My Favourite Albums of 2022

My top 10 albums of 2022, in no order:

Courtney Marie Andrews - Loose Future
Caitlin Rose - Cazimi
Pines - I Walked With You A Way
The Mars Volta - The Mars Volta

Alison Sudol - Still Comes The Night

Weyes Blood - And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Kelsey Waldon - No Regular Dog 

Erin Rae - Lighten Up

Afghan Whigs - How Do You Burn?

Angel Olsen - Big Time

Merry Christmas!

Best Gigs Of 2022

I only went to six gigs this year! Sadly the list gets smaller every year but at least it's longer than during the Covid years, so I am definitely grateful for the few I did see. Also, every one I went to was great! So I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I also got to see two artists live that I've wanted to see for years: Lindsey Buckingham doing a solo show and at long last Jewel! I think you can guess which ones were my absolute favourites then... 

1. Lindsey Buckingham at the London Palladium

2. Jewel at Omeara

3. Sierra Ferrell at Scala

4. Julia Jacklin & Erin Rae at the Roundhouse

5. Goldfrapp & Alison Sudol at the Royal Festival Hall

6. Joan As Police Woman at the Union Chapel

Farewell to our Songbird, Christine McVie

 

Still trying to process the fact that we lost Christine McVie this week. She was one of my absolute heroes and as much as I love Stevie and Lindsey, it was her song Everywhere that introduced me to Fleetwood Mac and made me want to buy my first Mac album, Tango In The Night. Ever since then they have been my favourite band and accompanied me through so many ups and downs throughout my life, and Christine's songs have meant so much to me. I was fortunate to finally see the five fireflies together on stage in 2015 and I will forever be grateful. Farewell Christine McVie and thank you so much.

Julia Jacklin at the Roundhouse

Julia Jacklin

Erin Rae

Roundhouse, 11 November 2022

I admit was late to the party for Julia Jacklin, only discovering her after her second album Crushing was already getting rave reviews. But I loved it from first listen and was desperate to see her live. Unfortunately a lot of others felt the same way and had discovered her earlier so her tour at the time was sold out. Luckily, three years on I finally got the chance to experience her live and it was well worth the wait and the cherry on top was the fact that the brilliant Erin Rae was also on the bill.

Goodbye, Mimi Parker

Very sad to hear of the death of Mimi Jo Parker of the band Low, who passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Low's Christmas EP has always been very special to me and I feel very, very lucky to have see them perform much of it at a magical show at the Union Chapel back in 2016, which is pictured above. She was just 55, far too young. Rest in peace, dear Mimi and thank you for so many wonderful Christmas memories.

Jewel at Omeara

Jewel

Omeara, 4 October 2022 

I finally got to see Jewel! And it was in a tiny venue with just 300 people! I can't believe it, a dream come true and more than lived up to expectations. Crazy to think I got to see two of my dream live concerts within days of each other and this one was all the more amazing given it was a complete surprise.

Farewell, Miss Loretta Lynn

Heartbreaking news. Goodbye Miss Loretta.

Lindsey Buckingham at the London Palladium

Lindsey Buckingham

London Palladium, 1 October 2022 

So, after all these years Lindsey finally played his first ever UK date but the rest of the European tour was cancelled the next day. I feel so lucky I saw one of only two dates that he actually played but hope Mr Buckingham is okay. What a night though! 

Sierra Ferrell at Scala

Sierra Ferrell

Native Harrow

Scala, 28 June 2022

Sometimes you hear an artist and you just know you have to see them live. I may not be going to as many gigs these days, some of it due to circumstances but also due to that magic moment missing much of the time. But the first time I heard Sierra Ferrell I knew I had to go see her. Unfortunately the two London dates she was playing at the St Pancras Old Church were sold out but then due to the pandemic those got postponed and finally moved to Scala, so lucky for me I was finally able to grab a ticket (although I must say it would have been awesome to see a show like Ferrell's at the Old Church).

Goldfrapp & Alison Sudol at the Royal Festival Hall

Goldfrapp

Alison Sudol

Royal Festival Hall, 14 April 2022

Yet another postponed Covid gig, this celebration of the 20th anniversary of Goldfrapp's debut album, Felt Mountain, was supposed to take place two years ago. I must admit I didn't buy tickets back then as I'm pretty sure it sold out quickly but I have been wanting to see Goldfrapp live for years now, having bought every one of their albums, and when it was announced Alison Sudol was supporting, for her first UK solo shows, it seemed too good to miss. Thankfully I managed to get a last minute fourth row ticket and it felt meant to be.

Joan As Police Woman at the Union Chapel

Joan As Police Woman

Union Chapel, 29 March 2022

This was yet another postponed Covid-gig, originally scheduled to happen way back in 2020, what now feels like a lifetime ago, so much has happened. Even Joan As Policewoman has released three whole albums in the interim: Covers Two, Live and a collaboration with Tony Allen and Dave Okumu called The Solution Is Restless, which features heavily tonight.

Goodbye Dear Dan

My friend Dan, my favourite gig buddy, died last week after a short but intense battle with cancer. I will miss him so much and feel lucky to have known him. He introduced me to so much good music and we shared many great gigs together, many of which are featured on this blog. In recent years he made some fantastic short films some of which were shown at Frightfest in London. This one is my favourite. Rest in peace, Dan and thanks for being my friend.

Farewell, Mark Lanegan

Mark Lanegan passed away today and I can't believe it. How can this giant of a man be gone? Another victim of Covid19 apparently. Over the years I've seen hm live more times than any other artist from Screaming Trees to Queens Of The Stone Age to his work with Isobel Campbell, Soulsavers and Greg Dulli. He's one of the first artists to appear on this blog. Every time I saw him it was special and memorable. His record Whiskey For The Holy Ghost, which I bought way back in the early 90s, especially means a lot to me and the first time I saw him live, while fronting the Screaming Trees, was the only time I've ever seen a support band called back by the audience to play an encore. He was that good. In recent years he became an author and his memoirs Sing Backwards And Weep and Devil In A Coma are two of the best I've ever read and I highly recommend them. I was lucky enough to meet him and get him to sign his poetry book I Am The Wolf the last time I saw him live. He was warm, lovely and gave me the nicest smile: a complete contrast to the "Dark Mark" legend. So sad he's gone. Rest in peace, Lanegan.