SLOW THRILLS BEST GIGS OF 2001
I went to 45 gigs
this year - I managed to rustle up a list of the
best 20....
1. Patti
Smith - Hackney Ocean, July
Quite simply one of the best gigs I've ever seen. She is someone I thought i
would never see live, and the fact that she was on such extraordinary form made
this one of the real highlights of the whole year for me.
2. PJ Harvey -
Brixton Academy, October
I saw PJ Harvey twice this year, the other show (at Shepherds Bush Empire in
February) was equally good. I chose this one because it was the first she had
played any New York material since September 11. She carried it off with such
dignity.
3. Calexico
- Hackney Ocean, April
Although I'd seen them a few times previously, at this show Calexico were incredibly
together as a band and I finally saw what the fuss was about.
4. Nick Cave
and the Bad Seeds - Brixton Academy, May
Not content with releasing a brilliant album Mr Cave and his band played some
great gigs too. Still one of the best live bands on earth.
5. Yo La Tengo
- Shepherds Bush Empire, April
Ditto for Yo La Tengo, another band who play extraordinary shows every time
6. Red House Painters
- Shepherds Bush Empire, May
Only two hours due to Mark Kozelek feeling a bit poorly, but still pretty damn
good.
7. White Stripes
- Kentish Town Forum, December
Naturally you want to hate them, and for a while I thought they were going to
fall on their face at this huge show, but especially on the 'De Stijl' songs
they really came good.
8. Smog - Belfast
Empire, November
Bill Callahan played a superb show, ably assisted by a fine backing band including
Jim White (Dirty 3, Catpower, Will Oldham)
9. ...And You
Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead - Astoria, January
Their Belfast show in August is also worth a mention, but this was their first
experience of big venues, and although it took a few songs, they got close to
the intensity of their small club performances.
10. Les Savy Fav
- Highbury Garage, September
My second encounter with this lot was loads better than the first (Belfast,
February). Most bonkers frontman of the year as well.
11. the Soft
Boys - Notting Hill Arts Club, December
Highly intimate (almost secret) date with these reformed and remarkably together
psychedelic pop veterans.
12. Jacob Golden
- Covent Garden, 12 bar Club, September
I stumbled upon him with having ever heard him - perhaps the most immediately
impressive of all the new acts I saw this year. He has a gorgeous voice and
a neat line in Nina Simone covers.
13. Billy Mahonie
- Camden Dublin Castle, July
Their 'comeback' show - a huge success with the new material going down a storm.
A shame that the 'What Becomes Before' album has been a bit overlooked.
14. Hefner
- Camden Underworld, February
This pipped their larger Shepherds Bush Empire show cos this venue was more
intimate, and they had an extended line-up which added yet another dimension
to the songs from 'We Love the City' and 'The Fidelity Wars'.
15. the Posies
- Camden Dingwalls, March
The most fun of the three Posies related shows I saw, this was the full electric
band playing their own classics and seemingly endless ad-libbed covers at the
end!
16. Mark Eitzel
- Belfast Limelight, June
Self-effacing as ever, but back with a full, slightly electronica flavoured,
band. Always worth seeing live.
17. A Silver
Mount Zion - Islington Union Chapel
Probably wouldn't have made the top 20 if it had been in a noisier venue - on
'Movie (Never Made)' you could have heard a pin drop. A perfect place to see
them really.
18. Bridge and
Tunnel - Notting Hill Arts Club, November
Another lot who were unknown to me til I saw them, and they blew me away.
19. Arab Strap
- Shepherds Bush Empire, May
Arab Strap are way better live than you would expect, really powerful.
20. The
Clientele - Highbury Upstairs at the Garage, September
A more powerful, tighter live band than the records suggest, and one of my current
favourite bands.
best support bands...
Bright Eyes supporting
Arab Strap
Airport
Girl supporting the Lucksmiths
Kaito supporting
Death Cab for Cutie
Rothko supporting
Tristeza
Kidd Dynamo supporting
Smog