My favourite albums of 2010

My favourite movies of 2010

I won't bore you this year with my thoughts on each of my favourite movies this time, I'll simply post the list  but I will say that, unlike 2009, this year hasn't been the greatest for films that appealed to me, in fact there were very few I fell in love with. But anyway, here it is, from 1 to 10.

1. Winter's Bone

2. Inception

3. Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

4. Toy Story 3

5. Crazy Heart

6. Shutter Island

7. The Road

8. The Other Guys

9. Hachi: A Dog's Tale

10. Whip It

Merry Christmas!

Best gigs of 2010

This year I don't think I've ever been so many seated gigs but I have to say it's been pretty nice to not only have a guaranteed place and not be pushed around but also have a nice little sit down during the show. I guess I'm getting old because I used to measure how good a concert was by the amount of bruises I sustained throughout. Maybe because of this there wasn't as many shows that blew me away (aside from the first three) but I have to say that overall I've seen some fantastic gigs this year and got to see a few legends in the process. So, in descending order, here's my 10 favourite shows from 2010 (with links to the original write-ups). Let's hope 2011 has just as many great concerts to look forward to.

10. Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses at Bush Hall

9. Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy at The Forum

8. She & Him at Koko

7. Crosby, Stills & Nash at Royal Albert Hall

6. Jeff Tweedy at Union Chapel

5. Elvis Costello at Royal Festival Hall

4. Joanna Newsom at Royal Festival Hall

3. Rickie Lee Jones at Union Chapel

2. Iggy & The Stooges at Hammersmith Apollo

1. Kris Kristofferson at Cadogan Hall

Jenny And Johnny interview

I was lucky enough to interview Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice for Hive Mag regarding their new duo Jenny And Johnny at the sadly closing Luminaire (one of London's best venues, due to close at the beginning of January). They were lovely to talk to and a hugely fun interview. You can read the results below.

Arriving in the UK just as the snow brought the country to a standstill, Jenny And Johnny (that’s Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame and her boyfriend singer-songwriter Johnathan Rice) brought a little California sunshine with them to the wintery skies with their fun, clever power-pop, as heard on their debut album together We’re Having Fun Now. We caught up with them at their last UK show at London’s Luminaire where they were in high spirits about their new project together.

Jenny, you’re from California, how have you been coping with the cold and all the snow?

Jenny: It’s been cold but it’s been nice. I was raised in the valley outside of Los Angeles which is quite warm, so yeah, I’m not accustomed to the snow but I bought a pair of ugly wellies and they’ve been my best friend. I think if you have proper footwear you can get through anything. It’s a lesson that’s taken me 20 years to learn.

Jenny & Johnny at Bush Hall

Jenny & Johnny
La Sera

Bush Hall, 8 December 2010

I'm not going to lie to you, my main reason for going to this show was Jenny rather than Johnny. Jenny being Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame, who between playing witty, infectious pop with her old band also released two country rock-influenced solo albums and stole my heart along the way. I'm probably too old to adore her the way girls in their teens do, since I'm around the same age as Ms Lewis, but I do admit feeling a little awed when she walks on stage in a wow-inducing tight white polka dot dress, looking every inch the glamorous, sexy pop star (albeit it in the alternative world).

Mark Olson at The Slaughtered Lamb

Mark Olson + Ingunn Ringvold

Dean Owens

The Slaughtered Lamb, 7 December 2010

When I heard Mark Olson, one of the voices of under-appreciated alternative country pioneers The Jayhawks, was playing The Slaughtered Lamb, I pictured some old creaky pub, filled with work-hardened men nursing their beers, much like its namesake in the horror film An American Werewolf In London. The truth is, while the name is a homage to that film (check out the pentagram on the wall in the picture above, as in the classic pub scene), it's really a trendy bar with a small living room-like venue in its basement. In fact as I first walked in people were sitting comfortably in the large sofas filling the room, facing the stage, and listening to suitably soothing acoustic music fitting the coffeehouse atmosphere.