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It was my full intention to do a story ranking the top 10 concerts of 2019 in the Bay Area. But there were so many good shows this year that, well, top 10 quickly morphed into top 20.
So, enjoy reading about these short write-ups about the best gigs of the year. And if they pique your interest, please click through and read some of the full-length reviews (often featuring cool photo slideshows as well). We reviewed 18 out of the 20 concerts on this list.
1, Bob Seger, Feb. 28 Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
The legendary singer-songwriter waved goodbye to fans in triumphant fashion, as he performed some of the greatest classic rock tunes of all time — “Night Moves,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Like a Rock,” “Turn the Page,” etc. — on this unforgettable night. Fans also got to experience the magic when Seger performed at Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View in September.
See photos and read our full Bob Seger concert review here.
2, Muse, March 9, Oakland Arena
In my review of this show, I compare this British trio to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, U2, Radiohead and Prince. That says volumes about what it was like to be in attendance.
Read our full Muse concert review here.
3, Patti Smith, Jan. 11, Fillmore, San Francisco
Smith and the Fillmore are just a magic pairing, never failing to result in a transformative evening of music and poetry.
See photos and read our full Patti Smith concert review here.
4, Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, March 15, Masonic, San Francisco
This was an amazing treat for old-school Pink Floyd fans, as the band’s legendary drummer and other talented musicians spotlighted oft-neglected material from such early albums as “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn,” “Obscured by Clouds” and, of course, “Saucerful of Secrets.”
Read our full Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets concert review here.
5, Metallica with San Francisco Symphony, Sept. 6, Chase Center, San Francisco
The biggest Bay Area band of all time combined forces with the 75-piece symphony — including a 41-piece string section — and powered through “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Master of Puppets” and other favorites on opening night of the new home of the Golden State Warriors.
See photos and read our full review of Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony here.
6, New Kids on the Block, May 29, SAP Center, San Jose
In terms of just pure fun, no concert in 2019 topped NKOTB’s Mixtape Tour, which featured not only that amazing boy band but also a totally awesome supporting cast of ’80s and ’90s hit-makers — Salt-N-Pepa, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Naughty by Nature.
See photos and read our full NKOTB concert review here.
7, Lizzo Oct. 27, Bill Graham Civic, San Francisco
The Year of Lizzo continued, as the soulful star unleashed her powerful vocals on “Heaven Help Me,” “Exactly How I Feel” and other favorites and delivered inspirational pep talks to the crowd: “If I can do it, you can do it,” she said. “Be that superstar you want to be.”
See photos and read our full Lizzo concert review here.
8, Jeff Lynne’s ELO June 22, Golden 1 Center
It was a spellbinding evening of music, as the mighty Lynne — one of popular music’s true visionaries — and his amazing 12-piece band blended classical, prog-rock, avant-garde, psychedelic pop, disco and other styles into nothing short of “Strange Magic.”
See photos and read our full Jeff Lynne’s ELO concert review here.
9, Waterboys Oct. 11, Fillmore
It had been far too long since Mike Scott and company had rocked through the Bay Area and they’d make up for lost time by delivering two thoroughly engaging sets of music at San Francisco’s most storied venue. The Waterboys also delivered a great set at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass earlier in the month.
10, Bryan Ferry, Aug. 31, Fox Theater, Oakland
The newly enshrined Rock and Roll Hall of Famer delivered a brilliant overview of the Roxy Music catalog — aka, one of the greatest catalogs in popular music history — as he performed 14 songs, touching upon seven of the band’s eight studio albums, during this show.
Read our full Bryan Ferry concert review here.
11, Lauren Daigle, Feb. 22, Warfield, San Francisco
Blessed with one of the finest voices in all of music, Daigle wowed fans with a night of moving, inspirational anthems and heartfelt ballads at the Warfield. She was also tremendous during her set at Outside Lands in August.
Read our full Lauren Daigle concert review here.
12, Slipknot, July 26, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
The Iowa act sounded every bit like one of the best metal acts of the past 25 years as it opened its long-awaited Knotfest Roadshow — Slipknot’s first North American tour in 3 years — with a performance that was as entertaining for the eyes as it was for the ears.
See photos and read our full Slipknot concert review here.
13, Mary J. Blige and Nas, Aug. 14, Shoreline
The long-reigning Queen of Hip-Hop Soul combined forces with one of the most influential rappers of all time during what was the year’s best co-headlining tour.
See photos and read our full Mary J. Blige and Nas concert review here.
14, Cowboy Junkies, April 11, Freight and Salvage, Berkeley
R.E.M. might be the only other band that has produced as much good music over the last 35 years. And the Junkies would showcase that abundance of musical riches during its time at the Freight.
15, REO Speedwagon, Wente Vineyards, Livermore
Best known for the smash power ballads “Keep on Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” this multiplatinum act soared highest on this night with such guitar-driven rockers as “Keep Pushin’ On” and “Ridin’ the Storm Out.”
See photos and read our full REO Speedwagon concert review here.
16, Diana Krall, Sept. 22, Mountain Winery, Saratoga
The jazz vocalist-pianist and her superb band (featuring guitarist Anthony Wilson, drummer Karriem Riggins, bassist John Clayton and saxophonist Joe Lovano) treated fans to a night of standards and other selections under the stars at the Bay Area’s most picturesque music venue.
Read our full Diana Krall concert review here.
17, Lana Del Rey, Oct. 6, Greek Theatre, Berkeley
Drawing from the best album of 2019 –“Norman (Expletive) Rockwell” — Del Rey was pure California cool as she delivered a stellar 21-song set, highlighted by an appearance from the Bay Area’s own Joan Baez.
Read our full Lana Del Rey concert review here.
18, Joe Jackson March 2 Masonic
The New Wave/post-punk icon, who ranks among the most versatile recording artists in pop music history, took listeners on a fascinating ride through his deep back catalog as well as highlighted the recently released studio effort “Fool.”
Read our full Joe Jackson concert review here.
19, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Sept. 14, SAP Center
Snoop and Cube — undeniably two of the greatest rappers of all time — joined with Bay Area hip-hop heroes Too Short and E-40, as well as Warren G and Blueface, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the landmark San Jose venue.
See photos and read our full Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube concert review here.
20, Maren Morris, March 26, Masonic
The acclaimed singer-songwriter expertly mixed pop and country during her first-ever headlining show in San Francisco.
See photos and read our full Maren Morris concert review here.
Top 10 Albums of 2019: @LanaDelRey (of course) @billieeilish @nickcave @lizzo @slipknot @kanyewest and more https://t.co/Dx7iAZQ7Fo
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) December 12, 2019
My Top Concert Picks of the Week (12/19-12/25), with @OakInterfaith at @slimssf, @DaveKozMusic at @SanJoseCivic @NederlanderLive, @adamshulman at @SFJAZZ more https://t.co/0fv5bsq7XE
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) December 19, 2019