All of the downloaded songs on the planet can’t compare to a live concert, from the second the lights snap off to the final encore.
Of the 40-plus concerts I attended this year in the Atlanta area, here are my top 10-ish favorites.
Let the arguing commence.
1. Sade -- July at Philips Arena
It took a decade for Sade to return to the stage, and her captivating two-night stand at Philips proved her vintage perfection. The woman exudes class, further demonstrated in a stage show that shimmered with sleek production tricks.
2. O.M.D. -- March at The Loft at Center Stage
It didn’t matter that Andy McCluskey only had about eight feet of space to flail around in at the cozy Loft. The O.M.D. frontman utilized every inch and, along with fellow original Paul Humphreys, took fans on a nostalgic journey – their first in the U.S. since 1986.
3. Duran Duran -- April at Center Stage
At this intimate Center Stage gig – which sold out in minutes – the band (with originals Simon LeBon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor) unleashed a solid set list that was both musically crisp and playfully loose.
4. Lady Gaga -- April at Gwinnett Arena
Her Gaga-ness has forged a lucrative career by being outrageous, but most memorable during her “Monster’s Ball” stop were the stripped, dance-free version of “Born This Way” and the debut of the gutsy, Elton John-like “You and I."
5. Jay Z and Kanye West -- October at Philips Arena
The rap titans kicked off their “Watch the Throne” tour with a pair of nearly sold out shows, a multimedia feast and enough songs to satisfy even the whiniest fan.
6. Coldplay -- September at Piedmont Park (Music Midtown)
The return of Music Midtown was capped by a set laced with lasers, frenetic lighting and songs ranging from the anthemic “Viva La Vida” to the mellow “Yellow” and funky new “Hurts Like Heaven." Hopefully the band’s Atlanta return – July 2 at Philips Arena – will be this crisp.
7. Patti Lupone -- May at Symphony Hall
The Broadway spitfire with the tremendous voice paired with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for her “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” show. But the most chilling moment came at the end, when Lupone sang, acapella and unmiked, “A Hundred Years From Today,” from the 1933 Broadway show, “Blackbirds.”
8. Bon Jovi -- May at Philips Arena
The Bon Jovi criticisms are not only tiresome, but silly. Watch this band work a crowd, exhaust itself into a puddle of sweat onstage, and guide 20,000 fans through 30 years of hits and then let’s talk.
9. Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith -- July at Chastain Park Ampthitheatre
During an evening of horrific heat, longtime friends Grant and Smith -- sharing the stage for the first time in 20 years -- comfortably glided through songs together (“Stay for Awhile,” “Find a Way,” “Lead Me On,” “Faithless Heart”) and performed their own hits-filled sets.
10. (tie) Brian Wilson -- August at Chastain Park Ampthitheatre
It’s true that Brian Wilson can look a bit vacant onstage and often sings his most famous songs with a clipped delivery. But the reason classics such as “Don’t Worry Baby,” the gorgeous “God Only Knows” and the harmonically complex “Heroes and Villains” sound excellent live is because of Wilson’s phenomenal nine-piece band.
Roger Daltrey -- September at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
On a tour designed to showcase “Tommy,” The Who’s acclaimed rock opera, Daltrey and his thundering band – including Pete Townshend’s younger brother Simon on guitar – whipped through some of the most famous songs in rock history with sleek muscularity.
Melissa Ruggieri contributes music news and reviews to the Atlanta Music Scene blog at www.blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene
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