The live show is a slippery thing. There are lots of variables at play, most having little to do with the performance itself. Does the venue have enough bathrooms? Is it going to rain? What day of the week is it on? Did I have a shitty day at work before hand? Did tickets cost waaay too much? All of this can alter one's opinion of a live show before the band even tunes up and with reason. However, when the stars align, there is no place RtBE would rather be than in the moment of magic occurring spontaneously from the stage.
Live Music Has No Equal!
 |
| Taken By The Fantastic Megan Donohue |
While obviously we can't see every show that is out there, we try to get out often to catch live music. Sure there are a few left in the calendar year, but for now, here is a listing of the best concerts we were fortunate enough to have caught in 2025.
There are links to show reviews in the titles, also because who doesn't love arbitrary rankings, one show at the bottom took the top prize as RtBE's 2025 Favorite Live Show.
In chronological order:
RtBE has seen the New Orleans funk band a bunch, but this was the best show we have caught from the outfit. 2025 was a banner year from the band and on this night in Brooklyn the whole crew were on point!
.jpg)
RtBE caught one of our favorites Jack White a few times on his NO NAME tour in 2025 and this show was the overall best that he and the band sounded. A rip roaring affair, check it out from the first row:
One of the biggest surprises of the year was how tight, powerful and awe-inspiring this set from the remaining Allman Brothers crew was. RtBE has a big feeling that Joe Russo's huge drumming was a major reason why, but Warren Haynes and Dereck Trucks were both off the charts as well.
A great night of rock and roll with Sheer Mag opening for the Aussie punk rockers on a gorgeous spring night in NYC. Tough to beat this combo.
RtBE have seen Phish more than every other band, and a few years back it was fine to catch them only one or two nights a year. However, last year at MSG it seemed something clicked (maybe more for me than them) and the four men from Vermont are really soaring. This summer was the best we have seen them in years. The "Carini" at Forest Hills, the whole Friday second set at SPAC (which you can watch below) and Saturday, they were ON! Can't wait to see them at MSG in a few weeks, maybe they get another show or two on this list.
.jpg)
While technically these were two shows, they bled into each other for RtBE. Seeing legends and friends play punk and hardcore Friday night and then the same thing on Saturday with Iggy Pop, Jack White and Marky Ramone headliners added for some extra spice, made for an old school NYHC blowout and then some. It is impossible to separate them for us, so both make the list.
Favorite Live Show of 2025
.jpg)
To celebrate his 80th birthday, the legendary John Fogerty played the Beacon Theater in late May. Truth be told, he sounded so on point, you would not be wrong to think he was 40 years younger. The band (consisting of a few sons) was dynamite, his story telling was fun, and his energy was upbeat throughout.
While the last few years Springsteen was a clear cut, monster show of the year, this concert was just really solid and surprising. It was RtBE's first time seeing John and he sounded great, played some deeper cuts we really wanted to see ("Effigy"), and surprised with his energy, passion and chops. It didn't beat out the above shows by much at all, but still tops this years favorite show list.
No comments:
Post a Comment