This is the third year that I've been writing this blog. In that time this thing has gone from my own tour diary to a thing where I write stuff and more than just me reads it!! mental stuff there!! Anyway since I'm all cool and stuff I thought I would do a few end of year lists. I'll try not to be a tosser and love on 13SX bands too much but then again fuck you all it's my list......
Following categories - Best EP, Best Live Act, Best Solo Act. I'm not doing albums because I don't listen to too many these days. Call Me Malcolm would probably win if I did though. you can hear me spend a whole blog post freaking out about the album here.
Best Solo Act
*That I've played with.......As is always the case in life the solo acts go on first....
5. Harrison Wilde
Harrison is awesome both in the fact that he is possibly the sexiest man I know and that he is also the most self aware and cool about it. This comes across in both his tunes, self deprecating but never apologetic walks through the mind of an addict, and a live show full of humour and the kind of don't give a fuck attitude we all wish we had.
https://harrisonwilde.bandcamp.com/
4. Connor Linnie
I had the pleasure of playing with Connor on what ws one of the last duel acoustic shows I played this year. He's one of those real musicians who can work his way around a fretboard like a demon and has a voice like cool breeze on a hot day. He was amazing on the night and is note perfect from end to end.
https://conorlinnie.bandcamp.com/album/astray
3. Jake Martin
Jake and I have been friends for years but also he is one of the hardest working touring artists in the UK. It's a tough job touring alone but I don't think I've seen a month without Jake playing every week. This year saw him release a brilliant EP too and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of his stage show. getting the audience - even when there are only four of them stood in front of you - is an artform all on its own and Jake is a master.
https://jakemartin1.bandcamp.com/album/for-fuck-sake-jake
2. Luke Godwin
I'm actually surprised at myself for not putting Luke at number one. He is not only one of the greatest human beings to walk the earth but also the full package when it comes to musicianship. He has the voice of a thousand angels and can make a guitar do things that make me blush. I love his songs, all singalong anthems, and the fact that he has a full band album that is him on every instrument only makes me love him more. You can't really get much better, except for one man....
https://lukegodwin.bandcamp.com/album/brand-new-lands
1. Grey Charles
On a night when he was going on first and the place was still waiting to fill up I first got to witness the majesty of Charlie's songs. I don't often feel totally moved by music and especially not by one man and his guitar but I was all but hypnotised the whole way through his set. I'd hate to use the term perfect to describe anything but I honestly can't think of another thing to say about him. His songs soar around a venue and infect everyone listening and I could listen to him sing for a hundred years and not get bored. I wished that he could've just played all night, but alas I'll have to just listen to his EP until I get a chance to see him again.
https://graycharles.bandcamp.com/
Best Live Act
*That I've played with.....
5. On A Hiding To Nothing
I still remember the first time I saw OAHTN and they stole my heart, it was the second MOT fest and I hadn't heard of or known who they were or what they sounded like at that point and then the music started and I fell in love!! From Johnny, who is arguably (definitely in my opinion) the best speed punk drummer around kicking out monster beats at a thousand miles per hour to Jack Wiseman, the springy-est face-pulling-est head-banging-est bass player I know they put on a fierce show and the energy spills over all who get to watch.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/on-a-hiding-to-nothing-the-first-ep
4. Demon Smiles
Which Demon Smiles I hear you ask? Well certainly having yours truly be part of the line-up was a feast for female eyes but no I'm talking about the current iteration of them melodic basterds! Having Jazz come along has re-invigorated Demon Smiles to newer greater heights and they are a spectacle of extremely high caliber to behold these days. The confidence levels of the whole band is all time high and it shows in kick-ass perfomances. Comfortable with stage invasions and crowd running alike, they now show off the power without letting a note slip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXZDITNypm0
3. DropThis
I do love me a bit of DropThis, and they are the single most seen act of mine this year, Every time it's such a pleasure and whether they play full band acoustic or full whammy, the show is always most excellent. having a large band can sometimes lead to a bit of bumbling and uncertainty but the DT boys know how to make that stage their bitch! Add in jumps and stage dives and that cool hand-behind-your-back roaring thing the kids are doing these days and you've got yourself a package that would look as good on a giant stadium stage as is does down the Birds Nest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK6NFxEfWBA
2. Mug
Sometimes I wonder how I ended up being friends with Mug. They are some real next level musicians and I stand in wonder each time i watch them do their thing. Each member is an incredible live musician, rarely playing out of time despite giving every gig their all energy wise. I have spent many a word in this blog saying about how highly I think of them so I wont go into it overly much right now. Suffice to say they are the greatest musicians I personally know and every thing they do on stage is gold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z3rLyfpzrw
1. The Human Project
I love me some melodic hardcore and bands don't come much more melodious and hard of core than The Human Project. I'd seen A Wilhelm Scream earlier in the year (a couple of times) and thought that was the utter pinnacle of playing a technical live show but these guys easily rivalled that. They made it look like it was just the easiest thing in the world to scream every riff and hit every harmony whilst throwing themselves around in time and on queue. The Human Project are incredible in every way and one of the best bands I think I've ever seen. And I've seen all the greats!!!
https://thehumanproject.bandcamp.com/album/origins
Best EP
*That I own
5. HANDCANNON
Of course I love Demon Smiles, they are my total besties but also they make awesome music. Miss Me is one of my favourite of all their songs they've ever done and that can be found on this tidy number. Not easily found but worth the hunt. This EP is my favourite until the next Demon Smiles offering next year.
https://demonsmiles.bandcamp.com/
4. Spitting Feathers
I guess you could say I'm something of a DropThis fanboy, being that I own everything they've ever had to sell and write fortnightly sonnets to singer Jordan in the hopes he'll become my live in love slave, but besides all that Spitting Feathers is a real masterclass in how to knock your songs out the park. Not only is each and every song on the EP a gem but the production on it is fantastic and it sounds perfectly at home mixed into playlist by "established" artists. I know this through first hand experience having the thing still in regular rotation on my mp3 player today.
https://dropthis.bandcamp.com/album/spitting-feathers
3. Sea Of Trees
Darko were a band I'd not actually heard until late this year and now are up around my top five favourite bands in the world. Sea Of Trees is blindingly good from start to finish with just everything about it blowing me away. Darko are true artistes with guitars and this is the finest they've sounded to date. Hard as it is to pick out a standout amongst all that gold I particularly love Seaward, which is the perfect blend of just shy of metal riffage with the speed I'm so addicted to in the music I love.
https://darko.bandcamp.com/album/sea-of-trees
2. World Of Weirdos
I'll try to stick on topic and not just go off on a Mug loving rant again.... I love Mug. This EP set up just why they are some of the greatest most talented people on the planet and in three short songs I defy anyone not to totally fall in love with them. This is one of those sets of songs where you can listen to it fifty times in a row (and believe me I have) and there is always something new to discover, an extra hidden layer, a clever double meaning in a lyric, or an extra lick on the guitar that was just spot on. And god the end of the titular song. That never ever ever stops being mind blowingly epic, just put it on repeat, do it.. do it now!!!!!!
https://mugrocks.bandcamp.com/album/world-of-weirdos
1. Dead Neck
I have a pretty narrow taste in music that I listen to personally. I don't hate other styles but there is just a certain groove in the endless genres that floats my boat more than any other and melodic hardcore is basically it. On top of that bracket is Dead Neck. This is it for me. utter brilliance and the absolute closest I have to what i consider ideal music. I can't stop listening to this, I build playlists and have the entire EP play several times throughout. every time I listen to any music I listen to this first as a warm up, I skate to this, eat to this, sleep to this and jerk off over how good it is.
https://www.facebook.com/deadneckhc?v=app_178091127385
Turkey Award.
So having started up a record label and joining a promotions company this year led me to hear untold amounts of new bands, I'd like to think that everyone who I thought sounded awesome I've been lucky enough to see or play with but then there has been some utter shit too. Now everyone is entitled to their taste in music but sometimes you have to wonder what the frick people have been smoking when they come up with this stuff. My turkey award goes to...
3 Chords and a Lie.
I just don't even...... god! Just listen for like thirty seconds and then don't put yourself through the tortue anymore.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DCk1G8mrew
