From Megan Thee Stallion to Chris Stapleton to Miley Cyrus, the 10 best Milwaukee concerts of 2021 (and the year's worst show)

It's hard to fathom that we are just a few months away from the two-year anniversary of the official start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It's harder to fathom that the pandemic is still going on.

Yet as grueling as this time has been, it's been reassuring to see the world inch closer to some semblance of normal. 

And for myself, and thousands of others, that meant the return of concerts. 

The business is hardly back to normal. But the experience of seeing live music may be more gratifying than ever, now that we know this pastime we took for granted could be taken away from us.

There were plenty of concerts to remind music lovers of that experience in Milwaukee these past six months. I personally missed out on some big shows, including local tour stops for Harry Styles and Bob Dylan. But I feel blessed to have seen dozens of concerts in Milwaukee this year. These 10 great ones (and one not-so-great) will stick with me once this pandemic, hopefully, becomes a distant memory.

10. Blake Shelton (Oct. 2, Fiserv Forum)

Shelton's humor and songs always guarantee a fun show, but his latest Milwaukee concert was the best he's ever done in the city. The credit doesn't entirely go to him. A couple years back, Shelton developed an inspired touring concept, "Friends and Heroes," giving country stars, often decades past their biggest hits, a chance to play for full arenas again. For the tour's finale, the first "Friends and Heroes" show in Milwaukee, Shelton was clearly floored to share the stage with Martina McBride, Tracy Byrd and John Anderson — as were his fans. 

9. Megan Thee Stallion (Sept. 16, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest)

Despite her "ghostly encounter" at the Pfister Hotel, Megan Thee Stallion was able to get her head in the game for the first headlining show for a female rapper at Summerfest's amphitheater in 22 years. Stallion was unstoppable for her hourlong set through empowering bangers like "WAP," "Body" and "Savage." But the best part of the show was the way she made her fans feel like superstars, including the 32 women plucked from the crowd who got to twerk and dance with her on stage. 

8. Chris Stapleton (Sept. 9, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest)

Hours after learning he was up for 5 CMA Awards — tied with Eric Church for the most for any artist — Stapleton showed at a packed amphitheater at Summerfest why he's delightfully and surprisingly become one of country music's most beloved superstars, with a simple but striking stage set-up reminiscent of Willie Nelson and the old school, with emotional, story-driven songs nearly as great as the classics. Two months later, Stapleton would take home 4 CMA Awards. 

7. Guns N' Roses (Sept. 18, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest) 

Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan and company went from one of rock's most unreliable live acts in the early '90s to one of its most dominant with stellar three-hour shows. And despite a somewhat shaky vocal start by Rose, the band lived up to the legacy it's reimagined for itself at Summerfest, especially Slash, who through seemingly effortless guitar maneuvers — and neck-vein-bulging, sweat-dripping, show-stopping solo work — showed he may be the best rocker alive wielding an axe. 

6. Chance The Rapper (Sept. 3, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest)

Chance won a lot of goodwill in Milwaukee by sitting courtside for more Bucks finals games than any other celebrity. So it was fitting that he performed his only full concert of the year at Summerfest. Despite being a one-off and having no new project, Chance spared no expense, bringing out surprise guest G Herbo and sporting more pyro than any other Big Gig headliner. Still, Chance's passionate performance of his soul-cleansing catalog outshined everything else. 

5. The Doobie Brothers (Aug. 24, BMO Harris Pavilion) 

Let's be honest: The Doobie Brothers have been touring so consistently they've been taken for granted, getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 20 years after first being eligible. But with Michael McDonald back in the fold for their first tour together in 25 years, the band made a case for their greatness at the second stop of a delayed 50th anniversary tour, stuffing a nearly three-hour show with striking solos and sweet collaborations that made the hits soar and the rarities roar. 

4. Green Day (Sept. 1, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest)

Making it up to Milwaukee fans for skipping over the market for 17 years, Green Day injected every song of its Hella Mega Tour stop (with Fall Out Boy and Weezer) with an indelible memory. There was Billie Joe Armstrong shredding guitar behind his head for "American Idiot," and tenderly playing a note-stuffed solo on acoustic guitar for "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)." There was drummer Tré Cool keeping his chill as his sticks smacked his kit with lightning speed for "St. Jimmy," and Mike Dirnt mugging for a camera attached to his bass for his relentless "Longview" grooves. And there was the fan brought up on stage to shred on guitar for "Basket Case."  

3. Twenty One Pilots (Sept. 4, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest) 

Rare is the show where you know, without any doubt, that the band you just watched has never played a stronger concert in their life. But that was the case for Twenty One Pilots at Summerfest. Diehard fans from around the country flew in, and fans from around the world obsessively followed posts from the gig on social media, as the band played its first concert in 632 days, the first with four fiery musicians to accompany core duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, that included the electrifying live debut of songs from their most imaginative album yet, "Scaled and Icy," plus an inspired acoustic campfire set, complete with a marshmallow roasting over a fire, on the end of a violin bow.

2. Miley Cyrus (Sept. 17, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest) 

It's been gratifying to see pop artists talk more candidly about mental health, through their songs and pre-written stage banter at their shows. But hearing Miley Cyrus talk about being on the verge of a panic attack in real time at Summerfest was a new level of transparency and vulnerability. By being so candid, Cyrus was empowered to finish the show with strength, passion and grace, further fueled by the resounding support of her fans. 

1. Foo Fighters (July 30, American Family Insurance Amphitheater)

I knew I missed live music like crazy, but I don't think I fathomed how greatly I missed it until the moment Foo Fighters kicked off the city's first huge concert in 16 months. "It's times like these you learn to live again," frontman Dave Grohl sang, his voice just above a whisper, for a poignant, initially stripped-back rendition of "Times Like These." Hearing those words and Rami Jaffee's pensive organ — and feeling the hushed awe of 23,000 people around me — sent chills through my body. And for two and a half hours, entertained by an explosive band eager to make up for lost time, I've rarely felt more alive.  

The worst show of 2021: Joe Rogan (Aug. 7, Fiserv Forum)

Comedian Rogan has become the world’s most powerful podcast host pushing back against "cancel culture" and political correctness — in the process, drawing ire for dismissing COVID-19 vaccines and other polarizing takes. But instead of taking down powerful targets with smart satire, Rogan went for lazy and tasteless jokes, often at the expense of marginalized people. I personally don't see the humor in watching a multimillionaire punch down with punchlines about people with disabilities, as just one example from his Milwaukee show, although Rogan is indisputably (and sadly) laughing all the way to the bank. 

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

Piet also talks concerts, local music and more on "TAP'd In" with Evan Rytlewski. Hear it at 8 a.m. Thursdays on WYMS-FM (88.9), or wherever you get your podcasts.