Yung Gravy, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé provided some of the most memorable moments of the year for our music critics. (Star Tribune File Photos/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

It seems that every app or social media site has some sort of data collection feature that gives you personalized analytics on your habits. So we forced our music writers to do a deep dive on how they spent 2023.

Chris Riemenschneider

Total number of concerts: 97.

Most frequented venues: First Avenue and Xcel Energy Center (tie, 13).

Most heard genres (loosely defined): rock (48), country (22).

Least heard genres: classical (2), zydeco (1, sadly).

Most seen act: The Cactus Blossoms (4).

Age range: Cornbread Harris (96) and Willie Nelson (90) to the Linda Lindas (13-19).

Here are Chris' other standouts for the year:

Worst concert of the year: Yung Gravy, Minnesota State Fair grandstand.

Weirdest concert: Doja Cat and Ice Spice, Target Center.

Best out-of-town concert: Big Thief, Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa, Okla. (Yes, even better than U2 at the Sphere.)

Jon Bream

Total number of concerts: 148.

Most frequented venues: the Dakota (41 shows).

Most heard genres: rock (38) and jazz (24).

Least heard genres: classical (0).

Most seen act: Taylor Swift (3).

Age range: Cornbread Harris (96) and Omara Portuondo (93) to the Petersons (ages 14 to 70-something).

Here are Jon's other standouts for the year:

Worst concert of the year: Sam Smith, Xcel Energy Center.

Best out-of-town concert: Taylor Swift, Soldier Field, Chicago.

about the writers

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

Chris Riemenschneider

Critic / Reporter

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.