Top Ten Shows: 2017
10-Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers/Peter Wolf Baltimore, MD...Glad I got to see him for a second time, shocked he passed so soon after.
9-Neil Diamond Baltimore, MD...Still performing with gusto, vigor, and the right amount of self-effacement on a grand night in Charm(ish) City.
8-Foo Fighters Washington, DC...Almost forgot about this show, possibly due to the amount of celebratory suds flowing at the pre-opening night Anthem, the latest/greatest venue from IMP's Seth Hurwitz.
7-The Magpie Salute New Bedford, MA/Baltimore, MD. Rich Robinson and Crowes non-blood brethren roll out 160 songs across the country.
6-Kim Mitchell Peterborough, ON...Homeland heartbreak led to an Independence Day weekend out for a rip north of the border for a glorious Canada Day 150 celebration with, let's say, Canada's Joe Walsh. Good day, eh?
5-Green Day/Against Me! Washington, DC...The newest generation of Classic Rock is in good hands with the world beaters from East Bay San Francisco, while openers Against Me! reminded us what it's like to discover arena rock.
4-Bryan Adams Baltimore, MD...You go to a Bryan Adams show with no prejudice or expectation, and are quickly reminded what "class" sounds like. A sizzling hot night.
3-U2 Landover, MD...From the tightly spaced/paced opening set to the capital "S" Stadium expanse (expense?) of Joshua Tree, this was America, great again.
2-Company Of Wolves Edgewood, MD...Finally got to see this NYC/Baltimore hybrid that got swept away by the grunge wave. One of the finest melodic hard rock bands of their time, you could feel them heating up as the show went on. More please!
1-Rod Stewart Bristow, VA...To Sir, with love indeed! Spot on, entertaining in every sense of the word, and a song cannon with artillery in reserve.. If Bryan Adams defines class, Rod published the manual. All that, and the dreamiest of bands. Smiles, everyone!