23 music moments from 2018 we’re thankful for

This year has been full of ups and downs. We lost some amazing, talented artists such as Kyle Pavone and Mac Miller. Warped Tour had its last cross-country stint, but we celebrate music as a whole. From live performances and festivals to new album releases, there are a lot of music moments to be thankful for.

Here are some of our favorite moments from the past year, in no particular order.

Read more: 12 “Don’t Say It” memes the music world has to offer

1. twenty one pilots’ glorious return

This has been, without a doubt, a huge year for twenty one pilots. The duo just ended their year-long hiatus in July, but there’s still too many amazing moments to count. We’ve entered the Trench era where yellow is the color of choice. “My Blood” ripped all of our hearts out and then ran over them with a burning car during the duo’s AMA “Jumpsuit” performance.

2. Slipknot make bloody comeback

What’s a good music video without a ton of blood? This year felt like the year of blood based on the amazing and horrific music videos that came out. In typical Slipknot fashion, “All Out Life” became a literal blood bath. On top of that, Slipknot are doing an amazing All Hope Is Gone reissue and are confirmed to be working on a new album as well as a tour in 2019.

3. Gerard Way shares new music

All of our hearts bleed black because of Gerard Way. Thankfully, the emo king himself released “Baby You’re A Haunted House,” featuring a full band of spooky, scary skeletons. This is his first release in four years, and it’s confirmed he’s working on a new album. His song hit over 1 million views in a week, and he released another song, “Getting Down The Germs.” We can’t wait to hear what’s next.

4. Panic! At The Disco play tiny venues across U.S.

Panic! At The Disco have had a wild year and are on a constant upward spiral. Prior to releasing their chart-topping album Pray For The Wicked, the band teased the album with “unholy water” and Worship Wednesday while embarking on a secretive small venue tour. Thousands of fans wrapped around small venues such as Cleveland’s Grog Shop in the hopes of being admitted into the small-capacity room.

5. The Maine literally had a funeral for Lovely Little Lonely

If you hadn’t heard, the Maine threw a huge funeral in Baltimore to lay their 2017 album Lovely Little Lonely to rest. The band rented a casket and put it in front of the venue as well. Fans laid roses in the coffin to pay their respects and wore red for the occasion. Following the sold-out show, the band went right to work with Matt Squire on their seventh album.

6. Every Time I Die’s Jordan Buckley competes with Pennywise to be the last ever Warped Tour performer

Every Time I Die’s guitarist closed out the band’s set at the end of Warped Tour with a 10-minute guitar solo after the band concluded with fan-favorite “Map Change.” As the stagehands packed up the band’s equipment, Buckley was still standing on an amp paying his heart out. Additionally, Pennywise played the last ever set of the cross-country Vans Warped Tour. Impressively enough, they were on the first tour and appropriately finished out the last.

7. Fall Out Boy share long-awaited Lake Effect Kid EP

Fall Out Boy’s demo version of “Lake Effect Kid” appeared on Welcome To The New Administration, a prerelease mixtape from the Folie À Deux days. Now, we finally have a full studio take along with two new songs, plus a video for “City In A Garden.” MANIA is awesome, but these old Fall Out Boy sounds are exactly what we needed this year.

8. Halsey joins Panic! At The Disco onstage

https://youtu.be/rHRvX6T4jNo

Halsey is a self-proclaimed emo fan who loves all things alternative. It only makes sense that she’d seize the opportunity to sing Panic!’s anthem “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” with the band at Corona Capital. They also performed it together at Coachella in 2016, but honestly, we will never get tired of this collaboration.

9. Post Malone didn’t die

Post Malone’s had a tough year. He was involved in a car accident, plane crash, was the target of a robbery and touched a very haunted object (that may or may not have been the cause of his string of bad luck). When you read all of that, it’s pretty funny, but 100 percent true. Essentially, we are happy that he’s alive, well and buying lots of food.

10. Weezer cover “Africa”

Toto’s hit “Africa” has been the subject of internet memes for over a year. This unlikely rendition was the outcome of a months-long Twitter campaign from a fan account. It turns out this cover is so well-liked, it’s Weezer’s biggest hit in a decade. The music video acts as a shot-for-shot parody from 1994’s “Undone – The Sweater Song” video featuring “Weird Al” Yankovic as Rivers Cuomo.

11. Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly beef

Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly first began feuding in 2012 thanks to a now infamous tweet, but this year marked a major blow up. Eminem’s “Killshot” and MGK’s “Rap Devil” are both diss tracks worthy of replaying over and over again to catch each insult. Eminem’s “Killshot” made history as the biggest hip-hop debut on YouTube ever. No matter who you side with, it’s fair to say this feud will be worth revisiting years later.

12. Black Veil Brides squash breakup rumors

Andy Biersack is working on several amazing projects, but that doesn’t mean Black Veil Brides are over. On a podcast, bassist Ashley Purdy scared fans saying that the 2018 Vans Warped Tour dates would be “the last time” to see the band. Biersack responded exclusively to AP, saying this is the first time he’s been made aware of any impending breakup. “As far as I know, there are no plans to end the band after Warped,” he says.

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13. YUNGBLUD doesn’t let a broken ankle bring him down

After breaking his ankle at a previous show, YUNGBLUD didn’t cancel a show for recovery. The singer performed from a wheelchair and hopped around stage in his boot. He even donned a pink cast to match his pink-and-black shirt. We love a good comeback story.

14. Bring Me The Horizon’s That’s The Spirit hits 1 billion streams

Bring Me The Horizon made major waves when they released their 2015 album That’s The Spirit. Just a couple of months away from the release of their next album, amo, the band’s 2015 release reached 1 billion streams. That’s something to celebrate for sure.

15. Creeper’s Hannah Greenwood performs with Stand Atlantic

Creeper’s very own Hannah Greenwood joined Stand Atlantic on tour in one of the most ambitious crossover events ever. Greenwood performed “Push” with the band as they opened for Neck Deep this fall, which is taken from their 2017 Sidewinder EP. However, she also appears on Stand Atlantic’s debut full-length, Skinny Dipping, on the song “Clay.”

16. Awsten Knight joins 5 Seconds Of Summer

The guys of 5SOS and the Parx boys are scene staples who make alternative bops for everyone. So you’ll understand why we all freaked out when Waterparks’ Awsten Knight sang “She’s Kinda Hot” with 5SOS onstage in Houston back in April. We wouldn’t be mad if they toured together. Just sayin’…

17. American Satan gets TV show

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpwvN4rhiLV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

American Satan gained a lot of attention following it’s 2017 release, and now the plot is getting its own TV show, Paradise City. Asking Alexandria’s lead guitarist and Satan‘s own Leo, Ben Bruce, dropped the news on social media that both he and Andy Biersack are slated to reprise their movie roles in the upcoming series Paradise City.

18. Neck Deep cover “Torn,” and the original singer loves it

Neck Deep’s Ben Barlow cuddles the cutest bulldog in the band’s cover of “Torn” for Songs That Saved My Life, Hopeless Records and their nonprofit organization’s Sub City compilation to benefit mental health and suicide prevention organizations. Crisis Text Line, Hope For The Day, The Trevor Project and To Write Love On Her Arms are among the organizations that will benefit from the compilation. “Torn” vocalist Natalie Imbruglia also loved the cover, commenting her approval on their Instagram.

19. From First To Last release song with Sonny Moore

From First To Last shared their new song “Surrender” this year with the help of Sonny Moore (aka Skrillex) who officially rejoined the band last year. The band lovingly teased the single for over half a year, and it’s only the second song featuring Moore since he left in 2007.

20. Palaye Royale make concert inclusive for hearing impaired

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNvoS6hvJV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Palaye Royale want everyone to enjoy live music regardless of hearing impairments. On Sept. 21, they took part in a performance that aimed to make the music community more inclusive. With the help of Music: Not Impossible technology, deaf and hearing impaired fans were able to experience the show in a “surround body” way. In order to make the show even more inclusive, they also had an interpreter translate their lyrics onstage.

21. Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo joins Paramore onstage

https://youtu.be/6k5cYk0wz_k

Paramore performed at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and brought out Gaten Matarazzo. The actor is best known for playing the ever-so-lovable Dustin Henderson on Netflix’s Stranger Things. However, he also fronts Work In Progress and came out to jam out onstage to “Misery Business.” Honestly, could this get any better?

22. Underoath make a comeback

2018 was a huge year for Underoath. The band teased a comeback by sending out mysterious CDs with “Erase Me” scribbled on the front, as well as billboards donning the same strange message in the band’s highly recognizable font. After a month of these messages, the band announced their album Erase Me. Aaron Gillespie left the band in 2010, and they released their only album without him, Ø (Disambiguation), later that year. The band originally played a two-week farewell tour at the beginning of 2013. They reunited (with Gillespie) in 2016 for a surprise show followed by Self Help Fest and confirmed their reunion. This year’s album release and Erase Me tour with Dance Gavin Dance is exactly what we needed.

23. Andrew McMahon becomes Mr. Rogers for tour, designs Mr. Rogers’ set

Andrew McMahon went on his spring Pen And Piano tour with the help of his friends Bob Oxblood, Allen Stone and Zac Clark. Unlike most tours, this one involved a giant set. McMahon designed his set to look like the inside of a living room and made his piano its centerpiece. Based on his cardigan sweater and friendly, welcoming tone, he gave off strong Mr. Rogers vibes, resulting in an intimate concert.