With 23 years as a professional rock critic under my belt, I did my best to make “carpe diem” more than a mere slogan by seeing more shows in one 365-day period than I ever have before. COVID winds were at my sails, and 2023 was the year to capitalize on almost every opportunity to witness live music lest another pandemic hit.
The frequent-flier miles piled up as I ventured from music festivals in Boise, Baltimore, and Daytona Beach to an 18th century military fortress about an hour outside Prague. The adventure wasn’t without its mishaps, as illnesses stood in the way of me and two festivals in Austin: Oblivion Access and Levitation. Missing those cornucopias of cutting-edge talent was particularly rough.
With that said…no other complaints here. Tallying the 148 sets by almost as many bands (some of whom I caught a couple of times, the majority of whom fall under the blanket term “metal”) seemed like a Sisyphean task. However, it was imperative to complete this task before the memories started to fade. Technically, more than 100 sets are listed below; duplicates are noted because the setlists were virtually the same. I caught many, many more acts, but didn’t consider any for this list beyond those I saw play from their first song to their last.
Rather obviously, some of the performances weren’t all that great. But many of them were; a solid majority, in fact. In the spirit of not saying something unless I have something nice to say (well, at least for now), here are the top 100 strongest sets that I caught, in descending order, with a few words of commentary accompanying the top 10.
Thank you to the bands, publicists, managers, venues, friends, family—and, most importantly, fellow music lovers—for facilitating my attendance at all these shows and the 48 others that I’m leaving off this list (that includes you, Guns ’n’ Roses—retire already!). An extra-big shout-out to Treefort Music Fest Director Eric Gilbert and his Duck Club gang for continuing to attract top-notch talent to the hard-to-reach city of Boise and opening the doors of their new, sparkling Treefort Music Hall.
1. Show Me the Body at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (March 10)
No living band, punk or otherwise, is more genuine in every imaginable way—songwriting, performance, sheer audacity, radical messaging—than this one. And everyone who attended the show knew it, even if it was only early March when it happened. Julian Pratt shimmied and shook as crowdsurfers tried to slap him high-fives (he was so in-the-zone that it’s unclear whether he even knew what was going on). With Jesus Piece and Scowl in tow, this was, almost hands-down, the best performance of the year.
2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Morrison Center in Boise, ID (March 8)
Seeing the former Drive-By Trucker break into the mainstream was one of the highlights across all music (not to mention film) genres in 2023. And never have I seen a Boise crowd as glowing and appreciative as the one that attended this stellar performance. Eight and a half months after standing in the fifth row, center, for this intimate show, I’d hear my mom telling Alexa to play Isbell and the 400 Unit’s new album, Weathervanes, as she prepared Thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen. What a surreal, and beautiful, way Isbell and his unit are bringing together music fans of all stripes.
Jason Isbell
3. Be’lakor at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
I fell in love with this melodic progressive death-metal band from Melbourne in 2009 courtesy of their Stone’s Reach record. Fourteen years later, I finally caught them live on a warm summer afternoon about 45 minutes away from the border of Poland and Czechia (formerly Czechoslovakia). As the technically astute musicians played with consummate precision, I looked skyward with joy. About 100 Be’lakor fans from across the world congregated to watch the veeery underground band play six of its masterpieces, with the fortress providing the fitting backdrop. When Be’lakor finished around 3:30 p.m., I would’ve been satisfied leaving the Brutal Assault festival having seen just them. But I was about to be brutally assaulted by more than 40 additional bands’ full sets over the course of the next four days.
4. Tool at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, ID (October 14)
I basically bookended my year in concert-going with performances by one of my favorite bands of all time at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida—Tool’s first show in roughly 11 months—and this multimedia presentation. Needless to say, Tool’s more “intimate” gig in front of about 12,200 people was vastly superior and even worth the steep price of admission—not only thanks to the longer set time but also sensory-overload renditions of “Jambi,” “The Grudge,” and “Invincible.”
5. Deafheaven at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 21)
The post-metal purveyors took command of this festival on a hot, sweaty, humid, nasty, gross—we’re talking really hot—afternoon at the Daytona International Speedway. While the band would spend a good chunk of the year celebrating the 10th anniversary of Sunbather by playing the album in its entirety, this gig saw Deafheaven touch on material old and new with performances of “Dream House,” “Irresistible,” “Sunbather,” “Canary Yellow,” and “Mombasa.” This was the 10th time I’d seen the San Francisco crew and, even though they were without guitarist Shiv Mehra, it was the towering but mostly unnoticed set at a fest that also featured Evanescence, Korn…let’s move on, shall we?
6. Weyes Blood at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (March 19)
Boise is about five hours away from the next city of significance, Salt Lake City, and the fact that I have to explain that proves how much more it can grow. But that makes it all the more special when a nationally adored artist like Weyes Blood comes to town. As part of a tour supporting And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow—featured on many album-of-the-year lists around this time a year ago, either correctly at the #2 spot or elsewhere—this touching, sold-out performance in front of fewer than 1,000 attendees was even more unforgettable.
Weyes Blood @ Brooklyn Steel / photo by Julia Drummond
7. Portrayal of Guilt at the Shrine Social Club in Boise, ID (August 24)
There are few joys in life comparable to seeing a band with one of the hottest records in the country performing in a club with only a few dozen other fans. And, particularly within that framework, Portrayal of Guilt delivered the most scintillating and adrenalized heavy concert that Boise would experience in 2023. The Austin band continues to be kind to Boise, playing here about once a year, but this gig supporting their then-recently released Devil Music was a delight to fans of hardcore, grindcore, black metal, and beyond.
8. Cloak at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
With a record-label change to come later in the year, the American black metal band Cloak nevertheless toured copiously in support of their 2023 release, Black Flame Eternal. Tearing the balls off the indoor Hell Stage after the sunbaked festival-goers had become ensconced by another smashing band, Sanguisugabogg, Cloak reigned at this two-day festival, drawing even more praise than headliners Cannibal Corpse, local heroes Misery Index, and even red-hot newcomers Escuela Grind. I caught 15 full sets on this day, maybe the most I’ve packed into a 24-hour period, and Cloak’s easily crested the rest. Amid a sea of bands captivated by dark themes, this one—led by master songsmith Scott Taysom—has a particularly bright future ahead.
9. Hexis at the Shredder in Boise, ID (November 20)
In typical Boise fashion, this show took place the same night another dose of heavy music (courtesy of Oryx) erupted less than a mile away. For a small city with an even smaller music scene, it’s criminal when such conflicts of like-minded bands occur. Combine that with their Monday night billing, and it’s a wonder anyone showed. Sixteen people did, to tip their caps to Denmark’s most overlooked heavy band. Hexis’ massive sound—call it a “wall of noise rock”—translated brilliantly amid nonstop strobe lights at this tiny club in spite of the sparse attendance. Here’s to a critical crossover group and its warm blanket of dissonance finally getting some much-deserved attention.
10. (tie) Covet at Treefort Music Fest in Boise, ID (March 20)
Let’s count the ways this set was so special. First, it saw the Bay Area math-rock band unveiling a slew of songs from the album it’d release a couple weeks later: Catharsis. Little did the crowd know that some of the new material found leader Yvette Young opening up about the abuse she suffered from a former bandmate. With the sun setting, and Young’s disclosures still fresh in mind from a conversation three days earlier, Covet’s performance was more than enough to bring tears to the eyes while the toe tapped along.
10. (tie) Jesus Piece at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (March 10)
Far superior to their lackluster set at the Hell in the Harbor Festival in Baltimore two months later, this show saw Aaron Heard and company prove why Jesus Piece would crop up on so many Top 10 lists at year’s end. When in top form, Heard’s engagement with the audience rivals that of any vocalist, shirtless or not. And when presented in any form, Jesus Piece’s recorded output is more or less bulletproof. “Metalcore” may be a pejorative, but this band—like so many others on this list—transcends mere subgenre classification.
12. Meshuggah at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
13. Gag at the Shrine Social Club in Boise, ID (August 24)
14. Sanguisugabogg at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
15. Wiegedood at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
16. Ghost Bath at the Shredder in Boise, ID (May 10)
17. Perturbator at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
18. Hulder at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
19. Cult of Luna at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
20. Deftones at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 21)
21. Borknagar at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
22. Escuela Grind at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
23. Moonspell at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 10)
24. The Ocean at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
25. Unreqvited at the Shredder in Boise, ID (May 10)
26. Anaal Nathrakh at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
27. LLNN at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
28. Belphegor at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 10)
29. Harakiri for the Sky at the Shredder in Boise, ID (May 10)
30. Wolfheart at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 10)
31. Scowl at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (March 10)
32. Deerhoof at Treefort Music Hall in Boise, ID (May 13)
33. Necrofier at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
34. Heaven Shall Burn at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
35. Cryptopsy at the Shredder in Boise, ID (September 27)
36. Built to Spill at Treefort Music Hall in Boise, ID (May 13)
37. High on Fire at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
High on Fire @ Levitation / photo by Kenn Box
38. Cult of Fire at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
39. Fearing at the Shrine Social Club in Boise, ID (August 24)
40. Gorguts at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (October 11)
41. Tribulation at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
42. Magic Sword at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (May 8)
43. Trivium at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
44. Cannibal Corpse at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (5.27) and the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (October 11)
45. Spectral Wound at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
46. Abysmal Dawn at the Shredder (September 27)
47. Bahamas at Treefort Music Hall (October 4)
48. Converge at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
49. Hypocrisy at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
50. Omnium Gatherum at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
51. Acid Witch at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
52. Undeath at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
53. Goatwhore at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
54. Nile at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
55. Immolation at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
56. Knocked Loose at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 20) and Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
57. Crippled Black Phoenix at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
58. Deadguy at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
59. Insanity Alert at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
60. Misery Index at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
61. Cephalic Carnage at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
62. Gorguts at the Knitting Factory in Boise, ID (October 11)
63. Slipknot at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 18)
64. The ’68 at the Knitting Factory (9th St. Parallel) in Boise, ID (May 15)
65. Sparta at the Knitting Factory (9th St. Parallel) in Boise, ID (May 15)
66. The Mars Volta at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 21)
67. Inter Arma at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
68. Callous Daoboys at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
69. Puscifer at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 18)
70. Black Tusk at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
71. Kreator at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 20)
72. Napalm Death at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
73. Weezer at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, ID (August 26)
74. Dinosaur Jr. at Treefort Music Fest in Boise, ID (March 20)
75. Sacramentum at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
76. Demonical at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
77. Dwarves (feat. Nick Oliveri) at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 27)
78. Pennywise at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 21)
79. The Cult at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 18)
80. Pig Destroyer at Hell in the Harbor in Baltimore (May 28)
81. Obituary at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
82. Lionheart at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
83. Malevolence at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 10)
84. Brett Young at the Morrison Center in Boise, ID (October 12)
85. Prism Bitch at Treefort Music Hall in Boise, ID (May 13)
86. Cabal at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
87. Fortunate Ones at Treefort Music Hall (October 4)
88. Dismember at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 10)
89. Trauma Kit at the Shrine Social Club in Boise, ID (August 24)
90. Coffin Feeder at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
91. Catastrofy at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 11)
92. Malevolence at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 18) and Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 10)
93. Marduk at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 12)
94. Reaping Asmodeia at the Shredder in Boise, ID (September 27)
95. Angelus Apatrida at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 9)
96. In Flames at Brutal Assault at Fortress Josef in Czechia (August 10)
97. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 20)
98. Steel Beans at Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, ID (October 14)
99. Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experiment at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Beach, FL (May 20)
100. xox at Flipside Fest in Garden City, ID (September 24)
