I remember at the end of 2012 when I was compiling my top shows of the year thinking, “How the fuck will 2013 even come close?” Well, let me tell you. Not only did 2013 come close but it flat out topped 2012. 2013 was an epic year of shows and and epic year of firsts for me as well. At one point I had as many as four shows to attend in a week. Some shows were absolutely outstanding, show shows were great, some were good, and some were so fucking horrible that I’d find myself wishing I was at home with a bowl of rainbow sherbet hanging with my wife and dog watching episodes of The Walking Dead.
Out of the 27 shows I saw this year, these were the shows that stood out the most to me. Just because a show didn’t make this list doesn’t me that it wasn’t a good show in it’s own right. What I did was look over my list of shows from this year and the ones that stood out to me as the most memorable and the most impacting are the ones that made this list. You all pretty much read every review from every show this year and I would like to think that maybe you all were there with me while reading them. I hope you enjoyed the show reviews this year and I look forward to bringing you many more in 2014.
Enjoy reading my list to the Top Shows of 2013 and thanks again to all of you for digging what I do, like my opinions or not!
Iron Maiden/Megadeth
September 5, 2013
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena
It’s like Déjà vu! My top shows of 2013 start out much like my top shows of 2012. Let’s face it, when Iron Maiden is on the road, you just don’t stand a chance. I always go into an Iron Maiden show with as unbiased of a mind as I can but they always seem to blow me away. This year was no exception. Getting to celebrate my 40th birthday on the same night that Iron Maiden was playing in Nashville was just icing on an already kick ass, facemelting cake. The band was in top form (even with a slightly tired Steve Harris) and Bruce Dickinson was looking, sounding, and performing better than I’d seen him in quite a while. It was an epic performance that was as fun as any Maiden show that I’ve ever been to. This was without a doubt the best show of 2013.
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Graveyard
January 31, 2013
Atlanta, GA
The Masquerade (Hell)
Graveyard brought their “Lights Out” tour in the US this year and once again solidified themselves as one of the single greatest touring live acts out on the road today. Even without long time bassist Rikard (who was in rehab at the time), the band didn’t miss a single beat and their performance was as surreal, ethereal, and mesmorizing as I’ve ever seen them. The band delivered a strong set of songs and even the order of the songs in the setlist proved that the band had put in a lot of thought into creating an unforgettable experience. Graveyard’s songs are so hypnotic to begin with but to see it live just takes you on this mental and emotional ride that is unlike any other you will experience. Iron Maiden actually beat Graveyard out by a hair because, well, it’s Iron Maiden. The fact that Graveyard came so close once again speaks volume of the greatness of this band. Good news to you other bands out there. I don’t think Maiden or Graveyard are touring next year so you all have a chance up here at the top! Good luck!
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Holy Grail
June 29, 2013
Atlanta, GA
The Earl
After seeing Holy Grail so many times as a support act, my prayers were finally answered with Holy Grail brought their headlining tour behind Ride The Void to the Earl right here in Atlanta. The audience was pretty small for this one but this was without a doubt quality of quantity as the bands performance was lightning captured in a bottle. Holy Grail delivered a powerful, fire filled hour and 20 minute set of songs from their two releases (Crisis In Utopia and Ride the Void) and capped things off with a facemelting cover the Rainbow classic “Kill the King.” Lead singer James Paul Luna ruled the stage with all the passion and energy of the metal greats that inspired him while the guitar team of Eli Santana and Alex Lee left mouths hanging open showcasing their shredding abilities while working the crowd. Cap things off with bassist Blake Mount and drummer Tyler Mehl (the most underrated drummer in metal today) and you had all the makings of a show that was every bit as magical as it must’ve been seeing Iron Maiden at Ruskin Arms in 1979. This was the kind of show that years from now I’m going to look back on and say, “Yeah, I was there” to those who only wish they were there to see it for themselves.
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Metal Alliance Tour
April 13, 2013
Anthrax/Exodus/Municipal Waste/Shadows Fall/Holy Grail
Charlotte, NC
Tremont Music Hall
The Metal Alliance tour boasted one of the most solid touring line ups of the year and with the exception of Shadows Fall (who I don’t really like) and Exodus (off night for these guys), all the bands played at the top of their game. Holy Grail did more in 30 minutes than most do in two hours while Municipal Waste took everybody to school and owned faces with their fast paced, hilarious 40 minute set. Anthrax proved just why they are the legends they are by putting on a top notch performance that nearly hit the two hour mark. Scott Ian sat the show out due to health issues and Shadows Fall guitarist Jonathan Donais took it all on himself and delivered an energetic and flawless performance. This was one of the smoothest running multi-band bills I have ever seen and it was a great evening of music that was well worth the 3 hour drive.
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Scorpion Child (Mayhem Festival Sidestage)
July 30, 2013
Lakewood Amphitheater
Atlanta, GA
On a bill full of screaming meathead metalers and near crying overemotional emo metal bands, Scorpion Child was without a doubt the odd kids on the bill. The band came out to close out the side stage festivities and the kids in the crowd looked at these jean clad rock dudes dumbfounded not quite knowing what to think. After the first chords of “Kings Highway” the kids heads started to nod up and down, bodies were starting to feel the groove. By the time the band closed their 30 minute set with “She Sings (I Kill)” those kids were completely moved by what seemed to be their first glimpse of what real rock n’ roll was all about. Scorpion Child’s Atlanta debut was a show that looked like it could’ve
totally worked against them but they beat the odds by just being themselves and welcoming anyone into their world that wanted to take that step. The crowd definitely stepped into their world and once in there found that the world of Scorpion Child was a pretty fucking awesome world all in itself.
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Fates Warning
December 1, 2013
Atlanta, GA
The Masquerade (Heaven)
I had a hard time even remember the last time I saw Fates Warning live. Yeah, it was that long. When Fates Warning brought their headlining tour behind their latest release Darkness in a Different Light I was colored intrigued and just had to see it. What I ended up seeing was a performance that completely exceeded any and all expectations I had. The band sounded every bit as great as they ever did many moons ago and delivered a truly moving performance. Lead singer Ray Alder’s performance was totally mesmerizing and his voice sounded virtually untouched by time. The back to back performance of “The Eleventh Hour” and “Point of View” proved to be one the single greatest moments I have ever witnessed at a live show once again putting Fates Warning on my radar and rekindling my appreciation and love for this band’s timeless music.
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Doro Pesch
February 2, 2013
Atlanta, GA
The Masquerade (Hell)
I’ve been a Doro Pesch fan for 20+ years and I never once had the opportunity to see this woman perform live. For some reason or another it just never was to happen but in February the planets aligned and Doro brought her 25 Years of Rock tour to Atlanta and played to a rabid audience of faithful Doro fans. Doro didn’t disappoint as she rocked out, melted faces, and blew the roof off of the Masquerade with a set consisting of classic Warlock songs like “All We Are” and “I Rule the Ruins” mixed in with now classic solo Doro material. Her set covered all the basses and just to add icing to this kick ass cake I even had the opportunity to meet the Reigning Queen of Metal and have a really nice conversation with her only to find that she loved my website. This was a show that I will never forget and I feel like I saw a really magical moment in metal’s history this night.
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3 Inches of Blood
May 9, 2013
Atlanta, GA
The Earl
If 3 Inches of Blood comes to town in any given year it’s safe to say that they will make this list. 3iOB never lets me down and on this night as a co-headliner with Goatwhore I was pummeled upside my fat head by some brutal Canadian classic metal. Aside from having my face pressed right into Cam Pipes vocal monitor during “Trial of Champions” (which is a place no human head should be) this performance was without a doubt the greatest 3iOB set I had seen to date. 3iOB fans are absolutely rabid and they do not hold back showing their allegiance to their Lords of the North. The setlist was chock full of now classic 3iOB songs but it was the bands inclusion of the Rush classic Tom Sawyer that brought the already crumbling house completely down with a roar. 3iOB is band that knows now limits and the not even the smallest of venues or stages can contain these metal masters.
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Great White
August 24, 2013
Duluth, GA
Wild Bills
A childhood favorite of mine, Great White made their way to Atlanta in support of their latest album Elation and with them brought an outstanding live show that exceeded all my expectations and then some. Great White performed a hits packed set kicking things off with “Desert Moon” (one of my favorites) and continued on with songs such as “Lady Red Light”, “Save Your Love” and the highlight of the show for me “The Angel Song.” This was my first time seeing Great White with new vocalist and XYZ singer Terry Illous and I thought he did such an awesome job in the wake of that bloated, pitchy trainwreck Jack Russell. Seeing Great White brought back a lot of great memories as so many of these songs were the soundtrack to my youth. Hell, the first time I got to 2nd base with a girl was while the video for “House of Broken Love” played on Hard 30 on MTV. Great White’s performance just sealed the deal for me and showed me that Great White still has a lot of offer as a band. They can still deliver the nostalgic, memorable hits of their (and my) past and have them sound every bit as fresh and fun as they were the days they were released.
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Skid Row
July 27, 2013
Duluth, GA
Wild Bills
If Skid Row keeps up these annual performances by putting on the caliber of show they usually put on, they will always have a spot on this list. This year, Skid Row hit the stage with even more energy and fire than I’ve seen from them since the Slave to the Grind era. The reason for this fire was the band’s release of their latest EP United World Rebellion Chapter 1. Johnny Solinger and Co. melted faces, kicked ass, pounded heads, and whatever else they could do to a crowd with a set list that finally had an opener that wasn’t “Big Guns.” The band opened things with “Slave to the Grind which totally set the tone for what would end up being an epic performance. The new material such as “Let’s Go” and “Kings of Demolition” proved to be more than capable of standing tall besides the more classic Skid Row tunes and also proved that at this rate Skid Row’s best days are still ahead of them. Skid Row is still very capable of delivering amazing live shows and as proven by United World Rebellion Chapter 1, Skid Row is still capable of digging deep into their roots, pulling hard on them and delivering quality new material to their fans.
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Draekon
Pathfinder Metalfest VI
July 13, 2013
Marietta, GA
120 Music Hall
At the 2012 Pathfinder Metalfest Draekon was a band that turned a lot of heads. So much so that they were invited back to perform at the 2013 Pathfinder Metalfest but this time around was much different. Draekon quickly rose from the status of little unknown band to a band that fans pressed up against the stage singing along with powerhouse metal songs like “Darkness Falls” and “The Value of All.” The band put on a mind blowing performance that showed a lot of maturity and growth in just a year’s time. It’s performances like this that make me proud to be a fan of a band. After seeing this performance Draekon solidified their spot as one of my current favorite metal bands and as a band that I will be watching with keen eye and open ears. I cannot wait to see what 2014 has in store for us Draekon fans and I can only hope that means another stop here in Atlanta to melt our faces.
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A Sound of Thunder
(supporting Theocracy)
December 7, 2013
The Masquerade (Purgatory)
Just typing this I can feel my ear to ear three mile smile ripping across my ginormous face. A Sound of Thunder came in as the last show of the year for me but without a doubt one of the most stellar performances I witnessed. A Sound of Thunder’s live show is really something pretty magical to see it really moved me and did something to me. I felt like a kid again reliving the excitement of finally getting to see a band live for the first time that I had liked for some time. The show was packed full of energy, fire, passion, and fun as the band ripped through their 45 minute set leaving my face on the floor and wanting more and more. Before seeing A Sound of Thunder I really liked them. After seeing A Sound of Thunder I fucking LOVED them. This is a band and a show that I would put miles on my care to see again and you can quote me on that.
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