THE TOP 70 SETS OF 2014

2014 was an absolute excellent year for music. I was lucky enough to see some great festivals (GovBall, Lolla, Big Guava), fall in love with a band (Arctic Monkeys), get introduced to some new bands that have since become favorites (The Orwells and New Politics), see some bands 4+ times this year alone, (Young the Giant and Bleachers) and to finally lose my Arcade Fire virginity. It's definitely one that will be going down in the record books.

Even though I have already ranked every show on a 5 star basis as I have reviewed them throughout the year, it only seemed appropriate to put them in order to cap off 2014. Now this is not exactly a list of the top 70 concerts I saw, as it also contains individual performances from festivals I attended. But it ranks the sets in their entirety. Sometimes a festival atmosphere can enhance the performance, while other times bands can be more captivating in a small club. Either way, this is my opinion of practically every show I saw for 2014.

It was a great year. Hope you enjoy:

#70: Edward Sharpe headlining Clearwater Jazz Festival - Full Review
#69: Benjamin Booker live from Hogan's Beach - Full Review
#68: Bronze Radio Return live from Crowbar - Full Review
#67: Bleachers set at GovBall
#66: Haim set at Big Guava

#65: Wild Child live from Crowbar - Full Review 
#64: Vance Joy set at Lolla
#63: Alt-J at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review
#62: Blue October set at Big Guava
#61: Bleachers set at Lolla

#60: American Authors live at Jannus - Full Review
#59: MS MR set at Big Guava
#58: Deer Tick live from Crowbar - Full Review
#57: Cherub live at the Cuban Club - Full Review
#56: Outkast set at GovBall

#55: J Roddy Walston & the Business at Gasparilla Music Fest - GMF Review
#54: Foster the People set at GovBall
#53: Mowgli's live at Jannus - Full Review
#52: Magic Man set at Big Guava
#51: Young the Giant at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review

#50: Orwells at the 97x BBQ - Festival Review 
#49: American Authors set at Big Guava
#48: Airborne Toxic Event live at State Theatre - Full Review
#47: Capital Cities live at the Ritz - Full Review
#46: Portugal the Man set at Lolla

#45: Young the Giant live at the Hammerstein Ballroom - Full Review
#44: Cut Copy set at Lolla
#43: Trampled by Turtles live from the Overture Center - Full Review 
#42: Young the Giant live at Jannus - Full Review
#41: Phoenix set at GovBall

#40: Jimmy Buffet live at the Amphitheater - Full Review
#39: J Roddy Walston & the Business at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review
#38: New Politics live at Irving Plaza - Full Review
#37: Smallpools set at Lolla
#36: Fitz and the Tantrums live at the Sundome - Full Review 

#35: Local Natives live at State Theatre - Full Review
#34: Train live from the Mahaffey Theatre - Full Review
#33: Frank Turner set at GovBall
#32: Lorde set at Lolla
#31: Twenty One Pilots set at Big Guava

#30: Grouplove set at Big Guava
#29: Portugal the Man live in Central Park - Full Review 
#28: Foster the People set at Big Guava
#27: The Strokes set at GovBall
#26: Vampire Weekend set at GovBall

#25: Cage the Elephant at Coral Skies - Festival Review
#24: Black Keys live at Amalie Arena - Full Review
#23: Avett Brothers set at Lolla
#22: Bastille at the 97x BBQ - Festival Review
#21: Fitz and the Tantrums set at GovBall


#20: Jake Bugg live from the Riviera - Full Review 
#19: Bastille live at HOB Orlando - Full Review
#18: New Politics at 97x Next Big Thing - NBT Review
#17: Old Crow Medicine Show live from Jannus - Full Review 
#16: Outkast set at Big Guava


#15: Arctic Monkeys from Hard Rock Live - Full Review
#14: Cage the Elephant set at Lolla
#13: Twenty One Pilots live at the Dome - Full Review
#12: Springsteen live at the Amphitheater - Full Review  
#11: Grouplove live at the Metro - Full Review


and now for the top 10...

#10: Empire of the Sun set at GovBall

#9: Jack White set at GovBall

#8: Band of Horses acoustic in NYC - Full Review

#7: Jack White at the Township - Full Review

#6: Fitz and the Tantrums at the Metro - Full Review

#5: Young the Giant + Friends at HOB Chicago - Full Review

#4: Arcade Fire - Round 1 at Barclay's - Full Review

#3: Arctic Monkeys set at Lolla

#2: Vampire Weekend set at Big Guava

#1: Arcade Fire - Round 2 at Barclay's - Full Review



Thanks so much to everyone that came out and joined me for a 2014 show. It is going to be tough to top, but I have big plans for next year. 2015 should bring some great things - hopefully a return to both Lolla and GovBall, maybe even add a new festival, and of course the long awaited return of Foo Fighters! It should be another good one.

*side note - the Bleachers / Misterwives show from Dec. 29th is not included on this list.