2023: A Year In Live Music

2023 - it was a year that happened. Full disclosure, I wrote a lot of words about the state of the country which are not relevant for this post. This post is a celebration of live music, not to mourn over dumpster fires.

This year I went to quite a few gigs. Not to reveal too much about how the sausage is made, but as I type this introduction, I’ve been to 43 gigs and I have another 3 scheduled (with the chance I may squeak in another Bloody Grungers show just before Christmas). This frankly is ludicrous(ly fun). On top of that, there were three 1 day festivals (including a silly weekend when I did two in two days). I guess what I am trying to say is that live music is just the best.

As with previous years (I've done this for a while now), I will write about my favourite festival sets of 2023 and then go on to write about my favourite gigs of 2023. The festival sets bit was wrapped up after the day of Portals Festival I attended this year, as I couldn't justify a day ticket at Victorious (my home town festival) and didn't attend Damnation festival this year. Not attending Damnation hurt as the line up both to the main night and the pre-show were really cool, but the hotel cost for 2 nights (the bare minimum for me) was astronomical and while the line up was cool, it wasn't that. It looks like it will be the same this year, and there is nothing nearby on AirBnB, so it is entirely possible that Damnation was a one and done for me. We shall see! Both lists will have honourable mentions as per, and for festivals, I will probably reuse some words from the blog I wrote about Slam Dunk/Portals.

FESTIVALS

Honourable Mentions

Palm Reader (Takedown Festival) - I wrote no notes about Takedown, however I was excited to see Palm Reader and they were bloody great. It was lovely to see them on the big stage.

Heriot (Slam Dunk Festival) - I really like Heriot live, and this set was no exception. Seemed as though there were a couple of technical difficulties but nothing that derailed the set, which is cool. A good start to the festival for me.

SeeYouSpaceCowboy (Slam Dunk Festival) - SYSC were excellent. Starting off my day with the first three bands on the Knotfest Pulse of the Maggots stage was a good call. I’m not overly familiar with their music (I’ve listened to some and liked it) but still really enjoyed it. I would definitely watch them again.

The Guru Guru (Portals Festival) - Penultimate visit to the theatre room for The Guru Guru and this was probably my favourite set in that room of the day. Closing on Honestly I Don’t Feel Like Dancing was cool, as I was hoping they would play that. Another great set.

maybeshewill (Portals Festival) - Maybeshewill were the penultimate band for me in the Hall. It did start to seem as though technical difficulties on this stage were the order of the day as they appeared to have some before the start of their set as well. Once they got going though, you wouldn’t have known it, as they were really good. I definitely want to see them again, as I used the end of their set to go buy some food and have a slightly extended sit down.

Mono (Portals Festival) - Mono were stunning. Before the festival, because I wasn’t a fan, I was nonplussed about seeing them and even considered getting an earlier coach home and leaving after Maybeshewill. I’m so glad I didn’t do that as it would have definitely meant missing out. Mono were superb. Certainly one of the best post-rock instrumental bands of the day, and one of my favourite sets all together.

Top 10

10 - Spanish Love Songs. Slam Dunk Festival

Old Words - I skipped out during the last song of SYSC to make my way across to the Kerrang tent to catch as much Spanish Love Songs as I could. This was a good call as they were also great.

New Words - This set was part of the reason I secured a ticket for their headline show in Southampton next month. It is a Saturday night, so that is lovely.

9 - Pupil Slicer. Portals Festival

Old Words - I was able to get on the barrier, which was cool. Pupil Slicer had some technical issues before the start of their set by the looks/sounds of things (I’m not even a novice in this area, so not sure what exactly was happening). There was a further technical issue during the set (think the bass cab or one of the bass guitars blew up, which isn’t ideal!). That all aside though, Pupil Slicer’s set was an assault on the senses in the best possible way - one of the best of the day for me! The new material all sounds so good live, so I am looking forward to November (Employed to Slice!) to hopefully see some of it again!

New Words - They were very good supporting Employed to Serve, I was excited by the tour and I was not disappointed!

8 - Loathe. Takedown Festival

There were many sound problems at Takedown, and Loathe were not immune from this. However, they were still ace and it was great to see them on a big stage like Portsmouth Guildhall. I would like to see them do a headline show in that room (set up as The Box).

7 - Billy Talent. Slam Dunk Festival

Old Words - I had decided earlier in the day after seeing Creeper to head to the stage Offspring would be on later to get a good spot (and watch some Bowling For Soup). Then Creeper finished and I thought - “Nah!” and headed to the other open air stage to watch the rest of Billy Talent. Caught the last 5 songs and they were all bangers, and got to meet up with most of the pals I hadn’t seen in a few hours, so that was cool!

6 - GGGOLDDD. Portals Festival

Old Words - Nipping off early was a good call as I was able to get on the barrier again. GGGOLDDD continued the run of excellent sets on the Hall stage (a run which, as it turns out, would run through to the end of the day, spoilers). My main takeaway from the set was that GGGOLDDD were superb live and that I hope to see them again (I may have considered going to see them in Brighton tomorrow night until I thought seriously about the logistics and binned that plan).

New Words - I almost got a ticket for the Cult of Luna London Beyond The Redshift show, and if I had I 100% would have watched GGGOLDDD. I didn't sadly. Still want to see them again though!

5 - Ithaca. Takedown Festival

Ithaca played one of the small rooms of the festival, and it appeared the stage manager had taken a hike when they were getting set up. Maybe that was me not fully understanding what was going on there, but their set up seemed odd. Anyway, when that got sorted they were superb. It was a shame having to leave InMe earlier, but it was so worth it!

4 - Skindred. Takedown Festival

Here's the thing, I've seen Skindred quite a few times now. The show hasn't really evolved all that much, and they have a fairly stable set list. Despite that, when you are in the moment of watching them live, it never feels rehashed. It is a great show and Skindred are a great live band. Should I have watched Sleep Token instead? Probably, but whatever. Skindred are ace.

3 - Svalbard. Portals Festival

Old Words - Leaving Seims early meant a barrier spot again was available for Svalbard. Their start was delayed due to technical issues but once they got going they were outstanding. Having seen them before, this didn’t come as a surprise. Their new song, Eternal Spirits, is crushing live and hopefully has a spot in their live set for years to come.

New Words - Nothing new to add about the show, other than to say their new album is quality, and I hope they start doing longer headline shows now.

2 - Creeper. Slam Dunk Festival

Old Words - God damn Creeper are good live. I probably won’t be able to make their November tour due to other commitments and that saddens me. However, they were bloody ace for this set, making the decision to see them definitely a good one.

New Words - I didn't see them in November, or October when I had a ticket to the album launch as the England Rugby World Cup quarter final clashed with it, and I just couldn't miss that. England won, so that was a plus! Creeper are headlining Takedown Festival 2024 and they will be a must watch for me.

1 - Flogging Molly. Slam Dunk Festival

Old Words - It is probably at this point that I should tell you I attended the festival effectively wearing a suit jacket. It probably wasn’t my smartest move given the heat but you live and learn. Went down the front for Flogging Molly and after 2 songs, I spent the rest of it in the mosh pit. I was a warm boy afterwards! Flogging Molly are just brilliant live and this was no exception. This was my favourite set of the day, though one later did run it close!

New Words - Favourite set of the year as well! Flogging Molly never disappoint live and I now want to see a full fledged headline show from them.

GIGS

Honourable Mentions

Holding Absence - The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. February 2023 My first gig of the year, and it was a sold out show, which you love to see.I, The Mapmaker were the opening act. I was originally supposed to see them opening for Palm Reader but that gig was moved twice and they had to drop off the bill. A shame, because I enjoyed this set, so it was cool to see them in the end. Void of Vision was the main support act and they were quality. They were over from Australia which is pretty cool! I hope it isn’t their only visit to these shores. Holding Absence were superb. They played a set that covered all of their back catalogue including songs from their latest split EP. A set that felt packed full of anthems sang to a group of people who seemed to know every word. A great uplifting gig.

The Ocean - The 1865, Southampton. February 2023 This was my second gig in 2023, and it was the night after the first one. Amusingly at the time I wrote I am getting too old for this. As the year played out, it turns out I am not yet. While the night before was a sell out, this one was in a bigger room and I'd argue had fewer people in than the gig I was at the night before. I don't know if it wasn't promoted well, or if there wasn't a smaller room available, but it was a shame more weren't there because The Ocean are ace. Thuum and Hummune opened, and both of them were good. I was down the front for The Ocean and they were immense.

KT Tunstall - O2 Guildhall, Southampton. March 2023 This was my first time going to Southampton Guildhall where the floor was all seating. Odd, but only because I am not used to it. Andy Burrows (from Razorlight) opened the show and his set was good fun. This was my second time seeing KT Tunstall live, but the first time with a band. Her band was made up of Andy Burrows and Seye Adelekan (from Gorillaz) as well as “Stu the Glue”. It was a really great show. The new album was played in its entirety (but split up over the set) which was cool as it is a good album. On top of the music being good, it was obvious to me anyway that they are having a blast playing together on this tour and having a good laugh, highlighted perhaps by a discussion where KT was surprised Andy Burrows had not ever had a bra thrown at him while playing with Razorlight…which then led to someone from the crowd throwing a bra at him. Overall, it was a really good night.

Pixies - Roundhouse, London. March 2023 This was my first visit to the Roundhouse since seeing Frank Turner there in 2021. I was Immediately reminded that it is one of my favourite venues of that size. Though my journey to the venue involved a short trip on the new Elizabeth line and honestly…I’d rather have the Astoria back (I’m not a Londoner, so my opinion on the tube isn’t worth a damn). The Slow Readers Club opened and they were enjoyable. They had recently (at the time of this show) played in my home town and I didn’t go. I would conclude now, with the benefit of hindsight that this was an error on my part. Pixies played a 2 hour, 37 song set. I’m a casual Pixies fan, so there were bits I wasn’t overly familiar with, but they were really good. Obviously hearing the songs of theirs I love is always a plus - I wasn’t expecting them to play Debaser based on some set lists I had looked at, so it was a nice surprise when they did.

Cuurls - Edge of the Wedge, Portsmouth. May 2023 I mean, this is the smallest show on the honourable mentions list, but it deserves to be here as it was a bloody lovely evening! Hypsoline opened and I enjoyed their set - very chilled vibes. Congratulations were on next, and they are really good live. The show was absolute chaos at points in the absolute best way. I was supposed to see them at a headline show in Portsmouth a few months ago but I hurt my neck, and decided against it. Regret! Currls are an ace band and are equally as ace live. If I get a ticket for Icebreaker, I will definitely go to see them headline a stage!

The Hives - Pryzm, Kingston. August 2023 Travel for this gig sucked! I’m not anti-strike/ASOS stuff. Just a statement of fact. The gig only being 45 minutes in between a lot of travel was a bit of a shame. The Hives were bloody on it though. They were so good and the gig, short though it was, was so much fun! Was it worth it? Yeah. Am I now regretting not seeing them last December in my hometown? Very much so!!

Better Lovers - CHALK, Brighton. October 2023 The original opening band got removed within about an hour of being announced. I don’t wish to comment too much on that because I don’t know all the details. They were replaced late in the day by a band called Unpeople, which I didn’t know had happened until I arrived at the venue and saw the stage being broken down ahead of blanket coming on. Blanket are good live. Seen them twice before and enjoyed them live each time. This gig was no exception. Better Lovers played a very short set, which was to be expected because they are a very new band - so this isn’t a complaint. Their show, in the brief time it happened, was incredible. It definitely made me want them to come back again when they have new material. That show was close to sold out (if not actually), so it would be intriguing to see where they played if they came back. Selfishly, I would want them to play The Box set up of the Guildhall in Portsmouth (though the barrier could be an issue there), but 1865 in Soton could also be a good spot.

Coach Party - The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. October 2023. Almost missed this gig as I thought I purchased a ticket way earlier than I actually did, and then it sold out just after, close call! Live music and great company, what more is there to want? Girl Scout opened and they were good. They had some funny chat on stage and the music was enjoyable. Panda Swim were the main support, and they wore their influences on their sleeves in a good way. I thought they had a strong Weezer vibe, but the people I was with also thought Cage The Elephant and Feeder - which I could agree with. Coach Party were very enjoyable. I missed their tour last time and regretted doing so at the time. Seeing them at this show made me realise I was right to regret missing that show. They were ace.

Employed To Serve - Lafayette, London. November 2023 First visit to Lafayette. It is a cool little space but probably one I will hold off booking tickets for unless I can get a cheap room due to its location (if the curfew is 11 anyway). Usually I listen to a support band before going to a gig to get a bit of a flavour of them. I didn’t with Going Off. Absolutely dirty in the best possible way. Some filthy riffs in their stuff. Pupil Slicer just seem to always get better when I see them live. Employed To Serve had some technical issues, which was a shame but it didn’t spoil the show. They’re so very good live, it is almost a crime they aren’t in bigger rooms for their own shows.

Bob Vylan - Engine Rooms, Southampton. November 2023 Panic Shack opened this show and they were pretty decent. Kid Bookie were the main support act. I thought they were alright, but wasn’t overly blown away by them. Bob Vylan was excellent as per with a live show from them. Quite excited for the new album based on the songs that were performed during this show, and the rest of the show had a good mix of the two previous albums.

Ithaca - The Dome, London. November 2023 Wallowing opened the show, and over 24 hours on (as I wrote this particular set of notes), I’m still not entirely sure what it was. Black/extreme metal played by a band in beekeeper outfits? Strange but compelling! Ithaca played They Fear Us in full. That album was my favourite album from last year. The gig was ace, the extra musicians certainly added to the sound, though the sound wasn't perfect throughout which was a shame as it was being recorded. Cracking night though.

Therapy? - The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. December 2023 This was a late call, as initially the ticket price put me off. I decided to go and I am glad I did as it was ace. Finally getting to see Bokassa was cool. They opened for Metallica at Twickenham and I couldn't get to the stadium in time. They were great. Therapy? are just one of those excellent bands. They released an album this year which was bloody great, and they are still quality live. Definitely a good call to go. Coming back on after the encore break and saying “we’re not playing 1 more song, we’re playing 8” is outrageous.

Green Lung - The Joiners, Southampton. December 2023 This gig sold out a little while ago, and a part of me wondered if it might get moved to the slightly bigger Loft or Engine Rooms, but it didn’t. If Green Lung come back to Southampton, I would expect the show to initially be in one of those rooms! Inhuman Nature were the support, and initially when seeing the poster, I would have probably preferred to see Boss Keloid as I’ve previously seen Inhuman Nature. That being said, that disappointment was only the slightest amount, and actually seeing Inhuman Nature again was ace, so no complaints from me. Green Lung have released a quality album this year, and are an excellent live band. This was my second time seeing them and I thought it was superb.

The Top 10

10. Carcass - The Loft, Southampton. Monday 5th June 2023.

This was my second visit to The Loft and it was the second time the venue doors opened after the advertised time. I had no idea the venue was run by the same people who run Slam Dunk festival…! I went into the venue with the full intent of buying a tour shirt, but they only had a size two down from what I’d wear, so not to be! Conjurer opened and they were savage live. Their set was a great way to open the show. Unto Others are a band I’m not overly into, but they were good. I enjoyed their set significantly more than when they opened for Behemoth/Arch Enemy/Carcass at Brixton. Carcass? In a 300 capacity venue? In this economy? Phwoar. The set had a healthy slice from their latest album Torn Arteries (and one from Surgical Steel) but was mostly made up of older material, no complaints from me either way in terms of what was played. Would have liked more from Surgical Steel and No Love Lost - but can’t have them all. It was a great set.

9. Rancid - OVO Arena, London. Tuesday 20th June 2023

This was supposed to be at Brixton and I am sad it wasn’t. That being said, the move meant they probably were able to sell more tickets than they otherwise would have - the show wasn’t sold out by any stretch of the imagination, but standing seemed relatively busy from where I was sat. Seating wasn’t that busy really. Grade 2 from the Isle of Wight opened the show. Their new album is good and they are good live. I’d like to see them in a smaller room. The Bronx are always good live and this show was no exception. It was a quick blast of The Bronx and I am looking forward to seeing them at the Joiners soon. That is going to be hectic. (INFO - these notes were written after the gig. You may read about that Bronx show later…maybe). The Skints are not really for me. The highlight of the set for me was the Capdown cover, but yeah…nah. Rancid appeared to be on top form. They played pretty much everything I wanted to hear live (maybe could have done with some more from Honor Is All We Know, but I wouldn’t have cut anything from the set for it). It had been 15 years since I first saw them live and I’m glad I was finally able to see them again. Very fun night. 

8. Pulp - Finsbury Park, London. Saturday 1st July 2023

First visit to Finsbury Park for a gig since 2010 for Rage Against The Machine. Thought it was a fine location for a big gig, though probably could have done with more bars etc. Everything had big queues during the 2nd band (though that could be a comment on the quality of that band, that's why I was queuing then). I listened to a review of the gig that said the venue was awful for these (and other) reasons. Exotic Gardens were there. He was alright, nowt offensive. Baxter Dury wasn’t my thing. Walked off to get dinner and a drink, but the beer queues were massive so I didn’t end up getting a beer. Wet Leg were good. I enjoyed their album last year and it was good to hear most of it live. I’d heard a report that they were boring live, but that wasn’t my take from yesterday. Pulp were excellent. The setlist was basically everything I could have asked for and the performance was excellent. I had a lovely time watching Pulp.

7. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Hyde Park, London. Saturday 8th July 2023

BST is a festival, but my definition of a day festival is where you could choose from a number of potential headliners. BST in my view is a big gig with a festival set up - I can’t imagine anyone going (and paying full price) to see a support band on a side stage here then leaving. 

I was due to arrive in plenty of time to see James Bay, but an accident on the A3 and then the coach driver getting lost put paid to that. Alas. Arrived at Hyde Park as The Chicks were starting and heard/watched a good chunk of their set, but did use some of the time to get a drink and investigate a merch stand (and then run away when t-shirts were £40!). What I heard was good though. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band - I mean what is there to even say? They are just incredible live and put on such a good show. Pretty much 3 hours on the nose with barely a moment's pause. That said, I do not understand people who spend £100+ for a ticket for a show like that and then talk through all the times Springsteen is talking to the crowd or playing a quiet song. We didn’t buy a ticket to your conversation! (I know…I'm a miserablist etc). Would I have preferred the Thursday setlist? In the moment post-gig, yes. Rationally though, all the songs I would have wanted from Thursday I saw in 2016 when seeing them in Coventry, so I can’t grumble too much! I would have also preferred Frank Turner on the bill, but had I missed Frank due to the aforementioned travel issues, I would have been fuming. As it was, it was annoying but I got over it quickly.  

6. Electric Callboy - Guildhall, Portsmouth. Sunday 22nd October

Missed Monuments, because the queue to get in looked crazy when the doors opened, and the pub across the road was more inviting. Sorry Monuments. As Everything Unfolds were on as I arrived. They seemed decent enough! Electric Callboy are just serious fun live. The music is fun, the show is massive - not much more to ask for really! There were so many highlights from this show, but I almost popped out of my seat when they started playing Hypa Hypa, and their cover of Everytime We Touch was just spectacular. 

5. Blur - Wembley Stadium, London. Sunday 9th July 2023. 

First time I got pinged for drinking on Olympic Way. Never seen that rule enforced before! With no pre-gig cans to enjoy, and not wanting to go over to the arena and spend £8.50 on a pint, I just went into the gig. The Selecter were on as I got into the stadium. They were cool. Opening band of a stadium show fodder really. Apparently former snooker player Steve Davis was DJing in between bands? If so, it was very discreetly. Paul Weller up next and he was fine. I don’t know his solo material, and popped for the Jam/Style Council classics. That gig sold well before he was announced, so selfishly think he should have played more from those bands, but I would say that! Blur were so good! They are good live, the singalongs were ace - genuinely great stuff. Bucket list band ticked off! The singalong to Parklife was one of the loudest singalongs I've ever heard in person. Incredible scenes. 

4. Limp Bizkit - Gunnersbury Park, London. Sunday 13th August 2023. 

I was not smart and also booked a ticket to see Death Goals on this night. This is a damn shame as I really liked the Death Goals album and seeing them in a small room round the corner from my flat would have been ace. Ach! Anyway, first time going to a gig at Gunnersbury Park. It is a decent spot for gigs, I’d say! Caught the very end of Deijuvhs, but not enough to form an opinion of them. Joey Valence & Brae were up next and they were really good. Glad I got to see all their set. KennyHoopla didn’t do much for me. It was fairly harmless pop-punk. It was fine, but didn’t win me over. Pendulum were ace. Not playing Fasten Your Seatbelts or Slam was a shame though. Limp Bizkit were great, and that crowd was lively!! Couldn’t have asked for much more from their set really. I didn't walk away from it thinking "I wish they had played..." other than perhaps more from their latest album. 

3. Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls - Guildhall, Portsmouth. Tuesday 7th February 2023

I found myself at one point trying to remember when I was last at the Guildhall for a standing gig. It wasn’t in 2022, that is for sure! I went for a comedy gig in 2022, but that is all. It must have been Idles in 2021. Anyway, my memory games aside...Wilswood Buoys opened the show and they were good. I’ve listened to their album a few times this year and have enjoyed it each time, so it was cool to see them live. The Lottery Winners were up next and I thought they were great. Good music, fun live, what is not to like? So much so, I was considering a different gig when I’m in London after the rugby on 29th April, but I now may go and see them instead. Choices! (INFO - I didn't see them in London because I decided to go to the decidedly more thrashy Warbringer show with Hellripper in support, a show that isn't here because I tested positive for Covid not long after that London day. Can I fairly blame that show for my getting Covid? No. Do I anyway? Yeah a bit). Anyway! Frank Turner - what is there to say about Frank Turner I haven’t said loads of times before. I really like seeing him live, and this one was no exception. When I wrote these notes in February, I wrote that I wouldn’t be shocked if this was being discussed later in the year as one of the better gigs of the year, and lo, here we are! 

2. The Bronx - The Joiners, Southampton. Friday 7th July 2023

The start of 3 gigs in 3 days after two long work weeks. Oldboy were the support for this gig and they were fine. I wasn’t blown away, but I didn’t dislike them. The Bronx were incredible. They are always great live, but in a small club they are in their element. Came out of mosh pit retirement for the last 5 songs. It had been tempting earlier in the night, but I got shouted out (along with others) for being into the show (without being in the pit!), and then they played Knifeman. What is a man to do? Seriously, this was so close to being my favourite gig of the year. I am slightly surprised looking back that it ranks well ahead of Blur and Bruce Springsteen, which were the other two gigs that weekend, but it feels right saying it, so here it is. Number 2, and so close to being number 1. However...

1. clipping - HERE at Outernet, London. Tuesday 22nd August 2023

First visit to HERE at Outernet. I hope it isn’t my last as it is a really cool space for live music. 

Container was an act I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about live, as it is very much out of my wheelhouse - but it was great! Bit of a dance to get the show going, no complaints from me!

Conjurer up next and they are very good live. Probably stuck out a bit like a sore thumb on this bill, but people seemed to be genuinely receptive so that’s cool. I saw them support Carcass earlier in the year (if you have read all of this, you already know this!) but seeing them on this much bigger stage was ace. Clipping blew me away. They were so good! Daveed Diggs is an incredible rapper and live his flow is something else. The band, the stage show, the venue, the set? Without doubt my favourite gig of the year. 

That was a year in live music, and what a year it was. Same time again next year? Oh go on then.