13th Floor Top 10 Concerts Of 2024 (Marty’s Picks)

The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda picks his top 10 concerts from the past year. And what a year it was!

As usual, The 13th Floor reviewed (and photographed) just under 200 concerts during 2024. We covered the biggest stadium shows to the most intimate acoustic gigs. Auckland is still reeling from the closing of The Kings Arms but a few new venues have been making efforts, including some at our own studio.

As always, I’m looking forward to what’s coming up next…there are some tempting shows on the horizon…Idles, Los Bitchos, Amyl & The Sniffers and The D4…to name just a few.

I didn’t see every show that came to Auckland last year, but I tried. Here are my top ten picks.

Cheers,

Marty

 10. Strawpeople – October 18: Hollywood Avondale: After forming way back in 1990, Strawpeople finally toured and it was worth the wait. Paul Casserly and Fiona McDonald revived the band last year, releasing a new album and they…along with friends like Leza Corban, Stephanie Tauevihi and Chris Matthews of Headless Chickens…made this night out in Avondale, one to remember. Click here to read the review and see the photos. 

9. Mick Harvey & Amanda Acevedo – February 4: Tuning Fork: A former Bad Seed and a sultry Mexican songstress…what could be more intriguing? Sadly, this show was sparsely attended. Happily I didn’t miss it. Mick and Amanda joined forces a few years ago and released their album, Phantasmagoria in Blue in 2023. Local violinist Anita Clark, aka Motte, opened the show and then accompanied the headlining duo for a set filled with “beauty and unease” starting with Tim Buckley’s Song To The Siren. An emotional night that made a big impression on the small crowd in attendance. Click here to read the review and see the photos.

8. P!nk – March 8: Eden Park: So Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour skipped Auckland, but P!nk made up for it with a three-night stand at Eden Park. As expected it was quite a spectacle…plenty of aerial acrobatics,  cool covers and a guest appearance from daughter Willow…and then there were the twizzlers! What more could you want? Click here to read the review and see the photos.

7. Coldplay – November 13: Eden Park: More stadium shenanigans…this time it’s Coldplay at Mt Eden. Chris Martin & co may not be everyone’s cup of tea musically, but they sure know how to put on a show. There were fireworks, confetti, flashing wristbands and fluttering stars which acted as a welcome distraction or an enhancement to the music, depending on where your feelings fall. Martin’s charm is infectious and 50,000 fans went home very happy. And like P!nk, this was a three-night stand…that’s a lot of confetti! Click here to read the review and see the photos. 

6. Princess Chelsea – August 3: The Civic Wintergarden Princess Chelsea goes high concept with a mid-winter ball based around David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. There were Log Ladies aplenty in the audience. We were treated to Angelo Badalamenti’s  Twin Peaks theme and Chelsea doing her best Julee Cruse. This very special night ended with a heartfelt tribute to Martin Phillipps and his Heavenly Pop Hit. Click here to read the review and see the photos.

 

5. Pearl Jam & The Pixies – November 8: Go Media Stadium It was a November to remember with Coldplay, Crowded House, The Cult and Twenty One Pilots all vying for your live music dollars. Pearl Jam and The Pixies landed at Go Media Stadium (aka Mt Smart) for two shows and I caught the first one. Unlike P!nk and Coldplay, these two bands emphasize the music rather than the theatrics. Both acts closed their sets with Neil Young songs so having Neil there in spirit made this an even better show. I was very impressed with Pearl Jam…just a great, live, rock band.  And the Pixies will be back next November with a full heading show of their own. Click here to read the review and see the photos. 

4. Crowded House – November 23: Spark Arena: It was tough deciding which to rank higher…Pearl Jam or Crowded House, but in the end, Neil Finn’s songwriting tipped the scales. The 13th Floor reviewed the Christchurch show so when Crowded House came to Auckland all I had to do was sit back and enjoy the music. It never ceases to amaze me how many classic songs Neil Finn has written…but here they all were. The closing run of I Got You, Don’t Dream It’s Over, Distant Sun, Something So Strong, Weather With You, I See Red and Better Be Home Soon is unmatched…even if your last name happens to be McCartney. Click here to read the review and see the photos.

3. Thom Yorke – October 25: Spark Arena “Play something eclectic and weird!” That shout from a fan at the back of Auckland’s Spark Arena resonated as Thom Yorke played the first of two shows at the venue and just the second overall for his Everything Tour. With no new Radiohead action in sight, Thom Yorke solo is probably the next best thing. This solo show had fans swooning, mesmerized and even sobbing with joy. Yorke was in fine voice and his setlist was exquisite. The lighting and stage design helped make this a top 3 show. Click here to read the review and see the photos.

2. Georgia Lines – September 20: PowerStation What a year Georgia has had! Her debut album, The Rose Of Jericho, was finally released. She performed in front of 10,000 people opening for Brooke Fraser and now, here she is, celebrating her album with a fantastic show at The PowerStation. Powered by a full band Georgia proved that she is the real deal…great songs, great pipes and a great on-stage presence. Her in-the-audience rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me was the icing on the cake. I’m very much looking forward to see what Georgia Lines has in mind for 2025. Click here to read the review and see the photos.

1. Jack White – December 16: Powerstation I think I knew within about three songs that Jack White’s Powerstation show was going to get my vote for best concert of the year. The man was on fire and his guitar playing was a revelation.  Jack and his band tore through 18 song in just over 90 minutes, rarely stopping the breath, let along tune his guitar. It was a display of rock & roll spirit rarely seen in this day and age and I loved every minute of it. Click here to read the review and see the photos.