Year in Review: The Best Concerts of 2016

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Andrew Hartl
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Artist: Kiss
Venue: The Kiss Kruise VI
Date: November 4-9

The Kiss Kruise VI is my pick for best concert of the year.

I mean come on, a week in the Caribbean on a cruise ship with Kiss…..Can you ask for a better concert venue?

Seeing them perform an unmasked electric sail away from Miami party on the pool deck was a pretty cool way to start off the week.

It just got better. KISS then played the ship’s theatre (which only holds 1,600 people) twice to accommodate everyone. An amazing very intimate performance, confetti instead of pyro, yeah well after all we are on a ship.

Amazing show, amazing cruise.

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Artist: Halestorm
Venue: The Phoenix Concert Theatre 
City: Toronto
Date: October 26

Halestorm put on an awesome show at The Phoenix this past October.

What a great bill, with Dorothy, and Lita Ford opening. Now that’s three metal powerhouse female singers. That alone is almost worth my vote, but the fact that all three kick ass on their own was my deciding factor.

Lita Ford even came out to do a duet with Lzzy Hale, performing “Close My Eyes Forever”, both with double neck guitars. So cool.

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Artist: Slayer
Venue: Rebel Nightclub
City: Toronto 
Date: September 12

Two of the big four metal bands, plus Death Angel, yes please.

Both Slayer and Anthrax promoting new albums at the same time just made for a headbanging good time. Plus playing at a small venue like Toronto’s waterfront Rebel Nightclub added to the intimate feel of the show.