Best Gigs Of 2015

This definitely wasn't a prime year in gigs for me but it was nice to finally see a few reunited acts live for the first time, most notably The Replacements and Sleater-Kinney, and of course the incomparable Christine McVie back singing with the Mac. You would think that the Fleetwood Mac shows would be my absolute favourites (they were certainly the gigs that cost the most, probably as much as the rest combined) but seeing and hearing McVie singing Everywhere and You Make Loving Fun, although undoubtedly thrilling, was slightly overshadowed by finally seeing The Replacements and the pure ramshackle, joy of their show. Other than my usual fare of alternative and classic rock, I also got to experience some heartwarming pure country shows (Sturgill Simpson and Kacey Musgraves) and even a pop concert, albeit a rather unusual one (the fantastic Marina & The Diamonds). I can't imagine I'll go to many more pop gigs in the future but I do hope next year has some more country in store for me.

Babes In Toyland at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Babes In Toyland
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Skating Polly
Shepherd's Bush Empire, 26 May 2015

Well, this was quite the girl powered night.Obviously the big pull of this gig was the promise to see the reunited Babes In Toyland but the two other bands on the bill were absolutely perfectly chosen, not because they were all-female bands but because they definitely embodied the same spirit and attitude that Babes In Toyland always had back in the 1990s.