2014: Year in Review

My total attendance for 2014 was 36 events, a significant increase as compared to my 2013 total attendance of 23 and a new annual record overall. The 36 events included 29 concerts, 2 single day festivals, 2 multiday festivals in which I only attended one day, and 2 multiday festivals in which I attended each day. This averaged an event about every 10 days. As far as I can confirm, fifteen of those events were sold out.

I attended more events in Chicago (34) than anywhere else, all of which were within the city limits itself. I visited a total of 20 separate venues in Chicago this year, of which I only visited the Riviera Theatre (6) and Lincoln Hall (4) more than twice. I saw additional shows in Bahrain and Montreal, Québec, Canada, the first calendar year which has included two international shows. Coincidentally, the show in Montreal was at the same venue that hosted the only other international show I can recall attending.

I saw at least two shows on every day of the week. Saturday (10) was the leader, followed by Friday (6) and Sunday (6). The year was again weighted with a lot of shows in the latter part of the year, such that over seventy percent of the events took place in the second half of the year including four or five each month except for December. Every month in the first half of the year had only one or two, except for April which had four. I was away for much of May and June, partially explaining why those relatively warm months were a bit barren.

Including all the artists that I specifically wrote about, I saw a total of 87 performances by 82 artists, seeing Damien Rice, Delta Rae, The Head & the Heart, James Vincent McMorrow, and The National twice each. Of the 87, 25 were artists that I have seen before; the remaining 62 were artists that I was seeing for the first time. The includes counting solo performances by Neil Young, Glen Hansard, and St. Vincent a new acts, even though I have already seen each on stage with Crazy Horse/Buffalo Springfield, Marketa Irglova, and David Byrne, respectively. It also includes two cover bands, One More Time (A Tribute to Daft Punk) and Tripping Billies (Dave Matthews Band Tribute). Of all these performances, I saw 35 at single concerts, another 52 at various festivals.

Though I’m starting to branch out a bit, Lindsey (19) attended more concerts with me than any other person. Sarah (13) and Blair (8) also attended quite a few with me; Seth (3) as well considering we only met in October. I also attended six events on my own.

Total ticket cost was $1,705, an average and median of $47 and $37 per event, respectively.

Only one of my favorite sets was at a festival; half (including Damien Rice) were artists I saw for the first time.

1. Damien Rice (Métropolis) – The anticipation of this show combined with his nearly four hour set made this the clear winner
2. Weezer (Riot Fest) – Seeing a live performance of The Blue Album was incredible
3. The National (Chicago Theatre) – Another highly anticipated show that delivered
4. Owl John (Bottom Lounge) – A complete surprise; I’m now a dedicated fan
5. Paul Simon & Sting (United Center) – Perhaps a bit of a cheat combining the two, but the two legends could be on here independently
6. Robert Plant (Riviera Theatre) – Another legend to cross of the bucket list, backed by a talented new band
7. Alt-J (∆) [Riviera Theatre] – Seeing them a second time in a club setting brought a new view of their music and live performance
8. One More Time (A Tribute to Daft Punk) [House of Blues] – Considering the duo and their music, perhaps an indistinguishable imitation; still can’t wait to see the real thing
9. Dave Matthews Band (FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island) – Wonderful as always, why did I wait four years to see them again?
10. O.A.R. (Wrigley Field Parking Lots) – Like DMB, but even more surprising to remember how much I enjoy their lives shows.

Honorable mentions: James Vincent McMorrow (Lincoln Hall), The Get Up Kids (Riot Fest), Delta Rae (Lincoln Hall), Neil Young (Chicago Theatre).

This is now my 149th post about 142 events, going back to June 2009 with consistent entries since September of that year. I have since written about 396 performances by 298 artists. I was able to tally an additional 70 artists that I have seen prior to when I started writing this blog; there are certainly more. Since my writing began, I have seen only three artists five or more times including Phish (6), Trombone Shorty (& Orleans Avenue) [6], and Club Scout (5). Arcade Fire, The Avett Brothers, The Flaming Lips, Guster, and The Head & the Heart are all at four. I have seen a further 16 acts three times, 35 acts twice, and 236 a single time. I have visited 71 separate venues in 28 cities. Of those venues, I've only been to four more than five times including 9:30 Club (23), Merriweather Post Pavilion (9), Riviera Theatre (8), and Lincoln Hall (6).