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Tampa Bay Concerts Year in Review




With a total of seven shows, it was a solid year for live music in Tampa Bay. Here’s a quick recap and ranking. 

 

1)    The Offspring with Simple Plan and Sum 41.  The Offspring were outstanding, but without Simple Plan and Sum 41 on the bill, I’m not sure this would have been number one. The three bands didn’t have a single lull, even in between sets.

2)    Bouncing Souls. I didn’t have tickets to this one until a day or so before the show. They played an intimate 700-person capacity club supporting their new album, which I considered the best new punk album of the year. Members of the opening acts, Samiam and $winging Utters$ hung out at the bar with the crowd after their sets.

3)    Blink-182.  Pure. Simple. Fun. That’s what you want from a Blink show, and they didn’t disappoint. 

4)    Dropkick Murphys. Mainly due to their live streaming during Covid times, Dropkick Murphys shows are now a family event. We’ll never miss them and are sad they are skipping St. Pete on this year’s St Patrick’s Day Tour. This set also featured several songs from their new Arlo Guthrie-inspired new album.  It’s my number two new punk album of the year. 

5)    97x Next Big Thing. This only made the list because of the phenomenal set by the Bleachers.  Outside of that, the event was mixed at best.

6)    The Cure.  Robert Smith led a great set, but it was the crowd.  If you’re the type to sit -or even worse—sit and talk during a show, stay home.  I also didn’t have the best seats for this one, which likely impacted the experience. 

7)    Garbage and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds Co-headlining tour.  It pains me to put Garbage last because Shirley Mason and crew were amazing.  But just like the supporting acts gave the Offspring my top billing this year, the opposite happened here.  Noel Gallagher was pompous, rude, and, quite frankly, boring. We would have left if he were scheduled to perform last that night.

 

You can find full reviews of each show here.

 

I’m looking forward to more shows in 2024. We already have tickets to five shows, all before April.  Reviews will be forthcoming!

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