2022 - Top 3 gigs of the year.

Sorry loadgoat had this ready too go

The Midnight - Vicar Street

Devin Townsend - Olympia

Perturbator/Health - Academy

Honorable mentions for 2 gigs where i was just the walking atm/chaperone for my daughters,Never listened to the music before or after but they were great gigs:

Mitski - Vicar Street

Mother Mother - Olympia

The great Alter Bridge gig in the 3Arena last Thursday ends my gigs for the year. No doubt made up for the last few years with the covid restrictions. Sadly Covid got in the way for the Hella Mega Tour for me aswell as Lindsey Buckinghams illness with the postphonement and cancellations but thats life

From Whelans, Vicar Street ,RHK, 3Arena, Malahide Castle, Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Croke Park all great occasions

So hard to pick out the best gig but I'll mention a few

Garth Brooks 9th Sep Croke Park- was a bit of an emotional one esp after the 2014 debacle but that was all vanished the minute he hit the stage. The atmosphere was electric and the performance was brilliant. Been night 1 the setlist was mostly a surprise but with the gig been part of a tour it didn't change much from the US leg.

Tool 6th May 3Arena- Outstanding gig, the visuals were amazing and with no phones allowed til the last song everyone was 100% focused

The Cure 1st Dec 3Arena- setlist amazing as was the performance. Brilliant atmosphere too

The Killers 15th Jun Malahide Castle- Bought a ticket on the whim and really enjoyed it. Weather was great and venue wasn't too manic crowdwise.

Elton John 1st July Pairc Ui Chaoimh- was a prevlidge to see such a legend live. Had a ticket originally for the 3Arena shows which were postponed over the years due to Covid and Eltons injury but glad I got a refund and went to this show instead. The stage itself was amazing and Elton was in fine form. Even though its pricy I would recommend going to see him on any of the remaining dates on the tour. Sadly too much out of my budget.

Rod Stewart 18th Nov 3Arena-another gig bought on a whim and enjoyedable night. These acts are timeless and really great too see

WWE Clash At The Castle Cardiff 3rd Sep- event itself was mediocre but it was a brilliant weekend. City was buzzing with Wrestling fans aswell as plenty of parties/conventions and other Wrestling related events

Ed Sheeran 20th Apr Vicar Street- Wasn't planning on going to see any of the Stadium shows and really lucky too of been on Ticketmaster at the right time and picked up a ticket to this 'extra show' (jumped on the bandwagon but im not the only one in Ireland too do it tbh). Good atmosphere and he sounded great. I'm doubtful I'll see such a 'big artist' in an intimate setting again

All in all great year, all full value for money (few hiccups with seating at Garth Brooks etc).

Roll on 2023

The Gilla Band - ATN - Friday Incendiary Noise Rock influenced by the sound of mid 80s Sonic Youth.

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - ATN Sunday. The Australian psych rock surf band's Irish debut.

Third place Pixies GIAF/EP and Fontaines DC EP in a joint position.

Sunday 1st May, Brixton Academy...Scooter!

Saturday 30th July, Andersons Sligo...Host! (Ghost tribute band, Sligo whiplash festival)

Friday 2nd December, 3 Arena Dublin...Scooter (again!!!)

Roísin Murphy, Glastonbury

King Gizzard, ATN

The Cure, 3 Arena

Public Service Broadcasting in the Olympia

Rolling Blackouts in Vicar Street

Pavement in Vicar Street

Honourable mentions to Big Thief, Fontaines, the Cure and Sigur Ros.

Snarky Puppy - National Stadium

Nick Mason - Convention Centre

St. Vincent - Fairview Park

Strange one was Emma Ruth Rundle (St. Ann's Church) who started off absolutely stunning the place in to pin drop silence but then had a bit of a breakdown and it just felt wrong by the end. Her issues are well documented.

@Ultimate Gowlbag - I was pleasantly surprised by Perturbator - popped along with my brother who also had high praise for Devin Townsend.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Primavera Barca

Arcade Fire - 3arena

Alt -J - Olympia

Genesis - 02 London

Nick Mason - Convention Centre

Porcupine Tree - Wembley Arena

Arcade Fire opening night of world tour at 3 Arena. Will he? Will she? Will they, even?

Macy Gray at The Button factory- Special special night. What a woman !

Damien Dempsey next week at Vicar Steeet for the annual Christmas shin dig! Always a great sing song!

Arcade Fire - 3Arena (maybe second night)

Sigur Ros - 3Arena

Simple Minds - 3Arena

Trend here...

I did manage to see Amyl and the Sniffers twice this year - and Fontaines DC in diffferent venues.

Pavement - Vicar Streeet

BADBADNOTGOOD - Brixton Academy

Caribou _ Iveagh Garderns

Dry Cleaning - Button Factory

Low - Vicar Street

Villagers - Iveagh Gardens

Honourable Mentions:

Fontaines - Vicar Street

Damon Albarn - NCH

Top 3 ...

Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets - Convention Centre, April.

Porcupine Tree - Berlin, Oct

Opeth - London, Nov 18th, Utrecht 19th & 20th Nov (I'm counting that a one entry) 😉

Honorable mentions:

Public Service Broadcasting - Olympia, Jan

Tangerine Dream - Liberty Hall, March

Cory Wong - Button Factory, April

Spiritualized - Olypmia, May

Viagra Boys - The Academy, May

Sorcha Richardson - Olympia (can't understand why she isn't bigger - great album and gig)

Girl in Red - Olympia

Billie Eilish - O2

(All of the above attended with younger, female family members...)

Same here, only caught 3 gigs this year

Nick Mason, Dublin

Sparks, Berlin

Roxy Music, London

Don't worry about it, i already was that guy further upthread! I too was there!

Seeing as honourable mentions are allowed i'll put forward:

Low-Vicar St., Minami Deutsch-Whelans, Godflesh-Opium Rooms, Thumper and Gilla Band-multiple occasions this year. Plus Electric Moon, Part Chimp, Hey Colossus and Dead Sea Apes all at Heavy Psych Fest in Liverpool.

Most disappointing was Spiritualized in the Olympia. One of my all time faves on the back of their best album in 25 years (imo), playing a venue i'd always wanted to see them in and it was flat as a pancake. I was gutted afterwards.

I had a great year of gigs, top 3 in no particular order.

Arcade Fire at the Three areana

Wet Leg at the Academy

Kerbdog at Cyprus avenue Cork

Nick Mason - Convention Centre, Dublin

Lady Gaga (2nd night) - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Gorillaz - 3Arena, Dublin

couldn't in all good consciousness pick three so I'm going with..... Big Thief, War on Drugs, Low, Public Service Broadcasting, Mitski (Vicar St), Sharon Van Etten, Spiritualized, Protomartyr, Nick Cave (ATN), Arcade Fire, Sigur Ros and the Cure.

If I had to pick one it would be Cave at ATN. Some band, Some setlist. Some performance by the man himself!

1. The Cribs - March- Roundhouse London

2.Green Day - June - Marley Park

3.Heaton and Abbott - June - St Anne's Park

😂 What do you mean by effort? I take it you've never seen Spiritualized before? Jason Pierce has never engaged with the audience going right back to his Spacemen 3 days, if that's what you're on about. I'll agree it wasn't a great gig though, and i say that as an uber fan.