"But these are days we dream about when the sunlight paints us gold" - Bright Eyes



Saturday 28 December 2013

It's that time of year for a countdown... (part 2)

Here's part two of my top 10 gigs of 2013. Counting down from 5 to 1...

(If you haven't already, read part 1)

5. The Reflektors/Arcade Fire - Empress Ballroom, Blackpool 27/11/13
It's not very often I feel underdressed at a gig (I'm a Manics fan, after all) but, following instruction from the band, we were greeted by a queue of the most spectacular gig outfits I've ever seen. And once inside the perfectly suited Empress Ballroom, it felt like we were in the masked ball scene of Labyrinth. I don't even own an Arcade Fire album, but was completely won over by the spectacle and the spectacular sound they created too. It wasn't so much a gig as a huge party... If I was in a band, I'd want it to be Arcade Fire.



4. Conor Oberst - Barbican, London 4/2/13
It's a rare thing to see Mr Oberst in the UK, so traveling to London and staying in a windowless room was a small price to pay. Being able to have pre-gig Dauphinoise potatoes and white wine in the Barbican canteen improved matters, then Conor played us a stripped down set of loveliness. The 'Waste of Paint' finale was just.......no words.



3. St Os Fest - Newcastle University 11/1/13
Definitely the most I have laughed at a gig, ever. Which I'm hoping was the point. The Chapman Family doing Kiss were obviously my highlight, although Frankie's Ziggy Stardust and the Bowie/Queen (Futureheads) duet of Under Pressure was actually genuinely brilliant. And if all that wasn't enough, it was all for a great cause too, with all proceeds going to St Oswald's Hospice.



2. Manic Street Preachers - The Ritz, Manchester 27/9/13
So I didn't think my most-watched band ever could still surprise me. Yes, their live shows are rarely a disappointment and I never fail to get shivers of anticipation as they walk on stage... but this was something else. The crowd reaction to opener Motorcycle Emptiness was like nothing I've ever experienced before. Maybe it was the fact it was a small venue that sold out in seconds, maybe it was The Ritz's famous sprung dancefloor... I don't know, but that first song set the tone for a rapturous night.



1. The Chapman Family - Georgian Theatre, Stockton 26/7/13
It was pre-ordained that this one would be emotional as, a week earlier, The Chapman Family had announced it would be their last ever gig. To be honest, the details are lost in a blur of glitter balls, red velvet, feedback, dancing, vitriol and balloons. Contrary and beautiful to the last.



Get to full albums on flickr if you click through the images.

Thursday 26 December 2013

It's that time of year for a countdown... (part 1)

Anyone who even knows me a little bit, will also know that I love a good countdown. Having just completed this year's Festive 50 list of my favourite Christmas songs on Facebook, I've overcome the withdrawal by trying to decide my top gigs of the year.

Last year, I only managed a top four. This year, I've either become a lot more indecisive, or been to a lot more gigs, or the quality has just gone up a notch. I've mustered up an entire top 10 of musical loveliness for you. So here it is - not necessarily the 10 best gigs I saw this year, but definitely the most memorable. Just to add to the tension, I'll split it into two posts, so here's number 10 down to number 6...

10. Slow Club - Pop Recs Ltd, Sunderland 31/8/13
One of my absolute faves playing new songs at a shop I'd been wanting to visit for ages - that seemed reason enough to make the six hour round-trip up to Sunderland for the evening. Being able to browse records between bands was a treat and Slow Club played some previews of tracks from their forthcoming third album, which shone in spite of Rebecca's self-deprecating banter.



9. The Chapman Family - Leaf Cafe, Liverpool 3/5/13

I saw The Chapman Family A LOT this year. This gig was by no means a high point, performance-wise, but it makes my top 10 for other reasons... The gig was part of Liverpool's Sound City Festival and the stage TCF played on was, much to their amusement, sponsored by the Campaign Against Living Miserably. The whole set-up was completely wrong, with tables set out cafe style, resulting in most of the audience sitting through the entire performance. Not wanting to let the side down, this just encouraged Franny and I all the more... we were hugely proud that our efforts warranted a mention in the gig review in the festival programme the following day.




8. Frankie & the Heartstrings - Deaf Institute, Manchester 6/6/13
Frankie and Co. love this venue nearly as much as I do, I reckon. They packed the place out and clearly enjoyed the atmosphere, with Frankie hopping off-stage to sing in the crowd and on the bar. The rock-out finale was fantastic too. This gig also wins the dubious accolade of second-sweatiest gig of the year.



7. Sweet Baboo - Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds 8/11/13
Sweet Baboo was my big festival discovery of the year, although I sort of always knew I would love him as I'd already fallen for his bass/sax/grin/dancing in Slow Club's live band. A proper gig at this ace new Leeds venue was the cheery cherry on the cake.



6. Suede - Rock City, Nottingham 28/3/13
I'd just got back from Japan and, if I'm honest, the last thing I felt like doing was driving to Nottingham to see Suede. But wow... as soon as they came on the stage I was 17 again and giddy with excitement, singing along to Metal Mickey, swooning at Neil Codling and giggling at Brett's ridiculous posturing. We may not have got quite the setlist that Ally Pally did, at this warm-up show, but I'm pretty sure the energy felt by the crowd and band in this more intimate venue couldn't have been matched.



Click through the pics to see full albums on flickr.

Update: you can now read part 2, counting down from 5 to the top spot!