Countdown To Ecstasy: The 13th Floor Top 10 Concerts of 2015

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DSC_7212Reviewing concerts has become our bread and butter here at The 13th Floor. Personally, I went to over 100 shows ranging from tiny local gigs by the likes of The Cavemen and Holly Arrowsmith up to stadium fillers like Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles. For me, a live show is the ultimate way to experience music and, again, I am thrilled and honoured to be able to witness so many incredible performances. Of course, they all weren’t wonderful…there were a few clinkers…The Fall, Motley Crue and Ace Frehley all put on, shall we say, less than acceptable shows. But overall, it was a great year for live music. Below is a list of my own personal favourites from 2015. Feel free to add your own in the comments section…

Marty Duda

13th Floor - Sunken Seas-2010. Sunken Seas, Wine Cellar, November 6th: Bigger isn’t always better. New Zealand “hauntological rock” band Sunken Seas celebrated their new album Glass with a stunning set at the newly-refurbished Wine Cellar. Clocking in at just under 40 minutes, Sunken Seas proved to be massive on a miniature scale. All the more impressive considering Courtney Barnett had just played an excellent gig of her own earlier that evening at the St James. But this is the one I remember most fondly from that night. Read the review here.

DSC_19829. Beth Hart, Powerstation, March 27th: Perhaps not the most popular or hippest name on the list, but Beth Hart proved what a powerhouse performer she is when she stepped on the Powerstation stage last March. No only does she have an incredible voice, but she has the songs and the stage presence to go with it. And her band was pretty hot, too. If she returns, don’t miss her! Read the review here.

MarlonWms-58. Marlon Williams, Crystal Palace, June 26th: Marlon Williams is certainly no stranger to The 13th Floor…we’ve been singing his praises for years. With the release of his debut solo album, it looks like big things are in store for him on a global scale. This album-release show seemed like a culmination of everything he has worked up to and having friends like Dave Khan, Aldous Harding and Ben Woolley on stage with him made it all the more special. Along with Marlon’s own wonderful songs we were treated to some amazing covers, most notably, The Zombies’ Time Of The Season. It was a big year for Marlon Williams and 2016 will no doubt be bigger. Read the review here.

27. Westfest, Mt Smart Stadium March 3rd & Chris Cornell, ASB Theatre, November 26th: Westfest gets my vote as best festival of the year. With a lineup that included Judas Priest, Soundgarden and Faith No More, who could ask for more? All three headliners were in prime form and Mars Volta offshoot Antemasque added a bit of controversy with their shenanigans. Read the review here. On the other side of the coin, Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell’s solo show at the ASB Theatre in November was everything you could ask for in a one-man-show. Cornell’s pipes were in top form and his rapport with the crowd was excellent. Read the review here.

DSC_31376. Paul Simon & Sting, Vector Arena, January 30th: January seems so far away, I almost forgot about this one, or thought that it must have happened last year. Bringing over 15 musicians with them and playing over 30 songs, Simon and Sting proved why they are considered by many to be musical legends. Paul Simon in particular was, at age 73, incredible and Sting proved to be much more that a stand-in for Art Garfunkel. A stunning display of songwriting and musicianship. Read the review here.

hh-cc-99835. Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock, Civic Theatre, May 30th: Two more veterans teaming up to make musical magic. These two jazz legends have played together before and it was an absolute thrill to watch and listen as they made music together, their pianos facing each other, creating on the spot. Being a creative force has no expiry date as these guys and many others proved on stage this year. Read the review here.

13th Floor - Father John Misty-14. Father John Misty, St James Theatre, December 3rd: Josh Tillman, aka Father John Misty’s second album, I Love You, Honeybear, was one of this year’s best and those songs proved to be even more impressive when experienced live. Tillman is a powerful performer, reminding me at times of Nick Cave at his Pentecostal best. Musically, Tillman takes classic pop…Spector, Beach Boys, Elton John…and drags it into the present. A memorable show in a great venue. Here’s hoping the St James is still around next year. Read the review here.

DSC_91603. AC/DC, Western Springs Stadium, December 15th: The year ended with a bang…big enough to be heard all over Auckland as AC/DC showed everyone how to put on a stadium rock show. Whether it was your first time or your 50th, you can’t help but be moved by Angus Young’s monster riffs. Cannons, fireworks and enough black T-shirts to clothe a small army…it was all there, along with rock anthems like Hells Bells, For Those About To Rock and Highway To Hell. My ears are still ringing! Read the review here.

DSC_55462. Dawes, The Tuning Fork, October 22nd: The Tuning Fork hosted a number of fine shows over the year…Lamb, Luna, Marc Ribot, Jimmie Dale Gilmore…to name a few, but the highlight for me was California roots-rockers, Dawes. Their latest album, All Your Favorite Bands, came alive on stage, thanks, in part, to guitarist Duane Betts, son of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts. Frontman and songwriter Taylor Goldsmith seemed to take inspiration from Betts’ playing and the whole band took their performance to the next level. I loved every minute of it. Read the review here.

_OS137681. Lydia Lunch & Retrovirus, The Kings Arms, August 5th: For pure rock and roll intensitiy there was no better place to be but at The Kings Arms on August 5th. No wave queen Lydia Lunch brought her band and her attitude to Auckland just in time to remind folks what punk was/is all about. Yes, she was confrontational, but there was love in the room as Lydia and her band…including former Sonic Youth drummer Bob Bert…put on the best show of the year. Despite taking place in the dead of winter, and with Jon Spencer playing around the corner at the same time, this was the hottest show of the year. Read the review here.

Honourable mention:
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Burt Bacharach
A Place To Bury Strangers
Counting Crows
Don McGlashan
Shovels & Rope
And a very special thanks to all of the photographers who donated their time and talent by capturing such great images to go along with the reviews.

Marty Duda
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