THERE'S REALLY NO WAY OF ME JUSTIFYING THIS...

So we've finally reached the last gig week of the year and dear God, what a year it's been. They said I couldn't out-do 2007's absurdly mammoth roster of shows, but evidently they underestimated my intrinsic lack of willpower and general awfulness. I'll be posting my Top 40 Live Acts of 2008 over the Xmas period, but for now I present to the blogosphere what should be the comprehensive list of all the shows I've been to this year:

17/01/08: JIM NOIR (w/ The 586; Sir Simon)- London Borderline
21/01/08: MORRISSEY (w/ Girl In A Coma)- London Roundhouse
24/01/08: REVERE (w/ Wojtek Godzisz; Kaiko)- London
Luminaire
29/01/08: STARS (w/ Apostle of Hustle; The Thurston Revival)- London Koko
30/01/08: EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY (w/ Eluvium)- London Astoria
31/01/08: MAKE MODEL (w/ Man From Michael; Trail)- London Water Rats

05/02/08: OKKERVIL RIVER (w/ Jay Jay Pistolet; Rachel Unthank And The Winterset)- London Scala
06/02/08: BLACK KIDS (w/ The Author; Cage The Elephant)- London Water Rats
08/02/08: RACHEL UNTHANK AND THE WINTERSET (w/ Jaymay)- London Borderline
09/02/08: POLYSICS (w/ Cutting Pink With Knives)- Islington Academy
13/02/08: BLACK FRANCIS- London Social
21/02/08: VAMPIRE WEEKEND (w/ Bobby Cook; Esser)- University of London Union
25/02/08: EELS- London Royal Festival Hall
26/02/08: ISLANDS (w Damn Shames)- Hoxton Bar and Kitchen
27/02/08: MENOMENA (w/ Land of Talk; Sky Larkin)- Kings College London Student Union
29/02/08: FINAL FANTASY (w/ Alexander Tucker and Stephen O’ Malley; Dirty Projectors; Six Organs of Admittance; Frog Eyes)- Kentish Town Forum

05/03/08: CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE (w/ Max Tundra)- London Bush Hall
06/03/08: YEASAYER (w/ Dragons of Zynth)- London Institute of Contemporary Arts
07/03/08: MARTHA WAINWRIGHT (w/ Dockers MC; Catherine Anne Davies; Monade; Piney Gir)- London Queen Elizabeth Hall
11/03/08: BROKEN RECORDS (w/ Richard Walters)- London Soho Revue Bar
13/03/08: BLACK KIDS (w/ The Magistrates) - London Institute of Contemporary Arts
19/03/08: CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE (w/ a.P.a.T.t; Harry Merry)- London Luminaire

01/04/08: PETER AND THE WOLF (US) (w/ Planet Earth)- London Luminarie
02/04/08: GOGOL BORDELLO (w/ Skindred)- Brixton Academy
04/04/08: MIRACLE FORTRESS (w/ The Joy Formidable)- London Luminaire
05/04/08: BROKEN RECORDS (w/ Vessels; Fireworks Night)- Notting Hill Arts Club
08/04/08: HOLY FUCK (w/ Free Blood)- London 100 Club
09/04/08: DEVOTCHKA (w/ Dawn Kinnard)- London Scala
10/04/08: ALASKA IN WINTER (w/ Mitch and Murray; Marianne Dissard)- London 93 Feet East
14/04/08: BJORK (w/ Leila)- Hammersmith Apollo
17/04/08: PORTISHEAD (w/ A Hawk and a Hacksaw)- Brixton Academy
19/04/08: RECORD STORE DAY (w/ Lykke Li; The Metros; Jason Molina)- London Rough Trade East
26/04/08: ANDREW BIRD (w/ Loney, Dear)- London IndigO2
29/04/08: MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND (w/ Rodney Fisher; Clare and the Reasons; Jay Jay Pistolet; Paul Frith and the Considerate Lovers)- London Luminaire

01/05/08: HEALTH (w/ Skeletons and the King of All Cities; Pre)- London Luminaire
06/05/08: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE (w/ Clearlake)- London Electric Ballroom
07/05/08: NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS (w/ Barry Adamson)- Hammersmith Apollo
09/05/08: THAO NYUGEN AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN (w/ Jersey Budd) - London Luminaire
12/05/08: THE OCTOPUS PROJECT (w/ It Hugs Back; Kaputt)- London Madame JoJo’s
13/05/08: DAN LE SAC VS. SCROOBIUS PIP- London Oxford Street Zavvi
13/05/08: MAN MAN (w/ Bloodgroup; Three Trapped Tigers )- London Cargo
14/05/08: BATTLES (w/ Dirty Projectors; Fuck Buttons)- London Astoria
15/05/08: THE NATIONAL- Dublin Olympia
16/05/08: IRON AND WINE (w/ Bon Iver)- Kentish Town Forum
19/05/08: XIU XIU (w/ Chris Garneau; Telepathe; Soiled Mattress and the Springs)- University of London Union
20/05/08: JENS LEKMAN (w/ Bon Iver; Jaymay)- London Scala
21/05/08: MGMT (w/ Florence and the Machine; The Runaway Sons)- London Astoria
22/05/08: SUNSET RUBDOWN (w/ Fireworks Night)- London Luminaire
23/05/08: BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE (w/ The Brunettes)- Shepherd’s Bush Empire
24/05/08: AVERAGE WHITE BAND- London Jazz Café
29/05/08: SILVER JEWS (w/ Monotonix; Port O’ Brien)- University of London Union

04/06/08: LYKKE LI (w/ Shout Out Louds)- London Cargo
05/06/08: WILDBIRDS AND PEACEDRUMS (w/ Joe Gideon and the Shark; Banjo or Freakout)- London Luminaire
11/06/08: FLEET FOXES (w/ Beach House)- University of London Union
16/06/08: MELT-BANANA (w/ DJ Scotch Egg)- University of London Union
17/06/08: LIARS (w/ Deerhunter)- London Koko
20/06/08: MY BLOODY VALENTINE - London Roundhouse
24/06/08: SIGUR ROS (w/ Helgi Jonsson)- Westminster Methodist Hall
25/06/08: RADIOHEAD (w/ Bat For Lashes)- London Victoria Park
29/06/08: WHY? (w/ S.J Esau; My Sad Captains)- London Madame JoJo’s

04/07/08: O2 WIRELESS FESTIVAL (w/ Morrissey, The National (x2), Guillemots, Siouxsie, The Wombats, Dirty Pretty Things)- London Hyde Park
08/07/08: FRIGHTENED RABBIT (w/ Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit; Collapsing Cities)- London Madame JoJo’s
09/07/08: THE MAGNETIC FIELDS (w/ Darren Hanlon)- London Cadogan Hall
14/07/08: THE HOLD STEADY- London HMV Oxford Circus
14/07/08: PARTS AND LABOR (w/ Screaming Tea Party; The International)- London Corsica Studios
16/07/08: MICAH P. HINSON (w/ Absentee)- London Bush Hall
18/07/08-20/07/08: LATITUDE FESTIVAL (w/ The Godwits; The Joy Formidable; Rosie And The Goldbug; Broken Records; Slow Club; Derwyddon Dr. Gonzo; Micah P. Hinson; Bearsuit; a.P.A.t.T; British Sea Power; The Go! Team; Death Cab For Cutie; Franz Ferdinand; The Magistrates; Golden Silvers; Wild Beasts; Beth Rowley; Fanfarlo; dEUS; Seasick Steve; Elbow; Sigur Ros; Joanna Newsom; Polly Scattergood; Those Dancing Days; Noah And The Whale; Patrick Watson; Glasvegas; Okkervil River; Blondie; Interpol; Tindersticks)- Henham Park, Suffolk
23/07/08: RATATAT (w/ Micachu and the Shapes)- London Cargo

04/08/08: THE MAE SHI (w/ Dananananaykroyd)- London Old Blue Last
09/08/08: FIELD DAY FESTIVAL (w/ Of Montreal; Efterklang; Les Savy Fav; the Howling Bells; Laura Marling; Noah and the Whale; The Mae Shi, The Emperor Machine; Emma Pollock; The Magistrates;One Little Plane; Edward J. Hicks)- London Victoria Park
12/08/08: THE DODOS (w/ Collapsing Cities; Swanton Bombs)- London 100 Club
13/08/08: NINA NASTASIA (w/ O’ Death)- London Roundhouse
14/08/08: O’ DEATH (w/ Sennen; Rod Thomas)- London Cargo
18/08/08: WILDBIRDS AND PEACEDRUMS (w/ Bowerbirds)- London Social
20/08/08: FUTURE OF THE LEFT (w/ Fighting With Wire; Truckers Of Husk)- London Water Rats
22/08/08: THE SMOKE FAIRIES- London Rough Trade East
23/08/08: THE HIDDEN CAMERAS (w/ The Gadsdens; Lianne Hall) - London St. Leonards Church
27/08/08: RA RA RIOT (w/ Inbetween Days; The Daves; Rocketeer)- London Water Rats
28/08/08: YACHT (w/ Sportsday Megaphone; Applicants)- London Institute of Contemporary Arts

02/09/08: SHOUT OUT LOUDS (w/ The Boy Least Likely To; Peter and the Wolf)- London 229 Bar
05/09/08: BROKEN RECORDS- (w/ The Ruling Class; Prego; Capital) London 229 Bar
06/09/08: CAMERA OBSCURA (w/ The Clientele; Frightened Rabbit; Wave Pictures; Lawrence of Arabia)- London 229 Bar
08/09/08: AKRON/FAMILY (w/ The Acorn; Hush Arbors)- London Luminaire
09/09/08: CLARE AND THE REASONS (w/ Brendan Campbell)- London Borderline
11/09/08: SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN (w/ Stagecoach; The Noughts and Crosses Band)- London Borderline
12/09/08: DOVES (w/ Manic Street Preachers)- London Royal Festival Hall
13/09/08: DEERHUNTER- London Rough Trade East
15/09/08: THE MOUNTAIN GOATS (w/ The Young Republic)- University of London Union
17/09/08: SHEARWATER (w/ The Constantines)- London Bush Hall
21/09/08: WOODPIGEON- London Rough Trade East
23/09/08: BROKEN RECORDS (w/ The Ryes)- London Luminaire
24/09/08: FUJIYA & MIYAGI (w/ Project Jenny, Project Jan)- London Bush Hall
25/09/08: THE SPINTO BAND- London Borderline
28/09/08: GET WELL SOON (w/ Hadar Manor)- London Luminaire

01/10/08: ISLANDS (w/ Lord Auch; Married To The Sea)- London Dingwalls
02/10/08: O’DEATH (w/ Bodies of Water; Frightened Rabbit)- Hoxton Bar and Kitchen
03/10/08: CONCRETE AND GLASS FESTIVAL (w/ Anni Rossi; Liz Green; Wildbirds and Peacedrums; Micachu and the Shapes; James Yuill)- London Strongroom/Café 1001/Old Blue Last
09/10/08: COLLAPSING CITIES (w/ The Hosts)- London Water Rats
13/10/08: OF MONTREAL- London Rough Trade East
15/10/08: THE DEARS- London Rough Trade East
16/10/08: OF MONTREAL (w/ Eugene McGuinness)- London Koko
17/10/08: TILLY AND THE WALL- London Pure Groove
17/10/08: JENNY LEWIS (w/ Benji Hughes)- London Koko
17/10/08: THE OUTSIDE ROYALTY (w/ The Jukebox Vandals)- London Tommy Flynn’s
18/10/08: HOLY FUCK (w/ Kelpe)- Kings College London Student Union
19/10/08: EDDI READER (w/ Lucy Wainwright Roche)- Shepherd’s Bush Empire
21/10/08: MIRACLE FORTRESS (w/ Swanton Bombs)- London 93 Feet East
22/10/08: M83 (w/ The Domino State)- London Scala
24/10/08: MOGWAI (w/ Fuck Buttons; Errors)- Hammersmith Apollo
25/10/08: OLAFUR ARNALDS (w/ finn)- London Union Chapel
26/10/08: THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS (w/ Ipso Facto)- Hammersmith Apollo
28/10/08: MARTHA WAINWRIGHT (w/ Angus and Julia Stone)- London Roundhouse
30/10/08: ERIN McKEOWN (w/ Ella Edmondson)- London Green Note

04/11/08: WHY? (w/ The Dead Science; Munch Munch)- London Scala
05/11/08: RUBY SUNS (w/ A.J. Holmes; Mike Bones)- London Lexington
11/11/08: OKKERVIL RIVER (w/ The Dodos; Stars and Sons)- Shepherd’s Bush Empire
13/11/08: EMMY THE GREAT- Rough Trade East
13/11/08: MERCURY REV (w/ The Howling Bells)- Shepherd’s Bush Empire
18/11/08: CHAIRLIFT- Pure Groove Records
19/11/08: TV ON THE RADIO (w/ The Big Pink)- Shepherd’s Bush Empire
20/11/08: SIGUR ROS (w/ For A Minor Reflection)- London Alexandra Palace
21/11/08: SIGUR ROS (w/ For A Minor Reflection)- London Alexandra Palace
22/11/08: SHEARWATER (w/ Absentee; Greg Weeks; Bird Engine)- London St. Giles-In-The-Fields Church
24/11/08: JEFFREY LEWIS- Brixton Windmill
25/11/08: I’M FROM BARCELONA (w/ Soko)- London Scala
26/11/08: WOMEN- London Pure Groove Records
27/11/08: V.V BROWN (w/ Birdpen)- London Scala
28/11/08: WOLF PARADE (w/ Dag for Dag)- Manchester Ruby Lounge
29/11/08: WOLF PARADE (w/ Giveamanakick)- Dublin Vicars Street

01/12/08: WOLF PARADE (w/ Chad VanGaalen; Dag for Dag)- London Electric Ballroom
02/12/08: DEERHOOF (w/ Underground Railroad)- University of London Union
03/12/08: DEPARTMENT OF EAGLES (w/ Hush Arbors)- London Borderline
06/12/08: THE OUTSIDE ROYALTY (w/ The Ruling Class; Molotov)- London Metro Club
07/12/08: GREGORY AND THE HAWK- London Northampton Square Bandstand
07/12/08: BON IVER (w/ Sarah Siskind)- London Victoria Apollo
09/12/08: VIVIAN GIRLS- London Rough Trade East
11/12/08: ALESSI'S ARK- London Pure Groove Records
11/12/08: RACHEL UNTHANK AND THE WINTERSET (w/ Felix Lajko)- London Union Chapel
12/12/08: M83- London St. Giles Church
14/12/08: JAMIE LIDELL (w/ Fujiya & Miyagi)- Shepherd’s Bush Empire
16/12/08: EMMY THE GREAT- London Pure Groove Records
17/12/08: THE HOLD STEADY (w/ The Mark Inside)- London Roundhouse
18/12/08: GOGOL BORDELLO (w/ DJ Pedro)- London Roundhouse
19/12/08: MUMFORD AND SONS- Pure Groove Records