Top 15 Shows I Have Seen in 2023 Featuring King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, the Cure and More!

This year I dedicated as much time as possible to going to as many shows as I could. From immersing myself into the beautiful Chicago hardcore scene to venturing out to Colorado and seeing King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at Red Rocks, this year will be hard to forget when it comes to the quality of the modern scene of performers, regardless of genre. Live shows have become a way for artists not only to garner lost revenue, but also to spread their musical message to the masses with ease. Live music is one of the only pure platforms of uncorrupted artistic message we have left. With the current influence of corporations like Live Nation threatening that, I wanted to highlight 15 shows that I have seen that speak volumes to the importance of live music and its beautiful way of capturing emotions. From heavy music to 80s new wave to r&b, here are 15 shows I was lucky enough to capture. - Michael Ruhl

Here is the link to a playlist I compiled off all the setlists played at these shows: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/top-15-concerts-setlists/pl.u-WabZ70jhdEe0y3G

Support these artists and many more by going to shows and being an active participant!

(All pictures taken by me either on iPhone or Pentax IQ-Zoom)

15. Full Of Hell - Avondale Music Hall November 11th with End, Inter Arma, and Wake

Full of Hell is a premier name in the world of experimental metal, mixing grindcore influences with harsh noise, sludge metal, and hardcore. Whenever Full of Hell is in town, I'll always attend due to the sheer agression the band is able to capture and how much of a spectacle vocalist Dylan Walker is live. The anger and speed of his visceral growls set this band aside from any other metal band currently touring. Full of Hell played songs like Gnawed Flesh, which has an unbelievable sludge breakdown that when heard live feels as heavy as a million bricks. Dylan's ability to scream with such a ferocious speed makes every song feel angrier than the last. The band's drive towards experimentation is well captured in their live performance, as Dylan brings a multitude of synthetic instruments to splice industrial noise into the band's aural assault. This was the first Headline FOH show I have been able to see, after having seen them open for both Converge and Fit for an Autopsy. Their headline spot allowed them to perfectly curate the vibe of aggression to fit their terms and resulted in one of the greatest shows of the year.

14. Unwound - Thalia Hall March 7th

Lead by vocalist Justin Trosper, post-hardcore, post-rock, post-whatever band Unwound reemerged after 20 years way from the spotlight. The Numero Group band has acheived iconic and legendary status and rightfully so. Unwound's instrumental groove and talent has made them an incredibly important band in the realm of influences that lead to bands like Black Country New Road and Black Midi. Being able to see this band at Thalia Hall was an incredible experience. They did not seem to lose a beat after their time away and their instrumental tightness matched their studio records perfectly. The band played two seperate sets in one night with the first set featuring the anthemic All Souls Day and Corpse Pose that picture their gothic pulse so well. Their music came across so crisp and clear and stayed fascinating for the almost 2 hour show time.

13. Mastodon - BMO Pavilion Milwaukee August 23rd with Gojira and Lorna Shore

Mastodon had the task of closing out an outdoor stadium show on a 110 degree day and had already had two pit-crushing sets on before them. However, the sheer musical talent of Mastodon set them aside this year for me. The Atlanta metal band that's carried a career without borders and without precedent, ended this show in Milwaukee with an absolute bang. Brent Hinds is one of my favorite guitarists for his expressionism and phrasing being so brutal yet so beautiful. They start the set with two singles off their album Blood Mountain, which got the proverbial blood pumping and the pit swinging. The band switches vocalists so often, which added yet another dynamic to their already incredibly dynamic instrumentals. Bassist Troy Sanders took the general majority of vocals, especially on newer material like Pushing the Tides and More Than I Could Chew, which created somber and slow but still awe-inspiring metal. Drummer Brann Daillor is also always in peak form during live performances, infusing his jazz background into metal, making him one of the most versatile and talented drummers in music. Mastodon makes music that attacks from all sides and this show in Milwaukee had a set list full of attack. Closing with the always crushing and anthemic Blood and Thunder, the pit was united after a great night of metal.

12- Drain - Metro June 2nd with Incendiary, Drug Church, Never Ending Game, and Gel

In a year of hardcore excellence, Drain lead by Sammy Ciaramitaro had a year to be extremely proud of. Drain use the influence of bands like Slayer and 90s Hardcore to create this fusion of hard-hitting but incredibly fun and exciting punk music. Refusing to be put in any boxes, Drain has blown up this year with good reason. I managed to see their Monster Energy Outbreak show which was at a sold out Metro in Chicago. Featuring the incredible Incendiary on the bill, Drain's headline set was the spotlight show and blew me away. The band sounded incredibly tight riffing through songs like Evil Finds Light and Feel The Pressure. The rhythm had the pit consistently thriving and the energy the band kept made this one of the best punk shows I saw this year. Drain's unique mixture of hardcore, metal, and a damn good time made them a band to watch this year.

11. Frozen Soul/200 Stab Wounds Avondale Music Hall November 14th with Judiciary Tribal Gaze and Nucleus

I am going to lump these two into one spot on the list because they were two life-changing death metal sets by the scene's two best young bands that happened back to back. Starting with 200 Stab Wounds, their live performance was a madhouse. I don't know how many times I can remember seeing a pit go that violent for a death metal show. 200 Stab Wounds have been touring off their only album Slave to the Scalpel and two singles and their music was so tight. I had not seen them before but I left obsessed with 200's specific brand of grimey death metal. They are one of the metal scene's most promising bands and their crushingly tight live performance will continue to boost them to the top as their career continues. Frozen Soul went on right after 200 Stab Wounds touring off their incredible 2023 album Glacial Domination. Starting with Invisible Tormentor and ripping through a short but incredibly sweet set, Frozen Soul dominated the hell out of Chicago. Lead vocalist Chad Green was larger than life with his vocal growl soaring over the incredible talent of his band. Two shows from insanely promising death metal bands who are breathing fresh air into a genre that much needs a refresher. Brutality from all sides from both of these amazing bands.

10. Converge Concord Music Hall May 25th with Frail Body

Converge is a band that regardless the circumstances if they come to Chicago I will see them. They proved their incredible prowess as a live band this May at Concord Music Hall in Wicker Park. Lead by vocalist Jacob Bannon who's stage presence is like no other as he paces around screaming getting the crowd wrapped into every move he makes. The band also features amazing guitarist and producer Kurt Ballou, bassist Nate Newton, and amaizng drummer Ben Koller. This bands stage presence is not the only thing that makes them incredible, they hold a tightness musically that many bands in the metal scene wish to acheieve. Converge are forebearers in the cross section of hardcore and metal and lead the scene with pride. Their set in Chicago featured a lot of songs off their amaizng album Axe to Fall. The breakdown to Dark Horse is one of the best moments I have been able to witness live this year. In addition to that, they played Hell to Pay and Concubine off their magnum opus album Jane Doe. Their talent musically and their sheer agression set them aside from many other metal and hardcore bands trying to do what they do. Converge always sets a gold standard with their live performances.

9. Sampha The Riviera November 1st

Sampha's return in 2023 was every bit as worth it as it could have been and being able to see him live was icing on the cake. He played the Riviera right after he dropped Lahai which is an incredible release. 6 years after his 2017 release Process, Sampha infused more electronic soul experimentation into his album Lahai and took these songs on tour with an ethereal vibe only he could acheive. Sampha's vocals filled the Riviera with a cloud of warm sweetness and put the crowd in awe of just how much beauty he was able to capture on stage. His band was incredible, splicing in elements of electronic and r&b to Sampha's amazing vocals. Playing songs from Process and Lahai, Sampha's setlist was full of his signature beautiful songwriting.

8. Death Grips Bayou Music Center Houston Texas October 3rd

Death Grips might have been the most notable tour of the year when it comes to how large their fanbase has gotten and how mysterious the band is as an institution. While some cities on this tour really proved just how much fans think they can disrespect artists, Houston was luckily a really smooth show. With Death Grips you never know what to expect but in Houston they were on time, played a full setlist, and it went smoothly. Their blend of industrial noise and rap was transferred over to live performance really well with drummer Zach Hill's immaculate skill and MC Ride's ethos and insane live charisma. Doing a set list that was mostly hits like Get Got, System Blower, and Hacker off Money Store, it felt like an amazing capture of what Death Grips has been able to acheieve in their career. If this is their last tour, shows like the one in Houston captured what they were able to accomplish in their road of experimentation. The crowd was moshing and having a great time and the band was locked in the whole time.

7. Harms Way at the Metro with Weekend Nachos, All Out War, Fleshwater, and Ingrown November 18th

This whole bill was a celebration of Chicago hardcore. Weekend Nachos, power violence genre-pushing Chicagoans, came back after almost a decade away and played one of the craziest sets I have seen all year. The Metro was more packed than I have ever seen it for Nachos and Harms Way and was full of the native hardcore community and new members to Chicago's punk scene. Harms Way stole the show for me absolutely though. I was floored by how tight the band was instrumentally as the style of hardcore they play requires timing beyond belief. The 5 members of the band were incredibly in sync and sounded visceral as they blasted through a setlist of breakdowns and intensity. The crowd was locked into the energy of the band and the pit was full of people. It was a night of celebration for a scene that has been strong for a while. Harms Way set themselves as leaders of the scene with a masterful performance and a packed out Metro.

6. Swans at the Metro September 21st

Swans has always been a band that refuses to be put in any boxes. Michael Gira and company's obsession with experimentation and dissonance has put out some of the greatest music in experimental rock. On their first major tour after 2020, they are touring material off of their last two albums The Beggar and Leaving Meaning. The band live often sounded like a caucophany of noise, shuddering in at you from all sides. From their distortion drones that would shake the whole floor at the Metro to the core to the shouting and vocalization Michael Gira does, this show was heavy. Their songs clock in at routinely 10-30 minutes and they played 9 songs in a 2 hour plus setlist. This gave each songs live performance the space to grow, change, progress, and amaze. Swans songs often compare a lot more to classical orchestral pieces than modern rock and the dedication these musicians have to their craft is tangible seeing it on a stage. Nobody in the world has as much dedication to exploration in the realm of music as this band. Their live rendition of Cloud of Unknowing is shatteringly sad but also brutal and beautiful, this band is of a different caliber in their live performance.

5. Boris at Warehouse Live Houston Texas with Melvins October 2nd

Boris and Melvins embarked on a double headliner tour this year and I was able to catch them in Houston. Melvins was a spectacle to see live especially given their legendary status in the history of metal. However, the spot was stolen by their headliner Boris. Seeing all of the members of Melvins come out ready to awe at the talent of Atsuo, Wata, and Takeshi was all I needed to know that this show was going to be something special. Boris was playing their phenomenal Heavy Rocks 2002 which got a special re-release this year in full. The album is full of their style of heavy guitar drones, drum assault, and catchy vocals in Japanese. The setlist started with Heavy Friends which live felt like getting pulled through a void of fuzz. Being so close to their amp setup made me feel the entirety of this show and Boris is a very loud band. Their guitar work is really what draws me to them and Takeshi and Wata played an amazing variety of riffs and progressions. Heavy Rocks 2002 has some moments that are dream-like and ambient while other moments that rage and thrash and seeing them pull off the musical versatility required for that during a live performance was phenomenal. Boris is one of the sheer most talented bands in the world and getting to see my favorite album of theirs played in full made for a historic night.

4. Botch at the Metro October 14th

2023 was a year of reunion shows and Botch was one of the most shocking. The late 90s Washington metalcore band had not played a show or put out any music in 20 years up until a random single dropped in 2022 and they announced a tour. Botch have always been heros in the field of metal and hardcore, being one of the first bands to skillfully blend noise and post-rock mathy styles with metal influences and have the product be as satisfying as Botch. The Metro was a great host for this show, seeing as they have been the venue for so many of these top 15 shows, they deserve a special shoutout here. Thanks Metro! Botch came on stage around 9:30 and the crowd was geniunely shocked. Lifelong fans who haven't seen the incredible band in their lives looked like their whole world had changed. The pit was violent and speedy as they ripped through a setlist full of amazing songs off of American Nervoso and We Are the Romans. Botch had not missed a step at all musically in their 20 years away. They were incredibly tight and sounded evil at points and blissful in others. The intensity of the music was palpable on songs like Mondrian Was a Liar and C Thomas Howell as the "Soul Man". Botch played a set full of awe and amazing musicianship and I hope this isn't all we see from them.

3. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard at Red Rocks Morrison CO June 8th Night Show

This band's live performance is curated uniquely down to the tee. Red Rocks was a perfect setting for this bands sonic journey and being tucked in between the cliffs made every note this band played sound so special. King Gizzard is a band that does their own style throughout so many different genres in one set. The way they seamlessly make transitions in between genres by branching together musical motifs always shocks me. very time I see this band live I am shocked at just how talented they are and how effortless they make their complicated sound look. King Gizzard is a jam band through and through however with a lot of jam bands it is hard to see similar motifs and often sounds like meandering. With Giz there is always an obvious theme and structure but that structure can always blow up at the drop of a dime and transform into something completely new. The way they craft their songs like is beyond belief. They played three shows at Red Rocks but I want to highlight their set on the last night after the weather delay. They came out after being delayed due to a storm which I sat through and played Rattlesnake. The energy of the crowd was ballistic due to how incredible they sounded but also the end of the rain delay thrill. King Giz has an absolutely dedicated fanbase and they showed up in full for the red rocks shows. Rattlesnake transitioned into Open Water which allowed for a great Flying Microtonal Bannana album suite. They went on to play their song Ice V which is one of my all time favorites and it sounded as good as it could have live. They did a metal suite with Hell, Mars for the Rich, Supercell, and Gila Monster to celebrate the recent release of their thrash metal return Petrodragonic. The energy they play these metal songs with rivals any major touring metal-only band today but the band will always be able to just as well create blissful soundscapes. Just an unbelievable ability to keep musical versatility fresh on display whenever Giz plays live.

2. Gojira at BMO Pavilion August 23rd with Mastodon and Lorna Shore

Gojira have always been standouts in the world of metal. The French death metal geniuses have been making unbelievably heavy and urgent music for decades now. Every time I have caught them live up until this point it has been as an opener and still is, I need a headliner Gojira show near Chicago but this was so incredible I couldn't help but rank it this high. The moment they went on it had literally felt like lightning struck repeatedly, they were incredibly loud, incredibly energetic, and locked in. The band consisting of brothers Mario and Joe Duplantier, have musical intensity that comes in the form of gigantic riffs. Gojira will try and make their riffs sound like a million tons whenever they can and every song on this setlist hit like a truck. It was 110 degrees and the band had just an unbelievable captivity to them. It was like they opened a void on stage with how heavy and brutal they were. Gojira's music has always focused on protecting nature, keeping mortality, and space and the transcendent themes came across live. One of my favorite live moments I have ever seen was seeing the breakdown to Flying Whales so close. Gojira is the best metal band currently touring just simply for their ability to sound so gigantic. They are so tight and impressive live it really makes their studio music shine much more when returning to it.

1. The Cure at Fiddlers Green Denver CO June 6th

Robert Smith has always been a master of curating a gothic ethereal vibe. Seeing the Cure for the first time at an outdoor ampitheatre show, he was able to curate an intimiate gothic vibe like I was seeing him in a small venue. As a long time Cure fan, seeing these songs live would have been enough for a good show. For a band as legendary as them, they could just phone it in and decide to play the hits and move along. Many other "legacy" acts like them put way less effort into their shows than Robert and crew. They transcend being a legacy act and just be an incredible live band. The bass and guitar parts soaked in reverb consistently soudned incredible and crisp as they wafted through the Denver air. The band also curated a setlist that highlighted their career in such a beautiful way. The show was 29 songs long split into 3 sections . The first set included highlights like Lovesong, Pictures of You, and A Forest that showcased the musical briliance of the band. Playing a lot of their catchier tunes and more dynamic songs first really helped with the longetivity of the set. They came on for a second set that featured their songs that are a bit more drawn out and dream-like which was incredible. Prayers for Rain has always been one of my favorite songs of all time and it's live performance was beautiful. They came back on again after a middle set to play the hits and crowd pleasers. However, all of them sounded incredible and mind-blowing. Being able to hear them play Just Like Heaven and Boys Don't Cry live was an unbelievable time. I caught the band later at Riot Fest in Chicago in September however the outdoor festival atmosphere was less special than the ampitheatre but the band still sounded incredible. It was obvious that they are putting their entire being into these shows and playing them with passion and pride. There is not a better band making music and touring it currently. The Cure are just cementing their place as leaders of musical history with their late-career consistency but these shows are something to behold if you get the chance to catch one. They played a bunch of unreleased songs throughout the set which has me looking forward to the potential of a new album. The Cure has not lost a single step.