Shows 2022
As a small-town kid, live music was a rare experience. We had local folks who were excellent at their instruments and community plays and musicals that would come through town. However, the “commercial” music never seemed to be around. I don’t blame them; the touring infrastructure wasn’t exactly gleaming in South Dakota in the aughts. In one of my first shows, (Avenged Sevenfold, in Sioux City, IA), I had a moment that still surfaces with me. Growing up, I stalked YouTube incessantly for any and all footage of bands. Playing small rooms, arenas, and festivals. All of it. I imagined myself in those crowds, in the artist’s presence with complete jurisdiction of an entire mass of people. A quasi-religious ceremony. When M. Shadows took the stage for that 2011 gig, I couldn’t help but pinch myself thinking I was in the same room as them, sharing this experience. This is a form of gratitude that I aim to cultivate each and every time. What follows are reflections on a year of shows that defined this part of my life and gave me that same shining, deeply held feeling. (and many iPhone photos which kinda capture the many hints and fleeting moments of these experiences).
The War on Drugs — Madison Sq Garden
On one of the snowiest days of 2022, The WoD pulled up to New York for a no-opener start-to-finish, no-frills blowout. Supporting their 2021 album I Don’t Live Here Anymore, this show was a triumph (some thought an oversell for the band), but they delivered like they deserved to be there.
Personal highlight — Under the Pressure
February
Clario x Arlo Parks — Radio City Music Hall
Personal highlight — Bags, Bambi
Sitting on opposite sides of Radio City and texting each other during the set, my friend and I felt equally enchanted. Clario delivered something unique and affirmed her as an artistic visionary.
Bonobo x Jordan Rakei — Brooklyn Mirage (1/3)
March
Self Esteem — Baby’s All Right
Fucking wow. I suggest anyone check out the debut and reimagined version of Self-Esteem’s 2021 project. With confidence oozing from all corners of the record, the live performance absolutely crushed that small club. This artist is destined for much larger venues, and to be in that room that night was pure, divine, and spiritual.
Personal highlight- I Do This All The Time
Ross from Friends [live] — Elsewhere
Coming from a show at baby’s earlier that evening, I was wobbly meandering into Elsewhere that night. However once I slid into the packed room, my spirits and energy rejuvenated. With a three piece for the live show, Ross From Friends dazzled and spun for 90 minutes with highlights spanning multiple albums. Personal highlight — The Daisy
April
Ben Bohmer — Brooklyn Steel
Built as a cinematic imaging of his 2021 release Begin Again, large, aquatic video screens drove us through a string of original compositions and remixes highlighting the Anjunadeep artist’s career. Fluid, weightless, and reverberating good energy.
Personal highlight — LLL (Ben Bohmer Remix)
Hovvdy — Bowery Ballroom
Fewer bands sounded as excellent to me this year. With loose and warm energy, Hovvdy rocked through their latest record with hits across their catalog. This show also landed on the eve of starting my new job. Molly Parden also delivered a beautiful opening set. This show felt like a new beginning. :)
Personal highlight — Mr. Lee
May
Dijon — Music Hall of Williamsburg
So…I had reminders to buy tix for this show. $20 face value. I thought, ahh this is so cheap, I’m going to wait a sec, and I’ll pick some up. After Thanksgiving, the show had sold out. The slow, loyal build and success of Dijon’s 2021 album had resulted in sellouts and massive demand for the now (undersold) shows. With resales soaring around $140, I bit my lip and waited. The right ticket finally surfaced, and I’m so f*ing glad I waited. With a stage set-up similar to the short film that accompanied the album. The communal (reminiscent of Frank Ocean’s 2017 festival performances) in-the-round energy rippled through the crowd. The power was palpable.
Personal highlight — Big Mike’s
Tourist — Elsewhere Zone 1
In a packed-out room, Tourist dazzled and hypnotized. William has a way of transferring a soft, gliding haze over his audience. Ahead of the release of LP3, I was transported and reminded why Tourist holds a special place in my heart. A close friend of mine bought me a tix for my birthday, so the joy in sharing this event with someone else made it extra special
Personal highlight: Elixir
Jon Hopkins — Elsewhere
This show reminded me of why I love Jon’s music. I went on the eve of my graduation from grad school. In playing a mix of cuts from his studio records, I’ve noticed that Jon’s club sets stood out. Jon’s production has an idiosyncratic and organic feel to it. By spending hours crafting, warping, and shaping each sound, it is obvious his sonic stamp exists, yet, when played loud as hell over a system, a larger-than-life presence takes over. Almost as though Jon is no longer in control, and the music is taking a life of its own. Whatever was in control that night, I was undoubtedly along for the ride.
Personal highlight — The Difference (Jon Hopkins Remix)
June
Bon Iver — Forest Hills Stadium
This was my first show at Forest Hills and my first time seeing Bon Iver. Slightly worried that the vibes would suck and unsure how Bon Iver’s music would translate into the open air, I paused. However, I was quickly dissuaded from doubt. Bonny Light Horseman’s opening set warmed the crowd into the vast space. Justin also was holding something magic that night. In a sold-out stadium with my best friend, I experienced something special that night. Some warm feeling in my gut was burning for days after that show.
Personal highlight — iMi
RUFUS DU SOL — Forrest Hills Stadium
This was my back-t0-back weekend at Forest Hills, and Rufus, in my experience, had gone from a hip new Australian band on ODESZA’s Foreign Family to a global stadium act. While I had seen them just weeks before the release of Surrender at the Governors Ball, their dedicated set brought the live experience to another level. While I had moments where I wondered if I was no longer enjoying the show (Having seen them now 5+ times across 3 album cycles), when the full version of Innerbloom started, I was transported back to when their music hit me for the first time.
Personal highlight — Always, Innerbloom
MorMor — a house in Crown Heights
Billed as a teaser for his upcoming album, MorMor presented a brief set of previous tracks and a few new cuts off his forthcoming album. With warmth and vibrancy, I crowded with strangers and soaked in what felt like a unique and exclusive glimpse.
Personal highlight — Heaven’s Only Wishful
Phoebe Bridgers x MUNA — Bandshell at Prospect Park
God, this night was magical. It was a crispy and hot New York day, and it started with a pair of cold ones with a friend waiting to enter the venue. Once inside, the green space, food, and drinks flowed…and a once very public space (I ride my bike through Prospect at least once a week) turned into a secret alcove of live music. MUNA absolutely slayed. This was on the precipice of their next album, and their live sound was clear, robust, and triumphant. Phoebe was in fantastic form and incredibly generous with her talent and time. While the show stopped a few times due to several fans fainting (due to exhaustion, dehydration and fandom), Phoebe delivered a handful of magical musical moments.
Personal highlight — Chinese Satellite, Silk Chiffon (duh)
Ethel Cain
I hate to be cheeky, but while I can’t share the details of the performance, Ethel’s performance was enrapturing. Like a sponge, Ethel’s music soaks and in the words of Jon Caramonica, leaves the listener parched AND filled. The songs vibrate deep in your bones, touching every last part of your physical being, leaving your soul exposed to prose and message for this artist. I’d see Ethel many times over. A full course meal.
Personal highlight — Thoroughfare
Boyz Noize — a random boat on the Hudson
I not have many words. This was a wild, weird, and unlikely night. I think a booze cruise was missing from my 2022 list. But alas.
July
Caribou — Central Park
I cannot believe this show was free. On a random Tuesday, Dan Snaith brought his band back to NY for an encore performance of their show supporting the 2020’s Suddenly. In a string of shows previously slated for 2020, Caribou was amidst the rescheduled international tour, and the band sounded immaculate. With Ela Minus playing an energetic and hopeful opening set, the Caribou live band made us sweat, sing and dance.
Personal highlight — Live version of Sun with the 10min arpeggiating synth break. Transcendent. The longer that passage went, the more my soul lit up, and my smile widened. Top ten musical moments of live music.
ODESZA x Sylvan Esso x Jai Wolf x Gilligan Moss — Forest Hills Stadium
Wow, this was a blowout of a show. All the hype, IG stories, and twitter threads were right. In terms of an anticipated and promised performance, ODESZA delivered. A capital S, Show. They are a long way from their beginnings, and indeed, they’ll be wowing crowds for years to come. A religious experience. Naomi Wild accompanied and did a few live vocals and a jaw-dropping version of higher ground. I cried beautiful tears.
Personal highlight — Love Letter (feat. The Knocks) [Live Show VIP]
September
Spill Tab x Wallows — Terminal 5
On an absolutely random note, I was invited to this show by a wonderful friend. Wallows were doing a multi-night “residency”, and the energy was electric. I dated someone for several months who worked with Wallows and had said that their live shows were great. Goddamn, one of the loudest shows I attended; with swagger and suaveness, Wallows did deliver. Spill Tab opened and displayed a youthful, bubbling energy. In addition to inviting Gus Dapperton to join in their recent collaboration, ST looked like they were having a blast.
Matt Maeson — Irving Plaza
I fucking love this man. I tell this story, and I get slightly annoyed with myself, but when I interned at NG, I watched them sign Matt, and in that process, I watched a handful of ~2016era shows. At that time, I knew his voice had a magnetic current that turned heads and captured hearts. This Irving Plaza show felt like a homecoming (but by no means is his come NYC). This tour solidified the momentum that Matt has worked to create and crystallized his songs which capture powerful truths and scenic sonic vistas. While it was another crowded show, hearing every person shout all the lyrics felt like a gift. It was another show I went to with a close friend, we left with our jaws on the ground.
Personal highlight — A Memory Away
Bonobo x Tourist — Brooklyn Mirage (2/3)
On a victory lap for his 2022 album Fragments and the apparent retirement of his live-band show, Bonobo reminded me why his mix of atmospheric textured electronic music found its way to the top of my Spotify 2022 Wrapped. Tourist opened, and while the crowd was not necessarily hip to it, I cannot wait to see William on a stage that big. His music has the potential to be a one-to-many projection of reflection, grooves, and musical transportation.
S.G. Goodman — Baby’s All Right
Simplicity and harmony are my two words for this show. Another packed baby’s show, I was caught in a trance by S.G.’s provocative and gripping storytelling, only to have the tension broken by 10/10 stage banter. I was turned onto S.G. by a good friend, and they joined me for that show. A true treat.
Personal highlight — Teeth Marks
Jamie XX, Floating Points x Four Tet, Avalon Emerson, Omar S — Forest Hills Stadium
God. A most stacked lineup of the year. For this type of electronic/dance fan, this show represented a holy trinity and a moment when these artists were in peak condition; an easy slam dunk. What transpired that night remains in my memory as one of the best shows I’ve been to. Something that I deeply love about electronic music is that, at once, it takes the listener on a journey and keeps them glued in one physical place. A dichotomy of time and space where your soul departs your body, your mind releases, but your body is locked in place. At many turns that night, I was hit with songs that I never expected to hear, groove changes that confused and delighted, and left me feeling well-danced and traveled by night’s end. The dancing gaggle of children will also remain in my mind forever.
Personal highlight — Four Tet playing all 3 versions of Looking at Your Pager 😂 and then dropping Rumble.
October
Carly Rae Jepsen — Virgin Hotel Las Vegas
My best friend and I were supposed to see Carly Rae in April 2020. When that didn’t happen, we had our eyes set on seeing our pop deity. We knew we had to go when the Las Vegas date dropped on a weekend. With Empress Of opening and Carly playing a whopping 2hr set, she has all the hits and then some. She is next level, and I just cannot. She slayed.
Personal highlight — Western Winds & I Really Like You
Daphni — Nowadays
In leagues with Jamie XX, and FPxFT, this show exhibited high levels of elite energy. With the occasional b2b with Four Tet, songs diving into his potent and excellent Daphni project, and releases on his Jiaolong imprinted, this night is hazy in my memory but clear in its jubilant, chaotic, and ecstatic clubgoing. Days later, I was still thinking of the transitions and the pure energy that exuded from my body as each moment of that night turned.
personal highlight — Cherry, Eyes by Altice
Overmono (live) — Elsewhere
Inside the cramped and crowded Elsewhere main room, Overmono mixed an industrial and dark set highlighting their club smashes and the duo’s edge towards melody, hooks, and ear-grabbing rhythms. I wish they could’ve played for hours. Hopefully someday.
Personal highlight — So U Kno
Fred Again.. — Terminal 5
Yeah.
November
Anna of the North — Baby’s All Right
Sheesh. I knew Anna had a knack for earworms, but her execution fucking ruled. She has had songs that have sparked joy in me and hit various tender moments in my life. Even with missing a bassist and playing with a backing track, the show felt full and led like a tease, showing audiences only a taste of the full version in store. Anna is exuberant, joyful, and sincere. I couldn’t help but smile and tear up.
personal highlight — Bird Song, Lover
Topaz Jones — Brooklyn Made
An absolute ball. With an incredible live band, a show set in multiple acts, and a provocative performance, Topaz played his homecoming (or near homecoming) with style.
Pentatonix — Denny Sanford Premier Center
For years my Mom has told me she wanted to see Pentatonix. A staple in our family’s holiday canon, I knew as soon as I saw them announce the Sioux Falls date that I had to be there. They were interactive, fully leaned into the hilarity of what it means to be commercially popular for Christmas music, and felt like a safe place for theatre/choir nerds everywhere. With member-by-member highlights, the group’s charisma and talent were fully displayed. A grand family affair and a special moment that I shared with my family.
personal highlight — Mary Did You Know
December
Bonobo — Razzmatazz (3/3)
Hahaha the third time I saw Bonobo this year. I didn’t think I liked him that much, but Spotify’s Wrapped certainly had different stats to show me. Alas, seeing him in Barcelona gave a different flavor and crowd energy. However, Bonobo delivered the same energetic, hypnotic, and impactful set. Otomo remained a top musical moment of the year. A seismic tune that reverberated across mind, body and fully took control.
