TOP TEN 2016

TOP TEN 2016

TOP LIVE SETS

ANXIETY Static Shock

SURGE Tape Release

RATS BLOOD K-Town

FLESHIES Still Not Quiet

UNA BESTIA INCONTROLABLE Tenterhooks Last Gig

INTRAVENE Noise Annoys

CHARLIE PARR Cobblestone

RUNT Static Shock

TOP PIT 

AMERICAN HATE, Still Not Quiet B/W with GORILLA ANGREB, K-Town

Hand, post Rixe set, K-Town

TOP HANGOVER 

Bussing to Belfast for the 5th Annual March for Choice and Puking in a Plastic Bag, B/W The Day After SCRAP BRAIN/SCORE/VAN-ILLA in Cardiff

TOP CITIES (DIY) 

#1 VICTORIA, BC

I started the year off in the warm hungover embrace of dear Victoria. From old friends to newer folks I've met, everyone involved in bands and putting on gigs, for you I hold a special place in my heart. Gigs at the NASTY House, gigs at Logan’s, walks by the seaside, walks to the grocery store, summer BBQs at Prior Two. Some bands to check out from there currently HURTIN', COLLAGEN, DUMMY POPS, PINNER, FOUNTAIN, KRAXXA, and more.

TOP CITIES (DIY) 

#2 LONDON, UK

I talked recently with an unnamed high profile musician who said that the London scene is on its way out. But I dunno y'all, STATIC SHOCK this year was my first time at a gig in London since 2006 and DIY Space for London is one of the most impressive community spaces I've ever been to. You know when you don't live in these cities and you visit with rose-coloured lenses (or speed-fuelled glazed over eyes) and you think Wow This Place, but really like, it's great and the scale of work put into these DIY spaces is oft underrated. Some sick bands from there: GOOD THROB, PINK GRIP, SCORE, ES, SCRAP BRAIN, BODY BUTTER, MISC, WOOLF, RUNT, SAUNA YOUTH.

TOP CITIES (DIY) 

#3  VANCOUVER, BC

The Black Lab is still going strong thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers and collective members who put on event after show after flea market, all to pay the exorbitant rents and keep the landlord and city and the rats at bay. If you visit Vancouver make sure to check out a gig there, unless you are a cop but then why are you reading this you fucking pig?  They have an occasionally updated Tumblr and a Facebook page you can check out for more info.

ASSOCIATED ACTS: CLOACA, SPECTRES, SWIM TEAM, ALIEN BOYS, WANT, TEMPEST, PURA MANIA, SHAMEOVER, SBDC, CHAOS DISORDER & PANIC (please tell me who I'm missing because I know it’s in the 100s)

Also I know Raf moved away but PURA MANIA played some of the best gigs the Lab has ever seen and Rafael was instrumental in the collective from the get-go. And they just put out a new LP that was recorded right before he left and it's a total banger. 

You can order it here: hysteriarecords.bigcartel.com 
And listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quVa9zPUGtY

Other than that I haven't been there in 7 months but I think Franklin Studios is still going and probably some other stuff? Who blogs in Vancouver?

TOP CITIES (DIY) 

#4 SHEFFIELD, UK 

Met some very nice locals and out of towners alike at the first NOISE ANNOYS. Ate a burrito. Tried to convince the bar next door to do karaoke (they weren't having it but were very nice). ORDEN MUNDIAL killed it and there were a lot of cool strong non-dude people in bands and hanging around. I forget what the day show space was called but the LUGHOLE is very cool and if you are up north in the UK you should definitely check out a gig there. And eat a pasty with relish, they probably make good vegan ones IDK. 
Bands: SIEVEHEAD, SKIPLICKERS, INTRAVENE (are they still a band?), END OF, DETERGENTS, COMMUNITY, OBSTRUCT

Noise Annoys (Day Show)

DUBLIN, IRELAND

January marks the longest I've lived away from Vancouver since moving there in 2004. It is a city to which I hold strong ties and a city that I cannot wait to get back to, if only for the dearest friends and community that I am privileged to hold there. But til I return in DUBLIN making my Us sound like Os and jammin and workin. It's been grand like and here's some stuff about it:

• TENTERHOOKS (RIP) was a really cool DIY space on the south side, run by a smattering of dedicated individuals. It was right by a park to pre-drink in and sometimes the SPAR let you use their jax but they were always selling out of PRATSKY. The last show was an all-day banger/head wrecker and DISGUISE brought the house down literally but for sure the best set was UNA BESTIA INCONTROLABLE. With the combination of heat and a stage presence described as hypnotic, band members and crowd alike were transported to an astral plain with sweat and dirt until no one knew what was real and when it was over it was all you could do to grip your worthless empty can and stumble to the street.

Strong Boys, Martin Frings w/selfie stick, Tenterhooks

• BIKING in the city is fucking scary but it's your best option if you’re able because everywhere is pretty close and flat to get to but seriously hi-vis up and have your wits about you because those lorries will crush you in between the taxi and the curb.
• A 3 in 1 is a miraculous post-session snack that involve the holy matrimony of the moderate tasting starches that are rice and chips, soggy in hot 'n' salty curry sauce. Best ones so far have been Charlies on D'Olier St and Pearl River at the Phibsboro Crossing.
• NEW DIY SPACE for gigs rumoured to be in the works for JANUARY featuring some fave local acts.
• LEARNING THE DRUMS is super hard and I'll never give out to any drummers ever again about not playing fast enough.

LOCAL BANDS 

SURGE, DISGUISE, GAZE, VENA CAVA, ALIEN SHE, SISSY, RATS BLOOD, GRIT, THE BLOW INS.

BODY POSITIVITY / SELF CONFIDENCE 2016

The year of the unabashed selfie. Constantly reminding ourselves that we matter to our friends, and we matter to ourselves. I turned 30 this year and I am still learning to like myself one day at a time, and to check myself, and to keep up friendships. In punk we take for granted the social norms that leak between the seams and dampen our attempts to be true freeqs. Social capital is alive and thriving and sometimes we forget and let it override the trueness that punk is for the weirdos and the outsiders. In our DIY spaces we try to create environments of community and accessibility and fun but sometimes these manifestations are exclusive. Do it for the kids, do it for the next generation because none of us would be here without a bit of a path carved out before. Looking good is feeling good but let everyone define what that means to them and maybe just try to be nice to each other and Say Hi at the Gig because we live in an alienating bleak garbage world, and WHERE IS THE RELIEF if not at the gig? It's as close to the pit as you want to get my friend.

SOBER VACAY

Quit drinking for 4 months and then went to the Bay by myself for a week and it was great! I hung out with people who were drinking the whole time, I had pals who stayed sober with me in solidarity (which means so much!), I even asked someone to make out with no liquid courage whatsoever. I went back to drinking, this was my fourth time quitting for more than a month. I encourage people to take breaks if they want to, and to never stop asking for support. If anyone wants to talk about the experience of trying to go sober in a very substance fueled community, I would be down. I am not a sober person, but I have more will power than I did last year and I only intend to keep growing and getting better at making choices.

Thanks for reading. Start a band, please. 

Send me hate mail legs5016@hotmail.com, or text me jokes (+353)858342503.

xolegs

The Writer, Glendalough, Ireland