top of page

Greg's Top Ten
Concerts For 
2024

December 26, 2024

​

It's time to take a look back on the 2024 concert season.  I went to 43 different concerts this year and saw over 60 different artists perform live.  Some were good, some were not so good, while others stood out above the rest.

​

Without further ado, here are my Top Ten Concerts for 2024.

​

10.  Blackberry Smoke (Temple Live)  I first saw these guys open up for ZZ Top in 2015 and I have been a fan and have been seeing them live ever since.  They are a great rock and roll band with a southern rock twinge.  Even though founding member and drummer Brit Turner passed away earlier this year, the band has carried on and still puts on one heck of a show. 

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

9.  AJR/almost monday (Rocket Mortage Fieldhouse)  The brothers in AJR are fun and entertaining while playing their pop rock tunes.  A nearly sold-out Fieldhouse would agree.  Up and comers almost monday have great, catchy pop songs as well. 

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

8.  Hank Williams Jr. (Blossom)  It was the first time seeing this country music legend and he sure did not disappoint.  He played all the hits, told some stories and sounded fantastic.  Marty Stuart opened the show with a great set of tunes of his own.  It was a great night of classic country.

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

7.  Tommy James (Robins Theatre)  Another icon to check off by bucket list.  Tommy James has so many hits, it really is amazing that he isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Tommy and his backing band put on a straight ahead,  old school rock and roll show.  He sounds fantastic and all the hits were played. â€‹

​

​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

​​​

6.  Mammoth WVH (MGM) Wolfgang Van Halen and the boys never disappoint.  What a great newer rock band that knows how to deliver the goods.  I was lucky enough to see them twice this year when they opened up for Creed. When they went into "Take A Bow" I told the guy next to me that this is the best guitar solo of the year.  After Wolfie was done melting faces, he and his buddies jaws were on the floor and said, "that was awesome!"  Sometimes, I know what I'm talking about.

​​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

5. Jeff Lynn's ELO (Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse)  Great sounding show and it was awesome to hear all of those ELO hits from the '70s.  

​

4.  Billy Joel (Cleveland Browns Stadium)  This was my 5th time seeing Billy Joel and he is still incredible to see live.  So many songs, so many hits.  And of course to sing "Piano Man" with 60,000 of your closest friends is the reason why we go to concerts in the first place.​

​

3.  Rock Hall Induction Ceremony (Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse)  Yes, it is an awards show, but with so many great performances, it is also a concert.  Kool and the Gang and Peter Frampton stole the show with outstanding performances.  Of course to see Dionne Warwick, Cher, Foreigner and Dave Matthews Band was great too!

​

2.  Sammy Hagar (Blossom) It was the Best of All Worlds Tour as Sammy, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Jason Bonham celebrated the Hagar years of Van Halen.  It was great hearing so many deep cuts that hadn't been played in years.  Of course a few Sammy solo tunes and even a couple of Dave era VH tunes made the setlist.  This old Van Halen fan was smiling all night. 

​​

​​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

​

1.   The Rolling Stones (Cleveland Browns Stadium)  What can you say about the Rolling Stones that hasn't already been said?   You would never know that Mick and Keith were 80 years old and Ronnie Wood was 77 by the way they moved all over the stage and the energy they exuded.  They were incredible.  Knowing that it just may be the last time the band plays in Cleveland, they sure gave us a fine send-offf and memories of a lifetime.

​

​

Here's to an exciting 2025.  I wonder who will be in my Top Ten next year? 

​

​

Photos by Greg Drugan

​

​

​

​

bottom of page