My Favorite Concerts of 2024

If there's one thing about me, it is that I will not miss a great concert. There’s nothing like the energy and excitement you get from seeing an artist you love live.  One of my favorite things about concerts is when you can feel the vibrations of the music running through the crowd. This year, I was lucky enough to attend some incredible shows, and here are just a few of my favorites.

Mitski - The Land is Inhospitable And So Are We Tour - Auditorium Theatre

Seeing Mitski live is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. She played four sold-out shows at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre on her The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We tour back in March, and I was lucky enough to be in the second row for the first night’s show, thanks to my sister. The Auditorium Theatre was a beautiful venue - perfect for Mitski’s performance. Its intimate vibe and gorgeous atmosphere perfectly matched her hauntingly beautiful music. This was my second time seeing Mitski and she somehow was able to make it even more magical than the first. The setlist was a perfect blend of her newer songs like “The Frost” and classics like “Nobody.” I still go back to watch my concert videos from that night wishing I could relive it all over again.  If you ever get the chance to see Mitski live, don’t pass it up! It’s truly an unforgettable experience.

(Mitski at Auditorium Theatre, taken by me)

Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us Tour - Huntington Bank Pavilion

One of the first bands I became obsessed with as a teenager was Vampire Weekend. Their music sounded so refreshing and unique to my high school ears. This spring, they released a new album called Only God Was Above Us and toured across North America for the first time in five years. I went to their Chicago show at Huntington Bank Pavilion on July 26th. This was my second time seeing Vampire Weekend, and like with Mitski, they somehow managed to top their performance from the first time. One thing about Vampire Weekend is that they like to make their shows as grand as possible. They had festivities and even a Ferris Wheel set up on the general admission lawn, which definitely made the experience so much more fun. When they finally went on stage, I was so excited to hear what songs they'd play. Their set was about two and a half hours – much longer than most concerts I’ve been to – but I enjoyed every moment of it. I was simply blown away by their stage presence and energy. They threw in a few fun surprises in their set such as having a fan come up on stage to play bag toss for $100, which was pretty awesome. It was definitely a night to remember, and it just reaffirmed why I love this band so much.

(Vampire Weekend at Hunting Bank Pavilion, taken by Alive Coverage)

Charli XCX and Troye Sivan - Sweat Tour - United Center

I’m sure many of you can agree that “Brat summer” was just too good. I had Charli XCX’s Brat on repeat this entire summer, which is why I knew I could not miss the Sweat Tour with Charli XCX and Troye Sivan. The two played at the United Center on September 30th and getting tickets to this was quite an endeavor, but definitely worth it. The minute I stepped into that venue, I instantly felt the Brat energy running through the building. Troye Sivan opened the set with his songs "Got Me Started," "What's The Time Where You Are," and "My! My! My!" Charli XCX then took the stage and the crowd went wild as the first beats of "365" filled the venue. Charli's stage presence was magnetic and she was dressed in a bold, futuristic outfit that perfectly encapsulated her vibe. The lights, visuals, and pulsating beats kept me jumping around all night. Charli and Troye ended the show with "Talk talk featuring Troye Sivan" from Brat and it's completely different but also still brat. Charli came on stage wearing a cropped Bears jersey, as seen below, which was a big deal to many Chicagoans in the crowd. This was a perfect way to end such a spectacular show. I left the venue that night knowing my life had just been changed. The Sweat tour was hands down the best concert I have ever been to.

(Charli XCX and Troye Sivan at United Center, taken by Henry Redcliffe)

I attended so many incredible concerts this year and it was difficult to choose just a few that were my favorite. From Mitski's angelic voice to the electric atmosphere of the Sweat tour, 2024 was definitely a year to remember. I can't wait to see what's to come for live music in 2025.