BEST OF 2016: Steve Nover’s Top 50 Concerts

By Steve Nover
Photograph by Stanley A. Johnson

Yes, it’s that time of year once again – best of the year list-time, that is. We’re gathering together Best of 2016 from various media outlets, our own contributors and our readers, too.

Here’s the list of the Top 50 Concerts of the Year compiled by Nippertown contributor and man-about-town, Steve Nover:

It’s that time of the year again when I try not to be excessive, no really; leaving shows off the list is about as difficult as trying to not let recent concerts have an undue influence since they’re more fresh in the mind… the subjectivity leads to realizing I should have put one higher or lower days after finishing, but one thing is sure – Greater Nippertown is culturally rich with local talent, and the free summer concert schedule is as good as anywhere in the country.

50. Arlo Guthrie @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, May 6 & November 5
49. Bridge Jazz Festival featuring Ellis & Delfeayo Marsalis, Arch Stanton Quartet, the No BS! Brass Band @ Massry Center for the Arts at the College of St. Rose, Albany, February 27
48. Fatoumata Diawara @ Sanctuary for Independent Media, Troy, April 29

47. Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited @ Sanctuary for Independent Media, Troy, April 2
46. Mariachi El Bronx @ the Hollow Bar & Kitchen, Albany, September 25
45. Bebel Gilberto @ The Egg’s Swyer Theatre, Albany, February 20
44. Alejandro Escovedo @ Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, May 11
43. Rustic Overtones / Paranoid Social Club @ Jupiter Hall, Guilderland, December 22
42. Joan Baez @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, March 25
41. NRBQ @ The Egg’s Swyer Theatre, Albany, November 11
40. Brad Mehldau Trio @ The Egg’s Swyer Theatre, Albany, April 16
39. David Bromberg Big Band with Jorma Kaukonen, Keb’ Mo’, Larry Campbell @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, April 3
38. Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn @ Massry Center for the Arts at the College of St. Rose, Albany, March 5
37. Bela Fleck & the Flecktones @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, June 8
36. Kim Simmonds & Savoy Brown @ the Upper Room, Albany, November 12
35. Donovan @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, September 14
34. Miracle Legion @ The Linda, Albany, July 14
33. PearlPalooza (Galactic & Warpaint especially) @ North Pearl Street, Albany, September 17
32. Joan Osborne @ The Egg’s Swyer Theatre, Albany, December 10
31. Rocky Velvet’s 20th Anniversary / McKinley James @ the Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, November 26
30. The Figgs @ the Low Beat, Albany, December 16
29. “A Night With Janis Joplin” @ theREP, Albany, July 12
28. Evelyn Glennie with Albany Symphony Orchestra @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, April 17
27. Beres Hammond @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, July 6
26. Hot Tuna Electric Trio @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, November 20
25. “50 Years of Frank: Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever the F@%k He Wants – The Cease and Desist Tour” @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, October 25
24. Richard Thompson & the Next Festival of Emerging Artists @ The Egg’s Swyer Theatre, Albany, June 10
23. Jack DeJohnette Trio / Indo Pak Coalition @ The Egg’s Swyer Theatre, Albany, December 9
22. Bill Maher @ Palace Theatre, Albany, November 6
21. Monty Alexander & the Harlem Kingston Trio @ the Music Haven at Proctors, Schenectady, July 31
20. The Fab Faux @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, April 30
19. Leon Russell / Dave Mason @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, February 28
18. Jazz at the Lake with Edmar Castaneda, Gary McFarland Legacy Ensemble, Amina Figarova Sextet @ Shepard Park, Lake George, September 18
17. Robin Trower / Kenny Hohman & Lori Friday (Super 400) @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, April 27
16. Dr. John & the Nite Trippers / Jocamo @ Alive at 5 in Tricentennial Park, Albany, June 9
15. Savion Glover / James Carter Quartet @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, October 15
14. Albany Jazz Festival (especially Lucky Chops,Nicholas Payton & KJ Denhert) @ Corning Preserve Boat Launch, Albany, September 10
13. The AndersonPonty Band @ The Egg’s Hart Theatre, Albany, May 25
12. Gov’t Mule @ Palace Theatre, Albany, October 29
11. Garland Jeffreys @ Madison Theater, Albany, January 15
10. J.D. McPherson @ the Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, September 24 & 25
9. DakhaBrakha / Tavche Gravche @ Music Haven in Central Park, Schenectady, August 7
8. Fear Of Strangers reunion @ the Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Albany, September 23
7. Tedeschi Trucks Band / North Mississippi All Stars / Los Lobos @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, July 13
6. The English Beat @ The Egg’s Swyer Theatre, Albany, May 7
5. Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Palace Theatre, Albany, October 26
4. Bonnie Raitt @ Palace Theatre, Albany, March 12
3. Steely Dan / Steve Winwood @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, July 10
2. Bumbershoot Festival @ Seattle, Washington, September 2-4… a well run fest with some 10 stages… highlights included Father John Misty, Joywave, Billy Idol, Margo Price, Tame Impala, Andrew Bird, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Explosions in the Sky, Blind Boys of Alabama
1. Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs June 25 & 26… a fantastic line-up highlighted by Joey Alexander Trio, Shemekia Copeland, Christian Scott, the Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson, Chick Corea/Christian McBride/Brian Blade, Pat Martino, Jon Cleary, Lizz Wright, Bria Skonberg Quintet

MORE BEST OF 2016 LISTS
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Fred Rudofsky’s Favorite Live Music Events
Albert Brooks’ Top Jazz Albums
Rudy Lu’s Top 10 Concerts
Kathy Conway’s Top 10 Concerts
Paste’s Top 10 Comedy Specials
Fact’s Top 10 Album Covers
Entertainment Weekly’s Top 15 Entertainers
Richard Brody’s Top 13 Concerts
Fred Rudofsky’s Top 27 Albums
Ed Conway’s Top However Many Shows
American Songwriter’s Top 10 Songs
J Hunter’s Top Jazz Albums (Part Deux)
Newsweek’s Top 11 Documentary Films
Don Wilcock’s Top 10 Blues Albums
The Chicago Tribune’s Top Four Poetry Books
Pitchfork’s Top 25 Music Videos
Stanley A. Johnson’s Top 10 Favorite Musical Places
Time Magazine’s Top 10 Nonfiction Books
TV Guide’s Top Television Shows
J Hunter’s Top Jazz Albums (Part 1)
Esquire’s Top 25 Movies (So Far)