Top Concerts of 2018
Janelle Monae
July 5, 2018 @ Chicago Theatre
By Dave Miller
The stakes on concert stages rose in 2018 as the powerful and depraved continued their assault on democracy, our country’s soul and the planet itself. The year saw an increasing number of musicians fighting back in song and words during their shows. I saw more than 60 full sets in 2018. From my view, women led the way beyond the protests in the streets and voting at the polls. Eight of my Top 10 performances were by women. I had thought the top spot was claimed early when Margo Price put on a jaw-dropping show in April that made me wonder when I saw a better one. (I eventually figured it was Jeff Beck seven years ago.) But then I saw Janelle Monae blow minds and the roof off the Chicago Theatre in taking a dazzling stand for the under-attack ideal that our country is for everyone. After much internal debate, Monae’s meeting the moment edged Price’s classic timelessness. Here’s my ranking of the best concerts I saw in 2018 -- dedicated to departed soul queen Aretha Franklin:
1. Janelle Monae, July 5 at Chicago Theatre -- Delivering an urgent call to America that all of its people equally belong in it, Monae sweats past her Dirty Computer coolness to get to the heart of matters with a melting pot of soul, blues, funk, hip hop and Afrofuturism. She not only references James Brown and Prince, but carries the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr., in a mesmerizing, kinetic display of dance, music and message.
2. Margo Price, April 13 at Thalia Hall -- It would be easy to say Price is the country heir apparent to Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton (with a puff or three of Willie Nelson), and that wouldn't be wrong. But this sensational performance shows that while Illinois' daughter has one foot in traditional country, she has one foot in all kinds of other music, too. She covers Tom Petty, John Prine and Creedence Clearwater Revival while closing her show with a gospel revival. She plays the shit out of the drums, shakes a mean tambourine, drops to her knees while singing and goes into the crowd to hug her fans to boot.
3. Florence + The Machine, Oct. 19 at United Center -- Florence Welch rises to the occasion to inspire just about better than anyone these days. She turns the cavernous arena into an emotional shelter from the political storm and makes it a safe space for strangers to put away their phones, hug and tell one another they love each other. She walks her talk, too, dancing around the general admission floor for communal time with her fans.
4. Paul Simon, June 6 at United Center -- In what figures to be his last tour, the 77-year-old injects life into his classic songbook with a continued devotion to them freshened by a large band of different ages, sexes and races. The rarity "Rene and Georgette Margritte With Their Dog After the War" is performed so well it turns out to be a highlight. Simon sticks up for the environment and the best of his country. He sings of the Statue of Liberty sailing into the sea and the age's uncertain hour in the encore opening "American Tune," putting the following show closer, "Sound of Silence," into alarming context.
5. Courtney Barnett, May 21 at Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center -- The Australian lays her cards on America's table immediately with "Hopefulessness." "No one is born to hate," she sings to start the show. "We learn it somewhere along the way. Take your broken heart. Turn it into art." That she does as she rattles the upscale venue with her guitar and wordplay during one of her generous four visits to Chicago this year.
6. No Small Children, Sept. 16 at Riot Fest, Douglas Park -- Three grade-school teachers rebel more in their early afternoon, half-hour set on a small stage than many of the festival's bigger acts put together. The inspiration they leave in their wake has the crowd buzzing afterward.
7. Pussy Riot, Feb. 6 at Subterranean -- A do-it-yourself mixture of punk concert, performance art and political rally confuses some, but Nadya Tolokonnikova shows that anyone can riot as an activist with the kind of baclava-wearing protesting that got her imprisoned for two years in Vladimir Putin's Russia. "Bad Apples" about bad cops particularly resonates in a city with a history of police brutality.
8. U2, May 22 at United Center -- This updated bookend tour behind the Songs of Experience album that followed the Songs of Innocence one once again features hits and misses in its grandiosity, but the band receives bonus points for continuing to have the balls to aim big. Bono's devil-like "MacPhisto" character returns from the Zoo TV Tour to show the danger of following a liar.
9. Dessa, March 31 at Subterranean -- The independent singer and rapper throws down her unique blend of hip hop and smartly scores one for feminism and humanism with an engaging and inventive delivery.
10. Michelle Malone, June 30 at American Music Festival, FitzGerald's -- The sweet Southerner goes to war armed with her Slings and Arrows album and potent guitar aimed at evil in Washington. She also plays her ace in the hole, a bluesy, torchlight version of "Eleanor Rigby."
Honorable mention (in order): Kelly Willis, June 30 at American Music Festival, FitzGerald's; Gary Numan, Sept. 15 at Riot Fest, Douglas Park; Shemekia Copeland, June 7 at FitzGerald's; MC50, Oct. 24 at Metro; Beck, Sept. 15 at Riot Fest, Douglas Park; Amy Rigby, Oct. 18 at Burlington Bar; Willie Nile, April 14 at City Winery; Joe Ely Band, June 30 at American Music Festival, FitzGerald's; K. Flay, Sept. 14 at Riot Fest, Douglas Park; Blondie, Sept. 16 at Riot Fest, Douglas Park; Jen Cloher, July 31 at Empty Bottle; Against Me!, July 27 at Wicker Park Fest; Jerry Lee Lewis, Sept. 15 at Riot Fest, Douglas Park; and The Artist Formerly Known as Vince, July 20 at LiveWire Lounge.