TOP 20 LIVE ACTS OF 2025 - The Beard (Part II)
- Chris Tighe
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Greetings, friends, fans, and followers and welcome to the Beard's final review of 2025. Before we begin, I want to thank those of you who have read my material. As our boss says, reading seems a stretch for people these days and they much prefer that someone just talks to them and does not require them to, you know, engage their brains.
As a result, it looks like The Beard & Little Johnny will have to head on down the road and find another vehicle to run our live show reviews. There are several options out there and I do not know what direction we will ultimately go in, but before the spotlight fades, I do want to sincerely thank ALL of you who ever gave me a chance and read these reviews. You are appreciated even if you thought my reviews sucked. (Ed: Clarification - The Mighty Decibel is closing down its website as of the New Year, hence, we will no longer have a place for posting The Beard & Little Johnny's live reviews going forward.)
Additionally, I cannot extend enough thanks to our boss and the main man of Mighty Decibel. Mr. Chris Tighe already WAS a recognized writer, and he could have looked at the Beard and said, “Go away kid ya bother me.” He would have been well within his rights, but instead, he gave me an opportunity and that led to six awesome years doing this. Thank you, Chris, for opening your website and platform to a couple of clowns and helping us become better reviewers and writers. Little Johnny & The Beard salute you with the highest Horns Up and wish you the best luck as you continue onward in the world of radio. (Ed: The Mighty Decibel wouldn't be what it is today without your contributions. We hope to hear you on the radio in the future ... and will continue to read your live prognostications wherever they end up residing.)
And now, let us look at what the Beard thought were the ten best live acts of 2025. Remember, the Beard loves nostalgia and moments. We salute our past on many of these sets and respect the great bands that were able to provide us one more moment in the sun in 2025.
10: EVANESCENCE 9/18/25 Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
This was the Beard's very first time going to see Amy Lee and Evanescence and I certainly was not sold on it going in. I only knew a few of their songs, I wasn’t really into the goth/grunge/alt type of thing they did, and most of all, while the American audiences embraced Amy Lee, I was always a Christina Scabbia fan and felt Lacuna Coil was doing this act before Evanescence made it multiplatinum.
So, admittedly I went in with a chip on my shoulder, but after that set, I shut up and acknowledged that (even at 50) Amy Lee can sing AND presents herself up there like a star. She carries an energy and her crowd eats it up all set. They sang for her, they cheered for her, they clapped and stomped for her. The Forum is a big venue, and she handled it like a champion. Sometimes, somebody is just skilled and can “bring it” up there on the stage. Salutes and respect for Amy Lee and Evanescence because they did just that.
9. JOE BONAMASSA 9/7/25 The United Center & 11/10/25 The Coronado Theater
I know, Joe Bonamassa is a bluesman, not necessarily a rock guy, and absolutely not a metal guy. This was my best “live” sets of 2025, and I just cannot deny Joe Bonamassa a place on this list. This guy is a performer like Eric Clapton was back in the 1970’s. He gets my pick as the third best guitarist that I saw all year. Whether headlining the small 2500 venue in Rockford or playing the opening slot for 25,000 at the United Center for The Who’s farewell tour, Joe Bonamassa was indeed just THAT DAMN GOOD!
8. SEVEN SPIRES 5/2/25 Legions of Metal Festival, Reggie’s, Chicago
The Beard already mentioned in part one of this countdown that Bob Byrne’s Legions of Metal was the fest of the year for me. Well, at the fest of the year, the number one band for me were these symphonic metalers from Boston.
Singer Adriene Cowan had that mix of operatic mixed with death metal growling that is always fascinating to watch and listen to. Add to that her band were each skilled and in synch all set. They did not just play songs; they put on a production.
Now, if you have ever been to Reggie’s in Chicago, it may be where most of the small metal acts go, but it is also a dingy, dirty dark dive of a place and somehow this band made all that go away. For about forty minutes Seven Spires lifted me out of any sense of the crowd or the exterior noise. I loved watching Cowan hit angelic notes of beauty one minute and then sharpen her eyes and growl like a European black metal act the next, while the band thundered a mix of goth/synth/death songs.
Seven Spires, I drank a cold one in your honor that night and I drink another one again tonight. You were a marvelous act.
7. SAXON 3/22/25 Hells Hero’s Houston, Tx
Now, here we have the opposite end of the metal coin. While The Beard had never seen or heard of Seven Spires, he was completely familiar with Warhorses of NWOBHM, the mighty Saxon who headlined the final night of mega fest Hell's Heroes.
While The Beard & several other old men drank beer and leaned over the balcony watching a five figure sea of people, we reminisced about Saxon pre dating even Iron Maiden and perhaps being one of the godfathers of what came to be known as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that took the world by storm in the late 1970’s & early 1980’s.
Still fronted after a half century by singer Biff Byford, would Saxon be able to show young punks, (who were not even born when they were in their prime,) what good metal was?
Answer was a resounding yes. While those of us who already knew exploded with applause as the 70-year-olds crashed through the first four numbers with the energy of people several decades younger, we also noticed the younger fans were now nodding and getting into what Saxon were laying down. This was what you loved to see, a band from the past bringing together young and old in metal brotherhood.
On the right, a greyhair like the Beard and on the left a twenty something both looking at each other and yelling, “That was #$%@ing awesome.” Saxon well deserves their spot one more time in the top ten of the year. Hail to the Wheels of Steel still rolling.
6. HELLRIPPER 3/22/25 Hell's Heroes Houston, Tx
The bookend to this day of the veterans and the newcomers was this Scottish black metal band. These young kids had no idea what slow even meant. They came out of the gate at 1000 miles per hour and never took their foot off the gas. Ballad? Never heard of the word.
At one-point Hellripper asked the crowd to help them set the crowd surfing record for a single song and damned if the Houston faithful didn’t say, “Hold My Beer & Watch This.” That was about four minutes of several thousand people trying to surf on top of several thousand other people. Every year there are unforgettable moments and Hellripper produced one of them in 2025. Hail and a cold one to the lads from Scotland.
5. THE WHO 9/7/25 The United Center, Chicago, IL
This is the point when my boss throws up his hands and yells, “Beard!!!! You were doing so well for a bit there.” (Ed: Get out of my head, Beard!)
Now, I do understand that (like KISS), The Who have been “retiring” for longer than many of their fans have been alive. I also am fully aware that Roger Daltry and Pete Townsand are a combined age of more than half the members of Megadeth added together. I get it. The fruit is well past its expiration date.
But, as I have repeated, this list is about moments. There were total #$%@ ups in this set. Missed notes, broken notes, missed cords, and a tired Pete Townsand gamely trying to make it through the solo of Won’t Get Fooled Again. Still, this was Paul & John, Robert & Jimmy, Mick & Keith. It should be a moment and for me it was, and it was not any of the big songs (although they did still nail a few of those), it was the encore closer where Roger & Pete shared something between them. It was in their eyes and even though it was in front of 25,000 people, it was for them and them alone too.
Again, moments…moments make this list and there was an iconic one for me. I felt that one and so The Who makes the list.
4. GHOST 8/1/25 All State Arena, Chicago, IL
The Ghost faithful are some of the most intense fans out there. They dress the role. They make themselves up. They live the story of this Satanic pop rock band, and you cannot help but feel the energy.
Ghost have figured out how to write songs like a light rock band, infuse them with just enough catchy hooks to get you singing along and then fill them with lyrics declaring your love of Satan. It is a fantastic con job and the fans, (me included) virtually throw money at them everywhere they go.
Last year, Ghost was my pick of the year and this year they were indeed in the running again. I like the new album. I like the whole Satanic Pope thing they have going on, and in terms of special effects & stage show, no band or moment ever topped the #$%@ Ghost pulled when the backdrop of the church shattered and fell into a suddenly appearing Lake of Fire that stretched out into a seeming eternity.
That was some Chris Angel Mind-freak magic and bravo Ghost. At least you are spending those truckloads of money on something that drops our jaws when we come to see you. Not the best of the best in 2025, but damn fine set and show once again. Hail & Horns to Ghost.
3. STYX 8/23/25 Credit One Arena Tinley Park, IL & 11/14/25 BMO Arena Rockford, IL
Now, I earlier stated that Joe Bonamassa was the third best guitarist I watched live in 2025. Well, number two was Tommy Shaw. I got to see Styx twice, both at arenas and I am ranking the outdoor show the better one, even though at the BMO Shaw performed “Crystal Ball” which is my all-time favorite Styx song. I loved hearing that and it almost got them the nod.
But, during the outdoor arena part of the tour, Styx was performing the entire Grand Illusion album and that meant I would hear my second favorite Styx song, "Man in the Wilderness".
Now, if you just went What? Shame on you. Grand Illusion is overwhelmed by "Come Sail Away", the title track, "Fooling Yourself", "Miss America", but people forget that "Man in the Wilderness" is a beautiful song with amazing lyrics and this year, I watched Tommy Shaw (who even in his seventies, still looks like an Elf from Middle Earth), play that number perfectly, hit the high note on the money and drag the long note exactly the right amount.
Seriously, he could have finished that song and done a mic drop right there. This was the most perfectly performed song for me in the entire year 2025. Styx got the number three ranking on the strength of that single song (plus a fun rest of the set.) Hail & Horns to the ageless and still freaking brilliant Tommy Shaw.
2. GEORGE THOROGOOD 6/20/25 Summerfest, Milwaukee, Wi
Who would have thought it? George has been taking his four-note blues-based rock around the world for fifty years. The man looks like he won the 100-yard dash in a 90-yard gym, but he does NOT care. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, George Thorogood is coming back as a peacock with the biggest damn plumage you will ever see.
From the minute he hit the stage, this was the George Thorogood show. Sure, the band got some turns, but you never forgot who the star was. This 70+ year old is the most cocksure individual I have ever witnessed and this year we saw him from the fourth row. (Ed: Have you witnessed Ted Nugent live?!)
George strutted, preened, played his guitar, and sang his well-worn songs and the Summerfest crowd could not have loved him more for it. This was one of the absolute best crowds of 2025 and on a warm Summerfest evening, we all grabbed One Bourbon, One Scotch & One Beer and saluted the apparently never going to die George Thorogood.
1. MICHAEL SCHENKER 9/27/25 The Arcada Theater, St. Charles, IL
The man, the myth, the legend. He was a Scorpion, he was a UFO, he was an MSG and for fifty plus years he has been one of the greatest guitar players to ever strap one on. Schenker owned the Arcada that evening and his spot at the top was secured with two moments.
The first was “Love to Love”. Read my Schenker review to understand what and why THAT song was an emotional moment for the Beard, but even if THAT wasn’t enough, the solo on “Rock Bottom” was (to a fan of rock & metal), as if “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” were being painted before our eyes. (Ed: What the Hell are you going on about, Beard?)
Once again, my boss just rolled his eyes and went damn…and he was almost done too. You are Canadian boss; you should know that reference. (Ed: I didn't know that Geddy Lee painted!)
The point is Schenker was brilliant with the guitar and as worthy as any painter, writer, composer, or musician. I seriously did not see a better guitar performance in 2025 than Michael Schenker and even with genuinely great competition this year, for me he earned the top live set of 2025. Hail and Horns maestro of the axe.
And there you have it, The Beard is done on Mighty Decibel (at least in this incarnation), and the year of Rock & Metal Reviews is finished. Stay tuned for Little Johnny’s top ten picks and remember you CAN continue to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, TikTok etc.
The Beard will not stop writing and reviewing so please accept this small bump in the road and do not stop following. As OZZY said, “I Love You All!” So, until we meet again, this is The Beard saying one last time, “Live Life.” “Stay Heavy” & “Horns Up.”
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