 by Julian Spivey
1. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers I had seen Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers when they came to Little Rock’s Verizon Arena in 2012, but when they announced their 40th anniversary tour would be coming through town I knew I had to see them again, as one of my all-time favorite groups. Of course, nobody knew at the time it would be the last tour for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, as Petty died of cardiac arrest at just 66-years old in early October just a week after the tour wrapped. That night will thankfully be seared in my mind forever as one of my all-time favorite concert experiences, with Petty and the entire band sounding perfect and the set including a great mixture of greatest hits and deeper album cuts that I dearly loved. Full concert review. 2. John Fogerty I’d been lucky to see most of my favorite living rockers over the last few years like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Paul McCartney and others leaving John Fogerty as really the last white whale on my concert bucket list as far as rock music went. Fogerty is a guy who doesn’t tour much anymore, outside of his Las Vegas residency, but I got lucky this year when he came to a casino in Thackerville, Okla., within six hours of my home. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend might be 72-years old, but he performs live like an artist half his age (like Springsteen in that way). Fogerty performed all the major Creedence Clearwater Revival hits during this terrific show and his solo hits, as well. It’s a night I won’t be forgetting any time soon. Full concert review. 3. Eric Church I’ve seen Eric Church more than any other artist. When he came to Little Rock’s Verizon Arena on his Holdin’ My Own tour in February it marked the fifth time I’ve seen him live. He simply gets better every time. This was easily my favorite concert of his, though they’ve all been great, because he didn’t have any openers or any other bullshit on this tour. It was just three hours of pure high-octane rocking country music with just about every great song he’s ever done in his career, including much of his most recent album Mr. Misunderstood, which may be his best yet. I’m pretty perturbed that this man hasn’t won Entertainer of the Year yet at the CMA or ACM Awards, as nobody in country music puts on a better show. Full concert review. 4. Alan Jackson Alan Jackson was pretty much the only living country singer left on my concert bucket list. Unfortunately, he never came anywhere in the vicinity of where I live. When I found out he’d be just south of St. Louis at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. on the weekend of my 30th birthday this year I knew I had to make the trip. It was basically a greatest hits concert for Jackson, making for a memorable evening, even if it was somewhat disappointing that his set was only about 90 minutes and he only played an abridged version of my favorite song of his “Here in the Real World,” his first hit back in 1989. His show also included Lee Ann Womack, another artist I’d always wanted to see, as opener. Full concert review. 5. Steve Earle Seeing Steve Earle in concert at Memphis’ Minglewood Hall in early July was everything I’d hoped for from a Steve Earle show. Earle played stuff from his terrific new album So You Wannabe An Outlaw, as well as classics from the entirety of his career spanning all his phases from outlaw country rocker to folk troubadour. Hearing “Guitar Town” and “Copperhead Head” live in concert were two bucket list moments for me, but I also loved hearing stuff like “City of Immigrants” and “Little Emperor,” which maybe ruffled a few feathers among some in the audience. I love that Earle has his opinions and doesn’t shy away from them. I also love how the seemingly at times cantankerous Earle is as gracious as can be to his fans both on and off stage – staying behind to sign autographs for fans, despite few artists of his stature ever doing so. Full concert review.
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