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