Top five live shows of 2019

The Damned and X

Two bands that have been around for more than 40 years, the Damned and X, proved that they're still going strong at their show at Chicago's House of Blues in May. X, with its lineup of four original members, played several of its best-known songs while sounding great and having fun. The Damned's Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible, the two original members of the band, were joined by bassist Paul Gray to play the masterpiece album "Machine Gun Etiquette" in its entirety. The band ventured on to a second set of well-known songs and rarities, playing 22 tracks and two encores in all. It's rare to see not one, but two, bands that have been around for more than 40 years. To see two such bands that appear to still be having a blast doing it, well, that's pretty amazing.
Read more: The Damned and X show their punk rock staying power

Photos by Christopher Windle.

The Faint with Closeness

The Faint returned to its hometown of Omaha for a packed show at the Waiting Room in May. Closeness (pictured), Faint frontman Todd Fink's group with his wife, Orenda Fink, warmed up the audience. The Faint later stormed onstage, playing songs from new album "Egowerk" as well as the best of its back catalog of six other studio albums. The show was an intense, high-energy thrill ride, and the audience didn't want it to end.
Read more: The Faint displays the best of Omaha

The Psychedelic Furs

The Psychedelic Furs' touring machine roared into the Truman in Kansas City in May, and it was clear that the band was there to show the crowd a good time. Though the Furs got a bit political with "President Gas," the show was mainly a time to party. Like the best first wave '80s artists, the Furs offer music that fans can escape to. And the world could use an escape right now. So the Furs delivered, playing hits like "Heaven" and "Pretty in Pink." The band has since added new music to its live show and has a long-awaited new album on the way in 2020.
Read more: The Psychedelic Furs at the Truman

Clan of Xymox

The U.S. government shutdown early this year had effects that reverberated through all walks of life, including the goth/darkwave community, when Clan of Xymox was forced to postpone its U.S. tour because of delays in processing the band's visas. But the tour dates set for this past spring finally happened, with the U.S. stint by the Germany-based band beginning in Denver and hitting Omaha in November. The band proved that its delayed U.S. tour was well worth the wait. Bolstered by opening band the Bellwether Syndicate, Clan of Xymox had the crowd dancing, singing along, and even laughing to frontman Ronny Moorings' droll insights.
Read more: Clan of Xymox, at last, brings show back to U.S.

L7

The all-female grunge band brought its powerful live show to Omaha in June. The crowd at the Slowdown was treated to a 21-song set of hits and fan favorites from the band's longest-standing lineup of Suzi Gardner, Donita Sparks, Dee Plakas, and Jennifer Finch. Gardner, Sparks, and Finch took turns singing lead, performing songs like "Andres," "Dispatch from Mar-a-Lago," "Shitlist," and "Pretend We're Dead."

Honorable mentions: T.S.O.L., Interpol, the Descendents, Wilco.