Favourite Gigs Of 2010

This is the first part of my review of the year, my favourite ten gigs of the past year.

I had quite some choice this year. I went to thirty concerts plus the three day festival that was Summer Sundae.

An honourable mention must go to a few bands. Firstly Jonsi, who my partner will be pleased to know only just missed out, it was quite an experience. Also to Chapel Club who were excellent but we only saw so briefly I can't really count them. Also to We Are Scientists, The Joy Formidable, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Gaslight Anthem and Delays (twice) who were all as good as ever but perhaps over familiarity prevents them reaching the top ten this time. Maybe next year. Finally to two who I haven't seen for ages. Julian Cope, who hasn't really been away and the Primitives, who have. Both good but not good enough.

So...

10. New Model Army, Rock City, Saturday 23rd October



New Model Army probably sneak in because it was a special occasion, their 30th birthday and for doing something innovative, two nights, different sets each night but it was also a great show and a great atmosphere.

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9. Frank Turner, The Venue, Derby, Wednesday 25th August



You can't beat Frank for an entertaining stage show. So he just had to be in here.

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8. The Sunshine Underground, The Venue, Derby, Friday 12th February



It was good to have these guys back in 2010 and sounding so good both on record and on stage.

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7. British Sea Power, Leicester Y Theatre, Thursday 20th May



Another entertaining show from British Sea Power, who seem to get better and quirkier with every show. This was a tour for no particular reason, in a very odd venue, which is just so BSP and you get chocolate as well.

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6. Los Campesinos!, The Musician, Leicester, Friday 19th February



A band I've wanted to see for ages and ages, then suddenly I see them twice in a year. Arguably they were actually better at Summer Sundae even without including the failed stage dive but The Musician was pretty good too.

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5. The National, Warwick Arts Centre, Butterworth Hall, Thursday 25th November

A reunion with the National and a 'posh' night out at the Warwick Arts Centre. A frustrating setlist but most things can be forgiven after the show stopping ending of the unplugged rendition of 'Vanderlyle'.



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4. Interpol, Rock City, Wednesday 24th November



This was a long awaited first and Interpol did not disappoint. Including an encore that dreams are made of, well mine anyway.

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3. Wolf Parade, Glee Club, Birmingham, Sunday 12th September



This was the first time I'd seen Wolf Parade and boy was I impressed. Unfortunately it was one of those annoying early curfew shows and we got a truncated setlist. Which means somehow I've got to get to see them again.

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2. Renegades (Feeder), Sheffield Leadmill, Sunday 18th April



This was the year that Feeder went back to their roots became Renegades and rattled the walls at several small venues across the country. I saw them three times in 2010. Later seeing them launch their album with a daytime show at the Camden Barfly and then a few months later play a full Feeder show in Leeds but it's their performance at the Leadmill in April that moved me the most. I think the Sweet 16/Descend finale is still reverberating around in my head.

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1. Editors, Lincoln Engine Shed, Saturday 6th March



Last year I gave them 10th place and accused them of being flat, less than six months later they were sensational. The perfect set:- a good mix of old and new, an obscure B side, an unreleased new track, a hard to get one from a film soundtrack and they even did 'Escape The Nest'.

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Quiet As A Mouse

L gives me permission to kick her out of bed at some unearthly hour so that she can take the dogs for an early walk. I don't really want to do this but here goes... I kick L out, tenderly. Now all I’ve got to do it kick the dogs off the bed as well. I think part of the idea of the early walk is that they’ll be less on the streets to wind MD up. I gather it didn’t quite work out like that.

I have my swimming stuff and cycle straight there after work. Then I have to come away again because there are no available bike lockers. Two of the four are broken, the other two are occupied. One of the broken ones has a damaged lock and probably needs major surgery but the other one has simply had its door pushed in, again. This happens a lot, bike lockers are always picking fights with the local no-marks. This has happened many times before and it doesn't usually take them this long for it to be rectified. This one has been in this state for months. I would do it myself but I don't what to be accused of vandalising it.

I dejectedly pedal home from the pool. Once home, L talks me into joining her on a run with the dogs. The first problem, before we even leave the house, is that we can barely get MD into his running jacket. OMG. He has put on such much weight; it looks like a corset on him. Lettuce leaves for tea for him tonight. L anchors herself to the porky one and I get Doggo. I think she chose MD to demonstrate to me what a stroppy little so-and-so he is. Consequently, he’s a saint, as quiet as a mouse. So I’ve still no idea what she’s on about, or perhaps he was just too preoccupied with trying to breathe within the tight constraints of his jacket.

L tries is sporting some new running socks. They are pink and called ‘Speed Diva’, which may refer to running or may be a drugs reference. I make sure I get a good look at them because we’ll probably never see them again. Daughter isn’t proud; she’ll wear anyone’s clothes. So it’s best not to leave anything lying around because she’ll put it on and go out in it. Socks are her speciality. Once in her possession they are generally orphaned from you for good and if you do get them back, it'll only be one of them. So L best keep them under lock and key.

One of my favourite bands of yesteryear has always been Feeder, a great band in the late nineties, who got a bit soft (but admittedly more successful) as they got older. They have now reinvented themselves as a side-project called Renegades and have gone back to their roots, playing small venues and making music that sounds just like the stuff that enamoured me to them in the first place, all those years ago.

For various reasons I haven’t managed to get to any of their short run of six dates, so I hope they’ll do some more. The mini tour opened last night in Glasgow and although they promised to only play new stuff, everyone was wondering whether they’d slip in an oldie or two. They did, real oldies. The long requested ‘Tangerine’, a very early single from 1997 and the even older ‘Sweet 16’ make a treasured appearance. Regrettably I only got to see it via someone’s camera phone on YouTube. Tonight in Manchester, they added another old favourite ‘Descend’. Perhaps they’ll throw in some more in the later dates or perhaps they’re saving ‘Cement’ and ‘Shade’ for their next dates, when I get to see them.