As a Chicago-based live show junkie, it’s hard to truly understand how fortunate I am to attend concerts as regularly as I do. At the time of writing this article, I’ve attended 68 concerts this year alone! From small shows at dive bars to some of the biggest music festivals in the US. That’s probably over 200 artists I had the pleasure (and displeasure) of seeing. This year has been an insane year for live music. Picking only ten concerts to call the best was brutal. After all, almost every concert I attended had a profound effect on me. Nevertheless, I did my best. So here’s my list. The Top Ten Concerts of 2022.
Before this list goes underway, I’d like to give a quick shoutout to some other concerts I attended. Since my Top Ten list has repeat artists (and I want to talk about more concerts I attended!)
IDLES at Metro (Chicago) – Thursday, July 28, 2022
It’s not an IDLES show if your shirt isn’t completely drenched in sweat and you feel like you’ve completed a triathlon.
Code Orange at Metro – Monday, April 4, 2022
Code Orange concert not only broke my neck and hit harder than I’ve ever felt, but they also gave me hope for the future of live music and the future of metal.
Deftones at Huntington Bank Pavilion (Chicago) – Friday, May 27, 2022
Sonic abuse. That’s all that can be said about a Deftones concert.
10. Slipknot at Peoria Civic Center (Peoria, IL) – Thursday, April 7, 2022
A whopping 20-song setlist was furiously delivered by all nine band members who gave Peoria everything they had. The arena atmosphere of Slipknot concerts are grand yet strangely intimate. This was my fourth time seeing the band, and it was by far (to this day) the rowdiest. The 5-hour trip starting beginning at 4:30 am was definitely worth it. Corey Taylor hyping the crowd with, “My friends! My fucking family!” will never get old, no matter how many times I see them.
9. My Chemical Romance at MVP Arena (Albany, NY) – Tuesday, August 30, 2022
I’m still not okay from this show. Despite being mostly a pop-punk band, their concerts feel super metal. “Vampires Will Never Hurt You” went harder than anything that night, and it blessed me with Gerard’s graceful headbanging. Ray Toro came close to the audience during the solo in “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” and I thought the crowd surge was gonna kill me. Yes, I cried at the show. Nothing beats singing the bridge of “Famous Last Words” a capella with an arena full of MCR.
Every song they played had me screaming in joy like a child. As amazing as everyone in the band is, I couldn’t help but be fixated on the joy of Gerard Way. I waited seven hours in the blazing heat and a flash flood to be close to the front for this concert. And even though by the end of the show I was covered in sweat and rainwater, I’d it all over again. This band is truly a treasure.
8. The Original Misfits at Riot Fest (Chicago) – Saturday, September 17, 2022
You can say what you want about the Misfits reunions, but nothing will leave as adrenalized and crazed with punk fever as one of these shows. After Gogol Bordello forced the Misfits to be late, the Riot Fest crowd was especially rowdy. Dave Lombardo’s raucous drumming complimented Glenn Danzig’s still-bad-ass vocals, while Jerry Only and Doyle’s aesthetic only elevated their live show. Every song was treated with the respect it deserved by screaming along with every lyric and moshing until there was no more energy to give. I have no idea if the Misfits will continue doing these reunion shows, but this crowd sure acted as if it were the last!
7. Rage Against the Machine at Alpine Valley Music Theatre (East Troy, WI) – Saturday, July 9, 2022
I have been a Rage Against the Machine fan since I was 14 and I never dreamed I would ever see them live. Needless to say, I lost my shit when they announced their reunion. To see them at their first show in 11 years felt like the universe blessing me for being a fan all these years. The setlist was damn near perfect, and the new stage production was legendary. The band looked like tiny specs of dust in the distance where I was. However, being on the lawn for this amphitheater show was no problem, as Rage transferred their fury throughout the entire venue. A feat I can’t say I’ve ever seen a band successfully pull off.
Nobody has or ever will have the energy that Rage Against the Machine does at their concerts. My voice was gone and my body was sore but I couldn’t help but cry ugly tears of joy after the show. With full sincerity, that night was a dream come true. How could it get any better?
6. Rage Against the Machine at United Center (Chicago, IL) – Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Okay, it can get better. In fact, it can be better by being on the barricade while Zack de la Rocha is screaming in your face! My third time seeing Rage was amazing. Their addition of “Vietnow” and “No Shelter” was a welcome surprise. Despite a leg injury from the previous night’s show, Zack was still able to bring the raging energy despite being seated the entire show. With the maddening rhythm duo of bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk along with Tom Morello forever being a guitar god, The blinding lights of their show were truly chaotic. With political vengeance and fierce music, the three Rage shows that started their tour were some of the best concerts of my life. The second show will definitely appear on this list.
5. Rammstein at Soldier Field (Chicago, IL) – Saturday, September 3, 2022
When Rammstein came to the Museum Campus in Chicago, it was truly a sight to see. Thousands upon thousands of metalheads dressed in all black with every accessory imaginable (myself included) flocked to the Chicago Bears home stadium that day for an evening two years in the making. Rammstein ensured that the two-year wait was worth it. Showcasing every crazy spectacle that made them famous in an even grander fashion than video or photo can ever do justice.
Being on the barricade allowed me to witness the intense production of a Rammstein concert up close. Every flame felt as if my skin would melt. Each explosion threatened to rupture my eardrums and every blinding light dared me to stare. Earplugs were useless. Till Lindemann came on my face along with hundreds of others in the pit. Yes, you read that right.
4. Iron Maiden at United Center – Wednesday, October 5, 2022
I’m a child who loves fire and giant monsters so no wonder an Iron Maiden show would be one of the most exciting nights of my life. From the giant monstrosity of Eddie to the burning heat of flames, every gimmick the band pulled off was so perfectly executed All to the ferocity of their music. It’s a miracle singer Bruce Dickinson can still sound as incredible as he does. This metal spectacle lasted just over two hours and there wasn’t a single dull moment. The crowd sang every lyric to every song, jumped, and banged their heads. This gave the legends the energy and respect they deserved.
3. Nine Inch Nails at Riot Fest – Sunday, September 18, 2022
This show was deafening, blinding, and dangerous. Basically, everything that could do me harm was mesmerizing (I know, there’s something wrong with me). From the haunting opener, “Somewhat Damaged” to the exhilarating surprise of “Heresy,” Trent Reznor and company delivered a true spectacle that makes you feel special for witnessing. The crowd showed no signs of burnout after a weekend of rocking out. Deep cuts like “Burn” and all-time classics like “Head Like A Hole” only ignited the crowd.
There is an undeniable thrill in seeing this band in concert. Their ability to evoke a wide array of emotions, from rage to despair, is undeniably special. It’s no secret the band has played “Hurt” countless times, but even so, Trent Reznor will make you feel as if those lyrics are still painful to him and the audience after 28 years. Leaving you feeling blessed and hurt at the end of the show.
2. Slipknot at Alpine Valley Music Theatre – Saturday, June 4, 2022
2022 blessed me with the opportunity of seeing Slipknot in concert three times. This was the (almost) perfect Slipknot show. The crowd was wild as ever, the setlist was (almost) flawless, and every member of the band was on point like never before. Alpine Valley Music Theatre is also one of the most beautiful venues I’ve ever attended. Going to this concert itself was an adventure, but Slipknot’s performance made it worthwhile.
From where I was standing I had a clear view of guitarist Mick Thomson the entire show. Seeing these musicians up close gave me such a big appreciation and the opportunity to notice things I’d never seen the band do before. That was until whatever explosive pyro or inferno flames shot up and thus boosted my adrenaline. Leaving that concert made me sweaty and brutally sore, and I legitimately lost my voice after the concert. That’s how I knew it was memorable.
1. Rage Against the Machine at United Center – Monday, July 11, 2022
This doesn’t just get the honor of being one of the best concerts of 2022, but the best show of my life. I seriously adore this band and I knew that being able to see them up close after two years of COVID-19-related postponements was going to be life-changing. Waiting 90 minutes before the show got me extremely close to the stage. Being at the concert didn’t feel real until the second the curtain dropped. The words “FEAR IS YOUR ONLY GOD” occupied the giant screen behind them, and Zack de la Rocha screamed out, “Ayy, yo, it’s just another bomb track!”. The Alpine Valley show was a magical night, but this perfect storm of chaos was the ultimate thrill.
Words cannot describe how much being in that crowd hurt. The surge was barbaric and after every song, it only got more intense.
“Bulls On Parade,” was a maddening moment of blinding flashing lights, bodies crushing each other, and crowd surfers. I should count myself lucky to see Zack move around on his two feet during that show. Yep, this was the infamous show where he injured his leg four songs in. This is only a testament to the power of their music and performance. Zack sat on a monitor on the left side of the stage for the rest of the show and tried his best to stay seated the whole show.
It was from this monitor that Zack delivered a brutal monologue during the calm part of “Wake Up,” urging us to knock the ruling class “right the fuck on its ass.”. From there he delivered the fury and rage as he did at Alpine Valley, only I got to witness it up close. To see that man deliver those words and express such energy after sustaining a major injury is honestly breathtaking. This didn’t take energy away from the crowd. In fact, the crowd was now responsible for screaming out every lyric and reciprocating the energy the band was trying so hard to maintain.
The energy never died, even down to the final “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” the ultimate lyric of defiance in an arena filled with thousands of fans witnessing history.
All photos by Oscar De Leon
