Don't get caught on camera - a look back at 2025….
- JO'B
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
It's Christmas Eve, and like most of you, I am sat in a bar in Deptford, with a cold pint. Mrs JO'B is on her way from seeing a friend. Presents are all wrapped. The cue lever on my turntable is stuck in the "up" position, so I can't play records, but despite this disaster, all is good with the world. I am reflecting on the year in music...
Oasis came and I was wrong it seems - everyone I know who went said it was amazing, but I still am glad I gave it a swerve - too many geezers, too much lad shouting and beer boys for me (see Definitely not - Oasis reform).
I will ignore the shit-show that is global politics, as it's too depressing to even contemplate, but instead, here is my quick summary of the year - the best gigs, the best albums and for the 18th time, my favourite tracks of the year (2007's Xmas CD, burnt on my Mac for 21 people, is now a playlist sent to anyone who will listen!).
And if there is one lesson from 2025, it's don't caught on camera, as I am sure all Coldplay gig-goers will remember forever...
Gigs of the year
Edwyn Collins at the RFH - saying goodbye to a legend. It was a bit Vinnie Jones - emotional. You can read more here - Edwyn has left the building…Edwyn Collin’s last ever tour – Royal Festival Hall, 4th October 2025.
Throwing Muses - I had never seen them in 38 years of gigging but have now seen them three times this year, each time excellent. I will be seeing them again!
The House Of Love with Rory and Danny. All three of us were at the same HoL gig in York in January 1990, all there independently and now all directors at the same organisation. The odds of that must be massively small..? The House Of Love are still great and it was lovely to recreate that gig again 36 years on. The 1990 gig was also the first ever blog I wrote up and published, so here is a link should you be interested in such things...Like a Hurricane - Seeing The House Of Love, Discovering DMs and Trojan Records (as you do).
Noel Burke playing the whole of the Echo & The Bunnymen's Reverberation. Noel had the uneviable challenge of replacing Ian McCulloch when he left the Bunnymen in 1989. Noel's own band, St Vitus Dance, had split up so Noel stepped up. Soon after, Pete De Freitus, legendary drummer in the Bunnymen died in a motorbike accident, but the band pushed on and made a great, and truely under recognised, album, plus two excellent singles. Mac has never forgiven Will Sergeant for having the temurity to carry on without him after he upped sticks, but fair play to Will. It's a more chilled, psychedelic record and Noel played a tiny venue in north London, playing the whole thing plus associated singles. I thought it was magnificent. And his voice was stunning - something sadly Mac cannot claim these days...
Echoes Of The Bunnymen - a tribute band but sadly way better than the version Mac McCulloch fronts these days. Will Sergeant is still amazing, but Mac is belligerent and his voice is often shot. Best moment? My friend arriving eight pints in after a football match and falling asleep! You can't buy class...
Westside Cowboy supporting Personal Trainer - I was overexcited after a day speaking at a conference on live music. And somewhat drunk. I regret blabbering on at them at the merch stand afterwards…you can read more here - Cowboys are my weakness - Personal Trainer live at The Dome, with Westside Cowboy and Modern Woman – 26th February 2025. My friend Nick taught their bass player.
Pixies with my lovely friend Daniel and his wife Claire. He promised the football Gods that night that if Crystal Palace won the FA Cup the next day, he would get a tattoo. The tattoo is yet to appear. If you are a Palace fan and they start playing badly, I can introduce you to the reason for this fall from football grace...
Nation Of Language - because Mrs JO’B loved it and she’s funny when tiddly and dancing. And he can REALLY sing!
Johnny Marr in Berlin, drinking German beer at the barrier like we were 20 and not 55…a birthday treat from Mrs JO'B, and special mention to The Clockworks who were supporting - just brilliant as ever.
Pip Blom because they were awesome, it was hot as hell, I danced and sweated and we had a ball.
In tribute to Spinal Tap, and the much missed Rob Reiner, all Back In Black(heath) lists go "one louder". so an honorary shout out at number 11 to Turin Brakes with my friend Ms Binks, if just for the pie and finally ticking off a trip to the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds - more trips to new venues in 2026!
Albums of 2025
Miki Berenyi Trio - Tripla - shoegaze is back baby! Spotify Wrapped told me it was my favourite album and they are not wrong.
2. Andy Bell (Ride, not Erasure!) - Pinball Wanderer - shoegaze is back baby, pt 2!
3. The Dears - Life Is Beautiful! - they are just so cool and he sounds ridiculously like Damon Albarn! Seeing them in 2025, very excited.
4. CMAT - EURO-COUNTRY - a gift from my colleague Charlotte (one of those album gigs at Rough Trade, so she bought the vinyl to see the gig - I returned the favour with a Taylor Swift tea towel, as one does). The album is stunning and Jamie Oliver Petrol Station may be my favourite song of the year.
Brooke Coombe - Dancing At The Edge Of The World - a Mrs JO’B recommendation, lovely northern soul vibe.
Sharon Van Etten - SVE & The Attachment Theory - the best thing she has ever done. Band democracy suits her?
Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz - finally getting the TV On The Radio geezer. This is just cool.
Panda Bear - Sinister Grift - brilliant Beach Boys inspired pop.
Gruff Rhys - Dim Probs - because you can't forget the Welsh, can you?
Stereolab - Instant Holograms on Metal Film - because it’s mad and full of infuriating ear bugs and also tears capitalism to pieces along the way. I saw them at the Electric in Brixton and bought a tray and an apron from the merch stand. As you do when you are 55.
And finally, here is my top 50 of the year - all songs are released this year, have cultural significance or were discovered this year. Do give it a spin. And yes, I know it's 51 tracks. Too lazy to cut one!
That’s me, seasons’ greetings, fandabulous wishes for 2026 and as Dave Allen would say, may your God go with you.
Stay safe, and if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (see link below), x
Editor - "shoegaze" according to the Oxford Dictionary is "a style of rock music characterised by a sound in which the distinctions between separate instruments and vocals are blurred." Whereas I thought it was more band members looked down at their shoes (especially in order to operate guitar effects pedals) rather than at the audience. Anyway, I loved Ride, Lush etc, though I never got My Bloody Valentine and my hearing is much better for this small mercy....
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