The year in concerts: Simply the best
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
It was a remarkable year for arena concerts in the Twin Cities. Here's a recap of 2005's finest shows...
1. U2, Sept. 23, Target Center. Great passion, great humanity, great light show, great singer, great guitarist, great band. When I listen to the songs on the latest CD, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," they don't sound as awesome as they did that night.
2. Green Day, Sept. 16, Xcel Energy Center. I've seen this tour three times live (and a fourth time on DVD) and, despite the pat lines and big-gig gestures, I'm still amazed by the power and passion of this performance by Billie Joe Armstrong and the boys.
3. Gretchen Wilson, Nov. 27, Xcel. Despite the gratuitous and incongruous pyrotechnics she shared with Big & Rich, Wilson slayed with her killer voice, killer country classics and killer covers of Billie Holiday and Led Zeppelin.
4. The Rolling Stones, Sept. 6, Xcel. Short on stage frills and long on intimacy and energy, this was easily Mick Jagger's best, freshest and most consistent concert in the Twin Cities -- and at age 62, no less.
5. Keith Urban, Sept. 24, Xcel. His songs may not be outstanding but his instincts as an entertainer were. A sweet voice, an expressive guitar and fabulous show-biz instincts. He's easily the most well-rounded talent in Nashville since Vince Gill.
6. Aerosmith, Dec. 6, Target Center. Joe Perry's guitar sparked the rock, blues and ballads, but wildman Steven Tyler, though he's been more physical in the past, connected with the crowd as few superstars even try to do...
It was a remarkable year for arena concerts in the Twin Cities. Here's a recap of 2005's finest shows...
1. U2, Sept. 23, Target Center. Great passion, great humanity, great light show, great singer, great guitarist, great band. When I listen to the songs on the latest CD, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," they don't sound as awesome as they did that night.
2. Green Day, Sept. 16, Xcel Energy Center. I've seen this tour three times live (and a fourth time on DVD) and, despite the pat lines and big-gig gestures, I'm still amazed by the power and passion of this performance by Billie Joe Armstrong and the boys.
3. Gretchen Wilson, Nov. 27, Xcel. Despite the gratuitous and incongruous pyrotechnics she shared with Big & Rich, Wilson slayed with her killer voice, killer country classics and killer covers of Billie Holiday and Led Zeppelin.
4. The Rolling Stones, Sept. 6, Xcel. Short on stage frills and long on intimacy and energy, this was easily Mick Jagger's best, freshest and most consistent concert in the Twin Cities -- and at age 62, no less.
5. Keith Urban, Sept. 24, Xcel. His songs may not be outstanding but his instincts as an entertainer were. A sweet voice, an expressive guitar and fabulous show-biz instincts. He's easily the most well-rounded talent in Nashville since Vince Gill.
6. Aerosmith, Dec. 6, Target Center. Joe Perry's guitar sparked the rock, blues and ballads, but wildman Steven Tyler, though he's been more physical in the past, connected with the crowd as few superstars even try to do...
| Permalink | E-mail this post 
