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Best Gigs 2009

By scott

Yes, it’s that time of the year again.

The gig of the year was Nell Bryden. After, that the rest are in no particular order.

1. Nell Bryden / Tom Mckean & The Emperors @ Monto Water Rats 09/02/2009 (She proved this was not a one off @Borderline 13/11/2009) I think the reason this remains my gig of the year was that I had gone to see Tom and the Boys (debut album coming early 2010_ and having listened to a couple of Nell’s tracks on mySpace wasn’t that impressed. Live, totally blew me away. Vibrant, funny, and delivers in spades.

2.The Veronicas @ Koko, London 24/09/2009 I’ve always been a sucker for Pop/rock and female fronted pop/rock in particular, and I discovered The Veronica’s early in 2009 and immediately fell in love with them. Catchy pop tunes with a slice of rock thrown in. Live this was even more so, and it was delightful.

3. Lucinda Williams @ Shepherds Bush Empire 27/07/2009 ? Let’s get this straight. Lucinda does not like people taking photos when she’s on stage ? REALLY doesn’t like it. However, once she got over being pissed off she once again showed why she is effortlessly good live.
4. Depeche Mode @ 02 16/12/2009 / The Killers @ 02 23/02/2009 Couldn’t quite make up my mind about these two BIG 02 gigs. Both had a lot to offer, and the sound quality was certainly better at the DM gig (from where I sat ? and this does make a BIG difference), although the track selection was probably better at the Killers. Either way, I left both gigs pleased I’d gone.
5. Ingrid Michaelson @ Scala, London, 23/11/2009 (and @Bush Hall 27/04/2009)

Got to see Michaelson twice this year and must confess that I found both nights a joy. She is a relaxed and playful ? and very funny ? performer, who doesn’t take herself too seriously, but who has a bag full of excellent tunes, and knows how to get a crowd involved from the opening song. Currently one of my favourite live performers. The Scala gig had the bonus of the equally funny and good, Greg Laswell as support too.

6. The Decemberists @The Coronet 19/11/2009 As current album is a contender for my album of the year, the fact that the first half of the set featured the complete album was a treat. It worked well live (although Jen disagreed I recall). Second half of the set was ‘rest of’ best of set which was also pretty decent and made some tracks I wasn’t previously fussed with sound pretty damn good. I’m a convert, I’d go see them again.

7. The Low Anthem @ The Tabernacle 18/11/2009. Last year the folk revival seemed to be all about Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, theis year The Low Anthem emerged from the ether and delivered a fine album and a stripped down but enjoyable live experience.

8. The Hold Steady @02 Academy, Islington, London 10/09/2009 The Hold Steady are just a great life act and the opportunity to catch them in a smaller venue again was a stark reminder of just how joyous seeing them live is.

9. Fishbone @ 02 Academy, Islington 05/06/09 Freddie may be dead but Angelo and the guys still know how to party (like saddam and others). Set leans more to the Ska side of things these days as opposed to rock, but they’re still one of the great live acts.
10. Regina Spektor @Hammersmith Apollo 04/12/2009 ? It’s a good job the RS is a great Musician and singer, because her stage craft and audience interaction would not win any prizes ? chilly almost. Thankfully, when you are this good, that can be forgiven (bit like with Ryan Adams). New album worked particularly well live, but things did drop off when band were dismissed in later stages.

Full post as published by Information Overload on December 22, 2009 (boomark / email).