S04E02, Part 2 of 2 – The Encore: Wrapping Up 2025’s Live Music Scene

Welcome to Part 2 of the second annual Seeing Them Live Year End Concert Review show, where a panel of returning guests share their favorite live music experiences from 2025. Host Charles brings together an eclectic group of music enthusiasts including Andy, Jessica, Steve, and superfan Dawn Fontaine to discuss the most memorable live music experiences of 2025.

Dawn shares highlights from her incredible 55-show year, including intimate performances by New York punk bands The Lousekateers and Typhoid Rosie at JJ's Tavern in Florence, Massachusetts, and her milestone 50th Soraia show at Music Fest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The conversation takes an extraordinary turn when Dawn recounts her once-in-a-lifetime experience winning a contest in 2002 that put her on the Rolling Stones' private jet, where she met and chatted with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the late Charlie Watts. The band even played her favorite song, "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," at the Denver show the next night. Dawn also discusses her new role booking shows for Soraia, turning her passion for the band into a dream job that allows her to be part of their team.

Steve brings the star power with his account of seeing Lady Gaga at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which he ranks in his top 10 concerts of all time despite not being a superfan. He describes the show as mind-blowing, with incredible choreography, costume changes, and an intimate piano performance of "Die With a Smile" that transformed the energy of the 18,000-person venue. Steve also highlights seeing St. Vincent at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, praising her guitar skills and stage presence influenced by David Byrne, as well as catching Joan Jett with Alanis Morissette and being amazed at how Joan's voice hasn't changed over the decades. His Vegas weekend also included the Psychedelic Furs at House of Blues and Adele at Caesars Palace, making for an unforgettable concert trip.

Andy rounds out the episode with his diverse concert year, starting with the mesmerizing guitar work of Mdou Moctar at The Space and a spontaneous third-row experience seeing Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys at Hard Rock Gary. His spring break trip to Vegas delivered a surprise highlight when he caught Joe Russo's Almost Dead at Brooklyn Bowl, calling it his surprise concert of the year with their incredible double guitar attack. Andy also shares his Bonnaroo experience, seeing Neil Young perform his new song "Crime in the White House" at Meigs Field (where they unknowingly appeared in the music video), and attending Riot Fest to see Jack White and the Beach Boys with John Stamos. The episode wraps with the group discussing their most anticipated 2026 shows, including Iron Maiden, Radiohead, Guns N' Roses with Public Enemy and Ice Cube, and the long-awaited Rush reunion.

BANDS: Adele, Alanis Morissette, Ashley Gavin (comedian), Beach Boys, The, Beaches, The, Billy Idol, Black Crows, The, Buddy Guy, Cocktail Slippers, The, Cure, The, Dead & Company, Dogs in a Pile, Florence and the Machine, Gary Numan, Grunge Worthy, Guns N' Roses, Ice Cube, Idiot Kids, The, Iron Maiden, Jesus and Mary Chain, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Lady Gaga, Lamp, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Lousekateers, The, Luke Combs, Marcus King, Mdou Moctar, Mighty Suicide Squirrels, The, Mogwai, Neil Young, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Otis and the Elevators, Pretenders, The, Psychedelic Furs, The, Public Enemy, Radiohead, Rolling Stones, The, Rush, Rush Tribute Project, Soraia, Sonic Youth, St. Vincent, Talking Heads, Typhoid Rosie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

VENUES: 

Aragon Ballroom, Bonnaroo, Brooklyn Bowl, Caesars Palace, Crypto Center, Douglas Park, FM Kirby Center, Foxborough Stadium (Patriots Stadium), Garcia's, Hard Rock (Gary, Indiana), Hotel Figueroa, House of Blues (Las Vegas), JJ's Tavern (Florence, Massachusetts), Meigs Field, Metro, The, Music Fest (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), Redwood Bar (Redwood Grill), Riot Fest, Salt Shed, The, Soldier Field, Space, The, Sphere, The, Tabernacle, The, T-Mobile Arena, United Center, Vic, The, World Music Theater, Zinzenplatz stage (at Music Fest).

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