Best Concerts of 2019

In some ways, the concert industry can be predictable — every year brings huge stadium tours, intense club shows, a hyped-up reunion, impressive newcomers, and more, some delivering a better experience than others. But music lovers, and frequent concert attendees in particular, know how great the highs can be, and some musicians absolutely nailed those in 2019.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness

One tour wasn’t enough for Andrew McMahon in 2019. Early in the year, he was on the road in support of his latest album, Upside Down Flowers, and put on an energetic show with a full band. And then he closed out the year with a small run of intimate, stripped-down shows featuring just him and his piano. Both tours featured plenty of music with sets spanning McMahon’s career and were fantastic in their own ways, and it’s nearly impossible to pick one over the other — although fans who were thrilled to hear even a snippet of “Konstantine” probably have a preference.

Cher

Cher is an icon, and leaving her Here We Go Again tour off a best-of list would be a travesty. Despite a farewell tour that ran from 2002 through 2005, she returned in support of her album of ABBA covers and delighted fans with the kind of spectacle they expect, with elaborate themed sets and frequent costume changes representing various times and recognizable highlights of her life and career, from ’60s flower-child vibes to strutting her stuff as though the video for “If I Could Turn Back Time” was filmed yesterday. Cher proved she’s still got it. The concert was one massive dance party, and the celebration of ABBA’s pop perfection on top of Cher’s own impressive, catchy discography made it that much better.

Anberlin

Rock band Anberlin also excited fans in 2019 with a return to the stage after a few years away, and they, too, put on a show as though they’d never even left. As can be expected from a reunion show, both the bands and fans were full of energy, and their setlist was a dream for those who had been waiting for the day to come, spanning their discography and delivering some of their most beloved tracks.

The Struts

The Struts know how to put on a good rock show — in fact, they’re among the bands doing it the best right now, living up to their name with lots of energy, big guitars and bigger choruses, and a healthy dose of glam-rock glitter. Fans seeing them live for the first time won’t be disappointed, and everyone else keeps coming back because they know what they’d be missing otherwise.

Vintage Trouble

Old-school rock/blues band Vintage Trouble ended their year on a high note with a tour, entertaining fans with an exciting show that featured frontman Ty Taylor down on the floor with the crowd on a few occasions, including a lap around the venue. They know how to deliver a fantastic live performance, and they prove it over and over with every show.