Heart of Noise

Happy new year my pretties! We’re now in the depths of January. 2010 has been and gone, taking with it my resolution for a gig a week.

You may have noticed there are not 52 gigs recorded.. I failed, dear readers! Well, I actually managed about 48 (Arcade Fire, Pete Roe and Portico Quartet are just some of the bands I never got round to blogging in the final flurry of 2010…) but am still short of accomplishing the gig a week. The thing about life getting in the way is a tired cliche, but I’m afraid in this case - it true. 

Having said that, I have still learned an awful lot from my year of giggage.

1) People might not be buying records (to be fair, why would you when you can get them for free?), but they are definitely lapping up live music.

2) There are so so many musicians out there who work their asses off, day and night, for no money and little gratitude.

3) There are probably the same amount of music journos scribbling away for free about the music they love, and the bands they love to hate.

3) There are approximately five bands who do support for the big London acts (yes I’m talking to you Trash Kit)

4) It is much easier to get into after-parties than I thought (thank you skinny jeans, fringe and alcohol).

5) New Yorkers may be uber-cool, but they know how to party…

6) Belfastians definitely know how to party (though I have to say I knew that one already).

7) I may be biased… but Brixton can take east London any day.

8) Music journalists form opinions at the drop of a hat. But they’re writing stuff that  the majority of music lovers will never read.

9) New bands seem to want it strip things back and sound old, even if they’re using loads of effects and electro-stuff to do so. Which is nice.

10) Going to a gig a week is good for the soul in more ways than one. And an affirmation I’ll take with me from here on in. Perhaps not quite as stringently (!) but I’ll keep updating here with my general musings and pictures from my life in music. Lucky you!