We Ranked the Top Three Shows We Saw at The National This Year and They Were All The Legwarmers

2023 gave us a plethora of opportunities to see amazing bands as they continue to recoup the losses from 2020 and 2021, and out of all the gigs we were fortunate to see this year — from Nick Cave to Taylor Swift — we wanted to highlight the three most memorable nights of live music from the year.

The Legwarmers – February 21, 2023

While it might seem like an unoriginal pick to give a cover band the number one spot, one thing you can bet on with The Legwarmers is that they’re guaranteed to be a fun time. From start to finish, the band — fully decked out in classic ‘80s attire — seized upon the audience, who were also fully decked out in classic 80s attire, for classic hits such as “Eye Of The Tiger,” “Whip It,” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” The sing-alongs, the outfits, and the cheesy dance moves made for a night that we’ll never forget (until the next time The Legwarmers play The National, whenever that may be).

The Legwarmers – February 21, 2023

Even if you’ve seen them open with “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” a dozen times, it’ll be just as fun the 13th time. The Legwarmers, America’s favorite ‘80s tribute band, continues to rock stages throughout Richmond’s Broad Street, and based on their solid performance earlier this year, they show no signs of slowing down. The highlight was undoubtedly the ceremonial crowd sing-along to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” to close out the night, which was basically a repeat of every other last call song from our bar hopping nights in 2019.

The Legwarmers – February 21, 2023

What’s more fun a band that peaked in the 1980s? A tribute band for that entire decade of music, apparently. From their on-the-nose performances of classics such as “Material Girl,” “Footloose,” and “Time After Time,” the band, whose website boasts a catalog of hundreds of songs, played the same two dozen songs they played at their shows last year and the year before it, and all we can say is this: the hangover the next day was worth it. Seriously, do yourself a favor and go see these guys if you ever get the inevitable chance to see them perform. And dress accordingly.

Honorable Mention: The Legwarmers – February 21, 2023