Live Highlights of (my) 2005

Whilst watching the BBC documentary on Live 8 last night, I found myself a little sad. The sight of large crowds singing along to some top music in a field as the sunset made me wish it was June instead of dark december. But then I realised that its only six months until Isle Of Wight Frestival 06, and that cheered me up a bit. So looking back over the live bands i've seen in 2005 made me realise that its been a fantastic year for both releases, and live music.
Excuse me for being a little self indulgent here, but obviously I can ony comment on the live bands that I have seen.

Gigs of the year (in no particular order)

Coldplay @ Earls Court
Josh Rouse @ London QEH
Oasis @ Southampton Guildhall
Foo Fighters @Reading Festival
Willy Mason @ Southampton Joiners
Elbow @ Portsmouth Pyramids
REM @ Isle Of Wight

Surprise of the year

Faithless @ Isle of Wight

Never Fail To Amaze

Queens of the Stone Age @ Reading Festival

Big Band/ Small Venue

Manic Street Preachers @ Southampton Guildhall

Notable Mentions

Idlewild @ Southampton Guldhall
Jimmy Eat World @Portsmouth Guildhall
Doves @ Southampton Guildhall

Coldplay, Earls Court, 16th December

Before I review Coldplay, I just want to point out that Richard Ashcroft was perhaps one of the best support acts I've ever seen. Knowing he was up against a varied crowd of Coldplay fans, Ashcroft pulled out those four massive Verve singles to win over the crowd. Opening with Sonnet, Ashcroft seemed to be treating the gig as if it were his own. And by the enormous set closer Bittersweet Symphony I had almost forgotton who I had paid £36 to see. Respect to Richard Ashcroft for pulling out the crowd pleasers when he probably just wanted to promote his new solo album.

Having seen Coldplay live once before at V Festival 2003, I inevitabley found myself comparing the two performances. I half expected to be dissapointed at Earls Court, mainly because at V Festival they were so good. Thankfully, they were once again oustanding. In contrast to 2003, the band were tighter, more energetic, and clearly more confident at Earls Court. At V Festival the crowd had lumps in their throats and tears streaming down their face (ok maybe not), whereas at Earls Court, the occaision was joyous and uplifting.

Anyway, enough of the comparing. I'm just going to pick out some of the best and worst bits of the gig and talk about them.

Best Song

Fix You is a modern classic. As is Yellow, as is The Scientist, as is In My Place. So when you've got so many great singalongs it's hard to pick just one song of the evening.

Song I'd Rather They Hadn't Played

Swallowed By The Sea isn't one of their greatest songs. Amsterdam would've sounded much better instead.

Best Moment

Probably had to be the digital clock counting down at the beginning of Square One, with a silloetted Chris Martin appearing against it. In fact, all the visuals were pretty good, although I didn't understand the dog/bear thing walking around during Talk.

Worst Moment

Tooooo many dressed up chavs who were more concerned with planning their night out after the gig than enjoying the concert. I quote one phone conversation taking place behind me... 'WE'RE WELL SLOSHED...WE'RE WATCHING COLDPLAY, THEY'RE WICKED. (louder) COLDPLAY. (louder even more) I SAID WE'RE WATCHING COLDPLAY.'

Least Succesful Part of the Gig

was the acoustic interlude in the middle where they played Till Kingdom Come, Ring of Fire, and Don't Panic. This would've been outstanding in a 1000 capacity gig. But on a stage the size of Earls Court it just doesn't really hold peoples attention. A solo acoustic run through of See You Soon would've been more effective.

All in all, it was a great night. One of my live highlights of the year. The atmosphere was electric, and the two acts were superb. Fingers crossed for a couple of Coldplay festival shows next summer.

Don't You Just Love End Of Year Lists

Thought so. So heres another for you...

Here are some of my most played tracks from the past year according to my Ipod (only including songs released this year).

Josh Rouse, My Love Has Gone
Doves, Black and White Town
TeamSleep, Ever
Weezer, We Aare All On Drugs
Oasis, Guess God Thinks I'm Abel
Coldplay, Talk
Duke Spirit
Death Cab For Cutie, Summer Skin
Foo Fighters, Razor
Stereophonics, Devil
Hard Fi, Middle Eastern Holiday
Robert Plant, All The Kings Horses
Elbow, Great Expectations

A selection of great albums that have been overlooked this year

dEUS, Pocket Revolution
Idlewild, Warnings/Promises
Jose Gonzalez, Veneer
Martha Wainwright

Josh Rouse Live Review

London QEH 9/12/2005




There was something Summery in the air last Friday night on the London Southbank. Yes, check the date... I am writing this in December. Because amid all the pre Christmas, zero temperature hussle and bussle, sat Josh Rouse, plucking a Ukelele inside the Queen Elizabeth Hall. It was impossible not to imagine the warm Spanish white village where Josh claims to have sat and written his new material. But enough of the daydreaming...there's a review to be written!
With just a couple of acoustic and spanish guitars, and a harmonica to back him up, Josh was going to need to do something special to keep attention firmly fixed on him, rather than the bar. And although it took a few songs to warm up, by 'It Looks Like Love,' he had hit his stride. Playing a varied mix from all his albums (except, bizarrely nothing from Under Cold Blue Stars,) the audience reception seemed to grow stronger with each song.
There were literally too many highlights to mention, so perhaps its correct to say that rather than standout songs, the whole gig stood up as something special. It felt spontanious, and unpredictable. For once, the encore didn't feel like it was written into the setlist (something that usually becomes very tedious at gigs... clap until the band come back on etc.) With Josh being one of the most consistent artists around today (releasing more or less an album a year,) it is refreshing to see someone who defies the music industry record-tour-record cycle. He didn't necessarily need to do this show. But this is what sets Josh Rouse above the rest. A man who loves his trade.

Two Thousand and Five Was A Classic...

...how the hell is 2006 going to live up to this year? Have we just witnessed one of those 'classic' years in music? The Ipod took over the world and the music industry is dead.... but then the Arctic Monkeys became living proof that free downloads in fact launch careers and boost sales.
This year has seen an endless release of quality albums from both established and emerging artists (in June alone we releases from Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Magic Numbers, and Oasis fill the charts.) As well as releases, this year was perhaps the biggest and best ever for music festivals. So here are my musical highlights of the year...

Albums / Album Tracks / Singles / Live

January saw Feeder release Pushing The Senses. The album was perhaps a little dissapointing. Great songs, but there seemed to be an edge missing that Feeder had discovered on Comfort In Sound. However, later in the year they released Shatter, a former B Side, which quite frankly ROCKED!

Singer Songwriters were in demand this year, what with that master of cockney rhyming slang James Blunt sitting on top of the charts, and that other goon Daniel Powter having a bad day. But delving past the mainstream saw some masterful albums from the likes of Josh Rouse, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright and the Swedish Argentine Jose Gonzalez (whose song HeartBeats featured on the Sony TV ad.) And crikey... Ryan Adams has released three albums this year!

As mentioned earlier, the big guns were out in force this year. A double album from the Foos (the acoustic outshined the rock in my opinion) a return to form from Oasis (the songs Liam wrote are the best) and of course Coldplay (X&Y was good, but their live performance at Glastonbury was better.) But 2005 was ultimately the year of the new bands... Hard Fi, Editors, Duke Spirit, and of course Arctic Monkeys all deserving a mention.

My album of the year was without doubt Elbows Leaders of the Free World. It's simply a stunning album full of beautiful heartfelt songs (plus it has a pop at George Bush, and those other flipping idiots, bouncers.) This band are criminally ignored. But thats just my opinion.

On the live scene, the summer was amazing, with all festivals having outstanding line ups. Oasis and Coldplay embarked on massive stadium tours over the summer. Foo Fighters ruled at Reading again. And Glastonbury confirmed its status as the greatest festival in the world.

2005 will be remembered as the year that real music returned. Where the hell is 2006 gonna take us?

Album of the Year ..... Babyshambles

HAHAHAHAHA ONLY JOKING!

Soundtrack of 2005

So our shearpassion collective list isn’t together yet, and I’m still mulling over my personal top 20 albums of the year list. With 2005 already in its last month and final 24 days I thought I’d put forward my own personal “Soundtrack of 2005” (which is set out below). It’s really been a great year for music with breakouts, rebirths and the industry embracing the digital boom, so forgive me if I’ve missed something.
So lets get started…

Amerie – 1 Thing
With “this years Crazy in Love”, Amerie produced a track with an undeniable beat and cross over mass appeal.

Arcade Fire – Neighbourhood No.3 (Power Out)
So much variation and emotion in one song, don’t like it first time – persevere and be rewarded. One of the many highlights from a great album, with a cool yet freaky ‘moomin-esque’ video.

Arctic Monkeys – Bigger Boys & Stolen Sweethearts
What a rise from nowhere to the biggest new band in the UK, watch and learn the power of the internet, this song is symptomatic of Alex Turners well observed, funny lyrics name checking Novas and Burberry hats + free demos = gold.

Athlete – Wires
Athlete suffered a bit of an unfair backlash from some critics this year, mostly for a similarity to Coldplay. Wires was justifiably all over the radio this year, I love the lyrics, sentiment and premise of this song.

Bloc Party – Banquet
“I can’t think straight” - I know, I know this surfaced what seems like years ago, but released as a single in 2005 this is the synonymous track from the East London band. Great vocals, great drumming.

Bright Eyes – First Day Of My Life
Great track, great lyrics (my favourite from the I’m Wide Awake, Its Morning album). This year Bright Eyes hit the mainstream – even sliding into the O.C. soundtrack.

Chemical Brothers – Galvanise
Using Q-Tips vocal on this track pushed all the right buttons this year. The standout electronic track of the year not by Gorillaz.

Common – The Corner
Common’s rhymes are regarded as some of the best in the business, and with Kanye’s production harnessing his already critically acclaimed sound he really hits pay dirt. Great track.

Coldplay – Fix You
Yes it reminds some people of The Scientist, but this track proves sampling Kraftwerk hasn’t diminished Chris Martin’s talent for writing a heart yearning classics.

Foo Fighters – Best Of You
Although one of my new years resolutions this year may be: Stop expecting Dave Grohl to better The Colour and The Shape, In Your Honor still has good songs, Best Of You being the highlight on the stronger Rock disc.

The Futureheads – Hounds Of Love
Cover of the year in my book (even though the album was out in 2004). I prefer this to the Kate Bush original. Sunderland based post-punk? The Futureheads are due a new album out in early 2006 with new track Area whetting my appetite

Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc
Chose this above DARE as this song has something for everyone, best electronic track of the year. Ten years ago who’d have imagined Damon Albarn and De La Soul collaborating – let alone sounding so good?

Hard-Fi – Cash Machine
Sounding like a modern day mix of the Clash and the Jam with savvy naughties lyrics Hard-Fi were one of 2005’s success stories. I could have picked Hard to Beat, but Cash Machine felt especially appropriate at this time of year with long dark days at work and Christmas shopping to buy.

Jamie Lidell – Mutliply
With a great soul voice, Jamie Lidell could be this year's best-kept secret. Producing great sounding soul akin to John Legend minus some of the production or a kind of older male version of Joss Stone. Multiply is his first single of 2005, and has a kind of authenticity to sound like it could have been plucked from the 60’s or 70’s.

Joseph Arthur – Even Tho
New York based singer-songwriter’s single and finest track from his Our Shadows Will Remain album. Lush, layered, emotional and melodic.

Kanye West – Gold Digger
With Kanye’s production, dry delivery and Jamie Foxx’s vocal sample from Ray, this was always going to be good, but it’s my Hip-Hop highlight of the year from an album that’s the same.

Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict A Riot
Incendiary, infectious and undeniable. Brit-rock track of the year.

The Magic Numbers – Forever Lost
Don’t call them the three-lettered ‘F’ word. Barring Top Of The Pops, The Magic Numbers are another of this year's winners - sweet melodic summery rock at its best. This particular track reminds me so much of this summer. (Strange fact: Magic Number have an alphabetic coincidence of sitting side by side on most peoples i-pods with sound-a-likes The Mamas and Papas).

Nickel Creek – Doubting Thomas
Creek not Back. Chad Kroeger worries aside, sometimes bands come into your life from seemingly out of nowhere, and to me this year Nickel Creek were a great introduction. This acoustic track like most of its 2005 parent album Why Should The Fire Die; is full of emotion melody and tenderness.

Nizlopi – JCB
A wonderful father-son themed song with some excellent imagery. Another track that ‘came from nowhere’, initially most buzz came from the internet promotion of JCB’s inspired cartoon video. Nizlopi are now a possibility for (UK) Christmas number one after BBC Radio One and Two DJ’s picked up on the track.

Oasis – Let There Be Love
“A good year for Oasis” would be an understatement. Lots of tracks to pick from, but at the moment the dual vocals put this top for me – a possible (UK) Christmas No.1 – Oasis continue to amaze.

Sigur Rós – Sæglópur
One of the many highlights, and my personal favourite from the Icelandic band’s 3rd full-length album Takk. (Sæglópur translates to ‘Lost at sea’).

Stereophonics – Dakota
Minus Stuart Cable - plus some young Argentinean guy. Stereophonics produce their first number one and an anthem great for driving to. Seriously try it, strap yourself in with a pair of Kelly Jones shades, but watch out for the fuzz!

The White Stripes – My Doorbell
They venture a little out of their safe zone of the signature Elephant sound and continue to impress. I love the simplicity of this track, especially the lyric.

Have I missed one of your favourites? Then post your comments and suggestions below…