All in All

Kylie, Adem, Vashti Bunyan, Vetiver, Juana Molina, Joanna Newsome (x2), Alistair Roberts, Ben Folds, Bobby Conn, Dirty Feel, Shaker Heights, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Faun Fables, Arcade Fire (x4), Massive Attack, Spiritualised (x 2), Decemberists, Cold War Kids (x2), Hold Steady, Jarvis, Bat For Lashes, Rufus Wainwright, Gossip, Patrick Wolf, My Brightest Diamond, Nurse With Wound, Brett Anderson, Richard Swift (x2), David Vandervalde, LCD Soundsystem, Prinzhorn Dance School, Air, Electrolane, EST, Pravda, Priestbird, Kontakte, Clinic, Wildbeests, Last Puritans, Van der Graaf Generator, Feist, El-P, Sondre Lerche, Espers, Voice of the Seven Woods, Nick Cave, Grinderman, Dirty Three, Low, Cat Power, Mum Smokes, White Magic, Psarantonis, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Nina Nastassia & Jim White, Pink Mountain, Mark Kozelek, Battles, Patti Smith, Grizzly Bear, Gravenhurst, Apples in Stereo, Throbbing Gristle, Manic Street Preachers, The Enemy, Pet Shop Boys, Turbonegro, Bob Lind, Motorhead, Forest of No Return, Sunn0))), John Barry, Wendy Flowers, Bonnie Dobson, Susan Christie, The Artery, Sons and Daughters, Joel Gideon and the Shark, St Etienne, Lou Reed, Interpol, Maccabees.

Phew, what a list of bands/shows seen so far this year, with plenty more to see in the coming weeks. When I mention to people how many shows we go and see you always get the same question, “what were the highlights?” It’s actually a tough one to answer because a highlight isn’t necessarily a fantastic gig. The first Arcade Fire show in January at St John’s church was plagued by less than perfect sound, but it was a magical evening, especially as we were seated in exactly the right place to get to be standing right next to them when they went outside to finish the show on the church steps singing an acoustic ‘Wake Up’. That makes that show a highlight, even though they were technically much better at Brixton.

Cold War Kids at ULU, especially when they did ‘Robbers’ breaking in the middle for their support act poet to read some verse by torchlight. Patti Smith, in an intimate church setting, doing her cover of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and then breaking to read Alan Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ while the band continued to play the Nirvana bass line. Joanna Newsome, exquisite with the full orchestra at the Barbican but even more powerful and intimate at the tiny stage at All Tomorrow’s Parties, where she held the audience so intently that I don’t think I’ve ever heard silence and reverence for a performance like that at a festival.

Not a bad way to spend the first half of the year, and Mac, I’m glad I spent it with you.