Kerrang. Uhntz-uhntz. Ba-boom. Pop-a-da-da. Tiki-tiki.
We live in a city where the rock, punk, house, techno, EDM, reggae, rap, bass, and Top 40 never stop. There are secret club shows. Pyrotechnic pop tours. Quiet nights at the theater. Sweaty trips to the pit. And massive music festivals that absolutely overrun everything.
There's no denying the 305 is a music mecca. And these were Miami's ten best concerts of 2014.
See also: Miami's Ten Best Live Music Venues
Lauryn Hill and Stephen, Damian, and Julian Marley - Nine Mile Music Festival 2014
The Review: "Ms. Lauryn Hill, the one-time Fugee, one-time costar of Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, five-time Grammy winner, and mother of five children with another of Bob's sons, Rohan Marley, reminded us that even though she might not ever record another album, her live performances are hurricane-level forces of nature." -- David Rolland
Read the full Nine Mile Music Festival 2014 review.
Ultra Music Festival 2014
The Review: "Another year, another Ultra Music Festival. We here at Crossfade always make the annual pilgrimage to Ultra land. And from one UMF to the next, there is a lot of stuff that's not-so-shockingly new. Or as Deadmau5 might screech: "It's the same fucking thing every year!" Inevitably, though, there's also a lot of stuff that make the shenanigans worth it." -- S. Pajot
Read Crossfade's complete coverage of Ultra Music Festival 2014.
Head and the Heart - Fillmore Miami Beach
The Review: "Not everything's gotta be a trending topic. Or an NSFW concept album about loneliness in the age of the Internet. Or so meta that it's impossible to tell whether the motherfucker in the mask who made the record actually means anything ever. It was endearing to see H&H drummer Tyler Williams get so dorkishly engrossed in the good feelings that he just couldn't stop himself from jumping all over like human popcorn while playing sans sticks, beating his kit with a tambourine and maraca. That's called real emotion, bro." -- S. Pajot
Read "Confession: The Head and the Heart (Literally) Gave Us Chills."
Morrissey - Adrienne Arsht Center
The Review: "The Moz himself, along with five rugby-shirted bandmates, emerged from the shadows to the screams of a rapturous audience of 50-something punk survivors, 30-ish neo-New Wave types, and sophisticated post-teen hipsters. With pomp, he bowed to his devotees. And they threw smashed bouquets of grocery-store flowers... The true fanatics screamed along to every syllable. And already, some were crying." -- S. Pajot
Read "Morrissey Slams Meat, Voting, and Pharmaceutical Commercials in Miami."
Jay Z and Beyoncé's On the Run Tour - Sun Life Stadium
The Review: "See, Jay and Bey are On the Run. It's the theme of their production. They're trying to escape the media, their place in pop music, the haters, the bullshit -- even sometimes each other. But after last night's Miami kickoff, it's clear the Carters are infinitely more powerful as a package." -- Kat Bein
Read the full Jay Z and Beyoncé review.
Jack White's Lazaretto Tour - Fillmore Miami Beach
The Review: "Is rock 'n' roll dead? Fuck no. Just over a decade ago, the White Stripes' Jack and Meg came screaming, shredding, and pounding out of Detroit to help prove that guitar-and-drum tuneage could still rattle bones and make a body feel alive -- even amid a Top 40 glut of mediocre post-gangsta rap, pop tart crap, and boy band bullshit. At the Fillmore Miami Beach, Jack (now solo, minus Meg, and based in Nashville) did it again, for maybe the 1,000,000th time, unleashing 100 minutes of ear-scorching, skull-busting evidence that rock's nowhere near the grave -- even in this age of cheap, chart-topping EDM and formulaic meta-pop." -- S. Pajot
Read the full Jack White review.
III Points Festival 2014
The Review: "Looking back, the second-ever III Points was a real big winner. It was bigger and more ambitious than its predecessor: Lykke Li, Flying Lotus, Jamie xx, Mac DeMarco, Jamie Jones and Hot Natured, Metronomy, and dozens upon dozens of other underground stars. Attendance was up -- way up. The move to Soho Studios was the right one. And between Shake Shack, La Latina, and Panther Coffee providing festival-goers with food and drink, there was no reason to ever leave the grounds." -- Jose D. Duran
Read Crossfade's complete coverage of III Points 2014.
Pitbull & Enrique Iglesias With J Balvin - American Airlines Arena
The Review: "'Prepárate for party time!' The American Airlines Arena turned into the biggest block party in downtown MIA when Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, and J Balvin got loose for a sold-out crowd of sugar daddies with hot mamis, bros in snapbacks, MILFs, and abuelas... As it rained confetti, Pit and Enrique gave their thanks and proclaimed their affection for the 305. 'We fucking love you, Miami!'" -- Laurie Charles
Read the full Pitbull & Enrique Iglesias review.
Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew's "One Night Only" Reunion - LIV Miami
The Review: "If you grew up in South Florida in the late '80s, Uncle Luke and his 2 Live Crew are nothing short of legendary. Their fun-loving, filth-ridden bass music was once considered so vile, they would get arrested just for performing it. Even by today's standards, the lyrics are blush-inducing. Nasty As They Wanna Be, the group's most famous album, was released in 1989, and the seminal 2 Live Crew lineup of Fresh Kid Ice, Brother Marquis, and Uncle Luke haven't shared the stage since 1991. That is, until the other night in Miami." -- Kat Bein
Read "Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew Got Freaky Deaky for 'One Night Only' Reunion in Miami."
James Blake - Basel 2014 - Presented by III Points and YoungArts
The Review: "We're not really a religious bunch. But James Blake took us to church. The English artist brought heavenly chords and a voice like honey to his Florida debut at Miami's Young Arts Campus for III Points and YoungArts' Basel 2014 music series. Oh, and he made his first time count, giving adoring fans a number of deep cuts, like the recently released '200 Press,' and even unleashing 'Forever,' a never-before-heard taste from his forthcoming album, for the encore." -- Kat Bein
Read "James Blake Makes Florida Debut at Basel 2014, Plays New Song 'Forever.'"
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