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!!!

ALBUM REVIEW: TOY (self titled)

Listen Up Manchester Album Rating: 8/10

The debut self titled album from the band TOY is a triumph!

From the ashes of the ill fated Jing Jang Jong - Joe Lean's backing band - unfortunatly we had the (mis)pleasure of seeing him with his "me me me..... did I tell you its all about me" attitude, he never really allowed the Jing Jang Jong to shine. After a few years regrouping and finding thier own style & sound (and with some moral support from the Horrors) TOY have emerged as something quite special. The album is a good blend of psychedelia with dreamy pop melodies, echoes if somewhat vacant vocals and pulsating guitars. Also its good to see an album of decent length - about an hour long - that keeps its quality throughout.

Stand out tracks for Listen Up Manchester are the single: Motoring, the dark instrumental: Drifting Deeper, & the album finale: Kopter. Enjoy TOY!!!



PS. they are even better live! Catch them at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester on the 28th October!