This is probably going to be one of our last posts this year, and what better way to finish off our highlights, than with a quick rundown of our top gigs? There have been some awesome ones, that's for sure; just thinking about them really makes me more excited for next year and all the cool things it has to offer. Without further ado - here are our top live music highlights of the brilliant, radical 2012:
Duncan: Justice – Primavera 2012, Barcelona - May 2012
There are a few contenders, and M83, The Walkmen, and Lower Dens gigs blew my socks off this year; but for the sheer spectacle of seeing so many people losing the plot to the deadly duo, including an explosive vom-cameo from someone who shall not be named (parting the crowd, like Moses parting the red sea) - Justice takes the Crown.
In fact the music was so compulsive that a barefooted stranger was spotted happily slam-dancing through a puke puddle just to get closer to the action.
Miranda: BECK - Harvest Festival - Sydney - November 2012
Aahhh BECK Hansen. One of those guys that helped fuck up the way we have to now categorise music genres by blending all rhyme with no reason, so we now refer to the following generations's work as "lo-fi trip hop" or "minimalist Jazz house", or whatever.
Due to the combination of an enormous and diverse discography, coupled with the believable rumours of a hit-and-miss diva performance flanked by retrograde self-absorbed aloofness, I honestly did not know what to expect from his set.
The friends I came to the festival with were dubious and left in haste to Grizzly Bear before he started.
Being a huge, HUGE fan, there was an icicle's chance in hell I was missing a second of it, so left alone I headed towards front left of stage. Brandishing a "good time smoking device" I quickly made friends with a large American skater dude from West Virginia who made being excited a little bit more cooler in his drawling accent, and told me that "The Information" was the soundtrack to his summer in Malayasia when it was released, so thankfully I was amongst a fellow fan and we were on the same page. It was 5pm and bright with the adolescent summer sun (and probably the remains of my own teenage pheromone embers left from the 90s), which is always the perfect festival time for maximum atmospheric impact.
Anywaaaaay, scene set, everything was looking pretty good. At that moment the little man in his wide-rimmed fedora and Gibson appeared with his crew on stage and an instant rukus of solid hits, pure, relentless instrument, and an effusive level of style and grace ensued.You could feel the musical ingenuity emanating out from him and into the crowd! (I swear). Every song was a surprise and a delight, and he shared his love with measured fan/general crowd ratio between most of his albums. From memory he loosely structured the show like this - Modern Guilt, Geuro, Modern Age, Odelay, Mellow Gold, Sea Change, Guero, The Information, Mellow Gold, Midnite Vultures, Odelay, Guero. Thankfully the promoters gave him 1 hour 45 minutes, because he used every second, and whole heartedly engaged with a joyful, respecting crowd. He even made up a song about
observing a dead morning street in Bondi on new year's day, with exception of one lone girl throwing up on her shoes in a gutter (a very infinite social observation of Sydney.... naturally, it's Beck).
Beck gave a bucketlist-ticking performance I won't forgot. Seriously good vibes.
Runner up: M83 @ Primavera Sound
Alwin: The Field - Primavera/Action Beat - 113 Dalston Lane - April 2012
It has to be a tie between these three, as they encapsulate everything you want at a gig. The Field and Action Beat are relentless in their own way, The Field will pound you all night with building bass line, before dropping a change that sends the room crazy. Action Beat just pound you relentlessly with three drummers and a gazillion guitarists, and if you're not going apeshit, then the band sure as hell are. Also, the Action Beat gig was in house, a house with barely enough space for the band, let alone revellers. Got a lot of strangers' sweat on me at both gigs, but totally worth it.
Sophie: The Walkmen - Village Underground - June 2012
This is a tough call. Perfume Genius at the Union Chapel was a truly
special experience, but for me, this year has pretty much been about the
Walkmen – I’ve seen them three times! The most memorable has to be at the
Village Underground. The echoing, brick-layered venue was perfect
for their type of deep, brooding Americana. They were a man down, but it hardly seemed to matter as the band just
shuffled roles. Hamilton Leithauser took up rhythm guitar and his husky vocals mesmerized, dripping, as always, with casual, self-assured
excellence. But – let’s face it – they’re pretty much always going to be
amazing. They’re just that kind of band.
James: Dirty Projectors - The Roundhouse - November 2012
Yet another contender for album of the year was Swing Lo Magellen, which Dirty Projectors toured in the autumn. Despite the absence of Angel - oh my angel - Deradoorian, DPs continue to get better as a live band. They always had arresting, idiosyncratic melodies, Dave Longstreth's palpable oddness of vocal and guitar style counterpointed by the rich beauty of the female harmonies, and the extraordinary technical ability that sets them apart from so many bands. Add to that Dave's Neil Young haircut, a bevy of catchy pop songs and a new look rhythm section and you've got the best live band I've seen this year by far.
