The end of the year is time for reflection and contemplation…and lists! For Parklife DC, that means looking back at a year full of concerts and reviews. It turns out that 2025 was a year where I was able to see some bands and artists I’ve wanted to see for a long time. My thanks to Parklife DC and all the artists who poured their hearts out and left everything on the stage. So here. In no particular order, are my ten favorite performances of the year.
1 – Dinosaur Jr @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 7/20/25
Dinosaur Jr is just cool. That’s it. And this was the first time I’ve had the chance to see them. The band entered the stage with no pretense, no fanfare, no attitude whatsoever. It was just three dudes stepping on a stage, ready to melt your face off. And that’s exactly what they did. They were loud. They were loose. They were great.
2 – Swans @ Howard Theater — 9/5/25
Since I started this article with a loud, heavy band, let’s keep it going. Swans came to Howard Theater in September. It was my second time seeing them and their last tour with the current iteration of the band. The first time I saw them, they were brutal and relentless. This time around, the show was more musical. The set ebbed and flowed at the whim of Michael Gira, the head Swan. The show was just as loud and powerful as you’d expect. But it was less punishing and more varied. The band famously does not play many old songs and will often play many songs that will be on whatever album is set to be released. This show followed that formula. And it makes me really curious to see what happens next with the band.
3 – Peach Pit @ The Anthem — 6/22/25
I covered this show because my youngest daughter begged me to. Holy crap, am I glad I did! I listened to their albums for a few days ahead of the show to get familiar with them. They were good. So at least I know I wouldn’t hate the show. Peach Pit proceeded to come on stage and blow me away. Their set opened with a great version of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs (a personal favorite). The band was wildly energetic. It turns out that I like their music live even more than the studio versions. I will definitely be going back to see them the next time they’re in the area and I recommend you do the same.
4 – Valerie June @ Rams Head On Stage — 4/18/25
Valerie June is from West Tennessee and she’ll let you know it. Her show at Ram’s Head On Stage was phenomenal. Valerie is an incredible storyteller and an energetic performer. Her show was full of tales about the songs she was playing, people she’s met, and places she’s been, all in her unique West Tennessee twang. Seeing her in such an intimate location was amazing. I almost felt like part of the show. That’s partly because she was interacting with the audience like we were all old friends. It felt magical.
Gosh dang, these guys are so good. You might think that a heavy instrumental band in a small club might be a bit rough. But the show was killer. The sound was great. The music was intense. The band was so much fun. With the four band members, a good size drum kit, and plenty of amps, they were in tight quarters but gave off so much energy. Pelican is one of those bands where the albums are great, but the music really transforms into something else live.
6 – Devin Townsend @ The Fillmore Silver Spring — 5/10/25
I’ve been trying to see Hevy Devy for years. I finally got a chance and I’m glad it worked out because, according to Dev, this tour may be the last for a while. He’s got tons of projects in the works. So this show was a bit of a career retrospective. He played tracks from Strapping Young Lad, Ziltoid The Omniscient, The Devin Townsend Band, The Devin Townsend Project, and just plain ol’ Devin Townsend. I really felt like I got the chance to see a little bit of every version of Dev that I wanted to see.
7 – Eyes Of The Nile @ Tally Ho Theater — 8/15/25
Tribute bands can be a lot of fun. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever imagine placing a tribute concert in my top ten shows of the year. But here we are, praising the Iron Maiden tribute band, Eyes Of The Nile. The show is crazy. These guys nail the music and singer Navid Rashid just NAILS Bruce Dickinson’s vocals. None of that is easy. But on top of the musicianship, these guys are running all over the stage and having a blast! They even invited me on stage to take photos! Their show is killer and you will not be disappointed.
8 – Collective Soul/+Live+/Our Lady Peace @ Jiffy Lube Live — 8/3/25
My ’90s young adulthood, all on one bill. This was such a fun show. This lineup played a solid show from the opener (which, technically was Greylin James Rue) all the way to the last song of the encore. It’s amazing how many hits were created from these bands. As the sets moved along, I kept thinking to myself, I forgot how good some of these songs are! But none of the sets were stuck in the past. Every band played new music from recent releases. And those were as good as anything released back in my heyday!
9 – Chelsea Wolfe @ Warner Theatre — 9/28/25
Not all artists can pull off solo performances. Chelsea Wolfe is definitely one of them! She was accompanied by occasional percussion. The bare bones set up lends itself to the stark, brooding nature of her music. It was a very moving set. She was the opener for Warduna for this most recent tour. She could (and usually does) headline her own shows but took the opening slot this time around. I’m looking forward to the next time she’s in the area, hopefully as a headliner so the set is longer.
10 – Maruja @ Union Stage — 3/25/25
Truth be told, I had no idea who or what Maruja was before agreeing to shoot this show. I was asked…I went. I listened to the music a little bit, to get familiar with it but I wanted to go in with no biases, if possible. When I agreed to shoot the show, I was assured that Maruja was no a concert, it was an experience. How many times have I heard that? Well…much like one of BF Skinner’s rats, I will keep believing these requests because this one paid off in spades. Maruja was mesmerizing. Their shows are firmly in the “you had to be there” section of shows I’ve been to. Definitely be there if you get the chance.
Honorable Mentions:
Stephen Wilson Jr. @ Sixth & I — 12/14/24
The first Honorable Mention goes to a show from 2024 because I submitted my article before I had approval to cover this show — Stephen Wilson Jr. @ Sixth & I. If I had known I was going to cover this, I would have waited because it was the best show I saw in 2024. This guy’s star is rising FAST! I’m glad I had the chance to see and cover a show before he blows up!
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club w/ Humanist @ 9:30 Club — 10/12/25
The only reason this show didn’t make the “official” list is because I didn’t shoot it for Parklife DC. I was lucky enough to shoot a few shows for both bands. This was Humanist’s first US tour and I didn’t want to miss out and BRMC has never let me down. 2025 was a year of amazing shows; bands I never thought I’d see, bands reuniting, and favorites touring the States for the first time. Here’s to a Happy 2026 and more great concerts for everyone!
