In recent memory (which, let’s be honest, is foggier than most hair metal smoke machines), I haven’t seen a bigger year in terms of great live music than in 2023. I also feel this is the year I’ve really gotten back to seeing a lot of shows since the Covid-19 pandemic. By rough estimate, I’ve experienced 75 shows this year and have seen around 200 artists perform. I also made a semi-conscious effort to hit as many different types of venues over the past year as I could, which took me from my first stadiums (Lincoln Financial Field and M&T Bank Stadiums) to smaller clubs and house shows. 

Now, here’s the tricky part about putting together a list of my favorite shows throughout the year — I loved all of them! No, I’m serious. And this might be part of the beauty of having the ability to choose who I end up covering. I love the music of those artists I attempt to capture either through the lens of a camera or the pen and keyboard. 

I did see a lot of artists in 2023 I had never seen before, but I can absolutely — 100% — tell you that they all exceeded whatever expectations I might have had. In lieu of a Top 10, I present my Top 14 concerts of 2023.