In 2022, I had tickets to 15 shows!

Find out how 2022 became known as “My Year of Concerts.” This was due in part to the fact that the concerts I had tickets for in 2020-21 were postponed to 2022. Also, so many artists came out of the pandemic ready to go on tour. With tickets to 15 shows, I had to schedule my life around my concerts!

I’ve been asked many times: “Which concert was your favorite?” My boyfriend Kip and I appreciate all kinds of music, so that’s always a hard question to answer. My typical response is, “It depends,” which is always the best answer to any subjective question. Elton John? Imagine Dragons? Iron Maiden? Read on to find out…

VENUES

Living on the East Coast in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., metro area gives me access to numerous concert venues within a one-hour drive from my house in Ellicott City, Maryland. My favorite and closest venue is Merriweather Post Pavilion, which is only a few miles away and about a 10-minute drive. Merriweather was originally built as the home of the National Symphony Orchestra more than 50 years ago on 40 acres of parkland in Columbia, Maryland, known as Symphony Woods. It is named for the American Post Foods heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post to honor her years of sustained financial support for the National Symphony. I always prioritize concerts at this venue and sometimes go on the spur of the moment if the weather is nice, tickets are available, and I know the artist.

TICKETS

I prefer to maximize the number of concerts I see rather than purchase pricey seats. I enjoy sitting on the lawn – with space to relax and dance. Given the number of concerts I attend, I’m on the VIP list for purchasing tickets early for many artists. If you live in the Baltimore/D.C. area, you should get on the IMP Friends with Benefits email list to get alerted to new concerts along with other perks. Also, many credit cards have early purchase opportunities.

MUSIC

Kip and I grew up in the 1980s, so the nostalgia of seeing artists from our childhood touring is a big attraction. Kip may be more heavy metal while I’m more pop (and neither of us are country), but we can appreciate all kinds of music. Many times our first alert to a new concert is via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter – so it’s important to follow your favorite venues and bands on social media to stay in the loop!

I like to be prepared for a concert, so I’ll start listening to the music of whatever artist we’re seeing next non-stop. Thank goodness for Apple Music and Amazon Music! I just ask my devices to play the artist and I also like to study the lyrics… which are oftentimes surprising. Thirty years ago there was no way to know song lyrics unless you bought the album/CD/cassette.

Here it is… my 2022 concert recap, in chronological order.

The Offspring concert was my first of the year and COVID was still raging so I was a little tentative about being around other people, even though I’m vaxxed and boosted. The lawn was not very crowded so that was reassuring and we were able to keep a safe distance away from other attendees! It felt so good to be outside and rocking with the crowd… being back to almost “normal” after two years of being in lockdown! The band sounded great live and there was a definite buzz of excitement from the band and the audience was really into it. My favorite song from the concert was Come Out and Play / Keep em Separated (video clip). The high octane band Radkey opened up and got everyone into a rockin’ mood!

The Offspring’s lead singer Dexter Holland sounded so good and did you know he has a PhD in molecular biology, which he got in 2017? Also, he has his own brand of hot sauce, Gringo Bandito. Kip was particularly impressed because he also has a PhD in biochemistry and loves hot sauce… but Kip can’t sing at all, so the similarities end there.

Pier Six Pavilion is a small venue so you always have a good view of the stage, but the lawn area is not exactly luxurious. You’re not going to have the same feeling as being on the grass at Merriweather, Wolftrap, or Jiffy Lube Live. But the 360-view is priceless! Being right next to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is such a joy to see. The only downside to being in the middle of the city is that parking prices are outrageous. As far as food and drink options, it’s somewhat limited in the venue – mostly food trucks. We always walk somewhere nearby to eat dinner before heading into the concert. There are a lot of options within walking distance. If you want something less expensive and fast, there’s Panera and Shake Shack. Hard Rock Cafe is our go-to in that part of the city, but there are also a bunch of fancy dining options. Ruth Chris Steak House and McCormick and Schmicks are right next to the venue and Little Italy is right around the corner.

2. Foo Fighters

We were scheduled to see the Foo Fighters on May 16 at Merriweather Post Pavilion but the concert was cancelled due to the death of band member Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022, in Bogotá, Colombia. #RIPTaylor

3. Justin Bieber

I got tickets for my daughter for her birthday to see Justin Bieber at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on June 10 but the concert was initially postponed due to illness, and eventually cancelled just recently, as of March 10, 2023.

Tears for Fears is one of the most well-known bands of the 1980s and once we saw they were coming to Merriweather Post Pavilion it was a no-brainer to get tickets! The added bonus was that the band Garbage was the opening act – an equally amazing band from the 1990s featuring Scottish singer Shirley Ann Manson. These are the songs that I know inside-out. We invited friends to join us for this concert and we had a great time singing along the entire time! Note that this was also Father’s Day! So that gave it a bit of added excitement for all the dads in the house.

The concert vibe was somewhat low-key — it’s not exactly head-banging music, but it was really entertaining and well done. Lead singer Curt Smith sounded great on vocals and Roland Orzabal was perfection on bass guitar. Given the combination of both Tears for Fears and Garbage, this concert was a win. Separately, maybe it wouldn’t have been quite as impressive but having them together, it was a fun evening of pure nostalgia and I was Head over Heels for it. I did Shout. I let it all out… but I don’t think I was acting like a Stupid Girl. At least I hope not.

If you haven’t been recently, Merriweather Post Pavilion underwent a huge renovation to the entire concert area with the addition of parking garages and an entire “Merriweather District” across the street with housing and food, and even an ice skating rink! The concession stands in the venue were expanded and the video screens allow you a great view from anywhere in the venue. The new Sky Lawn area is also pretty cool and the VIP area is a perfect getaway from the crowds with a full bar, food ordering, bathrooms, and lounging area with tables.

At Merriweather the rules change with each show. Sometimes you can bring camp chairs, sometimes just blankets. You’re typically allowed to bring in a single serving of food in a clear container and an unsealed bottle of water. Everything needs to fit into a clear plastic bag. Always be sure to check the rules before you head into the concert! So many times we see people carrying huge chairs when it’s a blanket-only concert. I always park over at The Mall in Columbia and walk across the street (Route 175/Little Patuxent Parkway). They have new parking garages, but we don’t mind a walk and find it easier to leave the event.

Not counting my teenage obsession with New Kids on the Block, I’ve been to more Jimmy Buffett concerts than any other artist. So many, in fact, that I’ve lost count! I was thrilled to see that Buffett was coming back to Merriweather in 2022 and knew I had to get tickets. The last few times I saw him was in Northern Virginia at Nissan / Jiffy Lube Pavilion. It was a long drive and always turned out to be a huge drama to exit after the concert… even though the tailgating prior to the concert was always top-rate in the large grassy fields. Typically, Jimmy Buffett tickets sell out really fast, so I logged in at the earliest possible time to grab four tickets.

I convinced the kids to go with us and figured that since they were 20 and almost 22 that they would appreciate the party vibe at the concert. We had some cheeseburgers and margaritas, because, of course. Normally, my parents would go with us but they are still not attending large events due to the pandemic.

We all immensely enjoyed the concert and the packaged videos that played throughout were fun to watch. It was so crowded that we didn’t get a good view of the stage from our lawn seats, but he sounded so good and never disappoints because he brings so much energy and positivity! If you attend a lot of Buffett concerts, you probably know the Coral Reefer Band pretty well… It’s always so much fun to hear the familiar banter between Jimmy and Mac McAnally, Tina Gullickson, and Nadirah Shakoor.

There’s an overwhelmingly satisfying feeling when you’re at a concert and you know every single song. And everyone else knows every single song. You’re all singing together. And dancing together with abandon to whether you can dance well, or even find the beat. There’s a connection with a community that is so powerful and that’s why I love live music so much! (video clip)

As a child of the 1980s, Duran Duran immediately brings back memories of slumber parties and playing Duran Duran records… singing loudly and dancing around and acting out music videos from MTV. Going to the Duran Duran concert was a no-brainer for me! Kip was way more into the heavy metal scene in high school, but he was easily persuaded to attend. Back in the 1980s, Friday Night Videos and Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 were top priority activities for a teen. My sister and I would get our boombox with the cassette tape and lay on the floor of the living room listening closely to the weekly countdown to record the very start of our favorite songs.

Before the concert, I asked Alexa to play Duran Duran songs everyday to get into the right mood. I put my hair up in a side ponytail, channeling Cyndi Lauper, and found some blue eye shadow. Once at the concert, we got a great spot right in the middle of the lower lawn. When going to Merriweather, we always try to get there when the gates open and set up our space on the lawn. After that, we head over to check out the merch… 75% of the time I want to get something. For Duran Duran, I got an awesome bright blue concert t-shirt. After that, we met up with some friends and they brought an amazing charcuterie board, which they graciously shared with us! It was a beautiful evening for a concert.

Simon Lebon did not disappoint in energetic style or voice quality! We loved the special effects and the cool visual filters – it made us feel like we were inside of a music video. The crowd was really into it and we had so much fun dancing and singing along with our fellow Gen Xers. My favorite photo that I took at a concert was the big photo of Simon you see above. It’s so 80s and he looks so good, right? Just perfect to convey the fun time we all had.

Even though we were there to see Duran Duran, we were BLOWN AWAY by Nile Rodgers and Chic! What an amazing surprise! Nile Rodgers produced Duran Duran’s 1986 album Notorious and he played guitar on it. During their performance, Everybody Dance(d)… Dance, Dance, Dance(d). Kip acted like a total Le Freak. Good Times were had by all and their opening show was a huge treat. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bigger response for an opening act. When Kip and I think back to the concerts this year, Nile Rodgers and Chic is a true standout performance. If you get the chance to see them, do it! You won’t be disappointed.

I didn’t know too much about Jack White / The White Stripes before attending this concert. Being from Baltimore and a huge Ravens fan, my thoughts immediately went to the Seven Nation Army song and the iconic guitar riff that has become the official fan chant of Baltimore sports… Ooooh, Oh, Oh-Oh, Oh, Oooooh, Oooh. With the Baltimore “O” pronunciation, it is truly a sound to behold.

Jack White is a very accomplished musician and that was enough to get me excited about this concert. Did not having my phone make me enjoy the concert more? Maybe. The jury is out. It was so uncomfortably hot that I think I was mostly focused on not moving around too much so I wouldn’t faint.

Cautious Clay was the opening act and I was really into it. Such a smooth, engaging sound. A lot of times people talk right over opening acts, but everyone was really into this vibe and I ended up listening to a lot of his songs and watching his videos after the concert.

Pier Six is a small pavilion that doesn’t have screens – so being tall was helpful. (Kip and I are both over 6 feet tall.) We had seats for this concert and had a perfect view of the stage. Everyone who had not succumbed to the heat was really into this concert – lots of jumping up and down and shaking fists in the air. What I really enjoy at a concert is seeing other people enjoy the concert. One of the most unique things about Jack White’s concert tour is that he creates a custom poster for each venue city!

Rod Stewart AND Cheap Trick? It seems like an unlikely pairing, for sure. British eccentricity meets midwest casual rock. This particular concert had been rescheduled due to COVID. Kip’s seen Cheap Trick many times because it’s his hometown band – from Rockford, Illinois. I’ve seen them once before (The Warner Theatre in D.C., Nov. 3, 2021).

We had lawn tickets for the entire family for this one. The kids didn’t know many of the songs… and the crowd was older and low key. I was dancing and singing along to all the songs… but at times felt like that crazy aunt who was embarrassing the family. I enjoyed it, but I would have enjoyed it more if everyone else was enjoying it… I Want You To Want Me to sing and dance. Give Me A Reason To Believe that you’re having fun!

Given his age, Rod Stewart put on a great show – his voice was solid and he had good energy and amazing stage presence. He’s a true performer! He had many costume changes (which also allowed him time to rest in between songs) and with the superb back-up singers and dancers, we were truly entertained the entire time.

In contrast, Cheap Trick gave a solid opening performance without any fancy theatrics. It’s relaxing to just sit back and listen to them and appreciate their musicality. One of the most fun parts of a Cheap Trick show is watching lead guitarist Richard Nielsen switch off between his numerous custom-made guitars from Hamer Guitars, including his famous five-neck guitar. Legend has it that he’s owned about 2,000 guitars. It’s amazing to see such an iconic guitarist perform live!

Continuing my appreciation of the 1980s and legendary guitarists (Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea), I went to The Red Hot Chili Peppers stadium tour at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. When I hear a concert is at Nationals Park, I immediately look at the date and time. Can I take the metro? Will there be traffic? Parking is never easy. It’s not an ideal location to travel to, but once you’re there, the venue is really nice for concerts. It’s well organized and there are a lot of places to hang out and get food/drinks inside the stadium before you go to your seat. There’s a lot of space for the merch lines so it doesn’t feel too crowded.

I had really high expectations for this concert and I don’t want to say that I was disappointed because they looked and sounded so good and there was a lot of energy. But sometimes I just got the feeling that the band was not as excited to be performing as I was to watch them? Also, I Can’t Stop wondering why they didn’t sing my favorite song, Under the Bridge. It was very high energy because the audience was REALLY into it. The most entertaining part for me may have been the guy a few rows in front of us who was having the time of his life. (video clip)

Thundercat (Stephen Bruner) opened up and I was not familiar with him, but he put on a super energetic performance and who wouldn’t enjoy seeing a HUGE inflatable cat on stage?!

Two British 1980s groups – Pet Shop Boys and New Order – hit the stage in September at Merriweather for their rescheduled “The Unity Tour.” Given their fairly equal popularity, they switch off on the performance order each concert and even the concert t-shirt is a mash-up of their band names. Together, it was a fun and well-rounded concert with a sprinkling of HUGE fans and a majority of folks who enjoy a good concert on a nice evening.

The singing was solid and the theatrics were eccentric – with crazy cool costumes and creative video/lights/lasers. There was not a lot of energy on stage, which is my only complaint. Was I glad I went? Yes. Is this concert Always On My Mind? No. But I really love the song, West End Girls – one of my all-time favorites! (video clip)

Elton John. Now this was the concert I had been waiting all year to attend. The entire family went to this one and we were all super excited. It was at Nationals Park in D.C. and we took the metro (after a disastrous drive to Red Hot Chili Peppers a couple weeks prior). Taking the metro for a concert like this is a fun part of the overall experience — people wearing their sequins, concert t-shirts, and huge sunglasses on the metro. The excited anticipation on the crowded trains was exhilarating. We talked with fellow concert-goers and one duo had gone to hundreds of Elton concerts and they told us some amazing stories about traveling to different venues around the world. A lady sat next to me and said that she was going to the concert by herself because it was her dream to see Elton and she couldn’t miss the opportunity to attend this last Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.

Once at the stadium, it was a higher level of energy than any concert I’ve ever attended (except maybe the teenage angst at New Kids on the Block and at One Direction concerts with my daughter and her friends). The merch lines were long, but we quickly queued up. Concert shirts are expensive, but there was no doubt that we were going to get them. Kip went off to get us drinks while we waited, and I’m Still Standing in line. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me… it did. We got some t-shirts and light-up sunglasses… which were all the rage.

Once seated, we were disappointed to see that there was a lighting pole right in our view of the stage. Once the concert started we were even more disappointed to see that Elton John was seated at the piano RIGHT BEHIND THE POLE. So we couldn’t see his face, except for on the screens. The piano moved around the stage but always ended up right back behind the pole.

The crowd went absolutely crazy when he entered the stage. When he started singing, I was hit with a huge emotional punch. I’m hearing Elton John sing this live right now! I’ve had this feeling before during live music before, but with an icon like Elton it was overwhelming. My eyes clouded with tears and I took a deep breath. OMG. He sounded so good! He was seated at the piano throughout the concert, but somehow he had more energy and passion with his voice and piano playing than other performers who jumped around the stage. His stage presence was epic. The videos and lighting and screens were all so elaborate and well-done. It was a spectacularly choreographed event.

The crowd was diverse. Old, young, all races – people came from near and far. If you’ve been reading each entry you know that the way I enjoy a concert is to stand up and dance and sing along. Some people – like me – were huge Elton John fans and REALLY into it. Others may have just been there for the spectacle of it all: It’s Elton John’s last concert tour and I need to be there because this is history in the making.

At the intermission, Kip and I went to get drinks. We stood on the concourse for a bit to take some unobstructed photos when the next set started. We quickly realized that the people on the concourse were having a lot more fun, so we stayed up there for the second part of the concert and enjoyed it so much more – with some true Elton John fans!

Without a doubt, the Elton John concert was The One – our favorite of the year. (Rocket Man video clip)

As a huge musical and theater fan, I couldn’t even believe that I hadn’t seen Hamilton until this very moment. For the most part, I’m against paying astronomical prices to see concerts or shows. So when Hamilton came to The Hippodrome in Baltimore this fall, the price was reasonable and it was finally time to see the show live! I realize that this is not technically a concert, but it has more singing than most concerts do.

I really love going to The Hippodrome, which originally opened in 1914 as a movie palace that also showcased vaudeville performances. It’s right next to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Before I go to a show there, I always check the game schedules for the Orioles and Ravens to see if there will be an issue with travel time and parking. The theater was renovated in 2004 for use as a performing arts theater, and is part of the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center. All of the seats give you a great view of the stage, but the seating is quite tight, especially for tall people. I’ve sat in all of the sections of this venue and I feel like the best view is from the balcony. If you go once, you’ll be Satisfied and You’ll Be Back!

Having heard the soundtrack many times and watched the stage show on Disney, I knew the story and what to expect. (A helpful tip is to turn on closed captions when watching on TV so you can better understand all of the lyrics!) But I have to say that seeing it live is infinitely better than the TV version. There’s so much going on in the show that you miss in the TV version. It was indeed spectacular and my high expectations were met! Bravo! What Comes Next? Read on…

When I think about the Weird Al show, my first thought is – WHAT!? WOW! Weird Al can REALLY sing. He’s so talented! This particular show – The Ill-Advised Vanity Tour – was at the Kennedy Center in D.C. Even Weird Al couldn’t believe that he was performing there.

This show coincided with the movie release of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which you can watch online. The movie was so good and I did have hopes that Daniel Radcliffe might make a surprise visit to this show, but no luck with that. I wasn’t sure what to expect so I had zero expectations and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this concert!

Not surprisingly, the crowd was mostly White & Nerdy. It was a laid back performance with Al and his long-time band members telling funny stories and singing original songs, with a fun parody mash-up at the end. Not the kind of concert that you jumped up and danced around – it was more of a comedy show vibe to sit back and laugh and take it all in. Also, note that no phones/photography/videography were allowed during this show.

Emo Philips was the opening act and he was so funny and clever… and he is known for his quirky delivery. It was the hardest I’ve laughed in a very long time… laughing so hard I was crying but luckily my mask quickly soaked up my tears. You can check out some of his skits on his website. Here’s a funny one from the Arsenio Hall show about Halloween and here’s one about the zoo.

Going to the Kennedy Center is always such a memorable experience and I’ve been fortunate to see a number of shows there. The flags hanging from the tall ceilings, the statues, the amazing view from the rooftop terrace. If you have a chance to go there to see anything, do it! Note that they also have some free performances on-site and you can watch virtual performances. This time they had a new exhibit called Art & Ideals: John F. Kennedy and I wish we had more time to check out all of it. Next time we’ll arrive early!

Iron Maiden – like Jimmy Buffett – has a dedicated following. I admit this was the one concert that I almost didn’t attend. I didn’t know many of their songs and didn’t think it was my kind of scene. My main memory of this band was of friends in high school wearing their black Iron Maiden t-shirts.

Within Temptation – a Dutch symphonic metal band – was the opening act and they had a really great sound – everyone really enjoyed their set!

Remember that one of the key factors for my enjoyment of a concert is whether or not others at the concert are having a good time. I can say without a doubt that the attendees of this concert were the most excited of any concert I’ve ever been to (again, not counting New Kids on the Block and One Direction). These fans were living their best lives and I did not fit in at all. I think I was the only one in the entire venue wearing a mask. The good news is that the mask hid the embarrassing fact that I was the only one who didn’t know the words to every single song.

Bruce Dickinson and the entire band – so impressive… the vocals, the instruments. I was in awe of their musical talent and energy on stage. The choreography and theatrics of it all was unmatched. I don’t have the words to adequately describe how good this show was, Holy Smoke.

I’m sad that I had so many Wasted Years of not appreciating the amazing talents of Iron Maiden, so I’m making up for it now. I’ll Run To The Hills to see their next concert!

Imagine Dragons was my final show of the year and it was a last-minute purchase. It was only Natural that I’d do Whatever It Takes to go to the concert of my favorite current band! This particular show at Capital One Arena was not part of their scheduled tour – it was a special performance for the Capital One Arena 25th Anniversary Celebration by Monumental Sports. (Remember to take your CapOne credit card there for discounts at the concession stands!)

When I consider if I should go to a concert, I always Google the artist to make sure I know enough songs to consider myself a true fan, worthy of seeing them in concert. When I looked at the Imagine Dragons song list, I knew practically every single one of them – all of the lyrics.

I was so ready for this concert! We were excited to see the opening act was a young performer named Lily Meola from America’s Got Talent and she put on a great set (video clip). We had been to this arena about a month earlier for the Iron Maiden concert and the vibe was completely opposite – this time it was a family affair. Excited kids at their first concert. It was so heartwarming to see them singing along and dancing with no inhibitions.

Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds was by far the most engaging performer of any concert I attended this year. He is an exceptional singer, but the way he interacted with the audience, the way he sang the lyrics… he pulled every single person into his songs and made it such a memorable experience. He talked about timely/newsworthy stories and memories about being in D.C. He said the first time they were in D.C. they had about 75 people at the show (video clip). It was not just a carbon copy of a previous show. The performance aspect – the lights, the confetti, balloons – made it a super fun first concert experience for these kids!

THE RESULTS

No surprise: Elton John was my favorite show of the year! Imagine Dragons was number two on my list. The fans loved this show so much, which made me love it even more. There is no better feeling than enjoying a concert and singing along with thousands of friends to a good song. As I’m writing this paragraph I’m watching to the video I took of Radioactive at this concert and it’s so good! (video clip) I live for a solid live performance! (Kip’s number two was Iron Maiden.) Up next: 2023 concerts… Here I come!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alissa Arford lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her long-time boyfriend Kip and two college-age children. She works in marketing and communications as a brand storyteller and enjoys writing and attending cultural events. She has a dog and three cats. Follow her on Twitter @aarford and YouTube at @adventuresofalissakip.