow I was able to see over 93 acts at some 50+ shows, these are the best Enjoy!

For a full list of reviews check out my Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonysmusic

Go out and listen!

#10

Hey Marseilles @ Lincoln Hall January 29th

#9

Bellows @ Beat Kitchen October 26th

#8

The Crookes @ Beat Kitchen April 10th

#7

Sun Club @ Schubas April 25th

#6

The Naked and Famous @ Riviera November 7th

#5

Oh Wonder @ Lincoln Hall January 21st

#4

Tom Odell @ The Park West October 13th

#3

VHS Collection @ Lollapalooza July 31st

#2

Glen Hansard @ The Vic September 21st

#1

SaintSeneca @ Elbo Room July 8th

0 notes

tonys-music · 9 years

Text

Top 10 Shows of 2015

Another year of some amazing shows! Big changes in the music scene in 2015. Old school is coming back pretty strong from Leon Bridges with a 60s sound to Cecile McLorin Salvant with an incredible jazz sound (think Fitzgerald & James).

A few things I've noticed, do not put on a mega production show in a small venue (Bleachers at the Riv). AC/DC at Wrigley, that's how it's done!

Here is my top 10 list of 2015, as a rule to make my list I must have seen them in person. It doesn’t matter how good the album may sound, stage presence, live sound quality and last but by no means least engaging and entertaining.

This year was an amazing year both musically and personally, somehow I was able to see over 107 acts at some 50+ shows, these are the best Enjoy!

For a full list of reviews check out my Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonysmusic

Go out and listen!

Honorable Mention: Local Chicagoan's Fort Frances @ Lincoln Hall May 8th impressive sound on their way up!

#10

Kishi Bashi @ Athenaeum January 15th

#9

HoundMouth @ Thalia Hall November 28th

#8

You Won’t @ Subterranean April 9th

#7

Jukebox the Ghost @ 312BlockParty September 19th

#6

Sheppard @ Lollapalooza August 3rd

#5

The Hunts @ Schubas June 28th

#4

Vacationer @ Lincoln Hall April 3rd

#3

Rubblebucket @ Lincoln Hall April 3rd

#2

Saint Motel @ Schubas January 30th

#1

JRJR @ Metro November 14th

1 note · View note

tonys-music · 10 years

Text

Top 10 Shows of 2014

Another year has passed and it's interesting to see how the face of music has changed. One hit wonders continue to rock the stage selling out large venues primary based on one song (irony?).

Here is my top 10 list of 2014, as a rule to make my list I must have seen them in person. It doesn’t matter how good the album may sound, stage presence, live sound quality and last but by no means least engaging and entertaining.

This year was pretty good, over 106 acts were witnessed, these are the best Enjoy!

Honorable Mention: I just wanted to mention San Fermin, their show at Schubas earlier this year would put them on the list but most recently their lead female vocal left the band and was replaced at Lollapalooza, they are very good but this loss really hurt the band.

San Fermin @ Schubas 1/18/14

#10

Lord Huron @ Metro 1/30/14

#9

Bombadil @ Schubas 10/2/14

#8

The Lone Bellow @ Athenaeum 1/17/14

#7

Ages and Ages @ Evaston Space 4/8/14

#6

Run River North @ Schubas 7/21/14

#5

The Family Crest @ Schubas 6/7/14

#4

Kongos @ Aragon Ballroom 12/6/14

#3

Walk the Moon @Aragon Ballroom 12/6/14

#2

Lily and Madeline @ Lincoln Hall 11/15/14

#1

SaintSeneca @ Abbey Pub 11/21/14

0 notes

tonys-music · 11 years

Text

Top 10 Shows of 2013

Over the past year, many friends and I have ventured out to see some of my favorite bands live. I feel this is a requirement for any favorite bands list. It doesn't matter how good the album may sound, stage presence, live sound quality and last but by no means least engaging and entertaining.

To my best estimate with openers, I've witnessed 103 acts in 2013.

Here are the best! Enjoy!

#10