CityLife

Tom Waits (Edinburgh, July)<br /> A true legend, happy to have seen another 'master at work'<br /> <br /> My Bloody Valentine (Manchester, May)<br /> Everything it promised to be and more, highlights include people purposely standing there without earplugs and then fleeing for their ears at the end.<br /> <br /> Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Manchester, November)<br /> Was great to see the Aussie vampire with a mullett and flares perform his murder ballads with his truely awesome band.<br /> <br /> The Witches (Oldham, December)<br /> Keep your eyes out for this band. I'm hoping they're set to make waves this year with their Stooges/Cramps-esque sounds.<br /> <br /> Not got a fifth I'm afraid. Saving myself for the much anticipated goodness of 2009!

Here goes it,<br /> <br /> 1. Public Enemy (Manchester Academy June) - incredible show, a non-stop assault from the bomb squad - all's nearly forgiven Flav (well almost - glad he left the viking horns at home). Definite highlight - Fight The Power - especially in light of Obama's subsequent victory.<br /> 2. The Aliens (Liverpool Academy October) - close up, intimate, frazzled and frankly ludicrous. Would have been nice to have Steve Mason's Black Affair on the same bill for a sneaky Betas reunion!<br /> 3. The Pale Fountains (Liverpool Academy February) - a worthy and forgivably ramshackle reformation of Shack's Head brothers' 80s jangle merchants. Sublime horns from Andy Diagram and a moving homage to the late Biffa McCaffrey!<br /> 4. Edgar Jones (Manchester Academy 3 April) - Edgar's almost ridiculous jazz/funk cosmic slop is entertaining as always but would have required less of a pinch of salt in a down and dirty jazz club (say Matt and Phreds before the smoking ban)<br /> 5. Nico Icon Play (Lowry November) - alright, its not a gig but as a multimedia musical & theatrical homage to an important figure on the post-punk Manchester scene it gets the essential thumbs up from me!<br /> <br /> Annoyed to have missed;<br /> Mick Head & The Red Elastic Band (Liverpool Academy - twice! Damn you credit crunch)<br /> Fleet Foxes (Manchester Academy)<br /> N.E.R.D (Manchester Academy)<br /> <br /> Glad to have missed;<br /> Primal Scream (Manchester Apollo) - a lousy album, a poorly packaged NME sponsored tour and a resulting series of half filled venues. Where did it all go wrong? The jams firmly back in place here!<br /> <br /> Over and out!

In no particular order..<br /> <br /> Kings of Leon - MEN Arena (Dec 08)<br /> NME Awards Tour (headlined by The Cribs) - Academy (Feb 08)<br /> The Courteeners - Academy (Apr 08)<br /> Pete Doherty - Academy (May 08)<br /> Paul Weller - MEN Arena (Nov 08)

MEN Arena- McFly<br /> An amazing show, they sure no how to put on a great show with the flying glass stage for star girl and Danny's solo of Black Or White. They sound amazing. Highlights of the show were Live recording of Do Ya for children in need, lies, five colours, One for the radio, corrupted, <br /> everything

Stereophonics - Blackburn King Georges Hall<br /> Coldplay - MEN<br /> Gomez - Manchester Academy<br /> Elbow - Manchester Apollo<br /> Radiohead - LCCC