As with last year’s 2012 Year In Review, reflecting on the many shows attended in 2013 and trying to make some sense of it all was a challenge. Having attended nearly 100 events, which usually includes at least one supporting act and a headliner, as well as one 10-day festival and many multi-artist shows, I saw literally hundreds of sets. Miraculously, I can probably count on one hand the number that were “bad”, and the majority were awesome in one or more ways. Still, I feel it is important to highlight the best of the best of the best, in an attempt to celebrate an amazing year of music. You can also check out my Top 100 Concert Photos of 2013 in that separate article.
I was really fortunate to have a chance to meet (and in some cases meet again) some of my favorite artists, including Berlin, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Book of Love, Charli XCX, Chris Martin, Colin Hay, The Cure, Cyndi Lauper, Heart, The Heavy, Jewel, LL Cool J, Marilyn Manson, Method Man and Redman, OMD, OneRepublic, Peter Murphy, Pet Shop Boys, Prima Donna, Thomas Dolby, Victor Willis, and The Zombies.
Obviously, lists like the one that follow below are a reflection of the author and his or her personal, subjective tastes, so all are truly about the kind of music that most moves and inspires me. I have a pretty broad taste in music, but I think what I like the most is reflected by my choices.
Part 1: Top 10 Concerts of 2013
So basically, this is a very personal list based on the nearly 100 concerts I attended in 2013.
As it happens, half of my best concerts (including my Top 3) I would not have experienced if I did not get on an airplane, so it underscores my advocacy for traveling for concerts…
In 2013, I attended concerts throughout my home state of California (Sacramento, Lincoln, Grass Valley, Davis, Modesto, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Saratoga, Monterey, Los Angeles, Hollywood, San Diego), in Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Texas, as well as in countries overseas including England, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia.
1) Depeche Mode (The O2 Arena London | London, England | May 29, 2013)
Depeche Mode is my all-time favorite band, and it had been some years since I’ve seen them perform live. With their new album, Delta Machine, came the new tour, which began overseas. So in late 2012, I bought tickets for multiple shows across Europe and the UK for Spring/Summer 2013.
I really wanted to see a show in Croatia, as I have family there, so everything was kind of built around that date in Zagreb, which coincidentally is the one that I shot professionally as well. In May and June, I attended the dates in Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, and the back to back shows at the O2 in London England. So in part this is my number one event as I take it in collectively as a five show, four country experience that took place over a week or so.
Later in the year, I caught just one show in the U.S. – in Las Vegas, as it was one of the only ones with a general admission standing floor in front of the stage (as well as in a small venue).
All were fantastic in their own ways, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be the last of that set, and the second show at the O2 Arena in London.
Show to show, the setlist stayed pretty much the same, so it became more of the same experience in some regards, just a different venue, crowd, and energy.
Then came the two O2 shows, and having experienced one, I expected the same the next night to be mostly the same (and I was nearly in the same spot in the crowd both nights as well – at the foot of the catwalk extending into the GA standing crowd).
As it so happened, the setlist was very different, and it was a very special show… with each audio cue, there was the adrenaline rush of realization – “Oh, what? They are playing that song?”
There was amazing energy in the arena, with a crowd made up with dedicated fans from all over the world. It was an event.
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2) Coldplay (“Under 1 Roof” at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith | London, England | December 29, 2013)
After completing their Mylo Xyloto tour in 2012, Coldplay took 2013 off from touring to work in the studio. It is generally their tradition to do some sort of charity show in late December every year, so I was holding out hope that maybe I’d get to see them again. About a month prior, they did announce such a show, another “Under 1 Roof” event in London, benefiting Kids Company.
I had a bit of trouble arranging my travel last minute, over the holidays, but it ended up working out, and I made it to London (my favorite city).
All in all, it ended up being an even richer experience than I imagined, with a chance meeting with Chris Martin outside of their studios, and a nice tour of the organization benefiting from the special multi-artist concert.
As with the Depeche Mode show discussed above, this one entailed a 12 hour wait to get up in the front row for the show, but it was totally worth it.
One amazing part before Coldplay even took stage was a special duet between Lily Allen and Chris Martin (who played acoustic guitar and provided backing vocals) for her hit, “The Fear”.
The full Coldplay set was incredible – maybe even the best I’ve heard them play, particularly Jonny’s work on guitar.
I love special, one off shows, and this was definitely one of those, with their first live performance of the new song, “Atlas”, as well as “White Christmas” and their own “Christmas Lights”.
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3) The Cure (Neal S. Blaisdell Arena | Honolulu, Oahu in Hawaii | July 30, 2013)
I think it had been a good ten years since I saw The Cure live, prior to this year. I heard that they were doing a special gig in Oahu, their first ever in Hawaii… along with a small number of front row, meet and greet tickets. Could it get better than that?
Actually, it still exceeded my every expectation. Unbelievable show. 38 songs spanning about two and a half hours. Got to shoot the first three songs and watch the rest from the front row. Doesn’t get any better. Plus the set list was amazing. Most definitely the best Cure concert I’ll ever see in my life.
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4) Morrissey (Robert and Margit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts | Davis, California | March 4, 2013)
I love Morrissey, and picked his shows last year as my favorites of 2012 (and like The Cure above, had a chance to catch him in Hawaii as well).
Unfortunately, his tours in the past two years have been plagued with cancellations due to illnesses, so seeing him at all is a feat.
This year most of his shows were scratched, but I did get to see him at my favorite venue in California, Mondavi Center.
I was lucky enough to shoot this one from front and center and stay there for the rest of the brilliant show. Every Moz show is epic in its own ways, and this one was no different.
There was the obligatory stage rush at the end (I don’t participate in those) and got to see one of my buddies floored by his security.
I don’t know when or if I’ll get to see him again, but I suspect I will, and can’t wait for the opportunity.
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5) Prince (DNA Lounge | San Francisco, California | “Late Show” on April 24, 2013)
This was just an amazing show, as articulated in my full review better than I can recap here. The man is a true genius. Unforgettable experience seeing him in a tiny little club (two nights in a row). It was worth the price of admission just to see him do an on the fly megamix of his hits on his sampler for an encore.
There is no sample image above as Prince does not allow any photography at his concerts…
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6) Fleetwood Mac (Sleep Train Arena | Sacramento, California | July 6, 2013)
I have always had a special place in my heart reserved for Fleetwood Mac, going back to childhood. Like Prince, prior to this year I’d never had a chance to see them live, and had been waiting and waiting for a new tour.
I had the privilege of shooting this one, but it was from the back of the sports arena, at the soundboard, so pretty far off.
After the first three songs, I ran out to my car to stow my gear and ran back in and made my way up to my floor seat (which I bought) and knew from checking StubHub and from a friend who came in earlier that there were some close seats that scalpers bought and did not sell, so made my way up close, and ended up standing dead center about one or two rows off the front, with some short young women in front of me. Brilliant view and just amazing to see these legends right up close.
I’d seen one of Lindsay Buckingham’s fantastic solo shows last year, and it was fascinating to see how different he was with the band. He was like a man possessed – I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an artist feed off the energy of his band and crowd and music in such a way before – it was thrilling.
The show was certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen, and I’ll never forget it, and probably won’t have an opportunity to see them from such a perfect vantage point again. I feel so lucky to have that experience.
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7) Pixies (El Rey Theatre | Los Angeles, California | September 10, 2013)
The Pixies are among my three favorite bands of all time (along with Depeche Mode and Coldplay), so I was so, so happy to learn that not only were they releasing some new material, but touring as well.
The loss of Kim Deal was a bummer, but it sounds like that was the only way we’d be getting to see them again, and hearing new music, so it is what it is.
I really enjoyed Kim Shattuck on bass (who has since been replaced), and El Rey was the perfect venue for the band.
They did what the do, and it was a beautiful thing. I got to see them two nights in a row, but the second night was definitely the better one (the encore was inexplicably skipped the first night).
They are doing a fuller U.S. tour in 2014, and I will be covering at least three of them. Can’t wait.
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8) Alison Moyet (The Fillmore | San Francisco, California | November 11, 2013)
Alison Moyet is one of my all-time favorite vocalists – love her voice and she sounds like no one else. I’d seen Yazoo once but never seen her solo, doing her solo material, so this was one of my most anticipated shows of 2013.
As much as I expected to be blown away, it was an order of magnitude larger than I could have imagined. Absolutely brilliant.
She sounded better than ever, her band provided a foundation with which she could soar, and everything just blew my mind.
I was up front for this one as well, so could not have possibly had a better time at this gig. Love her.
~
9) Garbage (The Pearl Concert Theater at The Palms | Las Vegas, Nevada | April 12, 2013)
I’ve always been a huge Garbage fan, and I was lucky enough to have seen the start of their comeback at The Palms in Vegas in early 2012. I saw them again further into their tour in 2012, and then this year had the pleasure of chatting with Steve Marker for my podcast program.
I thought it would be really cool to see them at the Palms again in 2013, as they wrapped up their U.S. tour… so I could not miss it.
It was really rewarding to see how much they’ve evolved after reunited, recording new material, and touring for about a year. They seemed so much more confident and powerful with this almost year to date return to The Palms.
They are a band that has a very special relationship with their fans – almost like rock superheroes going out and representing a different kind of culture on our behalf.
It was definitely a highlight of my year – in and out of music – to be part of this special celebration with artist and fans.
I’m hopeful that Garbage will put out new material next year, and start the touring process all over again.
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10) Anna Nalick (Harlow’s Restaurant and Nightclub | Sacramento, California | November 20, 2013)
This one was a complete surprise for me. I’d fallen in love with Anna Nalick’s music, but by the time I found it, she was off the road and following pursuits outside of music and recording.
When I saw she was embarking on a mini tour of the West Coast, I was quite excited to see how her music translated into a live experience.
I’ve truly never seen an artist approach a live show in such a way before… not only is she an incredibly gifted artist, she has an authentic and genuine way of opening up to the audience as she goes along and talking about her music and performing it. Because – rare today – her music is actually about things… and she has this natural way of finding the perfect marriage of exposition and song.
I’ve never really seen an artist brave enough to make herself so vulnerable to a room full of mostly strangers, and ended the show with this shared bond among everyone – a real transformative experience for all involved.
I started as a fan of the music, and left as a tremendous fan of the artist herself.
She played a number of new songs and I look forward to her many successes in her future. One to watch and admire.
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Part 2: Top 10 Concert Moments of 2013
These are my own top ten favorite moments from shows I attended in 2013…
1) Dave Gahan on the catwalk for “Never Let Me Down Again” at the O2 Arena in London (Night 1)
My all-time favorite band is Depeche Mode… my all-time favorite album is Music for the Masses, and my all-time favorite song is “Never Let Me Down Again” from that album.
So on the first of their two nights at the O2 Arena in London, I found myself at the front rail on the foot of the catwalk, and knew Dave Gahan would end up right over me at some point, doing the famous back and forth arm wave along with the crowd.
Having been to back to back DM shows all over Europe leading up to this date though, this one felt a bit different, and I could see Dave get a bit choked up himself. Standing amid hard core fans of the band, all over the world, waving back and forth, and seeing the artist having a moment just as we did… doesn’t get any better than that, and that’s the kind of power you get from live shows that you’ll never feel listening to a CD at home.
I did happen to videotape this entire song, so it is happily memorialized, for me and others (as of this date, over 80,000 views on YouTube):
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2) Surprise appearance by Darryl McDaniels (from Run-DMC) with LL Cool J on stage for “Peter Piper” at the Greek Theatre in Hollywood
My first ever concert, at the age of 14, was Run-DMC. I was a huge fan and this was back in 1987. I never had an opportunity to see them perform again.
Fast forward to 2013 – 26 years later – and I’m at the Greek Theatre in L.A. watching LL Cool J performing as part of his “Kings of the Mic” tour. During his set, who happens to walk on stage (unannounced and unexpected) but Darryl McDaniels! I couldn’t believe it. Even better, the pair performed the Run-DMC song, “Peter Piper” from Raising Hell.
Words cannot express… but thankfully, I was in the front row, center position, and also captured this one on video:
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3) Stevie Nicks and Dave Grohl perform “Gold Dust Woman” as part of Sound City Players concert in Hollywood
One of the most amazing concert events of the year was the Sound City Players concert at Hollywood Palladium following the premiere of Dave Grohl’s Sound City documentary.
End to end, an incredible pairing and collaboration between many great artists, but my favorite was certainly Dave and others performing with the legendary Stevie Nicks.
The whole set was mind blowing, but I think my favorite would have to be their rendition of “Gold Dust Woman”. Brilliant.
Again, I was in the front row, and fortunate enough to have captured it on video:
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4) Heart and Jason Bonham performing “Stairway to Heaven” at America’s Cup Pavilion in San Francisco
This particular Heart concert was amazing, and as part of that “Heartbreaker Tour” at America’s Cup Pavilion in San Francisco, with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin’s Experience supporting, the latter shared the encore with Ann and Nancy Wilson, and they finished things up with their stellar cover of “Stairway to Heaven”. Unbelievable. What rock and roll is all about. As a bonus to the evening, I also got to meet Ann and Nancy Wilson backstage before the show.
I was up front for this one, and captured it on video as well:
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5) Alison Moyet performing “Don’t Go” at the Fillmore in San Francisco
My favorite band circa 1982-1984 was Yazoo, and I did get to see them as part of their Reconnected Tour years ago, but I never had any opportunity to see Alison Moyet do a solo show, so this was one of my favorite shows of the year at The Fillmore in San Francisco. But her throwing down with “Don’t Go”, I think, was the highlight of the whole thing for me – totally took me back.
I was front and center for this one too, and captured this on video:
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6) Walking into The DNA Lounge in San Francisco as Prince took to the stage to perform “Let’s Go Crazy”
I’d somehow never seen Prince perform live prior to this year. When I heard he was going to do early and late shows on two nights in San Francisco at the small and intimate DNA Lounge, I knew I had to go. I ended up buying tickets for both nights – the late show on the first night, and the early show on the second.
Funny enough, I was seeing another true legend that night, Sixto Díaz Rodríguez (“Searching for Sugarman”) prior to Prince on the first night, about a mile or so away at The Warfield. When that ended, I walked to the DNA Lounge to catch Prince.
As I was walking into the venue, a good 30 minutes I’m guessing after doors, Prince was just taking the stage, and opened with “Let’s Go Crazy”.
It was quite surreal, finding my way through the dark as a backlit Prince was on stage playing that song in this tiny, 800-capacity club… it was almost like a stepped through some portal sending me back to 1984. It was a moment I will not forget.
Regrettably, not only were videos not allowed, neither were photos (even from a cell phone), so I have nothing to share here, though the moment is imprinted on my mind.
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7) TIE: Coldplay performing “Atlas” live for the first time at “Under 1 Roof” in London; Chris Martin duet with Lily Allen at same event
The only new song Coldplay released this year was “Atlas” for the soundtrack for the latest Hunger Games movie. Funny enough, upon hearing it (the studio version), it didn’t really grab me. Struck me as a “movie soundtrack song”, not a rock/pop song. I listened to it once and kind of forgot about it.
Fast forward to the special “Under 1 Roof” Coldplay concert at the Eventim Apollo in London in December, and they began to play it and kind of flubbed it, and restarted, and I thought I’d videotape it, as I knew it was the first time they were playing it live as a band.
While the first listen on CD didn’t move me, the live version grabbed me immediately. As I explained in my full review of the concert, Coldplay really won me over as a fan with their Live 2003 DVD – the live versions of their music really connected with me to my core.
With their live performance of “Atlas”, I had the same feelings and reaction; in fact, it reminded me of “See You Soon” as performed on that live concert DVD. Brilliant.
Loved it, and I’m so glad I “captured” the moment for myself on video:
This is kind of cheating, but since it is my own list, I guess I’m only breaking my own “rules”… so I’m picking out a second special moment from this same concert – Chris Martin’s surprise duet with Lily Allen on her supporting set, doing her own “The Fear”:
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8) Tori Amos performing “Precious Things” at Caprices Festival in Crans-Montana, Switzerland
It’s actually because of Tori Amos that I went to the Swiss Alps for Caprices Festival at all, which I’d never heard of until I checked her site a couple of months prior to see if she was playing any concerts in 2013, and that was all I found. So I ended up covering a 10-day festival in Switzerland (and I don’t generally like festivals, and I’d never been to Switzerland… and I don’t speak French, Italian, or German).
Her set was definitely the highlight for me, and it was all worth it. I’ve been a fan of Tori since Little Earthquakes was released in 1992 (thanks to Neil Gaiman) and have seen her perform countless times over the years, though not recently.
A favorite artist of mine, she was brilliant as she always is, and though it’s tough to choose, “Precious Things” holds a special place in my heart. I had shot her in the pit, but made my way back around after to capture a few videos as well, including “Precious Things”.
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9) Fleetwood Mac close out their show with “Go Your Own Way” at Sleep Train Amphitheater in Sacramento
For me, Fleetwood Mac are true icons of rock and roll, and I’d never seen them perform live prior to this year, so I was really looking forward to this tour. I caught them at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.
Such power – in music and performance. Truly, all of the show was a highlight, but I thought showcasing the ending (as filmed by my friend Nick, maybe 15 feet to my right) would give a taste of what it was all about…
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10) Morrissey “Still Ill” at UC Davis
As with Fleetwood Mac, really the entirety of the Morrissey show at Mondavi Center at U.C. Davis was sublime, but I think this video (again as filmed by my friend Nick – this time right behind me and I pop up in front of him from time to time) sums up his greatness.
As a side note, having shot concerts for a few years now, I would say that the set of photos from this concert are probably my favorites. Funny thing is, while I was shooting the first three songs, multiple people behind me were tapping me and whispering in my ear that he was posing for me, which was surreal. Love the man.
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Part 3: Other Concert “Best of…” Awards
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Best “Not Really a Rock Concert” Concert
Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton, Conducted by John Mauceri, at Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live | Los Angeles, California | 10/31/2013
As soon as I was old enough to drive, I started going to as many Oingo Boing concerts as I could. One of my all-time favorite bands, who called it on Halloween back in 1995 with a special show at the now defunct Universal Amphitheatre. I happened to be living in L.A. at the time for grad school/film school, so was lucky enough to catch that last show.
I never thought I’d see them perform again, as it was reported that front man Danny Elfman had an ear issue. So this was the next best thing, and equally amazing in its own right, as Elfman did vocals on a few of the songs. I was lucky enough to have the front row, dead center seat for this one, so he was “right there” and in top form. A true genius in music, and it was so amazing to experience him in live form again.
Top 5 Multi-Artist Events/Tours
1) Regeneration Tour (Howard Jones, Erasure’s Andy Bell, Berlin with Terri Nunn, Men Without Hats)
The 80s is my favorite decade, and New Wave was my favorite genre, so obviously this tour was tailor made for me. All of the artists were in top form, and it was my first time seeing Howard Jones, who was amazing – live on stage it sounded like studio quality. I don’t think he’s aged either. Andy Bell was incredible. I’d never seen Men Without Hats, and was a huge fan as a kid – one of my first cassette tapes. And of course my friends Berlin were masterful on stage, as always, and showed amazing hospitality before and after the show. Hoping to see them a bunch in 2014.
2) Sound City Players (Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, Alain Johannes, Chris Goss, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Lee Ving, Rick Nielsen, Rick Springfield, John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, and more)
This was like the definition of a one off, special show. Wall to wall artists and guests and surprises. AMAZING showcase of talent and history. Such respect for Dave Grohl. He is The Man.
3) Super Freestyle Explosion (Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, Exposé, Debbie Deb, Shannon, Trinere, Johnny O, Nu Shooz, Pretty Poison, Stacey Q)
Another 80s movement, another must see show. Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam and Exposé was the second concert I’d ever been to in my life, in 1987, so it was something special to see them again so many years later. Leading into the show, I didn’t see that Nu Shooz was added to the bill and that was I think maybe the highlight for me, but I really loved every set (though I was almost completely unfamiliar with Stevie B, so the nostalgia factor wasn’t there for me for the headliner).
4) Old School Funk Fest (The Brothers Johnson, Midnight Star, The Dazz Band)
This was such a great show – all of them were brilliant on stage, and The Brothers Johnson blew my mind with their very rare concert appearance.
5) Hip Hop Halloween Party (Whodini, Kurtis Blow, and Rob Base)
Big fan of 80s hip hop, so this was a great show. Such fun.
Top 3 Best Supporting Acts
1) Reignwolf
~ see www.reignwolf.com
This was the biggest surprise for me of the year. Opening for Pixies, I’d never heard of Reignwolf. This guy (Jordan Cook) is a genius. I’d never seen anything like it live in concert. For me, it was like seeing someone of the caliber of Prince, but when relatively unknown (today he has 14K Facebook likes).
I predict he will break huge in 2014, and will be a top artist someday. It has to happen. Such talent can’t be kept secret forever.
If you ever get a chance to see him live in concert, do not pass it up – you cannot be disappointed.
2) Kitten
~ see www.kittentheband.com
I first experienced Kitten when they opened for No Doubt at their residency at Gibson Amphitheatre last year, and then this year opening for Garbage in Las Vegas and then Charli XCX in San Francisco. I also chatted with Chloe Chaidez for my podcast back in September.
Chloe and her band were made to perform live, and as young as she is, I see a progression with each show, and it’s only a matter of time until they break out and begin headlining their own tours.
Not just a live show, everything that they’ve put out from the studio is amazing work for such a young artist.
In my opinion, Kitten will grow to be a leading act some time into the future.
3) Meg Myers
~ see www.megmyers.com
Like with Reignwolf, I’d never heard of Meg Myers prior to showing up to see my beloved Pixies at El Rey in Los Angeles. She opened the first of the two shows I’d seen, while Reignwolf opened the second night.
I was completely blown away by her performance – her music, her voice, her delivery, her emotion. All raw power and talent.
I get the sense that she is still developing and growing into her gifts, but am astounded by her potential.
I can really imagine her becoming a force in the music industry, though it may be a few years off yet.
Her debut EP, Daughter In The Choir, is fantastic, and a must buy for 2013. I rated her song, “Adelaide”, as my #1 Song of 2013. Cheers to the guy who recorded her performance of the same at the Pixies show I saw her play.
Worst Supporting Act
A$AP Rocky
Saw him open for Rihanna, to a crowd filled with many teens and pre-teens, with a display of filth including bringing young women from the crowd on stage to give him lap dances. No class, no talent.
Artist of the Year
Dave Grohl
The man behind the amazing documentary, Sound City, which is the best music-related film in years… maybe ever?
I have such respect for Mr. Grohl, and I hope he continues on his path of doing things no one else is doing, like pulling together an assortment of artists to produce his accompanying Sound City Players studio album and live tour dates.
Future Rock God
Reignwolf (Jordan Cook)
I’m telling you… he’s going to be huge.
Part 4: Top 10 Albums of 2013
These are my favorite albums of the year. Honestly, this was by far the hardest section for me to do. Albums are very tough to “rate”, as some may have favorite songs but be uneven… others may work better as albums, but not have as big of hits. And fondness for a particular band also holds sway.
Interestingly, my choice last year was a complete surprise to me, as I was a casual fan of the artist before that unbelievably awesome album hit (The Ting Ting’s Sounds from Nowheresville). This year was even more of a surprise, as I’d never heard of MS MR in 2012, and they were up against new albums from some of my all-time favorite artists. So I think their placing in the #1 spot tells you how much I adore them and their work.
1) MS MR – Secondhand Rapture
[ALBUM OF THE YEAR]
MS MR were a completely new artist to me in 2013. I’d never heard of them until I was in Switzerland covering Caprices Festival – in the press room over 10 days another journalist kept putting “Hurricane” into a shared playlist we were listening to, and I was hooked.
I got their Candy Bar Creep Show EP, which featured four of the songs that would ultimately be one third of Secondhand Rapture.
The duo is one of those rare artists that seem completely unique and fully formed from the get go.
I’ve always been drawn to that male-female duo dynamic in electronic-oriented music… Yazoo, Eurythmics, Metric.
Secondhand Rapture is one of those rare albums that has no filler, and each song is hooky and infectious from the first listen.
Max Hershenow has that ability to create sounds that are not simplistic, but not overdone – just enough elements and pacing and changes to work beautifully. He also understand the power of breaks with absence of sound, which can be quite powerful.
Lizzy Plapinger’s voice has a sort of ethereal quality that is immediately identifiable and consistent song to song.
This album really embraces pop in an alternative way that has unique character, and certainly is not in the “me too” category – very original and oozing with their own personal style and signature.
I was fortunate enough to see them perform live twice in 2013 as well (in June and in October), and they and their on stage band are fantastic, and quite endearing in their honest and earnest presentation.
In 2013, this was the new album I listened to the most, front to back, without skipping any tracks, over and over and over and over… Love it. Hands down album of the year (for me).
2) Dido – Girl Who Got Away
I was very happy in 2012 to learn that Dido had a new album coming this year – Girl Who Got Away. I was disappointed I never got to see her perform live (she did a handful of media-oriented appearances and shows), but the album is her best in many years for certain, and probably her all-time best album.
She is one of my favorite artists, and I would say in many ways, this new album is her best work (as I have a longstanding personal connection with past songs, it’s hard to have the objectivity to see it that way, but I’d say it is her best). I think, musically, it is more of a marriage of her original studio works and her fuller live sound – the best of both worlds. This is something I’d hoped to hear from her since experiencing her Live at Brixton Academy DVD, which is probably my all-time favorite music concert video.
Clocking in with 17 tracks on the deluxe version, it is satisfying in that regard as well.
“No Freedom” is certainly an instant classic, as is “Let Us Move On”. But track to track, there is a lot to love, and a lot of variety. As always, it feels personal, and I’m sure there are stories behind all of the songs.
Never one to copy herself, and fall into a static style, her originality is on display with tracks like “Blackbird”, which is one of my favorites that goes through some significant changes. In fact, that song might be my favorite of the entire work. The track that immediately follows it, “End of Night”, is just as amazing though, so hard to say.
All in all, this entire album is one of those that fit into my permanent “soundtrack to my life”.
I’m so happy to have this new album from Dido, and she remains at the very top of my list of artists to see live – I would literally travel anywhere in the world to finally see her live for the first time.
3) Alison Moyet – The Minutes
As mentioned in my Top 10 Concerts section, Alison Moyet is one of my all-time favorite vocalists, and Yazoo was my favorite band for some time in the early 80s. So I was really excited to hear she had a new studio album coming out this year.
As with Dido, I would have to say this is truly her best album. Her voice and vocals are as stellar as ever, and she has matured significantly, and her music is quite sophisticated.
Her return to a more electronic style and sound is welcome, and I find it really suits her perfectly, as there is some contrast with her voice and vocal style and delivery.
“Horizon Flame” is awesome, and I think “Changeling” might be my favorite of the album. Such a cool song.
“When I Was Your Girl” is such an Alison Moyet song. It is really a showcase for how she approaches music and makes it come alive.
“Apple Kisses” is the song that maybe most has that sort of Yazoo vibe about it.
When I hear “Right As Rain”, it makes me think that maybe I like it better than “Changeling”…
Song to song though, the entire album is great. Definitely a surprise and one of the best of the year, hands down. Hearing a lot of the new tracks live in concert in November made me an even bigger fan of the album.
4) Depeche Mode – Delta Machine
I have what amounts to a full, track-by-track (lengthy) review of Depeche Mode’s Delta Machine in my Las Vegas concert review, so this is more or less a summary of that editorial.
Initially, it took me more time than I’d like to really get into Delta Machine. It is really a fantastic album.
Probably the area in which the band has been most consistent over the years (since Vince Clarke left after Speak and Spell) has been with the lyrics and themes behind the music, most of which come from the genius mind of Mr. Martin L. Gore (though more recently Dave Gahan has gotten more involved in this aspect of the band and their work).
“Welcome To My World” is, in my opinion, one of the band’s best songs (any album), and is the perfect way to kick off each show on their current tour. It is hooky and poppy like some of the best DM songs, and builds and goes through some awesome changes. Fantastic song.
“Angel”was the first song were heard as a preview of the sound of the new album last year, as part of their “collage”. Again, I would rate this song among their best. Some nice riffs, and it seems like it speeds up in sections as it goes along. I love the constant lyrics from Dave, and the changes. Of course, the added vocals from Martin make it classic DM.
“Heaven” was the first official single off the album, and I know some didn’t care for it (didn’t dislike it, just didn’t like it), I think because it is slow and more of a ballad. I love the classic keyboard sound and pacing and really strong vocals from Dave (honestly, his voice seems to get better and better with each album).
“Soothe My Soul” I would rank among the best Depeche Mode songs. Love everything about it – fantastic. Love the changes, the sound, the pacing, the chorus… everything about it. This is their current single.
The rest of the album is great in the context of listening to a full album, front to back, but on a song by song basis, probably aren’t songs I’d add to playlists.
Overall, I would say that Delta Machine, on the whole, more or less, is equivalent to their other albums released since SOFAD, though not nearly perfect like Black Celebration, Music for the Masses, Violator, and Songs of Faith and Devotion. But it shows that these guys still have the potential to turn out classic songs, and with Delta Machine, in my opinion, they’ve added four new ones to be included among their best. As they are my favorite band, that gets the album higher on my list than it would a casual fan.
5) Berlin – Animal
Having seen Berlin several times in the past couple of years, I’d heard the live versions of some of the songs, so I had a feeling this was going to be a great album. As it turns out, Animal is their best work by far since their classic 80s albums between 1980 and 1986.
The title song is an instant classic, and has that New Wave vibe but is completely contemporary in how it is put together.
“Nice to Meet You” I’d heard live as it is the song where Terri Nunn makes her way into the audience to reach out to her fans. I LOVE this song, and the studio version is incredible. It’s a true showcase for the gifts of her current band, with a brilliant mix of beats and keyboards, along with some beautiful guitar work. And Terri’s voice is better than ever, and it illustrates her intuitive ability to perfectly play and interact with the electronically-driven song.
“With the Lights On” has that anthemic vibe and feels like one of those songs that would get a nightclub jumping, while “Blame It on the World” has a more traditional approach with beautiful piano playing and Terri’s vocals showing a lot of emotion and range. “Stand Up” shows that different side to Terri’s voice, with a more inspirational style and cadence. For me, this song sounds like it could have been a great, lost B-side to one of her 80s hits.
Definitely a favorite on this album is “Mom”, an obviously very personal song, and something totally different from anything they’ve done in the past. I had heard this live at one of their shows, and it’s even more amazing in album form. Amazing, amazing song.
Terri Nunn has always been a real 80s icon for me and I’m so happy that she is recording and touring with such a talented group of guys, and making real magic in studio and on stage today. It is amazing to have such a great, new Berlin album again.
6) CSS – Planta
Funny thing is that I was pretty unfamiliar with CSS prior to this year, and went to see them live in concert in June as MS MR was supporting them on their tour. I started out buying their new album, Planta, and fell in love with this album and the band.
The whole thing has an alternative, pop sort of vibe, and they’ve produced such a number of catchy, hooky songs.
The opener, “Honey”, is aptly named, as it is sticky with its catchy chorus. “Into the Sun” is another favorite of mine, with a very New Wave-sounding foundation, going through changes much like classic New Order songs, but with layered female vocals.
“Dynamite” might be the coolest song of the year, with an assault of hooky, catchy sounds and vocals. Love this song. The same could be said of “Teenage Tiger Cat”, which is kind of a cheesy song, but I just absolutely love it, and again, it shows that CSS are experts at crafting these otherworldly hooky, catchy songs.
Probably the song that showcases their range and experimentation best is “Frankie Goes to North Hollywood” (obviously a nob to the classic New Wave band). I love the pacing of this one, and the stripped down style, and how it is really driven by the clever, varied vocals.
Seeing them live in conjunction with this fantastic album has converted me into a big fan of this group.
7) GROUPLOVE – Spreading Rumours
This is another album that I reviewed fully in the context of a live concert review, when I saw them do two back-to-back (“Heavy” and “Light”) shows for their limited “Seesaw Tour”, so if you want a more in-depth look at this album, you can reference that article.
The most striking thing for me is that GROUPLOVE is one of those rare bands that release a first album that is just a masterpiece. The band definitely has an artistic understanding of what makes catchy, engaging, music – the kinds of songs with which, after the first listen, you want to hear them again and again. Most bands are lucky to get one of these on an album, maybe two. Never Trust a Happy Song is, front to back, song after song, just magnificent. And while there is a consistent sound and style overall, it is not repetitive with what works. The is such a diversity in the work… this a a group of musicians with many ideas and they obviously want to work them out – not simply come up with one good song and throw together an album around it. It is so great, it makes me anxious to see what they come up with in future albums, as I expect that they are the kind of band that will grow and evolve and have tremendous potential for growth in this industry.
“Borderlines and Aliens” has a great riff and a bit of an electronic vibe to it and fast, rocking sort of beat. When I first heard this live at a past show, it actually had a Nirvana sort of vibe for me, kind of like a happier, speedier “All Apologies”, while “Schoolboy” is kind of what I imagine the Pixies might sound like in a more pop-infused alternate reality.
“Ways To Go” is definitely my favorite track on the new album – one of those ones that I can listen to over and over. I really love the way Christian takes you on a sort of uncertain journey with his careening vocal delivery, and this is one of those GROUPLOVE songs with the perfect balance of his raw sound and Hannah’s more traditional chorus, and the keyboards on this one really perfect the way in which this one was crafted. Love it. Definitely one of my favorites of theirs – an instant classic.
“Shark Attack” is more acoustic-driven and funny/irreverent. Another song to add to their quiver of songs that bring the party. “Sit Still” is along those same lines – more pop than rocking.
Their infectious and fun their music seems designed to be played live. GROUPLOVE has been touring pretty consistently in the past year, and I think all that hard work on the road has made them not only a better live act, but also is reflected in the new songs on Spreading Rumours.
8) OneRepublic – Native
This album really caught be by surprise. I was always a casual fan of OneRepublic – totally love many of their hits, but was never a band for me that I’d listen to their albums front to back.
I had picked up their latest, Native, leading up to their concert appearance in September, and put it into rotation as the date approached.
My process with albums is that I usually get hooked by a song and play it again and again and then let the album play out more (or quickly lose interest, and never finish it).
With Native opening with “Counting Stars”, I was immediately hooked, and at first thought that must be the big hit of the album… then got around to the next track, “If I Lose Myself”, and it was just as stellar.
“Feel Again”, another amazing track. It was like hit after hit.
Well, long story short, the entire album played out the same. Absolutely love this song – very hooky, catchy, and positive, with lots of anthemic bits.
Surprisingly, the concert was just as amazing – these guys really turned me into a fan this year. And they turned out one of the best albums of the year to be sure.
9) Pet Shop Boys – Electric
Another of the bands I came to love, Pet Shop Boys, with their best new work in many years. Electric is electric, and it powered their awesome tour this year as well (which nearly cracked my Top 10 Concerts).
They had a bit hit with single “Thursday (feat. Example)”, which is really like something that sounds as though it could have come off of Please or Actually, yet obviously has some very contemporary elements, making it like the past, but with decades of advancements in their craft.
This is another album that is like an album, with a real order and ideas behind it all. And not all is crafted as vocal driven pop hits, but there is a lot of variety in the package.
Of course, much of it is clever and very English, with song titles like “Love is a Bourgeois Construct”.
Pet Shop Boys had their identity and style and sound at the start, and have been consistent over decades, and in many ways, the music world is just now catching up to some of the innovations.
Here’s hoping that the pair continue to build on their catalog and successes with more music like Electric, and absolutely more touring. I was lucky enough to see them in concert (and meet them) in San Diego in October and it was one of the best shows of the year (just missing my Top 10 List).
10) Little Boots – Nocturnes
Little Boots was one of the biggest surprises for me in 2013. I’d loved the first album, but never seen her live. Then came an opportunity to see her in concert in September, supporting this year’s Nocturnes. I was completely blown away by her live show, and absolutely love the new album. She actually came close to making my Top 10 Concerts list as well.
Nocturnes opens with “Motorway” – fantastic, beautiful song. This song, and this album, demonstrates that Victoria has a real ear and gift for making powerful, complex, moving music. Love this song.
“Broken Record” is the obvious big hit song that is maybe most like the best on Hands. Amazing song. It’s really like an electropop journey. Perfectly crafted and not overdone; if anything, understated for effect.
This album has a slight disco vibe to it, like you might hear with “Beat Beat”.
Each song is wonderful, and they are ordered as carefully and each song is structured. Closer “Satellite” is the perfect bookend to “Motorway”. I love how the whole album truly feels like an album, which is becoming a lost art.
Part 5: Top 10 Songs and Favorite 100 Songs of 2013
These are my 100 favorite songs of 2013 – either released on an album that came out during 2013 or released as a single in 2013.
The first 10 are my Top 10 favorites, in order (#1 being best), 11-100 are simply listed alphabetically by song title.
1. “Adelaide” by Meg Myers
[SONG OF THE YEAR]
YouTube Link: “Adelaide” by Meg Myers
I’d never heard of Meg Myers before 2013, and really had never heard of her before seeing her and her band open for the Pixies. She really blew me away, and this song particularly struck me in her live set.
I bought her EP and singles once I got back to my hotel and the studio version of this song really struck a chord with me. Hands down, it is my choice for Song of the Year. I’m sure nearly everyone reading this will never have heard of her, let alone heard the song, so hopefully this will inspire some to go check it out. Awesome song with such raw vocals and power.
2. “Shut Up” by Savages
YouTube Link: “Shut Up” by Savages
My friend Lauryn told me about Savages, and I was lucky enough to check out their live show this year as well, which just missed my list of Top 10 Concerts of the Year.
I absolutely love this song – it’s as if someone took the greatest song making mojo from Bauhaus and Siouxsie and the Banshees and made the ultimate song inspired by them but fashioned for a contemporary audience. It’s brilliant in its relentlessness and building and building without looking back. If this band can continue to make music as stellar as this, it’s only a matter of time until they take over the music industry. As it stands, they are already one of the best live acts performing today.
3. “Soothe My Soul” by Depeche Mode
YouTube Link: “Soothe My Soul” by Depeche Mode
“Soothe My Soul” is, in my opinion, one of the band’s best songs (any album). Love everything about it –the changes, the sound, the pacing, the chorus… Fantastic song. Classic Depeche Mode. Honestly, I could put any of four of their songs off Delta Machine in this spot (“Welcome To My World”, “Angel”, “Heaven”).
4. “No Freedom” by Dido
YouTube Link: “No Freedom” by Dido
I’m a huge fan of Dido and this album, and there are actually four songs I could rate high enough to fit into my Top 10 (“Blackbird”, “End of Night”, and “Let Us Move On” in addition). Dido is one of my favorite artists, and this latest album is filled with some of her best songs, and this is certainly an amazing one. Maybe the one song that best illustrates what her music is all about.
5. “Bagboy” by Pixies
YouTube Link: “Bagboy” by Pixies
It had gotten to the point where I really didn’t expect another great Pixies song. They hadn’t released any new studio material apart from “Bam Thwok” years ago, which I didn’t really care for… and then 2013 ended up being the year of the great comeback, not just in touring, but new music, with their EP and more to come.
Even sans Kim Deal, this and the others are truly of the caliber of their original works. They’ve been one of my three favorite bands since they broke out in the early 90s, so it’s an awesome time for fans of arguably one of the best bands of my generation.
6. “Fantasy” by MS MR
YouTube Link: “Fantasy” by MS MR
Honestly, it was very difficult for me to choose a track from Secondhand Rapture to hold a spot in my Top 10, as half of the album were candidates. Obviously, as my choice for Album of the Year, it is front to back endless, awesome songs. This song is pure MS MR.
7. “Right as Rain” by Alison Moyet
YouTube Link: “Right as Rain” by Alison Moyet
Another favorite song off another favorite album of the year – I love everything about this song. It really is Alison pushing the boundaries of the kind of music I discovered her a part of… brilliant stuff.
8. “Atlas” by Coldplay
YouTube Link: “Atlas” by Coldplay
As mention elsewhere in this feature, the studio version of this song didn’t grab me initially, but after seeing the first live performance of it in London a few weeks ago, now I “hear” it differently – more as something from Rush of Blood to the Head; like a companion piece to the live version of “See You Soon” from that classic album. It also makes me wonder what style of music Coldplay has been working on in the studio in 2013…
9. “Stay (feat. Mikky Ekko)” by Rihanna
YouTube Link: “Stay (feat Mikky Ekko)” by Rihanna
Though the album from which this song was born was released in late 2012, this was officially released as a single in early 2013, so I’m counting it here. It might just be my favorite Rihanna song, but then I’m a sucker for anything featuring a piano.
10. “Heaven and All” by Sound City Players (Robert Levon Been, Dave Grohl, Peter Hayes)
YouTube Link: “Heaven and All” by Sound City Players
This was an early contender for my Song of the Year, but it has been such an amazing year for music that I’ve fallen in love with quite a bit of it. Absolutely love this song – so rocking – and I was lucky enough to see it performed live in Hollywood after the premiere of the Sound City documentary (which I videotaped from the front row). Fantastic collaboration between Dave Grohl and the boys from BRMC.
Top 100 List
| 1 | Adelaide | Meg Myers |
| 2 | Shut Up | Savages |
| 3 | Soothe My Soul | Depeche Mode |
| 4 | No Freedom | Dido |
| 5 | BAGBOY | PIXIES |
| 6 | Fantasy | MS MR |
| 7 | Right as Rain | Alison Moyet |
| 8 | Atlas | Coldplay |
| 9 | Stay (feat. Mikky Ekko) | Rihanna |
| 10 | Heaven and All | Sound City Players |
| 11 | After You | Meg Myers |
| 12 | All the Love | AM & Shawn Lee |
| 13 | All You’re Waiting For (feat. Nancy Whang) | Classixx |
| 14 | Andro Queen | PIXIES |
| 15 | Angel | Depeche Mode |
| 16 | Animal | Berlin |
| 17 | Another Toe | PIXIES |
| 18 | Are You Satisfied? | Reignwolf |
| 19 | Ash Tree Lane | MS MR |
| 20 | Axis | Pet Shop Boys |
| 21 | Because the Night | Garbage |
| 22 | Blackbird | Dido |
| 23 | Black Out Days | Phantogram |
| 24 | Bones | MS MR |
| 25 | Borderline and Aliens | Grouplove |
| 26 | Breakfast Can Wait | Prince |
| 27 | Broken Record | Little Boots |
| 28 | Btsk | MS MR |
| 29 | California | Mazzy Star |
| 30 | Changling | Alison Moyet |
| 31 | Christopher Street | Tanya Donelly |
| 32 | Come Walk With Me | M.I.A. |
| 33 | Confusion | Little Boots |
| 34 | Copy of A | Nine Inch Nails |
| 35 | Counting Stars | OneRepublic |
| 36 | Curbstomp | Meg Myers |
| 37 | Cut Me Some Slack | Sound City Players |
| 38 | Dance Bear | Snakadaktal |
| 39 | Desire | Meg Myers |
| 40 | Do I Wanna Know? | Arctic Monkeys |
| 41 | Dynamite | CSS |
| 42 | End of Night | Dido |
| 43 | Evil Eye | Franz Ferdinand |
| 44 | Feel Again | OneRepublic |
| 45 | Fever Dream | Young Summer |
| 46 | Frankie Goes to North Hollywood | CSS |
| 47 | Get Lucky [feat. Pharrell Williams] | Daft Punk |
| 48 | Ghosts and Creatures | Telekinesis |
| 49 | Gimme Your Love | Morcheeba |
| 50 | Girls | Santigold |
| 51 | Goons (Baby, I Need It All) | Mona |
| 52 | Hate The Taste | Black Rebel Motorcycle Club |
| 53 | Heaven | Depeche Mode |
| 54 | Hippy Hill | Grouplove |
| 55 | Honey | CSS |
| 56 | Horizon Flame | Alison Moyet |
| 57 | Hurricane | MS MR |
| 58 | Husbands | Savages |
| 59 | I Love It (feat. Charli XCX) | Icona Pop |
| 60 | If I Lose Myself | OneRepublic |
| 61 | I’m With You | Grouplove |
| 62 | Imagine It Was Us | Jessie Ware |
| 63 | In the Dark | Reignwolf |
| 64 | Indie Cindy | PIXIES |
| 65 | Into the Sun | CSS |
| 66 | Last Desire | Coves |
| 67 | Latch (feat. Sam Smith) | Disclosure |
| 68 | Let Us Move On (feat. Kendrick Lamar) | Dido |
| 69 | Like A Stranger | Kitten |
| 70 | Mom | Berlin |
| 71 | Monster | Meg Myers |
| 72 | Motorway | Little Boots |
| 73 | Nice to Meet You | Berlin |
| 74 | One Girl / One Boy | !!! |
| 75 | Over the Love | Florence + The Machine |
| 76 | Poison | Meg Myers |
| 77 | Pompeii | Bastille |
| 78 | Purple Yellow Red and Blue | Portugal. The Man |
| 79 | Q.U.E.E.N. (feat. Erykah Badu) | Janelle Monae |
| 80 | R U Mine? | Arctic Monkeys |
| 81 | Sacrilege | Yeah Yeah Yeahs |
| 82 | Satellite | Little Boots |
| 83 | Schoolboy | Grouplove |
| 84 | Set Me Free (Feel My Pain) | Charli XCX |
| 85 | Shark Attack | Grouplove |
| 86 | Stompa | Serena Ryder |
| 87 | Sunray Venus | Throwing Muses |
| 88 | Teenage Tiger Cat | CSS |
| 89 | The Monster (feat. Rihanna) | Eminem |
| 90 | This Isn’t Control | MS MR |
| 91 | Thursday [feat. Example] | Pet Shop Boys |
| 92 | Tiff (feat. Justin Vernon) | Policia |
| 93 | Twenty Seven | MS MR |
| 94 | Two Times | AM & Shawn Lee |
| 95 | Vocal | Pet Shop Boys |
| 96 | Ways To Go | Grouplove |
| 97 | Welcome To My World | Depeche Mode |
| 98 | What Goes Boom | PIXIES |
| 99 | What You Wanted | OneRepublic |
| 100 | When I Was Your Girl | Alison Moyet |
Part 6: Full Rock Subculture Journal 2013 Concert Review Listing
Saturday, January 5th
Imagine Dragons
The Independent in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, January 8th
No Doubt
at Jimmy Kimmel Live! Block Party in Hollywood, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, January 27th
Shawn Colvin
Sacramento City College Performing Arts Center in Sacramento, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, January 28th
Muse (The 2nd Law Tour)
Oracle Arena in Oakland, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, January 29th
Muse (The 2nd Law Tour)
Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, January 31st
Sound City Players (Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters, Alain Johannes, Chris Goss, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Lee Ving, Rick Nielsen, Rick Springfield, John Fogerty, Stevie Nicks, and more)
Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, February 1st
Terri Nunn & Berlin
Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday February 15th
Marilyn Manson
The Modesto Centre Plaza, Modesto, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, February 18th
P!NK (Truth About Love Tour)
HP Pavilion in San Jose, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, February 22th
Crystal Gayle
Thunder Valley Resort & Casino in Lincoln, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, February 26th
B.B. King
Golden State Theatre in Monterey, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, March 4th
Morrissey
Mondavi Center in Davis, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, March 8th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL DAY 1: -M-, Vitalic
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, March 9th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL DAY 2: Fatboy Slim, Tom Staar, Nas, Cody Chesnut, Crash Island
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, March 10th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL DAY 3: Tori Amos, Roger Hodgson, Noa
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, March 11th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL DAY 4: Björk, The Weeknd, Leila
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, March 12th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL DAY 5: Portishead, Baxter Dury, Model 5000
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, March 13th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL DAY 6: The Spinto Band, 2ManyDJs, SebastiAn, March
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, March 14th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL DAY 7: Alice Cooper, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC), The Heavy, Demi mondAine
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, March 15th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL Day 8: Mika, Nelly Furtado, Célien Schneider, Nadine Carina
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, March 16th
CAPRICES FESTIVAL Day 9: Cypress Hill, Method Man & Redman, Logic, Root Words, Mix Master Mike
Caprices Festival at Crans-Montana in Switzerland
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, March 27th
Living Colour
The Fillmore in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, April 2nd
Phoenix
Freeborn Hall at U.C. Davis in Davis, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, April 5th
The English Beat
The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, April 6th
Rihanna (Diamonds World Tour)
HP Pavilion in San Jose, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, April 7th
Colin Hay
The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, April 10th
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD)
The Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, April 11th
New Order, Johnny Marr
Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Nevada
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, April 12th
Garbage
Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, April 13th
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Boulevard Pool at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Nevada
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, April 17th
Metric
Mondavi Center in Davis, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, April 18th
Metric
Fox Theater in Oakland, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, April 22nd
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
The Fillmore in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, April 23rd
Sixto Díaz Rodríguez (“Searching for Sugar Man”)
The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, April 23rd
Prince
The DNA Lounge in San Francisco, California (LATE show)
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, April 24th
Prince
The DNA Lounge in San Francisco, California (EARLY show)
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, April 25th
Bon Jovi (Because We Can – The Tour)
HP Pavilion in San Jose, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, April 27th
Crystal Castles
Fox Theater in Oakland, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, May 3rd
Cowboy Junkies (Nomad Tour 2013)
Yoshi’s in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, May 5th
Rolling Stones (50 and Counting)
Oracle Arena in Oakland, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, May 21st
Depeche Mode
Puskás Ferenc Stadion in Budapest, Hungary
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, May 23rd
Depeche Mode
Zagreb Arena in Zagreb, Croatia
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, May 25th
Depeche Mode
Štadión Pasienky in Bratislava, Slovakia
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, May 28th
Depeche Mode
The O2 Arena in London, England
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, May 29th
Depeche Mode
The O2 Arena in London, England
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, June 1st
The Zombies
indigO2 at O2 Arena, London, England
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, June 2nd
Muse
Royal Horse Guard’s Parade, London, England
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, June 8th
Jewel (Greatest Hits Tour)
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, Arizona
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, June 14th
They Might Be Giants
The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, June 16th
CSS, MS MR, IO Echo
The Independent in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, June 18th
Cyndi Lauper (30th Anniversary She’s So Unusual Tour)
The Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, June 19th
Cyndi Lauper (30th Anniversary She’s So Unusual Tour)
Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, June 26th
AM & Shawn Lee (Sounds of Summer Tour)
Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, June 29th
Super Freestyle Explosion (Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, Exposé, Debbie Deb, Shannon, Trinere, Johnny O, Pretty Poison, Stacey Q)
HP Pavilion in San Jose, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, July 6th
Fleetwood Mac
Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, July 7th
Kings of the Mic Tour (LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, De La Soul)
The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, July 9th
The Go-Go’s & The B-52s
Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, July 17th – Sunday, July 21st
Comic Con International 2013: San Diego
San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California
– For Full Coverage of This Event Visit The Original Prop Blog
– View San Diego Comic Con Costume/Cosplay/Masquerade Images Here on the Rock Subculture Journal
Wednesday, July 17th
Adam Ant And The Good, The Mad And The Lovely Posse
Balboa Theatre in San Diego, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, July 19th
Metallica
Spreckles Theatre in San Diego, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, July 22nd
The Fixx
Assembly in Sacramento, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, July 23rd
Peter Murphy (Mr Midnight Tour: Celebrating 35 Years of Bauhaus)
The Fillmore in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, July 27th
Huey Lewis & The News (“Sports” 30th Anniversary Tour)
Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, July 30th
The Cure
Neal S Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, August 23rd
Martha Davis and The Motels Featuring Bow Wow Wow and Dramarama
Blu42 Sports Lounge in Walnut Creek, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, August 24th
Rewind Festival Featuring Regeneration Tour (Erasure’s Andy Bell, Howard Jones, Berlin Featuring Terri Nunn, Men Without Hats)
Thunder Valley Resort & Casino in Lincoln, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, August 27th
The Breeders
The Fillmore in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, August 28th
Heart (Heartbreaker Tour)
America’s Cup Pavilion in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, September 5th
The Zombies
Yoshi’s in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, September 7th
V101’s Old School Funk Fest 2013 (Sinbad, The Brothers Johnson, Midnight Star, The Dazz Band, and DJ Gino)
Thunder Valley Resort & Casino in Lincoln, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, September 8th
OneRepublic
Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, September 9th
The Pixies
El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, September 10th
The Pixies
El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, September 14th
GROUPLOVE (Seesaw Tour – “Heavy”)
The Independent in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, September 15th
GROUPLOVE (Seesaw Tour – “Light”)
The Chapel in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, September 19th
Debbie Harry / Blondie with X (No Principals Tour)
Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, CA
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, September 21st
Heart (Heartbreaker Tour)
Thunder Valley Resort & Casino in Lincoln, California
Tuesday, September 24th
Little Boots with MNDR
The Independent in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, September 26th
Arctic Monkeys
Fox Theater in Oakland, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, September 27th
Peter Hook & The Light (Performing New Order’s Movement and Power, Corruption, & Lies)
Mezzanine in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, September 29th
Savages
The Independent in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Sunday, October 6th
Depeche Mode
Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Tuesday, October 8th
Pet Shop Boys
Copely Symphony Hall, San Diego, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, October 9th
Book of Love
DNA Lounge, San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monsday, October 21st
MS MR
The Independent in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, October 25th
V101’s Hip Hop Halloween House Party with Whodini, Kurtis Blow, and Rob Base
Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, October 31st
Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton
The Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, November 1st
Charli XCX (with Kitten and TWIN iDol)
Slim’s in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Monday, November 11th
Alison Moyet
The Fillmore in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, November 14th
KMFDM
The Independent in San Francisco, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Wednesday, November 20th
Anna Nalick
Harlow’s Restaurant and Nightclub in Sacramento, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, November 23rd
The Invisible Lighthouse – Film and Live Performance by Thomas Dolby
Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Thursday, December 19th
Kids Company and Coldplay Present: Under 1 Roof (Performing: Coldplay, Ricky Gervais as David Brent And Foregone Conclusion, Lily Allen, Dynamo and Rizzle Kicks)
Eventim Apollo at Hammersmith, London
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Friday, December 20th
Crisis Presents… Jake Bugg, Bastille, Michael Kiwanuka, Alunageorge, Foxes, Al Doyle (Hot Chip) DJ Set
Eventim Apollo at Hammersmith, London
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Saturday, December 21st
Kim Wilde’s Christmas Party
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
– FULL CONCERT REVIEW HERE
Jason DeBord
(916) 813-1797
jason@rocksubculture.com