Top 10 favorite Atlanta concerts, 2011

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Atlanta Music Scene's picks for favorite 10 concerts of 2011.

Her Gaga-ness has forged a lucrative career by being outrageous, but the most memorable moments of her Monster's Ball stop in Gwinnett were when she unveiled a stripped, dance-free version of Born This Way.

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.

It didn't matter that Andy McCluskey (left) only had about eight feet of space to flail around in at the cozy The Loft at Center Stage - the O.M.D. frontman utilized every inch and, along with fellow original Paul Humphreys (right), took fans on a nostalgic journey.

Let's make it a tie for 10th between Brian Wilson at Chastain in August and Roger Daltrey wallopping his way through The Who's "Tommy" at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in September.

It took a decade for Sade to return to the stage, and her captivating two-night July stand at Philips Arena proved her vintage perfection.

Watched the band Bon Jovi - steered by the indefatigable Jon Bon Jovi in May at Philips Arena - work a crowd, exhaust themselves into a puddle of sweat onstage, and guide 20,000 fans through 30 years of hits.

For longtime followers of Grant and Smith, the idea of the two old friends sharing a stage in July at Chastain Park Ampthitheatre for the first time in 20 years was nirvana.

Coldplay's set this September at Piedmont Park - one of its few since a triumphant Glastonbury - was laced with lasers, frenetic lighting and songs ranging from the anthemic Viva La Vida to the mellow Yellow and funky new Hurts Like Heaven. Yes, the word funky was just used to describe a Coldplay song.

The Broadway spitfire paired with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in May for her Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda show, and despite it being a scripted affair, the saucy Patti Lupone injected plenty of wry humor and personal details to keep the show lively.

With the spring release of its 13th album, All You Need is Now, Duran Duran proved that it's still capable of constructing awesomely layered pop songs, fueled by John Taylor's racing bass lines and singer Simon LeBon's distinctive phrasing.

1/10

Her Gaga-ness has forged a lucrative career by being outrageous, but the most memorable moments of her Monster's Ball stop in Gwinnett were when she unveiled a stripped, dance-free version of Born This Way.

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