THE TOP 65 SETS OF 2015

Oh my....2015 was quite the year for music. Personally, so many of my favorites released new music and toured in support. I can't possible complain when Mumford and Sons, Twenty One Pilots, Dawes, Noel Gallagher, Third Eye Blind, and Frank Turner all released new albums in 2015. It seems like a stat that may never be repeated.

2015 was even more than that though. As always, new bands broke through that I know consider my favorites. (Enter The Struts, Walk the Moon, and Catfish & the Bottlemen). Plus I was able to attend and really enjoy two new music festivals - Shaky Knees and Voodoo Music Fest. It's easy to say that this year will go down in the record books.

So looking back at the end of the year, it's only appropriate to try to rank all the great shows that I saw throughout the seasons. This was probably more difficult this year than any other....but here it goes. Hope you enjoy!

#65: Imagine Dragons at Amalie Arena - Full Review
#64: Charles Bradley - Live from Crowbar - Full Review
#63: War on Drugs - Live at The Ritz - Full Review 
#62: Vacationer - Live from Crowbar - Full Review
#61: Bronze Radio Return back at Crowbar - Full Review

#60: Young the Giant - at USF Full Review
#59: Trampled By Turtles set at Gasparilla Music Fest - GMF Review
#58: Shovels and Rope - Live from State Theatre -  Full Review
#57: Young Rising Sons - Live at Toad's Place - Full Review
#56: Coin - Live at State Theatre - Full Review

#55: Joywave - Live at Toad's Place - Full Review 
#54: Vinyl Theatre - Live from The 662 - Full Review
#53: Saint Motel set at Next Big Thing - NBT Review
#52: Neon Trees - Live at State Theatre - Full Review
#51: Rob Thomas - A Holiday Show at Ruth Eckerd Hall - Full Review

#50: Dale Earnhart Jr. Jr. set at Gasparilla Music Fest - GMF Review
#49: Guster - Live from House of Blues Orlando -  Full Review
#48: New Politics at Florida Southern College - Full Review
#47: Cherub -  Live from State Theatre - Full Review
#46: Modest Mouse set at Gasparilla Music fest - GMF Review

#45: Cherub - Live from Baltimore Soundstage - Full Review
#44: Misterwives - Live from Jannus - Full Review
#43: Dr. Dog set at Shaky Knees Music Fest
#42: The Neighbourhood - Live from Jannus - Full Review
#41: Bleachers - Live from Jannus - Full Review

#40: Gogol Bordello set at Gasparilla Music Fest - GMF Review
#39: Rob Thomas - Live from the Paramount Theatre - Full Review
#38: Avett Brothers - Round 1 at House of Blues Orlando - Full Review
#37: Portugal the Man - Live in Heaven - Shaky Knees Review
#36. Robert Delong set at Next Big Thing - NBT Review

#35: The Kooks set at Shaky Knees Music Fest 
#34: Modest Mouse set at Voodoo Music Fest
#33: Misterwives - Live from The Belasco Theatre - Full Review
#32: Third Eye Bind - A Holiday show at House of Blues Orlando - Full Review
#31: Joywave set at Voodoo Music Fest

#30: Flogging Molly set at Shaky Knees Music Fest 
#29: Old Crow Medicine Show set at Shaky Knees Music Fest
#28: The Struts - acoustic set at Voodoo Music Fest
#27: Dr. Dog - Live from State Theatre - Full Review
#26: Frank Turner - Live from Hell - Shaky Knees Review

25: Train - Live from the Amphitheater - Full Review
24: Walk the Moon set at Next Big Thing - NBT Review
23: Old Crow Medicine Show - Live at Jannus - Full Review
22: Third Eye Blind - Live at House of Blues Orlando - Full Review
21: Catfish & the Bottlemen - Live at the Fonda Theatre - Full Review

20: Third Eye Blind at St. Augustine Amphitheater - Full Review
19: Dr. Dog - Live from the 9:30 Club - Full Review
18: The Kooks - Live at Toad's Place - Full Review
17: Florence and the Machine set at Voodoo Music Fest
16: Dawes - Live from the Variety Playhouse - Full Review

15: Avett Brothers - Round 2 at House of Blues Orlando 
One line summary: The second night of selling out House of Blues Orlando proves to be the better show, as Avett's put together a great setlist.

14: Frank Turner - Live from the Underbelly 
One line summary: A quick there and back trip from Tampa to Jacksonville is completely worth it as the hardest working man in live music puts on the best show of his I had seen to date.

13: The Struts set at Voodoo Music Fest
One line summary: Remember this name! This young British rock group win Voodoo Music Fest with great songs and an even better stage presence.

12: Twenty One Pilots set at Next Big Thing - NBT Review
One line summary: Local radio station 97x could not have picked a better headliner, as Twenty One Pilots return to headline after opening the show three years earlier.

11: Mumford and Sons - Live from Merriweather Post Pavilion
One line summary: Mumford and Sons display their brave new sound at a packed amphitheater show, playing Wilder Mind almost in its entirety.

And now for the top 10......

10: Twenty One Pilots - Night 1 from the Hammerstein Ballroom
One line summary: The Pilots display well why they're having a huge year, playing new tunes off Blurryface in their largest NYC show to date.

9: Frank Turner - Live from The Fillmore
One line summary: One of my absolute favorite guys packs 29 songs into a two hour set at this legendary San Francisco venue.

8: Walk the Moon - Live at State Theatre 
One line summary: Ohio based alt-pop group Walk the Moon ride the success of their second album to a wild and packed show at State Theatre.

7: Noel Gallagher set at Shaky Knees Music Fest 
One line summary: The legendary Noel Gallagher mixes his solo materials well with the fan favorites of Oasis, ending with a captivating 'Don't Look Back in Anger.'

6: Avett Brothers set at Shaky Knees Music Fest
One line summary: Avett's prove to be a worthy headliner, delivering a two hour performance jammed with their most sing-a-long friendly tunes.

5: Foo Fighters - Live from Fenway Park
One line summary: It's tough to top one of the greatest rock bands of all time playing at Boston's iconic Fenway Park.

4: Florence and the Machine - Live from Merriweather Post Pavilion 
One line summary: Florence proves her capability of headlining any festival and shows her one of kind energy in the middle of a huge year,

3: Foo Fighters - Live from RFK Stadium on the 4th
One line summary: The stars seemed to align for this one as Dave Grohl and company played for their hometown of DC on the 20th anniversary of their debut album....best 4th of July ever.

2: Twenty One Pilots - Night 2 from the Hammerstein Ballroom
One line summary: Once again, Night 2 proves to be the better show as Pilots play their final NYC club show for the foreseeable future with some very special guests.

1: The Strokes set at Shaky Knees Music Fest
One line summary: The Strokes top the list on a very impressive 2015 with a monster setlist, and get some assistance from the best crowd I've been in all year.



Wow...great year to say the least. Not sure how this one is going to be topped in 2016. Thanks for everyone that came out to a show. 

Twenty One Pilots Headline 97x Next Big Thing

December 5th, 2015. This day had been circled on my calendar for the past 3 months. The annual 97x Next Big Thing. This 1-day festival is always one of my favorite days of the year and has a great track record for booking young bands before they break through. (2014 full review here) A prime example was this year's headliner - Twenty One Pilots. The Columbus, Ohio duo started this very show back in 2012. This year they closed things out. 

In the past three years the transformation for Twenty One Pilots has been huge. They went from a hard working club band that couldn't sell out the Ritz Theatre to one of the most demanded bands in music. They're the most voted on artist on the 97x app and were the perfect headliner given their prior experience playing shows in the Tampa Bay area. 

The venue for Next Big Thing had to be increased to the 20,000 capacity Amphitheater in Tampa to match demand. All of the seating was sold out within a few days and the lawn eventually sold out weeks before the show. Basically...expectations and anticipation was at an all time high.  

When the day finally arrived, here is who I was able to see: Glass Animals, Saint Motel, X Ambassadors, Robert Delong, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Neighbourhood, Walk the Moon, Of Monsters and Men, and of course Twenty One Pilots. Here is the review. 

Out of the early bands on the day, I'll give the best credit to Saint Motel. The Los Angeles based indie pop band has a unique sound, most credited to their saxophone use. Lead single 'My Type' helped them have a breakthrough year. They also have great contributing singles in 'Cold Cold Man,' 'Benny Goodman' and 'Puzzle Pieces.' They remind me a bit of Capital Cities, and definitely have a bit of a different sound to help them breakthrough the alternative seen. I'd love to see them in a club gig. Look for these guys to release a full length album in 2016.

The other stand out act from the day time bands was the incredibly talented Robert Delong. I've seen Delong once before, opening up for the Pilots back in 2013, and man has this guy come a long way. He has had two radio singles this year - 'Long Way Down' and 'Don't Wait Up.' By hearing these songs on the radio, you wouldn't expect that Delong is in fact a one man band. He plays keyboard, drums, some kind of video game controller, and everything in between. He kind of combines the alternative and electronic genres and is very fun to watch on stage. I gotta see this guy in a club next year. He was awesome!




If it were not for the eventual headliners, 97xNBT would have been won by fellow Ohio based group Walk the Moon. I reviewed a club show by this pop-alternative favorite earlier in the year, and was excited to see them again in a festival setting. Right from the start they came out with crazy energy, opening with 'Jenny' off their self titled debut album.

Of course, the album that's brought them to their current level of high popularity is sophomore effort Talking is Hard. This is one of my favorite albums on the year, and Walk the Moon performed 5 tunes off it, including 'Different Colors' which fit very appropriately as fans raised their various colored thunder sticks. Between hit single 'Shut Up and Dance' and greatest song 'Anna Sun' to close the set, these guys showed they could headline this festival one day. Look for them to return in two years.




Poor Of Monsters and Men probably had the worst time slot of the day. They were stuck in between the high energy Walk the Moon and the much anticipated headliner - Twenty One Pilots. Therefore, it was tough for the Icelandic indie rockers to match the excitement of those two. The large band sounded good, but were very mellow, losing the crowds attention. These guys would be great in a club, but unfortunately, Next Big Thing wasn't their best performance.

The 20,000 crowd was still going strong at 9:45 when Twenty One Pilots took the stage. I've had the pleasure of seeing these guys two times already in 2015, (reviews here and here) so I was familiar with the opening of the set.

Current single 'Heavydirtysoul' set the tone well for the Pilots performance. I've always thought of these guys more as entertainers rather than your standard band. Lead singer Tyler Joseph raps the verses from a suspended microphone while Josh Dun provides the rhythm on drums. Joseph then stepped away from the mic for the chorus, giving Tampa a chance to show off how well they know the lyrics.

For those unfamiliar with the Pilots, some aspects of the set may seem strange. Sure, the skeleton suits worn by the band members come off as a bit odd in the Florida heat. And the Elvis cover thrown in the middle of the set might have been unexpected. But for the Tampa 'skeleton clique,' they were prepared and ready. I was consistently impressed with how well the crowd knew the music. Everyone knew each rap verse of 'Migraine,' and screamed the chorus with Joseph on 'Holding on to You.'

Per usual, set highlights were the visual aspects displayed by the Pilots. Josh Dun used a separate drum set that got pushed on top of the crowd during 'Ride.' Joseph departed into the pit and climbed a lone piece of truss to sing the final chorus of 'Car Radio.' And of course, nothing topped the expected encore of 'Trees.' Both members of this talented duo were in the pit for the final notes of the evening, closing the show with their signature drum off.

As I said, Twenty One Pilots have come a long way in three years. And I'd like to think that they were reminded of that on this night. Joseph seemed very genuine thanking 97x and the boys seemed a bit taken back as they gave their bows following 'Trees.' It was definitely my favorite 97x show of all time. Man...97x has their work cut out for them next year. I don't know how they're going to top this.



Twenty One Pilots Setlist:

1. Heavydirtysoul
2. Stressed Out
3. Guns for Hands
4. Migraine
5. Polarize
6. We Don't Believe What's on TV (House of Gold intro)
7. Can't Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley cover)
8. Lane Boy
9. Holding on to You
10. Ride
11. Tear in My Heart
12. Car Radio

Encore:
13. Trees

Concert Review: A Holiday Show with Rob Thomas

Playing this year's Mix Christmas show was singer-songwriter Rob Thomas. Mix has always put together a solid lineup for this fun holiday show. 2014 featured Train at the Mahaffey Theatre, reviewed in full here. This year they nabbed Thomas and fellow 90's veterans Third Eye Blind. The venue was bumped up to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

I know Thomas best through his work as the front man of Matchbox Twenty. Rob acknowledged this side project, citing that he has the best gig in the world in his free time, and promised that his original band would be back around. Many fans in attendance clearly came to hear Matchbox tunes, and were rewarded with both greatest hits '3 AM' and 'Unwell.'

While opening band Third Eye Blind (seeing them for the 2nd night in a row....Night 1 review here) stated that they are far from a Christmas band, Rob stated that he's the exact opposite. Thomas explained this was his favorite time of year, and performed 'New York Christmas' as a tribute. Rob wrote this song in fall of 2001, following the 9/11 tragedy.

Rob mixed in plenty of his own hits as well. Thomas released his third solo album earlier this year, entitled The Great Unknown. Current single 'Hold on Forever' displays Rob's song style well, with a happy beat and warm lyrics. He can easily get fans up to dance and sing along with him. I'll note he's especially popular with the middle aged women. I had a group in front of me that were having the night of their lives and were most likely stalking the tour bus after the show.

Some of Thomas' greatest solo hits helped fill in the gaps of the show. 'Her Diamonds' and 'Streetcorner Symphony' were obviously well received. Additionally, I was especially pumped to hear Rob's cover of 'Smooth,' the tune he wrote and sang for Carlos Santana as one of the biggest hits of the 90's.

Final tune of the night was 'This is How a Heart Breaks,' as Thomas departed the stage to dance with the fans. The 43 year old looked young climbing over chair backs and getting mobbed by the audience. Though the crowd and songs played might be older, Thomas proved that he's still got it. He has a large enough song catalogue to fill a 75 minute set and he does a great job of connecting with the audience. I definitely recommend seeing him.

Concert Rating: 3 Stars



SETLIST:

1. Give Me the Meltdown
2. Lonely No More
3. Her Diamonds
4. Wind It Up
5. Let's Dance (David Bowie cover)
6. 3 A.M. (Matchbox Twenty cover)
7. Hold On Forever
8. Real World 09
9. Someday
10. Streetcorner Symphony
11. A New York Christmas
12. Unwell (Matchbox Twenty cover)
13. Smooth (Santana cover)
14. This is How a Heart Breaks

Concert Review: The 11th Round with Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind front man - Stephen Jenkins

Throughout my concert attending career, I have seen no band more than Third Eye Blind. Their Orlando gig headlining the Mix Christmas show last week marked the 11th time I've caught Stephen Jenkins and company. As always, they put on a great show.


It's been a solid year for 3eb. The San Francisco based pop-alternative group released their 5th studio album earlier this year, entitled Dopamine. The record has received solid reviews and has been praised by fans who have long awaited new material from the band. I reviewed back to back Third Eye shows back in June just after the album came out. It was nice to see 3EB again after being more familiar with the material.

The show opened with Dopamine starter - 'Everything Is Easy.' In fact, Dopamine ended up being the most represented album on the night. Jenkins performed 5 tunes off the new record. (6 if you count the Beyonce cover of 'Mine' that is featured as a secret track on the album)

While this was technically a Christmas show put on by the local mix radio station, Jenkins acknowledged that Third Eye is probably the least Christmas-y band the station could have invited. He explained they have no holiday tunes, but would opt to play a cover that could be interpreted as a Christmas song. They then performed a Bon Iver cover, appropriately named..... 'Blood Bank.'

My personal favorite tune on the night was crowd favorite - 'Motorcycle Drive By.' I've now seen 11 Third Eye Blind shows through the years, and this is the only one that has been played live at every concert. The tune features a build-up and crowd sing-a-long second to none, showing off well the atmosphere of a Third Eye show.

The singles from Third Eye's career are always well received as well. You can't beat 'Jumper' and 'Semi-Charmed Life' to close the set. As the guys finished up, Jenkins remarked that although they've sold out House of Blues Orlando many times, he couldn't recall ever seeing it more packed. This was good to hear, reassuring that the Third Eye fan base is still strong, and that we should expecting many more shows for years to come.

Concert Rating: 3.5 Stars


*No videos could be found from Orlando. Above is a new tune off Dopamine, recorded in Vegas.


SETLIST:

1. Everything is Easy
2. Wounded
3. Dopamine
4. Never Let You Go
5. Back to Zero
6. Motorcycle Drive By
7. Rites of Passage
8. Mine (Beyonce cover)
9. Losing A Whole Year
10. Blood Bank (Bon Iver cover)
11. How's It Going to Be
12. Jumper

Encore:
13. Something In You
14. Semi-Charmed Life

Concert Review: DAWES Live from Atlanta

2 Guitarist - Taylor Goldsmith further expanded Dawes' capabilities with Duane Betts

So as you may have just read about on The Only Music Blog, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. Goldsmith, the lead singer and guitarist for the folk rock band, provided a great interview following his sold out show in Atlanta last weekend. You can read the full interview here.

Normally I would have combined both the interview and show review in one posting, but a concert of the caliber that Dawes put together deserved its own article. This was my 5^th time seeing Dawes live, and I don’t believe they have ever sounded better.

Dawes sold out the 1,100 capacity Variety Playhouse in their first Atlanta performance since headlining the Buckhead Theatre back in spring of 2013. Dawes took the stage just after 10pm, following an opening set by Hiss Golden Messenger.

Dawes resides in Los Angeles, and released their 4^th album earlier this year – entitled All Your Favorite Bands. The album had been critically acclaimed, and the group displayed it well on the evening. First single ‘Things Happen,’ started the show. I don’t think lead singer Goldmith’s vocals have ever sounded better than on this opening track.

This folk-rock band has always had a certain king of iconic sound and structure to their songs. It’s not atypical for Dawes tunes to have a long musical break in between the second chorus and the bridge. New tunes ‘I Can’t Think About It Now’ and ‘Now That It’s Too Late Maria’ display this songwriting well.  The live performance really shows off how musically gifted all members of the band are.

Dawes was a four-piece group through their first three albums, but added a second guitarist for this tour. Duane Betts, son of famous Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts, adds some great guitar overplay and solos to the already musically sound discography. Goldsmith has seemed to integrate Betts very well into the sets. It seems like Dawes have more capabilities as a 5-piece. You have two members on guitar solos now, rather than just Goldsmith. The musical arrangements and show in itself can be much longer now.

While I really do love the new album and enjoyed hearing all the new tunes live, some of the best songs on the night were from Dawes earlier material. The bands first single, ‘When My Time Comes,’ is one of my favorite songs to hear live. The chorus gets everyone in the crowd jumping and singing along. Taylor is even known for swinging the microphone around and letting the crowd sing the final chorus on their own. It always proves to be a set highlight.

Dawes played for just under two hours on the night, and appropriately ended with current single ‘All Your Favorite Bands.’ This sing-a-long ballad has a great message, with a chorus ending in the wish for a friends favorite bands to always stay together. That line evoked loud ovations from the Atlanta crowd. The fans even ended the night taking the chorus a capella one more time after Taylor finished his vocals.

Another great show by Dawes, just matching the expectation level we’ve come to expect. I sure hope the ‘1 album per year’ philosophy that Taylor mentioned becomes reality.

CONCERT RATING: 4 Stars

An Interview with Taylor Goldsmith of DAWES

Taylor Goldsmith, lead singer of Dawes, talks Festivals, Venues and even New Album

Last weekend, some friends and I travelled up to Atlanta for a Dawes concert. We've made the 7 hour drive to the ATL for Dawes before, and the trip was once again worth it. The folk rock band put on an epic performance for a sold out crowd at the Variety Playhouse. While all 5 members of the group are extremely musically gifted, the fuel of the band is lead singer and guitarist Taylor Goldsmith.

By lucky chance after the show, I ran into Goldsmith. The lyricist was heading back onto the tour bus about an hour after the venue had cleared out. He was happy to talk to a few fans though and it turned into an impromptu interview, offering some interesting insight into the band.

Here is an abbreviated and not officially quoted version of the interview:



ML: That was a great show! We drove up from Tampa for this and it was completely worth it! 

TG (Taylor Goldsmith): No way! Thanks for doing that. I appreciate you guys making the drive up here.

ML: No problem. We did the same thing back in 2013 for the Buckhead show. We don't mind, although it'd be nice to see you guys get to Tampa. 

TG: Yeah we need to get back to Florida. It's tough to work those stops into a tour schedule logistically. But I'm glad you guys were able to see us here. We're going to be back in Atlanta in April for Sweetwater Fest...I'm not supposed to announce that yet since the lineup hasn't been released, but you guys should come back for it.

ML: Wow, maybe we will. Any other festival plans for 2016? 

TG: Not sure yet. To be honest, I don't love playing festivals. Sure, the money is great, but we only get to play an hour long set and are performing for an audience that's only semi-engaged. I much prefer playing a club gig like we did tonight.

ML: I agree with you there. I prefer the club shows. 

TG: Plus I think we're going to head back to the studio in the spring and try to put out a new album for 2016. I'd really like to get into the routine of putting out one album per year.

ML: That would be great. I really love the new album. 

TG: Thanks. We'll see where 2016 goes.

ML: So the first time I saw you guys play a full set was at Gasparilla Music Fest in Tampa in 2013. I was hooked after that set. Any chance you'll be back at that festival?

TG: Which show was that again? (laughs)

ML: It's on the river in Tampa. Haha probably was in March of 2013. 

TG: Oh yeah. People ask me all the time about certain shows and I can never remember specifics (more laughs). But I do remember that show because Ozomatli was there. But no, we won't be there in 2016.

ML: Well no problem. Thanks again for a great show. 

TG: May all you favorite bands stay together. (Just kidding, he didn't say that last line....but it would have been appropriately awesome if he did)

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Voodoo Music Experience

The thing about music festivals is that they're unpredictable. You can discover new bands, watch collaborations that you never thought possible, be entertained by both headliners and small font bands, see surprise performers, maybe have the chance to meet bands, and also see more sets in three days then you usually would in 3 months. This unpredictability factor, did NOT work in my favor at beginning of Voodoo Music Fest. 

As I've written about many times, British folk-rocker Frank Turner is one of my favorites. I've seen him multiple times this year, most recently at his epic Fillmore show in San Francisco just one month prior. But I still always look forward to seeing Frank the next time, and must admit that was the main reason that drove me to Voodoo. Frank was set to play a solo show on the acoustic stage Friday afternoon before his main evening slot with Sleeping Souls. Unfortunately, Turner was hit with some nasty food poisoning the night prior, canceling both of his sets.

The cancellation was probably the low point for me in Concert Season 2015. I didn't even want to be at the festival anymore, but figured I had to get my moneys worth. So the show went on, and I must admit improved drastically throughout the weekend. As you'll read below, I saw some amazing sets, and also...how can you not have a great time being in New Orleans for Halloween weekend?! The festival has a great backdrop and obviously plentiful options for post-festival fun.

The Top 5 Sets of Voodoo Music Fest:


5. Modest Mouse 

The one consolation prize of the Frank Turner cancellation was that it cleared up my schedule in order to see Modest Mouse on Friday evening. The legendary indie-rock band attracted a large crowd to the main stage, although it looked like most may have just been waiting for future headliner Florence & the Machine.

Modest Mouse gave the crowd a solid 75 minutes of songs spanning their entire catalogue. They opened with ‘The World at Large,’ showing off the large band. Throughout the set, they touched all their greatest hits – 'Dashboard,' 'Missed the Boat,' and 'Float On.' Lead singer Isaac Brock sounded great great singing all of them.

The new material from Modest Mouse is very solid as well. They released their first album in 8 years back in June – Strangers to Ourselves. Their two lead singles – ‘Lampshades on Fire’ and ‘A Ground Walks, With Time in the Box' have to be two of the most unique and catchy singles I’ve heard all year. I’d see these guys again for sure.  

4. Joywave

In between rain storms on Saturday afternoon, the alt-rock fans in attendance were treated to a great set by Joywave. The Only Music Blog has crossed paths with these guys before, reviewing their opening gig for The Kooks over the summer. As was similar in that show, front man Daniel Armbruster carried the group with his unique vocals and hilarious personality on stage.

Armbruster sarcastically joked about the group recently winning an award for best album released by any band in the Rochester, NY area in 2015. He seemed comically awkward on stage, but is for sure an entertainer. Joywave has received great radio play this summer through singles 'Now' and 'Somebody New.'  Their 2015 release How Do You Feel Now? is probably in my top 15 for the year.

The set highlight came at the conclusion of their performance. In the middle of 'Tongues,' their most popular song, the bass cut out and the crowd stood around looking puzzled. Joywave then abruptly started playing 'Destruction,' a loud synth-infused tune with a great whistling rhythm. This had everyone jumping. Armbruster even shouted his signature 'THIS IS THE GREATEST SONG EVER WRITTEN!' before beginning the vocals. Funny guy and good music.

3. The Struts (acoustic set)

Setup near the entrance to the festival was a 30x60 tent with a small acoustic stage, sponsored by Toyota. Throughout the weekend, smaller font bands played 20-30 minute sets. For me personally, this worked out great as a second opportunity to see The Struts.

The Struts are a young glamor-rock-alternative band from England. Their lead single ‘Could Have Been Me’ is receiving solid radio play on alternative stations, and the backing EP is just as strong. These guys definitely had the most packed acoustic set, which benefitted from attracting extra spectators to get out of the pouring Saturday afternoon rain.

Lead singer Luke Spiller sat front and center, accompanied by his three band mates with acoustic guitars. While working out some minor sound issues, Luke asked the crowd if they would like to hear a cover? They then jumped into ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger,’ my personal favorite song, from their idols, Oasis. Spiller sang it beautifully and received some help from the sing-a-long friendly crowd.

The Struts went on to play 5 additional acoustic songs. This included a new song not even featured on the album – ‘She Makes Me Feel Like.’ I have a feeling that these guys are going to head into the studio and make an epic record, with this being the lead single. It was very cool getting to see them in such a small tent right now. They’re gonna get bigger.

2. Florence and the Machine

There's no denying that Florence is one of the biggest bands in the world today. She headlined Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and even GLASTONBURY in 2015. She already has plans to headline both Hangout Fest and Firefly in 2016. The opportunity to see Florence with only 40,000 other people is probably considered one of her smaller gigs these days.

I was lucky to catch a full concert by Florence back in June, reviewed here, from the Merriweather Post Pavilion. This time, it was a bigger crowd and a festival atmosphere, headlining the main stage and playing against EDM supergroup 'Jack U.' 

The backing band took the stage first, all dressed in NOLA-themed 'Voodoo' Halloween costumes.
Florence followed, dressed in a pink pants suit and wearing black and white skeleton makeup. The British singer songwriter played well into the outfit, seeming almost possessed at times as she opened with 'What the Water Gave Me.'

Two of her biggest hits followed with 'Ship to Wreck' and 'Shake It Out.' The Voodoo crowd was loving it as Florence boasted the most energetic set of the day at times, while also being able to slow things down and show off her powerful vocals on slower numbers. The setlist followed a similar look to her other headlining gigs this summer, highlighted by the always enjoyable 'Rabbit Heart' and greatest hit 'Dog Days Are Over.'

Overall, Florence did not quite match the same level of energy as the Merriweather show, but she came pretty close. I'd say she was in the crowd at 3-4 different times throughout the set, and even ran down to the sound booth in just a bra at one point, after encouraging the entire crowd to strip down with her. The 14-song set was complete in under 90 minutes, feeling a bit quick for a headliner. But I can't really say anything too negative...she's definitely a professional headliner.



1. The Struts

Yes, yes…The Struts are appearing on this list twice. But they completely deserve it. I got myself a spot on the rail for their Saturday afternoon set and it was an absolutely epic experience. Luke Spiller came out soaking up the applause like Kanye would. They stretched 8 songs into the best hour long set of the weekend.

‘Could Have Been Me’ was played second and was the only song that the majority of the crowd knew. Regardless though, the crowd seemed to get more and more into it as the set progressed. Spiller displayed some powerful vocals and one of a kind on-stage charisma. It’s easy to see why so many compare him to Freddie Mercury. The Struts in general even have a Queen sound to them.

Best songs were ‘Kiss This,’ ‘Put Your Money on Me,’ and ‘Where Did She Go?,’ which had everyone jumping as the set closer. Spiller did a great job of keeping the audience entertained and even getting them involved. During ‘Let's MAke This Happen tonight’ he hopped down from the stage and over the barrier into the crowd. He then split the crowd in two for some competitive crowd participation. It was fun to be there and unlike anything else I’ve seen from a band this year.

As I mentioned above, these guys are primed to blow up soon. Once they put out their debut album, I expect a much bigger tour and higher positions on future festival lineups. Heck, their energy at Voodoo made me think they could have headlined that very night! Spiller said it best as the fans were applauding at the end of their set – “Remember the name! We are The Struts!” These guys are officially ones to watch.

In conclusion, despite the Frank Turner cancellation, Voodoo still impressed. It's definitely a smaller festival size-wise, but a big enough name to draw national headliners. I'm happy to say that I experiences two new festivals in 2015 with Voodoo and Shaky Knees. I would definitely consider a return to Voodoo in the future, especially for the chance to get back to the great city of New Orleans. All eyes are on Next Big Thing as the final festival (1-day) event of the year!

By the way....although it's not listed here, overall weekend highlight may have been running into Stephen Jenkins of Third Eye Blind at a NOLA bar on Saturday night. Absolutely epic getting to meet one of the best frontmen of the past 10 years!  

ALBUM REVIEW: Mercy McCoy - Brighter in the Dark

Favorite local band Mercy McCoy is taking a big step in their young musical career tonight. The roots-rock group, led by Stefan Scheuermann, is releasing their first full length album, entitled Brighter in the Dark. 

Despite being the band's debut album, Mercy McCoy can already flaunt a pretty impressive resume. The 5-piece band has been featured as a 'Daily Discovery' in American Songwriter Magazine, and received a Top 5 finish in the 2015 Durango Sole Performer Competition. Most impressively, the band opened up for The Only Music Blog favorites Twenty One Pilots back in 2013. You may even remember their brief write up in this very blog just under two years ago, on the day of their EP release and eve of opening up for Bronze Radio Return. You can read that full review here.

This 10-track record by Mercy McCoy can best be summarized in the Americana genre, but I must admit that it hits multiple categories. Album opener 'Born to Try' is explosive and much more on the pop side. Early highlight 'Brighter in the Dark' is classic folk-rock. I even felt a bluegrass influence with the second track, 'Our Lies Came True,' reminding me most of Old Crow Medicine Show's 'Sweet Amarillo.'

Throughout the album, Scheuermann does a great job with the songwriting. The vibe is always upbeat, despite featuring some deeper lyrics. Scheurmann multiple times references uncertainty of the future, best displayed with 'Staying Young' and 'Fall in Line.' Overall though, the subject of the unknown next steps is trumped by pop hooks and the light hearted feel of young love.

The romance of the album is featured best on 'Be My Spark.' This folk number has strong visuals, correlating nicely to the title track and theme of the album - Brighter in the Dark.

The album's strongest track may be 'Spent On You,' which also claims the longest song at 5:49. This slow rolling chiller reminds me most of an old Wallflowers tune, with Scheuermann carrying the song on vocals. It also features a pleasant guitar interlude, very reminiscent of something Dawes would produce. For the record, Mercy McCoy has always reminded me of one of my favorites in Dawes. Any fan of this album should immediately give Dawes a listen as well.

In total, the 10 songs provided by Mercy McCoy give you a well rounded album showing off all the genres the band is capable of hitting. Mercy McCoy will host their album release party on Friday, November 20th at the intimate Hideaway Cafe in downtown St. Pete. The band is supported by members of Paint the Town Red and Boxcar Hollow. The show starts at 8pm.

ALBUM RATING: 3 Stars

Essential Tracks: 'Born To Try,' 'Brighter in the Dark,' 'Fall in Line,' 'Spent on You.'

CONCERT REVIEW: Frank Turner Live from The Fillmore

While in California a few weeks back, I ended up extending my trip and visited San Francisco to see the great Frank Turner. Frank is one of my absolute favorites. He's been no stranger to The Only Music Blog this year, receiving high praise for a Jacksonville gig earlier this year, and solid placement in the Shaky Knees Music Fest power rankings.

Frank was on a US tour supporting his newly released 6th studio album - Positive Songs for Negative People. The album is classic Frank, finding a pleasant combination between punk rock and acoustic folk. The theme of the album seems to be getting over a relationship, and keeping an optimistic outlook while recovering. It's very uplifting at times and is towards the top of the list for my favorite albums of the year.

Aside from Frank, one of the other reasons that brought me to this show was the venue. The Fillmore is a legendary room, almost always found at the top of lists for best indoor venues in the US. I was very impressed. The many chandeliers suspended from the ceiling gave the room an iconic look.

Prior to Frank taking the stage were two fellow British acts in 'Skinny Lister' and 'Beans on Toast.' Both were entertaining, and filled the void until Turner took the stage with his backing band 'The Sleeping Souls.' Frank opened with his lead single from the new album, appropriately titled 'Get Better.' This was just the start of a ferocious opening, that included 'If Ever I Stray,' 'Losing Days,' and 'Long Live the Queen' to get the crowd singing early.

One of the most impressive things about Turner is his speed and energy on stage. The guy barely ever takes a breath. He fit 29 songs into his two hour set at the Fillmore. I never once saw him take a drink of water, and his longest break between songs may have been 30 seconds tops. They guy is just an absolute machine, working the full size of the stage, and singing with great effort.

Frank's work ethic on stage correlates perfectly to his schedule in real life. I recently read his autobiography, entitled The Road Beneath My Feet. Turner keeps a very busy life on the road, constantly touring across the globe. This was Frank's third run of US dates in 2015, and that's a year in which he also released a new album. It's clear why he's received multiple awards dubbing him 'the hardest working man in music.'

While 'The Sleeping Souls' took a break midway through the set, Frank continued to play a couple songs acoustically. This included 'Time Machine' (performed on Back to the Future Day) and 'Sunshine State,' which was originally written for someone from the Bay Area. This is just one of the ways Frank always tries to connect to the local audience.

I thought the best action of the night was the closing section of the set, where Frank performed two of his strongest songs. 'Mittens' is off PSFNP and tells the sad story of never feeling like his relationship with a certain someone was quite right, citing that they fit like mittens rather than gloves. The emotion displayed by Turner in this tune is second to none. I also must give praise to Frank's personal anthem with 'I Still Believe.'



After a brief break, Turner encored with 'Song for Josh,' a quiet and personal number that Frank wrote for a friend of his that took his life last year. It's chilling to hear live, and really elevates Frank as a songwriter. This led to three more songs on the night, including fan favorite 'Love Ire and Song.'

In conclusion, I believe this was the best Frank Turner show I've seen to date. I think this guy is at his best right now, and fans acknowledge it. I'm always impressed with the crowd at Frank shows, going crazy at the appropriate times but always being respectful when needed. It was an epic night at an even more epic venue.

CONCERT RATING: 4 Stars



SETLIST:

1. Get Better
2. If Ever I Stray
3. Losing Days
4. Long Live the Queen
5. Out of Breath
6. Sons of Liberty
7. Peggy Sang the Blues
8. Josephine
9. Polaroid Picture
10. I Am Disappeared
11. The Opening Act of Spring

Frank Solo: 
12. The Ballad of Me and My Friends
13. Time Machine (First time live since 2012)
14. Sunshine State

Full Band:
15. The Way I Tend to Be
16. Photosynthesis
17. Plain Sailing Weather
18. Glory Hallelujah
19. Reasons Not to Be an Idiot
20. Mittens
21. Recovery
22. The Road
23. The Next Storm
24. I Still Believe
25. The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News cover)

ENCORE: 

26. Song for Josh
27. Love Ire and Song
28. Try This at Home
29. Four Simple Words

LIVE REVIEW: 'Bronze Radio Return' Back at Crowbar

Roots-rock group Bronze Radio Return recently made their return to Crowbar in Ybor. The six piece band first played the small club back in spring of 2013. You can read the full review here, which was one of the first written on The Only Music Blog. The 2013 show was not highly attended, but I enjoyed the rootsy sound of 'Bronze.'

The CT natives were back in support of a new album they have coming out, entitled 'Light Me Up.' (The full album was actually released just under one month ago) Unfortunately, these guys haven't found much more popularity in the two years between Tampa performances. The Crowbar crowd was small....so small in fact that tables and chairs had to be brought in to fill space on the depressingly sad floor. It was awkwardly quiet in between songs, not giving off the best impression.

Nevertheless though, the show had to go on. Lead singer Chris Henderson still tried to look comfortable and put on an enjoyable show. The good news is that the band actually sounded good. I believe they have improved over the past two years, and the sound quality at Crowbar was better than most I've seen in the past three years.

The band opened up with familiar favorites in 'Further On' and 'Mister Mister.' They did a good job throughout the evening of mixing older tunes with songs off the new album. The new material sounded much more on the pop side, especially for a rootsy group like Bronze. Look for the upcoming single to be 'Only Temporary.' It's an upbeat synth heavy single, reminiscent of a Maroon 5 tune. I think Henderson even sang like Adam Levine during it.




This new sound could bring new fans and popularity for the consistent band. It added some nice energy to the quick set. Overall, Bronze was done at Crowbar in just under an hour. They finished with best known tune in 'Shake Shake Shake,' sending the crowd home happy.

CONCERT RATING: 2.5 Stars