Year in Review: The Best Concerts of 2016

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Alx Bear
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Artist: Adele
Venue: Madison Square Garden
City: New York City
Date: September 22

Adele began her world tour for 25 in February 2016. Like Adele, the show was humble, straightforward and full of passion. Production was minimal, with the exception of pouring water during “Set Fire to the Rain,” and the UK singer-songwriter spent most of her time perched on a stool that was “too small for her bum.”

But hearing Adele live brought tears to everyone’s’ eyes. The intensity of “Chasing Pavements” and “One and Only” coupled with the affection of “Sweetest Devotion” solidified Adele as timeless. The falling handwritten “thank you” confetti notes were also a nice touch. Well played Adele.

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Artist: Beyoncé
Venue: MetLife Stadium
City: East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date: October 7

RIP everyone that saw The Formation World Tour. True to form, Beyoncé slayed, but how does Queen Bey continue to outdo herself? The montage of live performances from her visual album Lemonade and using Hot Sauce to break the camera made Beyoncé’s show one of the most talked about MTV performances of all time.

And this was only a preview to the live show. On tour, Beyoncé performed for two plus hours, cycling through intense dance choreography (all in six-inch thigh-high boots), Destiny’s Child classics and closed with water-kicking antics. One thing is for sure, Beyoncé slays all day, every day.

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Artist: Christine and the Queens
Venue: Terminal 5
City: New York City
Date: October 10

Christine celebrates diversity, originality and self-love. After telling the audience they are in a safe zone and could be anything they want to be, including a sink (or a bicycle, which “is more sexy”), Christine launched into an hour plus of honest reflection and choreographed dance moves.

Backed by her “Queens” she performed hits off of Chaleur Humaine. She used lighting to dramatize the performance, like by casting a large shadow of herself during “iT” as she sung “Cause I’ve got it/ I’m a man now.” Christine and the Queens is synth-pop re-envisioned and only an hour in Christine’s presence brings empowerment.

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Artist: Dead Sara
Venue: Webster Hall
City: New York City
Date: August 6

People attend shows for different reasons. Sometimes they go to hear their favorite band live, sometimes for the production and sometimes to get kicked in the chest. The Los Angeles-based band plays with an intensity that consumes and can’t be matched.

The crowd fed off the pounding drums of Sean Friday and howling vocals of Emily Armstrong as they raged. If you ever want to lose your mind (or sweat off some beers), attend a Dead Sara show.

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Artist: The New Regime
Venue: PlayStation Theater
City: New York City
Date: April 27

The New Regime is the side project of Ilan Rubin, drummer for Nine Inch Nails, Paramore and Angels & Airwaves. After touring with Muse and Gang of Four, the group went on tour with The Used and gave viewers a lesson in form and showmanship.

Rubin, along with his brother Danny Rubin, and Hayden Scott, are a true musician’s rock band. They thrash, play until fingers bleed and spontaneously insert classic rock songs into guitar solos. It’s easy to lose yourself when The New Regime plays.