Top Twenty Five Live Performances of 2024
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In 2024 I saw around 235 artists perform on stages (and floors). No, I was not at shows 235 days last year; many are from festivals, multi-artist bills, and such. I saw a lot of amazing shows, and the past two years in Omaha and Lincoln have been two of the best in my lifetime for live shows. I hope we can continue that streak, but it’s risky to bring certain acts to Omaha when there are so many safe options available. The one way to make sure we keep getting quality acts is, of course, to attend the shows. These are the 25 that connected with me the most this year and were the most special to me. Please note that I am using pictures I took, and I just take one picture and don't really try to get "good shots" so these are not high quality concert photos by any means.
Fontaines DC at The Slowdown-I figured we would see Dublin’s Fontaines DC somewhere down the line in Omaha. I have been a fan of theirs since hearing the first note of their debut, Dogrel, and I figured if they stuck to where they were and stayed a band, they would eventually get here. Then their fourth album, Romance, came out, and America finally started to pay attention, and the rest of the world started to pay attention more, and I figured they would be a band I would have to travel to see. Somehow, though, we got the band here in Omaha during this rise to the next level, and them selling out shows all over. The sold-out show in Omaha was a fan's dream. The setlist covered pretty much everything I needed to hear from the four albums, and they did it with such urgency and vigor while having so much fun. They didn’t even do all the silly verbal rock talk clichés with the audience; they just brought as perfect of a rock show as one could ask for.
2. Duran Duran at Steelhouse Omaha-I saw Duran Duran twice in the 90s but really wanted to see them one more time. Whenever venues would post who you wanted to see, I would jokingly say Duran Duran, knowing that they would never be coming back to Omaha. They put out an album in 2021 called Future Past that became one of my favorite things they ever did. Now, I REALLY wanted to see them. So my plan was to go to the Cruel World Festival in California again this past summer where they would be performing. Well, plans changed because it was announced that they would be playing the anniversary of Steelhouse Omaha. This venue is much smaller than Duran Duran would normally play. We got to see Duran Duran, who can still very much put on an incredible live show in a much more intimate setting than most people get to see. It was such a fun setlist, fun visuals, a fun crowd, and one of those nights people will talk about for many, many years.
3. Adam Ant at Uptown Theater In Minneapolis-Adam Ant is one of my all-time favorite artists. Every note of every album and B-side and remix I adore. Over the past thirty years, I have tried to see him many times. I have driven to Minneapolis, I flew to California, and I had tickets to Kansas City and Chicago, and he cancelled three of those performances, and I had to cancel one when my father passed away. So, I bought tickets to see Adam in March in Minneapolis. What could go wrong? This was a massive tour with a lot of dates, and he could certainly start cancelling shows. He made it through that tour but has recently canceled a lot of shows. How about snow? Sure enough, a massive snowstorm hit Minneapolis while I was there. Somehow, though, the show finally happened. I finally got to see Adam Ant. He exceeded my expectations in every way. It was a show with a nice long setlist. Adam was front and center and sounded great and really was able to put on the façade of classic 80s Adam Ant at 70 years old. No one should expect that-and that it happened was truly magical for me.
4. Meshell Ndegeocello at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City—another bucket list artist for me. Meshell put out this amazing concept piece this year called No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin. She was going to perform this in its entirety at the Infinite Dream Festival. I bought tickets knowing full well I would not be hearing any of my favorites from her catalog, and part of me was a little apprehensive about whether I would ultimately be disappointed by that not happening. I do want that experience, but the one I had I would have to think was even better. The performance was capped at 200 people, and we were brought into this large theater, but we sat on the stage around her and her band and not out in the theater seats. She and her band performed the entire album and never acknowledged the crowd, and people stopped clapping in between as it was meant to be one continuous piece. She did come out at the end for applause and to take a bow. Just an incredible performance of spoken word, song, jazz, and more that was so affecting.
5. Jesus Jones at Parkway Theater-Minneapolis-A lot of bucket list artists this year and last year. This is another one. Most people think of them at a one-hit wonder, but Jesus Jones put out a handful of albums which I love front to back and they never split up. They kept playing and they have been releasing new music here and there, which I also enjoy. So when they were playing the same week as Adam Ant in Minneapolis, I figured this would have to happen. Somehow the band rolled up in a van in that massive snowstorm and the show was on. We got a great set-list from all of the original members of the band and even though it was seated (I moved to the side so I could stand) and that was just odd for their type of music they really brought the full energy of their catalog to the stage that night. A very underrated band and catalog.
6. Indigo Girls at The Astro Indigo Girls are one of the artists I have loved the longest. When I was a teenage metalhead, I loved the Indigo Girls. I have seen them many, many times and have seen Amy solo also. It has been a while, though, and I was out of town when they played the Orpheum, so I was very happy to have them perform at The Astro. They still put on a heartfelt and impassioned performance, and you never know what you are going to get. They have always been an act that really mixes up their sets. This one gave me both “Kid Fears” and “Closer To Fine” (which is not always the case), so that was a big win in itself. Loved hearing songs from their latest album, Look Long, also. They will be at Pinewood Bowl next summer. I plan on being there.
7. Katy Kirby at Reverb Lounge—Katy put out one of my favorite albums in 2021 and possibly a top ten album this year (we will see next week), so getting to see her play at the intimate Reverb Lounge was a special treat. She was charming and engaging, and the songs were pure bliss.
8. Jesus and Mary Chain at The Astro—who would have thought we would see Jesus and Mary Chain in Omaha? (sorry, La Vista?). Not I, but it happened. They put together a fantastic setlist and sounded so vibrant, urgent, and in the now. Just as important as they ever were, and they delivered well beyond my high expectations.
9. Mynabirds at First Day Vinyl-I am a huge fan of all of Laura’s work as Mynabirds and have seen her perform many times. It has been quite a while, though, and when I saw she was playing at the record store in Lincoln, I had to jump on that show. Laura lived in the area for a good spell, and so this show and the Omaha show were kind of homecoming shows. It was going to be a great show either way, but the timing of this one, when a lot of us were very much in our feelings, was perfect timing. Laura was the perfect guide through many of the emotions we were feeling, and we got to hear many of our favorite tunes in a unique setting.
10. Hurray for the Riff Raff at Falconwood Park GRRRL Camp—Last time I saw Hurray for the Riff Raff was opening for Bright Eyes at The Admiral. I enjoyed them a lot that night but had only been slightly warm to their music prior to that. They put out an album earlier this year called The Past Is Still Alive, which was my favorite album for most of the year. So, having them at GRRRL Camp had me amped up, and they delivered. Alynda Segarra brought it in kind of Joan Jett style and just delivered those songs with a fire and passion that made me love them even more. The setting for this show also really raised the vibes and made it all that much more special.
11. Men Without Hats at Uptown Theater-Kansas City-This is another band that many consider a one-hit wonder, but I celebrate their entire catalog and celebrate it deeply. This is my second time seeing them, and this one was on a four-band 80s bill, and I knew I wouldn’t get a full set like I wanted, but I was OK with that. I did get a longer set than I anticipated, and Ivan and his crew were just incredible. They had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands the entire set and sounded so good, and I don’t know how Ivan does it, but his energy level is through the roof. They were second on the bill and should have headlined, as Tom Bailey and Thomas Dolby were good, but the energy level never got to where it was with Men Without Hats.
12. Emily Nenni-Bourbon Theater-Rye Room Emily Nenni is one of my favorite country artists, and I know someday I will have to go to much bigger venues to see her. I am going to cherish every performance I get to see until that happens, though she seems to cherish every time she is on stage with a fun mix of songs and her engaging personality. She is also building up a catalog of amazing songs, and it’s been fun and will continue to be fun seeing her grow as an artist and onstage performer.
13. Manniquin Pussy at Falconwood Park GRRRLCamp I have seen them once before, and while I loved them, they made me uncomfortable. That was in a small room. Somehow they had the same effect in an open field among a lot more people. It’s not the subject matter or the music, but how it’s delivered. It just comes to you in a very different way, and Marisa is a very genuine performer, and what she is putting out will get to you. This is not a bad thing; this is what art is supposed to do.
14. Devotchka at Falconwood Park at Outlandia I did not go into the full weekend of music at Outlandia and expect Devotchka to be my favorite. I think I saw them way back when, I never bought anything by them, am familiar with their music, but never jumped on as an active fan. Something just connected with me with this performance. They perform Romani music that mixes with a lot of other styles and genres. They are excellent musicians who change up instruments a lot and front-man Nick Urata was just so engaging and fascinating to watch. Just welcomes you into what they are doing. He seems like one of those lucky cats that gets cooler as he gets older. It was possibly partially where I am at musically this year and their music speaks to me more, but I found myself want much more of this performance when it was over.
15. Pretenders at The Orpheum This show ended up being a nice surprise this year. It was announced only a few weeks prior to it happening as some sort of fill-in date. I never want shows to be fully seated, but this show just killed me to be seated at, but it is what it is. Besides that, it was another great performance from Chrissie and her band. They played a lot of stuff from the last couple of records, and I love it when artists do that and don’t rely on being a nostalgia act. It is not something I would ever expect from someone who has been so outspoken in the music industry as her. She is still one of the best font-people in rock and roll. Also the best callout in years of a person on their phone at a show. Classic. I was too afraid to even take one picture.
16. Margo Cilker at Reverb Lounge -this is an artist I didn’t know if I would ever see let alone here in Omaha. I randomly found her in 2021 on her Pohorylle album and had to order it on her website. I run a record store and couldn’t find anything being distributed. So typically this would be a local artist that may or may not ever go out on a full tour. Her 2023 album got traction though and Omaha got lucky and got a show. She is a wonderful songwriter and performer and it was a treat to hear these songs live.
17. Orville Peck at The Astro my second time seeing Orville Peck. The first time was on the Pony tour at Red Rocks with Yola and Charley Crockett. This is the show that was originally going to be at The Admiral but got cancelled when he cancelled his tour. This particular show was also supposed to be at The Admiral but was moved to The Astro because there was no power due to the storms. Orville put on one hell of a fun show, and I loved every minute of it. I would’ve personally liked a little different set list, but he just put out that covers album the day before this show, so there was going to be more of that
18. Charley Crockett at Steelhouse Omaha - I have seen Charley a lot in the last five years, and the venues just keep getting bigger. He can certainly fill a large stage, and he keeps putting out album after album with great songs, and yet to date still manages to get most of our favorites into the set. I will go see him every time, and I hope someday he plays stadiums like George Strait, but a little bit of me will miss seeing him in the smaller venues.
19. Joy Oladokun at Slowdown -I enjoy Joy’s music and was looking forward to this show, but I did not expect the music and her performance to uplift, get inside me and affect me like it did. I cannot wait to see where her music and her live performances take her. She might just be scratching the surface.
20. Living Colour at Barnato was excited to see the band for a second time at the very intimate Barnato. Expected to hear mostly hits, but instead basically got the whole Stain album, which is my favorite. I expected to maybe hear one song from that, so this was a huge and welcome surprise. The band sounded as good as ever, and it was so fun to see them in this venue.
21. Social Distortion at The Astro I have been watching Social Distortion all my life, from small clubs to large venues. Honestly, I had given up on them. The last show I saw from them at Stir Cove was a big disappointment. Mike Ness came into Homer’s, and we chatted, and he put me on the list, and I went and was pleasantly surprised to see the band back in full force. They really sounded great, and the setlist was as good as you could hope for it to be.
22. Buffalo Tom at Outlandia How great was it to see the alt. rockers back on stage? The band played their classics and sounded fantastic doing so. Too bad Dinosaur Jr. had to cancel, as J. Mascis was going to join them onstage. That would have been epic and special.
23. Kayla Ray at Bucks Bar and Grill country singer-songwriter Kayla Ray has become one of my favorite performers. She tells great stories, is charming and engaging, and has a wide range of songs to pull out. Her time on the road really comes through in her performances, and she always delivers an entertaining an affecting show.
24. The Dirts at Lincoln Calling I have seen area band The Dirts quite a bit, but their show at Lincoln Calling just connected with me more than usual. Not sure if it was a bigger sound system delivering their brand of shoegaze better or what, but they really showed why they are one of the best out there right now on that day.
25. Snooper at Lincoln Calling -This punk band caught me off guard. I can’t remember seeing a band so full of energy. It was really infective and they also had some of the coolest DIY props they used for their stage show. Just a lot of fun.
