The Five Best Concerts in Orange County in 2012...At Least From What I Saw

Daniel Kohn

Over the past year, Orange County has served as the host to many fantastic live shows. Haters may hate, but the one thing they can't deny is that the area still is one of the most influential areas in the country when it comes to producing, judging and cranking up live music. Here are some of the best shows in the area of 2012, in my humble opinion.

Daniel Kohn

5. Willie Nelson, Pacific Amphitheater, July 13

The 79-year-old troubadour brought his show to OC and needless to say, the Texan still has it. His voice still sounds great and Nelson manages to mix crowd-pleasing classics in with songs of his latest album, Heroes, which was one of his most well-received in years. No matter how you cut it, Nelson and his tremendous backing band are still chugging along and with no end in sight.

Scott Dudelson

4. Phish, Long Beach Arena, Aug. 15

After years of inconsistent play, the Vermont jam band brought their A-game to Long Beach to the delight of their rabid fanbase. While set one was groovier than the second, it was great to hear Trey Anastasio playing guitar like he did in the band's heyday. Oh, and the rest of the gang wasn't too bad either.