BO NINGEN (London Cafe Oto, 22/12/16)

The 121st and final gig of 2016- and what finer note to wrap up the year than an unhinged psych-noise assault from London's own "Stick Men"? It's pretty much the same show I've seen them do thirteen times before, but why would you ask for anything else?

PRIMAL SCREAM (London Brixton Academy, 15/12/16)

Review: HERE

BORIS (London Electric Ballroom, 13/12/16)

Who needs hearing when you've got drone-metal/noise rock/shoegaze trio Boris performing "Pink" in full? By the end of it my eardrums felt like a Japanese city, post-Godzilla...

THE BOY LEAST LIKELY TO (London Social, 12/12/16)

The long-awaited return of the most gleefully twee band in existence, playing selections from their festive album as well as all the old classics (not to mention a delightful cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas"). A pretty joyous experience all round.

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX (London Dome, 09/12/16)

A two-hour psych/prog/metal odyssey from the erstwhile Mogwai side-project. Not really my bag, but "Burnt Reynolds" remains a sorely underrated epic.

PWR BTTM (London Shacklewell Arms, 06/12/16)

An inspiring, elatory show from the queercore power-pop duo, who sound like Fang Island and bitch like Joan Rivers.

LOW (London Union Chapel, 05/12/16)

There's no better way to kick off the Christmas season than with a dose of melancholic slowcore, and the Duluth veterans more than deliver with a mix of Christmas standards, self-composed Yuletime numbers and various down-tempo tunes from their extensive back catalogue.

PIXIES (London Brixton Academy, 29/11/16)

Review: HERE

IDRIS ACKAMOOR AND THE PYRAMIDS (London Cafe Oto, 20/11/16)

Despite hanging round these earthly spheres since 1972, Idris Ackamoor and his eccentric brand of afro-futurism hasn't quite achieved the acclaim or cultural visibility of the not-dissimilar Sun Ra Arkestra. But their energetic live shows, fascinating array of instruments and compelling fusion of free-jazz, funk and traditional African influences make them a band well worth checking out if you like your mind blown and your grooves cosmic.

MONO (London Electric Brixton, 17/11/16)

The Japanese post-rockers may be a one-trick pony (start off slow, build up glacially, GLORIOUSLY CACOPHONOUS PAY-OFF) but it's a damn good trick nonetheless.

HORSE LORDS (London Lexington, 14/11/16)

Do you like the idea of Colin Stetson and Deerhoof forming an off-kilter, Can-infused math-rock band? Do you like ridiculous displays of musical and rhythmic proficiency? Do you like fucktons of cowbell? If so, then Baltimore's tremendous Horse Lords might be the band for you.

OKKERVIL RIVER (London Islington Assembly Hall, 10/11/16)

Review: HERE

PAUL SIMON (London Royal Albert Hall, 08/11/16)

Not going to lie- this wasn't quite the epoch-defining gig I expected to be. But despite the stuffiness of the venue, the mediocrity of the sound-mix and the surfeit of filler, the sheer quantity of stone-cold classics nevertheless made this a gig worth the £75 ticket price. I mean, say what you like about Paul Simon's post-Garfunkel musical output, but The Boxer -> Sound of Silence -> Mrs. Robinson -> Bridge Over Trouble Water is a pretty solid encore by anyone's standards.

SPIRITUALIZED (London Barbican, 07/11/16)

There were many goosebump-inducing moments during Spiritualized's celebration of their all-time masterpiece "Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space", but the bit at the end of the title track where the gospel choir properly kicked in really did hit me right in the feels. Some songs felt a little-drawn out, "Electricity" was slightly neutered without the traditional strobe assault and the sheer maximalism of the set did occasionally overwhelm, but on the whole this was a magnificent, life-affirming gig in a week where joy was in particularly short supply.

CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS (London Brixton Academy, 02/11/16)

Review: HERE

EZRA FURMAN (London Roundhouse, 31/10/16)

Another knock-out show from my favourite queer Jewish rock 'n roll hero. Not the best gig I've ever seen him do, partially due to some unnecessary aggro in the crowd, but even a second-tier Ezra show is a hell of a lot of fun (it was a nice tip to the date to have him carried onto stage in a pastel pink coffin). Fantastic support from Charlotte Church's Pop Dungeon as well, who perform the only mash-up of Destiny's Child and Rage Against The Machine you'll probably ever hear.

SLEIGH BELLS (London Tufnell Park Dome, 27/10/16)

As subtle as Brian Blessed bellowing a ton of bricks off Trump Tower - and we wouldn't have it any other way.

XENIA RUBINOS (London Birthdays, 24/10/16)

Being an embittered, tired old troll, it's rare that I'm properly, genuinely blown away by an act these days, but goddamn, Xenia Rubinos is The Real Deal - R&B, Cuban rap and abrasive indie-rock mashed together to create something astoundingly funky, pointedly political and tremendously fun. And that's not to mention Xenia herself, who combines the magnetic charisma of Patti Smith with the dazzling showmanship of Janelle Monae. Without a doubt my gig discovery of the year.

DANPYUNSUN AND THE SAILORS (London Rich Mix, 21/10/16)
 

So, apparently Jambinai are far from the only alternative band of note from South Korea at the moment. I discovered these avant-garde indie-rockers on the K-Music Month Spotify playlist a couple of weeks back, and they struck me as a band I nedded to see live. And in that I was correct, even though some of their songs are a little middle-of-the-road for my tastes. Danpyunsun is a hilarious, deadpan frontman, even when jetlagged to hell, and their riveting, no-holds-barred performance is up there with the most energetic I've seen in 2016. Well worth checking out, for sure.

HANNAH EPPERSON (London Slaughtered Lamb, 20/10/16)

Looped violins and birthday cake from the talented Julianna Barwick collaborator, whose spawling, absorbing compositions mark her out as a talent to keep an eye on.