Top Concerts of 2020
Grace Potter
February 7, 2020 @ Riviera Theatre
By Dave Miller
It was as if Grace Potter knew what was coming this year. As her February concert at the Riviera Theatre ran through a sizzling encore that brought the show to a scheduled big finish, the dazzler asked when curfew was. Told she hit it, Potter refused to stop and played a couple more songs with devil-may-care defiance to crank her magnificent performance to 11. Breaking curfew probably cost her money, but after COVID-19 soon afterward shut down shows, not to mention the rest of our way of life, indefinitely, what would you give right now to watch a favorite band play a couple songs?
While not all have learned basic important lessons that would shorten our suffering at the hands of the pandemic, by now I suspect many concertgoers have come to a conclusion: We may not need live shows to survive, but we need them to live. A good concert takes us from merely existing to making us feel alive. In retrospect, I wish I attended more shows while they were still being played. I'd have tried harder during a busy weekend to make that John Cale show back at the end of January at the Art Institute. Reports called it a great one. Same goes for Dave Alvin on the same night at FitzGerald's. Probably could have seen both with some hustle. And then there were the shows we had tickets for, but were cancelled. I was deeply disappointed not to be able to use my Pussy Riot and Kraftwerk tickets. I was anticipating having the chance to see Bruce Springsteen for the millionth time and Kills Birds for the first time. I wonder who I missed out discovering on a small stage at Riot Fest or seeing open for the opener. And we're also going to miss out on great music years from now because some teenagers never wound up getting together to form a band in some garage or basement this year.
While it's been a rough year for everybody let's not forget the people we go to watch play music as well as the ones who operate and work at venues that allow it to happen. Let's support them as much as we can by buying their music and t-shirts and gift certificates so they're still there to enjoy when we can experience live music together again.
At the moment, I feel like Grace Potter at curfew time; I'm not going to stop. At the risk of being silly trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy, I offer my annual list of the best concerts of the year even though Covid caused me to catch just six sets in 2020. Turn it up to...4? Here’s my ranking of the memorable ones:
1. Grace Potter, Feb. 7 at Riviera Theatre -- Returning to Chicago for the first time in five years after seeing her marriage and backing Nocturnals break up, Potter brings a new band, an album of fresh material, a young son from a new husband, and a hunger to prove it all night. It's like she never left. The mesmerizing singer, guitar player, organist, tambourine shaker, and dancer doesn't want to leave the stage while shaking the rafters of the decrepit joint.
2. Blackfoot Gypsies, March 4 at FitzGerald's -- A night that started like a funeral as the FitzGeralds sold the nightclub earlier in the day turned into a celebration as the family expressed their thanks, said their goodbyes and then hosted their final concert. The Blackfoot Gypsies meet the moment and raise the roof with their hillbilly, Faces rock-and-roll to send the family off in proper fashion.
3. Michael Kiwanuka, Feb. 4 at House of Blues -- In strong voice often singing a foot away from the mic, Kiwanuka updates '70s soul and ventures into jam band territory with a dash of Pink Floyd. His terrific band is with him every step of the wonderful way.
4. Devon Gifillian, Feb. 7 at Riviera Theatre -- Like the headliner, Gilfillian shows himself to be a multi-dimensional talent with soulful singing, ripping guitar and expert entertaining. He makes the most of his time playing his just-released album with on-the-rise promise and earns his walk-on duet with Potter during her set.