Have I written here before about how much I hate the term ‘gig’, in its current usage? Makes me cringe every time I have to say it. I mean, I’m sure you all know that in its original usage, as coined by the pre-rock n’ roll American hipsters of legend, a ‘gig’ = a job, a thing you do for money, a task you are contracted to perform. It first gained its musical connotation when used by jazz musicians, who were literally describing the job of playing music that they had on that night, or whatever. For it to be regularly used by people by people who are merely *attending* a musical performance, in the year 2013 no less, seems an absurd anachronism. Plus it just sounds stupid.

Unfortunately though, the alternatives are even worse – a ‘show’ seems a cringe-worthy Americanism that fits poorly in the lips of other nations, whilst describing a DIY rock n’ roll type event as a ‘concert’ sounds even more ridiculous, like you’re trying to justify it to your grandma or something (‘oh, uh, yes, I went to a .. concert last night nan… yes, that’s where I got these bruises..’).

So, for the lack of any feasible alternative, gig it will have to be. And to finally get to the point, boy have I witnessed some great ones this year! Seriously, you may not know it from my sour tone and lengthy absences on this blog, but it’s been a great, great year as far as getting out and about and enjoying life and music goes.

Those who attended the Indietracks festival back in July might have witnessed me going absolutely ape-shit in appreciation of Helen Love’s first public appearance in about fifteen years; I guess I forgot until they very moment she/they started playing, what amazing achievements a lot of those songs are, and how much they used to mean to me back when I was growing up – total nostalgia of course, but it was a magnificent occasion.

It would take a heck of a lot to beat that, but I’m afraid if I were writing a numbered list it would still come in at #2, simply because that Jeffrey Lewis & Peter Stampfel gig in Brighton a few months earlier was such an incredibly good time. Really one of the best.

Elsewhere, seeing Humousexual play at the end of a few nights myself and my friends organised at the Deptford Birds Nest was a very special moment, and Ethical Debating Society were a revelation too. To fill up to rest of a potential top ten, I also really, really enjoyed… ooh, let’s see now… The Necks at Café Oto, Endless Boogie at Corsica Studios, a FANTATIC gig on a boat somewhere near Vauxhall featuring Brilliant Colors, LaLa Vasquez, Bloomer and Good Throb. Dan Friel, Purling Hiss, King Tuff and French band The Feeling of Love, all playing on separate occasions at the Tufnell Park Dome; King Khan & BBQ Show at Birthdays (shit venue, shit corporate promoter, shit crowd – great band), Frau kicking ass in various support slots, including one with Hard Skin – oh yeah, Hard Skin! Seeing Discharge at the New Cross Inn was an absolute hoot, then there was Fabio Frizzi taking a bunch of soundtracks he knocked out on a cheap synthesizer in the ‘80s and getting a freakin’ 12-piece band to play them at the Union Chapel on Halloween… and how did I forget to mention Shonen Knife playing a greatest hits set at Dingwalls on a fairly magical Sunday night of exhaustion? Yeah, it’s been a great year.

Lots of mediocre and bad stuff was witnessed too of course, and there were lots of really choice events I sadly missed due to social or geographic disjuncture (AMT, Mainliner, Man.. or Astroman?, Sun Ra Arkestra), but never mind, that's the way it goes. Still a great year.

Labels: best of 2013, live reviews