As our world continues to unravel into an uncertain and terrifying mess, it’s essential to hold on to the joys that still keep us grounded. For me, one of those joys is live music. 2025 was an extraordinary year, but when I look back on it, I’ll at least be able to recall some of the coolest moments I’ve ever experienced at shows. To recap (and rejoice in) those memories, here are my personal Top 10 Concerts of 2025.
10. Viagra Boys at The Salt Shed, Chicago (September 18, 2025)
Having announced the show back in December 2024, the Swedish post-punk heroes finally took over The Salt Shed after nearly a year of anticipation. Opening with an explosive rendition of “Man Made of Meat,” the band tore through material from their latest album, Viagra Boys, along with highlights from their previous work. The crowd was enthusiastic and relentless, never letting the energy dip for a moment. Chicago was ecstatic to have themback, and they left the city wanting more. An absolute shoe-in among the Top 10 Concerts of 2025!
9. Kendrick Lamar & SZA at The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis (June 4, 2025)
The Grand National Tour took the world by storm in 2025, and even on a stormy night in St. Louis, both Kendrick Lamar and SZA brought the heat. Coming off a phenomenal Super Bowl performance and a heated rap beef with Drake in 2024, Kendrick showcased his music with unmatched confidence. SZA, riding the global success of her 2022 album SOS, joined the tour as a force to be reckoned with. I’ll admit I bought my ticket purely for Kendrick, but I was blown away by SZA’s genre-bending performance. Hearing “euphoria” live and SZA’s beautiful rendition of “Nobody Gets Me” were undeniable highlights.
8. Will Wood at Concord Music Hall, Chicago (June 17, 2025)
On a friend’s recommendation, I went to cover Will Wood when he came through Chicago. Had it not been for that nudge, I would’ve skipped the show entirely. Lesson learned: listen to your friends. The venue was packed wall-to-wall with devoted fans who knew every lyric and hung on every word Wood spoke. The music was chaotic, the atmosphere friendly yet frantic, and the night unforgettable. The crowd took me by surprise and reminded me to take life less seriously and lean into the things I truly love.
7. IDLES at Riot Fest, Chicago (September 21, 2025)
How could I have a Top 10 Concerts of 2025 list without Riot Fest? One of my favorite punk bands played my favorite music festival. A booking so perfect it felt personal. IDLES have been touring their 2024 album Tangk relentlessly, and the final stretch brought them to Chicago’s South Side. I’ve seen them countless times, but this set felt different. Maybe it was the end-of-tour energy or the festival nearing its close, but from the moment they opened with “Heel/Heal,” it was clear something had shifted. Skipping their usual opener, “Colossus,” they opted for a rowdier approach that whipped the crowd into chaos before they even played a note. IDLES at Riot Fest is one I’ll never forget, especially those mosh pits.
6. My Chemical Romance at Soldier Field, Chicago (August 30, 2025)
Anyone who knows me won’t be surprised to see My Chemical Romance on this list. Even from the seats at Soldier Field, this show was jaw-dropping. What could’ve been an easy cash-grab anniversary tour turned into a dramatic, beautiful reinvention of The Black Parade. Nineteen years later, the album thundered through stadiums with renewed theatricality. The band leaned harder into their lore: military imagery, executions, even opera singers, you name it. All added flair that elevated the show beyond the standard reunion or anniversary tour.
5. Ghost at Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City (September 25, 2025)
This one should surprise no one. I love Ghost so much that I flew to Mexico City to catch the final show of their tour instead of seeing them in Chicago. Touring their new album Skeleta, the band doubled down on theatrics and pyrotechnics. What truly set this show apart, though, was the crowd. Mexico City showed up in full force, jumping, singing, and losing their minds for every song. Compared to the often phone-glued crowds I’ve seen in the U.S., this energy was on another level. It’s the kind of excitement I’ve only ever experienced outside America.
4. Acid Bath at The Salt Shed, Chicago (December 12, 2025)
This show completely caught me off guard, so it was easy to list it on my Top 10 Concerts of 2025 list. I jumped on the Acid Bath bandwagon shortly before their reunion announcement tied to the ill-fated 2025 Sick New World. Once the Chicago date was announced, missing it would’ve meant unbearable FOMO. Especially with High On Fire opening. Acid Bath sounded shockingly close to their studio recordings, delivering a crushing set. Fans crowd-surfed and screamed every word, giving the band their long-overdue flowers nearly thirty years after their last Chicago appearance.
3. Nine Inch Nails at United Center, Chicago (August 20, 2025)
Nine Inch Nails brought their highly anticipated Peel It Back Tour to Chicago for two legendary nights. While night one was powerful, night two proved more dynamic and emotionally charged. The eclectic setlist moved from stripped-down cuts like “Ruiner” to full-blown industrial assaults such as “March of the Pigs.” Even the lukewarm new single “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” hit harder live. Hearing Trent Reznor pour raw emotion into “Every Day Is Exactly the Same,” followed by the fury of “Burn” and “Gave Up,” was unforgettable. The dual-stage setup and blinding lights only added to the intensity.
2. The Prodigy at The Warfield, San Francisco (September 22, 2025)
Calling this a dream come true might be an understatement. Originally scheduled for April 14, the show was abruptly canceled, leaving me stranded and disappointed in San Francisco. All of that resentment vanished the second the bass rattled The Warfield. Perfectly warmed up by opening DJ Nitepunk, The Prodigy took the stage with pure menace. Opening with “Voodoo People,” they ignited a massive mosh pit and never let up, closing with “Out of Space.” I finally lived out a teenage dream: moshing to “Smack My Bitch Up.” Biased? Absolutely. Grateful? Beyond words. Considering they hadn’t played the U.S. in nearly a decade, it’s a night I wouldn’t trade for anything.
1. Oasis at Wembley Stadium, London (July 26, 2025)
Fucking biblical. That’s all I heard leading up to this show. By some miracle, I scored floor seats to the Oasis reunion at Wembley Stadium when tickets first went on sale. Nearly a year of anticipation built toward the moment they finally took the stage. I was completely out of my comfort zone by traveling to a part of the world I’d never been to, immersed in a culture I’d never experienced, and witnessing a live music event I will never, and frankly could never, experience again. Oasis at Wembley Stadium was pure magic, a term I don’t use lightly.
Outside the Top 10 Concerts of 2025, this show may have permanently ruined all other live shows for me.
An entire stadium cheering, singing every word, and showing their love for Oasis in ways I could only dream of seeing in the U.S. was something I never thought I’d experience. From the moment they opened with “Hello,” everyone on the floor jumped, and a ridiculous number of beer cups (and maybe a few cups of piss) flew into the air. “It’s good to be back,” indeed, Liam Gallagher. I screamed my heart out to “Morning Glory” and “Some Might Say,” did the Poznan to “Cigarettes and Alcohol,” and sang my teary-eyed soul away to “Champagne Supernova.”
This level of love and emotion at a concert was new to me, and I don’t know if I’ll ever experience anything like it again, at least not in America. It was a biblical night, absolutely worth every penny of the very expensive trip. Oasis, thank you for making my year.
