Favorite Shows Of 2023: Staff Picks

HOLLY GLEASON
WILLIE NELSON 90
APRIL 29-30
HOLLYWOOD BOWL | LOS ANGELES
It’d be easy to cite Zach Bryan’s surging passion at Chicago’s Windy City Smoke-Out or Jelly Roll’s sheer joy at his Ryman Whitsitt Chapel album release show, but even those don’t touch the reverence and euphoria of the two-night “Long Story Short” celebration of Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday at the Hollywood Bowl. Snoop Dogg, George Strait, Keith Richards, Miranda Lambert, Orville Peck, Nora Jones and Allison Russell, Lyle Lovett, Chris Stapleton, Neil Young, Tyler Childers, Rosanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson, so many more … solo, collaborating and with Nelson. Magic.

SARAH PITTMAN
THE CURE
MAY 23 | HOLLYWOOD BOWL | LOS
ANGELES
There’s a well-known Bible verse that describes how there’s “a time to mourn and a time to dance.” At The Cure’s May 23 show at the Hollywood Bowl, the first of three at the venue as part of the English rockers’ first North American tour since 2016, there was time for both. Whether getting a cathartic cry out during melancholy classics like “Pictures of You” or dancing along to the upbeat single “Friday I’m In Love” as heart graphics filled the LED screens, a night like this was just like heaven for fans, highlighted by Robert Smith – his emotive voice sounding as clear as ever – sharing quips and treating the audience to a 29-song setlist. Over at the merch booth, T-shirts sold for a steal at only $25 – this after Smith kept ticket prices low and got Ticketmaster to refund fees that “sickened” him.

J.R. LIND
BOYGENIUS (W/ CLAIRO, DIJON AND BARTEES STRANGE)
JUNE 3
BROOKSIDE AT THE ROSE BOWL
PASADENA, CA
In 2023, boygenius were truly the boys of summer. The supergroup of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus released their first full-length album, the record, appeared on the cover of numerous magazines (including this one), played Coachella and headlined AEG’s innovative “Re:SET” series. Under a damn near full moon in Pasadena, alongside one of the world’s great stadiums and where, years before, Phoebe Bridgers “used to play soccer,” the trio rocked hard, emoted harder and shot joy into the clear San Gabriel Valley night sky, the crowd rocking, emoting and joy-ing right along with them. Rockers at the height of their power with ebullient fans, good weather and a legendary venue? Not much can top that.

ARIEL KING
ZEDS DEAD
ELECTRIC ZOO AFTERPARTY
SEPT. 3, 2023
WEBSTER HALL
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK
The energy inside Webster Hall in the early morning of Sept. 4 remained high. Large swaths of those in the crowd had made their way off of Randall’s Island, an occurrence that felt like a miracle considering the chaos of getting into the festival just a few hours before. That they made it to the venue in time – Zeds Dead included – felt like a massive victory. Standing in the round, the duo seamlessly transitioned between UK grime, house, techno and more, once again highlighting their genre-agnostic sound as they creeped closer and closer to the city’s 4 a.m. curfew.

ANDY GENSLER
ALLISON RUSSELL
NOV. 1
EL REY THEATRE
LOS ANGELES
With so much critical plaudits and hype for Allison Russell it wasn’t clear if she or anyone else could ever live up to advance billing. But thanks to her sublime sounds, gorgeous voice, multi-instrumentalism from clarinet to banjo and brilliant all-female band Rainbow Coalition, which can go from folk to astral plane electronics to heart-soaring a cappella on a dime, her performance far surpassed all expectations. Adding to the frisson was special guests Wendy & Lisa from Prince’s Revolution, the icing for a spectacular show.

OSCAR ARELIZ
PESO PLUMA
OCT. 21
HONDA CENTER
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
Some of the best life experiences come from moments that take you by surprise. For me, one such experience was trekking to Anaheim to watch a performance by Peso Pluma, a Mexican artist who quickly ascended to stardom following the massive success of a collaboration with Eslabon Armado. The 24-year-old’s energy on stage was infectious, and the emotion on his face as he soaked in the sight of a sold-out Honda Center crowd looked genuine. Peso Pluma’s distinguishable nasally, gravelly voice and his seven-member band with requinto guitars, upright bass and tenor horns delivered an electrifying two-hour set that demanded you to stand up and — at the very least — bob your head to a modern, hip-hop-infused take on corridos. Mexican folk music never sounded so catchy.

RYAN BORBA
HIGH ON FIRE
NOV. 3, 2023
FULTON 55
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA
One of the most triumphant metal bands of any era unleashed a pummeling on an eager crowd of stoner-rock fans at Fresno, California’s Fulton 55 Friday night. An as-always-shirtless frontman Matt Pike effortlessly chugged out caveman riffs and blistering solos at will, gifted with gravelly pipes seemingly from the netherworld suggesting he was born to perform heavy metal like LeBron James was born to ball and Michael Phelps to swim. Highlights included the stomping “Speedwolf,” righteous “Fury Whip” and hypnotic sludge anthem “Baghdad,” aided by new drummer Coady Willis. Upon wrapping this tour leg, bassist Jeff Matz developed shingles and was unable to tour with fellow sludge band Mutoid Man.