Live Performance

Perhaps we’re becoming more selective but 2004 has presented us with fewer gigs to review, while the quality of what we’ve witnessed has been generally quite special. Our choice of best live performance of 2004 is unusual in that we didn’t attend the gig but saw it on BBC 2 TV (after it had appeared on digital channel BBC 4). Damien Rice came to our attention in 2002 when we saw him perform at Dublin’s great Witnness Music Festival, after we had received a copy of his debut O album.

He was brilliant and was accompanied by excellent musicians including singer Lisa Hannigan, cellist Vyvienne Long with Tome and Shane Fitzsimons on guitar and drums. We then became the first UK magazine to review the album, many months before anybody else got a whiff of it. It was a fantastic performance but last night’s televised concert from the LSO in London eclipsed it and just about everything else seen in 2004. It was rockier, more passionate, more exuberant, and totally blew me away.

Rice has worked hard for nearly two years to build and cement his UK fan base and has been justly rewarded with major album sales and media recognition. Damien Rice is also our Artist Of The Year.

Early in 2004, another Irish artist caught our attention and performed in Liverpool with Carina Round. Carina stunned as usual with one of the best performances I have seen from her, and prompted many in the audience to ask, “Who the hell is that lady?.” Then Ireland’s Damien Dempsey launched into a performance of enormous quality and passion with the odd touch of humour to top things off. Dempsey has a distinctive voice and writes songs with a powerful Irish folk vibe and strong social savvy. This show was runner-up in 2004.

But the biggest surprise for me was represented by Razorlight’s Liverpool gig. The band released an excellent album in 2004, but live tore the place apart with frighteningly good vocals, superb stage craft, and a tight instrumental display.

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2004 presented me with the first opportunity to witness a live performance from one of my favourite artists. PJ Harvey proved in Manchester that she is still one of the few UK artists who can meet and meet the best anywhere in the world. It was a consummate performance from a lady who also released, arguably, her best album in 2004.

Another memorable show was provided by Tom Baxter and Jamie Cullum in Manchester at the Carling Apollo venue. Baxter proved to be one of the UK’s brightest singer/songwriter prospects with an intense and skilful performance, while Cullum exhibited stage craft and the capability to grab an audience well beyond his years.

Cathy Davey performed a showcase gig at Liverpool’s Krazy House and taken together with her debut album proved to be a singer/songwriter to watch out for in 2005.

In the dying moments of 2004 two performances grabbed our attention. Martha Wainwright released a fabulous solo E.P. that has blown most critics away with its brutal honesty and distinctive sound. The opportunity to see her perform live supporting brother Rufus was just too tempting to miss at Liverpool’s Philharmonic venue. I witnessed a performance that marks Martha out as one of the biggest future solo singer/songwriter prospects in years to come.

I had received This Girl’s debut album and frankly wasn’t that impressed and admit to some reluctance to attend their gig in Liverpool at the Carling Academy. I’m glad I went. Along with Razorlight the band provided the most inspiring and enjoyable non-festival rock performances of 2004.

Our trio of great Irish singer/songwriter performances in 2004 was completed by Paddy Casey’s gig at the tiny Night & Day club in Manchester. His latest album is magical and has outsold everything in Ireland, including Dido! I first met Paddy back in 1999 when Sony launched his debut album. It failed to sell despite its quality but both Sony and Paddy have stuck to their guns. The result is a matured performer and one of the finest singer/songwriters anywhere.

Supporting Paddy was a young Danish singer/songwriter called Tina Dico perhaps better known for singing and co-writing Zero 7’s hit Home. This lady’s a bit special and further underlined her quality during a sold-out Zero 7 gig at Manchester’s Carling Apollo late in 2004. She has a great voice, great looks and combined with her ability to write intelligent and tuneful pop songs, will go far.

To top of our live year modern jazz artist Patricia Barber released a live recording of concerts played in France. Barber is head and shoulders above artists such as Krall and Buble with her vocal quality, piano-playing and ability to write superb jazz compositions. Her masterful album was selected by us as the Album of 2004.

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Music Festivals

In 2004 we covered two major music festivals. The Download heavy rock fest back in the spring presented the first and last opportunity to witness a wonderful guitar performance from Damageplan’s “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. During a December 2004 club concert in Columbus, Ohio, Darrell was shot dead at point-blank range by a crazed gunman who also murdered four fans before being killed by police.

Darrell and drummer brother Vinnie were original members of acclaimed thrash metal band Pantera, and had played a major part in making Damageplan one of the most popular metal bands around. The USA has much to answer for in its policy to allow guns to be bought and held by the population at-large. On a night when a musician and fans were sharing the very best heavy metal music, more innocent victims were claimed by the culture of violence and gun ownership that pervades the USA. Our sincere sympathies go to the band, families and fans.

On the brighter side Download proved to be an amazing festival attended by a record audience over two days of beautiful weather. Last year the secret gig by Metallica was undoubtedly the highlight. In 2004 Metallica’s scheduled headline performance proved to be the lowlight when drummer Lars Ulrich failed to show. Fortunately the heady line-up more than made up for the Metallica disaster.

In fact picking a highlight was really difficult but Korn probably shaded it as the band of this wonderfully organised fest. Slipknot displayed their new face masks while Linkin Park gave one tremendous performance.

The summer was inundated with festivals but the Manchester Move urban event held at the Old Trafford Lancashire Cricket Ground proved to be an eclectic treat. On offer were some of the best old and new bands including a welcome outdoor return by Morrissey, the Pixies, Tim Booth and the New York Dolls.

The latter proved to be one of the festival’s highlights. Early in the festival came a memorable and passionate performance (hailed by all critics) by veteran Jimmy Cliff and his band. Tim Booth also provided a performance to remember that included songs from one of my all-time favourite albums - James LAID.

Best of the newer bands were performances by Elbow (my pick of the whole festival) and the Beta Band who recently announced their last tour before breaking up.

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Prospects for 2005

2004 was a fabulous year for album releases and a period when album CD prices seemed to be on a downward spiral, perhaps contributing to record sales of over 230 million units. Heading the list of successes were Dido, Will Young and The Darkness. Blue Note released remastered versions of several jazz classics from the 50’s and 60’s which were musically and sonically astounding. TV and radio airwaves continued to be jam-packed with the mundane. The sad and sudden demise of BBC’s very independent DJ John Peel, represents a further nail in the coffin of inventive and quality music broadcasting, and even more pop mediocrity. In 2005 the Internet will hopefully supply a more open and adventurous musical menu, and we will continue to try to secure funding for Shakenstir Internet Radio. And in 2005 although Johnny Cash, Elliott Smith and Nina Simone will no longer be with us, their influence and music will live on. However, the two greatest escape artists in history (Bush and Blair) will sadly and inexplicably continue to plague our lives.

Two albums that will arrive quickly in 2005 will be the Frames new album (reviewed here) that already promises to be one of the best of 2005. Martha Wainwright will also be releasing her first full album and one of the most exciting prospects of 2005. Radiohead, David Gray, Moby, and Coldplay are expected to release new albums and offer the most intriguing prospects for 2005. Another very interesting prospect is Damien Rice who has already hinted at a 2005 release during live shows where new material has been heard (including the fabulous Woman Like A Man). We also understand that Carina Round has been in the USA recording her new album and can’t wait for another gem from this great UK singer/songwriter. With the ultimate demise of the Beta Band you can expect a package of goodbye material which could include a ‘best-of’ and previously unreleased songs/B-sides. And all this is just for starters!

To our thousands of worldwide patrons, be assured we will continue to cover only the very best of modern music in 2005. Our sincere thanks go to artists for their great music, and to you all have a great Christmas and a peaceful 2005.

Ed