FA+
Shop
TURI'S TOP 15 BEST LIVE BANDS SEEN IN 2015!
10 years ago
General
The silverbutt dargon sayeth:
Well well well, it's that time of year again where I think it's cool to make pretentious lists based on my musical elitism! These are the top 15 bands I saw in 2015, depending on the band's performance, crowd, and overall experience. Read on if you dare, it's gonna be long! :P
15. ELUVEITIE – Phoenix Concert Theatre – September 13
Being a personal favourite band of mine, Eluveitie always puts on a spectacular show. What impresses me most about their live show is their ability to play nearly everything with real instruments and not need backing tracks despite the intricacies and diversity of the folk elements used in their music. What made this show stand out in particular was the extended set due to Epica having to cancel their set, giving Eluveitie room to play more of their lesser known material, and some personal favourites such as 'Brictom' and 'Tegernako' which aren't played live quite as often as their usual material.
14. TRIVIUM – Phoenix Concert Theatre – September 22
This show was my 6th time seeing Trivium and what impresses me about them is they are a band that always is progressing in their live show. Something every time I see them gets better than the last time, this time particularly Matt Heafy's voice has improved significantly, relying less on Paolo and Corey's backing vocals to fill in the gaps. It was also very cool to see them play their new material off of 'Silence in the Snow', however other than the few new tracks, it would have been nice to hear some lesser known material. Overall, a very high energy and fun show.
13. TREMONTI – Phoenix Concert Theatre – September 22
I have a soft spot for bands that can immediately win me over after seeing them play live. I was very much unfamiliar with Mark Tremonti's solo material going in, other than knowing that 'he's that guy from Creed who's songs I like to make fun of'. I honestly wasn't expecting him to be such a stellar guitar player and how high octane his solo material is. After seeing them, I immediately bought his 'Cauterize' album and have pretty much obsessed over it since.
12. NIGHTWISH – Phoenix Concert Theatre – April 14
A show I had been waiting for since 2012; Nightwish is one of those bands who definitely works the cheesy singalong aspect, but it's mind blowing how effective and unifying it is. It was very cool to hear the new material from 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful', as well as playing a nicely diverse set, including some songs that they didn't play last time I say them (ie. 'Ghost Love Score'), and some songs they haven't played in years, such as 'Sleeping Sun' and 'Stargazers'.
11. ENSIFERUM – The Opera House – May 20
I was so stoked for this show since I fell in love with their new album 'One Man Army' and it was mind-blowing to hear these songs live. From the adrenaline rush administered by 'Axe of Judgment' to the epic singalong of 'Heathen Horde' and the rather unorthodox but mind-numbingly catchy 'Two of Spades'. It was a high energy party show and it was quite evident with how much fun the band was having. The only flaw was that I think the set could have been stronger in some parts, missing some major crowd favourites such as 'Lai Lai Hei'.
10. BREAKING BENJAMIN – Sound Academy – September 15
A recurring theme when I was picking the bands for this list was a sense of freshness, or bands I had just flat-out never seen live before. This was my first time seeing Breaking Benjamin and they certainly didn't disappoint. They played a staggeringly long set, managing to fit in all of the crowd favourites, the best of their new material, as well as some very good covers. Despite a late start and some technical difficulties, the band performed very well.
9. MUSHROOMHEAD – The Rockpile – August 20
This was a show that was a spur of the moment decision to go to, but I'm so glad we did. To have a show that visually stimulating in such an intimate room was an amazing experience, despite not being overly familiar with a good portion of the material. The band had a vicious stage presence that electrified the crowd and really set the tone for the solid set they played. I just wish the set could have been a little longer- having just a little over an hour to play around 13 songs.
8. MACHINE HEAD – Phoenix Concert Theatre & Guelph Concert Theatre – February 4 & November 21
One of the few bands I got to see more than once this year, both times playing huge 2 and a half hour sets covering a ton of material from their discography. Robb Flynn has the uncanny ability and charisma to basically start a riot for every song, making these shows without a doubt some of the highest energy and intense shows I've been to all year. Certainly one hell of a way to spend a birthday!
7. BLIND GUARDIAN – Danforth Music Hall – October 29
This show stands out particularly because I've been waiting almost 10 years to see Blind Guardian, and I finally had the chance to, so my expectations were pretty high. I think Guardian is about the only band on this list who can outdo Nightwish in terms of cheesy singalong parts, sometimes carrying on for a good 5 minutes after a song ended, particularly in 'The Last Candle' and 'Valhalla'. And of course, there was the haunting 'Bard's Song' which was an incredible experience having everyone sing along.
6. GHOST – Sound Academy – October 1
Much in the same vein as Ensiferum, I had fallen in love with Ghost's new record 'Meliora' long before the show, so I was really looking forward to hear all the new material. Ghost's stage show is a sight to behold in itself, being incredibly visually striking, but combined with their sheer talent as a band makes them one of the best live bands in all of metal today. Their set was just about everything you could have wanted, a great mix of the Meliora stuff, as well as all the best tracks from their two previous albums, making it an all-around fantastic show.
5. SLIPKNOT – Molson Ampitheatre – August 8
While on the topic of visually striking, no band in metal puts on quite a spectacle like Slipknot. While playing a set that nicely amassed all their best work over their 5 album discography, the real draw of a Slipknot show is their stage show, creating an environment which is just as chaotic as the music- from pyro to drum lifts to insane stage stunts. Not to mention Corey Taylor's sheer charisma taking command of the crowd is truly a sight to behold. Even if you're not a fan of Slipknot's music, seeing their show is a must at least once.
4. STEEL PANTHER – Sound Academy – May 22
Seeing Steel Panther was also another first for me, and it was nothing short of a full blown party show. The set was awesome, taking all the best songs from all three of their records. Aside from the band all being immensely talented, they were all funny as hell, making the stage banter between Satchel, Michael, and Lexxi just as enjoyable as the actual songs. Just an absolutely wild night and an incredibly entertaining show.
3. LAMB OF GOD – Molson Ampitheatre – August 8
This was honestly a surprise for me, I hadn't followed Lamb of God all that closely since high school, but after seeing them live, my interest in them has piqued once again. Despite playing in a massive venue, they somehow had a very cool way of making the venue seem a lot smaller, making it seem as if Randy Blythe was screaming in your face the entire show. I've never seen such a huge crowd go so wild, even in the stands. The set was solid, playing a little bit of everything, I only wish it could have been longer, because despite the short amount of time they had, they were definitely one of the best bands I've seen all year.
2. JUDAS PRIEST – Air Canada Centre – November 12
What can I say about the Metal Gods that hasn't already been said? This was my first time seeing Priest and despite our seats not being the greatest, I still gained a whole new respect for them and ended up having some of the most fun I've had at a show in ages. They still show that even after all these years, they are still one of the best bands in the world. And of course, ,Rob Halford again showed why he is, was, and always will be the King of the Scream, even at 64 years old.
1. STEVEN WILSON – Danforth Music Hall – June 26
Going into Steven Wilson, I had no idea what to expect. The Danforth was set up more like for a jazz show than it was for a rock show. Once the lights went down and the show started, you could feel the building of an atmosphere like no other and that's when you could tell that this show was going to be something special. Steven Wilson was another first for me, and the change from the standard rock show setup into something else was definitely refreshing, but I compare it mostly to how I described seeing Meshuggah last year- despite not knowing a whole lot of the material going in, it really didn't matter. Between the masterful playing and the visuals , this show was nothing short of hypnotizing and has easily made Steve one of my favourite musicians/songwriters. The man has a mind for creating atmosphere like no other, and thankfully I'll have the chance to relive the experience come March, when he comes back to Toronto. Steven puts on more than just a concert, it's an experience of the senses and the mind- the man has truly got something magical.
And there you have it! 2015 was a great year for concerts, and 2016 already looks like it's shaping up to be a good one as well! :D
15. ELUVEITIE – Phoenix Concert Theatre – September 13
Being a personal favourite band of mine, Eluveitie always puts on a spectacular show. What impresses me most about their live show is their ability to play nearly everything with real instruments and not need backing tracks despite the intricacies and diversity of the folk elements used in their music. What made this show stand out in particular was the extended set due to Epica having to cancel their set, giving Eluveitie room to play more of their lesser known material, and some personal favourites such as 'Brictom' and 'Tegernako' which aren't played live quite as often as their usual material.
14. TRIVIUM – Phoenix Concert Theatre – September 22
This show was my 6th time seeing Trivium and what impresses me about them is they are a band that always is progressing in their live show. Something every time I see them gets better than the last time, this time particularly Matt Heafy's voice has improved significantly, relying less on Paolo and Corey's backing vocals to fill in the gaps. It was also very cool to see them play their new material off of 'Silence in the Snow', however other than the few new tracks, it would have been nice to hear some lesser known material. Overall, a very high energy and fun show.
13. TREMONTI – Phoenix Concert Theatre – September 22
I have a soft spot for bands that can immediately win me over after seeing them play live. I was very much unfamiliar with Mark Tremonti's solo material going in, other than knowing that 'he's that guy from Creed who's songs I like to make fun of'. I honestly wasn't expecting him to be such a stellar guitar player and how high octane his solo material is. After seeing them, I immediately bought his 'Cauterize' album and have pretty much obsessed over it since.
12. NIGHTWISH – Phoenix Concert Theatre – April 14
A show I had been waiting for since 2012; Nightwish is one of those bands who definitely works the cheesy singalong aspect, but it's mind blowing how effective and unifying it is. It was very cool to hear the new material from 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful', as well as playing a nicely diverse set, including some songs that they didn't play last time I say them (ie. 'Ghost Love Score'), and some songs they haven't played in years, such as 'Sleeping Sun' and 'Stargazers'.
11. ENSIFERUM – The Opera House – May 20
I was so stoked for this show since I fell in love with their new album 'One Man Army' and it was mind-blowing to hear these songs live. From the adrenaline rush administered by 'Axe of Judgment' to the epic singalong of 'Heathen Horde' and the rather unorthodox but mind-numbingly catchy 'Two of Spades'. It was a high energy party show and it was quite evident with how much fun the band was having. The only flaw was that I think the set could have been stronger in some parts, missing some major crowd favourites such as 'Lai Lai Hei'.
10. BREAKING BENJAMIN – Sound Academy – September 15
A recurring theme when I was picking the bands for this list was a sense of freshness, or bands I had just flat-out never seen live before. This was my first time seeing Breaking Benjamin and they certainly didn't disappoint. They played a staggeringly long set, managing to fit in all of the crowd favourites, the best of their new material, as well as some very good covers. Despite a late start and some technical difficulties, the band performed very well.
9. MUSHROOMHEAD – The Rockpile – August 20
This was a show that was a spur of the moment decision to go to, but I'm so glad we did. To have a show that visually stimulating in such an intimate room was an amazing experience, despite not being overly familiar with a good portion of the material. The band had a vicious stage presence that electrified the crowd and really set the tone for the solid set they played. I just wish the set could have been a little longer- having just a little over an hour to play around 13 songs.
8. MACHINE HEAD – Phoenix Concert Theatre & Guelph Concert Theatre – February 4 & November 21
One of the few bands I got to see more than once this year, both times playing huge 2 and a half hour sets covering a ton of material from their discography. Robb Flynn has the uncanny ability and charisma to basically start a riot for every song, making these shows without a doubt some of the highest energy and intense shows I've been to all year. Certainly one hell of a way to spend a birthday!
7. BLIND GUARDIAN – Danforth Music Hall – October 29
This show stands out particularly because I've been waiting almost 10 years to see Blind Guardian, and I finally had the chance to, so my expectations were pretty high. I think Guardian is about the only band on this list who can outdo Nightwish in terms of cheesy singalong parts, sometimes carrying on for a good 5 minutes after a song ended, particularly in 'The Last Candle' and 'Valhalla'. And of course, there was the haunting 'Bard's Song' which was an incredible experience having everyone sing along.
6. GHOST – Sound Academy – October 1
Much in the same vein as Ensiferum, I had fallen in love with Ghost's new record 'Meliora' long before the show, so I was really looking forward to hear all the new material. Ghost's stage show is a sight to behold in itself, being incredibly visually striking, but combined with their sheer talent as a band makes them one of the best live bands in all of metal today. Their set was just about everything you could have wanted, a great mix of the Meliora stuff, as well as all the best tracks from their two previous albums, making it an all-around fantastic show.
5. SLIPKNOT – Molson Ampitheatre – August 8
While on the topic of visually striking, no band in metal puts on quite a spectacle like Slipknot. While playing a set that nicely amassed all their best work over their 5 album discography, the real draw of a Slipknot show is their stage show, creating an environment which is just as chaotic as the music- from pyro to drum lifts to insane stage stunts. Not to mention Corey Taylor's sheer charisma taking command of the crowd is truly a sight to behold. Even if you're not a fan of Slipknot's music, seeing their show is a must at least once.
4. STEEL PANTHER – Sound Academy – May 22
Seeing Steel Panther was also another first for me, and it was nothing short of a full blown party show. The set was awesome, taking all the best songs from all three of their records. Aside from the band all being immensely talented, they were all funny as hell, making the stage banter between Satchel, Michael, and Lexxi just as enjoyable as the actual songs. Just an absolutely wild night and an incredibly entertaining show.
3. LAMB OF GOD – Molson Ampitheatre – August 8
This was honestly a surprise for me, I hadn't followed Lamb of God all that closely since high school, but after seeing them live, my interest in them has piqued once again. Despite playing in a massive venue, they somehow had a very cool way of making the venue seem a lot smaller, making it seem as if Randy Blythe was screaming in your face the entire show. I've never seen such a huge crowd go so wild, even in the stands. The set was solid, playing a little bit of everything, I only wish it could have been longer, because despite the short amount of time they had, they were definitely one of the best bands I've seen all year.
2. JUDAS PRIEST – Air Canada Centre – November 12
What can I say about the Metal Gods that hasn't already been said? This was my first time seeing Priest and despite our seats not being the greatest, I still gained a whole new respect for them and ended up having some of the most fun I've had at a show in ages. They still show that even after all these years, they are still one of the best bands in the world. And of course, ,Rob Halford again showed why he is, was, and always will be the King of the Scream, even at 64 years old.
1. STEVEN WILSON – Danforth Music Hall – June 26
Going into Steven Wilson, I had no idea what to expect. The Danforth was set up more like for a jazz show than it was for a rock show. Once the lights went down and the show started, you could feel the building of an atmosphere like no other and that's when you could tell that this show was going to be something special. Steven Wilson was another first for me, and the change from the standard rock show setup into something else was definitely refreshing, but I compare it mostly to how I described seeing Meshuggah last year- despite not knowing a whole lot of the material going in, it really didn't matter. Between the masterful playing and the visuals , this show was nothing short of hypnotizing and has easily made Steve one of my favourite musicians/songwriters. The man has a mind for creating atmosphere like no other, and thankfully I'll have the chance to relive the experience come March, when he comes back to Toronto. Steven puts on more than just a concert, it's an experience of the senses and the mind- the man has truly got something magical.
And there you have it! 2015 was a great year for concerts, and 2016 already looks like it's shaping up to be a good one as well! :D
