I would like to preface this by saying that this year was an incredible year for gigs – a lot of the best ones were totally unexpected which is a nice suprise. It goes without saying that 80% of my review on each gig and how OMG fantastic it was is usually the setting/the people/etc but rest assured that each of these gigs was musically fantastic and all that.
10. The Strange Boys @ The Echo, Echo Park
I only put this one as number 10 because it was the only newcomber on the list. All my other top gigs happened between January and October, and this gig was in the beginning of November. I am still kind of regretting making it #10 even as I write this because I am just so excited about this band. They have some kickin’ tunes and they are pretty young and have a whole lot of promise. I saw them open for Black Lips in Austin but I wasn’t able to fully process what an awesome band they were until I saw them on their own. Each of their songs is fresh and wicked and they have this really great sound overall. They are such wunderkinds. This gig was very long and I have to say on its behalf that I was so infuriated because of the amount of TCU frat kids that had managed to somehow end up in Echo Park – and its still in the top 10. That says enough for their music, I think.
9. Popup @ Some Block Party during SXSW 2008
This photo is courtesy of Erin Curtis, photographer extraordinaire. This gig… well, what can I say? It is what makes SXSW such a blast. Seeing a small band from Glasgow at some sort of condominium opening or something, very confusing, but they had an open stage and played for about 45 minutes (during which a LOT of wine had been consumed and some nasty chicken and biscuits) and then got to hang out for a little. Then their manager won $1000. Then they were forced to play for another 45 minutes and they had to play all the songs again but we started this incredible dance party (we had a large party with us that day) and it included balloons, wine, children and well some amazing tunes. It was kind of a blur of colors and music and SXSW itself, but it was fun and very personal. It’s also where the awesome phrase “If you’re here for the famous songs, you’ll just have to wait”, so thanks to Damo on that one. Also, that picture is an awesome picture of Michael (bass) being an urban cowboy.
8. The Raveonettes @ Make Music Pasadena
This was a really incredible gig because of the probability of it all. The Raveonettes played very few shows in the US during the last half of the year. In fact, their last gig in America for the year was announced to be in Pasadena, California at some small festival called Make Music Pasadena. The odds of that happening (prior to its occurrence) was basically none percent chance. However, it did happen and I was 100% pleased about it – and we ended up being able to interview Sune Rose before the gig which was nerve-racking and fun at the same time. The gig though, happened to be after 5 hours of waiting in 110 degree heat. I don’t know if it was the heat or the music that made me so dazed (in a good way) but I think the beautiful Danes and the beautiful music had a lot to do with it.
7. Black Lips @ Emo’s Outdoor, Austin
This was essentially the gig that turned me into the Black Lips obsessive that I am today. I had seen them previously but this gig was incredible. It was like, our third trip to Austin and we were front row and not really knowing what to expect but hoping for some craziness. To say the very least – by the end my entire head was soaked in beer, my roommates clothes were stretched almost comically by the pushing and grabbing of the crowd and her cousin had broken glass lodged in her feet. We also got to control Cole Alexander’s fog machine which honestly did not help my hair situation but we felt involved regardless. The tunes were great and the bands antics were great too. Oh, added bonus: the Strange Boys opened (White Denim, too, but I hate them) which was just a great support choice. A+ overall.
6. Johnny Flynn @ Hank Sinatra’s House/+1 Party, SXSW
I had literally downloaded a Johnny Flynn song about a week before SXSW, not even aware that he was coming to South by. I listened to it 5 times and said, “This is good!” and forgot about it. Then I had been talked into coming to +1’s party because Ryan Jarman and Kate Nash were there. So blah, blah, I show up and the first person to properly play after I had arrived was Johnny Flynn! As soon as I heard “The Box” I was like omg I know this guy and he’s really good! He’s so good! I mean I watched Johnny Flynn sitting (creepily) next to R.Jarman and K. Nash!! It was sunny and breezy and beautiful – and so is Johnny Flynn. Er ist ein Wunderkind!
5. These New Puritans @ The French Legation, SXSW
I can honestly say that I’ve seen TNPS in every kind of situation: daytime/outdoors, daytime/indoors, nighttime/indoors, with 2 other people, with 100 other people, sitting, standing, asleep, awake etc. But the best time was during the party at the French Legation. I think they played around 3pm and my roommate and I were the like, only people there. It was sunny and breezy and we just sat in these plastic, white fold up chairs and watched TNPS tear up the stage. The sound was amazing, the environment was amazing, AND the thought that we snuck into a 21+ show was amazing (as far as we know). Oh also, I mean how can a gig be bad when it is so very personal?
4. Black Lips @ The Loft, Dallas
So each of my gigs is obviously my favorite for more than the gig, and these contextual situations make it awesome as well and I don’t think this gig is any different. The night before we had driven 3 hours to Austin and saw a fucking mind blowing gig at Emo’s Outdoors, not left until 2am and gotten back into Fort Worth around 5am. Then we slept until 3pm and woke up and decided to go to this gig too. We got there only ONE HOUR early and were shocked to find literally not a single person – fan or venue employee. So we ate peanuts out of a jar. Finally, we got inside to find literally a wooden stage, and on it – the opener, part puppet show, part disco dancing? By the time Black Lips went on the teeny crowd was SO wild and so fun and I honestly thought that the Loft was going to fall through the roof. There seemed to be about 50 people crazily jumping and pushing and shouting and rocking out – and then about 10 people scared on the sidelines. Yadadayayada, Black Lips are amazing. I could explain further, but I wont.
3. Adam Green @ Rickshaw Stop/Shop, San Francisco
This is the last of the few “persona”l shows on this list but because the Rickshaw Stop/shop is so tiny that 3 people make up most of the front row – therefore this is classified as a personal show. Adam also began his tradition of talking to us about the Setlist – playing an amazing cover of the Libertines “What a Waster” and he also played “Drugs” for us as well. And he wore my RayBans on stage. It was amazing to see him perform after being a fan of his for so long! There were a few other reasons this gig was amazing, namely: 1) wondering how the gospel choir was going to fit on the stage until finding out this “choir” was more like a “duo” 2) seeing a literal pirate ship being towed away with Spacekamp before the gig 3) Spacekamp members and um, Farolitos. Amazing gig.
2. Jamie T @ Maxilla Social Club, London
This is really sad for me to have to move Jamie T down to 2nd place, but anyway. This gig was incredible. It was a gig that I have waited since September 2007 to see and the fact that I had traveled oh, 5000 miles to see it was pretty cool as well. The venue was small and shofty as hale, which gives it plenty of credit in my book. Anyway, I was right up front and the whole crowd was made up of Jamie T super fans which gives the gig a totally different vibe than a lot of the shows that I go to. Honestly, it may have been one of the rowdiest gigs I’ve seen in a long time, and definitely the only gig I’ve ever been to where I thought I might die. The songs are incredible in person because the album is recorded in the way that makes it hard to imagine the songs live – but hearing the rubbish keyboard of “Dry off Your Cheeks” and the guitar part of “Ike and Tina” and the sing-a-long of “Sheila” was just overwhelming. He also played a bunch of new material which was good in the way that it was familiar, but a step up. His second album is going to be really great if he ever decides to get off his ass and make it.
THE BEST GIG OF THE YEAR
BLACK LIPS @ THE GLASSHOUSE, POMONA
This gig was just beyond. Maybe it was the fact that I was so sick that I was feeling high off it, or maybe that I’d waited like 6 months to see this gig, or maybe that I ditched jury duty to drive to Pomona, or that I just fucking love this band. I was really disappointed by the fact that part of the Glasshouse was sectioned off because not enough people had bought tickets but the first two rows were having an absolute blast and obviously I was included in that. They played all the staples of their live set – Sea of Blasphemy, Fairy Stories, Cold Hands, Katrina, Bad Kids, Not a Problem, etc. They also included some awesome new material (Drugs, anyone?) which I was really impressed with and now has me waiting on the edge of my seat for their new record. Cole Alexander’s attire (amazing poncho with fringe and Pilgrim hat) had a lot to do with the awesomeness of this gig because he was extra sassy that night – doing rolls all around the floor and basically tearing the place up. Also special was Joe Bradley’s encore, featuring him on guitar and drums. Overall… as I’ve said many times AMAZING.
That is all. A summary of just what I did in 2008. Some good times, but needless to say, meeting Johnny Marr was #1 but we didn’t actually SEE him play (he approved though, he said tickets were way too expensive – oh and M.M sucks) but as an afterthought, it would be my #1 moment of 2008.
