It’s the end of another busy year in Melbourne, so on this last day of the year I’m going to attempt to compress a year of musical experience down to ten defining things – The Barman doesn’t make it easy!
1. All Tomorrows Parties – Mt Buller
What a festival! Fantastic line-up in a great venue – not your usual festival as it was full of music lovers instead of cool kids out to get wasted. Musical highlights were – The Dirty Three (my favourite performance of the year), The Saints, Spiritualized, Dead Meadow, Nick Cave and Grinderman.
2. Rowland S Howard – Pop Crimes
Definitely my favourite album of the year. It’s rarely been off my play list since picking it up recently. It’s understated yet powerful and the production means Rowland’s sonic guitar sound was captured to perfection. I was terribly saddened to hear of his death; yet another sensational Australian musician off to the great big gig in the sky. If you haven’t got this make sure it’s the next album you buy.
3. Neil Young – Melbourne Big Day Out
What can I say? Old Shakey pulled out all stops when delivering a greatest hits set at the Big Day Out – he’s still got that gargantuan guitar sound and age hasn’t wearied him.
4. Tom Waits – Glitter and Doom
It’s a Tom Waits album, need I say anything more? Stellar live performances showcasing his amazing talents and the best voice in music.
5. Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Boogie Festival
Boogie Festival is a small festival held on a farm about an hour from Melbourne over Easter. On Good Friday Eddy Current Suppression Ring followed swamp rock legend Tony Joe White on the bill and put on one of the greatest shows I have seen them play; it culminated with a spontaneous stage invasion where about 200 people joined the band on stage as they kept playing. Wonderful moment of a great weekend.
6. Black Cab
Dark psychedelic garage rock from one of Melbourne’s best kept musical secrets. I was lucky enough to see a few of their shows this year; the best being a low key album launch at Northcote Social Club that saw Ron Peno join them for one of their songs on stage. Their album Call Signs is a fine piece of work too. I’d love to see them on a big stage with a massive sound system – they have the power to blow minds.
7. Eagles of Death Metal – The Palace Theatre
Jesse “The Devil” Hughes and his band of merry men laid waste to The Palace – they put on the most fun rock show of the year. Nothing too complicated but heaps of fun.
8. Painters and Dockers – The EG Awards
After a long hiatus Melbourne’s Painters and Dockers reformed and brought their brand of mayhem to the Prince of Wales to headline the annual EG Awards. Heaps of fun and energy – you could literally see the years roll away as they hit their straps.
9. Died Pretty – Melbourne Big Day Out
In what may end up being their swansong performances Died Pretty were one of the standout acts at the Melbourne Big Day Out. The sound and performance was gob smacking.
10. Monster Magnet – Billboard
The kings of psychedelic, stoner space rock Monster Magnet returned to Australia to deliver a stellar performance at Billboard. Dave Wyndorf’s vocals have lost none of their power while guitarist Ed Mundell’s riffs and lead guitar was sublime (there was even an Ed Mundell guitar effects pedal for sale at the merch stand). Powerful show by a great band.
