“Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me”
– Benny Andersson / Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA) – 1978
For my last post of the year, I’d like to look back at some of the live music shows I attended in 2025. As ABBA so aptly sang, “Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing; thanks for all the joy they’re bringing. Who can live without it?” With some personal and pet health issues limiting our ability to travel this year, we opted to steer our entertainment funds to live music. People often ask how much we spend on concert tickets. I generally keep that confidential, but this year I kept track, and I’ll spill the beans- it came to a whopping $16,614 for the year, including over 50 shows. While many local performances were free or had a minimal cover charge, for a few of the bigger acts we purchased VIP packages, which frequently include up-close seats, special merchandise, set tours, sound checks, pre-show parties, meet and greets, etc. It’s always a fun (albeit costly) time.
I’ve tried to come up with a “Top 10” list of favorite performances. It wasn’t easy, so I’ll give you a “top 10” along with another 15 “honorable mention” shows. These are not necessarily in order of the “greatest” bands, but just the concerts I enjoyed the most. Note there were plenty of other great shows in the Philadelphia area this year that I couldn’t fit into my schedule but probably would have made the list had I been able to attend (such as the upcoming Pierre Robert tribute).
1- David Byrne (10/16/2025, The Met – Philly)
The David Byrne show at the Met easily came in as #1. It was my first time seeing him, and the show exceeded my expectations. We got to take a behind the scenes stage tour before the show, and learned interesting facts like the production used a total of 4 miles of cable, the set video screens included 4-5 million pixels, and there were 68 RF (Radio Frequency) channels for the show. The set design was above and beyond anything I’d ever seen before. For the song “My Apartment is My Friend” (which he wrote during the CoVid isolation), the stage turned into a panoramic, rotating view of his actual apartment. I felt like we were in his home as he was singing. In addition to the incredible set design, he had a large, talented, diverse group of musicians, singers and dancers from around the world. Every song was intricately choreographed, with each performer singing, playing instruments, and doing complex dance routines in unison. It was quite a sight to behold. I can’t remember what I had for breakfast, but the 73-year-old Byrne had no trouble remembering the complex choreography for every song. While he may not be rock’s greatest vocalist, David Byrne’s unique vocal style and songwriting resulted in a show that really pulled me in. I didn’t want it to end.
2- John Lennon Tribute Concert featuring Judy Collins, Graham Nash, Suzanne Vega, Willie Nile, Livingston Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Yola, Valerie June, and the Kennedys (12/12/2025, The Town Hall- New York City)
Ad a John Lennon fan, I hate to admit this was the 45th annual John Lennon tribute benefit and I’d never heard of it before. When Willie Nile posted that he would be performing at the show, I checked it out and decided I wanted to be there, even though it meant taking a trip to New York City. The longest running John Lennon tribute concert in the world and the only event of its kind to be sanctioned by Yoko Ono, the Tribute joyfully celebrates John Lennon’s life, music and timeless message of peace and love. The proceeds benefit Theatre Within, the nonprofit behind the John Lennon Real Love Project- a free songwriting program for families impacted by cancer and public elementary school children. It was hosted by comedy writer Joe Raiola, who got things off with a hysterical routine about getting older and responding to the question “How are you?” with “Well, I have…” and a rapid-fire list of about 100 aliments, most of which I myself have had. But it was all about the music, and what a group of performers they had! 86-year-old Judy Collins received the 2025 John Lennon Real Love Award, celebrating Lennon’s enduring impact and keeping his memory alive through the very ideals he championed. The performers mainly sang John Lennon compositions, with a couple of the artists’ “greatest hits” thrown in. My personal favorites- Graham Nash’s cover of “Love”, Nash and Judy Collins’ duet cover of “Imagine”, high-energy Yola’s Tina-Turner-inspired cover of “Revolution”, Lucy Kaplansky and Shawn Colvin’s duet interpretation of “Working Class Hero”, and Willie Nile’s rocking versions of “Help” and “A Hard Day’s Night”. It ended with a touching group sing-along of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”. To top things off, Eva was the high bidder on a Martin ukulele, autographed by Graham Nash and Judy Collins, with the proceeds benefiting the Real Love Project.
3- Rod Stewart / Cheap Trick (7/12/2025, Mann Music Center)
I had never seen Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart before, so I figured it’s now or never. This show was another big-time production. It had a Las-Vegas show feel to it, with fancy costumes, a big backing band, and a talented group of supporting vocalists/dancers. It was nothing but hits from the 80-year-old Stewart. He covered his long career including his 16 top-10 songs in the U.S. He certainly remains “Forever Young”. We had front row seats for this one, and it was well worth it, as Rod frequently interacted with the audience, even holding Eva’s hand at one point. He seemed to be having a great time on stage. This was a great double bill, with a band we’ve seen a few times before, Cheap Trick, opening the show. Robin Zander still sounded great on lead vocals. Rick Nielsen on lead guitar seemed a bit frail on stage, but he played well and interacted a lot with the audience. A fun night!
4- The Who (8/30/2025, Madison Square Garden)
It had been quite a while since the last time we saw the Who, so this was another show where we wanted to see some octogenarian rock stars one last time. We were unable to make their show in Philly, so we travelled to New York to see them at the Garden. We purchased a VIP package, which included attending the sound check and a pre-show buffet. In addition to playing some songs and working out some things with the band during the sound check, they talked a bit to the VIPs, which was an unexpected bonus. Roger sounded incredibly good for his age- some of those Who songs are certainly not easy to sing. There was something ironic about him still singing the line “Hope I die before I get old” in “My Generation”, but I still love the song. He may have forgotten a lyric or two, but it didn’t detract a bit from the show- in fact he joked about it afterwards. It was certainly a memorable performance, full of all the Who classics. Opening the night was Canadian Indie-pop singer-songwriter Feist, whom I really enjoyed, although she faced an uphill battle trying to get the attention of the people there to see the Who.
5- Doobie Brothers (8/13/2025, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden NJ)
With Eva out of town, I decided at the last minute to scoop up a solo ticket to see one of my favorite bands, the Doobie Brothers. I’ve seen them many times over the years, going back to the mid-70s, and they always put on a good show. It had been a while since I had seen them with Michael McDonald, so that was an extra reason to see them once again. I was always more of a Tom Johnston rocker kind of guy, but I also enjoyed the more soulful Michael McDonald years, so I was looking forward to hearing that era of hits as well as the Johnston/Simmons classics. Unfortunately, the night was most memorable for a prolonged thunderstorm, which delayed the show at the outdoor venue for over an hour, and ended up cutting a few songs from the Doobies’ set list. But it was still a great show, with all 3 lead vocalists still at the top of their game, and I just loved hearing so many favorite songs from my youth. Jimmy Buffet’s supporting group, the Coral Reefer Band, kicked off the night with a touching tribute to Jimmy, who had recently passed.
6- Styx / Kevin Cronin / Don Felder (8/8/2025, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden NJ)
This triple bill was intriguing- we had seen Styx before, but it’s been several decades. While their lineup has changed over years, they are still led by Tommy Shaw and James Young. Kevin Cronin was the lead vocalist and guitarist for REO Speedwagon. Don Felder was the lead guitarist of the Eagles from 1974 to 2001, and co-write several of the band’s songs, most notably “Hotel California”. My hopes weren’t high for Felder, knowing he wasn’t one of the main lead vocalists for the Eagles, but he sounded surprisingly good covering several Eagles hits. Loved his band’s version of “Seven Bridges Road”. Then Kevin Cronin’s band played the #1 selling album of 1981, “High Infidelity”, in its entirety, plus other REO Speedwagon hits. He ended with the two songs we saw him sing 40 years ago at Live Aid (“Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Roll with the Changes”). But Styx was the highlight of the night. I always loved Tommy Shaw, and he looked, played, and sang like he was 27 rather than 72. James Young, at 75, was not quite as active on stage as Tommy, but he held his own. It’s hard to believe keyboardist/vocalist Larry Gowan has been with the band 26 years now, replacing original member Dennis DeYoung, and he was quite entertaining, playing the part of the primary front man. Styx is now joined by Gowan’s son, Terry, on bass, filling in for the ailing Chuck Panozzo. It was a memorable night, reliving the radio hit songs of the 70s/80s.
7- John Fogerty (11/8/2025, Wind Creek Event Center)
I’d only seen John Fogerty once before, at the Hard Rock Calling Festival in London. I thought his voice was shot then, but I decided to give him one more chance, as I always loved CCR and this would probably be the last time I would ever see the 80-year-old Fogerty play live. He sounded much better than I remembered- perhaps he was sick at that previous show I attended several years ago. He was joined by two of his sons (who opened the show with their band “Hearty Har”). He played all the hits, and he clearly had a lot of fun on stage with his sons. His also introduced his wife, who was backstage- she was instrumental in helping him get back the rights to his own music, after a 50-year legal battle. Fogerty played a wide variety of guitars, including a baseball bat-guitar for the song “Center Field”, which was a nice touch. He played my favorite CCR song, “Fortunate Son”, and ended the night with the crowd on their feet for “Proud Mary”. It was thrilling to see the “old man down the road” one last time.
8- Billy Idol / Joan Jett (8/16/2025, Mann Music Center)
I had never seen Billy Idol before, so when I found a seat in the second row became available at the last minute, I jumped on it. Opening the show was Joan Jett, who I’d seen before and really enjoyed, so I was looking forward to this one. Joan and her band did a killer 16-song set, including her hits “I Love Rock and Roll”, “I Hate Myself for Loving You”, “Crimson and Clover”, and “Bad Reputation”, along with the popular song she wrote with the Runaways when she was 18-years old, “Cherry Bomb”. Billy Idol came next and put on quite a show. He still has that classic punk rocker attitude, along with great band and backing vocalists. He sounded awesome, singing his hits “White Wedding”, “Eyes Without a Face”, “Rebel Yell”, and “Dancing with Myself”. This show really rocked the house- maybe I should have bumped this up higher on my list.
9- Wilson Phillips (7/25/2025, Wind Creek Event Center)
Unlike some of my other top 10 picks, the Wilson Phillips show was markedly no-frills, with a bare stage and no band- they sang to backing tracks. But these women, the offspring of rock superstars Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) and John Phillips (the Mamas and Papas), sure can sing! They said they like singing to the backing tracks because it really allows the show to focus on the vocals. But my hunch is the band just wasn’t available as I saw their band director, Carnie Wilson’s husband Rob Bonfiglio, play with the Lovin’ Spoonful at Sellersville Theater that same week. (He told me he arranged the backing tracks for their show.) Regardless, I actually enjoyed just watching the three of them sing. They’ve known each other all their lives and have been singing together since they were young. Their debut album scored 5 hit singles. Those sweet Wilson Phillips harmonies are unmatched. It was clearly the best vocal performance I saw this year. In addition to their Wilson Phillips hits, they did several beautiful covers, including Elton John’s “Daniel”, ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” (Where they invited members of the audience to dance along on stage), a medley of girl band hits, and of course a few Beach Boys and Mamas and Papas’ songs. We saw them just a week after Brian Wilson’s passing, and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when they performed “God Only Knows”, and Carnie sang “God only knows what I’d be without you, Daddy”.
10- Cyndi Lauper (7/20/2025 Mann Music Center)
We had seen Cyndi Lauper once or twice when she first hit the scene in the 80s. Billed as the “Girls Just Want to Have Fun Farewell Tour”, this was another artist we wanted to see one more time before she retired. Known for her distinctive image, featuring a variety of hair colors and eccentric clothing, and for her powerful four-octave vocal range, Lauper has sold over 50 million records worldwide. She has also been celebrated for her humanitarian work, particularly as an advocate for LGBTQ rights in the United States. I loved people watching before the show- the most interesting attire I’ve seen in a show this year by her adoring fans. And it was a very diverse audience- it seemed that we were one of the few straight couples in our row. It was a fun crowd. Pop musician and singer Jake Wesley Rogers, who at the age of 15 made it to the Quarterfinals Round of America’s Got Talent, opened the show with a very entertaining performance. Then Cyndi did her thing, complete with numerous clothing and wig changes, elaborate set design, and touching story telling between songs. I must admit her voice isn’t what it used to be, and some songs sounded better than others, but she still put on a great show and it was nice to see her perform one last time.
Now for the runners up:
11- Bachman Turner Overdrive / Blue Oyster Cult (10/23/2025, Wind Creek Event Center) – Yet another show featuring 80-year old rockers. Randy Bachman had to sit while performing, but he had a great band (including his son Tal). It was the BTO hits along with a medley of Guess Who songs. The band rocked and they were “Takin’ Care of Business”. Blue Oyster Cult sounded really good, too. Aside from their couple of hits, I wasn’t that familiar with their music, but I really like them. And now I no longer fear the reaper. I need to dive deeper into their catalogue.
12- 10 CC (9/10/1995, Keswick Theater) – We had seen 10 CC last year also, and we enjoyed them so much that when a friend had to get rid of their tickets this year, we gladly accepted. They played all my favorites, including “Art for Art’s Sake”, “Wall Street Shuffle”, and “I’m Not In Love”.
13- Jim Messina (11/13/2025, Sellersville Theater) – I loved Loggins and Messina when I was young. I’ve seen Jim Messina a few times now (as well as Kenny Loggins). It’s ironic that Messina, who originally played in Poco, added his name to Loggins’ first album to help the young unknown get some attention. Over time, everyone got to know Kenny Loggins and most people forgot about Jim Messina. But he also has a good voice and puts on a great show with an excellent band, playing Loggins and Messina favorites as well as a few Poco songs. I see him every chance I get.
14- Elvis Costello (9/18/2025, Wind Creek Event Center) – It’s been a while since I’ve seen Elvis. Great band, great set list. His voice seemed a bit hit or miss to me, and I don’t love it when he changes up some of his classic songs. I still enjoyed the show, but I would have really enjoyed a full set of the upbeat New Wave Elvis. A highlight for me was when he ended the set with four of my favorite Elvis Costello songs- Allison, (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea, Pump It Up, and (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding.
15- Beru Revue/Kenn Kweder (11/29/2025, Ardmore Music Hall) – This show was both sad and fun at the same time. Pierre Robert LOVED Beru, and always MC’ed their shows. This time the evening started with a memorial on stage dedicated to Pierre, and at one point the band handed out flowers to everyone in the audience in memory of Pierre. It was a very special night. Bob Beru and band were in great form, as always. An added bonus was having Kenn Kweder in the show, as the set was a combination of Beru and Kweder songs. Double the fun! I’ve been to many Beru Revue shows, and this one was by far the most memorable.
16- The Hooters / Willie Nile (5/17/2025, The Met – Philly) – Two of our favorites in one night! We’ve seen the Hooters more than any other band, and Willie Nile might be a close second. A highlight had to be the new Hooters song, co-written with Willie, called “Pendulum” (“The pendulum swings for me and for you; The left and the right, the red and the blue. So here’s to my friends and my enemies, too. The pendulum swings for me and for you.”) It’s crazy to say, but the Hooters just seem to get better and better with each passing decade. Willie put on his usual high energy show (“I’m a soldier marchin’ in an army; Got no gun to shoot, but what I got is ONE GUITAR”), and certainly won over any Hooters fans who were not already familiar with his songs.
17- Tommy Conwell (11/15/2025, Ardmore Music Hall) – Another tribute to Pierre Robert this night, with Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers playing to a packed house at the Ardmore Music Hall. It’s always cool to see all of the original “Rumblers” back on stage together (although they aren’t so “Young” anymore). Tommy still has the energy of a 20-year-old and puts on a great show. It gets pretty wild when he goes out and plays his guitar while he’s walking through the crowd. “The 80s! They’re coming back!” A nice touch was throwing in a Grateful Dead cover in honor of Pierre.
18- Laura Mann & Friends (Jim Boggia, Ben Arnold, Cliff Hillis) (4/26/2025 Masonic Hall, Ardmore PA) – It was great to see Laura Mann again, as we were regulars at her “Living Room” venue in Ardmore before she retired. This show featured many of our favorite local musicians. So much fun! It was a big reunion of friends- great to see everyone.
19- Peace Creeps / Scott McClatchy (10/11/2025 Kelly Center) – I had to get the Peace Creeps on the list- we just love Richard, Roy, Jeff, and Johnny. And having Scott open for them made it extra special. I really love the Creeps’ unplugged shows- a nice change up from the louder rocking electric Creeps (but we love them both). Put the Creeps and McClatchy along with MC Amanda in the Kelly Center, and you have perfect night!
20- In The Pocket (9/27/2025 Ardmore Music Hall) – We’ve been going to David Uosikkinen’s “In the Pocket” shows for about 10 years now. Always a highlight of every concert season for me, with about 20 of Philly’s finest musicians and a crowd full of friends. Another fun show- too many highlights to mention here!
21- exTC (XTC tribute featuring Terry Chambers) / John Faye & Joey DiTullio (4/17/2025, Sellersville Theater) – We mainly went to this show because of the opening act- it was great to see John and Joey performing on my home turf in the beautiful Sellersville Theater, where I previously worked and volunteered for so many years. John and Joey killed it- I had several people asking me about them afterwards, wanting to know more about them. With only Terry Chambers as an original member, exTC is more of a tribute band, but they did a great job recreating the XTC sound.
22- Karla Bonoff (6/6/2025, Sellersville Theater) – I knew the name “Karla Bonoff”, but I wasn’t all that familiar with her music, At the last minute (as I often do), I decided to check her out. A prolific singer in her own right, she is mainly known for her songwriting. Karla put on a wonderful show, and I became a fan. The highlight, naturally, was her hit “Someone To Lay Down Beside Me”, which she wrote for Linda Rondstadt.
23- Bob Mould (8/3/2025, Sellersville Theater) – Every now and then I go out on a limb and check out something completely new. Bob Mould is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s. Hüsker Dü first gained notice as a punk rock group with a series of recordings on the independent label SST Records.[In 1986, they signed with a major record label (Warner Bros. Records) but found only modest commercial success. However, they were later often cited as one of the key influences on 1990s alternative rock, including bands such as Foo Fighters. Not quite my favorite genre of music, but he put on a great hard-rocking show, even though it was just a solo performance. I always enjoy discovering new music.
24- Billy Sherwood (5/9/2025 EMEPP, Harleysville PA) – When I got an invitation to attend this private event at the Electronic Music Education and Preservation Project building about a mile from my home, I jumped at the opportunity. Billy Sherwood is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, record producer and mixing engineer, best known as the current bass guitarist and backing vocalist in Yes (following the death of original bassist Chris Squire in 2015). In 2017, he toured as lead singer for Asia after the death of original singer and bassist John Wetton. He is also a solo artist, having released ten studio albums to date. Billy and his band were warming up for their upcoming tour, and this was a great opportunity to see him up close and personal. It was a fun time with an intimate crowd, and was followed by a tour of the museum. EMEPP’s primary mission is to serve as the caretaker of one of the world’s most comprehensive private collections of modular, lead and poly synths, electro-mechanicals, amplifiers, guitars, basses, effects and recording gear. Pretty cool to have such a historic rock museum right in my backyard in Harleysville!
25- Jim Boggia (2/21/2025, Fallser Club) – Last but not least, a list of my favorite shows of this (or any) year, would not be complete without including a Jim Boggia show. For this one, Jim was playing at one of the coolest venues in the area- The Fallser club. Jim’s singing, playing, and storytelling keep me dancing and singing and laughing every time. His shows are always very entertaining- if you’ve never experienced Jim Boggia solo, you’ve got to check him out!
To all the musicians who helped me through the ups and downs of 2025, I again say thank you. Music has a special place in my heart- both the music of today and the nostalgic sounds of old, so aptly described in my favorite Jim Boggia song, “Listening to NRBQ”:
“I had a Charger with a big V8.
That mother started great.
Yeah, it hauled ass.
It had an after-market stereo
with FM radio
and an 8Track.
And together we would ride, side-by-side,
that year all summer long
and we’d turn on each other to our favorite songs.
And we’d sing out loud
with the windows rolled down
and your head on my shoulder.
And every night I’d drive around with you.
Listening to NRBQ.”
Leave a Reply