THE WORD ON POP CULTURE
  • Home
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Pop Culture History
  • Shop

My 5 Favorite Concerts of 2017

12/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
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. 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    March 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    April 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010


​
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Pop Culture History
  • Shop