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!
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