The Best and Worst of 2015

2015 has come and gone! It was the best of times, it was…the best of times! I went to so many amazing shows last year, and even though there were a few duds mixed in, I’m happy with the amount and quality of music I listened to in 2015.

Just like last year I’ve rated my top 10 favorite and least favorite performances of the year, only this year I decided to make 2 favorite lists: top 10 best festival shows and top 10 best “regular” shows. And, just like last year, it’s followed by some yearbook-style superlatives.

Top 10 Shows of 2015 (in chronological order):– Gramatik, Best Buy Theater (both nights!) – Dan Deacon, Rough Trade – Goldfish, Highline Ballroom – Axwell/Ingrosso, Terminal 5 – Ludacris, I Heart Radio Theater – GRiZ, Terminal 5 – Odesza, Rough Trade – Pretty Lights, Red Rocks Amphitheater (night 2, but really both nights because RED ROCKS) – Noisy Freaks/Freddy Todd, Slake – Phantoms, The Knitting Factory

Top 10 Festival Performances of 2015: – Beats Antique, Mysteryland – Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Electric Forest – Galactic with Macy Gray, Electric Forest – Gramatik, Electric Forest – Big Gigantic, Electric Forest – Pretty Lights, Camp Bisco – Bassnectar, Camp Bisco – Tipper, Camp Bisco – EOTO, Electric Zoo – Beyonce, Global Citizen Festival

And, sadly –

Worst 10 Shows of 2015:– Rustie, Music Hall of Williamsburg – Alien Ant Farm, Webster Hall – Borahm Lee, The Knitting Factory – Cashmere Cat, Webster Hall – Bonobo, Output – Exmag, Bowery Ballroom – Hot Chip, Output – Darude, Cielo – SOPHIE/SBTRKT, SIR Stage 37 – Marina and the Diamonds, New York Hall of Science

Thankfully I could not even begin to put together a “worst festival performances” list because most of the music I see at festivals is amazing. On to the superlatives!

Best Performance By A Hobbit: Wooden Wisdom (AKA a duo with Elijah Wood), Brooklyn Bowl

Best Show Where I Legitimately Wanted to See the Headliner but Ended Up Leaving Early: Dirtwire, Santos Party House

Worst Show Where I Legitimately Wanted to See the Headliner but Ended Up Leaving Early:The London Souls, Cameo Gallery

Most Improved From 2014: Orchard Lounge, Output

Most Hipster Crowd: Tei Shi, Music Hall of Williamsburg

Best Show Interaction from Artist’s Street Team/Fan Base Robert Delong, Rough Trade (they paint faces!!!)

Best Throwback Show: New Kids on the Block/Nelly/TLC, Madison Square Garden

Best Artist Doing a DJ Set: GRiZ, Output

Most Random Show: RJ Mitte (Walt Jr. from Breaking Bad), BB Kings

Best Venue: Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO

Photo via redrocksonline.com

Best Festival Venue:Electric Forest. Obviously.

Best Venue That Isn’t A Festival or Otherwise Extremely Epic: Baby’s All Right

Worst Venue: I can honestly say I did not hate any of the venues I went to in 2015. Woohoo!

Best Afterparty: Vibe Street/Brightside (after Basslights), Newport News, VA

“And Now For Something Completely Different” (from what we’re used to seeing) Lady Gaga (with Tony Bennett), Radio City Music Hall

Best Time Pretending I Was Still in College: Big Gigantic and Passion Pit, Penn State

Most Inconsistent (Artist That Could Have Made Both the Best and Worst Lists): Tie: RJD2 and Slow Magic