Over the past year, Orange County has served as the host to many fantastic live shows. Haters may hate, but the one thing they can't deny is that the area still is one of the most influential areas in the country when it comes to producing, judging and cranking up live music. Here are some of the best shows in the area of 2012, in my humble opinion.
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5. Willie Nelson, Pacific Amphitheater, July 13
The 79-year-old troubadour brought his show to OC and needless to say,
the Texan still has it. His voice still sounds great and Nelson manages
to mix crowd-pleasing classics in with songs of his latest album,
Heroes, which was one of his most well-received in years. No matter how
you cut it, Nelson and his tremendous backing band are still chugging
along and with no end in sight.
4. Phish, Long Beach Arena, Aug. 15
After years of inconsistent play, the Vermont jam band brought their
A-game to Long Beach to the delight of their rabid fanbase. While set
one was groovier than the second, it was great to hear Trey Anastasio
playing guitar like he did in the band's heyday. Oh, and the rest of the
gang wasn't too bad either.
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3. Of Monsters and Men, The Observatory, Aug. 8
One of the breakout bands of the past year, the Icelandic natives' 75 minute set had the packed venue on their feet, singing along to every tune. The sextet proved on this night that they have a bright future moving ahead and this could be one of the shows where fans say, “I saw Of Monsters and Men when…”
2. Young The Giant, Pacific Amphitheater, July 22
The hometown boys played their biggest headlining area show to date and after a few years on the road, this was a triumphant return home. Debuting a few new tunes to go along with their catalog of hits, the band was in peak form, shaking off any pressure that would come with playing in front of friends, family and people who they may have crossed paths with at South Coast Plaza. With a new album coming soon, this show served as a reminder to locals that yes, they're our guys and that despite what naysayers may think, they haven't forgotten their roots and save their best for here.
1. Bruce Springsteen, Honda Center, Dec. 4
The arena was rockin' and The Boss was rollin. Three and a half hours of classics, new songs, special guests and youthful enthusiasm. Any questions?
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Daniel Kohn is a writer based in Southern California. With bylines in an assortment of outlets, Kohn primarily specializes in music with other interests ranging from sports to food. As a transplant, Kohn loves the beautiful weather and is glad he no longer has to deal with brutal winters. If you see him, say hi and of course, he’s always willing to down a beer or two…if you’re paying.