Top 10 GIGS OF 2012

In 2012 I managed to average seeing over a gig a week, so have seen a lot of live music throughout the year - here are my top 10 picks of 2012 - did you make it to any of these:

#10:  Graham Coxon - 19th April @ Sound Control
#09:  Toy - 10th April @ Soup Kitchen
#08:  A Place to Bury Strangers - 16th September @ Ruby Lounge
#07:  Amon Tobin - 19th May @ Academy 1
#06:  The Barr Borthers - 3rd May @ Soup Kitchen
#05:  Savages - 24th July @ Deaf Institute
#04:  Alabama Shakes - 12th November @ Academy 1
#03:  The Stone Roses - 29th June @ Heaton Park
#02:  We Are Augustines - 4th March - Night & Day Cafe
#01:  The Beach Boys - 28th September - Wembley Arena

I couldnt find any good quality clips of the Wembley show, but here is a trailer for the DVD from the same 50th Anniversary tour to give you an idea of how good these old men from California were - it was a true delight to see the Beach Boys still nailing those harmonies and delivering some FUN FUN FUN - which is why has to be my gig of the year!!!

GIG: BEACH BOYS

Beach Boys live at Wembley Arena - 28.09.2012

When I saw that the Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour was coming to the UK, I was a little dissapointed to see only 1 date listed over here........ so this meant a trip down to London. After reading about a few "troubles" between band members (Mike Love deciding to sack the other original members) on the week of the gig, I was a little aprehensive - its possible this could be the last EVER (original lineup) Beach Boys concert - would their hearts be in it - would there be tension on stage..... I needn't have worried - they put on a truely great show!
Considering their age, they can still really pull off those beautiful, complex harmonies, and only had one mental block between them (Al Jardine forgot one of his lines, but still made a joke of it at the end of the song).
They rattled through all the hits & they just kept on coming - playing pretty much everything you could ever want to hear from them from thier huge catalogue of absolute classic pop songs. Even the deceased Carl & Dennis Wilson were remembered & even sang "live" for us, buy using vocal tracks and video from older live footage whilst the rest of the band played and harmonised along with them live on stage. For me it was great to hear and see Carl singing God Only Knows "live" - one of my all time favourite songs. Other highlights were plentiful and included: Do it Again, Catch a Wave, Surfin Safari, I Get Around, I Just Wasnt Made For These Times, In My Room, Wouldnt It Be Nice, Good Vibrations, California Girls, Surfin USA and finishing with Fun Fun Fun - thank you Beach Boys, it certainly has been!!!
For the complete setlist (a massive 55 songs) check here: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-beach-boys/2012/wembley-arena-london-england-2bddd8f6.html
It was a magical night at Wembley Arena and if it really is the last time the Beach Boys play together then Listen Up Manchester is certainly very glad to have made the trip down to London for it!!!