Though it’s not Wednesday, I felt a Top 5 was in order to memorialize 2020’s music festival season. Who else misses outdoor music festivals??? My sisters, fiancé, and I love to go to concerts together. The last one I went to was Lollapalooza last year – that’s more than enough time to go through some SERIOUS concert withdrawals!!! Here are the 5 bands (that I’ve never seen live) I would choose to create the perfect music festival for me:

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5. Nirvana

Unfortunately for me, I was far too young to be aware of Nirvana’s existence when they were together. Fortunately for me, I was old enough to appreciate their sound without the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia when I finally gave them an undivided listen. I love the murky, distorted sound of their instrumentals; listening to Nirvana makes you feel like you’re floating underwater. I have listened to a few of the many live bootlegs available on YouTube, but of course it’s not the same as being there in person! One would need a time machine to go back and see this flagship grunge band live.

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4. Evanescence

Though I don’t follow this band anymore, they were my first “gateway” band, as it were, into the symphonic and power metal that I love today. I still spin their first 2 albums from time to time if I’m feeling like a throwback to high school. Amy Lee is an iconic vocalist and I would love the chance to see her perform live someday.

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3. Powerwolf

This German power metal band differs from the majority of the genre in that their music deals with dark fantasy themes, as opposed to traditional sword and sorcery. And I can’t get enough of it! Their melodies and lyrics are so catchy, it’s hard not to want to howl along. I bet their concerts are phenomenal and I can’t wait for the next time they’re State-side.

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2. Lana Del Rey

Though most of the music I listen to is metal, I LOVE Lana Del Rey. Her deep, jazzy vocals combined with the blend of nostalgic, yet modernly cinematic music just… SPEAKS to me on a deep emotional level. I often try (albeit very, very badly) to emulate her during my shower karaoke. Of the modern artists I haven’t yet seen live, she is at the very top of my bucket list.

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1. Nightwish

When you say “symphonic metal,” the first band to most people’s minds will likely be Nightwish. The Finnish band defined the genre in the late ’90s and have consistently been producing best-selling albums since. I hate to say I’m not much a fan of their new work. Through 3 separate vocalists, I can safely say I am a Nightwish purist and prefer their older albums with Tarja Turunen the best. Her classical voice, combined with the keyboards and orchestral elements, created an enchanting magic that the band has often tried to emulate but failed to capture ever since. I’m gonna need another time machine for this one!

There you have it! My Top 5 bands that I’ve never seen live who I would need to create my perfect outdoor music festival. Of course, I would also need a gorgeous summer day, a food stand with burgers, fries, and ice cream, and a time machine to make some of these bands come back. Come on, someone’s gotta get on it during quarantine! 😉

❤

Kathleen