There’s really not much that can be said about 2020 hasn’t already been said. A year of social distancing and self isolation and general boredom and misery for many. This year will not be looked back on fondly, especially by those who love live music and those who depend on it for income. We have however been blessed with plenty of amazing new albums this year to get us through these unprecedented times (had to get that phrase in somewhere) and I’ve decided to share a BIG list of 50 of the best in hope that you can discover something new or see where your favourite ranks. Disclaimer: This list is based entirely on my opinion and therefore is the only correct list as I am absolutely right about everything.
50:
SPICE – SPICE
49
Trivium – What The Dead Men Say
48
The Ghost Inside – The Ghost Inside
47
Grandson – Death Of An Optimist
46
BLOXX – Lie Out Loud
45
Dragged Under – The World Is In Your Way
44
VUKOVI – Fall Better
43
Black Foxxes – Black Foxxes
42
Hockey Dad – Brain Candy
41
Sløtface – Sorry for the Late Reply
40
All Time Low – Wake Up Sunshine
39
YUNGBLUD – weird
38
Four Year Strong – Brain Pain
37
END – Splinters from an Ever-ChangingFace
36
Poppy – I disagree
Follow The Birdbox Socials for part 2 coming very soon!
My intention when I first started this blog back in January was to use it as a space to write about my first hand experience of the many gigs and festivals I had planned for the year ahead. It would act like a kind of diary to look back on with friends at the end of the year and in years to come to reflect on some great times. Obviously we haven’t been able to do that this year but in these dark, gigless days I feel this would be great opportunity to do what The Birdbox was made for and think back on memories of seeing some of my favourite bands and, in some cases, the journey that they have been on. Let’s look back at better days with Foo Fighters.
Milton Keynes – 2011
After much persuasion, and weeks of saving money from my paper round, I finally convinced my parents to let me go to my first ‘proper’ gig. 15 may seem late for a first one compared to some but it was absolutely worth the wait and they don’t come much bigger than Foo Fighters at the national bowl. The support bill was stacked with Tame Impala, Death Cab For Cutie and a Scottish band by the name of Biffy Clyro warming a crowd of 65,000. I remember having my little face blown away by Dave Grohl’s energy as he seemingly hypnotised the whole army of fans stood before him. Foos played all the bangers you would expect as well as features from special guests Roger Taylor and Alice Cooper for a couple too.
London Stadium – 2018
It’s a good job that Foo Fighters are always worth the wait as it was 7 whole years later that I was able to see them again. And it wasn’t for a lack of trying either! Foo Fighters always manage to sell out multiple nights at some of the biggest arenas and stadiums in the world within minutes but we managed to get lucky in summer 2018. I felt the support acts this time around were unfortunately underwhelming, including Slaves, who I am a huge fan of*, who just didn’t seem to have the right impact in a stadium compared to smaller surroundings. Once ‘The Kills’ had finished their main support set, we moved on in to find a good spot for the main event. We situated ourselves close to the catwalk which was jutting out into the crowd because, although this compromised our view of the main stage, we knew big Dave would be right in front of us at some point. We were right and our obstructed view of the main stage was worth it to be serenaded by one of our hero’s as he sang ‘My Hero’.
*The Birdbox does not support Slavery but does love UK band, ‘Slaves’
Reading Festival – 2019
The following summer, on the hottest day of the year, Foo Fighters closed the Sunday night at Reading Festival. Foos and Reading go way back with Dave Grohl’s association with the festival going even further back having played in the early 90s with Nirvana. Grohl took some time to reflect midway through the set with a heartfelt speech about those previous years. The crowd was gearing up for what we were certain was about to be a Nirvana cover as Dave said he wanted to pay tribute to “a song that brings us way back in time, that’s maybe the reason why we’re here tonight headlining the main stage”. Mr Grohl began to play some chords but they were NOT the chords to Smells Like Teen Spirit. They were the chords to Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’. Astley joined the band on stage as 100,000 voices chanted the lyrics back at him. We had been Rick rolled by the Grohl and we were loving it.
Check out Instagram below to see some photos from these shows and while you’re there, let me know your Foo Fighters memories.
My intention when I first started this blog back in January was to use it as a space to write about my first hand experience of the many gigs and festivals I had planned for the year ahead. It would act like a kind of diary to look back on with friends at the end of the year and in years to come to reflect on some great times. Obviously we haven’t been able to do that this year but in these dark, gigless days I feel this would be great opportunity to do what The Birdbox was made for and think back on memories of seeing some of my favourite bands and, in some cases, the journey that they have been on. Let’s look back at better days with Lower Than Atlantis.
Butserfest 2012
Like with Don Broco, I had been a Lower Than Atlantis fan since about the age of 13, when my friends and I downloaded their music and burned it to CD’s totally legitimately. Many lunch breaks were spent hanging out by the maths block listening to Bretton and Far Q. The similarities don’t stop there as, just like with Broco, I didn’t manage to see LTA until butserfest 2012 where they played just before headliners Kids In Glass Houses. They played a few songs from the album ‘Changing Tune’ which had been released earlier that year as well as a few from their previous two albums. I remember ‘Love Someone Else’ being one of my set highlights and managed to take one very blurry photo on my 6 megapixel potato.
Birmingham 2014
LTA announced they would embark on a tour of intimate shows in July 2014 of which I went to the Birmingham date. This felt like it might be the last chance to see them in such surroundings as there was a lot of hype around their upcoming self titled album and a rowdy crowd made the most of it. It got perhaps a bit too rowdy at one point with frontman, Mike Duce, stopping the show and jumping into the crowd to break up a fight. The setlist contained all of the old favourites as well as the addition of new single ‘Here We Go’ which was very well received.
Oxford 2016, 2018
There are memories of many Oxford LTA shows jammed in my brain but there are two that stand out the most. The first was a warm-up show before Reading and Leeds in 2016. I went to this one with my sister, who just happened to be turning 16 on that day and also just happens to be called Emily, the same name of one of LTA’s most popular songs. After a couple of twitter messages to our mate Mike, he was happy to dedicate the song to my sister who, despite somone on the front-row trying to claim the shout out for themselves, was pretty pleased I think.
The second stand out Oxford show was actually the very last one there in May 2018. In fact, it is my favourite LTA show of all. The band seemed to have a renewed energy about them and were on the best form I’d ever seen them. Mike was constantly jumping in and out of the crowd, doing shots, encouraging (some might say peer pressuring) crowd members to down their drinks and also did a ‘shoey’ out of a child’s welly. They even played the song ‘Far Q’ from their debut album of the same name. It wasn’t exactly a crowd pleaser as only myself and about 4 other people seemed to know the words but it was still amazing to hear that song live again and shout the words back after so long. It really felt like Lower Than Atlantis had found another gear on this tour but of course, we weren’t to know what was going on behind closed doors.
Brixton 2019
In December 2018, and in a very unchristmassy manner, LTA revealed that they would be playing their final shows in May of the following year. There was some concern going into the very final show as Mike had been unable to sing the night before in Birmingham. After some emergency injections we were assured that all would be well for Brixton academy and they did deliver in the end. My memory of this one is slightly overshadowed by having my phone stolen from my pocket and losing all photos and videos I had taken. It sucked but my phone could be replaced and the final moments of seeing one of my favourite bands live for the last time could not so I just enjoyed the moment. I was delighted that they played ‘If The World Was To End’ and ‘Beech Like The Tree’ and ‘Another Sad Song’ was the saddest it had ever been with the knowledge that it was probably the last time.
Follow the Instagram link to see more photos from these gigs and more and while you’re there, why not let me know your Lower Than Atlantis memories. Also check out more ‘better days’ stories below.
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