Yell and Yell

In no particular order.

Lawrence Arabia + Panther and the Zoo - Repertory Theatre

As I mentioned earlier. This ruled. It wasn’t super party vibes, it was just nice. The music was genuinely great and the crowd were there for nothing but the music.

Mountaineater + How to Kill - Wunderbar

This was a revelation for me. Super sonic. The first gig I preferred, mainly because it was the first time I’d properly seen them and they were on form. Definitely see these two bands. How to Kill are awesome and I hope they start playing more often. Mountaineater are just… what was the term? Face melting. Tristan is the most amazing performer to watch.

Je Suis Animal + Bad Sav - Goodbye Blue Monday

I’d never heard this band or heard of them or anything but I knew James Milne was “promoting” them. I trust James Milne. It was a Wednesday night at Goodbye Blue Monday so everyone there was there for the music. Bad Sav were a real surprise. Much better than Hope’s previous bands. Real “evil” and “jangly” kind of Gordonsy I guess. Love Evil. Je Suis Animal were quite different. Just good vibes! But not too good vibes. Still lots of neat guitar layering. I thing 3 guitars at a time? And the songs were really catchy and melodic. I bought the album. It’s one of my faves.

Havin’ a Baby (Liam Finn, Eliza Jane, Lawrence Arabia and Connan Mockasin - Bedford

How could this gig not be good? 4 of my favourite singers/songwriters, my favourite drummer (Seamus Ebbs of original Connan and the Mockasins,) my favourite percussionist (Will Ricketts of The Phoenix Foundation) and my favourite of everything and life in general (Jolyon Mulholland of Fuce, Reduction Agents, Gasoline Cowboy, The Mots, that Vodafone ad, The Nothing and a whole lot of other shit.) So you can see why I was bending at the knees to see this gig. The whole thing was structured really well with enxt to no changeovers but just enough time to get over the last amazing set and prepare for the next one. They all played everything you wanted to hear. Connans set was particularly spectacular. Was good to see Connan and Seamus playing together again. Even when the fire alarm went off they went outside and played I’m only sleeping (my fave Beatles ballad on top of a car (possibly Jamey’s (my favourite singer/poster guy) Just a night made for me.

Greg Malcolm and Surfin’ USSR at Goodbye Blue Monday

Wow - this was also a revelation. If you haven’t seen this band… you really should. Probably don’t deserved to be punched in the face because they don’t play very often. They’re the most cohesive band I have ever seen. 3 piece where everyone is perfectly equal. Chris O’Conner is my new idol. He is just THE greatest drummer ever. No question. So relaxed but furious at the same time. They look cool and they sound cool. Greg is an awesome front man, with awesome banter. I was so blown away by them that I went home and just looked up videos for a week and tried to be exactly like Chris until I got sick of dropping my sticks all the time. They have a new album coming out sometime. I snuck into their recording and oggled all day long. It will be great.

Insurgents and Sand Fly Bay - Media Club

All ages gigs are awesome. Everyones so relaxed and fun. It was so great to see the Insurgents again and this was their 3rd gig of the tour so they’d really gotten their shit together. Nostalgia man. I hadn’t been a hugggge fan before they split but always went to their shows and enjoyed it. But when I was away with Chris I lived in a van with him… listening to new mixes of their songs over and over again every night. So I grew to love them/him. But the real highlight for me at this gig was Sand Fly Bay. It was the first time I’d seen them properly and was their first time with new bass player Ben Odering. They had obviously brought the crowd in with them because everyone went wild for them and they really fed off that. They are great showmen and all know their instruments. Seeing a highschool band play to their bros rules. More nostalgia. This was also the first gig I went to at the “New Media Club” now run by Mainz. It’s made for a lot of good times in ChCh and I don’t know what we’d do without it.

Ruby Suns + Sand Fly Bay + Lonely Harris Club + Strange to Meet You - Playskool

Another awesome all ages gig. The crowd was out in force again and really went wild for The Ruby Suns. Even though only a few had heard them before. They’d just been told that The Rubies were awesome so they went crazy.

Die Die Die + Sets + Bang Bang Eche + Disasteradio - Bedford

Die Die Die are unbeatable. The best live band you will ever see. I can’t even begin to describe how good they are and I don’t really need to because everyone else does. So I won’t. This was also the first time I “got” Bang Bang Eche. They’re good.

The Bats + Haunted Love - Dux de Lux

Good vibes. Love the bats. Love Haunted Love. Again neither of these bands really need me to write about them. Well none of the bands I write about do but I will anyway. The Bats are just awesome. Paul and Malcolm are just the rhythm section of the 80s, 90s and today. Bobs songs are great particularly the tracks off the Guilty Office. I’m a big fan. Kaye just has the nicest guitar tones around. I use nice a lot. Nice is nice.

Lawrence Arabia (solo) + Ragamuffin Children - Wunderbar

Last one. You may notice my reviews are getting smaller as my fingers get tired. I love Lawrence Arabia. We have already established this. Solo is something quite different. Better in some ways. Because without a band he has just as much if not more stage presence. Hes just such a man. I hope he continues to play solo shows even once he’s made it. Ragamuffin Children are great. I have a secret soft spot for them. Didn’t used to dig but after the second album I fell in love. Then they asked me to fill in. It was nice. And now I really like their first album. Even though they haven’t given me a copy yet. They change all the time. From a two piece right up to a 6 piece and each is different and lovely. This was a 3 piece I think. With 2 vocals and piano. The harmonies are lovely.

There are my 10 favourite gigs that I haven’t played at. Didn’t wanna be a dick aye. Always the music is good but for me the “vibe” has to be good too. Otherwise I get pissed off. So its a combination of both music and “vibe” but never just vibe… sometimes just music.