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Josh Bradley’s Favorite Albums of 2024

**Sorry I’m a year late. Imagine you’re exactly one year younger when you read this.**

When I write out my Music Week column every week, the very first talking point I consider relates to whether the band or artist in question has released any new music in recent months. And I’m glad to say that at least three-quarters of the bands and artists I give some light to have released something new recently, which made my job a hell of a lot easier this year.

Like every year, I didn’t listen to every single one of these as they released, and it was more of a sporadic deal. There were months where I’d just listen to my standard playlist on repeat without even paying any mind to new releases. An example being how in the fall, it completely went over my head that Paul Simon—my favorite songwriter of all time—and Edie Brickell released a new single called “Bad Dream.” I won’t pretend that the advertising for it was awesome, but I was still shocked when I heard about it a few days after it released to streaming services.

As for the adventures I had this year? While I’m grateful, and there’s plenty for me to talk about (which I’ll spare you from) 2024 really saw reality smack me in the face so often, you’d think I was hanging out with the Three Stooges.

Unfortunately, my lifelong struggle with mental illness really got the best of me more than almost ever. While I was relieved (but still a little bewildered) to receieve a long overdue ADHD diagnosis in November, depression stayed more constant than it ever has in the 10 years I’ve been dealing with it. It lingered through all 12 months rather than popping its head in and out. It caused heavy procrastination (which is why you’re reading this in 2025), a perpetual lack of energy, and even days where I felt like I’m wasting my life away and taking it too easy on myself. I’ve also been facing a loss of faith in humanity in the wake of recent events (both nationally and in my personal life), but I’m relieved that I spent the last quarter of the year finally starting to get some answers and solutions to help me cope.

Needless to say, there were plenty of positives, such as getting my foot in the door of Denver’s music journalism scene (a city that I hope to be writing to you from this time next year), taking a drive down the east coast with one of my best friends, and interviewing Slash, a guy I never thought I’d get to speak to. Hopefully, those experiences are what I’ll remember 2024 for, along with the great material that released at the same time.

I have to say, narrowing down my top 12 this year wasn’t super easy, and I’ll go a little more into why as I go along with each of my picks. But for now, happy new year, my friends. 2025’s gonna be wild, so remember to hold your head up, love big, and don’t ever back down.

January: Green Day – Saviors

Let’s be honest with ourselves: While I could never stay mad at Billie Joe Armstrong’s smushy face, it’s been pretty easy to identify weak links in Green Day’s discography since the end of the 21st Century Breakdown era (minus Revolution Radio, of course.) Thankfully, the beginning of a new year saw the end of that creatively mid period. Saviors is a lot more contemporary than anything I’ve heard from the boys, but as an album, it sails about as smoothly as Dookie does. In a non-cheesy way, the tracks come off as more directly relatable—whether you’re suffering from lack of faith in your country, or you grew up with American Idiot and now have kids—and the tour behind this album was nothing short of extravagant. Basically, I’m scared for this era to end, because I’m enjoying the hell out of it.

February: Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 4

I try and tell myself that with all my stories, I have no room to complain if an artist’s team doesn’t give me free review tickets to their Tampa show once in a while. It happens. But the only time I have been genuinely sad about this type of rejection was when I never heard back from Jacob Collier’s team about setting me up for a ticket to his stop in St. Pete in May. I remember listening to Djesse Vol. 4 on one of my drives to Tampa, and while I knew Jacob was very well-educated as a musician, I didn’t know just how innovative and diverse his sound is. Not only does he have some amazing guest collaborators on here, but it might be a challenge to categorize these songs under specific genres, because there’s really no right answer. He delves into tabla and sitar territory, modern pop, chill house, and of course, his signature choir touch on a version of “Bridge over Troubled Water.” His spirit as a whole really just gives you hope for the future, and with any luck, it won’t be too much longer until he returns to the States for some more shows.

March: Candi Carpenter – Demonology

The Jesus and Mary Chain came back, Faye Webster made Rolling Stone, and Mannequin Pussy released a new album that it would tour behind, leading to a quick phone conversation I almost missed with Marisa Dabice in the fall. But when I wrote about a Candi gig happening right behind my other workplace a few weeks ago, I was really touched by the themes and lyrics behind their debut album, and just had to throw it on this list. Demonology is basically a massive, indie-pop therapy session for a Gen Z kid with plenty of childhood trauma to mask, with flashbacks centered around growing up in a conservative Christian environment, Carpenter having their queer awakening triggered by the pink Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, and spending time having their mental health heavily evaluated in school and a psych ward. Unfortunately, just about every Gen Z’er I know (myself included) has some degree of trauma. You know, growing up religious, facing sexual assault, being gaslit by people who say they love you…lots of things. I’m not sure what the demographic ended up being at Candi’s gig in Safety Harbor, but if it was full of people close in age to us, a reminder that we’re not alone would have been the perfect way to close out a year that felt very isolating at times.

April: Vampire Weekend – Only God Was Above Us

I could go on for hours about The Tortured Poet’s Department and how seeing Taylor Swift live on the six-month anniversary of the album was nothing short of a mind-flip. But since I suspect that album is gonna make countless other top 12 lists, I can’t help but rave about this New York band that I discovered right before COVID-19 hit. I kept seeing ads for Only God Was Above Us on Instagram, and though I wasn’t big into Vampire Weekend’s last album Father of the Bride, I really dug the guitar lick on “Classical” that was being used in the ad, so I figured I’d give it a shot. Ezra Ogden writes such underrated melodies and riffs, and the tracks on this album are no exception. There are tracks I could have cried to when I spontaneously put in my two-weeks notice at Chili’s mid-month, and there are a few that have joyful shades of Vampire Weekend’s debut album and its clean, surf-esque guitar tones. It’s killing me that these guys haven’t been to Tampa Bay in a decade, and I just think that they’d be ideal for Gasparilla Music Festival headlining set. There’s no lineup or date for 2025 yet, so I think the kids do stand a chance.

May: The Avett Brothers – The Avett Brothers

These guys were the last act to ever play a side stage at the late, great Tampa Innings Fest, and though I kinda put them on the back burner after seeing them twice in 2023 (once at Innings, and again opening for Willie Nelson at his Outlaw Music Festival), I found myself in need of a good cry over the summer, so I remembered “I and Love and You,” and from there, I just showered them with all the attention I wish I had given them before. Especially with this album, I still await the day Scott and Seth start a folk-rock revolution, even if their Broadway show does close after a month-and-a-half run. It worked out for Paul Simon, after all.

June: Meghan Trainor – Timeless

For as much as Meghan hyped this album up as a doo-wop project, I was shocked that she didn’t have any backup singers, or even a band with her when I saw the second night of her Timeless tour. Not that it was a bad show or anything—and forgive me if I’m coming off as a progress-hating curmudgeon—but she really missed out on the opportunity to pull off something special. Still a solid album though, which really did capture the, err, timeless sound that she promised.

July: Jack White – No Name

I was seriously ready to drive to Nashville when this one surprise-dropped, because Third Man Records was the only place you could get No Name for its first week or so. I started hoping that I would find a bootleg somewhere online, but as luck would have it, the album finally emerged to the public not long after its Nashvillians-only previews. Not quite as exciting as Fear of the Dawn, but still a compelling dawn of a new era for the White Stripe. God-willing, Jack liked Tampa enough in 2022 to come back for a run of No Name shows.

August: Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal

As if we weren’t proud enough of Doechii for opening for Doja Cat in 2023. Down here in Tampa, we’re all enthralled that a hometown girl has not only made it as big as she has, but is up for Best New Artist at the Grammys. If she wins any Grammys at all next year, don’t be shocked if it triggers more producers and execs poking around Tampa Bay for the next big thing. Because Lord knows they probably live around here somewhere. Hopefully, Doechii does a larger-scale tour for this album, because while she played a small (and I mean small) hometown gig at Crowbar Ybor earlier this year, even with my credentials, I didn’t have a chance in hell getting in there. Can’t wait to see what the Swamp Princess does next, though.

September: Coin – I’m Not Afraid of Music Anymore

Another album I didn’t hear until far more recently. I wanted to get photos of these guys at this year’s super-rainy Gasparilla Music Festival, but a few hours before Coin’s set, my camera contracted water damage and the screen pooped out, which caused me to bail for the day. Not long after, the  guys announced that they’d be back in town to play Jannus Live, with another GMF alum (and hometown artist), Aidan Bissett opening. I didn’t get to shoot it, but I still managed to get a ticket, so it was cool to hear most of the new album live, get a sense of closure, and meet Aidan after the show, who couldn’t have been kinder.

October: Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia

What can you say about Tyler? He’s a visionary, and I hear he does an amazing show. This is probably his most soulful album to date, and there’s clearly some jazz influence in there as well. Hopefully, the tour behind Chromakopia is half as much of a spectacle as the pics I saw of the Call Me If You Get Lost tour were. (Update, 2025: Fuck you, Tyler for rejecting every media request at these shows. Thanks for shattering mine and my brother’s dreams.)

November: The Cure – Songs of A Lost World

People are out here saying that this is gonna be Robert Smith and friends’ last album together, with its themes of mortality and getting old. It took me a hot minute to get around to this one, and since I still kinda have my whole life ahead of me, I had a hard time relating to this one. I said the same thing about Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You a few years ago though, so I think it’s gonna grow on me. Especially with my mindset, which is telling me that there will be another Cure tour, which unlike the most recent one, I will not miss for anything.

December: A Complete Unknown OST

Embarassingly enough, I still haven’t seen Tim-Tim portray the only singer-songwriter with a Nobel Prize. But man, the vocal training he got to sound like the Bard must have been superb. Not to mention some of the uber sweet harmonies he shares on here with Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. I do remember listening to Chalamet’s versions of “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Girl From the North Country” upon their early release though, and the soundtrack as a whole has been giving me a glimmer of hope after a pretty bleak few weeks in both America and my life. Hopefully, the movie will do the same.

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The Best Gig I Ever Saw: John Lodge of The Moody Blues

Photo c/o John Lodge

The first concerts I went to see were people like Little Richard and Gene Vincent. But, the one concert I saw that changed me was Buddy Holly and the Crickets. I saw Buddy Holly in Birmingham, England with the Crickets when they toured. And that’s what made me think “yes, that’s what I wanna be.” Because before Buddy Holly, all the American rock people were magic icons. You know, iconic people like Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent. They’re all iconic. English people couldn’t replicate that. But when I saw Buddy Holly, I realized, “Singer-songwriter. That’s it. That’s for me.” And I think I bought every Buddy Holly record after that, and I learned all his songs promptly. In actual fact, I’ve just been presented with a Buddy Holly guitar from the Buddy Holly Foundation. I received it in July last year, and it’s a beautiful guitar, just like Buddy’s. So, Buddy Holly was the guy.

Tickets to see John Lodge of The Moody Blues play downtown Clearwater’s Bilheimer Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, July 9 are still available and start at $39.50.

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Josh Bradley’s Favorite Albums of 2023

I’d be lying if I said that 2023 didn’t feel like a super quick blur, even though I had some pretty excellent adventures in the last 12 months. I got out and explored Tampa Bay more extensively, I made plans to move to the mountains by a certain year, and in terms of full-fledged adventures, I’d need a third hand to collectively count how many times I found myself at Tampa International Airport this year.

Through it all, there was plenty of hype in the new music scene, but this year, there were bigger comebacks on the list than I had seen since probably 2016.

Within a month of each other, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, and *checks notes* The Beatles all released brand-new material. If you take Time Magazine’s Person of the Year out of the scenario, this hasn’t happened since 1969, with the respective releases of Abbey Road and Let It Bleed. But those aren’t my only three favorites, and I hate to say it, but even with one of the names mentioned making my annual top 12 list, I feel like I snubbed so much when writing it out. 

Obviously, both Taylor’s Versions that came out were brilliant, and I already own both of them on wax. But Graham Nash’s Now was on repeat on my drives to Tampa in the fall. Willie Nelson’s I Don’t Know A Thing About Love—made up entirely of Harlan Howard songs—dropped on the same day I saw him live for the first time at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Ed Sheeran’s – (minus) made me tear up while I was waiting in line at Magic Kingdom’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, And Meet Me @ The Altar’s debut album Past // Present // Future? Loved it. I blasted it all the way to St. Pete Pride and back.

I’ve also been a fan of The Zombies since high school, and I heard a few tracks from their new Different Game album at a gig in Clearwater in the spring of 2022. I enjoyed what I heard, but I gotta admit that I still haven’t sat down and listened to the full album yet. I still need to check out boygenius’ The Album, and (don’t hate me) the new Foo Fighters album. I’m reading Dave Grohl’s book right now, so maybe that’ll give me a push in the New Year. It looks like Yusuf/Cat Stevens has a new one out too, and I’m more open to giving that one a shot than stomaching The Steve Howe Band—I mean, err, Yes’ Mirror To The Sky.

I can honestly say that I didn’t listen to the vast majority of these until a few months after they were released, as I mainly stuck to my own playlists in 2023. But considering the situations we endure these days, let some new artists in our streaming queues be the scariest change we ever face. It won’t be, but I can dream, right?

Happy New Year, friends. As always, be strong, love big, and don’t back down.

January: We Are Scientists – Lobes

With the deaths of Jeff Beck, Lisa Marie Presley, and David Crosby within a week of each other, it was looking to be a pretty grim year at first. But if there’s anything I’ve learned about We Are Scientists—an indie-rock trio from California—it’s that whatever follows its act is bound to be unforgettable (read: Innings Festival 2022). The band’s eighth album Lobes adds to the trend of reviving ‘80s music, and takes on the sounds of Ultravox and Pet Shop Boys, with plenty of lyrics about expectations, honesty, and even a shout-out to math rock. Hope to see these guys headline Jannus Live at some point in the future.

February: Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance

While I wouldn’t say that J.J. Abrams’ daughter would be a great fit to soundtrack, say, another “Star Trek” film, Gracie Abrams’ sad-girl-indie debut album is surely the kickoff to an illustrious career that already has “opening for Taylor Swift” under its belt. Good Riddance has the minimalism of an early Joni Mitchell record and the lyrical catharsis of a Lana Del Rey record, and should Gracie toy around with other genres on her next album, she might end up starting up one of the biggest followings—be it cult or mainstream—of the decade.

March: Lana Del Rey – Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.

After waiting very patiently since my freshman year of high school, I finally got to see Lana Del Rey perform live in Tampa on September 25, and the show was part of a quick run promoting this latest album of hers. Lana has come such a long way since she dropped Born To Die 11 years ago (!), and the collaborations with Jon Batiste and Father John Misty—just to name a few—aren’t even what sticks out about Tunnel. Lana’s life story and beginnings are kept pretty cryptic, but it’s been said that the album—her best one as a whole since Honeymoon, in my opinion—is her most personal. She messes around with gospel, psychedelic, and of course, her standard orchestra-backed laments, all with a little production help from Jack Antonoff and his unmatched studio skills. It’s currently nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys, and while I’m personally good no matter who wins, it’s about time Miss Lana takes home a Grammy, yeah?

April: Smokey Robinson – Gasms

I know, I know: We’re lucky to still have this national treasure with us. I’m not ungrateful for a second. But there’s just something slightly distressing about an 83-year-old man singing about sex, or more specifically, eyegasms. I don’t know how much ol’ Smokey watched Chef-era “South Park” while making this record—his first of original material since the late aughts—but at the very least, the latter half is slightly more wholesome, pertaining more to wanting to spend the rest of his days with someone, rather than exclusively thinking about, err, gasming. Luckily, I discovered this one a little later in the year, rather than in its month of release, in which I had my bottom two wisdom teeth removed and finally reunited with my best friend for the first time in five years, for the sake of seeing The Eras Tour.

May: Paul Simon – Seven Psalms

I had Seven Psalms up against Graham Nash’s Now for May, and my struggle to pick between the two is why you’re probably reading this in 2024. In the end, I went with Paul Simon’s thoughts about mortality, which came about after a post-farewell tour dream he had. His vocals have gotten a bit more quivery, but for what it’s worth, his acoustic guitar bits are just as solid and masterful as always. If you try and stream the 7-track album, it’s one giant, half-hour epic, rather than being chopped down to its septet of songs. As much as I’d want to add “Wait” to every playlist I have, perhaps that’s how Paul intended to execute it, so who the hell am I to question my all-time favorite songwriter? Well, about anything other than why on God’s green earth he, a New York kid of over 80 years, decided to move to Texas recently. I’m not expecting a tour behind this album (he said recently that he’d play some shows to bump Psalms, had it not been for COVID-related hearing loss), but if any gigs come about, look out for a review.

June: Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy

My first man-crush duetting with Chaka Khan on a heavily slowed-down “Cotton-Eyed Joe” was not on my 2023 bingo card, but hey: Now I can confuse the hell out of karaoke bar regulars when I say how great Wainwright’s version is, just to realize that they have no idea who the hell I’m talking about until I mention “Shrek.” Rufus is continually giving the Wainwright clan an exceptional name with the way he can write operas and hypnotize his audiences without any sort of band behind him. It was fascinating but not shocking to see him take on some traditional folk semi-standards with some of the names he deserves to be A-list with (Brandi Carlile, John Legend), as well as a version of Van Dyke Parks’ “Black Gold,” with the guy who co-wrote The Beach Boys’ Smile right beside him. I think that a duet with Joni Mitchell is the only thing that would have made Folkocracy better than it already is, because what gay tenor doesn’t want to work with Joni?

July: Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real – Sticks and Stones

In a post-Million Dollar Quartet (Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis) world, amid an era featuring Jason Aldean and Morgan Wallen, it’s refreshing to see some country music that isn’t heavily manufactured. Alcohol is a recurring theme on Lukas’ eighth studio album (and I have to say, I don’t think I’ve laughed uglier than when I heard the intro to “Alcohallelujah”), but the melodies are catchy, the guitar work is clean, and honestly, it’d be no shock if Lukas spent time with his dad’s besties, The Highwaymen as a kid. He would have utterly exploded in the outlaw country scene during its heyday, had he been around for it. Also, did you know that Promise of the Real was Neil Young’s backing band for a time? Man, what a gig that would have been.

August: Quavo – Rocket Power

I took a listen to this one—the first Migos solo project to emerge after the murder of Takeoff last year—while working on a preview for a Quavo gig to happen at Tampa’s Armature Works. It basically takes you through his navigation process of mourning his bandmate-slash-nephew (who actually appears on this record) and also features guest spots from Young Thug and Future. I’m not gonna pretend that this is wholly my scene, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Migos had to have done a killer concert. Hopefully, there’ll be some unreleased material out soon, or maybe some unreleased Takeoff demos that Quavo and Offset could work on together to morph into new Migos material.

September: Bruce Springsteen – September 3, 2023, East Rutherford, NJ

I very nearly went with Stephen Sanchez’s Angel Face for September. Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts was great too, of course. But September 3, 2023 was a night I’ll never forget. I flew to New Jersey the day before, just so I could see The Boss in his homestate. It’s like seeing the Pope speak at the Vatican or seeing one of The Beatles perform in Liverpool. I caught Springsteen in Tampa, on opening night of his 2023 tour, and I guess the power of the E Street Band put me in such a frenzy that I was planning my fall venture a few weeks later. And as it turned out, I was right to attend the last date of a three-night stint at MetLife Stadium. I thought I’d have to chase “Jungleland” for years, but sure enough, Bruce’s encore kicked off with just that. “Lonesome Day” was a surprisingly epic opener, and “Spirit In The Night” has to be my favorite pre-Little Steven song of Bruce’s. You can’t find this on streaming services, but if you’re jonesing for some quintessential live Springsteen, do yourself a favor and just spend the $15 on nugs.net. As a guy who has been to nearly 500 live gigs, this was the best one I’ve ever seen, and probably ever will see.

October: The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds

I’m still sad that I never got to see Charlie Watts live (I did buy Stones tickets right before the world shut down in 2020, though), but it’s comforting to know that one of his two contributions to Hackney Diamonds—believed to be his final recordings—happened to be with original bassist Bill Wyman, reuniting the band’s original rhythm section for the first time since 1989’s Steel Wheels. Steve Jordan does a great job on drums both live and on this album—the Stones’ best in decades, in my opinion—and I really admire how Mick, Keith, and Ronnie still manage to maintain their original sound and avoid taking the KISS route, relying solely on merchandise sales and lip-syncing on their fourth farewell tour. Ronnie Wood is now the only long-tenured Stone who has yet to pass his 80th birthday, but considering how solid of a rock album his now-octogenarian friends can make in 2023, something tells me that we haven’t heard the last of the mighty Rolling Stones.

November: Dolly Parton – Rockstar

“Now And Then” wasn’t the only new Beatles lore we got in November, you know. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr—with Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood—were featured on Dolly Parton’s version of “Let It Be,” off of her long-promised, long-awaited rock album, which came about as a result of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ignoring her request to not be inducted in 2022. Generally, when an artist releases an all-covers rock album, you start to feel like the downhill descent has commenced. But ol’ Dolly’s 30-track collection made up of mostly covers is a hardcore exception to that rule. The songs she chose to tackle for this album were recorded with both original artists (i.e: “Keep On Lovin’ You” with REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin, “Every Breath You Take” with Sting, etc.), or other A-list musicians also willing to pay tribute. She couldn’t get the now-retired Bob Seger, so Chris Stapleton guest stars on “Night Moves,” and instead of a sick guitar section from Jimmy Page on “Stairway To Heaven,” Lizzo plays flute behind Dolly’s vocals. Truthfully, I never thought Dolly would turn to rock, but if you can get Steve Perry to return to the studio, reunite the remaining Beatles, and put respective collaborations with Kid Rock and Stevie Nicks on the same album, why hide away your talents?

December: Peter Gabriel – i/o (In-Side Mix)

Genesis may not have needed Peter Gabriel for its final bow in 2022, but the band’s ex-frontman is finally back after what felt like an eternal hiatus. As it turns out, i/o has been in the works since before I was born and was even partially recorded while he was on tour with Sting in 2016. It’s difficult to dive deep into simple terms regarding this record’s eclectic, modernized sound, but at a point in his life where some artists his age are only revisiting old material and pathetically trying to stay relevant with half-assed new songs (I said “some,” not “all”), Gabriel’s lyrics about struggling with quintessential loss and making peace with how short life is could win him a Grammy in 2025. Oh, and considering the success behind his tour promoting i/o last fall, I’m thinking that a second U.S. leg is going to go down in 2024. This man has never been to Tampa, so the mental preparation for TicketMaster’s verified fan program has officially started on my end.

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Five Years Ago Today

Today marks five years since I attended my first rock concert. My uncle managed to snag tickets for the two of us to see Billy Joel live and in the flesh at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, as a Christmas gift.

I still remember that night like it was yesterday. I hollered out every word to almost every song, screeching at the top of my lungs. Going to that show was something I bragged about to my friends at school, but sadly, everybody was either unimpressed, or had never heard of Willy Bowl.

My uncle, the only person I could really get deep into music with for years on end, has sworn to me ever since that show that we’d also go see Bruce Springsteen together. But even before COVID, The Boss hasn’t really been much help with that deal. (*Jamie Hyneman voice* Tour, damn you!) So we compensated with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 2017.

The poster I bought five years ago today still proudly dangles in a frame on my bedroom wall, with other Billy Joel ticket stubs I have obtained in recent years. Unfortunately, I lost the distressed baseball cap weeks after purchasing it, hence why I’ve made it a tradition that I buy a baseball cap in honor of it every time I see Billy live.

Now, I noticed that I have written reviews of almost every show I’ve been to, even in old perspectives. When The Monkees’ Peter Tork died in 2019, I wrote out a review of The Monkees’ 50th Anniversary Tour (which my uncle also attended with me) as if it had happened days ago. So, I’d like to do the same thing now. 

Picture this:

The year is 2016. Joe Biden is still Vice President of the United States, Coldplay is about to play Super Bowl 50, and you’re still recovering from an exhilarating Billy Joel concert.

CONCERT REVIEW: Billy Joel lets Tampa’s Amalie Arena take the wheel during sold-out concert

“Good evening, Tampa-St. Pete!” Billy Joel called out to his sold out crowd at Amalie Arena Friday night.

Ever since the Piano Man’s grand return to performing after a brief hiatus, he’s been a regular in Florida, having already hosted two New Year’s Eve shows in Orlando and Sunrise. Friday night’s show at Amalie Arena was packed to the gills with both Florida crackers and NYC snowbirds, as well as some in-betweens. And the energy was so high, there were moments you thought you were actually up north at Madison Square Garden.

When the lights went down to the ending theme to The Natural some 20 minutes after the ticketed 8:00 start time, a single blue light shone on Joel–all decked out in a black, black, and black suit and tie. The floors of the dome brutally vibrated when the C# about 15 seconds into the complex opening of “Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)” was pounded out. Propped up on a life-sized Lazy Susan-style platform at the forefront of his circular stage, Joel didn’t miss a beat, in his vocals or fingers.

I say this with all the love and respect in my heart: Despite his massive following of die-hards and casual fans alike, Joel has evolved into a nostalgia act. He hasn’t promoted any new material since 1993’s River of Dreams, and his touring days with Elton John (who is releasing a new album next month) are most likely over. But a discography as vibrant as his still gives him all the right to present his crowds with “fielder’s choices,” meaning that he’ll throw out two songs, and he’ll perform whichever gets the most applause.

Yes, “Vienna” gave the boot to “This Is The Time.” “The Longest Time,” featuring a “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” warmup, won against its original album’s title track, “An Innocent Man.” An obvious choice of course, but a nice surprise addition nonetheless.

Billy doesn’t do full-fledged tours with back-to-back dates anymore. He plays one show a month, per his residency at Madison Square Garden, and he’ll often fly out to one or two different locations around the world a month. And since his last performance, which was January 7 at Madison Square Garden, the world has lost David Bowie, and Glenn Frey of the Eagles.

For the Starman, Joel and his flawless backing band launched into the chorus of “Rebel, Rebel,” admitting that they just learned it the morning of. As for the Eagle, who died earlier this week, there were two: A heartbreaking piano-and-microphone-only singalong of “Desparado,” and later, a ride through “Take It Easy” during a pause in “The River Of Dreams.”

Bowie and Frey weren’t the only people included in his dedications, though.

Normally, the point to live music is, well, as Joel once put it, “to forget about life for awhile.” But even the 66-year old New Yorker knows that the 2016 election is going to be one for the ages. 1975’s “The Entertainer” was dedicated to Republican nominee Donald Trump, and “New York State Of Mind” to Republican senator Ted Cruz. “These are my values, Ted.” Billy jabbed. Knowing the scarlet conservatism of Florida, part of me wonders how many people will never support Joel again after said “tributes.”

Before blasting into his electrifying, hit-scorched encore, Joel tore the house down all over again with the six-minute strong fan-favorite “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant,” and then capped up the main set with “Piano Man.” Despite every fan in the house howling the final chorus of perhaps his most iconic song back at him, what came next was what many bought the tickets for–“Uptown Girl,” “You May Be Right,” and “Big Shot,” just to name a few. Oh, and the snippet of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock And Roll” was a nice touch, as were Mike DelGuidice’s unyielding vocals on “Whole Lotta Love.”

“Turn off the news once in awhile!” Joel hollered after closer “Only The Good Die Young,” as opposed to his regular “Don’t take any shit from anybody” closing remark.

At the end of the day, it’s probably the best advice we’ll receive for another few years at least.

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Concert Reviews

CONCERT REVIEW: Brian Wilson and company play Pet Sounds in Clearwater for the last time…maybe

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and their impeccable band playing Pet Sounds for (supposedly) the last time.
Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and their impeccable band playing Pet Sounds for (supposedly) the last time.
Al Jardine
Special guest opening act Beat Root Revival
Al Jardine
Brian Wilson
Blondie Chaplin
Brian Wilson

“Hello, Clearwater!” former Beach Boy Brian Wilson exclaimed last night.

“Retirement” is not a word in the 76-year-old’s vocabulary. Drugs causing him to become schizoaffective nearly took his life, and a mercilessly abusive doctor nearly made him reach rock bottom. But here’s the thing about the sole founder of The Beach Boys: He loves music. He loves it enough to almost never be off the road, especially in the last five years aside from the making of his biopic Love And Mercy in 2014. In 2016, the year The Beach Boys’ legendary Pet Sounds album turned 50, Brian announced a tour to play the whole album all the way through, with fellow original Beach Boy, rhythm guitarist Al Jardine, and everyman Blondie Chaplin, a man who toured with The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones, (of whom some of his walking actions imitated). He had played it on the road many times before, but this would be the last time, he claimed.

The guys already brought Pet Sounds to Tampa Bay in 2016, at St. Pete’s Mahaffey Theater, and back to Florida last year at Orlando’s Walt Disney Theater. Clearwater hasn’t had Brian here since his 2013 tour with Yardbird and legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, who was also in Tampa this year, with Paul Rodgers and Ann Wilson. Tonight wasn’t even the scheduled date for his arrival. The show was supposed to take place on May 18, but due to successful back surgery Brian needed in early May, he had to push the date forward. Of course, you have to put your health before your fans, and because my favorite composer did that, this was almost definitely not one of his final shows.

Around 9:00, following an acoustic, yet frenetic opening set from Irish-British duo Beat Root Revival, the entire band came out at the same time. Wilson is unfortunately immensely fragile, and therefore had to be assisted to his white piano.

The first part of the show, or at least everything before Wouldn’t It Be Nice, was a series of semi-hits. By that, I mean not songs that any old Joe in the street would know instantly, but the songs that a Beach Boys fan would think are overplayed, in comparison to others. California Girls opened the show, and later, a sing-along of “the first song Brian ever wrote for The Beach Boys,” Surfer Girl, and an all-in California Saga. “Cool, clear-water! I get it!” Al Jardine called out during the applause.

Two songs then came from Blondie Chaplin, and finally, the needle dropped on Pet Sounds. And it wasn’t only Brian’s band playing, either. An eight-piece orchestra (The Ruth Eckerd Hall Chamber Orchestra, as described in the band intros later on) joined in for the authentic strings on the album. Wouldn’t It Be Nice was crooned by Brian’s son-in-law Rob Bonfiglio, who has apparently replaced Jardine’s golden voiced son Matt. Not to say that’s a bad thing at all – both can hit those falsettos that Brian no longer can.

The crowd of boomers joined in on side A’s ending, the Jardine voiced Sloop John B, and then the record flipped. As you’d probably expect, God Only Knows, often called the best song of the 1960s (some may say of all time) got a thirty second standing ovation. That doesn’t seem like long, but it was long enough for Brian. “Please be seated,” he requested so he could know when to begin the non-melancholy, LSD inspired I Know There’s An Answer. Finally, during Pet Sounds’ crushing finale, Caroline, No, Brian was helped off mid-song, just to walk out once again during the band introductions that kicked off the encore. Now THAT got the crowd on their feet.

And all but one were played in the original key, too. The antagonist of God Only Knows legend-wise, Good Vibrations, kicked it off, going into Help Me, Rhonda, sung by Jardine. And of course, there were bigger ones that even non-fans know. Barbara Ann, Surfin’ USA, and Fun, Fun, Fun. And it indeed was all fun, fun, fun and games until the last number: Love And Mercy, one of, if not, the most adored pieces by Brian, post-Beach Boys.

I think a good chunk of the folks who came out to see Pet Sounds live one last time (whatever) only came to see Brian because he’s a living legend. You know something? I don’t know about anybody else, but if Brian comes back here again, (you know he will) you have to either not be a fan, or crazy, to sit it out. Also, The Beach Boys with Mike Love are going to rock Ruth Eckerd in a more corporate way in February, and anyone going to that show, but not Brian’s solely because of his condition, should really rethink their love for the band.

And not to mention Brian’s coming back next month for a Christmas show in Sarasota. On one hand, he should take it easy. On the other hand, God only knows where we’d be without him.

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Concert Reviews

CONCERT REVIEW: Weezer, Pixies unite alt fans in Tampa

Brian Bell and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer

Weezer closing out the second night of their 2018 tour with covers and cuts from Pinkerton
Pat Wilson and Brian Bell of Weezer
Paz Lenchantin of the Pixies
The Pixies warming up Weezer fans with their legend status, and an hour and a half of hits.
Black Francis of the Pixies
Brian Bell and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer
David Lovering and Joey Santiago of the Pixies
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer
Rivers Cuomo and Scott Shriner of Weezer

In the last few years, Tampa has had some insane alternative acts. Scott Stapp of Creed and the Foo Fighters this year, and last year Green Day, Soundgarden, and before its tragic cancellation, Linkin Park. And later this year, we will have the Dave Matthews Band,  The Smashing Pumpkins’ reunion tour, and Snow Patrol opening for Ed Sheeran. But to pump us for all that, there was an insanely special show at Tampa’s Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre. Two groups that have played to extensive crowds over the years, and that have jammed together before, but never toured.

Nerd rock quartet Weezer and early alt-rockers the Pixies kicked off their co-headlining summer tour on June 22 in West Palm Beach, and they decided to bring night two of the co-headlining tour to Tampa. Weezer has not been to Tampa since their co-headlining tour with Panic! At The Disco in 2016, and the Pixies haven’t been around for longer. Their last time here was in 2015 to headline what would be the final Big Guava Music Festival, also at the Amp. The sold out show was full of millennials who grew up with, or currently listen to, one or both of the groups. Maybe a few boomers out of the 10,000+ people were present, either just to get out a bit, or to simply rock out.

After opening act The Wombats warmed some folks up, the Pixies came onstage around 8:00, and it was not a Pixies show you’d expect. Their setlist did not feature too many hits, besides Where Is My Mind? However, that didn’t mean that some of the songs played weren’t recognizable. About three songs in, lead singer Black Francis began belting out the lyrics to Cactus, off of Surfer Rosa. I, personally, had heard that song somewhere before. But where? Then as a lifelong David Bowie fan, it hit me. Bowie did a cover of that song on his 2002 Heathen album, and it was in the regular setlist rotation on the last two tours he did in his life.

The Pixies didn’t mess around either. There was no communication with the crowd, outfit/set changes, or anything like that. They just ripped through their 20 song setlist, one song after another. Once the legends had taken their bows, it was already dark, and a black curtain was immediately draped down the center of the stage. Being on the side, I could sorta see what was happening. Only sorta.

Around 9:40, there was not a soul who was away from their seat. Everyone began to rise, as Weezer, fronted by rock’s biggest dork, Rivers Cuomo, opened with their early smash hit, Buddy Holly, immediately followed by tons of hits – – the somewhat rapped hit Beverly Hills, the head-banging Hash Pipe, and the first track from their first album, My Name Is Jonas. Perhaps the highlight of the first half of the show was getting a semi-rarity off the Blue Album, In The Garage, which hasn’t been played in Tampa in 13 years. Oh, and Pinkerton’s El Scorcho was a great touch as well.

Following a cover of The Turtles’ Happy Together (I know your reaction, that’s what I said too.) crossed with Longview by Green Day, Cuomo literally scootered to the audience, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and a captain’s hat. His destination? Two Palapa umbrellas in the stands. “You’re kicking butt, Tampa!” he called out, to which a millennial-composed roar nearly blew him away. He had his acoustic guitar with him, of which he appropriately strummed an unplugged version of Island In The Sun, which had everyone in the venue belting out the words loud enough to outdo Rivers’ killer vocals. “I’m ready to rock with my acoustic and electric guitar.” he declared after the song ended.

“Anyway, here’s Wonderwall.”

You know what happened. Deep down you know that there were people laughing their butts off, and people who were singing along.

After Rivers changed into a studded leather jacket, a few more non-hits and newer songs off their new album Pacific Daydream, lead guitarist Brian Bell moved over to the synths to tap out that iconic opening to Toto’s Africa. If you didn’t know, right now, Weezer is in the music spotlight in a sense, after a 15 year old fan created a Twitter account to get the band to do a cover of the 1982 Toto hit, which has been an Internet meme of recent years. When Weezer saw the account, they got to work, and five days before it released, they trolled that fan. Another Toto hit, Rosanna, which unfortunately was not played at the show, released out of the blue with only a brief teaser announcement.

After their encore, which finished with Say It Ain’t So, also off the Blue Album, I think it’s safe to say that everyone went home either happy or drunk. Some folks discovered something new and were blown away by an act they didn’t attend for. My concert buddy that night was telling me afterward how he had seen so many shows at the amphitheater since it opened, but had never seen it so full of fans. And this is coming from a guy who saw Nine Inch Nails here a few years ago.

Maybe Weezer will co-headline with them sometime. Maybe they’ll release another request from a Twitter account. Hell, maybe they’ll release the long (and I mean LONG) awaited Black Album. After a brief time supporting the Foo Fighters in Australia, making it back to the Top 100, and touring with some of the godfathers/godmother of alternative this year alone, the future is wide open for those badass nerds.

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Concert Reviews

CONCERT REVIEW: John Fogerty stops the rain with help from ZZ Top

John Fogerty jammed with Billy Gibbons, played his own licks, and fondly recalled Woodstock memories.

The Holy Grail
John Fogerty jammed with Billy Gibbons, played his own licks, and fondly recalled Woodstock memories.
Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top
John Fogerty jammed with Billy Gibbons, played his own licks, and fondly recalled Woodstock memories.
ZZ Top, disguised as always, finally made it to Clearwater without rescheduling.
John Fogerty jammed with Billy Gibbons, played his own licks, and fondly recalled Woodstock memories.
Dusty Hill of ZZ Top
Frank Beard of ZZ Top
John Fogerty jammed with Billy Gibbons, played his own licks, and fondly recalled Woodstock memories.
Billy F. Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top

“Clearwater. That’s a funny name, now ain’t it?” John Fogerty began.

About 75 percent of the audience at Coachman Park on Saturday night were not only fans of John’s career. It was who he was opening for, ZZ Top, that they were also hyped about. See, the two are co-headlining on the Blues And Bayous Tour together this month. And while it’s a limited run, it’s the show of a lifetime to say the least.

Ten minutes after a 30 minute opening set from country artist Ryan Kinder, Fogerty and company kicked off with the CCR classic Travelin’ Band, followed by a non-transposed version of Hey Tonight. Along with CCR hits came solo songs, such as his recent collaboration with Brad Pitt, Love And War, (“I know there are a lot of vets out here tonight. These veterans are not being treated so well in this country right now.”) the twangy Old Man Down The Road, and of course, Centerfield, of which John literally strummed a baseball bat on. A BASEBALL BAT.

Among those hits that were by CCR included Born On The Bayou, which was complete with a bayou background on the big screen, a crowd-rising, shortened version of Down On The Corner, and Have You Ever Seen The Rain, dedicated to John’s 16 year old daughter (“Kelsey is a rainbow in my life, and this song has a rainbow in it.”) Following a flag-draped Fortunate Son on his plaid electric, John ran (yes. RAN.) back out to play two more songs he knew he couldn’t skip over. The legendary Bad Moon Rising was first, and that had everyone in the park bolting out the words, whether they were there for ZZ, John, or both. Finally came Proud Mary, the highlight of the night to me, which also had every fan exploding into song.

Now, to answer one of John’s questions about eight songs in. “Say, who’s that bearded fella that’s wandering around backstage?”

Why, that would be Billy F. Gibbons himself.

Our first glimpse at ZZ Top was about twenty minutes into Fogerty’s set, when Billy joined him to jam to their upcoming collaboration song, Holy Grail, which officially releases June 8. But around 9:30, Billy came back out, along with his old buddies Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, and kicked off with Got Me Under Pressure.

Most of the fans there that night were in attendance for ZZ. And Fogerty was seen by many as just a nice little addition to the show, which was totally proven wrong many a time. “Let’s hear it again for the great John Fogerty!” Billy called out once or twice during his set. But while neither acts were “nice additions,” like John before them, ZZ’s set was full of wall-to-wall hits such as a frenetic ride through Gimme All Your Lovin’, and a sing-along of I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide. And of course, you can’t forget their signature hits: Y’know, Sharp Dressed Man, Tush, La Grange, Legs. (which featured fluffy guitars. Yes, literally fluffy.) All of those were played, along with a cover of Jailhouse Rock serving as the encore.

We really got lucky this time with ZZ Top. Apparently, their last few shows in the Tampa area have either been postponed or cancelled. But this time, they just wouldn’t have it. And Fogerty hasn’t been to the area since he brought his 1969 Tour to the Amphitheater three years ago.

In rock and roll terms, this tour is the real deal. A man who wrote, played, and sang some of the most beloved songs of the late 60s and early 70s, and a Texas trio who in nearly 50 years have never had a lineup change, or even an added member onstage, excluding one-off special guests. “We’ve been comin’ here for the last…five decades! Same three guys, too.” Billy recalled near the end of his set.

Here’s to another five from both acts.

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Concert Announcements

Journey and Def Leppard coming to Tampa for joint tour

You know them both. Even if you don’t know them by name, you live under a rock if you’ve never heard the karaoke bar classic Don’t Stop Believin’, or Pour Some Sugar On Me, the song that you hear in just about every movie or TV show at least once.

Who knew that you’d hear both of those songs live in one night?

Each of them have differences. Journey just got inducted to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this past year, alongside Yes and Pearl Jam. However, the only member who played on the original Escape record that is no longer a member is their legendary original lead singer Steve Perry. As close to a classic lineup as this may be, Def Leppard isn’t in the Hall Of Fame, but their only classic member gone is rhythm guitarist Steve Clark, who died in 1991. Anyways, in the last few years especially, there have been some off-the-chain concert tours by 70s/80s arena rock bands together. Heart with Joan Jett and Cheap Trick, Foreigner with Cheap Trick and Jason Bonham, Alice Cooper with Motley Crue, and Styx with REO Speedwagon and Don Felder, just to name a few. After a brief 2017 tour with Asia, Journey announced a few weeks ago that Def Leppard, (who toured with Poison and Tesla this past summer) will be joining them on the road this year. And somehow, Tampa is one of their stops.

Journey and Def Leppard will co-headline at Amalie Arena on August 18, 2018. Tickets go onsale on LiveNation on February 3. This is not going to be a show you’re going to want to miss out on. Though one is nothing without Steve Perry to some fans, and the other is far overplayed on the radio, this is a once in a lifetime chance for some.

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Concert Reviews

CONCERT REVIEW: Roger Daltrey kicks off five date tour in Clearwater

Rhythm guitarist and brother of Pete, Simon Townshend

If you’re not crazy for British rock legends The Who, but enjoy them for their hits, this is not really the kind of show that would be up your alley.

Longtime, and current, lead singer Roger Daltrey has done solo tours before, but none quite like this. The A Quick Run While Pete’s Away five date tour was announced back in August, and only features Daltrey with members of The Who’s backing band. Pete Townshend is on a yearlong sabbatical from The Who, as the tour name says, but there was still a Townshend onstage – – his little brother, Simon on guitar.

Around 7:30, a somewhat newcomer to the music world, Grammy nominee Leslie Mendelson, opened with selections from her 5+ year career and her new album, Love & Murder. One of these songs were created with help from the Grateful Dead’s own Bob Weir. Really.

“Roger and I go way back. Well, we actually do.” Mendelson bragged halfway through. She once played Baba O’Riley with The Who during a benefit gig for charity. “I was tossed a harmonica, and I said ‘But I don’t play it.’ And they said ‘Well, you do now.'”

“The New York weather is following me around!” she earlier joked while acting surprised about how Florida’s weather has suddenly become cooler. Following her 35 minute set with guitarist Eric Kimock, a brief intermission occurred, as she made her way near the Ruth Eckerd lobby to where two Daltrey shirts were being sold to sell and sign CD copies of Love and Murder. Fans were immensely impressed at this new talent, but at 8:21, the lights went down for the real deal. The Pinball Wizard and company walked out to Clearwater for the first time in eight years.

Following a few jokes of how forgettable the night may be if he forgot the words, the band ripped into the overture from The Who’s legendary 1969 rock opera, Tommy. Immediately following was their smash hit Pinball Wizard, also off of Tommy.

As the songs kept dropping, they got more and more obscure. 1981’s Another Tricky Day was dedicated to Donald Trump. “Nothing to do with me, but I’m sure he’ll relate to this song.” There were also some songs that were obscure enough to have never been played in front of a live audience, be it Who, Townshend, or Daltrey. Athena off of 1982’s It’s Hard, the second most recent Who studio album, hasn’t been played since the tour to promote that album.

But the biggest surprise was the debut, the literal live debut, of The Who’s 1975 album track, How Many Friends, which has never in written history been performed live by the band. “Way back when we recorded this in 1975, you even wondered, and I doubt many of us can, count on our friends.” Daltrey recalled. “I knew people with…millions of friends.”

Just about every song had the audience give at least a standing ovation, from the doo-wop style Daltrey earworm Days Of Light, to the song to thank us fans for being fans (Without Your Love), to the electrifying Baba O’Riley. The latter had every member of the audience frenetically howling out the words, as you would likely expect – – After all, it was The Who’s biggest 1970s hit. (with the possible exception of Who Are You, which was also performed to a standing crowd.)

Two songs from The Who’s 1971 live album, Live At Leeds were performed. In comparison to other Who tunes, Young Man Blues and Summertime Blues have faded away into obscurity, but you know what? Nobody seemed to care.

The night ended with Roger and keyboardist Loren Gold playing Always Heading Home, a brand new song from a “forthcoming album.” Needless to say, it’s never been played anywhere else before, at any time.

Daltrey is very openly involved in the Teenage Cancer Trust charity, which helps out teenagers with cancer. “At least, before they turn eighteen, and get moved in with old farts like me.” Daltrey pointed out. He went on to praise the Tampa Bay area for having three hospitals working together to fight teenage cancer, including Moffitt.

And just keep that in mind. The next time you buy something related to The Who, be it a ticket, a licensed shirt, or Roger’s album when it releases, there’s a good chance that at least a portion of your sale will go to the trust.

Frankly, they deserve it.

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Concert Announcements

Roger Daltrey coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall

On April 15, 2015, one of the most popular British Invasion bands kicked off the US leg of their 50th anniversary/farewell tour (whatever) in Tampa. The Who’s two surviving original members, guitarist Pete Townshend and lead vocalist Roger Daltrey have been on the road nearly all their lives, be it solo or together. But following the 1979 death of drummer Keith Moon, they’ve seemed to make every tour since then a farewell tour, yet they always came back. It was a close call for them in 2002, though when bassist John Entwistle died only a day before the second leg of that year’s tour began. The Who was on the road a little bit this year, playing few cities in the US, and holding a nearly three-week long residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Later this year, however, along with some shows in South America with Def Leppard and Guns N’ Roses, the two will (hopefully) temporarily go their separate ways to fulfill solo projects. Townshend will be doing a short Classic Quadrophenia tour with Billy Idol next month.

Daltrey will also be doing a solo tour of about five different cities. And Clearwater just got lucky.

Roger Daltrey will play Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on Monday, October 30. The show will be opened by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson at promptly 7:30. While Townshend will not be there, other touring members of The Who – – including drummer Zak Starkey – – will be. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, starting at $63.50.