So, I missed the MJ one, though I came this close to catching it, had tix to Kenny Chesney and blew it off and didn't even seriously consider Andre Richie but otherwise your roving reporter caught all of them and I am not afraid to tell you what I thought of em either. Most of them, not so hot. And if you want to read all 25, go to Billboard (I took it off Brooklynvegan)
1 Madonna- The single worst big time concert of the year, an egotistical late night romp, unbearably performed, morbidity. – Grade: D
Total Gross: $228,406,085 Number of Shows: 72
Total Attendance: 1,635,176 Number of Sell-Outs: 72
2 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Not the worst tour of his career, that would be the rising, but the second worstr tour of the year. Too long, too bloated, just a mess. Plus, if you are gonna play 210 minute gigs, start them at 8pm, for God's sake – Grade: C
Total Gross: $199,371,791 Number of Shows: 72
Total Attendance: 2,165,925 Number of Sell-Outs: 54
3 Roger Waters- If The Wall was Dark Side Of The Moon or even Wish You Were Here, then this would be fine (Roger was really good at 12-12-12) then this would be a great concert. But all the stagecraft in the world can't save an iffy album performed live – Grade: B-
Total Gross: $186,466,703 Number of Shows: 72
Total Attendance: 1,680,042 Number of Sell-Outs: 51
4 Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque Du Soleil
Total Gross: $147,310,505 Number of Shows: 183
Total Attendance: 1,374,482 Number of Sell-Outs: 9
5 Coldplay – Defines the less is more concept. Great over 20 minutes and self important drag over two hours, plus I don't like being forced to wear stupid wrist bands and discovering myself a special effect – Grade: C-
Total Gross: $147,188,828 Number of Shows: 67
Total Attendance: 1,811,787 Number of Sell-Outs: 56
6 Lady Gaga – I caught it twice, once it was awful, it kept on interrupting itswelf for a change of stage and a lecture, the second time, Jingle Ball 2011, was awesome. I have tix for February at MSG so I guess we will see then – Grade: B
Total Gross: $124,879,545 Number of Shows: 65
Total Attendance: 1,111,099 Number of Sell-Outs: 65
7 Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw
Total Gross: $96,458,890 Number of Shows: 23
Total Attendance: 1,085,382 Number of Sell-Outs: 9
8 Van Halen – best metal show of the year, for no reason I cans ee, except maybe the new album being a goodie, the band tore up MSG and opening up Kool And The Gang gave em a run for their money – Grade: A
Total Gross: $54,425,548 Number of Shows: 46
Total Attendance: 522,296 Number of Sell-Outs: 9
9 Jay-Z & Kanye West – The album was overrated and we say at 12×3 what West could do alone. The show had its moments but given their respective catalogs should have been much better – Grade: C
Total Gross: $46,986,464 Number of Shows: 31
Total Attendance: 371,777 Number of Sell-Outs: 15
10 Andre Rieu
Total Gross: $46,785,717 Number of Shows: 99
Total Attendance: 490,165 Number of Sell-Outs: 2