The Top 250 New Wave/College Rock Songs

New Wave/College Rock: Top 250 Songs

This is really two lists in one. I attempted making one list devoted to new wave and another to college rock, but they overlapped enough that it made more sense to combine them. New wave was a synth-driven musical genre in the 1980s helmed by bands like New Order, Depeche Mode, and the Cure. College radio stations helped give an audience to that music as well as more guitar-focused bands like U2 and R.E.M. While often gathered under the banner of “alternative rock,” a significant number of bands which started on the fringe had, by decade’s end become the mainstream. More than 50 lists focused on one genre or the other (or both) were aggregated to create this list. I opted to stretch the list to 250 songs to encompass all the songs that would rank in the top 100 in one list or the other. Peaks on the two lists, if they were separated out, are indicated with CR (college rock) and NW (new wave). Click here to see other genre-specific song lists. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode The Best of New Wave which references songs on this list. Premiered: September 28, 2022. You can also listen to the entire list on Spotify here. 1. New Order “Blue Monday” (1983) NW #4, CR #16 2. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980) CR #1, NW #48 3. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981) NW #1, CR #92 4. The Cure “Just Like Heaven” (1987) CR #13, NW #25 5. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1982) NW #7, CR #71 6. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981) NW #2 7. Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun” (1983) CR #2 8. Echo & the Bunnymen “The Killing Moon” (1984) CR #5 9. Devo “Whip It” (1980) NW #12, CR #84 10. Depeche Mode “Just Can’t Get Enough” (1981) NW #15, CR #68 11. Gary Numan “Cars” (1979) NW #3 12. Depeche Mode “People Are People” (1984) NW #10 13. The Church “Under the Milky Way” (1988) CR #3 14. The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” (1984) CR #9, NW #96 15. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1981) CR #26, NW #45 16. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982) NW #13 17. Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me” (1985) NW #11 18. Dead or Alive “You Spin Me Round Like a Record” (1985) NW #5 19. R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe” (1981) CR #4 20. The Cure “In Between Days (Without You)” (1985) CR #34, NW #50 21. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1982) NW #6 22. Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1979) NW #8 23. A Flock of Seagulls “I Ran” (1982) NW #9 24. New Order “Bizarre Love Triangle” (1986) NW #31, CR #74 25. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” (1985) NW #18 26. Talk Talk “It’s My Life” (1984) CR #33, NW #86 27. Psychedelic Furs “Pretty in Pink” (1981) CR #26, NW #97 28. A-ha “Take on Me” (1984) NW #14 29. The Pixies “Here Comes Your Man” (1989) CR #7 30. Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” (1985) CR #14 31. The B-52’s “Rock Lobster” (1979) NW #33 32. Big Country “In a Big Country” (1983) NW #17 33. Madness “Our House” (1982) NW #20 34. Talking Heads “Burning Down the House” (1983) NW #34 35. Tears for Fears “Mad World” (1982) NW #28 36. Midnight Oil “Beds Are Burning” (1987) CR #57, NW #82 37. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982) NW #23 38. The Jesus & Mary Chain “Just Like Honey” (1985) CR #10 39. The English Beat “Save It for Later” (1983) NW #55, CR #91 40. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983) NW #16 41. The Clash “Rock the Casbah” (1982) NW #62, CR #90 42. Echo & the Bunnymen “Lips Like Sugar” (1987) CR #17 43. Wall of Voodoo “Mexican Radio” (1983) NW #74, CR #83 44. The Jam “A Town Called Malice” (1982) CR #50 45. Men Without Hats “The Safety Dance” (1983) NW #24 46. Split Enz “I Got You” (1980) NW #19 47. The Vapors “Turning Japanese” (1980) NW #26 48. Billy Idol “White Wedding” (1982) NW #21 49. Duran Duran “Girls on Film” (1981) NW #29 50. The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981) NW #37 51. The Cure “Close to Me” (1985) CR #275 52. Yazoo “Don’t Go” (1982) CR #70, NW #99 53. Jane’s Addiction “Jane Says” (1988) CR #8 54. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” (1988) CR #6, NW #90 55. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (1982) CR #41 56. Thomas Dolby “She Blinded Me with Science” (1982) NW #27 57. They Might Be Giants “Ana Ng” (1988) CR #12 58. Psychedelic Furs “Love My Way” (1982) NW #32 59. Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985) NW #43 60. Icicle Works “Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” (1984) NW #70 61. Nena “99 Red Balloons” (1983) NW #35 62. The Cult “She Sells Sanctuary” (1985) CR #30 63. Tears for Fears “Shout” (1984) NW #30 64. XTC “Dear God” (1986) #29 CR 65. Camper Van Beethoven “Take the Skinheads Bowling” (1985) CR #11 66. Love & Rockets “So Alive” (1989) CR #21 67. Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1978) NW #22 68. The Sugarcubes “Birthday” (1987) #15 CR 69. The English Beat “Mirror in the Bathroom” (1980) NW #49 70. Naked Eyes “Always Something There to Remind Me” (1983) NW #36 71. Romeo Void “Never Say Never” (1982) NW #59 72. INXS “Don’t Change” (1982) CR #48 73. Berlin “The Metro” (1983) NW #38 74. Oingo Boingo “Dead Man’s Party” (1985) CR #39 75. U2 “I Will Follow” (1980) CR #23 76. The Fixx “One Thing Leads to Another” (1983) NW #53 77. Tom Tom Club “Genius of Love” (1981) NW #88 78. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” (1981) NW #52 79. Bauhaus “She’s in Parties” (1983) CR #18 80. After the Fire “Der Kommissar” (1983) NW #40 81. Animotion “Obsession” (1985) NW #41 82. Siouxsie & the Banshees “Cities in Dust” (1985) CR #59 83. Culture Club “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” (1982) NW #51 84. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark “Enola Gay” (1980) NW #66 85. Peter Schilling “Major Tom (Coming Home)” (1983) NW #76 86. XTC “Making Plans for Nigel” (1979) NW #54 87. Missing Persons “Destination Unknown” (1982) NW #79 88. Bow Wow Wow “I Want Candy” (1982) NW #39 89. R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987) CR #47 90. Yazoo “Situation” (1982) NW #84 91. General Public “Tenderness” (1984) NW #92 92. Pixies “Monkey Gone to Heaven” (1989) CR #20 93. The Stone Roses “I Wanna Be Adored” (1989) CR #27 94. The La’s “There She Goes” by (1988) CR #42 95. The Stone Roses “She Bangs the Drums” (1989) CR #40 96. The Plimsouls “A Million Miles Away” (1982) CR #76 97. The Replacements “Left of the Dial” (1985) CR #19 98. Hüsker Dü “Don’t Wanna Know if You Are Lonely” (1986) CR #22 99. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981) NW #44 100. Thompson Twins “Hold Me Now” (1983) NW #46 101. Ultravox “Vienna” (1980) NW #61 102. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” (1977) NW #57 103. The Police “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” (1980) NW #63 104. ABC “The Look of Love” (1982) NW #47 105. When in Rome “The Promise” (1989) NW #64 106. Spandau Ballet “True” (1983) NW #73 107. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979) NW #87 108. The Clash “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” (1982) CR #66 109. Kajagoogoo “Too Shy” (1983) NW #80 110. Peter Gabriel “Games Without Frontiers” (1980) CR #96 111. Squeeze “Tempted” (1981) NW #56 112. Public Image Ltd. “Rise” (1986) CR #28 113. INXS “Need You Tonight” (1987) NW #60 114. The Primitives “Crash” (1988) CR #46 115. Roxy Music “More Than This” (1982) 116. The Boomtown Rats “I Don’t Like Mondays” (1979) NW #58 117. Pixies “Debaser” (1989) CR #32 118. R.E.M. “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” (1984) CR #49 119. Erasure “A Little Respect” (1988) NW #89 120. The Specials “Ghost Town” (1981) CR #94 121. Billy Idol “Dancing with Myself” (1981) 122. Wang Chung “Dance Hall Days” (1984) NW #77 123. The Cars “Just What I Needed” (1978) NW #95 124. New Order “True Faith” (1987) 125. Kim Wilde “Kids in America” (1981) NW #65 126. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983) CR #78 127. Pretenders “Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)” (1979) NW #90 128. Depeche Mode “Never Let Me Down Again” (1987) CR #80 129. Blondie “One Way Or Another” (1978) NW #68 130. David Bowie “Ashes to Ashes” (1980) CR #79 131. Haircut 100 “Love Plus One” (1982) NW #42 132. Blondie “Rapture” (1980) 133. Bananarama “Cruel Summer” (1983) NW #75 134. The Bangles “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986) 135. Re-Flex “The Politics of Dancing” (1983) NW #78 136. Sinéad O’Connor “Mandinka” (1987) CR #61 137. The Cure “Boys Don’t Cry” (1979) 138. Siouxsie & the Banshees “Peek-a-Boo” (1988) CR #52 139. Peter Murphy “Cuts You Up” (1990) CR #53 140. Black Flag “Rise Above” (1981) CR #36 141. The Replacements “I Will Dare” (1984) CR #37 142. The B-52’s “Private Idaho” (1980) 143. Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” (1988) CR #44 144. Mission of Burma “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver” (1981) CR #31 145. Squeeze “Pulling Mussels from the Shell” (1980) NW #83 146. The B-52’s “Love Shack” (1989) CR #67 147. Adam Ant “Goody Two Shoes” (1982) NW #85 148. M “Pop Muzik” (1979) NW #72 149. Men at Work “Who Can It Be Now?” (1981) NW #69 150. The Cars “You Might Think” (1984) NW #71 151. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” (1987) CR #56 152. Gang of Four “I Love a Man in Uniform” (1982) CR #77 153. The Dead Milkmen “Punk Rock Girl” (1988) CR #51 154. Visage “Fade to Grey” (1980) NW #67 155. The Cure “A Forest’ (1980) CR #60 156. Depeche Mode “Everything Counts” (1983) CR #85 157. The The “This Is the Day” (1983) 158. The Smiths “This Charming Man” (1983) CR #65 159. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983) CR #93 160. The Cars “Shake It Up” (1981) NW #93 161. ‘Til Tuesday “Voices Carry” (1985) 162. Bronski Beat “Smalltown Boy” (1984) NW #81 163. A Flock of Seagulls “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph)” (1982) NW #100 164. The Human League “Keep Feeling Fascination” (1983) NW #94 165. The Cure “Why Can’t I Be You?” CR #95 (1987) 166. Suicidal Tendencies “Institutionalized” (1983) CR #35 167. The Smiths “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (1986) CR #97 168. Echo & the Bunnymen “The Cutter” (1983) CR #75 169. Dinosaur Jr. “Freak Scene” (1988) CR #38 170. Magazine “A Song from Under the Floorboard” (1980) CR #43 171. B-Movie “Nowhere Girl” (1982) CR #96 172. Bob Mould “See a Little Light” (1989) CR #58 173. 10,000 Maniacs “Like the Weather” (1987) CR #73 174. The Cure “Love Song” (1989) 175. The Minutemen “Corona” (1984) CR #45 176. Julian Cope “World Shut Your Mouth” (1986) CR #86 177. Cocteau Twins “Lorelei” (1984) CR #64 178. They Might Be Giants “Don’t Let’s Start” (1986) CR #87 179. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) 180. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) 181. Simple Minds “Alive and Kicking” (1985) NW #98 182. Concrete Blonde “Still in Hollywood” (1986) CR #66 183. ABC “Poison Arrow” (1982) 184. The Go-Go’s “Vacation” (1982) NW #91 185. The Clash “Train in Vain “Stand by Me)” (1979) 186. Killing Joke “Eighties” (1984) CR #69 187. Nine Inch Nails “Head Like a Hole” (1989) CR #54 188. Faith No More “We Care a Lot” (1985) CR #55 189. Elvis Costello “Veronica” (1989) CR #72 190. Violent Femmes “Kiss Off” (1983) CR #81 191. Orange Juice “Rip It Up” (1982) CR #63 192. World Party “Ship of Fools (Save Me from Tomorrow)” (1986) 193. The Replacements “Bastards of Young” (1985) CR #84 194. Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus” (1989) 195. The Police “Spirits in the Material World” (1981) 196. Erasure “Oh L’Amour” (1986) 197. Duran Duran “Rio” (1982) 198. Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark “If You Leave” (1986) 199. The Smiths “Girlfriend in a Coma” (1987) CR #82 200. Nik Kershaw “Wouldn’t It Be Good” (1984) 201. Alphaville “Forever Young” (1984) 202. Berlin “Sex (I’m A…)” (1983) 203. Violent Femmes “Add It Up” (1983) 204. Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again” (1983) 205. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” (1984) 206. Elvis Costello “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding” (1978) 207. R.E.M. “Fall on Me” (1986) 208. R.E.M. “The One I Love” (1987) CR #98 209. Lone Justice “Ways to Be Wicked” (1985) CR #99 210. Morrissey “Every Day Is Like Sunday” (1988) 211. Fugazi “Waiting Room” (1988) CR #88 212. The Jam “That’s Entertainment” (1980) 213. The Waterboys “The Whole of the Moon” (1985) 214. The Dead Milkmen “Bitchin’ Camaro” (1985) 215. Suzanne Vega “Luka” (1987) 216. U2 “New Year’s Day” (1983) 217. Heaven 17 “Let Me Go” (1982) 218. Eurythmics “Love Is a Stranger” (1982) 219. Elvis Costello “Everyday I Write the Book” (1983) 220. The Romantics “Talking in Your Sleep” (1983) 221. Tubeway Army “Are Friends Electric?” (1979) 222. Culture Club “Karma Chamelon” (1983) 223. Tears for Fears “Pale Shelter” (1982) 224. Depeche Mode “Master and Servant” (1984) 225. The Cure “Let’s Go to Bed” (1982) 226. Elvis Costello & the Attractions “Radio Radio” (1978) 227. Madness “One Step Beyond” (1979) 228. INXS “The One Thing” (1982) 229. Dead Kennedys “Holiday in Cambodia” (1980) CR #98 230. Martha & the Muffins “Echo Beach” (1980) 231. X “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene” (1980) CR #99 232. U2 “With or Without You” (1987) 233. The Feelies “Fa cé-La” (1979) CR #100 234. The Smithereens “Behind the Wall of Sleep” (1986) CR #93 235. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions “Perfect Skin” (1984) CR #97 236. Joe Jackson “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” (1979) 237. The Meat Puppets “Lake of Fire” (1984) 238. Nirvana “About a Girl” (1989) 239. The B-52’s “Channel Z” (1989) 240. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” (1978) 241. Cowboy Junkies “Sweet Jane” (1988) 242. Aztec Camera “Oblivious” (1983) 243. Happy Mondays “24 Hour Party People” (1987) 244. Joe Jackson “Steppin’ Out” (1982) 245. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Higher Ground” (1989) 246. Psychedelic Furs “The Ghost in You” (1984) 247. Stephen Duffy “Kiss Me” (1985) 248. Billy Idol “Rebel Yell” (1983) 249. Pixies “Gigantic” (1988) 250. Depeche Mode “Enjoy the Silence” (1990) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Genre/Category Song Lists” First posted 6/9/2017; last updated 3/29/2025.

Alternative Rock: Top 100 Albums

Alternative Rock: The Top 100 Albums

This list was created by aggregating 26 lists focused on alternative and indie rock. See links after the list. Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 1. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) 2. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992) 3. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991) 4. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) 5. Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988) 6. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) 7. The Pixies Doolittle (1989) 8. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) 9. Beck Odelay (1996) 10. The Replacements Let It Be (1984) 11. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993) 12. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (1995) 13. R.E.M. Murmur (1983) 14. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) 15. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989) 16. Dinosaur Jr. You’re Living All Over Me (1987) 17. Hüsker Dü New Day Rising (1985) 18. Guided by Voices Bee Thousand (1994) 19. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994) 20. Radiohead Kid A (2000) 21. Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (1984) 22. Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) 23. Soundgarden Superunknown (1994) 24. Blur Parklife (1994) 25. Joy Division Closer (1980) 26. Pearl Jam Ten (1991) 27. The Cure Disintegration (1989) 28. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) 29. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992) 30. Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998) 31. Radiohead The Bends (1995) 32. The Smiths The Smiths (1984) 33. Green Day Dookie (1994) 34. The Strokes Is This It (2001) 35. Elvis Costello & The Attractions This Year’s Model (1978) 36. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994) 37. Pulp Different Class (1995) 38. Slint Spiderland (1991) 39. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979) 40. The Verve Urban Hymns (1997) 41. Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) 42. Meat Puppets Meat Puppets II (1984) 43. Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994) 44. Björk Debut (1993) 45. Nirvana In Utero (1993) 46. U2 Achtung Baby (1991) 47. The Fall This Nation’s Saving Grace (1985) 48. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) 49. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) 50. Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) 51. Arcade Fire Funeral (2004) 52. Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996) 53. Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy (1985) 54. PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (1995) 55. Primal Scream Screamadelica (1991) 56. Talking Heads More Songs about Buildings and Food (1978) 57. Violent Femmes Violent Femmes (1983) 58. Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994) 59. Portishead Dummy (1994) 60. New Order Power, Corruption and Lies (1983) 61. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (2001) 62. Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (1997) 63. Television Marquee Moon (1977) 64. The Clash London Calling (1979) 65. The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) 66. Radiohead In Rainbows (2007) 67. Yo La Tengo I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One (1997) 68. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (1984) 69. U2 War (1983) 70. Elliott Smith Either/Or (1997) 71. Elvis Costello & the Attractions Armed Forces (1979) 72. Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (1992) 73. Gang of Four Entertainment! (1979) 74. Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking (1988) 75. Alice in Chains Dirt (1992) 76. Weezer Weezer (aka “The Blue Album”) (1994) 77. Wire Pink Flag (1977) 78. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978) 79. R.E.M. Document (1987) 80. Manic Street Preachers The Holy Bible (1994) 81. The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) 82. Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1992) 83. Pretenders Pretenders (1980) 84. The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs (1999) 85. Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (1978) 86. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (1977) 87. Patti Smith Horses (1975) 88. New Order Substance (compilation: 1981-87, released 1987) 89. David Bowie Low (1977) 90. Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine (1989) 91. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) 92. The Feelies Crazy Rhythms (1980) 93. Sonic Youth Sister (1987) 94. Jane’s Addiction Ritual de lo Habitual (1990) 95. Depeche Mode Violator (1990) 96. Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights (2002) 97. Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque (charted 1991) 98. The Cure Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987) 99. Mission of Burma Vs. (1982) 100. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists AlbumOfTheYear.org Alternative Press Amazon.com “Essential CDs by Style” Askmen.com AudioOverflow.blogspot.com Barnes & Noble “Fundamentals” Blender (April 2003). “500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die: Alternative Rock” Digital Dream Door “Alternative Albums” Digital Dream Door “Indie Albums” Google.com “Alternative Albums Frequently Mentioned on the Web” Grammy.com “Alternative Album Winners” Listology.com “100 Greatest Alternative Rock Albums” Listology.com “20 Greatest Alternative/Punk/New Wave Albums Ever Made” Prefix “Best Indie Albums” Rate Your Music, list by Mennyekbeliremete Rate Your Music, list by No Such Dude TheRealMusic.net Record Collector (January 2000). “Classic Albums from 21 Genres for the 21st Century” Stereogum.com “Amazon’s 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of All Time” Dave Thompson (2000). Alternative Rock. Backbeat Books; England. Page 817. WBER Radio - New York (1999). “Top 100 Albums of All Time” First posted 5/10/2013; last updated 3/17/2025.

In Concert: Keb' Mo & Shawn Colvin

Keb’ Mo’ & Shawn Colvin Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City, 3/11/2025 image from Crossroads.org

Review: I went in to this concert not sure if blues artist Keb’ Mo’ and singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin would do a traditional show where one was the opening act and the other the headliner. My hope was that they would perform together for at least part of the show. I was immediately gratified when they strolled on stage together to open the show with a cover of Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me.” Keb’ Mo’ and his four-piece backing band (drums, bass, guitar, keyboards) stuck around for Colvin’s “Polaroids” before surrending the stage to her for a three-song set. Here’s my Spotify playlist of favorite Shawn Colvin songs. Keb’ Mo’ & Co. were back to assist on three more songs, including “Sunny Came Home,” the best-known song of the night. Colvin’s 1997 top-ten hit won her Grammys for Song and Record of the Year. Colvin then left the stage but was coaxed back by Keb’ Mo’ to duet on his song “One Friend,” one of the highlights of the evening. For the rest of the night, the stage belonged to Keb’ Mo’. I had hoped they might close out with another duet or two, but when Colvin exited, Keb’ Mo’ seemingly joked she had to catch a flight. I guess she really did fly the coop. It was the closest I came to being disappointed during the show. I’ve been fans of both artists their entire careers, but rank Colvin amongst my absolute favorites. I would have liked a few more songs. However, Keb’ Mo’ did just fine. Surprisingly, he never dipped into his ample bag of covers (“What a Wonderful World,” “Imagine,” “Lean on Me,” “Come on in My Kitchen,” “When Things Go Wrong It Hurts Me Too” – just to name a few). He also steered clear of those few songs which might have evoked a response of familiarity from the audience (“Put a Woman in Charge,” “This Is My Home,” “Old Me Better”). However, the 73-year-old knows how to win over an audience with his voice and guitar. He displays an ease and comfort on stage, employing humorous patter between songs and looking genuinely happy to be there. That kind of presence gives him the freedom to pull pretty much anything from his repertoire. His set list included cuts from Just Like You (1996) and Keep It Simple (2004), both Grammy winners for Best Contemporary Blues Album. I will definitely delve deeper into those cuts, having immediately put together a Spotify playlist of his setlist (check it out here). Click here to see other concerts I’ve attended. The Set List: Shawn Colvin: 1. Bring It on Home to Me (duet, Sam Cooke cover) * 2. Polaroids (1992) * 3. Trouble (1996) 4. I’ll Be Back (Beatles cover, 2004) 5. Diamond in the Rough (1989) 6. The Facts About Jimmy (1996) * 7. Sunny Came Home (1996) * 8. Get Out of This House (1996) * 9. One Friend (duet, 2004) Keb’ Mo’: 10. Somebody Hurt You (2014) 11. That’s Not Love (1996) 12. Remain Silent (2006) 13. All Dressed Up (2022) 14. Good to Be Home Again (2022) 15. Perpetual Blues Machine (1996) 16. I Remember You (2019) 17. The Worst Is Yet to Come (2014) 18. Walk Back In (2004) 19. She Just Wants to Dance (encore, 1994) * Song with an asterisk were performed by Shawn Colvin backed by Keb’ Mo’ & his band Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Shawn Colvin DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Keb’ Mo’ Dave’s Music Database: “Concerts” First posted 3/12/2025.