Concerts 2023: A review
I saw 26 different bands at 15 shows last year. Here’s the rundown
One of the priorities I made with my re-discovery of music was to see more live shows.
In 2023, mission accomplished. I saw 26 different bands at 15 shows. I can easily say that’s my personal record.
I’ve always loved going to shows, but even in my younger days, I didn’t go to as many as I’d liked to have. Money was an issue (still is …), then it became time. My job made it tough to plan, then marriage, kids … (see introductory column).
Still, I saw some great shows over the years — some great bands and memorable events. I’ll go through some of those in future posts, but for this, I want to focus on 2023.
I’m going to rank the shows I was at based on how good I thought the show was, but also on my own experience, so please don’t think of this as some official top concerts of 2023 list or any kind of scientific exercise. It’s all vibes-based. And, honestly, I didn’t see a bad show
15. Goo Goo Dolls/Fitz and the Tantrums, Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, Decatur, IL
I was never a fan of the Goo Goo Dolls and didn’t know much about Fitz, but my wife Liz likes the Goo Goo Dolls and I’m a good husband. This was my first experience at the Devon sitting on the lawn, and I was impressed with how good the sound and overall experience was in the “cheap seats.” The view of the lake is even more breathtaking from up there. I’ve long felt like video boards are a must as an addition at the Devon, and after sitting further away, I feel even more strongly about this. I found the music of Fitz and the Tantrums mostly annoying, and while I’m not going to run out and by a Goo Goo Dolls record, the overall good feeling of the crowd and music won me over on this night — I was singing along with that one song I know by them at the end.
— Sept. 24, with Liz
14. Midwest Roots Music Revue (featuring Marc Ford), nightshop, Bloomington, IL
This was easily the weirdest show I went to. It was my second night in a row seeing former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford perform, but it was a MUCH different atmosphere than the previous night. Basically, Marc performed for me, my friend Nick, my son Sully and maybe 15 other people. There was a very odd act that went on before Ford I’ll describe in a future post, but Ford — despite the weak crowd and weird set before him — was in the process of putting on a similarly kick ass show as the night before … until drummer Phil Jones began showing signs of not feeling well (Jones is an accomplished drummer best known for his time with Tom Petty). At one point, the band finished a song and Phil got up and went outside. Marc and bassist Jim Wilson performed a couple songs without him, but when Phil couldn’t go on, they cut it short. I was able to have a short conversation with Marc after. He’s not the most gregarious personality, and I’m sure also worried about the state of his drummer (Phil turned out fine. It was an ear infection and he was back in the saddle two nights later). But I did manage to get Marc to sign my “Neil Songs” CD and have a short conversation. The big win of the night was that my hip-hop-loving son Sully grudgingly admitted that Marc Ford was talented.
— Aug. 18, with Nick and Sully
13. Rumours ATL, Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, Decatur, IL
This is one of two tribute bands I saw this year. I’m generally skeptical of tribute bands — I was burned bad by a Motown tribute a couple years ago at the Devon that left trauma, so I’ve often avoided them, But I’m coming around and Rumours ATL — a Fleetwood Mac tribute — definitely helped that process. Musically, they captured that big, bouncy bass and backbeat made famous by John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. My biggest concern was the Stevie Nicks voice — trying to mimic a voice that distinct can go wrong in a hurry. But Mekenzie Zimmerman is outstanding and was the key to the show’s success. With Christine McVie now passed and the remaining members not showing interest in playing together, this is as close to Fleetwood Mac as you’re going to get.
— Aug. 12, with Liz
12. Festival of Giving featuring Harlem Hayfield, Springfield, IL
This was my second time at this festival and my second time seeing Harlem Hayfield there. Harlem Hayfield is Central Illinois-based and features a friend of mine, Hugh Sullivan, on keys. The band plays what they describe as “Rustbelt Soul” (how great is that?) and I was really impressed with their set — I actually liked what I heard live better than their previous studio work (those songs are good, but they’d improved on them in the live setting). I had a chance to catch up with Hugh that night about his band, which has recently recorded an album that will feature a couple tracks with Govt. Mule keyboardist Danny Louis. Looking forward to what’s coming on 2024 for Harlem Hayfield!
— June 3, alone
11. Brooklyn Charmers, Castle Theater, Bloomington, IL
The other tribute I saw this year was a tribute to one of my favorite bands. Steely Dan’s music is difficult to do well live — there was a reason Steely Dan didn’t tour in their heyday — but the Brooklyn Charmer’s twin guitar attack handled it all with ease. I was told they usually have a saxophone player who didn’t make the trip to Bloomington. He was missed, but I was impressed by the way the guitar players filled the horn parts with guitar — it gave me an Allman Brothers vibe at times. The band did many of the more well-known Dan songs but mixed in plenty of deeper cuts — Boston Rag and King of the World from Countdown to Ecstasy were especially appreciated.
— Dec. 15, with mom
10. Little Feat/Leftover Salmon, Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, Decatur, IL
I’d heard of Little Feat when it was announced they’d be coming to Decatur, but I’ll admit I wasn’t hugely familiar with their catalogue other than three or four songs. Diving into this band’s music was among the highlights of the year for me, especially their second, third and fourth albums. Though genius Lowell George is long gone, the band still features original keyboardist Bill Payne, along with several longtime members and some talented new members, and they put on a great show. They switch up their setlist often, but you’re going to get a great selection of songs no matter what — Fat Man in a Bathtub and Trouble were highlights on this night. Opener Leftover Salmon was also fun, though I’m not a big fiddle fan. This was the first of three shows I saw at the Devon this year, and my biggest complaint at both this show and the Rumours ATL show was the crowd. There’s a LOT of talking.
— July 16, alone
9. Steepwater Band, Slippery Noodle, Indianapolis
My final concert of 2023 was a near disaster and was looking like the bottom spot on this list until this wonderful band and my encounter with them after lifted it. Before this year, I’d never been to a concert alone. This concert was my third by myself, and while I prefer having company, I’d rather go alone than miss out. There are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to going alone, which I’ll explore more in the future. One plus to having company is when you do something stupid like forget Indiana is in the eastern time zone and leave an hour later than you’d planned, you might have someone with you who checks you on your mistake before it’s too late! I almost didn’t go, then spent a lot of time wishing I hadn’t before finally arriving an hour late to a great show and a conversation after with drummer Joe Winters — definitely one of the highlights of the year.
— Dec. 16, alone
8. Blackberry Smoke/Stoney LaRue, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL
Along with Steepwater Band and Marc Ford’s solo work, the band I jumped into hardest this year was modern Southern rockers Blackberry Smoke. I’d heard of this band previously, and like with my first listens this year, I thought they were “too country” for my tastes. Never mind that I grew up with the Kentucky Headhunters and Hank Williams Jr., and always listened to plenty of Waylon and Willie. I turned them on looking for the Black Crowes and heard a southern accent. But once I got past the accent — it was the album “The Whippoorwill” that finally hooked me — I fell hard. A chance to see them in New Berlin with my cousin Matt helped drive my interest. I dove into their catalogue head-first, which I found really enriched my experience at the show. I’ve repeated this formula since. The fairgrounds allowed us to get a good spot, we had a great time before and after the show, and you never forget your first time getting “Smoked.” Stoney LaRue was a solid opener.
— June 15, with Matt
7. Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real/Talia Keys, Castle Theater, Bloomington, IL
I’ve been a longtime Willie Nelson fan but had never heard of his son, Lukas, until this year. When I found out he was going to be at the Castle, which I fell in love with after the first time I went there, I decided to dive in and found quickly I connected with Lukas Nelson’s vibe. It’s reminiscent of his dad, but with a little Waylon and Jimmy Buffet thrown in. I don’t always understand these things, but why Lukas Nelson isn’t a bigger star is beyond me. I was sure glad to catch him in such an intimate venue. He did a lot of songs off his new album, “Sticks and Stones,” mixed in with other songs from throughout his catalogue — including crowd favorite “Find Yourself.” That song on the album features the vocals of Lady Gaga, which Nelson covered for in concert with some soaring guitar. Opener Talia Keys wasn’t necessarily my favorite music-wise, but she brought a lot of energy and personality, which is always appreciated in an opener.
— Sept. 21, alone
6. Band of Heathens/Lilly Hiatt, The Castle, Bloomington, IL
This was the first of three shows I saw in 2023 at what became my favorite music venue in Central Illinois. Whoever is in charge of booking at the Castle knows their shit when it comes to good music for a venue that size. I’ll make it a priority to go to as many shows there as I can — I already have two booked there for 2024. It’s close to me (45 minutes), has easy parking and entry, and has great atmosphere inside — it’s an old-school theater in which they’ve taken out the seats. The Band of Heathens was an act I didn’t connect with on early listens, but once I dove a little further into their catalogue, I began appreciating them more. Their performance of Gillian Welch’s “Look at Miss Ohio” was one of the best single songs I saw performed live in 2023. Opener Lilly Hiatt, who is the daughter of John Hiatt, was outstanding. Of all the acts I saw this year where it was just a lone guitar player and no other musicians, Hiatt was my favorite.
— Sept 11, with Shawn Hillman
5. Jackson Browne, UIS Performing Arts Center, Springfield, IL
I’ve always enjoyed Jackson Browne’s music, and when my mom said she wanted to go see him at UIS, at first I balked a little at the price. But mom was adamant, and I thought it would be fun to go to a concert with my mom (This was the first of three concerts I saw with my mom this year. More on that in a future post). When I looked at Jackson Browne’s setlist, I was surprised — while he performed many of his hits, much of his three-hour show was filled with deeper album cuts. So I prepares by listening to much of his first four or five albums, and also a sampling of his more recent stuff from the last 25-plus years that I’d never really listened to. My parents had “Running on Empty” on vinyl, so I knew those songs. But I was blown away by the emotion of so many of Browne’s songs I was less familiar with — “These Days,” “Call it a Loan,” and — especially — “The Long Way Around.” The quality of Browne’s voice live at age 75 is breathtaking, and, honestly, changed the way I looked at seeing older artists. In the past, I’ve avoided it — I didn’t want it to ruin my memory of them. But Browne has clearly taken care of his instrument, and has also surrounded himself with a great group of musicians who know how to back him up. No one I saw in 2023 performed longer than the oldest musician I saw.
— June 9, with Mom
4. Samara Joy, Jazz St. Louis
My wife Liz has been a big inspiration to renewing my interest in music, whether she knows it or not. But it’s not always easy to find common ground there — our age and background differences have left us with vastly different tastes in music. Though I don’t think Liz will ever like the Black Crowes, and I’ll never be into JoJo, there are acts we both enjoy and Samara Joy was a great find in 2023. Liz discovered her and, because of my interest in jazz, played her music for me and I liked it. It’s definitely not my wheelhouse — most of the jazz I listen to is horn-heavy or guitar-oriented. But I liked Joy’s smooth vibe and when Liz said there were some affordable tickets to see her in St. Louis, I was interested. The venue was small and packed, and Joy put on an amazing show. It hit me during her performance that she was often using her voice to play the horn parts. In fact, she has songs where she’s made up lyrics to classic instrumentals, which is brilliant. Joy’s parents were in attendance, which made it really feel like you were part of some sort of private performance. After, we decided to go to the merch area to buy a vinyl copy of her album and there was a line. As we got closer, we noticed why — Joy was sitting there signing merchandise and taking photos with everyone. Neither was really prepared to meet her and we were both a little tongue-tied — I just kept saying “Thank you!” That was my first concert of 2023 and I met a Grammy winner — what a start!
— May 13, with Liz
3. Blackberry Smoke/Elvie Shane, The Mill, Terre Haute, Ind.
This was my second time in about a two-week span seeing Blackberry Smoke. And while there were plenty of songs the band played at both, there were also plenty of changes, which is always appreciated when you see a band twice in that short a time period. I thought the band seemed especially playful and like they were having fun feeding off a crowd that was really into them. For a “redneck band,” Blackberry Smoke’s audience has a hippy “peace-and-love” feel to it, and I’m here for it. They’re another band that I don’t understand why they’re not played on country radio constantly. I wasn’t a huge fan of opener Elvie Shane, but he wasn’t bad.
— June 30, with Mom
2. Evolution Festival (featuring The Black Crowes, Black Keys, Brittany Howard, Cautious Clay and Modern English), Forest Park, St. Louis
Probably my most anticipated show of the summer delivered in a big way. I was never someone who went to music festivals, even when I was younger, but decided to get out of my comfort zone and dive into this one. Having a veteran concert-goer with me like Shawn Hillman, who I met recently through a music podcast group, was huge — he’s good at charming the people around him, which definitely helps you stake your claim in a big crowd. By the end of the night, I was as exhausted — both mind and body — as I’d been in a long time. We watched five shows, beginning with Modern English, who was the worst of the five (piped-in keyboards was the lowlight). But I did find lead singer Robbie Grey fun, especially when he introduced “I Melt With You” as “That song you know.” Cautious Clay was next. He played a variety of instruments, and played them all well. He was a pleasant surprise, as was the next performer, Brittany Howard. I’d heard of Alabama Shakes, but wasn’t very familiar with her catalogue other than a couple songs. Her performance had a lot of Prince to it — the energy was outstanding. Next out was The Black Crowes, who were the main reason both Shawn and I were there. The set was shorter than we’d hoped and pretty straightforward as far as the “hits.” It was weird seeing a Crowes show with no “Wiser Time,” but they made up for it with “My Morning Song,” which they hadn’t played when I saw them in 2021. The band sounded loud and tight, even on a night they debuted a new drummer, and guitarist Nico Bereciartua still very early in his time with the band. By the end of the final band, the Black Keys, I could barely move. All in all, it was one of the most memorable days/nights I can remember.
— Aug 26, with Shawn
1. Marc Ford/Steepwater Band, FitzGerald’s, Berwyn, IL
Marc Ford had always been my favorite member of the Black Crowes and my fandom of the group was never the same when he parted ways with the band. I didn’t even know Ford’s solo work existed until recently, and didn’t really get into it until this year. But when I did, I became obsessed. It was very soon after it was announced on Ford’s social media he’d be doing a show at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. I immediately bought tickets for myself and my friend, Nick, who isn’t a big music fan but took the opportunity to make the trip with me and hang out. This was also the first concert I hung out with Shawn. This was one of those rare nights when everything went absolutely perfect. Both bands put on as good a sets as I saw all year in front of a crowd that ate up every note. Neither Marc Ford or the Steepwater Band are particularly successful on a national basis, but there are still people out there who appreciate great rock and blues music. And if you get enough of them in a room with two bands who are at the top of their games, you get something special. I couldn’t stop smiling. Even Nick had to admit the bands were great. This show has taken on a legendary status online — there are some high-quality recordings circulating that have caused a buzz. Steepwater drummer Joe Winters told me the night of the Slippery Noodle show that the band also considered that an exceptional show, and said Ford was as good solo that night as he’d ever heard him — they’ve toured the world with Ford. I’d never even heard of Steepwater before I booked this show. When I listened to them in preparation, I fell in love immediately — rare for me. To see this show with one of my oldest and one of my newest friends by my side … my happiness meter was full that night.
— Aug. 17, with Nick and Shawn