My Top 10 Gigs of 2009

This list was very hard, given the quality of music last year brought with it. The list has dropped the likes of my favourite Scots (payback for no photo, Alex), as well as the amazingly skilled Kaki King (who wowed Tait and I at Ruby's in Feb). It also fails to include The Drones, who I consider probably the best Aussie live act, and Martini's funeral, which could possibly top a "Strangest Gig List" if I had one. Still, I'm pretty happy with the following selection...

10.
Painters & Dockers @ Prince of Wales (20 November)
Age EG Awards
Old fellas playing with more energy than most younger bands. Cool (and creepy).

Read all about it here at FasterLouder



9.
Birds of Tokyo @ Melbourne Town Hall (15 November)
Broken Strings Tour
They're great live usually, but add a string quartet and it's an even grander event!



8.
Doves @ Palace Theatre (28 July)
Beaten on this list by the band that supported them (see No. 7) Doves can't do much wrong as far as I'm concerned - an awesome night!

Read all about it here at FasterLouder



7.
The Middle East @ The Corner (11 October)
As far as captivating goes, I've never heard the Corner so silent. A gorgeous show.

Read all about it here at FasterLouder



6.
Port O'Brien @ Northcote Social Club (3 February)
This was a real surprise for me - a pack of folkies that really know how to put on a show.

Read all about it here at FasterLouder



5.
Dr. Dog @ Gershwin Room (10 January)
Another great live band, playing off the back of 2008's brilliant Fate.



4.
Kaiser Chiefs @ Palace Theatre (1 April)
Just shafted by No. 3, the Kaisers continually prove to be one of the best live acts around. Damn fun!




3.
Maximo Park @ Billboard (11 November)
Paul Smith's dancing never fails to impress me. These guys had the room in the palm of their hands.

Read all about it here at FasterLouder



2.
"Before Too Long" A Tribute to Paul Kelly @ Forum Theatre (14 November)
Just a great bunch of musicians playing the classic Aussie tunes of Paul Kelly - beautiful.

Read all about it here at FasterLouder

Dumb Things:



And the winner is...


1.
Augie March @ Forum Theatre (29 August)
Favourite band, favourite venue, 2.5 hours including heaps of old material... doesn't get much better than that for me. And the band's last gig for a long while :(. Funnily enough, it's the only show in this list that I have no review/photos/vids for...