I-94 BAR TOP TENS

My Morning Jacket @ Metro Theatre, Sydney
A truly epic, incredible and varied night of “spacey country rock”, few will match in a hury.

Jenny Lewis @ “The Lair” - Metro Theatre, Sydney
Great blue-eyed soul/alt country from a former child star and member of Rilo Kiley.

Neko Case @ 9:30 Club (heard via NPR.org)
A truly special vocalist and member of The New Pornographers whose new album ‘Middle Cyclone’ of ”country noir” was featured.

The Jayhawks : Music from the North Country – The Jayhawks Anthology
Alongside Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and Son Volt, The Jayhawks were one of the seminal “alt country” acts whose remarkable recorded legacy is showcased here on this two CD and DVD set and whom were a part of the scene that gave the world the seminal 80’s indie acts The Replacements and Husker Du.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings @ Sydney Festival opening night Hyde Park, Sydney
Soulful, funky, high energy, interactive and an almighty set from Soul Sister No.1 of the new millenium.

The New Christs “Gloria” CDLP launch @ Excelsior Hotel, Sydney and The New Christs @ Sandringham Hotel, Sydney
A fantastic launch at the Excelsior Hotel of an album that delves into unexplored sonic territory for The New Christs and at the Sandringham Hotel a killer set with a fabulous set from support Hy-Test.

The Pink Fits ”De Ja Blues” CDLP launch @ Empire of Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Despite a selective crowd, comprised of some dubious crowd members The Pink Fits launched “De Ja Blues” and delivered another killer set, but sadly to little avail.

SC Trash & Johnny Casino & The Secrets @ Sandringham Hotel, Sydney
Anti-establishment, Irish inflected “scumbag country” from SC Trash with a great but all too short support set from Johnny Casino & The Secrets.

‘Dead Set’ - television series screened on SBS Television Australia / DVD
A five part series where zombies take over/attack the house of the UK ‘Big Brother’ reality television show and which featured an insane opening episode and an incredible yet sad end to the series.

Releasing my “Place and Time” CD
With thanks to help from local cult legends Graham Griffith, Ned Alphabet and Stephen ‘Bones’ Martin) and sharing stages with the likes of Stewart ‘Leadfinger’ Cunningham, Ned Alphabet, Genevieve Little and Handasyd Williams (with occasional guest, local pedal steel guitar legend Graham Griffith.)

Honorable mentions:
The Felice Brothers – Yonder is the Clock; Angie Pepper & The Passengers “In the Garden of Good and Evil” CD launch @ Excelsior Hotel, Sydney; Gun Street Girls CD launch @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney; The Intercontinental Playboys “Hymns of the Flesh” CD launch @ Ivory Lounge, Sydney; The Soul Movers @ Notes Live, Sydney.

RIP Lux Interior, Ron Asheton, Doug Mansfield, Maurice Frawley, Dean Turner, The Pink Fits

Lowlights –
Being far too broke/low on cash for admission to and thereby missing out on ATP Sydney and The Saints & X @ The Forum, Melbourne.

I-94 Bar critic and solo artist

My top 10 for 2008 (in no particular order) -
  
Pierced Arrows @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney :
Some incredible ‘new’ tunes like ‘Caroline’ and ‘Walking Wounded’ plus some old Dead Moon chestnuts thrown in for good measure, long live Fred Cole. 
  
The Dirtbombs @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney :  
Mick Collins and co. were probably the revelation of the year for this barfly and had the local constabulary (police) dropping by, possibly due to the incredibly high volume experience that the Mick Collins and co. were at this gig.
     
‘Soul Deep’ – six part series screened on ABC Television : 
For this barfly this series was another major revelation, with episodes one to five providing plenty of moments of absolutely essential viewing.
    
Respect Yourself : The Stax Records Story (screened at Sydney Film Festival) :-
A further revelation on Soul and this seminal Soul label which launched the late Otis Redding and the late great Isaac Hayes.   
   
Steve Earle @ Newport Folk Festival (heard via www.npr.org) / Enmore Theatre, Sydney :
At both Newport and the Enmore Theatre, plenty of older and newer Earle gems were heard and at the Enmore Theatre, Earle delivered the late great Townes Van Zandt’s classic ‘Poncho and Lefty’.
    
Tift Merritt – Another Country :
A Texan born, North Carolina bred female singer-songwriter whom is a little bit Emmylou (Harris), Linda Ronstadt, Dusty (Springfield) and Aretha (Franklin) and whose third album has her most personal, consistent and best writing to date, including a song “Mille Tendresses” sung in French.
    
New Christs @ Excelsior Hotel, Sydney; May 2008 / @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney with Dimi Dero Inc :
With the current line-up and new material; Rob Younger and co. can’t seem to put a foot wrong with either the old classics and new material alike and at the ‘dale, French visitors Dimi Dero Inc were as great as ever.
    
The Visitors @ Empire of Annandale Hotel, Sydney :
Not sure if I agree that the recently added sax player was the sterling addition to the band that The Barman thought, but it was great to hear all those Visitors classics and the odd Deniz Tek Group tune.
   
Hoss @ Excelsior Hotel, Sydney :
When watching Hoss and in particular guitarist Jimmy Sfetsos, this barfly can’t help but think that they remain one of/if not the truly great Melbourne rock-n-roll bands, that don’t play nearly enough gigs more often in Sin City (from the generation that gave us the likes of Bored!, The Powder Monkeys, The Freeloaders and The Yes-Men amongst many others).
    
(Last, but probably least and to follow in the footsteps of fellow ‘Barfly – Ken Shimamoto and his Top 10 of 2007 and a few other ‘Barflies)
  
Simon ‘the troubadour’ - playing gigs throughout Sin City from the inner city in King’s Cross to the outer south west at “Walls Come Down” in Wiley Park; mostly solo and also on occasion in duos with old friends such as Spike Thomson (ex-Ghost Valley/The Nosebleeds/Drug Squad 77/Drug Squad 66) and newer friends such as Yu Si Liu and Melanie Sawayama (nee Guest), alongside having 50 Million Beers pedal steel guitar player Graham Griffith playing on “new” recordings.
  
RIP - Isaac Hayes, Mitch Mitchell, Odetta, Paul Newman, George Carlin, The Nosebleeds/Drug Squad 77, Ray Baldwin (Sydney/ex-West Australian folk/country identity).
  
Honorable mentions:
Mick Thomas/Sarah Carroll/Van Walker @ Cooks River Boat Club, Tempe, Sydney; Kathleen Edwards – Asking for Flowers, Lucinda Williams – Little Honey, Hank III – Damn Right, Rebel Proud; Radio Birdman ‘Rockpalast’ concert screening @ Mojo Records, Sydney.