2024 in live music
one of my favorite thing about living in NYC was going to shows nonstop. in 2024 I went to at least 2 shows a month. I moved back to DC for work and I miss the big apple very much. these are my favorite shows I went to this year |
| 25 |  | Death Cab for Cutie
Transatlanticism
went to HFStival in DC with my bro and uncle (who used to go back in the 90s so this was his idea). turned out since we got our tix in the initial lotto, they were VIP. had no idea till we got there. legit unlimited free beer the entire day. got absolutely wrecked and saw Jimmy Eat World, Violent Femmes, Incubus, Postal Service, Death Cab, Bush, all that good radio buttrock. very fun time. should probably rank higher just cuz of the free beer alone
Nationals Stadium | DC |
| 24 |  | Machine Girl
MG Ultra
didnt think I'd experience a stinkier crowd than the HEALTH show, but this one takes the cake.
Howard Theatre | DC |
| 23 |  | Chappell Roan
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
seeing a bunch of gays doin the ymca to hot to go was surreal. this was one of the highlights of GovBall (tho if i were to have run into Fantano during the SZA set i woulda had that one here instead that wouldve been mad funny)
Flushing Meadow Park | NYC |
| 22 |  | Insomnium
Anno 1696
seen this band way too many times by now and they honestly sound worse and worse each time I see em but this show gets some love cuz Omnium Gatherum was on it so it was basically that tour they were supposed to do in 2020 that got canceled cuz of covid.
Gramercy Theatre | NYC |
| 21 |  | In Flames
Whoracle
i always tell myself im not gonna go see In Flames but then i check their setlist and see that theyre playing Food for the Gods so im like fine ill go just for that one dang song. I thought since Gatecreeper and Creeping Death were on the bill that maybe they'd go more old school but NOPE. still mostly N'Flaymz dum shit. they also added more old school songs on later dates (ordinary story??? wtf anders?? play that here next time you dick).
Warsaw | NYC |
| 20 |  | Thornhill
The Dark Pool
seeing Thornhill live was dope, the Dark Pool songs sounded amazing but everything else they played sucked ass big time. Invent, Animate was on the bill tho thank god
Soundstage | Baltimore |
| 19 |  | A Lot Like Birds
Conversation Piece
I had no idea these guys hadnt been around for a while but they were on one of the shows I saw Hail the Sun at. that 2010s post-hardcore still goes hard. swancore i think its called? never listened to DGD
Brooklyn Monarch | NYC |
| 18 |  | SUMAC
The Healer
this was a cool show for two reasons: SUMAC sounded amazing AND the show was at 2:30pm on a Sunday down the street from my apartment.
TV Eye | NYC |
| 17 |  | Fires in the Distance
Air Not Meant For Us
finally getting to see FitD was SICK. their brand of doomy melodeath sounded so chonky live it was awesome. they opened up for Dark Tranquillity/Amorphis which is some amazing exposure. all the best for those lads
Soundstage | Baltimore |
| 16 |  | Funeral Leech
The Illusion of Time
they played this album all the way thru which was sick, its a fave 2024 release of mine and was massive live. NYC local death doomers on top baby. not to mention I lived right next to the venue which was sick since a lot of Vitus shows went there. still RIP Saint Vitus
TV Eye | NYC |
| 15 |  | Closure in Moscow
First Temple
CIM headlined the second date of Subterranean Dissonance Fest which was weird since its a fest that showcases weird, avantgarde metal type shit but I aint complaining. love these aussies
Underground Arts | Philadelphia |
| 14 |  | Power Trip
Nightmare Logic
one of their first shows back as a band with a new singer but Riley's absence is obvious and it just doesnt feel the same. still cool to hear the riffs. lot of brooklyn hipster pitchfork ass POSERS in the crowd tho >: (
Knockdown Center | NYC |
| 13 |  | Necrot
Lifeless Birth
second time seeing Necrot. played a bunch of new stuff that were crowd pleasers (everyone was chanting DRILL THE SKULL during the opening riff to that song). very fun show
The Meadows | NYC |
| 12 |  | Hail the Sun
Wake
saw Hail the Sun twice this year, one just doin a regular set and the second time a Wake-all-the-way-thru set. the Wake one was better obv.
Brooklyn Monarch | NYC |
| 11 |  | Dance with the Dead
Dark Matter
saw this the night before driving up the east coast for Thanksgiving. very small crowd and one of the most polite mosh pits I've ever seen. very fun band
Union Stage | DC |
| 10 |  | Blood Incantation
Absolute Elsewhere
first show back in the greater DC/Baltimore region couldnt have been a better one. Absolute Elsewhere all the way thru was sweet and the pit was honestly brazy. too slippery for me tho I twisted my ankle and chilled the rest of the set.
Soundstage | Baltimore |
| 9 |  | Carly Rae Jepsen
Emotion
went to GovBall with a guildie from my classic World of Warcraft guild and got absolutely based off the penjamin during Carly Rae. there were an awful lot of people there and it was overwhelming at times but primo people watching. zoomers are hilarious
Flushing Meadows Park | NYC |
| 8 |  | Exhumed
Gore Metal
took a girl on a date to this show. made out during the openers. HE'LL YEAH BROTHER LMAO
The Meadows | NYC |
| 7 |  | Dismember
Like An Ever Flowing Stream
didnt get to go to Maryland Deathfest this year but it didnt matter cuz Maryland Deathfest came to me. Vomitory and Undergang were also on the bill and kicked ass. Dismember played a "Like an Ever Flowing Stream" set but sprinkled in other songs as well.
Brooklyn Monarch | NYC |
| 6 |  | HEALTH
RAT WARS
was watching the openers from the balcony when out of the corner of my eye i saw JOHNNY HEALTH walk by and got to chat with him and snag a selfie dude is insanely tall and a total homie. band sounded great but the strobe lights were enough to kill a Victorian child.
Brooklyn Steel | NYC |
| 5 |  | Maylene and the Sons of Disaster
III
second time seein Maylene, but this time in a much more intimate venue. Dallas absolutely killed it and seems to be in good health and spirits. spoke with him after the show and the dude was just nice as hell. told him I was from Virginia and he told me about a crazy ex that used to live near me or somethin. even chatted about black metal Underoath. good times
Kingsland | NYC |
| 4 |  | Tomb Mold
The Enduring Spirit
got absolutely shitfaced with my roommate who doesnt even listen to death metal and brought him to this show. we were front row the entire time and got to see Afterbirth as well. Tomb Mold played the new album all the way thru I think. another one that had to be moved since Saint Vitus closed
The Meadows | NYC |
| 3 |  | Dawnbringer
Into the Lair of the Sun God
spent my 4/20 in Williamsburg watching Dawnbringer play one of 4 live shows this year which are also apparently their last ever. had to be relocated cuz Saint Vitus closed (RIP) but the new venue was the backroom of a music store that felt like a Guitar Hero level
Main Drag Music | NYC |
| 2 |  | Justice
Hyperdrama
cathartic to say the least!! light show went crazy and I wasnt even on drugs.
The Anthem | DC |
| 1 |  | He Is Legend
I Am Hollywood
saw one of my favorite bands of all time play one of my favorite albums of all time all the way thru. it ruled so insanely hard. saw it the day after In Flames, so I was already pretty cooked, but you best believe I still threw down in the pit.
Brooklyn Monarch | NYC |
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