The 2021 Concert Recap

WE BACK!

After an extensive world-wrecking year plus, concerts are coming back. Sure, there were some socially distanced drive-ins, small clubs shows and whatever South Dakota, Florida, and Tennessee did (hint, they were bad for people), but now acts are about to tour again with a lot more confidence that their audience won’t kill them.

Will there be hiccups? Absolutely. You know those southern states’ vaccination rates are giving a lot of acts pause. And the big camping festivals? Camping’s bad enough as is, but being in the “free love” crowd doesn’t necessarily mean they’re also in the “everybody should vaccinate against the 9th-worst pandemic in recorded history” crowd.

Regardless of the situation, I’m going to take my vaccinated and antibody-rich ass to the following shows.

C = Comedy

123 = Indicates ranking at the time of the show, not overall standing. Click to see the full running list.

August

C. Tim Dillon

I really wanted to work this how because it was our first one back after 17 months. Would I have paid to see Tim Dillon live? Probably not. But it was an easy “test run” back into the swing of things. As far as the set, he had good parts and bad, though I think the crowd of mostly Joe Rogan fans was disappointed Dillon isn’t exactly like their podcast superhero in every little way.

152. Dermot Kennedy

Dermot Kennedy was the first show to cancel in 2020 days after Killswitch Engage performed. Both my mom and I were really hoping to see this show, but she had to move into her new house in Wisconsin. I was fortunate enough to work the show, however, the lofty expectations I had met with sudden reality. The show just wasn’t that good. He’s a good singer, as his NPR Tiny Desk appearance proved, but the crowd was either full of crying young girls at the front or older couples in the back making out. They could have just played his music on the PA and the outcome would have been the same. For that, it’s a low rank. A different venue setting like a seated theater might be more up his alley (but I’m sure he’s just fine selling out a 2,500 person room).

100. GRiZ

A free, electro-funk dubstep show on a Sunday afternoon. What’s not to like? This was one of the rare instances where I get perks from working the industry, as I did not have to wait in the hours long line to see the spectacle. While that certainly helped my ranking, the hyped up crowd and on-stage presence made it the first Top 100 show of 2021.

September

142. Anti-Flag [Grumpster, Dog Party]

Punk! Anti-Flag certainly lived up to the excitement of seeing a punk show again. Dog Party was … different. I wasn’t feeling their Valley Girl tone but Grumpster impressed me. And it’s not to say the whole show wasn’t good, it simply wasn’t … enough. I bought some Anti-Flag albums and the sound and emotion in the album didn’t quite match the way the show went. Maybe I was too unfamiliar with their music or message, or maybe it was just because it was the first show of the tour, but something was missing. For such a small room, they didn’t knock my socks off like other punk bands in similar sized venues.

112. Isaiah Rashad [Ray Vaughn]

Ray Vaugh was a welcome bright spot. For 20 minutes he truly laid it all out there, hyping up the crowd for a rap/hip hop headliner. Rap and country have largely similar crowds. Both haves fights — for rap is women and country, men — and both have openers you better see now before they hit the big time. After Vaughn’s set, Rashad tore through full set that rivaled Nas.

164. Beartooth [Wage War]

When hardcore punk meets deep introspection, you get Beartooth. This one might be on me. I missed the whole emo phase (apologies if it’s not a phase for you) so the hardcore-ness of post punk doesn’t speak to me. There’s a section of the rock that’s all about the buildup to a roaring Wilhelm scream that I am not into. It’s the hardcore version of a bass drop. If I’m screaming it’s usually by myself when the washing machine breaks down or I got off the phone with my dad learning that he broke yet another electrical appliance.

C. Best of The Store [Francisco Ramos, Adam Ray, Iliza, Justin Martindale, The Sklar Brothers, Fahim Anwar, Bobby Lee, Rick Ingraham, Sarah Tiana, Barry Rothbart, Earl Skakel]

49. Lord Huron [Andy Shauf]

Both recaps of the comedy show and Lord Huron can be read in my Hollywood adventure.

October

105. Lake Street Dive [Allison Russell]

And my Lake Street Dive recap in my Downtown LA adventure. One thing I didn’t mention was how impressed I was with Allison Russell. Enough to pay double the ticket price of this show to see a solo set a couple months later.

199. Kevin Gates

I heard good things about the first show he played at 20 Monroe, so I was was looking forward to his return. He wasn’t. He did not look enthused at all to be on stage. When the performer looks like they want to be somewhere else, even though the crowd was really giving it their all, it’s something that can’t be salvaged.

148. The Districts

You ever just see someone knowing they can play one of a myriad of songs and they’ll be an instant personal classic? Well, The Districts have 3 of those songs for me. They played none of them.

107. Black Pumas [Neal Francis]

I stood right next to Eric Burton as he solo strummed a Fast Car cover. That said, the Tracy Chapman tune was the first song of their encore, and even through Colors and one extra song, the night ended with 11 tracks. Burton signed my call sheet after the show and was a super cool guy. But man, that was a short set.

83. The Menzingers [The Dirty Nil, Worriers]

Plenty of energy in such a small venue. This was the second of sold-out, back-to-back nights and the sound was a little overpowering at times. There are other venues in the city (my own included) that would’ve better suited this band.

99. St. Vincent [Ali Macofsky (Comedian)]

A Detroit road trip cut short. The Airborne Toxic Event was supposed to be the next night, but a last minute cancellation (to the next year!) had me rearrange this whole excursion. All that said, St. Vincent was more musical theater than rock show. Some solid solos, and a quirky comedian opener gave this one an edge into the Top 100.

92. All Time Low [MMATA, Nothing Nowhere]

This is a Top 100 show just for the concert tee alone. Can’t say that I’m a fan of white tees or NASCAR, but somehow ATL got me to buy the best of both worlds.

203. In This Moment [Black Veil Brides]

Never in my life have I seen a crowd more disappointed with spending their money on a show they were all so hopeful to see post-COVID. These people looked like they were having the worst time. Add in some heat, too much time in between singer wardrobe changes, and setlist many found too similar to their pre-COVID attempts, and this had all the hallmarks of a night out gone bad.

November

C. Daniel Sloss [Kai Humphries]

It is a GOD DAMN SHAME only 300+ people turned out for this show. Easily the best comedy set of 2021. The Best of The Store was great for an entire night, but Sloss’ Scottish humour was incredibly biting without being abrasive. He probably dumbed his set down to fit the American audience, but that’s our problem.

50. Bleachers [Claud]

I danced. Do you know how much excitement you have to put into a show to get me to shake my groove thang … at work? Shout out to Claud, that was an opener album I bought after the first song.

127. Nada Surf [Pom Pom Squad]

The “Popular” band still rocks after all these years. Helps when you bring in Pom Pom Squad. Another opener album-buy no-doubter. I just wished I ft into either age group better. Definitely too young for prime Nada, and about 12 years too old for primo PPS demo. Also, my Nada Surf tee got a huge detergent stain the following week and is basically a closet crusader for the rest of time.

71. Silversun Pickups [Zella Day]

I was holding out hope SSPU would tour again. They were supposed to be my next concert entry ahead of the shutdown, but I was a day too late. I used the ticket refund voucher from Ticketmaster to buy the St. Vincent and ATE tix, so no love lost on money out. They were also my biggest concert regret in college when I opted to work a Women’s soccer game for $5.25/hr instead of see them at Hoyt Sherman Place in 2009. Nope, not bitter at all. Oh, the show? Solid.

155. Post Animal [Why Bonnie, Future Misters]

Admittedly, I held onto my ticket after the original headliner dropped out, Ron Gallo. That said, the rest did an admirable job of keeping my spirits firmly gazing at my shoes. Future Misters also had cool stickers.

C. Andrew Santino

I am now 3/4 done of my favorite podcasters set. All I need is Barry Krynztler and I’ll have seen both Bears and the Bad Friends (Bobby Lee + Santino).

December

94. Allison Russell

A rare case where the opener of one act surpasses the headliner at a later date. Man, can Russell hold a room.

117. Watkins Family Hour [Courtney Hartman]

Was I sleepy? Yes. Did I fall asleep to the opener? Maybe. Was this too much for a folk show where I was the youngest non-child brought against their will? Very.

90. Motion City Soundtrack [All Get Out]

All Get Out was so much better than MCS. I bought all four albums they had. As for MCS: they did what they told people they were going to do. I’ll savor the poster more than the performance.