I saw 176 concerts in 2024, most in Idaho were I live. Here are my 10 favorite shows, arranged by chronological order. Please note, I did not include any of the four Watershed shows or any of the 110 performances I saw during the 2024 Treefort Music Festival that takes place each March in Boise.
(editor’s note, Ricki C. - By contrast, other than Colin shows I roadied at, I saw three shows; Marshall Crenshaw, Dar Williams and the band Jim Johnson drums for, The Beatdowns.)
February 2
Headliner: Slothrust / Support: Weakened Friends, Rollerdome
Venue: Shrine Social Club (basement), Boise
This triple bill was the only sold-out show I attended in Boise this year. Slothrust was great and this was my second time seeing them. What elevated this show was Maine-based Weakened Friends. They were fantastic. I highly recommend the band’s 2021 album “Quitter.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHKKEHZ9xO8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTwn5_tCMhQ
March 30
Headliner: Low Cut Connie / Support: Fantastic Cat
Venue: Treefort Music Hall, Boise
Philadelphia’s Low Cut Connie is a high-energy act fronted by pianist Adam Weiner. It’s shows are a blast with a full backing band and vocal harmonies that get the crowd moving to its soulful rock and roll. Fantastic Cat consists of four New York City individual multi-instrumentalists who normally perform solo. As a quartet, they change instruments and put on a great show with a great dose of humor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky9dFQby3a8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmHjye9VrKA
April 12
Headliner: Andy Frasco & The U.N. / Support: Caleb Hawley
Venue: Shrine Social Club (ballroom), Boise
Andy Frasco is an entertainer. Backed by a energetic band that can shift genres at the drop of a hat, a Frasco show is something that needs to be experienced live. The video clip below was recorded two weeks before the show I saw. Fun fact: He and his band partied at the venue until the wee hours of the morning (or so I’m told).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QAbll6yXSY
May 16
Headliner: Lords of Altamont / Support: Tigers On Opium
Venue: The Neurolux, Boise
I’d never heard of Lords of Altamont prior to attending this show. Wow, I was blown away by how tight and professional the band was. Unfortunately, this show was attended by about a dozen people. I apologized at the merch table for the low turnout but expressed my gratitude for an all-in show by the band (they did an encore!). One of the band members said they can’t control who shows up, only how they play. Check them out if you get a chance. The video below took place about two months after I saw them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRnOPkolT50
June 27
Headliner: Red Fang / Support: Spoonbenders
Venue: The Olympic Venue, Boise
A pair of Portland (Ore.) heavy hitters teamed up for an epic show of heavy, sludgy, hard-rock that was well-received on a night where there were three other concerts at similar venues.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4B8SCqmG-ChP2Lth7xVm7w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7EZyGcjIHM
July 28
Headliner: The Gaslight Anthem / Support: Joyce Manor, The Dirty Nil
Venue: Revolution Concert House, Garden City (Idaho)
I scored free tickets from our wonderful local record store, The Record Exchange. My first Gaslight Anthem show in 2023 was good but not great. I wasn’t going to pay $45, so the scholarship was a blessing. And this show was light years better than the previous. Less talk, more songs was the difference and a great night. Another great band from Jersey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oST77VRHXt0
August 14
Headliner: Guida / support: Far From Giants
Venue: Shrine Social Club (basement), Boise
An Italian hard-rock back that has elements of everything I love about ‘80’s hard rock. They reminded me of The Sweet, too. Also an AC/DC vibe. What a fun band and show. Highly recommended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28wL4Jvq2k4
August 30
Headliner: The Paranoyds / support: Vexed Vixen
Venue: Shrine Social Club (basement), Boise
This LA-based quartet came to Boise to play a private birthday party. They added this show the next night, which was fantastic. I love their “Carnage Bargain” and “Talk Talk Talk” releases and hope they return to our area soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdsVGGpYDyo
September 19
Headliner: Playboy Manbaby / support: Steaksauce Mustache, Forty Feet Tall
Venue: Shrine Social Club (basement), Boise
I laughed, I rocked and really appreciated all three bands. Forty Feet Fall - the opener - was legit. I enjoy seeing them. Steaksauce Mustache and Playboy Manbaby, in addition to pushing the envelope on bad band names, were hilarious and extremely entertaining. Sometimes it’s not about musical proficiency as it is the spectacle. After all, I’m a KISS fan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36zTRhZB3JE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ollpIgzJtAw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lK895zkvEk
November 19
Headliner: Mac Sabbath / support: Supersuckers, Cardiac Drift
Venue: Shrine Social Club (ballroom), Boise
Everyone should see Mac Sabbath — once. Black Sabbath music that’s spot on backing lyrics about fast food, it’s quite a spectacle. And when you have the legendary Supersuckers opening? It’s the recipe for a great night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeVP6Zun6kA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqtUsh7E-vA
Nick Jezierny is a graduate of Ohio University and a former newspaper journalist who worked at papers in Connecticut, Ohio, Texas and Idaho. He resides in Garden City, Idaho, and is fascinated by all things music, mostly because he has zero musical skills minus his spot-on karaoke version of Tommy Tutone.