This was a great year for music. I had the pleasure of attending over 80 shows and photographed nearly 200 performances. (If you want to scroll through these performances, visit my 2018 show collection here.) Picking just 10 was a challenging task, so I selected performances that were memorable for me and I listed them in chronological order. Maybe you attended a few of the shows in my top 10? Enjoy this walk through my most memorable shows of 2018! (Note: the title of each band is hyperlinked so you can check out more photos from that particular show!)
Superchunk with Bat Fangs at the Ottobar – February 15
This show was incredibly energetic, and both bands delivered high powered sets that left the audience in the packed Ottobar blown away!
Dropkick Murphys at The Anthem – March 10
I never walk away from a Dropkick show disappointed, and just like every performance, the boys from Boston rocked The Anthem. Therefore, this was a perfect way to kick off St. Patrick’s Day celebrations!
Bush and Third Eye Blind at The Anthem – April 6
This show was presented by DC 101 for the Blossom Bash 2018. The night included lovelytheband, Bush, and Third Eye Blind. Even though I was there to see Third Eye Blind, Bush’s performance stole the show. Between the intense lights, Gavin Rossdale’s interactions with the crowd, and enjoying the show with great friends, it easily made my top 10!
Front Country at Charm City Bluegrass Festival – April 28
This band blends indie and bluegrass in the most elegant way. Front Country has a way of taking bluegrass to the next level and introduces the genre to an audience that would otherwise dismiss it. The highlight of their set was their cover of “Bizness” by tUnE-yArDs. This band is worth seeing, if you have the chance, even if bluegrass isn’t your genre!
Modest Mouse at The Anthem – April 30
This was a stellar show. Modest Mouse filled the large stage at The Anthem with drums, strings, keyboards, guitars, and they sounded great! Colorful lights flooded the venue and it was loud! Modest Mouse even approved photographers to photograph the entire show, which was a treat! I loved this show!
Marco Benevento with the Jon Wood Band at 8×10 Baltimore – June 14
This show blew me away. I went into this show not knowing what to expect. Jon Wood was opening and since he’s local to Baltimore, I always enjoy seeing him perform. His set was fantastic as always. Then, Marco Benevento took the stage to a pedal-rigged antique piano along with a bass player who looked like she could’ve still been in high school. The three piece rocked the 8×10 – literally. I became an instant fan!
The Cure at Hyde Park, London – July 7
This was the one show this year that I wanted to photograph but was unable to get approved. However, it ended up working out okay because I was able to go as a fan and throughly enjoy the show. A friend who I’ve known since high school went along and we had a weekend excursion in London. We made the trip just to see the Cure, so this show will always be memorable for me! The Cure performed to celebrate their 40th year as a band and their performance was one of the best that I’ve seen. (and I’ve seen them perform more than 20 times since 1989). I’m looking forward to seeing the Cure again this summer in Glasgow!
Weezer and Pixies at Jiffy Lube Live – July 22
This was my first time seeing Weezer, although they were one of my favorite bands in the 90’s. Their set-list was packed of favorites from throughout their career and I sang and danced to every song all night! I was only able to photograph the first three songs so what the photos do not show you is the awesome stage set progression. It started in a 50’s style bedroom, into a garage (you know, “In the Garage”), and ending on a rock stage fully equipped with pyros! Pixies also performed and delivered a stellar performance!
New Order at The Anthem – August 28
I remember the last time I saw New Order. It was at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and I was still in high school and that was over 20 years ago! Seeing them this year, you would have thought they were in their prime back in the 90’s. They had incredible graphics, amazing lights, and their performance was full of energy. The Anthem almost transformed into a dance club as the audience actively participated in every song!
Cage the Elephant at St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena
I love this band and this was the first time seeing them live. They were performing at the opening of a new venue in DC and I could not pass up the opportunity to see them. The new venue was nice, but not the best place to see a concert. However, Cage the Elephant’s performance was over the top, making the night perfect! I am looking forward to seeing them again in the future, hopefully at The Anthem!
These ten shows are only a small representation of some of the amazing performances I was able to see in 2018! However, if you would like to see more, take a look at the full collection of artists and performances from 2018, here!
