So 2010 ends as it began at the Dublin Castle. Last year it was Rubella playing and this year Pussycat & the Dirty Johnsons.

It still seems strange that I can look through the listings for all London venues for a week and see no-one I know listed as playing, or look through a month's listings for The Dublin Castle or the Barfly without spotting anyone I know. That's not to say I don't recognise some of the names on the bills, but I haven't seen them. On the other hand, the bands I do know have become increasingly inter-connected; Three years ago I thought that Little Fish and Bleech would make a excellent bill, this year Club NME thought the same and put them on together at Koko. This really was a special night for me as not only have I supported both bands for a long time, I am friends with many of their fans and family. Whilst I'm not going to make a list or a ranking this was surely one of my favourite gigs of 2010. Other memorable gigs would be Little Fish and Placebo (the first time I had been to Brixton Academy) and the first gig from Exotica; Rubella's gig at Powers in January also springs to mind. It's difficult to single out particular gigs of many excellent gigs  that I saw from Dogbones, O.Children, No Cars and Pussycat & the Dirty Johnsons.
In January Mike joined Rubella as bass player for their tour; after the tour Rubella were put on ice, as Lisa returned to Taiwan and Mike joined my friends Pussycat & the Dirty Johnsons. This seems to have been an ideal union with the band going from strength to strength through 2010 and culminating in this excellent gig on New Year's Eve.
Anouska from Rubella spent much of the year seeking like-minded musicians to work in a new band with her. Although at times the prospects did not look encouraging, the solution arose when she was approached by the rhythm section of Commissar  (whose singer/guitarist had retired from the band). They had selected her as someone they'd like to work with, and she already had huge respect for them. Thus in October, Exotica was formed. I am very excited about the prospects for Exotica in 2011 as the 5 gigs they did in Novemer showed a huge potential.

Overall 2010 was a year of less gigs. The recession has taken it's toll and it is really very difficult to attract a crowd to a small venue in the first half of the week. I think this combined with the bands I have known for a fairly long time being advanced enough to get their gigs on Thursday - Saturday, so on many occasions more than one band I know were playing n the same night. Having said that I do seem to have managed to see 176 gig, which by simple arithmetic suggests that I averaged a gig every other night. The bands that I had identified and followed in previous years accounted for many of these gigs but I did see a few bands new to me that I have seen many times (apart from Exotica who I have already mentioned): I spotted the 1914s in February and lost count of how many times I have seen them since, towards the end of the year I have enjoyed the Healthy Junkies who largely consist of Camden people that I know from other bands but I think this combination is the one I prefer. I also saw some signed bands who are worth checking out if you haven't already seen them: Ramona, Lyrebirds and I Blame Coco.

Many of the bands I follow have produced albums this year. I was particularly excited when the long awaited Little Fish album hit the streets in August.I have also particularly enjoyed releases by O.Children, The Dogbones,  Cold in Berlin and Pussycat and the Johnsons. You should give them all a listen.
And in 2011 we are expecting albums from Bleech and Anna Calvi. Anna Calvi seems to be gettind a lot of attention, and tips for success in 2011; you will remember that I saw a lot of her in 2009, I also saw a couple of her shows this year and I am pleased to say that she has not changed much. Hopefully she won't be ruined by the music industry's determination to remove any individuality in the quest for mass success (I'm referring here to Florence and the Machine and the XX who were actually quite good before they were massaged for success.)

It was disappointing that Lisa Rubella wasn't able to stay in the country after her student visa ran out, but good to see her again when she visited in the summer. I enjoyed tourist trips with her and Anouska to Bath and Cambridge.
It was also disappointing when Daniel Miller, who I had thought a friend, tried to sack the drummer in Exotica and as this was contrary to the wishes of the band had to be sacked himself as the band's manager. His unilateral advertisment for a new drummer was the final straw. Strangely he has now blocked me on facebook although I was not involved. Admitedly (after he had been sacked) I did sent him a note expressing astonishment and anger at his bullying treatment of Anouska and frank disbelief that he thought he was more important to the band than the drummer. I am certain that Exotica will be better off without him and I am sure that it won't be long before all the band are blacklisted. I expect that he will make up some absurd stories about me and maybe them to bore his new confidents with; I now realise how ridiculous the stories he tells of anyone he thinks has crossed him. I am rather sad for him.

Anyway, 2010 was a year of many positives and I'd like to thank all the bands I know and follow for their friendship and fine performances during the year. I look forward to your continued success and hope that I may be able to make some small contribution to it.

You'd never guess that this gig was done in the dark. My new 85mm 1.4 lens has delivered a tremendous result.