Editor's note: For our best of 2012 coverage, we decided to reach out to some friends of the blog to get an idea of what made the year in music so great for them. For today's installment in the guest series, Rick Vallone, promoter and booker at Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar, submitted his list.
When I was asked to write my best of 2012 for buffaBLOG a few weeks ago, I was beyond stoked. I read the blog every day and was more than excited to contribute in some way. But then, I hit a wall...Its been such a whirlwind year of incredible music (if you follow the blog like I do, you don't really need me to tell you that). I spent days going through my records, MP3s, band t-shirts, and memories of the past year trying to decide who I thought put out the best record, played the best show, etc. I couldn't.
Then, late last night I got an idea. I've been booking shows in town for a few years now. I started by putting on shows for my own bands, then moved on to start Queen City Cartel with a few of my best friends. Most recently, I've been working as the booker/promoter for Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar. In all of this time putting on shows, I have often been more excited to bring new acts to town than I have been to actually listen to the records. So I thought hey, I'll write a list of the top acts I want to see play in Buffalo in the coming year.
Without further ado, here are my top 5 acts that put out releases in 2012 that I want to see play Buffalo in 2013. I'll do my best to get a few of them here.
5) Alberta Cross:
I first heard Alberta Cross while mindlessly following links on Youtube. We've all been there, staring at the screen into the small hours of the night. This time I stumbled upon something good. The Brooklyn via London band played their single “Money for the Weekend” on Letterman. I was hooked. The record is a bit all over the map stylistically, but what I hear most is a heavy Oasis influence, but a bit more groove oriented, and perhaps a little edgier. Check out the video below:
4) Hot City
I don't know too much about Hot City other than the duo's tracks make me dance harder than a lot of other producers' work has lately. There really isn’t anything new going on here, but that's not the point. Sometimes you just wanna have fun, right? If you like your party to be sprinkled with lots of sliced and chopped vocals, thumping kick drums and 90's house pianos, this is up your alley. Hot City put out the Something Bout EP this year, and you can hear the title track below and snag the record over at their label's site:
3) Vison of Disorder
I spent a lot of time listening to these guys in my angry teen angst years. Their Imprint record blew me away as soon as I heard the first few notes back in the day. Tim Williams is still my favorite voice in hardcore. The guy just shreds. After releasing a rather disappointing nu-metal record in 2001, they took a ten-year hiatus and worked in a couple less exciting bands.
I have to be honest in saying I didn't expect much when I heard they had put out a new record, but dutiful fan that I am, I checked it out. I was floored. The Cursed Remain Cursed is a complete return to form and an absolute ripper of an album. All of the grit and aggression of their early demos and EP releases is back, along with the melodic and experimental flourishes they played with so well on Imprint. I always preferred these guys over the much heralded Converge, and with both bands putting out records this year, I still feel that way. 17-year old me is pleased. Very pleased. Have a listen below:
2) TC
Bristol based TC's new EP begs a very important question; Do You Rock? TC has been making waves in the Drum and Bass scene for a few years now, but this new EP is decidedly less DnB and more on the Trap side of things. I have been resistant to Trap for the most part. All the kids are into it, but I liked it better when I was in high school and it was called Dirty South. This EP changed my mind. It's just heavy. Plain and simple. The drum sounds still hit like DnB, but you get all the nasty horn samples and bleeping synth lines that dominate in trap. Plus, any homage to Queen's “We Will Rock You” is OK by me.
You can pick up the Do You Rock? EP for $4 on iTunes and it's well worth it. You get the excellent title track, another TC tune “Drug Fuct,” plus two awesome remixes of the title track from Swindle and Astronaut. Check it out:
1) The Milk
This Essex based band grabbed my ear more than any other release I heard this year. Their Tales From The Thames Delta is the perfect mix of grit and pop. The obvious comparison to the Black Keys is too easy, and I honestly hear more of an early Rock and Soul influence here ala Ray Charles and Carl Perkins. There are also some subtle modern production flourishes to keep things fresh. If you see me walking down the street, snapping my fingers and two stepping with my headphones on, I'm probably listening to this record. Its catchy. You'll see:
That sums it up. It's been a great year for music, and I can only hope that 2013 continues the trend. Happy New Year, and I hope to see you at Soundlab on Sunday, December 23rd for the Fourth Annual Saturnalia Festival. Its guaranteed to be a great time with DJ battle sets between Miosi and Brother Bear, Neckbrace and Baceface, Buzz Trillington and Shooter McNappin, and Stuntman and Mario Bee. It's also for a good cause. Bring a canned good donation to benefit the Bread of Life food pantry and get a buck off at the door. Wear a Toga and get another buck off!
Cheers!
~Rick Vallone
love the list rick! here's to hoping we see some of em in 2013!
Thanks James! I'll do my best.