Utah's Top Ten Concerts of 2010

All the concert bloggers I know are posting their top ten lists.  Perhaps I'll take a beating for this being overkill, but I have two lists: one for the national touring bands and a second list to recognize our Utah musicians (and those nearby in Colorado and California, with Utah roots), some of whom also tour regionally and beyond.  Selection criteria for both lists was simple:

• Musical quality
• Performance execution
• Crowd engagement
• Amazingness 
• I was there

These rankings were not derived from a panel of professional (or bribed) judges.  The skating judge from France did not influence my decisions!  This is merely my evaluation of how much these events rocked. And they did.

  

National Touring Bands in Concert - 2010

1. Scorpions - USANA Amphitheater
2. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - High Road to Human Rights/Liberty Park
3. Young Dubliners - Irish Festival / Deer Valley
4. Avenged Sevenfold - USANA Amphitheater
5. Dave Matthews - USANA Amphitheater
6. Swagger - Park Silly Sunday Markets   
7. Blackberry Bushes - Piper Down
8. Little Big Town - Peppermill Concert Hall/Wendover Nevada
9. Dark Star Orchestra - The Depot
10. The Bravery - Park City Main Street/VISA Freestyle International World Cup

 

Utah's Finest Local/Regional Concerts - 2010

1. Shaney McCoy - Salt Lake City CD release concert
2. Stonecircle - Jeanne Wagner Theater
3. Ryan Hiller - Deer Valley
4. Michael Lucarelli - Intermountain Acoustic Music Association Local Concert Series
5. Jen Hajj and Utah Slim with Heartroot - Mestizo Coffee House
6. The Lab Dogs - Pat's BBQ
7. Bryon Friedman - Deer Valley 
8. Bronwen Beecher - Vertical Diner
9. Stephanie Mabey - Bobby Boggs' Birthday House Concert
10. Guy Benson - Carolyn's Backyard Garden Concerts