Underground Sounds with Chad Miller: Favorite Concerts of 2024
By Chad Miller - Summit FM Music Director
Anyone who knows me well knows that I absolutely love going to concerts. It's my favorite thing to do. If we're being honest, it's also about the overall experience. Everything from getting excited about seeing an artist or band you're a big fan of or even casually curious about. Being inside the venue as the anticipation builds, with all the sights, sounds, senses, and history. Hanging out with a friend or several friends all evening while being surrounded by hundreds of other people, all there for the same reason: purely soaking in the atmosphere as lifetime memories of a singular moment in time are formed. Really, even just being entertained for the evening!
So, with that, I'm sharing with you my list of the 25 best concerts I've seen this year to close out 2024. Trust me when I tell you that it was HARD narrowing this down, but these live music highlights were certainly the best I was lucky enough to see throughout the year:
#25 Maggie Rose - May 30 - Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, OH
Holy smokes! Her voice is phenomenal, and she makes it seem so effortless! On the cusp of summer, everyone in attendance was treated to a stellar performance from rootsy alt-country singer-songwriter Maggie Rose with her lively and soulful songs in the first of two times I got to see her this year. After experiencing her live show, it's easy to see why she's been nominated for a Grammy award. Deservedly so from a refreshingly down-to-earth musician.
#24 Real Estate - April 12 - The Roxy at Mahall's in Lakewood, OH
Jangly sounding and melodic indie rock at its finest with the easygoing and enjoyable sounds of the band Real Estate with a very satisfying sold-out concert that night just outside of Cleveland. They’ve been favorites of mine for a long time and getting to hear their song "Water Underground" live that night, one of my favorites of 2024, was a true highlight. Music that's so pleasant and easy to love in a way that'll have you humming along in no time.
#23 Alvvays - April 18 - Agora Theater in Cleveland, OH
Taking a well-deserved victory lap as part of an additional brief round of touring in support of their outstanding third album, "Blue Rev," released in late 2022, these guys finally hit northeast Ohio in the process. They're the total package of charming, adorable, eminently likable, nerd-friendly Canadian indie rock. What's not to love?! The Toronto-based band Alvvays put on a super fun concert, kicking off their tour that spring evening in Cleveland.
#22 Iron & Wine - August 20 - Agora Theater in Cleveland, OH
Coming off a spellbinding Studio C session earlier in the day at The Summit, it was quite a mesmerizing concert from Iron & Wine elevated by the backdrop of shadow puppet art created by Chicago-based collective Manual Cinema. Doing so in real time added a uniquely captivating background aesthetic that was hard to take one's eyes off of. All in good time, though, it was a fantastic visual element combined with the music of Sam Beam and his band.
#21 Bully - April 27 - Federal Frenzy in Youngstown, OH
It was a perfect day in Youngstown on the last Saturday in April for the annual "Federal Frenzy 2024" music festival, with headlining act Bully and many local bands performing throughout the day. The good folks at YSU Penguin Productions organize a great event each year, with Penguin City Brewing hosting and Forty Two Event Productions setting everything up. Meanwhile, as expected, Bully showed everyone how to rock out that night as they do!
#20 Detention / Off-Leash - June 29 - Akron, OH
It's always very rewarding to see the local bands in our 330 area code take the next step in their evolution. It can be both daunting and gutsy at the same time. That was the case with a historic moment as the world premiere debut of the new iteration of Akron local band greats Detention, now known as Off-Leash, blew away the sweaty crowd that hot summer night with their all-out high-energy rock assault. A new chapter begins for this defiant young band.
#19 Hinds - October 22 - Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights, OH
Certainly, one of the more charming and effervescent acts we’ve had here at The Summit in a long time as Madrid, Spain-based band Hinds were kind enough to join our members for a Studio C session. After that, these ladies displayed youthful exuberance and joyfulness humanly possible as they put on an irresistible concert with non-stop smiles all night in Cleveland Heights. Energy for days and a must-see live band!
#18 Thee Sacred Souls - July 28 - Nelsonville Music Festival in Nelsonville, OH
When the lineup was finally announced in late March, one of the bands I looked forward to seeing the most at this gem of a music festival held that coveted headlining spot on the last night. This group's retro soul vibes were the perfect close to an epic weekend in southeast Ohio. Lead singer Josh Lane's comfort level and earnestness were engaging, but his taking off running into the crowd during a few songs endeared the band to everyone.
#17 The National - September 21 - Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH
How could this be The National's first tour stop in Cleveland in seventeen years?! It's been a long time since then when they were hitting their stride. This night, however, part of a co-headlining tour with The War on Drugs, was nothing short of magnificent on a beautiful night when summer changed to fall. The band ran through new and old favorites with the assured and steady conviction that defines their live show.
#16 The Hives - September 17 - House of Blues in Cleveland, OH
Patience paid off as I saw this legendary Swedish garage rock band in concert for the first time after waiting over twenty years after discovering their breakthrough album "Veni Vidi Vicious" in 2002. The showmanship and especially the charm were off the charts from lead singer Pelle Almqvist, who led the way, whipping the crowd up into a frenzy and seeming like the ringleader of a circus with his one-liners. It was every bit of a good time as I’d anticipated!
#15 Hozier - August 6 - Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Upon having some of the biggest songs across America over the course of this past summer, northeast Ohio turned out in droves to see the great Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, who put on a highly anticipated performance at Blossom. The threat of heavy thunderstorms thankfully held off as the packed crowd was treated to an emotional and poetic night of songs that were quite powerful to see and hear. He is one of the best at what he does.
#14 Mdou Moctar - June 20 - Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, OH
Good lord, this band absolutely ROCKS!!! Third time seeing Mdou Moctar, the Tuareg guitar rock band from Niger, and these guys completely obliterated a sold-out crowd. It was nearly impossible to move inside the Beachland that night! Out of this world guitar riffing and rock grooves at the speed of light with a sound that's unlike pretty much anyone else out there. Highly recommended and well worth your attention. Whew… that was a killer show!
#13 Stephen Sanchez - August 7 - Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland, OH
This young man is a STAR! At just 22 years old, he's very much an old soul. At the same time, what an absolute dreamboat this young fella is! Incorporating the stage production of an old time-y television variety show in between songs while onstage, Sanchez and his magnetic retro crooner troubadour vibes had all the young girls in attendance screaming their approval throughout his dazzling performance that warm summer night in Cleveland.
#12 Lake Street Dive - July 9 - Temple Live Masonic in Cleveland, OH
It is literally impossible not to love this band or resist getting caught up in their charismatic stage presence, especially from unstoppable lead singer Rachael Price. Lake Street Dive is equal parts sassy, seductive, sultry, and oozing with charisma for days. They absolutely had this crowd going bananas on a wild evening, and the audience seemed even more swept away than usual, dancing around like I've never seen before at one of their gigs.
#11 Green Day - September 1 - PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
Well, it's not every day you get to go to an actual stadium concert! This one had all the '90s alt-rock nostalgia feels, too, with Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid also on the bill. It all has to be as BIG as humanly possible at these massive venues, and that's exactly what Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Green Day did as they ran through both classic albums "Dookie" AND "American Idiot," marking their respective anniversaries along with other mega-hits along the way.
#10 Vampire Weekend - September 19 - Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH
It's easy to forget sometimes just how many bangers were stacked into this band's first two albums, and it was so good to hear those old classics and music from the new album. These NYC indie-rock forefathers played all the hits and then some, including an encore of random, off-the-cuff cover songs by fan request! Vampire Weekend charmed everyone in attendance on a beautiful early fall night in one of the more engaging concerts I saw all year.
#9 Waxahatchee - August 26 - Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, PA
As a longtime superfan of her music, I'm not ashamed to say that I was totally swooning all night after this absolutely wonderful performance from Katie Crutchfield's musical project Waxahatchee in a breathtakingly gorgeous venue in Pittsburgh, which I’d not been to in fourteen years. This was one of the shows I looked forward to most all year, and it did not disappoint. It was a terrific show of confidence from one of the great songwriters and voices of our generation.
#8 Alanis Morissette - July 17 - Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH
An evening filled with ‘90s nostalgia, with the one and only Alanis in concert exuding pure joy onstage with all those megahits we know and love. To be able to hear an insanely packed crowd sing along WAY out loud to those familiar favorites brought up some emotions and nostalgic memories in that time of life during my youth that I don't think I was fully prepared for. One of the most enjoyable concerts I’ve been to in a long time and my first time finally seeing her!
#7 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - August 24 - Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland, OH
This one was absolutely WILD! After being familiar with their hyper prolific album output, I literally went to see what all the fuss was about, and WOW… this Australian psych-rock band slayed that late summer night alternating between jam band territory, to scuzzy fuzzy psych rock, to super heavy stoner metal all with effortless ease. The cult following I’ve always heard about was quite evident, with a mile-long merch line, an insanely energetic sold-out crowd, and a fierce mosh pit. This was quite unlike any concert I’ve ever seen!
#6 Khruangbin - June 5 - Kemba Live in Columbus, OH
AMAZING!!! The concert I’d been looking forward to the most this year did NOT disappoint. It never does with the unstoppable charisma and precision of execution from Khruangbin, who crushed it that night in Columbus. These three make pure magic together, individually and collectively, and they also seemed to summon the weather that night literally. Each show on the tour saw them play the new album in full, and as they played that final song, which included the sounds of rain showers, real drizzly raindrops started to fall on the crowd in attendance! They're an utterly amazing and phenomenal live band!
#5 The Kills - February 13 - Newport Music Hall in Columbus, OH
Little late to the party in getting into this band fully, but when I did about eight years ago, I was hooked and couldn't wait to see them live. That finally happened as Allison Mosshart and Jamie Hince took themselves out on tour to support their killer new album "God Games." Just the two of them on guitar, too. That’s it! Few rock bands shred with absolute fury like these two! No one comes close to being as badass as The Kills onstage, who annihilated the crowd assembled that winter evening in Columbus. It was an unbelievable rock show and I was absolutely blown away. Holy schnikes!!
#4 Jack White - August 29 - Mr. Smalls Theater in Pittsburgh, PA
The single greatest rockstar of our generation dropped a mysterious album in July titled "No Name." As the weeks went on, more layers about it came to light before its official vinyl release on August 2. After that, a tour happened--but not how musicians normally do it. Spontaneous "pop-up" concerts in small venues were announced, with sometimes only 48 hours’ notice, putting all the would-be attendees in a frenzy. Redefining the music industry while marketing his own music is what he's always done best. With his live show, it absolutely delivers, and as the buzz built for this show, which was one of the first on the "pop-up" tour, the anticipation in and around the venue was at a fever pitch. It was absolutely nuts in there as Jack White put on a masterclass of an effing rock concert on an unforgettable night in Pittsburgh.
#3 Jack White - August 31 - Newport Music Hall in Columbus, OH
Two days after the first one in Pittsburgh, I was lucky to be there again to see Jack White in Columbus! When going to a Jack White show, if you're like me and want to get one of the limited-edition concert posters and/or get as close as possible for a good spot on the crowd, you must get there early to get in line when doors open. I arrived at 4:00 pm for doors at 7:00 pm! The long wait was so worth it as this show topped the previous tour stop in Pittsburgh days before with an even more killer selection of older songs and even the further back classics! I'd also say that my love of this venue added to the memory as it was the perfect setting to see Jack White absolutely obliterate that crowd with the rock show of a damn lifetime.
#2 Pearl Jam - September 9 - Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA
I've been following this band live since their debut album in 1991. I've been seeing them live since 2000 upon graduating from college, and they've been my favorites all along for me. Going to see Pearl Jam in concert always makes you feel like you're a part of something. Life-affirming and full of heart and humanity as always from the BEST live band to ever walk planet Earth. The altruism at one of their shows does seem to manifest itself in ways you sometimes don't see coming and makes for an immensely special night of community. Not to mention the music! With these legends now twelve albums in, you never know what you'll get from one night to the next. Radio hits, deep cuts, fan favorites, songs from the new album, and potential b-sides, covers, and rarities. That's half the fun of going! Pearl Jam concert #23 was unbelievably special for me that night in Philadelphia, a city where they always deliver.
#1 Amyl & the Sniffers - July 26 - Nelsonville Music Festival in Nelsonville, OH
BEST CONCERT OF THE YEAR! I was so amped to see this band on the first night of the annual Nelsonville Music Festival this past summer. Keeping up with this fierce Aussie punk band for the last few years with their first two albums, I had always loved what I heard, especially from the force of nature that is lead singer Amy Taylor, who is one of the most in-your-face frontwomen in rock music. Back on May 21, they released a new single, "U Should Not be Doing That," which, upon hearing it by watching the music video for it, instantly became my favorite song of the year. Oh my god, it rocked with swagger, bravado, and raucousness for days! Seriously...watch this music video!!! That first evening of NMF in which they performed, it was all I could do to leave the radio station at a decent hour to make the two-and-half-hour trip down there in time to see them, but I made it just in time! What I saw was utterly insane as the band unloaded absolute fury and energy, with Taylor moving, gyrating, and rocking out continuously on stage for the entire hour-long set. It was one of the most powerful performances I've ever seen, and I was still buzzing about it the rest of the weekend. After experiencing such an incredible and exhilarating moment of live music like that, I would run through a brick wall for Amyl & the Sniffers. The buzz afterward amongst the festival attendees was very real as well. You can see this electrifying band on May 13 at the Agora Theater in Cleveland. If you love live music like I do, I suggest you attend!
What were the best and most memorable concerts YOU attended in 2024? Email me at chad@thesummit.fm, and let me know who you were able to see LIVE!