You know the drill, another year has passed, new records have come out, some I’ve liked, some not so much. Below is a list of those that struck a chord with me in 2016. I also ventured out to some gigs so decided to share the best of that bunch too, along with all the shameless selfies I took with bands this year, and some other bits and bobs.
ALBUMS
‘Paradise’ – White Lung
‘Shape Shift With Me’ – Against Me!
‘A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings’ – Beach Slang
‘Afraid Of Heights’ – Billy Talent
‘Painkillers’ – Brian Fallon
‘Skeleton Tree’ – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
GIGS
Funeral For A Friend (farewell show performing ‘Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation’ in its entirety) – University Y Plas, Cardiff – April 6
Brian Fallon & the Crowes – O2 Academy Bristol – April 10
Tacocat – Moon Club, Cardiff – May 5
Iggy Pop – Royal Albert Hall, London – May 13
White Lung – Start The Bus, Bristol – May 25
Heck @ Camden Rocks – Underworld, London – June 4 (pictured below)
Skating Polly – Moon Club, Cardiff – June 15
L7 – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London – September 13
Weaves (supporting Dilly Dally) – The Globe, Cardiff – September 20
The Julie Ruin – KOKO, London – December 2
ALL THE AWFUL BAND NAMES I’VE HEARD THIS YEAR
The String Cheese Incident
Holocausto Cannibal
Basement Torture Killings
Bangover
Scum Pulse
Premature Birth
Destiny Potato
Make Me A Donut
Penguin Prison
Dog Chocolate
Anal Floss Is Boss
Bad II Dreems
Palace Of Worms
Cancerous Womb
Girth Control
Cry Wank
Girls Pissing On Girls Pissing
Rectal Smegma
Infant Death
Grilled Human Brain
Oozing Wound
Marianne Toilet & The Runs
Breast Massage
Mountain Of Wizard
Fat Stupid Ugly People
Faces Of The Bog
Witch Vomit
MY STOCK OF SHAMELESS SELFIES
Alex Rosamilia – The Gaslight Anthem/Brian Fallon & The Crowes
Ben Kowalewicz – Billy Talent
Chris Farren
Demob Happy
Tacocat
Jasmyn Burke – Weaves
Kenny Mellman – The Julie Ruin
Mish Way-Barber – White Lung
Skating Polly
OTHER STUFF I’VE ENJOYED THIS YEAR
FESTIVAL: ArcTanGent – Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin – August 18-20
VIDEO: Heck – Good As Dead
FILM: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
TV: Atlanta
BOOK: Tranny – Laura Jane Grace & Dan Ozzi
FOOD: Frank’s RedHot Original Sauce
DRINK: Black coffee
MERCH: Tacocat T-shirt (pictured below)
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