2017 was a fucking weird year, to say the very least, but I went to some of the best concerts I’ve ever been in my whole life. Here, I’ll be counting down the twenty-five best, because the pressure of narrowing it down to ten like I did last year would give me an aneurysm.
25. Bungler @ The Studio at Webster Hall: May 15th
Kicking off our list are the Buffalo boys on tour for their debut LP, The Nature of Being New. There were maybe 20 people in the audience by the time Bungler took the stage, but they still gave us their all and made a 25-minute set into something truly beautiful. “Opiate” live made the night that much richer for me. Truly one of the most underrated bands in the game right now. Check out my review for The Nature of Being New here.
24. Old Wounds @ The Palladium: December 15th
After a very awkward period of time, Old Wounds are back in the game. Since the only other time I saw these gentlemen was opening for Beartooth last year, I had to make the most of seeing them in a super tiny room, without a barricade. Boy, did they deliver: Kevin is a one-of-a-kind frontman, and the band’s live performance is more powerful and energetic live than their recordings give them credit. Hearing songs like “Son of No One” and “Rest in Piss” in such an intimate setting is incredible, but we also got some new tracks that we should be hearing on their new LP coming out next year. I’m super stoked to the future of this lineup.
23. Converge @ Warsaw: August 4th
These metalcore icons have been around since 1990, and their energy really hasn’t let up at all. Jacob Bannon is still all over the place, while the group, astonishingly, are able to keep up with his energy. They pummeled through their hour-long set with fast and aggressive tracks like “Dark Horse” and “I Can Tell You About Pain” as well as slow-burning dirges like “Eve” and “Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast.” The icing on this cake, however, was their choice of “Jane Doe,” from the album of the same name (and one of my absolute favorite songs ever) as closer. I hope to see them again very soon.
22. AFI @ Terminal 5: February 3rd
Despite not really liking their latest LP at all, I knew I was in for a treat when I got my tickets to AFI. These guys know what the fans want to hear. Their set included hits like “Miss Murder” and “Girls Not Grey” alongside really deep cuts like “Triple Zero” and “Morningstar.” Not to mention, everyone in this band can still jump around with the best of them, and Davey Havok even dove into the audience for “I Hope You Suffer,” a song I dislike, but was able to love in the moment as the crowd lifted him back up. AFI will forever hold a special place in my heart, and it’s great to see that they can still kill it.
21. Periphery @ Playstation Theatre: November 9th
I did not think I was going to be putting these guys on any of my best-of lists again. When I saw them in 2013, I thought that was as good as it was going to get, but this night was an impeccable Periphery setlist. Watching live shows during the Juggernaut tour cycle broke my heart because their sets were short and kind of disinterested. They weren’t amazing when I saw them last year, either. That said, this time has to be the best I’ve ever seen them. I don’t know where it came from, but the energy was through the roof: Spencer even stagedived during “Omega” and started performing from within the audience. The setlist was full of gold, including “Mile Zero,” one of the few songs I haven’t seen live off their sophomore LP. I may never like another record these guys put out, but god fucking damn did they blow me away that night.
20. LIMBS @ The Studio at Webster Hall: June 9th
A few days before this show, I checked these guys out and listened to them almost non-stop. It’s safe to say the SLEEP EP left an impression, one they solidified live. They came out with multicolored strobe lights and proceeded to get fucking crazy, performing with the sort of energy you’d expect of a group like letlive. They basically played their discography, or what it was at the time, and it was a great show. LIMBS are probably the best hardcore band I discovered this year.
19. The Weeknd @ Barclays Center: June 7th
This show was aesthetically perfect. The stage was basically a walkway overhung by a spaceship-like model, and there was an absolutely beautiful light display. The Weeknd’s mostly consisted of songs off of Starboy, with nice gems from his previous work like “I Can’t Feel My Face” and “Angel,” even if they were shortened versions. I was also surprised to hear how authentic he sounded live, because he used to be pretty mediocre. This show goes down in the books for me.
18. Capsize @ The Studio at Webster Hall: June 9th
After LIMBSand Eidola, Capsize began their set with Daniel Wand stage-diving right from the get-go.The set was a mix of 2015’s A Reintroduction: The Essence of All That Surrounds Me and a few tracks from The Angst In My Veins, including a guest spot from Hector Sabino (Young Graves). I got a black eye from a crowd-surfers boot, but it honestly made the whole thing that much more worth it. Capsize put on the sort of show that leaves a huge smile on my face. Oh yeah, Hail the Sun headlined the show, but I didn’t stay for them. If they put out their EP before that show I would have considered. Otherwise, nah.
17. Thursday @ Irving Plaza: April 29th
Thursday was vital to developing my taste in music. When they announced they were breaking up in 2011, I was really heartbroken, because I thought this meant I would never get to see them, until they reunited in 2016 and announced dates in 2017 with Touche Amore and Cities Aviv. As soon as Thursday opened with “For the Workforce, Drowning,” I knew I was in for a night of celebration. They pulled out obvious classics like “Cross Out the Eyes” and “Understanding a Car Crash,” as well as other greats like “Beyond the Visible Spectrum” and “Division St.” I was speechless by the end. I saw them two months later at McCarren Park as well, but this was definitely the more memorable show.
16. deafheaven @ WARSAW: March 15th
You can read my review for the whole show here, but to summarize, there is no band in deafheaven’s style that performs with as much passion and fire. What made this time more special than the other three times I’ve seen them was the emphasis on their debut LP, Roads to Judah. I got to hear “Language Games” live. I never would have expected it, especially since they ignored that record the entire New Bermuda tour. I even got to see them do their cover of “Cody” by post-rock legends Mogwai. What was better than their setlist, though, was George Clarke’s presence. Sure, he’s a bit goofy, but his performance is passionate, and he clearly cares about the fans: he’s always reaching out, grabbing hands, turning the mic out to them. It’s obvious he was raised in hardcore. I love this band, and I can’t wait to see them continue to release stellar music.
15. Swans @ WARSAW: November 4th
Sticking to WARSAW, we move roughly eight months into the future and come to the final performance of Swans as we knew them. This beast of a performance was three mind-numbing hours. From the drone opener alone, which was forty-five minutes long, to “Cloud of Unknowing,” mutated to nearly an hour of music, to the 30-minute grand finale “The Glowing Man,” this show was nothing short of loud and meditative. I’m so lucky to be able to say I witnessed this one. Thank you for everything, Swans.
14. pageninetynine @ Gold Sounds: September 26th
This show was just a great, big, screamo fest. We got an opening set from up-and-coming skramz act Portrayal of Guilt, followed by screamo legends Majority Rule. The night finished off with an hour-long set from THE emoviolence heroes, who absolutely obliterated it, playing so many songs I never expected to hear in a live setting with such raw power. I can now die knowing I’ve seen one of the finest in screamo.
13. END @ The Palladium: December 15th
Oh man, was this an interesting show. END was the breakout band of the year, but the lineup at this show was rather incomplete, In that vocalist Brendan Murphy (Counterparts) was not allowed in the country. So what did they do? They brought out Ethan Harrison (Great American Ghost) to do vocals. Honestly, his performance was better than Brendan Murphy’s could ever have been. Everyone was all over the place, with Ethan stage-diving multiple times during the show. Yours truly stage-dived TWICE, busting his ass the second time, and it was all fucking worth it. Hopefully I will see the “true” version of END one day, but I think we got the best version of END at this one.
12. Travi$ Scott @ Barclays Center: July 23rd
Travi$ was opening for Kendrick Lamar, but you wouldn’t be able to tell looking at the stage for his set. He performed the show as if it was HIS, and that’s what made it so tight. There is no one in hip-hop right now who has the energy of this 25-year old. I wasn’t a huge fan of his prior, but I sure as hell left one. At one point, he climbed on top of a giant mechanical bird and “flew” as he rapped. If this is his show as an opener, I have to see him headline. His set closed with a snippet of “goosebumps,” foreshadowing what was to come.
11. The Saddest Landscape @ Brooklyn Bazaar: March 4th
These boys claimed the #3 spot on my list last year. This year, I got to see them open for Pianos Become the Teeth, and they stole the show. Much of what I said last year is applicable to this performance, too, but there was even more fire and passion this time around. The icing on the cake was me, along with a few others, going on stage and singing along to “Eternity Lost on the Dying.” I need to see these guys do a headliner already, dammit!
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas @ Barclays Center: December 8th
This year, I got to see one of my favorite childhood movies screen with a live orchestra and much of the original cast singing their parts. The orchestra was fantastic, and so were Danny Elfman reprising his role as Jack Skellington; Catherine O’Hara reprising her roles as Sally and Shock; and Ken Page reprising his role as Oogie Boogie. It was a beautiful, charming night.
09. Pyrrhon @ Saint Vitus Bar: August 31st
If you read my Top 10 LPs of 2017 list, you’d see that these guys took the silver medal for the year. I’d go as far as to say that the LP they put out is my favorite death metal LP of all-time, and you can read why here. This was one of two shows they played it in full, so I knew I had to go and witness it in its entirety. Somehow, it was honestly better live, with the group adding an entirely new section to the finale that was nothing short of improvisational beauty.
08. God Mother @ Saint Vitus Bar: December 30th
These guys were the last headliners I saw for the year, and it was the perfect show to close out 2018. I saw them a few days prior opening for The Dillinger Escape Plan at Terminal 5, but this is a band you HAVE to see in an intimate setting. I’m not typically a mosher, but I had to for these guys. The highlight of the set was the limbo competition. Yes, vocalist Sebastian put his mic stand on the floor, had someone hold the wire, and initiated a limbo competition. It was absolutely amazing. This is not to ignore the fact that Sebastian climbed to the top of the venue and held onto the beam holding the lights, or any of the stagediving that otherwise would have been too dangerous to do at the venue when not sold out. This show was nothing short of fun, and I guarantee it will go down in history as yet another legendary show at the legendary Saint Vitus.
07. Kendrick Lamar @ Barclays Center: July 23rd
While DAMN. is not one of my favorite Kendrick Lamar projects, this tour was phenomenal. Topping a set as lit as Travi$ Scott’s is no easy feat, but I knew K. Dothad it in the bag. As soon as it started, we had a man come out doing katana tricks. There were plenty of dancers who did all sorts of unique things during his songs and the interludes. 2 Chainz and Travi$ Scott came out for 2 Chainz’ “7AM,” which transitioned into Travi$’ “goosebumps.” There was nothing more bone chilling, however, than hearing the whole room sing “HUMBLE.” at once. That’s the stuff dreams are made of. Kendrick is truly is one of the best in the game right now.
06. Death Grips @ Terminal 5: October 17th
The reason Death Grips did not make my top list the year before was mostly because I had a horrible experience with the crowd. It’s one of two shows where I felt like I could literally have died. To avoid a repeat, I stood on the venue balcony this time, and the experience was infinitely more enjoyable. Death Grips definitely blew last year’s show out of the water from the get-go: they turned off the lights and came out wearing gloves that shone different colors. It was an experience, to say the very least. They played parts off of their brand new one song-EP Steroids, and it went hard as fuck. Death Grips are, in a word, remarkable.
05. Street Sects @ Sunnyvale: April 15th
I barely knew who Street Sects were. I went for Planning for Burial, but my brother kept telling me how amazing Street Sects was. I listened to the first Gentrification EP in preparation, but in no way was I ready. They filled the room with fog, which made their strobe lights that much more effective. Honestly, I didn’t even know what was going on for the first three minutes, and then I saw their vocalist Leo Ashline pop out of the fog like something out of a horror movie. He went around screaming in everyone’s face. About halfway through the set, he pulled out a chainsaw. I’ve seen acts like Exhumed do this before, but the difference here was that this was a REAL chainsaw. Sure, it didn’t have a real saw on it, but I literally smelled the gasoline. He started running around the venue like a maniac. I was horrified, and in love. When his microphone stopped working, he grabbed people and screamed in their face. From that moment onward, I was a huge Street Sects fan, and you can read my review for their latest EP over here.
04. Between the Buried and Me @ Irving Plaza: September 23rd
Three days after I turned 21, I got to see Colors. I wrote an entire piece on the LP for its tenth anniversary that you can read here, but this show was magical. Every song was performed to perfection, with hardly any breaks. The audience went absolutely wild, screaming the words out loud. Fuck, man. I finally got to hear the LP that changed how I looked at music in full, what more could I have asked for? Oh, and they closed the night with The Silent Circus’ “Mordecai.” Yeah, it was truly a fucking beautiful memory. I cried six times during the set.
It’s kind of crazy to imagine, but there were three performances that topped this. Let’s hand out these medals.
BRONZE. Trap Them @ Saint Vitus Bar: November 10th
Trap Them’s last New York City show was bound to be a treat, but I didn’t realize how crazy it was actually going to be. I went to both shows (you can read my review for both here), but I will be focusing on the very last one, as the energy both the crowd and band gave off that night was insane. They were also much more prepared this night too, with a banner and extra lights. Yours truly crowd surfed during “Hellionaries” in what I’ll call the best crowd-surfing experience I’ve had yet. It’s sad knowing I’ll never get to see Trap Them again, but being that I went to both shows and got the most out of them, I’m happy I got to witness these guys live to begin with.
SILVER. The Number Twelve Looks Like You @ Gold Sounds: July 27th
I had a hard time choosing between the two times I’ve seen The Number Twelve Looks Like You this year, the other time being at Brooklyn Bazaar when they performed Nuclear.Sad.Nuclear., as both were pretty damn perfect in their own right, but this one just had to take the cake for being the first time, and in a much smaller space. Coming off of such a long break, they were ridiculously intense. Jesse Korman took my phone and started recording from the stage during “Sleeping with the Fishes, See?”, the footage of which you can view here. Jesse got a piggyback ride from a concert-goer. During “The Garden’s All Nighters,” Jesse got into the crowd and formed a dance circle. Lastly, to conclude the night, he invited many of us on stage, much like Dillinger last year at Webster Hall, and we partied to “The Weekly Wars.” This was a special show in every sense of the word. At the time, I didn’t think anything could top it.
GOLD. The Dillinger Escape Plan @ Terminal 5: 12/27-29/17
Once again, The Dillinger Escape Plan top the list. I just wrote a review for all three shows, so read it. I don’t want to repeat myself, or much these nights meant to me. I said goodbye to my favorite band.
Here’s to more great shows in 2018, y’all.
- Alex Brown
25. Bungler @ The Studio at Webster Hall: May 15th
Kicking off our list are the Buffalo boys on tour for their debut LP, The Nature of Being New. There were maybe 20 people in the audience by the time Bungler took the stage, but they still gave us their all and made a 25-minute set into something truly beautiful. “Opiate” live made the night that much richer for me. Truly one of the most underrated bands in the game right now. Check out my review for The Nature of Being New here.
24. Old Wounds @ The Palladium: December 15th
After a very awkward period of time, Old Wounds are back in the game. Since the only other time I saw these gentlemen was opening for Beartooth last year, I had to make the most of seeing them in a super tiny room, without a barricade. Boy, did they deliver: Kevin is a one-of-a-kind frontman, and the band’s live performance is more powerful and energetic live than their recordings give them credit. Hearing songs like “Son of No One” and “Rest in Piss” in such an intimate setting is incredible, but we also got some new tracks that we should be hearing on their new LP coming out next year. I’m super stoked to the future of this lineup.
23. Converge @ Warsaw: August 4th
These metalcore icons have been around since 1990, and their energy really hasn’t let up at all. Jacob Bannon is still all over the place, while the group, astonishingly, are able to keep up with his energy. They pummeled through their hour-long set with fast and aggressive tracks like “Dark Horse” and “I Can Tell You About Pain” as well as slow-burning dirges like “Eve” and “Worms Will Feed/Rats Will Feast.” The icing on this cake, however, was their choice of “Jane Doe,” from the album of the same name (and one of my absolute favorite songs ever) as closer. I hope to see them again very soon.
22. AFI @ Terminal 5: February 3rd
Despite not really liking their latest LP at all, I knew I was in for a treat when I got my tickets to AFI. These guys know what the fans want to hear. Their set included hits like “Miss Murder” and “Girls Not Grey” alongside really deep cuts like “Triple Zero” and “Morningstar.” Not to mention, everyone in this band can still jump around with the best of them, and Davey Havok even dove into the audience for “I Hope You Suffer,” a song I dislike, but was able to love in the moment as the crowd lifted him back up. AFI will forever hold a special place in my heart, and it’s great to see that they can still kill it.
21. Periphery @ Playstation Theatre: November 9th
I did not think I was going to be putting these guys on any of my best-of lists again. When I saw them in 2013, I thought that was as good as it was going to get, but this night was an impeccable Periphery setlist. Watching live shows during the Juggernaut tour cycle broke my heart because their sets were short and kind of disinterested. They weren’t amazing when I saw them last year, either. That said, this time has to be the best I’ve ever seen them. I don’t know where it came from, but the energy was through the roof: Spencer even stagedived during “Omega” and started performing from within the audience. The setlist was full of gold, including “Mile Zero,” one of the few songs I haven’t seen live off their sophomore LP. I may never like another record these guys put out, but god fucking damn did they blow me away that night.
20. LIMBS @ The Studio at Webster Hall: June 9th
A few days before this show, I checked these guys out and listened to them almost non-stop. It’s safe to say the SLEEP EP left an impression, one they solidified live. They came out with multicolored strobe lights and proceeded to get fucking crazy, performing with the sort of energy you’d expect of a group like letlive. They basically played their discography, or what it was at the time, and it was a great show. LIMBS are probably the best hardcore band I discovered this year.
19. The Weeknd @ Barclays Center: June 7th
This show was aesthetically perfect. The stage was basically a walkway overhung by a spaceship-like model, and there was an absolutely beautiful light display. The Weeknd’s mostly consisted of songs off of Starboy, with nice gems from his previous work like “I Can’t Feel My Face” and “Angel,” even if they were shortened versions. I was also surprised to hear how authentic he sounded live, because he used to be pretty mediocre. This show goes down in the books for me.
18. Capsize @ The Studio at Webster Hall: June 9th
After LIMBSand Eidola, Capsize began their set with Daniel Wand stage-diving right from the get-go.The set was a mix of 2015’s A Reintroduction: The Essence of All That Surrounds Me and a few tracks from The Angst In My Veins, including a guest spot from Hector Sabino (Young Graves). I got a black eye from a crowd-surfers boot, but it honestly made the whole thing that much more worth it. Capsize put on the sort of show that leaves a huge smile on my face. Oh yeah, Hail the Sun headlined the show, but I didn’t stay for them. If they put out their EP before that show I would have considered. Otherwise, nah.
17. Thursday @ Irving Plaza: April 29th
Thursday was vital to developing my taste in music. When they announced they were breaking up in 2011, I was really heartbroken, because I thought this meant I would never get to see them, until they reunited in 2016 and announced dates in 2017 with Touche Amore and Cities Aviv. As soon as Thursday opened with “For the Workforce, Drowning,” I knew I was in for a night of celebration. They pulled out obvious classics like “Cross Out the Eyes” and “Understanding a Car Crash,” as well as other greats like “Beyond the Visible Spectrum” and “Division St.” I was speechless by the end. I saw them two months later at McCarren Park as well, but this was definitely the more memorable show.
16. deafheaven @ WARSAW: March 15th
You can read my review for the whole show here, but to summarize, there is no band in deafheaven’s style that performs with as much passion and fire. What made this time more special than the other three times I’ve seen them was the emphasis on their debut LP, Roads to Judah. I got to hear “Language Games” live. I never would have expected it, especially since they ignored that record the entire New Bermuda tour. I even got to see them do their cover of “Cody” by post-rock legends Mogwai. What was better than their setlist, though, was George Clarke’s presence. Sure, he’s a bit goofy, but his performance is passionate, and he clearly cares about the fans: he’s always reaching out, grabbing hands, turning the mic out to them. It’s obvious he was raised in hardcore. I love this band, and I can’t wait to see them continue to release stellar music.
15. Swans @ WARSAW: November 4th
Sticking to WARSAW, we move roughly eight months into the future and come to the final performance of Swans as we knew them. This beast of a performance was three mind-numbing hours. From the drone opener alone, which was forty-five minutes long, to “Cloud of Unknowing,” mutated to nearly an hour of music, to the 30-minute grand finale “The Glowing Man,” this show was nothing short of loud and meditative. I’m so lucky to be able to say I witnessed this one. Thank you for everything, Swans.
14. pageninetynine @ Gold Sounds: September 26th
This show was just a great, big, screamo fest. We got an opening set from up-and-coming skramz act Portrayal of Guilt, followed by screamo legends Majority Rule. The night finished off with an hour-long set from THE emoviolence heroes, who absolutely obliterated it, playing so many songs I never expected to hear in a live setting with such raw power. I can now die knowing I’ve seen one of the finest in screamo.
13. END @ The Palladium: December 15th
Oh man, was this an interesting show. END was the breakout band of the year, but the lineup at this show was rather incomplete, In that vocalist Brendan Murphy (Counterparts) was not allowed in the country. So what did they do? They brought out Ethan Harrison (Great American Ghost) to do vocals. Honestly, his performance was better than Brendan Murphy’s could ever have been. Everyone was all over the place, with Ethan stage-diving multiple times during the show. Yours truly stage-dived TWICE, busting his ass the second time, and it was all fucking worth it. Hopefully I will see the “true” version of END one day, but I think we got the best version of END at this one.
12. Travi$ Scott @ Barclays Center: July 23rd
Travi$ was opening for Kendrick Lamar, but you wouldn’t be able to tell looking at the stage for his set. He performed the show as if it was HIS, and that’s what made it so tight. There is no one in hip-hop right now who has the energy of this 25-year old. I wasn’t a huge fan of his prior, but I sure as hell left one. At one point, he climbed on top of a giant mechanical bird and “flew” as he rapped. If this is his show as an opener, I have to see him headline. His set closed with a snippet of “goosebumps,” foreshadowing what was to come.
11. The Saddest Landscape @ Brooklyn Bazaar: March 4th
These boys claimed the #3 spot on my list last year. This year, I got to see them open for Pianos Become the Teeth, and they stole the show. Much of what I said last year is applicable to this performance, too, but there was even more fire and passion this time around. The icing on the cake was me, along with a few others, going on stage and singing along to “Eternity Lost on the Dying.” I need to see these guys do a headliner already, dammit!
10. The Nightmare Before Christmas @ Barclays Center: December 8th
This year, I got to see one of my favorite childhood movies screen with a live orchestra and much of the original cast singing their parts. The orchestra was fantastic, and so were Danny Elfman reprising his role as Jack Skellington; Catherine O’Hara reprising her roles as Sally and Shock; and Ken Page reprising his role as Oogie Boogie. It was a beautiful, charming night.
09. Pyrrhon @ Saint Vitus Bar: August 31st
If you read my Top 10 LPs of 2017 list, you’d see that these guys took the silver medal for the year. I’d go as far as to say that the LP they put out is my favorite death metal LP of all-time, and you can read why here. This was one of two shows they played it in full, so I knew I had to go and witness it in its entirety. Somehow, it was honestly better live, with the group adding an entirely new section to the finale that was nothing short of improvisational beauty.
08. God Mother @ Saint Vitus Bar: December 30th
These guys were the last headliners I saw for the year, and it was the perfect show to close out 2018. I saw them a few days prior opening for The Dillinger Escape Plan at Terminal 5, but this is a band you HAVE to see in an intimate setting. I’m not typically a mosher, but I had to for these guys. The highlight of the set was the limbo competition. Yes, vocalist Sebastian put his mic stand on the floor, had someone hold the wire, and initiated a limbo competition. It was absolutely amazing. This is not to ignore the fact that Sebastian climbed to the top of the venue and held onto the beam holding the lights, or any of the stagediving that otherwise would have been too dangerous to do at the venue when not sold out. This show was nothing short of fun, and I guarantee it will go down in history as yet another legendary show at the legendary Saint Vitus.
07. Kendrick Lamar @ Barclays Center: July 23rd
While DAMN. is not one of my favorite Kendrick Lamar projects, this tour was phenomenal. Topping a set as lit as Travi$ Scott’s is no easy feat, but I knew K. Dothad it in the bag. As soon as it started, we had a man come out doing katana tricks. There were plenty of dancers who did all sorts of unique things during his songs and the interludes. 2 Chainz and Travi$ Scott came out for 2 Chainz’ “7AM,” which transitioned into Travi$’ “goosebumps.” There was nothing more bone chilling, however, than hearing the whole room sing “HUMBLE.” at once. That’s the stuff dreams are made of. Kendrick is truly is one of the best in the game right now.
06. Death Grips @ Terminal 5: October 17th
The reason Death Grips did not make my top list the year before was mostly because I had a horrible experience with the crowd. It’s one of two shows where I felt like I could literally have died. To avoid a repeat, I stood on the venue balcony this time, and the experience was infinitely more enjoyable. Death Grips definitely blew last year’s show out of the water from the get-go: they turned off the lights and came out wearing gloves that shone different colors. It was an experience, to say the very least. They played parts off of their brand new one song-EP Steroids, and it went hard as fuck. Death Grips are, in a word, remarkable.
05. Street Sects @ Sunnyvale: April 15th
I barely knew who Street Sects were. I went for Planning for Burial, but my brother kept telling me how amazing Street Sects was. I listened to the first Gentrification EP in preparation, but in no way was I ready. They filled the room with fog, which made their strobe lights that much more effective. Honestly, I didn’t even know what was going on for the first three minutes, and then I saw their vocalist Leo Ashline pop out of the fog like something out of a horror movie. He went around screaming in everyone’s face. About halfway through the set, he pulled out a chainsaw. I’ve seen acts like Exhumed do this before, but the difference here was that this was a REAL chainsaw. Sure, it didn’t have a real saw on it, but I literally smelled the gasoline. He started running around the venue like a maniac. I was horrified, and in love. When his microphone stopped working, he grabbed people and screamed in their face. From that moment onward, I was a huge Street Sects fan, and you can read my review for their latest EP over here.
04. Between the Buried and Me @ Irving Plaza: September 23rd
Three days after I turned 21, I got to see Colors. I wrote an entire piece on the LP for its tenth anniversary that you can read here, but this show was magical. Every song was performed to perfection, with hardly any breaks. The audience went absolutely wild, screaming the words out loud. Fuck, man. I finally got to hear the LP that changed how I looked at music in full, what more could I have asked for? Oh, and they closed the night with The Silent Circus’ “Mordecai.” Yeah, it was truly a fucking beautiful memory. I cried six times during the set.
It’s kind of crazy to imagine, but there were three performances that topped this. Let’s hand out these medals.
BRONZE. Trap Them @ Saint Vitus Bar: November 10th
Trap Them’s last New York City show was bound to be a treat, but I didn’t realize how crazy it was actually going to be. I went to both shows (you can read my review for both here), but I will be focusing on the very last one, as the energy both the crowd and band gave off that night was insane. They were also much more prepared this night too, with a banner and extra lights. Yours truly crowd surfed during “Hellionaries” in what I’ll call the best crowd-surfing experience I’ve had yet. It’s sad knowing I’ll never get to see Trap Them again, but being that I went to both shows and got the most out of them, I’m happy I got to witness these guys live to begin with.
SILVER. The Number Twelve Looks Like You @ Gold Sounds: July 27th
I had a hard time choosing between the two times I’ve seen The Number Twelve Looks Like You this year, the other time being at Brooklyn Bazaar when they performed Nuclear.Sad.Nuclear., as both were pretty damn perfect in their own right, but this one just had to take the cake for being the first time, and in a much smaller space. Coming off of such a long break, they were ridiculously intense. Jesse Korman took my phone and started recording from the stage during “Sleeping with the Fishes, See?”, the footage of which you can view here. Jesse got a piggyback ride from a concert-goer. During “The Garden’s All Nighters,” Jesse got into the crowd and formed a dance circle. Lastly, to conclude the night, he invited many of us on stage, much like Dillinger last year at Webster Hall, and we partied to “The Weekly Wars.” This was a special show in every sense of the word. At the time, I didn’t think anything could top it.
GOLD. The Dillinger Escape Plan @ Terminal 5: 12/27-29/17
Once again, The Dillinger Escape Plan top the list. I just wrote a review for all three shows, so read it. I don’t want to repeat myself, or much these nights meant to me. I said goodbye to my favorite band.
Here’s to more great shows in 2018, y’all.
- Alex Brown
Archival details
- Original URL
- https://metallifestyle.weebly.com/metal-lifestyle/the-top-25-concert-performances-of-2017
- Recovery source
- live-weebly
- Recovery date
- 2026-07-22
- Stewardship polish
- 2026-07-22
- Preservation status
- restored
- Missing assets
- None recorded
Preserved by Bloodsoaked Media · The Archives