Totally Unauthorized's Top 10 Concerts of 2019

Honorable Mention: The Comet is Coming

June 13 at Bonnaroo

This up and coming London electro/jazz fusion act has been turning lots of heads. Their general sound is somewhat apocalyptic, building a sense of tension with the keys while Shabaka Hutchings blasts off something truly otherworldly sounding with his saxophone. Their sound works best when the low rumble of the bass interlocks with the spastic saxophone blasts to create something like truly sounds like the world is ending. Put another way, it works best when they play something that lets you drop your booty down low.

10. Parquet Courts

June 14 at Bonnaroo

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised by how hard hitting this set was. You can hear ecohes of New York post punk scene in the steely guitar jangle found on some of their albums, especially on their breakthrough effort Light Up Gold. They came out blazing with two songs from that record, Master of My Craft and Borrowed Time, as though trying to press a point that this is was going to be an ass kicking set. It was honestly cathartic, doubly so given this was one of the few guns blazing rock shows of the whole weekend. Of course, they were too smart not to mix things up. Tenderness is catchy enough to be a radio hit, complete with a bobbing piano melody perfect for swaying in the summer breeze, while Wide Awake deliciously melds a sashaying rhythm groove between bass and drums to craft a perfect dance freakout. 

 

9. Alice Cooper

August 4 at Grand Ole Opry House

 

There aren't many hard rock/metal bands left that put on the visual spectacle Alice Cooper has made himself famous for. He's got an elaborate castle setpiece with multiple levels that takes up most of the stage. He swaggers out of one of the castle doors like a boss to start the show, belting out one of his new school hits "Feed my Frankenstein." He's got the giant monsters running around and he guillotines himself onstage, but just as jaw dropping are the dynamic solos laid down by guitarist Nita Strauss. Capping the evening was nothing less than a joyous rendition of "School's Out" joined by Lizzy Hale from Halestorm, who performed directly before Cooper.

8. The National

June 15 at Bonnaroo

The National have been a tough nut for me to crack. Try as I might, I've never successfully gotten into them. That didn't stop me, however, from stumbling into the pit for their preheadling set. Those of you who've been to Bonnaroo are well aware you never know quite what you're going to stumble into. Despite my previous reticence toward them, what The National put on was no less than a certified trip.

Singer Matt Beringer is a presence. Sometimes he can be seen brooding on stage, like a weird neighbor in an enclosed patio glaring at you from across your yard. But in a good way, of course. The early part of their set saw them joined by guest singer Kate Stables, who pitched in with the quiet, tinder, and intimate material on their latest album I Am Easy to Find. Things turned up later when Beringer got up close and personal with his crowd, going right up into the embankment and even crowd surfing. I wasn't converted by their performance but I certainly gained a new appreciation for them. And Bloodbuzz, Ohio, is first rate banger that went straight to my to-listen to list.

7. Odesza

June 15 at Bonnaroo

 

So chill and uplifting. An Odesza set is definitely one to have your fists and glowsticks raised into the air. The Washington based duo of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, in their final stages of their heralded "A Moment Apart" tour, became one of the rare purely electronic acts to crack Bonnaroo's main stage lineup. They provided a much needed contrast from the clang and clash going on at The Other by delivering a softer, but still energetic sound. They dazzled the crowd with a pulsating homage to Little Eva's R&B/doo wap hit "The Loco-Motion," while their gentle but engaging light show lit up the lot. Leaving the field to "It's Only" with the sweetly tingling cadence of Zyra ringing in my ears was one of the top moments of the weekend. Just sit back and let the euphoria wash over you.

6. Bad Religion

September 27 at Cannery Ballroom

 

What can I say? The veteran L.A. hardcore/punks have been one of my favorite bands since high school, and this set featured them in fine form tearing through nearly 30 of their best known and best loved cuts. Unlike many bands who were part of their scene, they're as much brains as they are brawn. They're equally adept at blistering through tracks like "Fuck Armageddon... This is Hell," dropping intelligent and tuneful solos in "Infected," or washing over us with the big hooks on "21st Century Digital Boy" and fan favorite "American Jesus."

5. Kacey Musgraves

June 15 at Bonnaroo

 

Sundown sets are one of the most memorable parts of Bonnaroo, and rising country starlet Kacey Musgraves gave us one for the books. Musgraves has worked her way through the Bonnaroo ranks, having played on this same stage as an early Sunday act in 2013. She donned a red dress, looking like country music royalty while lilting her way through the serene, breezy tunes from her Grammy award winning album Golden Hour (while also throwing an expected but amazing curveball in covering "Do You Realize??" from alternative psych rock heroes Flaming Lips), but her general ethos which first endeared her to this crowd hasn't changed.

4. The Lonely Island

June 15 at Bonnaroo

 

Laughing is not something I think I've ever done during a concert, but leave it to the trio of SNL's Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone to crack us all up. The rarely glimpsed musical comedy group were embarking on their first tour, with this late night Bonnaroo set as their first big stop. As you might expect, the set was rife with dialog, skits, T-shirts being blasted into the crowd, and various visual props and costumes, including a puppet Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga to accompany the group on a medley of Dick in the Box, Motherlover, and 3-Way (The Golden Rule) Jamming Incredibad was one of the highlights of my time as a college DJ, and seeing those cuts brought to life on stage was top notch.

3. Guns n Roses

October 13 at Exit 111 Festival

 

 If we're being honest this is pretty much the Slash show, but a killer back catalog doesn't hurt as well. The LA based hard rock outfit has catapulted back into headliner status since their reunion with their former axeman, and the way he can transform a song leaves little doubt it's well deserved. His dizzying playing and plucking on his double necked guitar amazed the crowd, but also added improvisation that allowed these songs to take on a new life. Axl's voice is not surprisingly rough in several spots, but did an admirable job as our conductor leading us through all the band's well-known hits, deeper fan favorites such as Nightrain and You Could Be Mine, and peppered in a multitude of covers ranging from Velvet Revolver's Slither to Jimmy Webb's Wichita Lineman. 

2. Brandi Carlile

June 16 at Bonnaroo

 

What a big, beautiful heart and soul this lady has. The alt-country/folk/singer songwriter queen laid down easily the most uplifting emotional musical experience of the year. Part of her appeal is she extends a hand to the downtrodden, provides hope for those building for a better tomorrow, and celebrates the best elements of mankind. One of her most powerful songs, "The Story," lays out the tale of her life journey and recounts how much of the meaning would be stripped away without having a someone special by your side. It's hard not to get misty eyed with some of these songs and the way she projects herself. She spoke at length about her family, her wife and two kids, leading into one of the afternoon's most beautiful cuts, "The Mother," and extolled the virtues of progress for LGBT rights. She also dazzled with the propulsive "Hold Out Your Hand," the reflective "The Joke," humorously discussed the band's rise through the Bonnaroo ranks, beginning with their earliest performance at a tent on the festival grounds beside some trash cans, and even lit it up with her country music idol Tanya Tucker. Afterward, Carlile was presented with the key to the city from Manchester's mayor. There's no better way to top off the tour de force we just witnessed.

1. Childish Gambino

June 14 at Bonnaroo

 

If these set of performances on Donald Glover's summertime tour were indeed his last as Childish Gambino, as the rumors indicate, he certainly followed the adage of leave them wanting more. I had skipped Glover's previous Roo set largely because I considered him mediocre at best as a rapper, although 2016's Awaken My Love expanded his sound in many important ways. No matter my thoughts on his rap ability, his Friday night headline performance left no doubt that as a showman very few are his equal.

He is possibly the most talented person I have ever seen play the main stage, definitely the most charismatic. He came out to the pulsating rhythms of Algorithm and wasted little time descending into the crowd pit. He strutted about like a victorious Roman gladiator returning from combat, and was definitely received like one. That crowd was in the palm of his hand. I grievously regret not snagging a close spot when I had the chance; I opted for the VIP mound for the first time and while my feet definitely needed the rest, I feel like I lost a something from the best set of the weekend. The glittering beat of Worldstar impresses, not to mention the uninimitable swagger that tune exudes. Some of my other favorite memories is Gambino urging everyone who was fucked up to get wild for Sober and the gentle summertime vibe of 3005. The combination of set closer Redbone along with the fireworks was a massive gut punch, in the best possible way.