Live shows made a comeback in 2021, thank heavens, but many were still canceled or postponed due to the ongoing pandemic. As a result, I only saw 35 live bands this year. Cutting that list in half (or thereabouts) to save time, here’s the start of my top fifteen concerts of 2021.
#15: Acid Dad – Ft. Wayne, Indiana’s Brass Rail – October 08th
I’d only heard a couple tracks by Acid Dad before seeing them live, and they didn’t fail to impress everyone at the Brass Rail. It was a rocking show of groovy psych-rock with hints of surf and garage rock.
#14: Protomartyr – Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Bell’s Eccentric Café – November 12th
This was the first time I’d seen Protomartyr live as well, and it was a fine show indeed with a ton of great post-punk rock in front of an excited crowd of fellow Michiganders.
#13: Stöner – Ft. Wayne, Indiana’s Piere’s – September 29th
This was two firsts in one, both seeing and hearing Stöner for the first time. They played a cool heavy set of desert rock and won over a lot of fans (including yours truly) at this show. Their shirts and LPs were flying off their merch table after their set.
#12: King Buffalo – Ft. Wayne, Indiana’s Piere’s – September 29th
Yes, the same show. King Buffalo were the first of three bands that night (the third being Clutch). I’d heard of King Buffalo before, but only a couple songs. They played an excellent set of psychedelic rock that set the table for the rest of the night.
#11: All Them Witches – Chicago’s Metro – December 16th
This was the last show I saw in 2021, and ATW put on a solid set of heavy psychedelia. It was the last show of their tour before a break until they played a series of shows around New Year’s Eve.
Who’s in the top ten? Come back tomorrow to learn!
Keep your mind open.
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