My Favourite Albums Of 2012

I had a really difficult time this year whittling down my favourite albums of the year to just 10, there were so many I really loved: so I decided to make it 11. There are others I really loved too like Ryan Bingham's brilliant hard rock meets traditional country Tomorrowland, The Mars Volta's underrated Noctourniquet and Kathleen Edwards' lovely follow-up to Asking For Flowers, Voyageur, but these are the records that ultimately made the cut.

My Favourite Movies Of 2012

Overall I thought 2012 was a pretty good year for film: there were a few nice surprises, a few films I was stupidly excited to see that lived up to expectations and some nice indie movies. Although the reviews were mixed I adored Ridley Scott's Alien prequel Prometheus and Wes Anderson charmed me yet again with his latest film Moonrise Kingdom, while Skyfall was without a doubt the best Bond yet and of course The Hobbit was a wonderful visual feast. There were also a few films that despite the acclaim I found hugely disappointing, in particular The Avengers Assemble, The Cabin In The Woods and Looper but thankfully there weren't too many I really hated. Again, as in 2011, there are a few acclaimed movies that came out recently that I've yet to see so this list may well change but for now these are my favourite movies of 2012.

1. Prometheus
2. Moonrise Kingdom
3. Skyfall
4. Amour
5. Delicacy
6. Shame
7. Lawless
8. Rust And Bone
9. Dredd
10. Killer Joe

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Best gigs of 2012

This year I seem to have been revisiting my youth as I saw more reunited bands than ever and my summer was like a big flashback to the early 90s. But it wasn't all nostalgia as I got to experience some great new bands too as well as a few legends I had never experienced before, like Mike Nesmith, who was back on these shores for a solo show for the first time in 38 years! I feel pretty lucky to have seen him, as different and quirky as his show was.  I also spent two days standing in the rain and mud in order to see Soundgarden and Bruce Springsteen, both of which were worth it but I don't know if I have it in me to do again. Still there's part of me that is sad that the Hard Rock Calling concerts will longer be taking place in Hyde Park, I definitely had some good times at those events over the years. Also sad was Cat Power cancelling her December show at the Roundhouse due to illness. I was really looking forward to that one but hopefully she'll be back next year to make up the dates. So anyway, with all that said, here's my list of my favourite shows this year:

10. Eddie Vedder at Hammersmith Apollo

9. Bat For Lashes at The Forum

8. Anaïs Mitchell at Camden Dingwalls

7. Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park

6. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers at Royal Albert Hall

5. First Aid Kit at Shepherd's Bush Empire

4. Sharon Van Etten at the Scala

3. Wild Flag at the Electric Ballroom

2. Soundgarden at Hyde Park

1. Afghan Whigs at Koko

Mark Lanegan at The Forum

Mark Lanegan Band
Creature With The Atom Brain
Duke Garwood
The Forum, 4 December 2012

I feel like I've said all I can say about Duke Garwood. Love him or loathe him he's pretty much a given at any Mark Lanegan gig these days. A couple of years ago his droning, feedback-fueled gothic blues really divided opinions but I think since he's now joined by a drummer to help drive the songs along and added quite a few more upbeat and shorter songs to his repertoire, for those more interested in melody over atmospherics, he's certainly easier to love. The audience tonight definitely seem appreciative for once, which is nice to see.

First Aid Kit at Shepherd's Bush Empire

First Aid Kit
Idiot Wind
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 20 November 2012

With their second album, The Lion's Roar, First Aid Kit have made, for me at least, maybe the album of the year. Full of swirling harmonies and with deep roots in the very best of Americana music, it's hard to believe that something so authentic sounding was created by two Swedish siblings, one still in her teens. Yet the Soderberg sisters, Klara and Johanna, have done just that and maybe they know how unlikely it sounds because they actually introduce themselves tonight by telling us "Hello, we're First Aid Kit. We're two Swedish sisters from Stockholm".

Haim at KCLSU

Haim
Death At Sea
King's College London Student Union, 14 November 2012

Death At Sea are a pretty typical support band. An indie band from Liverpool with one single to their name, they actually sound far more polished than you'd expect from a group that's only been together mere months. Still their sound is pretty unremarkable, not terrible just overly familiar. For me the most interesting thing about them is the way they were dressed: like something out of an 80s movie. The singer was clearly channeling Springsteen, satorially speaking, sporting a denim jacket, with the arms cut off and plaid shirt over a t-shirt. The only thing missing was the bandana and mullet hair, instead disappointingly he had the fashionable One Direction/Justin Bieber hair. I guess the kids may love them.

Soundgarden at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Soundgarden
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 9 November 2012

About 17 years ago my brother and I, along with my two best friends, won tickets to see Soundgarden play the first concert at the newly re-opened Shepherd's Bush Empire. Before it had been a theatre and the set of Wogan's daily TV chat show but this was the first time it was being used as a music venue. Our seats were way up in the gods but damn, were we excited. I had seen Soundgarden before and at smaller venues but this was the first time they had returned to these shores since becoming one of the big grunge four (Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains were the other three) and it was just before their huge breakthrough album, Superunknown, was released. I remember Artis The Spoonman, the man they had named the first single from the album for, coming on and playing a short support and then watching the tops of the band's heads as they treated us to songs we hadn't heard before from the forthcoming album as well as old favourites.

Bat For Lashes at The Forum

Bat For Lashes
Sylver Tongue
The Forum, 29 October 2012

Going to see Bat For Lashes play a hometown show on a cold, rainy night just before Halloween somehow couldn't be more perfect. Natasha Khan's music always has had an other worldly feel but the new album, The Haunted Man, is even spookier than before. Stripped away of too many fanciful embellishments, it's a startlingly beautiful album and I was excited about experiencing it live.

Michael Nesmith at Queen Elizabeth Hall

Michael Nesmith
Queen Elizabeth Hall, 28 October 2012

It turns out that Michael Nesmith, former Monkee and country rock pioneer, hasn't been on these shores for a solo show in 37 years. I didn't realise just how long it had been but I did know these few UK shows were a rarity, so I was excited when they were announced. However a friend then made me nervous when he questioned just what Nesmith was like live these days since his most recent release had been a jazz funk instrumental concept album. I needn't have worried though as the show had plenty of Nesmith's greatest songs, beautifully performed with the aid of his longtime bass player (Joe Chemay), a keyboardist (Charlie Judge) and a little help from technology.

Radiohead at the O2 Arena

Radiohead
Caribou
O2 Arena, 9 October 2012

Arena shows are so odd, they have such a different vibe to them, something I had forgotten as I walked into the vast O2 Arena. Last time I saw Radiohead was, unbelievably, 15 years ago now, on the OK Computer tour so I thought it was well past the time I finally caught up with them live especially as they were playing so close to me in Greenwich.

Ray Davies at the Royal Albert Hall

Ray Davies
Dead Flamingoes
Royal Albert Hall, 4 October 2012

I was surprised when Dead Flamingoes walked on stage, not only because I didn't know there was going to be a support act, but also because I recognised both members. Firstly, I had seen James Walbourne last year supporting Laura Cantrell and then Kami Thompson, the daughter of British folk legends Richard and Linda Thompson, I saw supporting Elvis Costello a couple of years back.

Best Coast at The Borderline

Best Coast
Fear Of Men
The Borderline, 18 September 2012

Apparently Best Coast are pretty cool right now: they've been on the cover of trendy magazines, the hipster blogs love them and singer Bethany Cosentino has even designed a range of clothes for the yawn-inducingly hip clothes chain Urban Outfitters. So by all rights I shouldn't be here, I feel worryingly out of place until I spot a bunch of older gentlemen who obviously have no clue who the band are and have been persuaded to come along by their younger friend who appears to be the only fan among them. Still, despite this I can't help enjoying Best Coast's sunny, feel-good surf-pop and I'm looking forward to seeing them play the tiny Borderline as part of a brief low-key tour of smaller venues.

Cat Power's Cherokee

Cat Power's new record, Sun, is quickly becoming my album of the year. The first video from it, Cherokee, is pretty badass too, full of post-apocalyptic, zombie shenanigans. Love Chan Marshall's new punky short hairdo too. Can't wait to see her live again in December!

Patti Smith at Troxy

Patti Smith & Her Band
Troxy, 13 September 2012

"There is so much energy here tonight, I actually can feel my blood going: buzzzzz..." Patti tells the audience grinning and I have to believe her. There must be something she's feeding off that enables her, at 65 years of age no less, to display such vivacity still. She continuously dances, theatrically throws out her arms as if preaching to the faithful while singing, often crouches down at the front of the stage to smile and wave to the audience and of course sings her heart out. When she hands over the reins to guitarist and longtime collaborator Lenny Kaye for a couple of numbers, she doesn't use the brief respite to go offstage to rest, she instead uses it as an opportunity to go down to the barrier and shake hands with every person (myself included) in the front row.

Norah Jones at the Roundhouse

Norah Jones
Beth Orton
Roundhouse, 10 September 2012

I have two confessions to make. First, I don't remember even applying for tickets for this free show, held as part of the month-long iTunes Festival at the Roundhouse (I unsuccessfully applied for Jack White tickets and must have clicked this show too). Secondly, I don't mind Norah Jones but have never been a big enough fan to want to see her live, I can only presume I was drawn to the presence of Beth Orton on the bill, who I did actually want to see live. Now that's out of the way, I must admit this was a pretty wonderful show all round so all-in-all a rather happy accident.

At The Drive-In at Brixton Academy

At The Drive-In
Brixton Academy, 28 August 2012

"We consider this the last show of the Relationship Of Command tour,” guitarist Jim Ward, who has been silent for much of the show, tells us near the end. “It’s taken us 12 years to get here, but I love these guys more than life itself."

The Afghan Whigs at Koko

The Afghan Whigs
Oupa
Koko, 19 August 2012

Damn Dulli. I really don't know how you do it. 

There was a moment during tonight's show, during the instrumental middle of Fountain & Fairfax (the above clip) where it sounded so perfect and special that I felt myself close to tears. Given all the hundreds of shows I've been to and how few times that has actually happened to me, probably only three or four times in all, that should give you some idea of how incredible and moving and fun this gig was.

Françoise Hardy sings Ce Petit Coeur

French legend Françoise Hardy has seen a resurgence in interest since Wes Anderson included one of her songs (Le Temps De L'Amour) as well as the EP on which it first appeared in his latest movie, Moonrise Kingdom, but I've been a fan for a while and she's one of my most played artists on my iTunes. I'd love to see her live but unfortunately Hardy gave up touring back in the 70s. But at the very least there are lots of TV clips from the 60s and 70s on YouTube like this rare live performance of Ce Petit Coeur from 1966. There is something completely timeless about Hardy's music and her beauty, she could have come from any era, I love her.

Eddie Vedder at Hammersmith Apollo

Eddie Vedder 
Glen Hansard 
Hammersmith Apollo, 30 & 31 July 2012 

Firstly, there are sadly no videos of this show up on YouTube because Eddie requested no recordings and photos (which is rare, as Pearl Jam always allow this) and people were pretty respectful of this, so the cool posters will have to do instead.

Gig memories: Pearl Jam back in 1992

So I'm seeing Eddie Vedder solo for the first time this week and I'm pretty excited. Me and Eddie go back a long way: Pearl Jam was the first gig I ever went to by myself, all the way back in February 1992 at the tiny ULU just before they became hugely famous rock stars. It's needless to say that gig probably changed my life and one day I will write a full Gig Memories post all about it. But in the meantime, rather incredibly and very generously, their support act that very night, Claytown Troupe, has recently uploaded footage of that very gig onto YouTube and it's brought back some very wonderful memories. Pearl Jam are still one of the best live acts in the world but from the clip you can see there's an youthful excitement, energy and joy that will never be matched again and it's amazing to experience it again in some small way.

Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park

 
Hard Rock Calling 2012:
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 
John Fogerty
Lady Antebellum
Hyde Park, 14 July 2012

I have such sore feet from standing two days in the mud and the rain! But it was completely and utterly worth it and it was certainly a unique experience seeing the Boss playing Waitin' On A Sunny Day as the rain poured from the sky.

Soundgarden at Hyde Park

 
Hard Rock Calling 2012:
Soundgarden
Iggy & The Stooges
Cold Chisel
Hyde Park, 13 July 2012

There was mud galore and it rained heavy into the night but this was a glorious show and I cannot even tell you the thrill to see and hear Soundgarden back together. And of course Iggy Pop was as wild and entertaining as ever. All in all it was completely worth standing in the pouring rain for.

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers at the Royal Albert Hall

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Jonathan Wilson
Royal Albert Hall, 18 June 2012

Although I've been a fan of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers since I was a kid (one of my few musical loves that actually outdates my Fleetwood Mac obsession), in all my years of being a fan I only got to see them live twice in 1999 (two absolutely stunning back-to-back shows at the Shepherd's Bush Empire) and they haven't been back since.

Hawksley Workman at The Borderline

Hawksley Workman
The Borderline, 15 June 2012

I've pretty much comes to terms with the fact that seeing Hawksley Workman these days is not about hearing songs from his latest album or surprise additions to the set list. Instead it's about hearing old favourites from his first few albums with lots of audience participation and letting Hawksley tell funny stories in between. And you know, it's a formula that works and is always fun plus, with all Hawksley's often surreal ad-libs and spontaneous additions of other pop songs, it's definitely never boring and the songs always sound different.

Anaïs Mitchell at Camden Dingwalls

Anaïs Mitchell & The Young Man Band
Rachel Ries

Camden Dingwalls, 12 June 2012

Looking like she's just stepped out of a 1950s picture book wearing a full-skirted blue and white gingham dress, Rachel Ries (who is also a member of Anaïs Mitchell's band) immediately ruins the illusion by strapping on a bright red electric guitar. Her music though isn't far removed from that first impression: lonesome country-tinged folk songs with a nice line in storytelling.

Goodbye Bob Welch

I'm just completely saddened to hear about the death of Bob Welch, one of the most underrated members in Fleetwood Mac's long history and definitely the bridge between the blues of the Peter Green Mac and the California rock of the Rumours era.

Patti Smith and Neil Young

I had to post this amazing photo of Patti Smith and Neil Young taken at BookExpo America yesterday where Patti conversed on stage with Neil about his forthcoming memoir (out in October), Waging Heavy Peace. My favourite part (courtesy of a report from The New Yorker) is this wonderful exchange when Patti and Neil compare their books (Patti's being the fantastic Just Kids):

Patti: Our books are very different but I think there’s something about them that’s similar. Neither was written vindictively or to settle a score. Both were written humanistically.

Neil: I think they actually are quite similar. I’m a highway and landscapes. You’re a city and painted bricks and lots of people. I’m travelling and you are, too, but I’m on the road and you’re travelling down streets. 
                         

Wow. Beautiful. I really can't wait to read Waging Heavy Peace.

Mazzy Star at Shepherd's Bush Empire

 
Mazzy Star
Unison
Rick Tomlinson
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 3 June 2012

While others were out partying or returning home from the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, I set out in the rain to Shepherd's Bush to catch yet another reunited band from the 90s, the lovely and still hugely influential Mazzy Star.

Alfie Boe at the Orchard Theatre

Alfie Boe
Orchard Theatre, 25 May 2012

Years ago, back when I was at school, musical star Michael Ball had his own TV show. Ball is a singer and a West End star who had made his name in Andrew Lloyd Webber show Aspects Of Love, and even now is famous for his cheeky, clean-cut image, curly blonde hair and boyish charm. His show was a variety type affair with guests and him singing various MOR and musical numbers, fairly typical early evening TV fluff and nothing to write home about. But one performance from that show in particular has stuck in my mind all these years because it was so unintentionally hilarious and completely misguided: it was Ball, in a poor attempt to be hip, trying to croon the quirky punky pop of Love Shack by The B52's. Well this weird-ass Alfie Boe show was the live equivalent of Michael Ball singing Love Shack.

The Afghan Whigs live return

Performing the song See And Don't See. So good to have them back.

Sharon Van Etten at Scala

Sharon Van Etten
Exitmusic
Scala, 16 May 2012

Sharon Van Etten looks thrilled and completely overwhelmed that she's standing in front of a sold-out audience in London. "We're a bunch of nobodies, who can't believe a bunch of somebodies came out to see us," she says sweetly. It's not a Sally Field "you love me, you really love me" moment either, Van Etten giggles like a kid at Christmas whose long wait has finally paid off. And things are finally paying off for her, after three superb albums, people are starting to take notice of her and catch on to her unique and beautiful brand of folk-infused rock. Not only is the Scala filled to the brim but there's even some American fans beside me who have traveled all the way from the States to see her, one saying he had tried to see her in New York but her shows were sold out, so obviously it's not just a London thing.

Anaïs Mitchell interview

I interviewed the wonderful Anaïs Mitchell about her new album, Young Man In America, for Hive Magazine. You can read the results there or below!

Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell has been compared to everyone from Joanna Newsom to Ani DiFranco (whose Righteous Babe record label used to be her home) but really there is no one else like her right now as her last album, the masterful Hadestown (which boasted such guests as Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and DiFranco herself) clearly testifies. An ambitious and musically diverse concept album, it drew rave reviews and found itself on many end of year best-of lists in 2010. Her latest release, Young Man In America, is a more traditional affair but is equally arresting. We asked Mitchell all about the new album, her up upcoming UK tour and more.

Your last album, Hadestown, was an opera based on the story of Orpheus and Eurydice and although you’ve said that this one, Young Man In America, isn’t a concept album, do you think they share any themes? 

People have pointed out that they DO share themes, but I totally didn’t notice that when I was writing the songs. Hadestown is the Orpheus myth as you said, but it’s set in a post-apocalyptic depression era that takes a lot of inspiration from 1930s America, the poverty and exploitation of those times. Young Man In America takes inspiration from the current recession and the first two songs on the album are set in a wild America, an every-man-for-himself version of America. So I guess I have some kinda bone to pick huh? 

Ryan Adams at the London Palladium

 
Ryan Adams
Jason Isbell
London Palladium, 30 April 2012

Ryan Adams and I have had something of a chequered history. Like something out of one of his songs, I loved him but he just kept letting me down. In concert at least.

Sharon Van Etten interview

I got to talk to the rather wonderful Sharon Van Etten about her fantastic new album, Tramp (which is destined for many end of year lists, I'm sure) for Hive Mag. She was very sweet and friendly and we bonded over having the same name (I even thanked her for helping to make the name Sharon cooler "I don't know about that!" she laughed). You can read it on that link or below.

Earning rave reviews when it was released at the beginning of the year, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten’s third album, Tramp, is undoubtedly her best yet. It sees her move from the more solitary feel of her previous two records to a bigger sound with a little help from some of her musician friends, including Aaron Dessner from The National, Beirut’s Zach Condon, Wye Oak’s Jen Wasner, Walkmen’s Matt Barrick and Juliana Barwick.  With her first UK tour about to start next month, we caught up with Van Etten to talk about the new album and more.

It must be thrilling to see the positive reaction your new album, Tramp, has received so far.

It’s kind of crazy. I don’t know. I try not to think about it because it’s a little overwhelming sometimes. People are building upon something that started quite simple and it’s changed just through people wanting to listen to it. 

Judy Collins at Leicester Square Theatre

Judy Collins
Kenny White

Leicester Square Theatre, 22 April 2012

Last year I saw Judy Collins, then a sprightly 71 years old, for the first time and it was a wonderful experience: she was still in fine voice and full of wonderful stories and entertained her enthralled audience for two hours with selections of songs from throughout her career. It was really a magical concert and I was looking forward to seeing her again (especially that, given her age, I feel like the opportunities to catch her in the future will be much fewer). But this time was really a mixed bag and, although far from terrible, I felt that Judy's heart wasn't really in it for this show.

Goodbye Levon Helm

The Band's Levon Helm died today aged 71 after a long fight with cancer. I'm so sad, he was an amazing musician to put it lightly and not surprisingly a huge influence. Rest in peace Levon.

Rosanne Cash at the Union Chapel

Rosanne Cash
The Winter Mountain Band

Union Chapel, 30 March 2012

I never saw Johnny Cash live. He was still performing throughout the 90s so I potentially could have but I was a stupid kid blinkered by punk rock music at the time. I see he played the Royal Albert Hall in 1997, even though I had no clue or interest back then the thought still fills me with regret. So I didn't ever see Johnny but I did get the chance to see his daughter, Rosanne, tonight. She may not be as legendary as her iconic father but Rosanne has still managed to forge an impressive career of her own writing perfectly crafted country songs with a pop edge.

Joan Baez at the Royal Festival Hall

Joan Baez
Royal Festvial Hall, 16 March 2012

Given Joan Baez has been more in the news recently for falling out of treehouses than her music I did wonder, at the grand old age of 71, whether I would ever get the chance to see her live.

The Jayhawks at the Barbican

The Jayhawks

Chuck Prophet

Barbican, 8 February 2012

"This song is about unrequited love, that's when someone doesn't love you back," Californian singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet amusingly explains to us. "My wife told me that saying that is patronising. That's when someone speaks down to you. I never do that," he grins.

Kathleen Edwards at Islington Academy

Kathleen Edwards

Hannah Georgas

Islington Academy, 28 February 2012

"Call this fucking country music?!" Kathleen Edwards shouts before breaking into a big grin as the feedback echoes at the end of the upbeat pop of Sidebar. "Call this fucking country music?" she asks again as the band launches into the Tom Petty-esque charge of Back To Me.

Wild Flag at the Electric Ballroom

Wild Flag

Peggy Sue

Electric Ballroom, February 1, 2012

Thinking back, one of the best things about the 90s was all the fantastic girl bands there were. I'm not talking about the Spice Girls, although they had their positive points too I admit, but mainly the grunge scene and the riot grrl movement. There were so many amazing women who played their own instruments, wrote their own songs and rocked as hard as the boys, to inspire and look up to. I actually feel very lucky in that respect. These women weren't just exceptions to the rule or the sole girl fronting a bunch of men, they were integral to the scene and were different and varied from L7 to Hole to Luscious Jackson to Belly. Now, while there are many wonderful female singer-songwriters, there seems to be a dearth of female rockers, especially those raised on punk music, so I guess it makes sense that probably the best girl group to come along in years, Wild Flag, is born out of the 90s, with members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium and The Minders.

At The Drive-In is now operational...

Another of my favourite bands from the 90s, At The Drive-In, have announced they are reuniting for some festival dates. Not sure how I feel about this one since I actually have come to love Cedric and Omar's post ATDI band The Mars Volta more and they have a new, long-waited album called Noctourniquet coming out soon so hopefully it won't interfere with that.