The Three Best Concerts I Saw in 2018

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 1. David Byrne at the Durham Performing Arts Center (American Utopia Tour)

Full writeup here.

This was, without a doubt, the best concert I have ever seen. Not bad for a whirlwind day trip from New York to North Carolina, directly before finals week of my senior year. In retrospect, it wasn’t a great decision- but at the time it was incredibly worth it. The show was so energetic and kinetic, and I was introduced to so many incredible musicians who make up DB’s backing band. Standing at the stage door until the man himself appeared and signed my copy of How Music Works- AKA, checking a major thing off my bucket list- was simply the icing on the cake.

2. Punch Brothers at Maymont Park (Big Time Summer Tour)

Full writeup here and here.

 While I actually enjoyed the I’m With Her concert a little more than the Punch Brothers concert, I’m ranking this over I’m With Her because of the experience, not the show itself. Not to say the show itself wasn’t good- it was the first time seeing my new favorite band, in a place I know like the back of my hand and love as much as the band, and they played almost everything I was really hoping to hear- but I can’t deny that the choice of venue could be better, and besides, the VIP Experience was just THAT great. My favorite memory of 2018 is that of Chris Thile staring directly into my eyes and answering my question about music production, and maybe that sounds like a silly favorite memory, but for someone who finds this person so inspiring and influential in every way and has been dying to have a conversation with him… it just meant so much.  If I could, I would run away from home to join this band on tour (instead of running away to join the circus, eh?). Their presence in the park made it a holy place, for me.

3. I’m With Her at the Modlin Center (Overland Tour)

Full writeup here.

Though I only discovered and got into I’m With Her this year (they did put out their first full-length release this year, after all), I went as hardcore for this concert as if I’d been listening to them for years. These absolute angels are everything I wish I could be. Despite Sara Watkins’ loss of vocal function, the harmonies were hardly affected, and even though this meant they had to cut a few songs, I enjoyed the altered setlist so much. I wish it could have lasted forever. (And, to top off my year of meeting musicians, I got signatures from Aoife O’Donovan and Sarah Jarosz, which left me walking on air.).