Punk in the Park at Oak Canyon Park
The second annual, two-day punk fest was a roaring good time with lots of eats, craft beer tastings and headlining performances by Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion, as well as sets from Bouncing Souls, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Manic Hispanic, Adolescents, Face to Face and The Vandals, who filled in for Dead Kennedys after the sudden death of drummer D.H. Peligro.
Royal Blood at House of Blues Anaheim
In May, the English rock duo played several Southern California dates, and we caught them in Anaheim. The performance was incredible, and even with just two players, Royal Blood’s energy and sound vibrated the entire venue as the band blasted through older cuts like “How Did We Get So Dark?” and “Figure It Out” and fresh offerings like “Typhoons” and “Trouble’s Coming.”
Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach
The three-day festival with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean is such a unique experience. Curated by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder since 2016, the event features a diverse musical lineup. Stevie Nicks, Vedder and Pink headlined, with Brittany Howard, Jack White, Khruangbin, Billy Strings and St. Vincent also giving stunning performances.
The Weeknd at SoFi Stadium
R&B star Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, absolutely destroyed during his first of two nights in Inglewood in September. He had so much fun dancing, singing and screaming along with fans during his explosive, hitfilled set that he blew out his voice early during the second night. However, he made good on his promise to reschedule the show and returned to the venue in November.
Social Distortion at House of Blues Anaheim
Seeing this Orange County band play during its annual run of hometown gigs in December was the icing on the cake to a year of concerts. Despite postponing a few shows due to illness, the guys picked back up and played several evenings in Anaheim, mixing classic hits, fan favorites, new material and a brilliant cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game.” The band also hopped on KROQ’s (106.7 FM) Almost Acoustic Christmas lineup Dec. 10 at Kia Forum when the Yeah Yeah Yeahs had to cancel abruptly due to illness.