Staff Picks: Laura ‘Riot Goth’ Johnson

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

‘The Bride’ – Bat For Lashes

‘Hit Reset’ – The Julie Ruin

‘Skeleton Tree’ – Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

‘The Big Fit’ – Skating Polly

‘Lost Time’ – Tacocat

‘Weaves’ – Weaves

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