I’m going to be honest, this year’s roundup is going to be a challenge for me. In the past I’ve reviewed dozens of albums and gone to a similar number of gigs each year so my biggest problem has been narrowing it down. This year, though, has been a struggle. Between real life, work, studies and so on I’ve just not had the time to do much more on the site beyond maintaining everything. I’ve breezed through loads of stuff, but not had the chance to really get to know anything new.
However, I can’t say it’s been an empty year musicwise. I’ve caught a few bands live for the first time, seen a few favourites again and published a fair bunch of Headline Acts. Slap in the middle of it all was another gem of a Bloodstock, an event I look forward to every year. It’s gone past the point where I care about the lineup, I go primarily for the buzz and the people. Though the lineup is usually pretty good!
Albums
Another which sticks out is Blackout, one that I’ve been spinning ever since review.
The undersung Skálmöld (The Sinner Rides Again. This was backed with a great live show, too.
Inner Demons. A brief introduction to a band that I hope continues to do well.
For sheer party fun, The Beggars dropped six great songs in Vertiginous Drops. It’s having the likes if this alongside all these other acts in my list that makes me truly appreciate the huge variety of music we’re fortunate enough to cover.
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Live shows
Twenty five shows is a fair amount, but there were years gone by then I’d have hit this number by March. Quality over quantity, I guess, plus the side effects of having two jobs, a family, and a Krav Maga fetish (being replaced with a Masters Degree from January 2024).
This year was a mixture of old and new, and a couple of festivals. Hats off to SOS Festival whose 14th event was certainly one that made me want to go back for number 15 next year (though I fear it’s on the same dates as I’m dog-sitting for my ex). No clashes, a great venue, a wonderful atmosphere and a fantastic lineup. This is what all small festivals should aim for. At the other end of the scale was the aforementioned Bloodstock where, off the top of my head, the highlights included Royal Republic, Ugly Kid Joe, Seething Akira and Waterlines. Playing Bloodstock and co-headlining our own event (credit to those who actually planned and hosted it, I just kind of went along for the ride) were Tortured Demon who it seems may grow to a 5-piece soon. Red Method buddied with them and the event as a whole was an absolute riot, spoiled only by the weather meaning that some ticket-bearers simply couldn’t make it to Ivory Blacks. Boo!
Elsewhere I got to see some great live music all over Glasgow. There are so many venues here, we are truly spoiled. At the large end of the scale we have the Hydro. Topping the bands I saw there this year were the mighty co-headlined earlier in the year and put on an equally amazing show at the rock end of the scale. Two of the best sets I’ve seen from either band, and I’ve seen both several times.
BSC played again later in the year at smaller venues, but I opted to catch Ferocious Dog who were next year when the band will play here again.
A definite highlight was getting to see as have Don’t Panic.
Talking of factories, Fear Factory showed why they are a genuinely legendary act when they Wednesday 13 / South of Salem / Sick n’ Beautiful / Tarah Who? Every band shone and we interviewed everyone except the Salem boys, but I’m sure we’ll catch up with them soon!
Similar banging value for money, was the Steve ‘n’ Seagulls. A proper long set, great music and a nice bunch of guys.
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Wrapping up
OK, so that’s ended up being quite the list. I can only imagine how long it would have been a decade ago when I was part time and going to a gig every other week! I look at the releases I’ve enjoyed and the shows I’ve attended. There is no doubting that music across the spectrum is flourishing. Sure, Spotify may be trying to screw everyone over (including themselves it seems), but in of the number of incredible acts out there, and the quality of their output… we continue to be spoiled.
I can only apologise for the number of bands we (specifically I) have missed. I know there are countless albums I’ve not had time to listen to, and shows I couldn’t attend (including some I’d arranged and then had to cancel).
2024 is already filling up. We’ve got some exciting tours lined up, we’re hoping to organise a third Moshville Times festival, and the album release dates are starting to crystalise. It’s hard to believe that rock/metal was written off a few decades ago as a dying genre. Sorry, naysayers, but you can’t keep the metal beast down!
