I don't like to use the word 'best' when describing gigs. Gigs are different to records. They are fleeting. You live them and then they're gone. They can't be revisited or played back to compile some kind of definitive list. They are based on feelings and memories. What do you remember about a gig? Do you remember how it made you feel? When you go to as many gigs as I do, and have seen as many gigs as I have, then all these memories are soon lost, like tears in rain as the speech in 'Blade Runner' goes. So when I'm talking about gigs, I prefer the term 'memorable'. Which gigs still linger in the memory for months and years afterwards? That is part of the reason why I started this blog up again, to keep track of these moments and memories.
So with that in mind, here is my list of the most memorable gigs of 2023. They're not in any particular order apart from the first one which is my stand out gig of the year.
Nordic Giants - 'The Last Breath' film which played behind them during 'Through A Lens Darkly' will haunt me forever.
Mogwai - The epic 'My Father My King' was absolutely crushing.
Left To Die - It could have been terrible, but this tribute to 'Leprosy' era Death was incredible.
The Flaming Lips - This made me feel so sad. Profoundly moving.
The Heavy Heavy - Glorious 60s style West Coast psych pop with amazing harmonies.
Zetra - Theatrical black metal presentation allied with lush shoegaze.
Kiss - All the things you would expect from a Kiss show, only for the last ever time.
Deicide - I probably wasn't the biggest fan as a teenager but Glen and co were absolutely blistering.
Bell Witch - They played their new album 'The Clandestine Gate' in full, accompanied by a slow, meditative film, and it was amazing.
Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage - Completely unexpected but his 'History Of Lower East Side Punk' was great fun.
Deadguy - A band I've waited for nearly thirty years to see and they were everything I wanted them to be.
Leprous -'Coal' in full was absolutely perfect.
