That was so last year . . .

In an effort to wrap-up my year in live music like a present for the holidays, I wanted to offer my superlatives for what was an eventful year in music (specifically for me and the purchase of my $1.00 records in Washington DC).  As with most past years, each and every month was filled with staples of my music collection, but also the opportunity to usher in “new to me” bands. 

So in addition to looking back on 2014 (please read below), I also want to offer some predictions for 2015 (in no particular order):  Royal Blood will develop themselves a following in the United States; people other than natives of New Orleans, LA will know who Benjamin Booker is; my home-state brethren Young Rising Sons are going to find a number of people to sing-along with their song “High”; everyone will continue to mix-up Red Hot Chili Pepper Chad Smith and his doppelganger Will Ferrell and I hope to continue to book and promote the occasional live music performances as well as continue to catch live music in places other than southwestern Pennsylvania.  Keep your eyes & ears open.

Thanks for reading, happy new year & for all of the readers of Heard But Not Seen - what are some of your "best of lists" for 2014?

•         Best live show, but not exactly a concert:  

“Once” at Benedum Center; Pittsburgh, PA on Tuesday, March 11, 2014

•         Best sound check ever:  

Bruce Springsteen & The Houserockers at Soldiers & Sailors; Pittsburgh, PA on Friday, May 23, 2014 

(Runner Up: Paul McCartney at CONSOL Energy Center; Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, July 7, 2014)

•         Best live show seen on a road trip:  

Soul Rebels at The Hamilton; Washington D.C. on Friday, June 6, 2014

•         Best concert seen within 24 hours of my birthday:  

Band of Horses at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday, July 20, 2014

•         Bucket List Show for 2014:  

Smokey Robinson at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino; Washington, PA on Saturday, September 6, 2014

•         Best kid friendly concert that still had an edge (Tied): 

Cello Fury at Mellon Park; Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, September 6, 2014

Rake at Stage AE; Pittsburgh on Saturday, November 8, 2014 

•         Concert of the Year:  

The Barr Brothers at Andy Warhol Museum; Pittsburgh, PA on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 

(Runner Up:  Jack White at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday, July 27, 2014)

•         Top 5 “live” studio song/videos:

Johnnyswim – “Diamonds”

JoyKills Sorrow – “Was it You”

JRoddy Walston & The Business  - “Take it as Comes”

TheLone Bellow – “Then Came the Morning”

TheNew Basement Tapes “Kansas City”