Ended 2010 smiling and watching Sonic Youth play at Hammersmith Apollo...
Favourite gigs of last year?
GNOD AT SUPERNORMAL FESTIVAL
It was a great first year of Supernormal Festival, fantastic vibe overall... but when Gnod hit the stage something wildly fucking phenomonal happened and that hour or so was one of the live highlights of my LIFE. Watch Gnod. Always watch Gnod.
TIM HECKER at The Arnolfini, Bristol
Obliterating.
MASTER MUSICIANS OF BUKKAKE + BILL HORIST at The Croft, Bristol
Bill Horist opened the show with a mind melting display of guitar alchemy, this happened and then Master Musicians graced the stage through a wall of fog (and under the beekeepers mask Milky Burgess still somehow wearing sunglasses? He's officially the most awesome person ever we think). They never disappoint, can't wait to see them again when they're in Europe for Roadburn festival this April.
JOEY CHAINSAW + STEFAN KUSHIMA at The Basement, Bristol
They both played solo sets on this day but their collaboration stole the show, gloopy brotherhood.
ONEIDA'S OCROPOLIS at ATP
Oneida are amazing. Kid Millions the super-human drum beast. TEN HOURS they played for. The bits I saw were both varied and wonderful - climax for me being when White Hills joined them onstage towards the end of the night.
A SILVER MT ZION at The Fleece, Bristol
Woven warmth perfection.
BOREDOMS at The Forum, London
There are no words. To say "religious experience" would probably be a vast understatement.
BARDO POND at ATP
One of our favourite ever Bardo Pond sets, brought a tear to the eye... they played a couple of tracks from their amazing new album, too.
MV/EE at Cafe Oto
Two sets from these favourites - the first was a droned out, blissed out trio incorporating Mick Flower into the MV+EE followed by a second, rocking set with added drummer. F-R-DOUBLE-E.
BLUE SABBATH BLACK FIJI at The Croft
Headlining a Sonic Sanctuary night, Glasgow-via-the-continent duo tore it up and electrified the room, superfun.
