What I've been up to + Top ten gigs this year
Been a while since I posted, mainly because I have spent a lot of time indoors. However, I did make it to the Christmas meal at Zetgeist that erming had organised and had a fantastic time. Great beer, food and company, it is a shame that Emily was too ill to make it. However, we did have a really nice curry at our local Indian restaurant last night. Definitely must return there at some point too.
The Saturday before Zeitgeist I did venture into Basingstoke goth nightlife attending a one off Zombie night at the Bang Bar. Was good and unexpected to see postie_chris there, I'm hoping that there will be more goth nights at that venue.
It has been quiet on the gig front though over the last couple of months. I thought about going to the Nightbreed all-dayer but was put off by the 20 pound on the door charge for the event. I remember the days when you could 3 nightbreed acts at the Duchess of York in Leeds for about £3.50. Thats inflation for you over the last 12 years! Nevertheless, I did see the 13 Candles performance as the gig was streamed on the Nightbreed website. I meant to watch Two Witches as well but forgot.
Speaking of gigs, I have been seen far fewer bands than in previous years partly because of the move further away from London and also doing just the one summer festival this year. Anyway, I have done a top ten for the last 5 years so why stop now. This years top 10 is as follows.
10. Rosa Crux, Beyond the Veil
Whilst I wouldn't rush to buy a CD from this band, I have to admit the show was visually amazing. I was really impressed with the electro-mechanical drum machine and the array of church bells. The sand dancers were a step too far though!
9. Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, M'era Luna
Extreme metal comes to a goth festival! I don't think they are too popular outside Germany but they always put on an entertaining show and it looks they're playing London just after my birthday next year. Let's hope they don't cancel this time!
8. Dornenreich, the Underworld
The line up for this band from Austria consisted of a guitarist/vocalist, a violinist and a drummer and I liked the mixture of black metal and folkish melodies. It was a rare chance to see them in the UK.
7. Schelmish, M'era Luna
Strangely the only German medieval band to feature on this list. Great to finally see them, they put on a fun show. Just a shame that they had to cancel their UK tour shortly after.
6. Tiamat, Electric Ballroom
One of the most intense shows of the year, in contrast to The 69 Eyes who were enitertaining before them but miss out on the list. Their set at M'era Luna was also very good, but I'm going to include the full set here.
5. The Eden House, Scala
One of the best new bands of the year for me, missed their first ever show but this one was very impressive. Amandine Ferrari's vocals are particularly strong both live and on CD. I later saw them at the Dark Mills festival but the performance was somewhat shortened because of a strict curfew.
4. Tyr, Underworld
A strong return to form for the Faroese quartet after the disappointment of the previous two gigs I'd seen by them. A longer set time gave them more time to play their classics, the Faroese folk song Regin Smiður being a particulat highlight. They upstaged the headliners Alestorm on the day, though the kiddies at the gig would probably disagree! I do like them as well though, I'm slightly ashamed to say. :P
3. The Prodigy, M'era Luna
I wouldn't have expected this to be so far up the list, but I have to admit The Prodigy really have a way with getting the crowd involved, which couldn't have been easy at a goth festival! I danced throughout their mainly greatest hits set along with many others. Definitely closed the festival on a high note.
2. Agalloch, Underworld
Not a household name in the UK but they are so talented, the show was intense and atmospheric with influences ranging from doom metal to dark ambient. The drummer was wearing Field of the Nephilim tshirt which gained extra points from me as I was wearing mine on the night too. :)
1. Sieben, Temple Pier
Well worth missing Gotham for this excperience. Sieben is actaully the stage name of soloist Matt Howden who generates his music using only a microphone, a violin and a loop pedal but it sounds so layered and I love the way he gets percussion elements into the sound, it is amazing to think this is all live! He is a very humble man for his talent too. Preferred this to his Beyond The Veil show as he played more material and it was on a boat!
As for those that missed out on the list, Finntroll and Battlelore may have made it if I could remember anything about gig (I blame Jodie for my drunken state then!), L'ame Immortelle and Letzte Instanz were impressive at M'era Luna, as were Adoration and The Birthday Massacre at Dingwalls (the other band that night probably win the worst band of the year but I can't remember their name!). The Sisters of Mercy and especially Nightwish were disappointing compared to previous gigs
I may at some point compile a gig of the decade list though only a maximum of two of these would make that top 10 list I think.
The Saturday before Zeitgeist I did venture into Basingstoke goth nightlife attending a one off Zombie night at the Bang Bar. Was good and unexpected to see postie_chris there, I'm hoping that there will be more goth nights at that venue.
It has been quiet on the gig front though over the last couple of months. I thought about going to the Nightbreed all-dayer but was put off by the 20 pound on the door charge for the event. I remember the days when you could 3 nightbreed acts at the Duchess of York in Leeds for about £3.50. Thats inflation for you over the last 12 years! Nevertheless, I did see the 13 Candles performance as the gig was streamed on the Nightbreed website. I meant to watch Two Witches as well but forgot.
Speaking of gigs, I have been seen far fewer bands than in previous years partly because of the move further away from London and also doing just the one summer festival this year. Anyway, I have done a top ten for the last 5 years so why stop now. This years top 10 is as follows.
10. Rosa Crux, Beyond the Veil
Whilst I wouldn't rush to buy a CD from this band, I have to admit the show was visually amazing. I was really impressed with the electro-mechanical drum machine and the array of church bells. The sand dancers were a step too far though!
9. Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, M'era Luna
Extreme metal comes to a goth festival! I don't think they are too popular outside Germany but they always put on an entertaining show and it looks they're playing London just after my birthday next year. Let's hope they don't cancel this time!
8. Dornenreich, the Underworld
The line up for this band from Austria consisted of a guitarist/vocalist, a violinist and a drummer and I liked the mixture of black metal and folkish melodies. It was a rare chance to see them in the UK.
7. Schelmish, M'era Luna
Strangely the only German medieval band to feature on this list. Great to finally see them, they put on a fun show. Just a shame that they had to cancel their UK tour shortly after.
6. Tiamat, Electric Ballroom
One of the most intense shows of the year, in contrast to The 69 Eyes who were enitertaining before them but miss out on the list. Their set at M'era Luna was also very good, but I'm going to include the full set here.
5. The Eden House, Scala
One of the best new bands of the year for me, missed their first ever show but this one was very impressive. Amandine Ferrari's vocals are particularly strong both live and on CD. I later saw them at the Dark Mills festival but the performance was somewhat shortened because of a strict curfew.
4. Tyr, Underworld
A strong return to form for the Faroese quartet after the disappointment of the previous two gigs I'd seen by them. A longer set time gave them more time to play their classics, the Faroese folk song Regin Smiður being a particulat highlight. They upstaged the headliners Alestorm on the day, though the kiddies at the gig would probably disagree! I do like them as well though, I'm slightly ashamed to say. :P
3. The Prodigy, M'era Luna
I wouldn't have expected this to be so far up the list, but I have to admit The Prodigy really have a way with getting the crowd involved, which couldn't have been easy at a goth festival! I danced throughout their mainly greatest hits set along with many others. Definitely closed the festival on a high note.
2. Agalloch, Underworld
Not a household name in the UK but they are so talented, the show was intense and atmospheric with influences ranging from doom metal to dark ambient. The drummer was wearing Field of the Nephilim tshirt which gained extra points from me as I was wearing mine on the night too. :)
1. Sieben, Temple Pier
Well worth missing Gotham for this excperience. Sieben is actaully the stage name of soloist Matt Howden who generates his music using only a microphone, a violin and a loop pedal but it sounds so layered and I love the way he gets percussion elements into the sound, it is amazing to think this is all live! He is a very humble man for his talent too. Preferred this to his Beyond The Veil show as he played more material and it was on a boat!
As for those that missed out on the list, Finntroll and Battlelore may have made it if I could remember anything about gig (I blame Jodie for my drunken state then!), L'ame Immortelle and Letzte Instanz were impressive at M'era Luna, as were Adoration and The Birthday Massacre at Dingwalls (the other band that night probably win the worst band of the year but I can't remember their name!). The Sisters of Mercy and especially Nightwish were disappointing compared to previous gigs
I may at some point compile a gig of the decade list though only a maximum of two of these would make that top 10 list I think.