Every year, First Avenue office staff members put together their top 10 shows of the year list. This year, we switched it up and had everyone pick the top 5 shows of 2016, top album of 2016, and the #1 show each staff member regretted missing. Here are everyone’s picks!
DAYNA FRANK, OWNER
Top 5 Shows:
Thermals / Turf Club / April 19
Beyoncé / TCF Bank Stadium / May 23
Sturgill Simpson / First Avenue / June 5
Revolution, Night 3 / First Avenue / September 1
Prince dance party, first night / First Avenue / April 21
Trampled By Turtles / Palomino at Hall’s Island / September 17
Best Album:
Solange, A Seat at the Table
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Descendants / First Avenue
Margo Price / Turf Club
NATE KRANZ, GENERAL MANAGER
Top 5 Shows:
Ween / 1st Bank Center (Broomfield, CO) / February 23
Woods / Turf Club / April 26
Sturgill Simpson / First Avenue / June 5
William Tyler / Eaux Claires Music Festival
Neil Michael Hagerty and The Howling Hex / Turf Club / September 7
Best Album:
Not sure
#1 Missed-show Regret:
No regrets!
MIKE KILLEEN, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Top 5 Shows:
Dave Chapelle / First Avenue / June 1
Har Mar Superstar / Turf Club / April 6
Hannibal Buress / Turf Club / March 10
Lucius / First Avenue / March 23
Gary Clark Jr. / First Avenue / April 2
Best Album:
Hamilton Cast, Hamilton – Original Broadway Recording
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Margo Price / Turf Club
ASHLEY RYAN, MARKETING DIRECTOR
Top 5 Shows:
Protomartyr / 7th St Entry / March 12
Beyoncé / TCF Bank Stadium / May 23
Sturgill Simpson / First Avenue/ June 5
Descendents / First Avenue / September 15
Band Of Horses / State Theatre / November 12
Best Album:
I refuse to choose between these:
Chance The Rapper, Coloring Book
Beyoncé, Lemonade
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Against Me! / Fine Line
ELI FLASHER, TALENT BUYER
Top 5 Shows:
Savages / Fine Line / May 21
Swans / Fine Line / July 14
Nicolas Jaar Live / First Avenue / November 7
Sturgill Simpson / First Avenue / June 5
Ween / Roy Wilkins Auditorium / September 15
Best Album:
Nicolas Jaar, Sirens
#1 Missed-show Regret:
The Cure / Xcel Energy Center
DAMON BARNA, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Top 5 Shows:
Dave Chapelle / First Avenue / June 1
Acid Mother’s Temple / 7th St Entry / March 27
Shellac / First Avenue / April 1
Napalm Death, The Melvins, and Melt Banana / First Avenue / April 24
Dark Star Orchestra / Minnesota Zoo / June 23
Best Album:
A Tribe Called Quest, We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service
#1 Missed-show Regret:
The Muffs / Turf Club
EMI WIDMARK-SUNDAHL, OPERATIONS
Top 5 Shows:
Metallica / U.S. Bank Stadium
Wolfmother / First Avenue
The Cure / Xcel Energy Center
Clutch / First Avenue
Babes In Toyland / First Avenue
Best Album:
Sia, This Is Acting
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Sia / Target Center
LORI SIMONSON, ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT/OFFICE MANAGER
Top 5 Shows:
Shellac and Mono / First Avenue / April 1
Napalm Death, The Melvins, and Melt Banana / First Avenue / April 24
Opeth and The Sword / First Avenue / October 10
Clutch and Zakk Sabbath / First Avenue / October 21
Godspeed You! Black Emperor / First Avenue / February 11
Best Album:
The Sword, Low Country
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Boris and Earth (cancelled)
ISAAC BURTON, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND MARKETING ASSISTANT
Top 5 Shows:
Dilly Dally / 7th St Entry / April 26
Peach Kelli Pop / Turf Club / May 24
Show Me The Body / 7th St Entry / September 18
Eric Andre / First Avenue / September 10
Alex G and Porches / 7th St Entry / June 6
Best Album:
Mitski, Puberty 2
#1 Missed-show Regret:
PWR BTTM / 7th St Entry
STACY SCHWARTZ, COMMUNITY MANAGER AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Top 5 Shows:
The Thermals / Turf Club / April 19
The Struts / First Avenue / May 4
Ryan Adams / Basilica Block Party / July 9
The Cactus Blossoms / Moves & Music (Lake Harriet) / August 26
The Revolution / First Avenue / September 2
Best Album:
Beyoncé, Lemonade
#1 Missed-show Regret:
The dance parties after Prince died / First Avenue
JESSICA HUNTLEY, BOX OFFICE COORDINATOR
Top 5 Shows:
Willie Nelson & Family / Vetter Stone Amphitheater (Mankato, MN) / June 28
The Twilight Hours / Black Box / May 7
Flight Of The Conchords / Orpheum Theatre / June 17
Miracle Legion / Codfish Hollow Barnstormers (Maquoketa, IA) / July 23
Dolly Parton / Grand Casino (Hinckley, MN) / July 20
Best Album:
The Cactus Blossoms, You’re Dreaming
#1 Missed-show Regret:
The Dolan Twins
JON GILBERT, WEBSITE COORDINATOR
Top 5 Shows:
Skating Polly with Catbath, Cherry Cola, Bruise Violet / 7th St Entry / March 30
The Thermals with Summer Cannibals / Turf Club / April 19
Eric Andre / First Avenue / September 10
Quintron and Miss Pussycat / Turf Club / October 13
Patton Oswalt / Mystic Lake / November 11
Best Album:
White Lung, Paradise
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Comedy Bang Bang / Pantages
GABBY COLL, MARKETING COORDINATOR
Top 5 Shows:
Beyoncé / TCF Bank Stadium / May 23
Peter Gabriel and Sting / Summerfest (Milwaukee, WI) / July 10
Radiohead/LCD Soundsystem / Lollapalooza (Chicago, IL) / August 3-6
Sigur Rós / Orpheum Theatre / September 29
Sia / Target Center / October 13
Best Album:
Chance The Rapper, Coloring Book
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Ms. Lauryn Hill / First Avenue
AOIFE ROBERTS, MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Top 5 Shows:
Meat Wave / 7th St Entry / February 5
The Thermals / Turf Club / April 19
Toys That Kill / 7th St Entry / July 29
The Muffs / Turf Club / August 26
Descendents / First Avenue / September 15
Best Album:
Martha, Blisters in the Pit of my Heart
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Built To Spill / First Avenue
ALEX NOWAK, TURF CLUB OPERATIONS
Top 5 Shows:
Maggie Koerner with Ballroom Thieves / Turf Club / October 6
Rebelution / First Avenue / November 10
The 4onthefloor with The Yawpers / Turf Club / November 26
Zuluzuluu / 7th St Entry / November 10
Gallant / Turf Club / September 12
Best Album:
The Weeknd, Starboy
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Flume / Skyway
SAWYER DERRY, TURF CLUB OPERATIONS
Top 5 Shows:
Jeremy Enigk / Turf Club
Swans / Fine Line
Quintron and Miss Pussycat / Turf Club
Ween / Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Allah-Las / Turf Club
Best Album:
Ty Segall, Emotional Mugger
#1 Missed-show Regret:
Opeth with The Sword / First Avenue
