My Top 10 Concerts of 2019

[TageRyche]

It's that time of year again. I am once again joining the herd of people who think anyone cares what I think of stuff I did, saw, read or heard in the past year.

Since I'm done with seeing concerts for the year I'm starting with that list first. 

I got out to 16 shows this year but none since August 18th. Between some apathy towards shows that came to the area and circumstances conspiring against me going to other shows, I just didn't go to any shows the last four months.

Not that I should need to but this list is based solely off of shows I went to. So if someone reading the article wonders why a tour they saw isn't on my list...I DIDN'T SEE IT!

#10 - Geoff Tate's Operation Mindcrime (The Vault Music Hall & Pub with openers San Dimas, Till Death Do Us Part, Leksi) - The 30th Anniversary celebration of the Operation:mindcrime album had a two night stay in New Bedford and I was there to take part on the first night. Geoff's performance was damn good and I had a blast celebrating my all-time favorite album. Full Show Review

#9 - Queensryche (Worcester Palladium with opener Fates Warning & The Cringe) - 20 years after last seeing Queensryche in concert and I was finally attending a show once again. They put on a pretty good show and I thought Fates Warning was outstanding! Full Show Review

#8 - Winger (The Vault Music Hall & Pub with openers San Dimas) - When Kip Winger played a solo show at The Vault a few months earlier, he liked it so much that he said on stage that he was going to come back with the full band for a show. Man of his word it seems because this show happened and it was a darn good set. If only he had remembered the name of my friend Roger's band when "thanking" them on stage. Full Show Review

(Photo Credit: George Dionne. Picture originally appeared with my KNAC.COM review)

#7 - Michael Schenker Fest (Worcester Palladium) - There were no openers for this show because it was a 31 songs buffet of featuring four singers and just a killer night of Schenker's music. Plus I finally got to see singer Robin McAuley live and performing songs from the McAuley Schenker Group albums! Full Show Review

#6 - Tora Tora (The Vault Music Hall & Pub with openers San Dimas) - After reviewing their outstanding Bastards of Beale album, I was stoked that the band was actually going to be performing in my area. Despite some pre-show issues (and I still haven't gotten those CDs I was offered, darn it), I was treated to a fantastic concert and I hope to see Tora Tora back in the future. Oh and though the pic below shows the Bulletboys being on the bill, they weren't. Full Show Review

#5 - Mike Tramp (The Vault Music Hall & Pub with openers Scotty Dunbar and Mike Golarz & Roy Maher) - What can I say? I liked White Lion back in the day but I've really gotten into the Mike Tramp solo work like you wouldn't believe. I was really looking forward to this show and I wasn't the least bit disappointed as he put on a great performance. Plus I got to meet him after the show. I hope he comes back soon! Full Show Review

#4 - Doro / Metal Church (The Vault Music Hall & Pub with openers Images of Eden, Let Us Prey, On Your Deathbed) - The best double bill of the year for me. My queen of metal Doro figuratively burned the house down and ended the night with the fire alarms going off! Metal Church was immense! And I finally got to meet Doro! Just a purely awesome night of metal entertainment. Full Show Review

#3 - Y&T (The Vault Music Hall & Pub) - Another show with no opening act. It was just An Evening with Y&T and it was magnificent. I was what could be generously termed a casual fan of the band. But after watching Dave Meniketti (who was sick as a dog) & Co. power their way through a mind-blowing set that sounded amazing, I'm fully in their thrall. I got in to this show for free because I write for the people who promoted the show but this was so good I would've paid to see it had I needed to! Full Show Review

#2 - Kix (The Vault Music Hall & Pub with openers Station and San Dimas) - This was simply a killer show! Singer Steve Whiteman sounds ageless. And the band's setlist was flat out awesome. They are coming back in 2020 and I've already got my ticket purchased. I still am blown away by how much I liked this concert. Full Show Review

(Photo Credit: George Dionne. Picture originally appeared with my KNAC.COM show review)

#1 - IRON MAIDEN (Xfinity Center with The Raven Age) - THE LEGACY OF THE BEAST roared loud and proud on this August night in Mansfield, MA. What can I say beyond that I think Iron Maiden is the gold standard of metal bands active today. Their show proved it once again and I can only hope I get to see Bruce, Steve, Dave, Adrian, Nicko and Janick again soon! Full Show Review

(Live photo credit: George Dionne. Picture was part of my original KNAC.COM show review)

And that's a wrap on my look back at the 10 best concerts I saw in 2019. 2020 is already shaping up to be another year of great concerts. The year hasn't started yet and I've already found 14 shows that I'm interested in so far. I don't know that I'll get to them all, but I'm going to be out there doing what I can (given time and money considerations) to support live music.

Here's to 2020 being another year for me to be rocking out!

[Yngve J. Chapleen]

Haven't been to a concert literally in decades. The only one I would go to if they play near me would be the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Strangely they don't visit West Canada. That does not mean I can't appreciate a good Top 10 List. You saw some great Artists this year TageRyche, that's for sure.

I was just wondering, shouldn't we have ONE (universal) thread for ALL matters of 2019 Top-10's?

[TageRyche]

I don't know if there is a universal thread. But I prefer to post my own threads because I post the links in other places on the Net. 

Call it Shameless Self Promotion on my part.

[Yngve J. Chapleen]

That's perfectly fine with me.

I was just wondering if there is going to be a thread started by the boss(perhaps), so I can just dump mine there rather than starting a new one.