1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, June 20 at the Milwaukee Theatre, Milwaukee
2. Jack White, July 23 at the Chicago Theatre
3. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, April 11 at the Vic
4. The Replacements, Sept. 13 at Midway Stadium, St. Paul
5. Cate Le Bon, Jan. 23 at Schubas
7. Carsick Cars, March 28 at the Burlington
8. St. Vincent, July 19 at the Pitchfork Music Festival, Union Park
9. Courtney Barnett, July 30 at Schubas
10. Peter Brötzmann, Hamid Drake & William Parker Trio, June 6 at Constellation
Runners-up:
Ex Hex, Oct. 25 at the Empty Bottle
Jambinai, March 12 at the SXSW International Day Stage
Neneh Cherry with RocketNumberNine, July 18 at the Pitchfork Music Festival, Union Park
Protomartyr, Sept. 27 at Gonerfest at the Hi-Tone in Memphis
Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Oct. 31 at Thalia Hall
Elvis Costello, June 11 at the Copernicus Center
Andrew Bird, Aug. 16 at the Chicago Theatre
Wussy, June 13 at the Red Line Tap
Bob Mould, June 23 at Millennium Park
Deaf Wish, Sept. 26 at Gonerfest at the Hi-Tone in Memphis
Patti Smith, Sept. 14 at Riot Fest in Humboldt Park
Slowdive and Low, Oct. 30 at the Vic
Gerald Dowd’s “Day of the Dowd,” Nov. 8 at FitzGerald’s, Berwyn
Robbie Fulks, Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen, Dec. 8 at the Hideout. (The night the power went out.)
Wilco, Dec. 12 at the Riviera