[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ow that 2015 is over, people are focusing on the new year with clean (or dirty) slates and interested to see where 2016 takes them.
But we here at The Pit want to visit 2015 one more time. A few members of the staff have decided to compile a list of our Top 5 bands or acts of the year and explain why these bands rank where they do in our minds and hearts.
Damien Dennis-Publisher/Notre Dame beat writer
Brandon Yeagley of Crobot performs at Cheer’s Pub in South Bend, Ind., this past summer. Damien Dennis/The Pit
1. Halestorm: Lzzy and the guys have put out the album of the year in my opinion, and the shows have just kept getting better. These guys and gal are the best thing going in rock music.
2. Sons of Texas: This freshman group of rockets from Texas signed with Razor & Tie early in the year (and are also veterans of The Music Blitz here at The Pit). The music is hard-hitting and fun.
3. We Are Harlot: These guys made their debut at Rock On The Range in 2014, returned in 2015 and have been setting the rock world on flames. Danny told me earlier this year that the music is simply about sex, and there’s not much better than that.
4. Crobot: These guys didn’t release any new music (to my knowledge) but they’ve toured a bunch and have helped revive the rock n’ roll scene. From Rock On The Range to Cheer’s Pub in South Bend, Ind., these guys have made a name for themselves and will continue to grow in 2016.
5. Will Hoge: Will released Small Town Dreams in the Spring after doing a mini tour of some smaller venues, and needless to say he might be the best true-country artist out there. A Grammy-nominee, he keeps getting better as a song writer and has one of the best vocal performances across all genres out there.
Don Woodman-Music Editor
Danny Worsnop (left) and Jeff George of We Are Harlot returned to Rock On The Range in 2015, this time to promote their debut album. Damien Dennis/The Pit
1. Twenty one Pilots: sold out show after sold out show. They took this year by storm with blurry face and continue to grow as performers.
2. The Weeknd: even with his current lawsuit at play, people still want to see his shows and he put out one of the catchiest tunes this year
3. Luke Bryan: Luke continues to dominate the country music scene and has been selling out his “kick the dust up” tour everywhere
4. We Are Harlot: I feel like the harlot gang were underdogs this year. Best new band of the year award and a worldwide tour under their belts for 2015 along with many festivals, they will be ones to watch in the future.
5. Halestorm: they put out one of the best albums this year, they played main stage at Rock on the range, did a duet with Corey Taylor and Lzzy Hale just continues to progress with her powerful vocal range.
Anthony Giles – Assistant Music Editor
Wilson’s Chad Nicefield performs at Cheer’s Pub in August 2015. Damien Dennis/The Pit
1. Wilson: Dudes killed it with Right to Rise, and there’s nothing better than watching some hometown heroes have their dreams come true.
2. Brantley Gilbert: I feel like this year was a major turning point for his career, and his music took me through some hard times.
3. Letlive: Their rise in the scene this year punched everyone in the face until they liked them. That’s something I can stand behind.
4. Our Last Night: As they have been for years IMO, they’ve been underrated this year. Their new album was amazing and the guys continue to grow and evolve.
5. Bring Me The Horizon: Because Oli finally cracked his shell. About damn time.
Nate Korczyk – music writer
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor poses for fans at Carolina Rebellion in Spring 2015. Evan J. Thomas/The Pit
1. Kendrick Lamar: With the release of To Pimp A Butterfly this year, he really showed the world who he is as an artist. Every artist wanted to collab with him, with one of the biggest being Taylor Swift
2. Bring Me The Horizon: These guys are at the highest point in their career they have ever been at before. The band has shown a very smooth and natural progression over the years, transitioning into one of the biggest acts in hard rock right now
3. Drake: Not once has a Diss track been nominated for a Grammy, until this year when “Back to Back” received a nomination for Best Rap Performance. Everywhere you went this year, you could hear Drake coming through the speakers, hopping on anyone and everyone’s tracks. Not to mention basically putting Meek Mills career as an afterthought for people
4. Slipknot: After last years release of “.5: The Gray Chapter” the band used 2015 to just tour their asses off. Headlining some of the biggest festivals in the world, to touring with some of the biggest names and up and comers in the metal scene and giving them a shot they deserve.
5. Royal Blood: After only releasing their debut album, the band caught the attention of Dave Grohl who says they are one of his “favorite” bands. Foo Fighters invited the band to embark on a highly anticipated US tour this year as well. Touring with Foo Fighters after releasing one album? I’d say that’s one of the biggest honors a band could have.
Evan J. Thomas – Photographer/Writer
Korn is still going strong after two decades of dominating the industry. Evan J. Thomas/The Pit
1. Foo Fighters: Coming off their highly acclaimed Sonic Highways album & TV show on HBO the band took to the road for a highly anticipated Arena tour. Dave Grohl made headlines as he fell off the stage at one of the shows and broke his leg. That prompted Grohl to design a Bad Ass Throne so he could jam out the remainder of the tour without missing a beat. I had the opportunity to see them at Wrigley Field in August. Dave Grohl does no wrong! Still the best live shows I’ve ever seen.
2. Ed Sheeran: What a year Sheeran has had in 2015 and he is only getting better. With his fun loving, soulful, bluesy sound he received a few Grammy nominations for his most recent album “X”. Sheeran is what is right about music in the near future.
3. Mumford & Sons: Fans were wondering if Mumford & Sons could pull off electrifying their newest album “Wilder Minds” by plugging in instead of going acoustic as they did in previous albums. They pulled it off and received high praise throughout. I have yet to see them live but I won’t miss them the next time around.
4. Disturbed: After taking a few years off the boys from Chicago released “Immortalized” a few months ago to rave reviews. They will be headlining some major festivals in 2016 and I can’t wait to cover them again.
5. Korn: The boys from Bakersfield, CA showed they still had it after wrapping up a successful 2015 tour that showcased the 20th anniversary of their debut album “Korn”. I had the chance to cover 2 shows and hearing the intro to “Blind” to kick off the show is just pure awesomeness.
Jamie Limbright – Photographer/writer
1. Deah Gripst: This California native duo produces some of the most unconventional and experimental sounds I have ever heard. After disbanding last year, this group came back strong with The Powers That B and a world tour. I was able to see them perform for the first time this summer and it was hands down the best show I caught all year.
2. Alabama Shakes: The soulful rock that this group creates is indescribable to me. They came out with their second album Sound & Color this year and it reached number one on the Billboard 200. Also, catching their performance at the Masonic Temple in the spring left me in tears. A true transcendent moment in my life.
3. Purity Ring: The Canadian Electro Pop duo caught my eye back in 2012 with their debut album Shrines, but have really managed to come into their own this year with the release of Another Eternity. Hands down, one of my favorite albums of the year.
4. Eagles of Death Metal: Unfortunately, this band didn’t mostly make headlines for their new album Zipper Down but for the travesty of the terrorist attack that took place while they were onstage in Paris last month. Still, their new album is just as badass as the members.
5. Justin Bieber: As a person, I can’t stand the guy. But as a musician, he’s talented. I never enjoyed his music, but ever since he started working with Diplo and Skrillex to help create his new album Purpose, I found myself having a hard time turning it off. Biggest guilty pleasure of 2015.
