My Favourite Albums Of 2013

Even though I've always been partial to female musicians, whether they are singers, songwriters guitarists, or rockers, this year more than ever it was the girls who dominated by iPod and stereo. There's even a few that I've failed to include that I truly loved: Alessi's Ark's lovely third album The Still Life; Caitlin Rose's fun follow-up to her debut, The Stand-In; Juliana Hatfield's underrated collaboration with Nada Surf's Daniel Caws, Minor Alps; Speedy Ortiz's 90s style alternative rock; Lissie's joyful pop; Mazzy Star's long-awaited comeback and Laura Marling's elegant and beautiful Once I Was An Eagle. I really wanted to include them all but a few of those annoying boys just couldn't be ignored so unfortunately it isn't an all-girl end of year list (but almost). These are my 10 favourites. Well, right at this minute anyway...

My Favourite Movies Of 2013

I watched over 200 films last year, old and new, and most I really enjoyed but there were a few that definitely didn't live up to expectations. I think one of the biggest disappointments of the year was Baz Luhrmann's gaudy mess The Great Gatsby which turned one of the greatest American novels into a series of brash music videos. It did get better during the second half but I don't know if I can ever forgive the awful visual assault of the first half. It was by far the worst film I saw in the cinema this year. Surprisingly though there were some great, actually superior sequels, namely The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hobbit: Desolation Of Smaug and Star Trek Into Darkness, which may have missed my top ten but I loved them all. Stoker was my favourite film of the year though, propably more due to the skills of director Chan Wook-Park and the strangely beautiful Mia Wasikowska. This may all change though as there are still loads I have yet to see. But for now these are the films I loved in 2013:

1. Stoker
2. Nebraska
3. Mud
4. La Vie d'Adèle (Blue Is The Warmest Colour)
5. Anchorman 2
6. Gravity
7. Monsters University
8. Frances Ha
9. Django Unchained
10. La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty)

Merry Christmas!

Best Gigs Of 2013

Although I didn't go to as many shows this year there were still definite highlights and a few shows that I will never forget. I got to see Neil Young with Crazy Horse for the first time, a longtime dream, not to mention seeing Christine McVie briefly reunite with Fleetwood Mac for Don't Stop at the O2 Arena. I didn't do the festival thing this year (after last year's double dose of rain and mud it was something of a relief to be honest) or see as many new artists but I did get to see a few artists that have long been on my wishlist, like Patty Griffin and Grace Potter, as well as old favourites like Dinosaur Jr and Cat Power. So all in all not a bad year and 2014 is already shaping up to be great too. But for now here's my favourite shows from 2013: 

10. Built To Spill at Electric Ballroom

9. Patty Griffin at the Union Chapel

8. Simone Dinnerstein & Tift Merritt at the Purcell Room

7. Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell at Hammersmith Apollo

6. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals at Bush Hall

5. Neko Case at The Forum

4. Arcade Fire (as The Reflektors) at the Roundhouse

3. Fleetwood Mac at the O2 Arena

2. David Byrne & St. Vincent at the Roundhouse

1. Neil Young & Crazy Horse at the O2 Arena

Neko Case at The Forum

Neko Case
Angel Olsen
Lucy Wainwright Roche
The Forum, 12 December 2013

Out again on a cold, wet and windy December night to The Forum, scene of my last concert from last year, Mark Lanegan, and now my last gig of 2013. Like Lanegan, Neko Case is more than worth braving the weather for even if this is the biggest venue I've seen her in for some time (and sadly I notice later that she hasn't sold it out, with the balcony empty) and there are two other intriguing acts on the bill for what promises to be a fantastic night of music and mischief.

Arcade Fire at the Roundhouse

The Reflektors (aka Arcade Fire)
Roundhouse, 11 November 2013 

It's been six years since I last saw Arcade Fire and since then they've become a huge arena band so I thought I would never get the chance to see them in a smaller venue again. Fortunately for me in support of their fourth album the band have been playing a bunch of not-so-secret warm-up shows as The Reflektors.

Castro by Kolo

My incredibly talented brother Mark and his equally talented friend Matt Stuart Smith made this fantastic video for up and coming band, Kolo.
Please give it a watch, you won't be disappointed!

Goodbye Lou Reed

Another great lost. A true legend. This is my favourite Lou song.

Laura Cantrell at Union Chapel

Laura Cantrell
Sam Semple
Union Chapel, 10 October 2013

So tonight I was sitting in the warm of the Union Chapel, with the wind and rain blasting outside, drinking hot chocolate and listening to soothing and sweet country music. Ah, I thought, this is heaven. I know I'm getting old: I used to judge how good a gig was by how many bruises I had the next day and now I am beyond thrilled to be sitting and sipping on hot drinks. It helps too that the Union Chapel is one of the most beautiful venues in London: it's warm and intimate yet, thanks to its domed roof, has the acoustics of a much larger place. Add to that the atmospheric light from the candles and the fading light through the stained glass windows and it's a pretty magical place especially when the music on the stage is good.

Laura Marling at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Laura Marling
Nick Mulvey
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 2 October 2013

"When did Shepherd's Bush get so posh?" asks Laura Marling, who used to live around the corner she says and went to many, many shows at the Empire where she's now headlining. "When you left!" a cheeky audience member shouts, joking. "Charming!" Laura says in mock outrage. But really this couldn't be further from the truth, as I came to a realisation tonight that Marling is actually pretty posh herself. Because I first saw her as a meek supporting act back in 2007, where she shyly sat playing her guitar, looking tiny and startlingly young, I felt I knew Marling in the early days of her career and didn't really need to read much about her, just listen to her music (which has admittedly got better and better with each album).

Fleetwood Mac at O2 Arena

 
Fleetwood Mac
O2 Arena, 25 September 2013

It's no shock to anyone who knows me (or anyone who has ever read this blog) that Fleetwood Mac are my favourite ever band: I've loved them since I was 12 or 13 years old when I first heard Tango In The Night but never got to see them live until 2003. Thankfully, I've seen them quite a few times since and tonight was my seventh time in all. I'd have liked it to have been the eighth and ninth too but unfortunately this time around the already expensive tickets were practically twice the price. That said, I was pretty content to just see them the once this time given how little they change the setlist these days but began to severely regret only having one ticket when rumours began to swirl that former member Christine McVie, the woman with all the hits and was such a huge part of the Mac's success who I had never seen play live with the band, was going to make a guest appearance at one of the shows. As my ticket was for the second of three nights I was sure I had missed my chance, as these things mainly happened on the last night.

Built To Spill at the Electric Ballroom

Built To Spill
Disco Doom
Electric Ballroom, 23 September 2013

I don't think they could have picked a more suitable support act for Built To Spill tonight than Disco Doom. Hailing from Zurich, Switzerland, they've obviously been hugely influenced by bands like Dinosaur Jr, Superchunk and, yes, Built To Spill, mixing heavy distorted guitars with noisy solos and melodic vocals. Apparently the band (essentially a duo made up of singer/guitarist Gabriele De Mario and guitarist/vocalist Anita Rufer, although tonight they also have a drummer and bassist) have been going since the late 90s but they are only about to release their third album. Since it comes on the wave of the 90s revival they fit nicely in. Tonight though their set is a little overlong, if it had been about 10 minutes shorter I probably would have been raving about them but they started to drag for me near the end, so I'll merely say they were pretty good.

David Byrne & St. Vincent at the Roundhouse

David Byrne & St. Vincent
Roundhouse, 27 August 2013

Just before David Byrne and St. Vincent's first show in the UK together begins, the strange sound of birds chirping which has been playing over the speakers in place of music, is suddenly interrupted by the friendly voice of the Talking Heads legend. Recording and photos are welcome, he tells us, but asks us not to block the views of our fellow concert goers or watch the show, which they have spent so long on, through a device. It's bizarre to hear the disembodied voice of the person we are here to see talking to us ten minutes before the concert starts but is an early indication that this is a brilliantly unique gig (and Byrne request is so nicely said that the audience largely complies).

Gig memories: Foo Fighters at Brixton Academy in 1995

 
Foo Fighters
Built To Spill
Brixton Academy, 15 November 1995

Sadly Neil Young has cancelled on me again. The first time was back in 2003 when I was supposed to see him at Brixton Academy and arrived at the venue excited only to find a notice saying that due to illness the show was kaput. This time, again it couldn't be helped, but Poncho from Crazy Horse has hurt his hand and the the final dates of their tour all had to be cancelled. This means that instead of rocking out to a sprawling Shakey solo tonight at the O2 Arena I'm instead here writing this post. So rather than reporting back on the Neil show I may as well reminisce about a happy gig memory.

Patty Griffin at the Union Chapel

Patty Griffin 
Josephine Oniyama 
Union Chapel, 25 July 2013

The Union Chapel really has to be one of the most beautiful venues in London. On a hot summer night, it is beautifully cool and as the sun sets through the stunning stained glass windows it really is something quite magical. Into this otherworldly atmosphere a beautiful girl in towering high heels and red head scarf totters on stage and straps on an acoustic guitar.

David Bowie Is... exhibition

I went to the excellent David Bowie Is exhibition at the V&A yesterday and, given that Bowie is pretty unlikely to tour again, it really was the next best thing and I highly recommend it.

Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt at the Purcell Room

Simone Dinnerstein & Tift Merritt
Purcell Room, 1 July 2013

If you follow this blog at all you'll know that I am a huge fan of singer-songwriter Tift Merritt. For me she is easily the equal of far more lauded artists such as Ryan Adams and Neko Case yet seems to remain largely unknown. She's already put out five superb country and folk inspired albums and earlier this year she released something entirely unexpected but equally wonderful: a collaboration with classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein that explored the connections between their very different musical backgrounds.

Cat Power at the Roundhouse

Cat Power
Eaux
Roundhouse, 25 June 2013

This show was originally meant to happen back in December but was cancelled due to Chan Marshall falling ill. I must admit I was looking forward to it more back then because I was caught up in the excitement of her excellent new album, Sun, and often that is the most perfect time to catch an artist live. Six months on and the fervour has worn off somewhat but of course I was still curious to see how these songs sounded live and to see if Marshall has become a less erratic performer since the last time I saw her.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse at O2 Arena

 
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Los Lobos
O2 Arena, 17 June 2013

It's fascinating still to read all the fan reviews of a Neil Young show. All these years on and he still divides opinion although this London show was generally received more favourably than the concert in Dublin the night before. While I do understand that some people are turned off by long guitar solos and lots of noisy feedback, most of the time when I read the complaints I do wonder if they were at the same show I was. This is because of all the times I've seen Neil Young I've never come away less than amazed, and this concert was no exception.

The Worse Things Get The Harder I Fight...

The Harder I Fight The More I Love You... aka the amazing title of the forthcoming Neko Case album, which now has a spooky David Lynch-esque trailer. Exciting!

Neko Case at Village Underground

 
Neko Case
Lady Lamb The Beekeeper
Village Underground, 24 May 2013

"Filming is the new remembering," Neko Case wisely tells the audience while her backing singer and partner in crime, Kelly Hogan, amusingly drives the point home by chanting "It's called remembering!" beside her. I am a little bit of a hypocrite here because I love including YouTube clips with my posts and I have been know to take a terrible phone photo at concerts, but I must admit this craze of watching concerts through phones has been getting to me too although my irritation has never been expressed as amusingly as the banter between Case and Hogan.

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell at Hammersmith Apollo

 
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Hammersmith Apollo, 9 May 2013

"People ask me all the time what Emmylou Harris is like," a rather cool-looking Rodney Crowell, in his Dylaneqsue hat, tells us. "I just tell them she has the soul of a poet; the voice of an angel; she's damn good looking and she has the heart of a cowgirl." Emmylou gives an embarrassed grin and shakes her head and although the speech is obviously rehearsed it is clear there's great affection between these two legendary country stars.

George Jones died today...

Absolutely heartbroken right now. George Jones has been such a huge part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are Sundays with George Jones on the turntable and my dad singing along. I cannot even express how much this man's music has meant to me.

Alessi's Ark at the Purcell Room

Alessi's Ark
Ralfe Band
Purcell Room, 23 April 2013

Having followed Alessi since the beginning of her career it was quite thrilling to see the London-born chanteuse play a proper grown-up venue all by herself, in the esteemed South Bank Centre no less, in the lovely Purcell Room. The first time I saw her live it was sitting on the floor of a tiny barge, appropriately enough, moored near the Vauxhall Bridge, now here she is on a fancy stage playing to a seated audience. After the show she even says to me "I can't believe I'm here, it's all like a dream" and it certainly has been a wonderful journey, although I do think Alessi's deserves to be much bigger than she is. Maybe that will all change with the release of her great new album, The Still Life, which this show is promoting.

Goodbye Jason Molina

I know this photo isn't the greatest, but I took it the last time I saw Jason Molina, who sadly passed away on Saturday, back in 2009, the year he stopped touring I believe.

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals at Bush Hall

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Sam Fender
Bush Hall, 13 March 2013

You gotta love a girl with a Flying V. Emerging wearing a short gold dress and bare feet, Grace Potter straps on her guitar and plays a bluesy, soulful version of Nothing But The Water (I) looking like a golden goddess and sounding like the lovechild of Janis and Linda Ronstadt. Incredibly after 10 years of being together and four albums this is their first headlining show in the UK. Admittedly when I make my way to the back near the end of the show it's pretty obvious Bush Hall isn't sold out tonight, but it really deserves to be, as Grace and her band put on an absolute storming show, full of energetic charm and so much good feeling you'd have to have a stone heart not to get caught up in it all.

Caitlin Rose at Camden Dingwalls

Caitlin Rose
Steelism
Andrew Combs
Camden Dingwalls, 27 February 2013

There's a show on TV right now called Nashville focusing on a seasoned country diva and a hip new starlet. But it's the smaller musicians frequenting the intimate and infamous Bluebird Cafe that are the most likeable and talented and watching Caitlin Rose's superb opening acts, Andrew Combs and the instrumental group Steelism, I can definitely imagine them in those legendary settings being discovered by the DJ/producer played by JD Souther.

By Crooked Steps

Soundgarden's amusing new video for By Crooked Steps, the best track on their comeback album King Animal. It's directed by Dave Grohl, because, you know, all those original grungers are best pals. It is interesting though that Grohl actually requested to direct this and sent in a proposal to the band. It's probably done more to finally convince people that Chris Cornell et al, who were once dubbed Frowngarden by Guns 'N' Roses' crew, actually have a sense of humour despite the fact that in the past they've recorded songs with titles such as Big Dumb Sex, Full On Kevin's Mom and a cover of John Lennon's One Minute Of Silence (which really was just one minute of silence at the end of their debut album). So good on Grohl for that and for helping keep the appearance, at least, of the original Seattle grunge brotherhood alive.

Dinosaur Jr at the Electric Ballroom

Dinosaur Jr
Cheatahs
Death At Sea
Electric Ballroom, February 4 2013

I actually aimed to miss support act Death At Sea as I had seen them before last year opening for Haim and was pretty unimpressed but alas for once London transport didn't let me down and I actually arrived early. I can't say they won me over this time either but it was very strange to see them again as they seemed like an entirely different band.

HMV and the demise of the record shop

The news that HMV had entered administration this week can't have surprised many but it was sad to hear nonetheless. For those in the industry every year there was plenty of talk of its decreasing profits and rumours of its impending demise but somehow it always managed to hang on. There's been a lot of talk about mismanagement, particularly the way it has reduced the music in its stores in recent years to make room for more electrical goods, but HMV has had some pretty difficult hurdles to get over in the past 10 years.