Best & Worst Gigs Of 2009

I learned many lessons from all the concerts I attended this year, important things such as: Bob Dylan fans are grumpy, selfish and have short attention spans but Pearl Jam fans are kind, cool and generally awesome; The Troxy is the worst venue in London unless The Flaming Lips are throwing confetti around the place; Steve Martin is an amazing musician and even more surprising, still very funny; M. Ward really doesn't like cameras; Fleetwood Mac security for the front row is really strict at their shows but the guards can be worn down if you're persistent and appeal to their better nature; going to gigs really sucks when you are ill and, finally, Roger Daltrey of The Who is one of the nicest guys in the whole world. And with that, here are my favourite gigs of the past year. Click on the titles to bring you to my original review of each show.

The Best
1. The Mars Volta at the ICA

2. Neil Young at Hyde Park

3. Crosby, Stills & Nash at the Royal Albert Hall

4. Pearl Jam at Shepherd's Bush Empire

5. Faith No More at Brixton Academy

6. M. Ward at The Borderline

7. Steve Martin at the Royal Festival Hall

8. Fleetwood Mac at Wembley Arena

9. Wilco at The Forum

10. Neko Case at Bush Hall

The Worst
1. Monsters Of Folk at Troxy
2. Bob Dylan at the O2

Faith No More at Brixton Academy

 
Faith No More
Brixton Academy, 10 June 2009

Back when I was 15 my favourite band in the world was Faith No More. I had The Real Thing on cassette and, in my room covered with FNM posters, I played that thing to death. Even when I decided I wanted to play bass, I saved up and bought one that looked like Billy Gould's. The first time I saw them live was actually supporting Guns N' Roses at Wembley Stadium, which was a weird show to say the least (Soundgarden were also on the bill and Brian May was Axl's surprise guest) but it was only a few months later that I finally got to see them headlining their own gig, at the infamous Brixton Academy where they recorded their sole live album and accompanying video (which I, of course, had watched a hundred times). L7 supported and it was awesome. Sadly I got into trouble with my parents, who didn't know I was sneaking out to Brixton for a gig with my friends, when I got home. My trouble-making older brother had gleefully told on me while I was out.