Best concerts 2002

From: demhopkins
Date: Fri Dec 27, 2002 11:20 pm

Best concerts, the hardest catagory:

1. The Strokes/Aragon Ballroom )(Brawlroom) (hands down the best show of the year--the boys came of age in just one year--and they announced the transition loud and clear. Great new material, no shoe-gazing, not fucked up, a tight, awe-inspiring set in a venue that isn't worthy of a livestock show).

2. White Stripes/Ist Ave. Minneapolis, MN (saw them in Chicago but THE show was in Minneapolis--they loved the venue and Jack played a very long electrifying set before a crowd that loved him--so much better than the Chicago gig, Jack camped it up with top hats and affectations that I never heard in the music. He proved himself to be a complete entertainer--and was totally at home in this great club)

3. Interpol/Empty Bottle (the fact that they lived up to the hype, handled the abuse, and sent the strongest message you could ask for in a band the first time through town--doesn't even begin to describe the show).

4. Bryan Ferry/Chicago Theatre (I saw the Roxy reunion a year ago-- and this show had more excitement, glitz, glamour, and he is the only old fuck that dance like a dork and make it look so fucking cool. Also, the band included Chris Spedding and The Great Paul Thompson on drums).

5. The Datsuns/Empty Bottle (thanks mel, six feet from the stage and what I got was a sore neck because I didn't want to take my eyes off anyone in the band--they were at their peak--and I hope to see them in this form at least once more in their career).

6. Hives/Mooney/ The Metro (everything that can be said about The Hives has been said. They are probably THE live band of the year. Mooney was the best received opening act that I have experienced--enough so that they headlined this club a couple months later and did an even better set--but this pairing was amazing).

7. TSOOL/Cato Salsa/The Metro (match made in heaven. Cato has been taking some shit in the press--but the show was impressive and TSOOL was even stronger than their Empty Bottle Show a few months earlier. TSOOL isn't afraid to be very uncool on stage--and it works so well. I had friends who thought the theatrics were way over the top--but as long as they have been kicking around, they have a right to do it and I enjoyed it. A few behind the back guitar licks would be cheesy on any other band--but it fits TSOOL just right--I hope they keep it up).

8. TOD/ The Metro (Conrad and Jason trading off between guitar and drum is worth the price of admission. This is one band that seems to always deliver 100%).

9. Liars/YYYs/Fireside Bowl (I went for YYYs, but "stuck around" for The Liars--and The Liars put on a non-self-indulgent show that ranks as one of the hardest hitting, fast, in-your-face shows of the year. YYY's--just fucking brilliant).

10. Marianne Faithful/ Park West (if you dig her--it was an all smiles show that built into a great payoff as she did the new stuff but led her terrific band through a lot of Broken English. When it should have been over she announced that she was breaking from a long tradition of using Broken English material as her closer and she returned to the new material. She has every right to be proud of it).

11. Clinic/Apples in Stereo/The Metro (Clinic turned the place into a dance party--completely unexpected; Apples in Stereo really made me like them--completely unexpected. A very fun night).

12. Spoon/ The Abbey (A very tight set from a band that would normally be a little poppy for my taste. Great vocals, some very good guitar, and amazing tunes--Jonathan Fisk wiped me out. At the end of the set, they announced, "we will be better next time." You gotta love that--and they will.)
--Dem

Albums/Singles/Gigs Of The Year 2002

From: Neil
Date: Sat Dec 21, 2002 5:25 pm

Albums
Billy Childish - 25 Years Of Being Childish
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Ikara Colt - Chat & Business
The Libertines - Up The Bracket
Mclusky - Mclusky Do Dallas
...Trail Of Dead - Source Tags & Codes

Singles
The Beatings - Bad Feeling
British Sea Power - Spirit Of St.Louis
The Candys - Monitor Rock
The Kills - Black Rooster EP
The Libertines - What A Waster
Sparta - Cut Your Ribbon
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - S/T
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Machine

Gigs
Strokes - Brixton Academy
Ash/ Hundred Reasons/Soundtrack Of Our Lives/Jet Plane Landing - London
Astoria
Super Furry Animals/CooperTemple Clause - Hackney Ocean
Hives/Bellrays/Buff Medways - Brixton Academy
Morrissey/Libertines - Brixton Academy
Libertines/Candys - Tunbridge Wells Forum
Von Bondies/Modey Lemon - Camden Barfly
Mclusky/Apes - London Garage

--NeilM

Soledad/Walkmen/Hells

From: Neil
Date: Sat Dec 14, 2002 1:58 am

Went to a gig last night at the Garage, North London. First up were a three-piece of ex-pat American kids, The Hells. Essentially a garage outfit, no bass, twin guitar boy/girl fronted outfit. They sure can rock, but the songwriting is a lacking in real spark. Worth keeping an eye on for the future.

The Walkmen were a much more accomplished five piece. Their stuff is more into the "emo" side of things (I do hate these pigeonholes, but they save a ton of explanation!). I can't tell you a lot about them, other than they are from the US, some of the members used to be in Jonathan Fireeater (sic?), their guitarist loves short stabbing chiming riffs a la Interpol, but their stagecraft is a bit lacking - they really didn't engage the crowd despite having some compelling material. The Soledad Brothers were in town for the second time in a month. For those of you yet to catch them, they are a blues three piece (no bass, two guitars--again!) originally from Ohio, now resident in Detroit. But theirs is more "New Orleans juke joint meets late 60's Stones" than , say, a JSBX- or White Stripes- type thang. They certainly get a good party vibe going, and are fun, but the lack of original material will exclude them from any hope of mass appeal. But do go looky-looky if they hit a town near you if "Robert Johnson meets Get Yer Ya Yas Out" are references you understand and feel drawn towards.
--NeilM