Top five live shows of 2022

Duran Duran

Live music was back to a new abnormal in 2022: More bands returned to touring, but many did shorter stints with fewer stops. Among those was Duran Duran, who embarked on a 14-date North American tour as summer turned to fall. 

It's no surprise that the band leads our list of top live shows of the year. The new wave icons impressed the crowd in Fort Worth, Texas, on Aug. 30 with its biggest hits and a few "old friends." Duran leaned in to nostalgia, playing "Union of the Snake," "Friends of Mine," and "Careless Memories" back to back, a new holy trinity of its 2022 U.S. shows. But even the most time-worn songs, when performed live, restored all faith in this band. Read more: Duran Duran leans in to future, past in Fort Worth

Cy Curnin, right, and Jamie West Oram of
The Fixx. All photos by Christopher Windle

The Fixx 

The Fixx returned to Omaha on June 28 with its "Every Five Seconds" tour, treating fans to new and classic songs. The Fixx, with its socially conscious music, moved the audience lyrically as well as rhythmically with its show at the Waiting Room. Cy Curnin and the band were in top form as they showcased several tracks off the new album, which fit seamlessly with the band's slew of new wave hits. Read more: The Fixx dive deeper with new songs and classic hits

Mudhoney

Growing up in the grunge era, I never got to witness Mudhoney live, even though "Superfuzz Bigmuff" and "Mudhoney" were some of my favorite albums of the time, especially from the genre. But in 2022, Mudhoney made an unlikely stop in Omaha, playing the Slowdown in May. The band did not disappoint, playing classics like "In And Out of Grace," "Touch Me I'm Sick," Vortex of Lies," and set closer "Here Come Sickness." — Christopher Windle 

Boy Harsher

Boy Harsher has been an obsession of mine for years now. The electro-pop group’s sold-out show in Kansas City in July proved that many others are just as obsessed. Boy Harsher turned the recordBar into a pulsing dance club on a Monday night with songs like "Fate," "Modulations," "Morphine," and "Pain." And singer Jae Matthews encouraged the crowd to dance even more ("We make dance music, so dance!"). If you haven't yet, be sure to check out Boy Harsher. — Christopher Windle

 

Circle Jerks

Circle Jerks played Lawrence, Kansas, in March with 7 Seconds and Negative Approach opening — how could this combination not hit the top five? Negative Approach kicked off the show in full force, playing classics like "Fair Warning," "Live Your Life," and "Why Be Something That You're Not." Then 7 Seconds came out swinging with trademark songs like "Regress No Way," We're Going to Fight," and "Here's Your Warning." But the headliners were not going to be outdone. Circle Jerks played a 33-song set, including tracks from all six of the band's albums. The crowd, along with the Jerks, went bombastic throughout the set. The band played classics like "I Just Want Some Skank," "Wild in the Streets," "Moral Majority," "Red Tape"... I could keep going, but you get the gist. — Christopher Windle

Honorable mentions: 

Frontline Assembly at the recordBar (pictured), The Cult at the Admiral Omaha

Duran Duran’s top moments of 2022

More than four decades into its career, Duran Duran had a banner year in 2022. 

At times in between the band's highest points during the '80s and early '90s, and many times afterward, it was hard to believe that things might someday unfold like they did this past year. Duran is finishing 2022 as new inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — as well as the fan vote winners — headliners on stages around the world, and at last, the elder statesmen of new wave.

RRHOF

In the spring, Duran finally made the roster of nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and it didn't take long for the band to soar to the top of the fan poll. Duran traded the lead a few times with rapper Eminem before pulling away for good. In the end, the band won with a commanding 934,880 votes. But the fan vote was just one piece of the puzzle. While good for publicity, it counted for little in the overall scheme of things. But no matter: Duran was indeed selected to be inducted in November. 

When the day finally arrived, the band opened the show, no less. Duran was inducted by actor Robert Downey Jr. and performed "Girls On Film," "Hungry Like the Wolf," and "Ordinary World." But something was missing: guitarist Andy Taylor, who had announced that he was planning to perform. (The sixth inductee, guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, never officially confirmed plans to be there.) But Taylor's news stole the show: He has stage four metastatic prostate cancer, and a setback prevented him from being there on the big night. Singer Simon Le Bon shared a heartfelt note from the guitarist. Later that evening, Le Bon returned to the stage for the show-closing jam with Dolly Parton.

DuranLive

Duran played some big shows in 2022: BST Hyde Park, the Queen's Jubilee, and the opening of the Commonwealth Games, to name a few. But the biggest show for me took place in Fort Worth, Texas, during the band's U.S. tour. The concert on Aug. 30 was a culmination of a more than six-year wait between live shows. The "Future Past" tour opener in Minnesota was how it was supposed to start. But that concert was canceled at the last minute due to storms, and the show at Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth turned out to be a totally worthwhile pivot. Two months later, the band mixed up its act big time with a Halloween-themed show in Las Vegas that received glowing reviews from fans, even ones left a bit jaded over the band's live set list.

Resurgence

More than anything in 2022, there was a feeling that Duran's time as a respected force in music had finally come. In the days leading up to the Rock Hall induction, the band had a concert film playing in theaters around the world and were on the cover of a publication on most major newstands, a special edition of Life magazine. Once again, it was a great time to be a Duranie.

The future

2023 is likely to include more live shows, the band's bread and butter. A brief tour of the U.K. is certain to be followed by more U.S. shows. Duran seems ready: The band will ring in the year in New York's Times Square as the main act for "New Year's Rockin' Eve."

At top, Duran Duran plays to a packed arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Christopher Windle